IF you have ever complained to anyone or even thought remotely about what manner of man or woman you are – how unbecoming your habits are or how lacking your presentation is, this article is for you. While it is not wrong to learn and apply the rules of social engagement, there remains something remarkable greater than all the wisdom this world could offer you in terms of making a good, lasting impression. This appeal is greater than the person of whom it emanates. Its very nature is ethereal, gentle and yet authoritative. What is shocking is that that power is resident in no other place but within you.

“Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” KJV

I learnt this verse as a song as a young child. I can’t definitely say how much of an impact it made on me then but on closer scrutiny now, the gravity of the passage is a bit of a shock to me. Let your light shine… I see two important truths from this verse. And the first is this 1. This clearly implies that it is in our power to let our God given life and beauty to be evident to all. More than that, 2. it is the reason for the light here in us while on earth – that all may glorify our Father in Heaven. 3. Thirdly, this passage is a command. It really doesn’t get simpler than that. It is an instruction from our Lord and it demands nothing short of the response of obedience. Anything else is pure rebellion.

Something already done for us

The light is already there – whether you have an experience of it or not. It is something that God did for us and we can add nothing to it. When He did it we were not worthy for it but yet we are expected to walk worthy of it! While we can add nothing to it, nevertheless, we are expected to respond to it in faith. Everything you need to succeed in life is within you. Your foundation is incorruptible and full of power and potential. God has done everything He needs to do for your success and has placed the victory within you.

How do we let our light shine?

The difference between the great truths we read of in the bible and our actual experience of it lies in our response to it. Let’s say for instance, that you have paid fully for a house. It is now yours. And if someone were to come along to try to evict you or to prove otherwise you will have a decidedly tenacious attitude towards that person. Why? Your response is based on something you know and believe. If you have difficulty remembering that you have paid for the house though then there is a lot of pushing and shoving that can be done to you. What am I saying? How much of your potential you fulfil in this life is dependent on how much of it you actually believe in. Everything God has done for mankind is foundational or positional if you will. However, for us to experience that spiritual reality we have to believe and trust God that what He said He did is actually true. Again, Jesus died for all mankind – He is the Saviour of all mankind but not all mankind accept Him as their Lord. Our behaviour and attitudes are influenced by what we believe in.

If you believe you have nothing that anyone can desire, if you believe that you were bound to fail in anything you set your hand to, it would not matter how much of the truth you know because ultimately, what you actually believe is what you will respond to. If you believe you are a failure then you will respond to failure. If you believe that you are highly favoured then you will be highly favoured.

Matthew 23:26 “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” (KJV)

Luke 6:43 – 45 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (ESV)”

Focus on what you believe in and everything else will fall into place. It is what is inside that matters. What is outside does not defile a man but what comes out from inside. If you can start believing right whatever comes out, by default will be right. 

Image and Etiquette: As a young lady, I suffered much from inferiority and timidity. I had an unhealthy distrust of myself and God-given beauty. By God’s grace, I found answers in the Bible (especially the Songs of Solomon) which transformed me. His Word transformed me from a bitter, angry teenager to a cheerful, content, peace-filled and purposeful woman; Jesus changed me from the inside out. I have a passion for etiquette and image and I know that our outward image and our attitudes are influenced by our heart; therefore, image and etiquette is spirit, soul and body – just as it was in the beginning! Having been given the knowledge, experimental application and experience through His grace alone, this is what I teach. Unconventional…yes, but it remains the truth to the degree that I have understood it. For this, I make no apologies. Website: www.regalgraces.com. Email: [email protected] Phone Number: 08116706879 (text messages only).