The world doesn’t need more opinions—it needs light. God didn’t call you to hide or blend in; He commissioned you to shine. Being the light of the world isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It’s about showing up with truth, love, and boldness that shifts the atmosphere. Your life might be the only gospel someone ever sees. 

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 

Yesterday we learned that “bold” isn’t something you feel, it’s someone you become as you spend intentional time with Jesus. The closer you get to Him, the easier it is to step out for Him.  

Outside of Spirit empowerment, “bold” also means having a strong or vivid appearance—being striking and bright. I’d like to propose that those with the boldest dreams shine the brightest for the Lord! 

Too often, we think of dreaming as a waste of time—unrealistic, impractical, or even selfish. We come up with reasons why we don’t have enough time, resources, or abilities. Then we hear people say, "Dream big!" and we chase that artificial sense of significance as though it's the answer we've been looking for. But not only is “big” not the answer, it's never something you heard Jesus say. 

Jesus never encouraged us to chase after “big” or greatness for our own sake. While the world may equate dreaming big with personal success or fame, Jesus invites us to instead, dream boldly with Him as we align with His kingdom and reflect His heart for the world. It’s not about the size of the dream but the depth of our obedience to what He’s calling us to do. 

Jesus says in Matthew 5:14-16, 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. As believers, it’s our responsibility to make this side of heaven look more like it and to boldly show up for Him, to dream with Him, to shine bright because of Him.  

I’ve heard it said countless times that the world is growing darker, but perhaps, the light is getting dimmer. When we shrink back into comfort zones and avoid stepping out in faith, we dim the very light we're called to carry but let me remind you, darkness is just an absence of light. But when the light reveals itself, the darkness no longer has power. It dissipates. Therefore, blaming the dark for being dark doesn’t solve the problem and when we spend too much time criticizing the darkness—whether in our culture, communities, or even our own hearts—we can lose sight of our own true responsibility: to turn up the brightness of the light within us.  

Dreaming with the Lord is about boldly showing up—for Him and with Him—to a world that desperately needs more than just a vision board. It needs an encounter with Jesus. It needs the bright light of a Savior and like the moon reflects the sun, so are you designed to reflect the light of Jesus. I’m here to remind you today that playing small doesn’t reveal the testimony of Jesus. He didn’t call you to play it safe; He called you to be the light of the world, to step boldly into your calling and reveal His transformative power through your life.  

We cannot lower the standard of Jesus, the Light, to accommodate the darkness we see around us. Not only do we need to speak light into the darkest places, we need to be the light. We need to be a people who are boldly dreaming with the Lord, believing in miracles, stepping out in faith, and partnering with the dreams, visions, and prophetic words that He has placed in our hearts. When we do this, we radiate the truth of Christ and become beacons of hope and transformation, a testimony of God’s power to the world. No matter how dark the world becomes, even a small amount of light can go a long way.  

It’s time! It’s time to stop focusing on the darkness and instead, shine brighter. It’s time to partner with what God is doing, to dream the dreams He is dreaming, and embrace the call: be the light.  

May your bold dreams shine bright!  

Steps to Take:  

Step 1: Light One Candle 
Find one place in your day to intentionally be light—through encouragement, truth, or kindness. 
👉 Practical tip: Text someone a verse or word of life without expecting anything back. 

Step 2: Refuse to Dim Your Light 
Name the area where you’ve been shrinking back. Ask God to help you stand tall. 
👉 Practical tip: Write down: “I will no longer dim my light in ______.” 

Step 3: Reflect the Son 
Don’t force the glow. Just spend time with Jesus and let His light reflect off you. 
👉 Practical tip: Pause for 10 minutes with worship music. Let His presence do the shining. 

💥 You don’t need to be the source—just the reflection. Show up and shine. 

Keep being the light of the world wherever you go. Watch this video for how to successfully pursue your dreams in God’s light, explore my book, or check out my podcast to keep shining with confidence and clarity.