How to Shine for Jesus: 23 Simple & Practical Ways to Share Your Faith
It can be hard to know how to shine for Jesus, especially in today’s culture.
Because this world can be a very dark place. People can be hostile toward our faith. And sometimes we may simply find it hard to share because we don’t know what to do.
And yet, as Christians, we know we’re supposed to shine for Jesus, share our faith, and tell people about the hope we have.
This is why it can be helpful to learn some simple and practical ways to share our faith.
What does it mean to shine for Jesus?
Shining for Jesus means doing what you can to let your faith show so that other people see Jesus in you. It means living differently from the world around you. So you stand out.
There are many ways to let your light shine. It just takes some creativity, effort, and time. But God is with us every step of the way. Guiding us and giving us opportunities to share our faith.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”
-Isaiah 6:8 NIV
Why is it important to let your light shine?
Jesus told us to go out into the world and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19) This isn’t an optional assignment.
It is a command.
The scary truth is that the people around us will go to Hell if they don’t accept Christ. This should be enough to motivate us to shine our light so they will want to know more about Jesus.
But it isn’t even just about how awful Hell is.
It’s also about how wonderful Heaven is. And what they will miss out on if they don’t turn to Jesus.
Because life is so much easier when you know that Someone is right by your side. Someone who sees you. Knows you. And dearly loves you.
Those who don’t have Jesus don’t have a lot of hope. This life is all there is. There really isn’t much to look forward to. And when things go wrong it can feel devastating.
This is why it is important to let our lights shine.
So, we can point other people to the One, True Light. The Savior who can truly make a difference in their lives.
The people around us desperately need Jesus . . . they just don’t know it yet.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
-Matthew 28:19 NIV
23 Practical Ways to Let Your Light Shine
Shining our lights for Jesus sounds great. And it’s obvious why we need to do so. But what does this mean practically? How do we shine for Jesus in our everyday lives?
The following 23 simple and practical ways to let your light shine will help you find ideas to start showing off your faith.
So, everyone around you will see the difference a relationship with Jesus can make.
1) Shine for Jesus by . . .praying often. And asking God to give you opportunities.
It might seem obvious that we need to pray about this. But it can be easy to get so caught up in our own crazy, chaotic lives that we forget to pray for the lost souls around us.
We need to pray fervently for them.
And we need to ask the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say while guiding us to those He wants us to reach out to each day.
2) Shine for Jesus by . . . spending time with Him.
If we want to shine for Jesus, then we need to connect to the source of our light. He is the One who shines through us. It’s not something we can manufacture on our own.
The more we spend time with Him, the more He shines through us.
3) Shine for Jesus by . . . smiling at everyone.
Even just a simple smile helps to put everyone around you in a better mood. It puts people at ease. And can open doors of opportunity to talk with people.
Plus, it’s really easy to do!
4) Shine for Jesus by . . . asking people how they’re doing. And genuinely listening to their answer.
How many times do we ask people how they are in passing while not really paying attention to their answers?
What if we changed this?
What if we paused for a moment, looked into their eyes, and said, “So, how are you doing, REALLY?”
Maybe, just maybe, we could give people a safe place to be honest about their struggles. Which in turn will help to build our relationships with them. And give us an opportunity to point them to the One who can really help them.
5) Shine for Jesus by . . . giving genuine compliments often.
Don’t you just love it when someone tells you they love your outfit, the color of your shirt, the earrings you’re wearing, or the new style of your hair?
It makes you feel good, right?
What if we took the time to do this for other people? What if we slowed down enough to notice the great things about people and complimented them on it?
We may just end up making someone’s day!
6) Shine for Jesus by . . . being there for people.
Maybe this seems obvious, but people are more willing to listen to us talk about our faith when they realize that we actually care about them. Showing them this will take some time and effort, though.
Because being there for people means you don’t just say, “Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”
It means saying something like, “I’m making a double batch of lasagna on Thursday night, and I’ll be bringing one of them over to your house. Does 6 o’clock work to drop that off?”
Being there for people requires us to put actions behind our words.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
-Matthew 5:16 NIV
7) Shine for Jesus by . . . using your passions to make a difference in the world.
We all have things we care passionately about. And God can use our passions to make a difference in this world.
Maybe you love coffee. So, you decide to buy a fancy coffee machine and then invite the neighbors over for a hot cup of joe and good conversation.
Or maybe you love to sing. So, you get up on stage and lead your church’s congregation in amazing worship services.
