2/28/2025
“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)
There is a time to shine, which if you don’t, leads to massive collateral damage. Jesus said, “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house (Matthew 5:15). This means that your shining must have a public effect.
The issue with shining or not shining is that it is a personal responsibility. Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16), meaning you can also choose to let not your light shine. The intensity of the shine too, is a matter of personal responsibility. You can choose to temper the brightness with mediocrity. The burden of this responsibility is significant though. If you don’t shine, so many will never discover their purpose. If you don’t shine, some will die in untimely fashion. If you don’t shine, the abused, homeless and despondent will have no hope. National leaders will tyrannise their subjects. Wickedness will be rife in the country.
So how do I shine? You ask. It begins by arising. Isaiah 52:1 says, “Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean Shall no longer come to you.” You begin by intercession. Intercession about what? You present yourself to the Lord and ask Him about His greatest concerns and as He tells you, start there.
God talks to the person who cares and as you show care in the areas that matter to Him the most, He would start to cause your influence among people to increase. He says, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:2). The Lord will not be seen in you if you stay the same, maintain the same prayer life, maintain the same Bible study habits and the same attention to spiritual things. He’ll only arise in you when you arise.
Isaiah 60:3 says, “The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” Nations and captains of industry will recognize you and seek you out but you must arise and let the Lord show you the areas where your shining is needed.
Hear me, there is an abused girl whose life trajectory landed her in sex work that will die in it if you don’t arise. There is a man who will take his life as soon as next week if you don’t arise. There is a business headed for bankruptcy and mass layoffs that could imperil many families if you don’t arise.
I say by God’s Spirit the words He spoke to Gideon to you today: “The LORD is with you, you mighty man [or woman] of valor!” (Judges 6:12). Arise, shine for your light has come. It has come from within you and it is time to bring it forth. Refuse to be cowered. Refuse to think small. For I the Lord, will hasten your rising for it is time. Yield to me says, the Lord and see that I am altogether good…altogether lovely…so go out there and shine. It’s not for your closet or for your mattress. Don’t belly it up and say nobody needs it but rather, assume that everyone needs this thing inside you that you carry and pour it out at the feet of the master like the woman with the box of alabaster. Pour it out, say’s the Lord. It is your time of shining. Hallelujah!
Faith-Filled Confession
I celebrate this season. It is my season to shine. And I arise and shine like never before in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Prayer Direction
PRAY FOR PASTORS
Pray that new doors of opportunity for ministry be opened to them, and utterance be granted them to proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ unhindered, without fear or reproach, but in power and effectiveness.
Pray for ministers who are facing severe persecutions, that they be strengthened to stand firm in all the will of God; and pray for the deliverance of those imprisoned for their faith in Christ Jesus.
Comentarios