Step Up and Stand Out
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
- Galatians 2:20 NIV
As I was praying for one of my girls the other day, I had never really prayed these words before and I’m not really sure where they came from:
“... and help her step up and stand out for You.”
We pray and talk about shining for Christ in all that we do most every day. However, stepping up and standing out, that’s a little different. It’s a little deeper. It’s on purpose.
Stepping up and standing out for Jesus means to purposely find ways to “Step up your game”. That is, purposely find ways to glorify Him. To not only shine for Him in day to day activities, choices and reactions, but to find ways to make Him known and seen in those activities. To not only allow others to see Christ in us in our day to day, but make Him known by what we do, how we do it, and what we say about Him when we do it.
When we step up and stand out, we rise above the status quo. We rise above expectation. We rise above what the world says we should do and be, and we shine... shine for Him.
When we step up and stand out, we’re telling the world that we do what we do for Him. And in success or in failure or anywhere in between, we stand firm and strong in Him, doing what we do to bring glory and honor and praise to Him.
O Lord, as I face the day to day, and the traps and pitfalls of this fallen world, help me step up and stand out for you. Help me live and do on purpose, live and do for You. O Lord, help me shine in the darkness. Give me the strength and the courage I need to step up and stand out for You. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill 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.” - Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