Or maybe you were diagnosed with a chronic illness. And now you’re passionate about helping other women with health issues grow closer to the God who fervently loves them. So, you write stuff for them. (Well, maybe this one is just me!)
The point is God can use ANYTHING you love to bless the people around you.
It may take some time, effort, and creativity . . . but believe me, it will be worth it.
So, pray about it.
Surrender your passions to God. And ask the Holy Spirit to show you how He can use them for the good of others. And His glory.
8) Shine for Jesus by . . . sharing your hope.
I have a plaque in my kitchen that reads:
“It’s easy to be pleasant,
When life goes by with a song.
But the man worthwhile,
Is the man who can smile.
When everything else goes wrong.”
When we smile, laugh, and allow the joy we have in Jesus to show, especially during the hard times in life, the people around us take notice.
It makes them want to know why we’re so happy all the time. Why we have hope when life feels hopeless. Why we can smile and have so much joy, even on the days when tears are pouring down our face.
And that’s when we can tell them the reason for our hope.
The fact that Jesus is with us every step of the way. And that He has made a way for all of us to be saved.
So, we can spend eternity with Him. In a place where there will be no more crying, suffering, or pain.
9) Shine for Jesus by . . . being grateful.
As humans, it’s our natural inclination to complain. It just comes easy.
So, when we find someone who doesn’t complain a lot and seems to be really grateful for everything . . . it makes them stand out.
Which in turn makes people wonder what makes them different.
And that is when we can tell them the difference Jesus makes.
“Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”
-1 Chronicles 16:23-24 ESV
10) Shine for Jesus by . . . giving what you can.
Giving doesn’t just mean money. It can also mean giving of your time, talents, or abilities.
Maybe you can’t give a ton of money away. But can you volunteer for an hour? Can you organize an event? Can you find a way to serve even if it’s in an unconventional way?
When people see us being generous with our time, talents, and money, it makes them realize the genuineness of our faith.
11) Shine for Jesus by . . . empathizing with others.
We will be more prone to want to shine for Jesus when we stop and consider the struggles people are going through.
When we have empathy for them it fuels our compassion.
And reminds us that everyone needs Jesus.
12) Shine for Jesus . . . by listening to understand. Not to respond.
When people talk, really listen to them. Try to understand where they’re coming from.
You may not agree with them, but just the fact that you took the time to listen makes them a lot more willing to listen to you.
People don’t need you to preach at them.
They need someone who will listen, seek to understand, and meet them where they are at.
And when we do that, we can start pointing them to Jesus.
13) Shine for Jesus by . . . being kind. Even when others are unkind.
When we are kind to those around us, even when they are unkind, it makes them wonder about us.
- What makes us so different?
- Why are we being so nice?
- What gives us the strength to not respond in kind when they are being mean and unruly?
14) Shine for Jesus by . . . taking a deep breath and being patient. Even when you’re met with impatience.
This one goes with the one above it. When we take a deep breath and are patient with those around us, even when they are being impatient with us . . . it makes them want to know more about our Jesus.
I know it’s hard.
But the Holy Spirit will help you.
Take a deep breath. And remember by being patient with them, you’re shining the light of Jesus into their dark world.
And being the kind of person that makes them want to take another look at Jesus.
15) Shine for Jesus by . . . living out your faith.
There is a great song by DC Talk called, “What If I Stumble?”
At the beginning of it, there is a guy who comes on and says:
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians. Who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
The world is watching you.
Waiting to see if your faith really makes a difference in the way you live. So, ask yourself . . . does your lifestyle make others want to know more about the God you serve?
Or does your life just look like the rest of the world’s?
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
-Ephesians 5:8 NIV
16) Shine for Jesus by . . . putting your faith into action.
Serve those around you. Notice them. Listen to them. And find ways to go above and beyond for them.
Like:
- Opening the door for them.
- Making a meal or dessert and taking it to them . . . just because.
- Inviting them out for coffee.
- Or over for dinner.
- Offering to watch their children after school until they get home from work . . . and not charging them.
Put your faith into action. And people will want to know about the difference your faith makes.
“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
-James 2:18 ESV
17) Shine for Jesus by . . . offering to pray for people.
Often even people who aren’t Christians will still appreciate prayer. So, go ahead and tell people you will pray for them.
This automatically lets them know you are a Christian . . . which opens the door up for future conversations. Plus, it makes them feel good. It shows them that you care about them.
But don’t just say you will pray for them . . . actually do so.
Make a note or add a reminder on your phone. And then check up with them later on.
