Shining Faces

For my morning devotions I read a prayer written by Pastor Charles R. Flanders of London, Ontario, Canada from:

"God's Minute, A Book of 365 Daily Prayers Sixty Seconds Long for Home Worship"

Portions of the prayer include:

"Our Father, teach us how to speak to Thee.   May Thy Spirit lead us into the light, for we know so little about Thee and are so dull and slow to learn.....Bless our home today and all who are in it.  May we always be gentle and loving, and seek to make all about us happy.  

Help us to have a shining face

and especially when we meet Thy other children who are sad and in trouble.  ...."

A shining face.

Moses had a shining face when he came down from the mountain after having a face to face with God.  In Exodus 34, it tells us that the people were afraid of Moses and his shining face.  Moses then put a veil over his face so he could share with the people the Words of God.  And the people believed.  

Jesus came to this earth and walked as the presence of God.  He was light and He even stated in the Gospel of John "I am the LIght of the World."  The Gospel of John begins: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning....  In Him was life and that life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness....."

To me shining faces are faces that look to the Light of God, to those that hear His Word, to those who reflect His love.  When I first read the prayer and read the petition "help us to have a shining face," these two pictures came immediately to my mind:

My granddaughters, Lily and Betty certainly have shining faces!  They radiate love and joy, happiness and life itself!  I believe that these shining faces come about because Lily and Betty know that they are loved and cared for.  They have experienced delight and joy and are safe in that keeping therefore they reflect the light that results in all that love and care.

I, too, desire to reflect God's Light of love and care.  I, too, desire to show forth a shining face, a face that reflects the Light of God.  That is my prayer today.  

Thank You, O Heavenly Father, for Your unfailing love and care.  For Your many blessings, for Your watchful eye over me and my family.  Thank You.  Now, make me a reflection of Your Light, Lord.  Make my face shine forth of Your love and goodness, Your healing and hope, Your forgiveness and transforming power.  Grant me a shining face, all for Your glory,  Amen.