Radiating love

In my devotions yesterday, the lesson talked about examples in the Bible of those that "spelled" words of God's truth to others. It reminded me of Joseph, of Daniel, of Nehemiah, of Lydia. Then it asked me what words each of these people spelled with their lives. Faith. Hospitality. Purity. Steadfastness. The final thing it asked me to do was to write a prayer to God, asking him to use me to spell something beautiful with my life. The result was a request to radiate His love. I've experienced a lot of hurt, and a lot of rejection in my life. As a result, I've tried to to do the exact opposite for those I come across. But it was my desire to show them that I was a good person, that I deserved to be loved, an attempt to prevent others from rejecting me again. At the same time, I keep people at arms length. I don't let them get close. Instead of radiating God's love, I radiate fear, and distrust.

Lord, help me to radiate who you are to those in my life. Help me, Father, to be a light to those in darkness. Help me to shine for you. Doing it on my own doesn't work. Help me, Lord, to spell "Love" to those around me. Amen.