Shining faith, the kind that stands strong in a crisis or points others to God’s grace in Christ is my daily goal. But sometimes I fall short. Thankfully, God continues the good work He began in my potentially faithful heart. If that’s you too, there is a lot for us to glean from this week’s guest writer, Bonnie Beardsley. The topic this week on the Joy to The Soul Summer series is “Having Faith to Shine Like the Sun.” Thanks Bonnie!

I love summer, as long as it is Arizona’s dry heat. But I live in Texas now and it is very humid. It’s changed how much time I can spend in the sun. With the humidity, it is a lot shorter.

However, one of my favorite verses is Judges 5:31 (NKJV), which compares the friends of God to the sun at its full strength.

“Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength.”

What happens if we love God with all of our heart? Let’s look at what happens to a person when they’re exposed to the sun at its full power.

The first thing that comes to my mind is it creates thirst.

The dry heat causes a thirst only water can quench. Likewise, we are to create a thirst for God with everyone we meet and lead them to Jesus, the Living Water.

I had a friend, who was curious about why I didn’t pray to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Through my intense study of the Bible, I was able to share John 14:6, where Jesus stated He was the only way to the Father.

We need to soak up God’s Word to give the living water to those who thirst for more of knowing Christ.

The strength of the sun can be used to purify an object.

I remember when I was in first grade, I had the chicken pox. My mom found them when she parted my hair as she was getting me ready for school. It left a big scar on the top of my head.

At the time, I had a “Dick and Jane” book home from school. To make the book was chicken pox free, my mother set it out in the sun to disinfect it.

As we love like Jesus does, it draws people to Him.

They can also experience the Son’s light purifying them of their sin.

Sunshine heals.

I know about the warnings for skin cancer through overexposure to the sun; but it can also heal. I’ve fought MRSA Staph for most of my life. Antibiotics did nothing for it. After seeing my current doctor, I added a healing regiment of sun exposure for ten to fifteen minutes. The next day the color had faded and shrunk considerably.

We are to help heal those who have a broken heart or wounded relationships by exposing them to the Son, the Great Physician, through our actions and our words as a reflection of His love.

The sun strengthens the very core of our body.

It helps make Vitamin D, which in turn makes a natural steroid that strengthens the body – in the immune system and our bones.

There are many reports of athletes using the sun to strengthen their bodies. As the body of Christ, His followers are strengthened as we seek unity with each other. (see Ephesians 4:12-13).

My preference for the dry heat of Arizona over the humidity of Texas, reminds me pure air is best and so is a pure heart. If we are bitter, angry, jealous or have a hidden agenda – these emotions eclipse the Son in us and make us less effective messengers for God. So this summer when we’re out in the golden rays, may love of the Son come shining through!

After running from what God had called her to do, Bonnie Beardsley found joy in writing for him. She is currently in the middle of writing her first book on Rahab and a devotional for women. She is a Word Weavers International group president. Her blog, More Than Just Coffee, can be found at www.bonniebeardsley.com. You can also connect with Bonnie on Facebook or Twitter.