If a week later you say, “Hey, I’ve been praying for you and just wanted to check in to see how you are doing.” It will really show them how much you care.
And when people know how much you care, they will care more about what you care about.
And if you’re feeling brave, offer to pray for them right then and there.
It doesn’t matter if the prayer is awkward, or you don’t know what to say. The point is to love on them and bring them before God’s throne.
Praying for someone is more about loving them than worrying about what they will think of you.
18) Shine for Jesus by . . . talking about Jesus in your everyday, casual conversations.
For example, when asked what you did for the weekend, mention that you went to church and learned this fascinating thing about such and such. Or talk about a Bible verse you’re memorizing.
This lets people know where you stand spiritually. And they will know who to talk to when they’re going through something difficult.
Plus, the more you find a way to sneak spiritual things into your everyday conversations the more natural it will feel to talk about these things. Like who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and what He can do for the people we’re talking to.
“For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
-Acts 13:47 NIV
19) Shine for Jesus by . . . being intentional.
No matter where you are seek to use your words, thoughts, prayers, and actions to shine the light of Jesus into this dark world.
Oftentimes just making the effort to be intentional about trying to shine our light makes it easier to find opportunities to do so.
Whether that is holding the door for someone, smiling and saying, “Good morning!”, striking up a conversation in the waiting room, or simply praying silently for everyone around you.
There are endless ways we can shine for Jesus every day.
20) Shine for Jesus by . . . being curious about people.
Who are they? What makes them unique? Why are they the way they are? What is their story?
When we get curious about other people it makes us want to get to know them. As we get to know them, we get a feel for where they are spiritually and then we can go from there.
And as we get to know them, we’ll develop a relationship with them. Which in turn makes us a safe place for them to ask their own questions.
So, be curious about people and think about some good questions to ask them. Questions that will get the conversation going. And help you get to know them better.
21) Shine for Jesus by . . . engaging in conversations that move to spiritual things.
When we’re curious about people, we get better at engaging them in conversations. And this in turn gives us the opportunity to steer the conversation to spiritual things.
Leading to questions like:
- What do you think about Jesus?
- Would you consider yourself to be on a spiritual journey?
- What do you believe about God?
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news . . .”
-Isaiah 52:7 NIV
22) Shine for Jesus . . . by being open-minded.
Think about this once.
Instead of arguing with someone you know on a social media post, why not send them a message that says, “I would love to hear more about what you think on this. Would you like to get coffee sometime?”
Then over coffee, listen to them with an open mind.
Not everyone thinks the way you do. And that’s okay.
You don’t have to agree with them. And many times, you won’t.
But you can try to see their point of view. You can try to comprehend how they came to their conclusion.
Because no matter how crazy they sound . . . there is a reason behind their reasoning.
And when you know what that is, it will give you a better glimpse into who they are and how to reach them for Jesus.
23) Shine for Jesus by . . . sharing your personal testimony.
Tell others about what God has done for you. This is hands down one of the best ways to shine for Jesus.
No one can argue with your story. No one can debate how you feel about Jesus and the way your life has changed since getting to know Him.
So, share your story.
Come up with a 30-second synopsis of what your life was like before and after Jesus.
Memorize it.
And share it whenever you can.
For an example here is mine:
I used to be depressed and lonely. All I tried to do was find relief from the pain in my heart with anything and everything BUT God. However, nothing worked. So, I finally decided to give God a chance. Since inviting Jesus into my life I’ve become joyful and overwhelmed by God’s love for me. He has healed my wounds and revived my broken heart.
How to shine for Jesus.
We shine for the Lord the most when we are intentional about it and when we genuinely care about the people around us. These are the ways we arise and shine.
This is how we actively live out our faith.
We are intentional about looking for opportunities to be kind and to serve those around us. Even those who are quite different from us.
We don’t hide. We aren’t silent.
We lean on Jesus when we feel afraid . . . knowing the Holy Spirit will help us learn how to step out in bold faith. So, we can rise up and become the spiritual warriors we have been called to be.
Knowing God will give us the strength to keep loving on people whenever we can. And the courage to keep speaking up about the hope we have.
It’s time to pray up. Rise up. And shine on for Jesus.
Because there are broken souls all around us who are lost in the dark and desperately need Jesus to heal their broken hearts.
They need an encounter with the light of Jesus Christ.
So, let’s get out there and shine!
If you find this inspiring, then please share it so it can inspire others to get out there and shine their lights, too!
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