Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
I can only do so much. You can only do so much. We can easily look at the world around us and feel so crushed by the weight of it all. There’s riots, wars, angry politicians, fires, sex trafficking, and fear. It can seem as if our call to love others and share the gospel reaches beyond our small communities and friend groups, and out across the world. It can seem like such a massive call that your mind tells you you’ll only fall short if you try.
But what matters is where you start. Are you loving your neighbor? Are you sharing the good news of Jesus with your friends and family? It all starts with your immediate surroundings. It all starts right here today, wherever you are.
The way you talk to your mom, the things you joke about with your friends, the activities you indulge in on the weekends, the way you think even; it all matters and it all contributes to what you’re doing to either better or worsen a world that hurts.
Step back and ask yourself today, how am I shedding light on a dark world… am I? You might want to start with truly defining what “dark” means. In the bible darkness and is mentioned plenty of times and this concept of sin and corruption is shared. Dive into that a little bit more. What’s right and what’s wrong in the eyes of God and what’s causing more darkness in our world? If we want to be a part of the change, bring light into some pretty sad and dark situations, we have to know where we stand first.
Pray this prayer:
Dear Lord, search me and know me. Find any offensive way in me and please, Lord, purify it. Make me clean so I may shine brightly for you. Allow the Holy Spirit to point out areas I need to surrender. I ask you to speak clearly to me so I may be used. You long to work through me. Your power and love lives in my heart, and Jesus, I ask you to cleanse me so there be room for you to use me. Amen.