Let Your Light Shine by Helping Others

SHOW NOTES: 

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode, I share an excerpt from Step 10 of my new book, Living Perfectly Loved. 

This episode will inspire you to become the light you want to see in the world. You were created on purpose for a purpose that only they can fulfill. God will make known to you exactly what that purpose is—for such a time as this! There’s no need to shrink back and hide out any longer. It’s time for them to rise, to shine, to begin to look outside of yourself toward others in need—using the gifts God has given you and your testimony to share love and hope with those living in darkness, and to light the way to salvation in Jesus Christ. 

CONNECT WITH KELLY: I’m your host, Kelly Ann Snyder, a Christian writer, speaker, and teacher. Grateful to God for rescuing me from the grip of anxiety and fear, I created this podcast, started a blog, launched a small group for women at my church, and wrote my first book titled, Living Perfectly Loved, to encourage, equip, and inspire Christian women to live free from fear and full of joy, secure in God’s perfect love. I enjoy fresh flowers, nature walks, decorating my home, sipping tea, and studying God's Word.

Visit my website at kellyannsnyder.com to learn more about me and Living Perfectly Loved Ministries, including information that can help you take the next step forward in your faith journey.

By signing up for my email list today, you’ll get blog and podcast episodes sent directly to your inbox, and be given the opportunity to learn about other Living Perfectly Loved Ministries offerings made available only to my subscribers. Here’s a link to a free resource I created for signing up: 40 Anxiety-Reducing Self-Care Tips for the Weary

You can also purchase my new book on Amazon today: Living Perfectly Loved: A Christian’s 12-Step Journey to Freedom from the Grip of Anxiety and Fear

Find me on my Facebook Page @kellyannsnyderauthor and on my Facebook profile @kellyannsnyderofficial, as well as on my Instagram account @kellyannsnyderofficial. I look forward to connecting with you soon! 

DISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition or disease. This podcast is not a substitute for consultation with a licensed practitioner. Please consult with your physician or healthcare specialist regarding the suggestions and recommendations made in this podcast. The podcast host makes no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience by following the advice and strategies she has offered, and you accept the risk that results will differ for each individual. The use of this podcast implies your acceptance of this disclaimer.

For additional help or resources, I recommend you consider reaching out to a professional Christian counselor or a pastor at a church for guidance in your next steps. 

Episode Transcript

Kelly Ann Snyder (00:02):
I'm Kelly Ann Snyder.
Welcome to Living PerfectlyLoved, the podcast created to
encourage, equip, and inspireyou to live free from fear and
full of joy, secure in God'sperfect love.
If you're longing to stand firmin Christ amidst the storms of
life with a faith deeply rootedin God's perfect love, stop

(00:25):
anxiety and fear from stealingyour joy and controlling your
life, shine brightly and lovefearlessly, confident in who God
uniquely created and called youto be, then this faith-inspiring
podcast, full of practical helpand spiritual tools, is for you.
You're listening to Season One,Episode 11: Let Your Light Shine

(00:47):
by Helping Others.
Brought to you by LivingPerfectly Loved Ministries and
my new book, Living PerfectlyLoved: A Christian's 12-Step
Journey to Freedom from the Gripof Anxiety and Fear.
For all recommended resources,products, and freebies discussed
in this episode, please see thenotes for this episode.

(01:09):
I'm happy to announce that ineach episode this season, I will
be sharing an excerpt from mybook containing each of the 12
steps the Lord used to deliverme from the grip of anxiety and
fear.
In this way, you'll be getting asneak peek into my book, Living
Perfectly Loved.
I'm so glad you've decided tojoin me.
Subscribe to my email list todayat kellyandsnyder.com and you

(01:34):
will be kept in the loop withall book and ministry-related
announcements I make, and beeligible to receive all free
resources I create and sharewith my subscribers.
Visit my website atkellyandsnyder.com to learn more
about Living Perfectly LovedMinistries, including direct
links to purchase my book andinformation that can help you

(01:57):
take the next step forward inyour faith journey.
If you haven't yet listened tomy podcast trailer, I'd like to
invite you to do so afterlistening to this episode.
All right, let's get started!The following is an excerpt from
Step 10 of my book, LivingPerfectly Loved, titled: Let

(02:19):
Your Light Shine by HelpingOthers.
Have you ever been afraid topray aloud in front of everyone?
After uncovering the root causeof this fear and making progress
through the steps God used torescue and restore me in my
struggle with anxiety and fear,God gave me another opportunity

(02:39):
to confront this fear.
My phone rang.
It was my pastor calling me toask me if I would pray onstage
over the congregation for bothSunday services.
It was the start of the new yearand our church was about to
begin a corporate 40-day fast,and the members would commit to
read through the entire Bible inone year.

