12 July | Teens

ARISE, SHINE!

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Isaiah 60: 1

Have you ever noticed how the sun rises and illuminates everything around? Even on the darkest days, when clouds seem to cover the entire sky, the sun is still there, shining and bringing light. Just like the sun, God wants us to be lights in a world that often seems dark. He wants us to shine and show His love and kindness to everyone around us.

In Isaiah 60, God calls us to “arise and shine.” This means that we must pick ourselves up from where we are, step out of our comfort zone and start shining. Shining isn't just about being happy and smiling all the time, but it's about making a difference in people's lives by helping, being kind, showing compassion and sharing God's love.

There's a hymn that goes like this, “Lord, I want to shine for You when the world goes out. I want someone to be able to see You through my life. Grant that, even without words, I may speak of Your love! I want to shine for You, shine wherever I go!” What a beautiful prayer we can pray each day, isn't it?

Our actions and words can be like rays of sunshine that warm and illuminate someone's life. And the amazing thing is that, when we start to shine, we help other people shine too. It's like a stream of light that spreads, illuminating more and more places.

Take Action

To practice being a light, do something special to brighten someone's day. It can be a compliment, a drawing, a small gift, or even a smile. Remember, every little act of kindness is a ray of light that can transform and shine in someone's day.