The world needs the light only you can bring. Not the light someone else can bring, but the specific, unique light that only you can provide. God is partnering with you to provide that light, and understanding this partnership can transform how you see your purpose and every situation you face.
You Are the Light of the World
Matthew 5:14-16 declares: “You are the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
But what does that actually look like in practical terms? I believe the most basic way of shining your light is simply not responding in worldly ways. That’s the foundation. We’re not talking about miracles or healing people (though I believe we’re entering a time when supernatural will be seen as kingdom normal). We’re talking about the most basic way to stand out.
True Love Goes Beyond the Expected
Luke 6 gives us the blueprint for what true light looks like: “Are you really showing true love by loving only those who love you? Even those who don’t know God will do that.”
Think about that. If you’re only nice to those who are nice to you, that’s worldly. That’s not impressive. Everyone does that, even people who don’t know God.
Jesus continues: “Forsake the habit of criticizing and judging others and you will not be criticized and judged in return. Don’t condemn others and you will not be condemned. Forgive over and over and you will be forgiven over and over. Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you. Such an overflowing treasure that it will run over the top. The measurement of your generosity becomes the measurement of your return.”
This isn’t prosperity gospel, this is Luke’s gospel. The earth is waiting for you to come forth in your true identity. Our communities and societies are demanding that we take our rightful place and shine our unique light.
You’re in Habitation, Not Visitation
Here’s something crucial to understand: you have the presence of God with you. Expect something brilliant to happen because Christ is within you. He’s with you, He’s in you. We abide in His presence, He abides in ours.
We have to lose the Old Testament visitation focus. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon Samson or David or Saul and then left them. We’re not in a visitation; we’re in a habitation.
This means we’re not praying for the Holy Spirit to come. He’s here. He’s with us. When we accepted Christ, He stepped in with us. He’ll never leave us or forsake us. So instead of asking Him to come, we thank Him: “Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you’re here. Thank you, Christ, that you’re here, that we abide in you and you abide in us.”
If you’re constantly praying to God like He’s far away versus praying with Him, you’re missing the reality of your partnership.
Seeking God When He Never Leaves
How do we seek the Lord when He never leaves or forsakes us? You seek Him in every single situation you encounter with joy and delight because He’s in this thing with you.
It’s impossible to have a situation where God is not present. So the first thing when you get into any situation is to look for the presence of Jesus. You’re going to go stand where He’s standing, and then you’re going to have a conversation: “Lord, what does this mean? Lord, what are we to do about this? How are you going to help me with this?”
A Mother’s Day Lesson in God’s Partnership
Let me share a recent example. Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and I asked the Lord for a favor: “Lord, would you give me a good idea for my wife Jess? What should I get her for Mother’s Day?”
During my prayer walk Friday, I asked again, and I got “Sunset cruise.” I thought, “Oh, she would love that. That’s a brilliant idea. Thank you, Lord.” So I booked it.
We went on this beautiful catamaran cruise in Naples Bay with about 20 people. The risk I took was bringing our kids. They were the only children on the boat while all the other adults were enjoying wine and having fun. My 5-year-old and 9-year-old got a little crazy, and things got intense.
On the way home, my wife and I got in an argument. I came home huffing and puffing, not happy with the situation. Despite all the things I teach, I still have chinks in my armor. They’re temporary, not permanent, but they’re there.
I realized my emotions were too high to pray effectively. Here’s a clue: when you’re too ramped up emotionally, what you hear in prayer can be jaded. I’ve noticed that if I go to prayer when I’m not calm, I don’t hear from the Lord the way I normally do. So I waited.
I slept on it. The next morning, I asked: “Lord, you ordained the cruise, right? Was that to grow me?” The answer was yes. The Lord was so good that He wanted to provide a good time for Jess while simultaneously growing me in my parenting.
Hebrews 12 says no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but it builds us up. He was so wise and loving that He allowed her to have a great Mother’s Day while giving me lessons in parenting and some distinctions for next time.
God Wants to Show Up Differently
Here’s a crucial understanding: the reason you get lots of different circumstances is because God wants to show up differently in your life. He wants to reveal different aspects of who He is.
Look at all the people Jesus healed. In every story, you can find some resonance with your own life. Take the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. She had spent all her money on doctors and ended up worse. Can you step into her situation?
Maybe you’ve been struggling with something for 12 years. Maybe you’ve trusted people in authority and wasted money trusting others. Someone deemed unclean for 12 years had no boyfriend, no one to hold her hand, no hugs. If you’ve felt lonely, you can resonate with that.
Everywhere she went, they rang a bell: “Unclean.” Have you ever been judged or criticized openly? When you dig into the depths of these stories, you start to see yourself and how turning to Jesus brought healing with one touch of His robe.
Notice Jesus didn’t chastise her. He said, “Your faith has made you well.” After 12 years of being judged, shamed, and criticized, she expected judgment from Jesus too. But that’s not what you get from your heavenly Father. You get healed. You get the solution.
God Wants to Be What You Need
Some situations will be about developing your patience, and He’ll be your patience. Some will be about developing peace, and He’ll be your Prince of Peace. He wants to be for you exactly what you need in that situation.
Ask this powerful question: “What is it that you want to be for me now that you couldn’t be at any other time?”
Philippians 4:6 instructs: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Ask: “God, I’d like to know what you’re doing for me in this situation. What are we doing about this situation?”
There have been situations that the old me would have been really stressed about, but when I asked, “Lord, what are we doing about this?” I got “Nothing.” And I didn’t need to do anything. No calling the bank, no reaching out, no letters, no legal counsel. Nothing. And I never heard from that situation again.
That’s not every situation, but don’t you want to know God’s stance in the situation you’re currently dealing with? Stop just interacting worldly with the situation. Have a relationship with your heavenly Father and ask: “What are we doing about this? Are we doing anything about this? Where are you growing me with this?”
Your Light Is Needed Now
The whole earth is waiting for you to step into your true identity and shine the light only you can bring. This isn’t about performing or trying harder. It’s about partnering with God, recognizing His presence in every situation, and responding in ways that reflect His character rather than the world’s patterns.
Your unique light is exactly what someone needs to see today. When you love those who don’t love you back, forgive repeatedly, give generously, and seek God’s perspective in every situation, you become that city on a hill that cannot be hidden.
The world is desperate for authenticity, for people who respond differently, for light in the darkness. You have that light because Christ is in you. The question isn’t whether you have it, but whether you’ll let it shine.
