Let your light shine

So Little Woman2Woman are studying a W2W favourite this week, looking at the story of Abigail featured in 1 Samuel Chapter 25. This is a really encouraging story as it highlights the fact that God has a purpose and plan for our lives. That he has gifted us and wants to use us for his glory, if we are willing to use what we have and step up to the challenge.

Have you a desire and passion to do great things for God but you are having a little trouble getting started? Perhaps you are struggling with what it is God is calling you to. Do you look around at others and feel frustrated and envious at the fact that they are using the gifts and talents God has blessed them with but you don’t know what your gifts are or where to start?

Well Abigail probably spent a bit of time wondering if there was any purpose to her life. She maybe gazed out of the kitchen window wondering if there was more out there for her. A purpose, dream or aspiration. Abigail had many qualities however she didn’t always know what they were until her moment came to shine. Perhaps it’s time for you to shine!

Abigail was a courageous, wise and faithful woman and when her time came to shine, she emerged from her corner into the plans that God had for her. Abigail, whose name means joy, had been a faithful wife to her wealthy husband. His name was Nabal, but unlike Abigail, his name means foolish and he was foolish by name and by nature. Nabal was an overbearing, overpowering, drunk of a husband who failed to see the beauty and potential of the wife he had married. More fool him.

. While Abigail worked away in the background serving her husband, she will have heard of the stories of the famous David, of his victory over the giant Goliath, his good looks and his recent feud with King Saul. This is when this story gets exciting as Nabal and his household then discover that David and his men have become their neighbours in the desert of Maon. David is hiding out from King Saul and as a result of David’s presence in the area, Nabal’s livestock and land actually prospered, making Nabal even richer. However, when David sent ten of his men to seek provisions from the wealthy Nabal, “Who is this David? Nabal replied foolishly. Insulting the region’s most powerful man.

It is at this point that Abigail emerges from the shadows. She acts quickly and with wisdom as she thinks on her feet and searches her stores for provisions to meet David’s needs, despite her husband’s arrogance. She gathers together all that she had from her store cupboard and made her way to David. She falls at his feet in reverence of this man of God and bears her heart in a passionate plea. Abigail had lived in the background for years in this marriage, hiding away her talents and beauty.

Is that how you feel today? Have you been stuck in a corner, hiding away your gifts and talents? When the time came she knew exactly what to do and she acted with courage and compassion and David was impressed by her response and blessed her “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! 33 Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands”. By using what she had, the items in her store she prevented bloodshed.

This was just the beginning for Abigail. By allowing her light to shine and not hiding away, she was able to step into even greater plans. What can we learn from this story? Well God has placed gifts and talents inside of each of us and he wants us to use them for his glory. Jesus is the light of the world and his light is within you, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Ask him to reveal to you what is in your store cupboard, what gifts he has given to you and when the time comes seize the opportunity to use them.

Let your light shine