(03:00):
My pastor specifically asked meto, quote unquote, pray Heaven
to Earth.
Good grief! No pressure.
I wanted to break it to himgently that I was not the right
person for this job.
But I managed to refrain fromdoing so.
While I was both honored andhumbled he had asked me, I
wasn't sure I fit the profile ofthe person he was looking for.

(03:23):
I was not a bold dynamicspeaker, but rather soft-spoken,
insecure, and easily intimidatedby large crowds.
To get up on stage and pray atthe Sunday services in front of
hundreds, maybe thousands, ofpeople was certainly not within
my comfort zone.
Just thinking about doing so, Ifelt my palms get sweaty and my

(03:45):
heart rate go up.
My flesh screamed no! Despite myinsecurities and trepidation,
however, deep down I knew thatGod had already been speaking to
my heart about being bold andbrave, and stepping outside of
my comfort zone and this was anopportunity to trust Him.

(04:05):
This was a test of my obedienceto do what He was calling me to

do (04:08):
to help others, regardless of whether I felt qualified, and
in spite of whatever fears I wasstill learning to work through.
He wanted me to let my lightshine.
I couldn't deny that there was abig part of me that really
wanted to go for it.
Somewhere deep within me anemphatic resounding yes was
desperately trying to make itsway out of my mouth and into my

(04:31):
pastor's ear.
The Holy Spirit urged me to gofor it.
I wanted to be faithful.
I didn't want to cower in fearand insecurity at the
opportunity and say, like Moses,"please send someone else,"
Exodus four verse 13.
This prayer wasn't about meanyway, it was about encouraging
my church family, praying God'sblessing over them for the

(04:53):
coming year, and humbling myselfin service to the body of
Christ.
God would be faithful to give methe words He wanted me to pray
over them and to Him.
So after much deliberationduring our brief five minute
phone conversation, I finallysaid yes and committed myself.
Even if it meant doing itafraid, I was not going to let

(05:15):
this opportunity pass me by.
The truth is, God doesn't alwayscall the most eloquent orators
to be a voice for him.
It's often the most unlikely ofpeople who shine His light.
Take Moses for example.
The Bible says in Exodus threethat Moses was out tending to
his father-in-law's flocks whenthe Lord called him.

(05:38):
On Mount Horeb, the mountain ofGod, the angel of the Lord
appeared to him in flames offire from within a bush.
Moses saw that, though the bushwas on fire, it did not burn up,
Exodus three verse two.
The Lord said to Moses,"I haveindeed seen the misery of my
people in Egypt.

(05:59):
I am concerned about theirsuffering.
So I have come down to rescuethem.
So now go, I am sending you,"Exodus three verse seven, eight,
and 10.
God called on Moses to helpdeliver His people out of
slavery.
However, Moses was very muchafraid and insecure.

Bottom line (06:19):
he felt unqualified for what God was calling him to
do.
Rather than humbly obey God,Moses was reluctant to comply.
He questioned God's plans,argued with Him, and essentially
declared himself unfit for thejob.
He said,"who am I that I shouldgo to Pharaoh," Exodus three

(06:41):
verse 11.
And,"I've never been eloquent.
I am slow of speech and tongue,"Exodus four verse 10.
At this point, Moses is unableto move past his insecurities
and fears, and he's looking fora way out of his God-given
assignment.
He sees what God is asking himto do only in terms of his

(07:03):
limitations.
Rather than seeing what God cando in and through him.
Knowing Moses' weaknesses fullwell, God patiently waited for
him to come around to obedience.
He gently responded to Moses'insecurities and fears with a
variety of assurances,miraculous signs, and wonders.

(07:23):
He said,"I will be with you,"Exodus three verse 12, and"I
will help you," Exodus fourverse 12.
Rather than accept God'sreassurances, though, Moses
questioned God, furtherrevealing his insecurity, fears,
and doubts.
"Suppose I go to the Israelitesand say to them,'the God of your

(07:44):
fathers has sent me to you,' Andthey ask me,'What is his name?'
Then what shall I tell them?"Exodus three verse 13.
Unfortunately, Moses stilldoesn't get it.
He isn't ready to grasp thefullness of who God is.
God answered Moses,"I AM who IAM.

