City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Matthew 5:14-15 (NLT)

Aisha’s Analysis

Have you ever wondered why there are Christians (myself included at times) who are just as depressed, discouraged, and defeated as the rest of the world?  According to the above scripture, they might be putting their light under a basket.

Do you know any basket-case Christians out there?  In the Greek, that word for “basket” can also be translated as a “bushel” or a unit of dry measure.  This scripture indicates that we can dim the light within by measuring or limiting God by the way we think.

A believer with an unrenewed mind is like an eaglet that grows up in a chicken coop.  While that precious little eaglet has everything within him to soar in heights the chickens have never dreamed of, he never will as long as he perceives, thinks, and acts like a chicken!

However, there is a way to break out of our old way of thinking and totally take the limits off God.   

John 3:34 (AMPC) states:

34 For since He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God’s own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!

God has given us His Holy Spirit without measure, so we can live the victorious, overcoming lives we were destined for—the God kind of life!

Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) states:

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

God loves us tremendously and longs to share His thoughts with us, but He is the ultimate gentleman.  He will never force His way into your mind and make you think about Him, His Word, and the things of God.  We must freely yield to the Holy Spirit.

If we can submit our minds to sin—worry, lustful thoughts, fear, stress, & negativity, why shouldn’t we just as easily be able to submit our minds to the Holy Spirit Who is far more powerful than sin and the things of the devil?

Application

I encourage everyone and myself every day to take the limits off God and allow His Word and His Spirit to rule our minds.  You don’t need a theological degree or masters in divinity to be able to do this.  It’s the right of every believer, from the least to the greatest!  It’s who you are.  You have a new divine nature within; you are a believer and a LIGHT to this dark and hopeless world.

When we yield to the Holy Spirit in our minds and hearts, we are removing the “basket” and will truly shine just as we are.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your endless grace towards me. You don’t give me Grace so I can continue living in sin and defeat. Quite the opposite, Your Grace empowers me to live in divine holiness and sonship. Lord, I submit to Your ways. Show me how to walk in them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.