Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.
Isa 60:1 NLT
Wherever I travel in my role as the women’s ministries director for the South Pacific territory of my church, I like to remind the women I meet of the text in Isaiah cited at the beginning of today’s reading: Arise and shine!
“Arise and shine” are action words. Arise! Sine! When we stand up for God we are to shine – to do our best, to be the best. To me, that phrase says, “Erna, get up! Do what God has gifted you to do. Don’t be shy, Remember the gifts and talents God has given you. Now go and use them!”.
I’ve found out that only 1 percent of Australian women believe they are beautiful. I’m quite sure the same percentage is true even for women in the church. Self-esteem is very low in these women, which always saddens me. From my experience, I am certain that this statistic – or worse - would be true for almost any country of the world.
Our text tells us that “the glory of the Lord rises to shine” on us. If we really believe that to be true, why are we hesitant? Why do we not believe that we are “worthy”? Why this lack of self-esteem?
Could it be because through the centuries we women have been taught, by both word and experience, that we are not equal to men and therefore are at a lower level than men? Not worthy? I strongly believe that it is something Satan wants us to believe. He doesn’t want us to be active, and to keep us doing little or nothing he makes us think very little of ourselves. On top of that, if we believe that lie we diminish ourselves, and we diminish other women. When in that frame of mind, we cannot “arise and shine” and glorify God. If we read on in Isaiah 60, we see that if we rise and shine, we will draw others – men, women, children, whole nations – to the light. What potential!
In Jesus’ eyes, we are of much value. He knew us before we were conceived. He even knows the number of hairs on our heads. He has plans for us. God has a plan for your life too. He wants you to “arise and shine” for Him wherever He has placed you – “for the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.”
Breathe Copyright © 2013 General Conference Women’s Ministries Department