(08:05):
This is what you are to say tothe Israelites.
I AM has sent me to you," Exodusthree verse 14.
Mic drop.
I want you to catch the powerand weight of this statement.
I AM is the name God gives tohimself as first revealed to
Moses.
This name is all encompassing,describing God's presence,

(08:28):
sovereignty, sustainability, andpower over all.
Our God who was, who is, and whois to come.
By God calling himself I AM, Hewas essentially revealing to
Moses the fullness of who He is.
Whatever it was the Israeliteslacked or that Moses lacked, I

(08:50):
AM would be for them.
The leaders of the Israeliteswould have grasped the
significance of this declarationand been in awe.
In God, referring to himself asI AM, I believe it's as if God

was saying to Moses (09:04):
I know who I AM, but do you know who I AM?
I know who you are, but do youknow who I AM in you?
It's worth noting that God'sname is transcribed as Yahweh,
Y-H-W-H, in the original HebrewOld Testament.

(09:27):
This is because the Jewsbelieved God's name was too
sacred to be uttered out loudand therefore had to find
substitutions for it.
Since there is not an exacttranslation in the English
language for Yahweh, we usuallyfind God's name written as Lord
in all capital letters in ourEnglish Bible.

(09:47):
These different forms of God'sname all refer back to I AM.
Like Moses, we have been calledto lead people into the promised
land of eternal salvation inJesus Christ.
We are people on mission,"sentto declare the praises of Him
who called us out of darknessinto His wonderful light," see

(10:08):
first Peter two verse nine.
We can fight, flail, getanxious, angry, and argue with
God about what He's calling usto do.
We can doubt ourselves or seeourselves as unqualified for the
opportunities God gives us tohelp others.
Or we can take our eyes off ofourselves and see God, looking

(10:32):
to all that I AM is rather thanfearing all that I am,
lowercase, not.
The Bible says, I am yourdeliver, Psalms one 40 verse
seven.
I am your strength, Psalms 28verse seven.

(10:52):
I am your righteousness, Isaiah61 verse 10.
I am your light, Psalm 27 verseone.
I am your shepherd, John 10verse 11.
I am your provider, Genesis 22verse 14.

(11:13):
I am your defender, Proverbs 23verse 11.
I am the way, the truth, and thelife, John 14 verse six.
I am everything that you need,Second Corinthians nine verse
eight.
With Christ in you and you andHim, you will shine bright in

(11:34):
this world.
Not because of who you are, butbecause of who He is in you.
Christ within you is like thefire inside the burning bush.
His presence turns you into asoul burning with a passion to
see God's kingdom come and Hiswill be done on earth as it is
in heaven.

(11:55):
See Matthew six verse 10.
Matthew five verse 16 says,"Inthe same way, let your light
shine before others that theymay see your good deeds and
glorify your father in heaven."Just as the fire within the Bush
did not burn out, so the fire ofthe Holy Spirit within you will

(12:15):
never be extinguished.
So never be afraid to let yourlight shine.
No matter what God has calledyou to, He will be with you.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, Thank You forchoosing to reveal Your glory to
me through the Spirit of YourSon, Jesus Christ.
Thank You for the fact that nomatter how difficult my

(12:37):
circumstances are or how darkthe atmosphere is, I can still
choose to shine my light andhelp others, thereby claiming
more territory for Your kingdom.
Help me remember You are with mealways, allowing me to continue
to be a source of light and loveto those around me.
Reveal to me how to shine mylight in a way that will lead

(13:00):
others closer to You.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Thanks for listening to thisepisode of the Living Perfectly
Loved podcast.
While it's true that God is loveand we are perfectly loved by
Him, we all struggle at times tolive like this true.
While we should strive to growin Christ likeness, we can rest

(13:24):
in knowing God loves us becauseof who He is, not because of who
we are or anything we could everdo for Him.
In Jesus Christ, we are enough!Remember, you don't have to be
perfect to live perfectly loved.
You have always been and willalways be a completely forgiven,

(13:44):
fully accepted, deeply loved,daughter the King.
Beautiful friend, His grace isfor you.
Please subscribe to my podcastnow and stay tuned for another
episode of Living PerfectlyLoved.
May the Lord bless you and keepyou.
May He shine His face on you andbe gracious to you.

(14:06):
May He turn His face toward youand give you peace, in Jesus'
name.