The subject was light. We need to be a light to others, but also we need to allow God's light to shine in the dark places of our inner being. If we allow God to shine His light inside our inner man we will find a freedom from whatever was previously held as an embarrassment. And the best part is enjoying a better relationship with God.
Two presenters spoke of emotional/mental healing taking twenty-one days of mental exercises to change your perspective on life and attitudes. The key is remembering that the mind is separate from the brain and it is the mind that leads the way for the brain to change how it reacts to life. While it would take too long to cover all the initial steps I will say that blessing your enemies and the people who hurt your feelings is a major part of that. And when you are done you will find you are a unique wonderful person with a clear mind filled with clear thoughts. If you're interested in this you can go to the following websites: Jimmy Evans and Dr. Leaf
But if you think you can't be used of God until you're perfect, you're wrong. God uses everyone in any way He chooses. You don't have to do something extraordinaire before you impact others for the cause of the kingdom. In fact, as Missy Robertson put it, "God uses the ordinary and broken to do the extraordinary." If you don't believe her look at some of the heroes of the Bible.
It's important to keep our eyes on our current battles and not start worrying about future battles or seasons of life. If we take our focus off what God has for us today, in this moment, then we might lose some of the promise God has for us. Take courage and stay put, stay the course, God's still working.
A Biblical example of this was found in the book of Esther. Esther's Uncle Mordecai made himself available to her by staying at the gate wherever Esther was, first at the gate of the harem then at the king's gate. Years later when the king realized he never honored Mordecai for saving his life, the king knew exactly where to find Mordecai. Don't give up on the course God has placed you on or you may miss the opportunity of change that He will bring your way.
And when life gets even crazier than it already is, don't worry that God has forgotten you and your needs. He didn't forget about the widow and her son or the prophet Elijah in 1Kings 17. First, God has ravens bring bits of food to feed the prophet then He extends the meager food supplies of the widow. God doesn't need much to work with, He just needs something to work with. Keep doing what God has shown you to do. God can't act on earth until his people do something.
To drive that point home Pastor Tim Ross pointed out the randomness of how Elijah raised the widow's dead son back to life. Verses 17-24 tell us this story. Elijah, after praying to God and receiving no specific directions, lays on top of the widow's dead son - how random and awkward is that? The point made was that God doesn't do something on the earth unless He does it through us. In this instance, God used the random act of Elijah which resulted in the revival of the son. All because Elijah did something.
I would like to end with the prayer example Jimmy Evans gave us (I tweaked it slightly).
Dear God, Thank you for honoring my efforts
and letting Your light to shine from me to others.
I need the Holy Spirit in my mind today.
And if something is coming my way give me
the emotional grace and spiritual grace I will need.
Lead me in all truth as I put on a garment of praise.
Thank you. Amen.
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