Living On Purpose In Christ | Journaling Prompts, Biblical Encouragement, Aromatherapy, Devotions, Bible Study, God's Peace

95 | How to Be a Light for Christ: Simple Ways to Touch, Help and Bless Others

• Paula Behrens | Christian Coach, Pastor, Certified Aroma Freedom Practitioner • Season 2

Share episode

Find the full episode here >>> PaulaBehrens.com/blog

Have you ever wondered if your small actions truly matter in God's grand design? Those moments when you offer a kind word, send an encouraging text, or simply pause to truly see someone—these aren't just nice gestures. They're powerful beacons of light in a darkened world.

When Jesus told his followers they were "the light of the world," he wasn't addressing spiritual superstars. He spoke to ordinary people with messy lives and real struggles. That's good news for us today. You don't need to wait until your spiritual life feels perfect before making an impact. Your light—His light through you—shines right where you are, even amid busy schedules and imperfect prayers.

Being a light isn't about how eloquently you can speak about faith or how many Bible studies you lead. It's about presence—creating space where others encounter God's love through your genuine care. Sometimes the most profound ministry happens in seemingly small moments: listening without rushing to give advice, offering a prayer with a coworker, or holding a baby so a new mom can get a much needed nap. These actions may feel insignificant, but they're exactly how God's light pierces through darkness. As Galatians 6:9 reminds us, "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Your consistent faithfulness, even when it feels unseen, is sowing seeds that will one day bloom into a harvest of faith in your family and beyond. Ready to shine brighter? Visit paulabehrens.com/coaching to discover how the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour can help you connect more deeply with God and carry His peace forward as a steady beacon of faith.

Send us a text

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> BiblicalBoundariesForWomen.com

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Printable Bible Study for Women >>> PaulaBehrens.com/members

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Paula Behrens:

Friend, have you ever wondered how your small everyday actions can actually make an eternal difference? Have you felt the nudge to bless someone but weren't sure where to start, or if it would even matter? Or maybe you're carrying the weight of wanting to shine for Christ in your family but you feel like your light is flickering in the middle of busyness and spiritual battles. Well, you are not alone in that feeling. We, we've all been there. But here's the good news the light you carry isn't your own, it's His. And today we're diving deep into what it means to be a light for Christ and how to live in such a way that others are touched, helped and blessed through your presence.

Paula Behrens:

But first funny story when I first began my seminary work while serving two church congregations full-time, everyone assumed I had my daily devotional time perfectly organized. But truth be told, there were mornings I could barely find five minutes to catch my breath, let alone dive into deep reflection. One day, as I rushed out the door with mismatched shoes, I realized that even in my chaos there was a lesson. Embracing God's grace and self-forgiveness, I realized that true success in my devotional life requires prioritizing my spiritual practices.

Paula Behrens:

Are you finding it challenging to maintain your spiritual practices or yearning for a more peaceful, God-aligned day? I'm Paula, and I've been there too. Balancing spiritual habits with a busy life can be difficult. I longed for a deeper connection with God, but struggled with consistency. Then I found the perfect approach. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you.

Paula Behrens:

Hey friend, I know what it's like to feel far from God, even when you're doing all the right things. You're showing up, you're praying, you're reading the Bible, but inside something feels disconnected. You wonder if you're doing enough, if God is even listening. You feel a little ashamed that your quiet time isn't what it used to be or what you hoped it would be. Well, I want you to know you're not alone and you're not failing. God isn't asking you for perfection. He's just asking for your presence. That's what the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour is all about, no pressure, no performance, just presence. Let me walk with you into a slower, spirit-led devotional routine that will help you reconnect with the One who's been waiting to refresh your soul all along. Now's the time to say yes to peace, to say yes to presence. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour at paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in.

Paula Behrens:

When Jesus stood before his followers and said you are the light of the world, he wasn't talking to perfect people who had it all figured out. He was speaking to ordinary men and women who were still learning what it meant to walk in faith. These were fishermen, tax collectors, moms, dads, laborers, people with doubts, struggles and messy lives. And that's good news for us, because it means that we don't have to wait until our lives look flawless to make an impact. We can shine right where we are, in the middle of our messy kitchens, our stretched thin schedules and our imperfect prayers.

Paula Behrens:

Being a light for Christ is not about how loud you can speak or how much you can accomplish. It's about being present with people in such a way that they sense God's Love, God's Peace and God's Truth through you. Sometimes we imagine being a light means preaching a sermon, leading a Bible study or doing something really big. And yes, those things have their place. But more often it's the little things that God uses, the small, consistent choices that ripple out and touch lives in ways, we may never fully see this side of heaven. Think about this for a moment. When was the last time someone blessed you with a small act of kindness? Maybe it was a smile at the grocery store on a hard day. Maybe it was a friend texting to say she was praying for you. Maybe it was your child or your grandchild slipping a little, drawing into your Bible. These moments are tiny flickers of light, but they have the power to brighten up a very dark room. Light, by its nature, can't be hidden, we know that. Even the faintest nightlight changes the atmosphere in a pitch dark space. That's what your faith does when you offer it, no matter how small it feels.

Paula Behrens:

I remember during my years as a pastor, sitting with parishioners who carried such heavy burdens, grief, betrayal, exhaustion, questions of worth. Sometimes they came hoping I would have the big answers and, yes, I always leaned on scripture and prayer, but do you know, what they told me mattered most? It was the fact that I listened, that I cared enough to hold space for their tears, that I reminded them of who they were in Christ, when they had forgotten. Those were small moments, quiet moments, but over and over again, God showed me that his light shines brightest when we simply make room for him to work through us. The truth is, the people around you are carrying heavy loads, worries about money, fear about their children's future, silent grief they don't even have words for. You may not see it written across their faces, but it's there. And sometimes God places you right in their path as a reminder that they are seen, loved and not alone.

Paula Behrens:

Sometimes the most Christ-like thing you can do is simply notice someone, to pause long enough to say, I see you. That kind of presence is rare in our rushed, distracted culture these days, and it shines bright against the backdrop of darkness. So how do we do this in practical ways? How do we touch, help and bless others, even when we feel like we're running on empty?

Paula Behrens:

Well, one way is through encouraging words. Proverbs 16, verse 24 says: "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body". Speaking life into someone doesn't cost you anything, but it can mean everything to the person hearing it. I can't tell you how many times I've watched a friend's face soften in relief when she finally hears, you're doing better than you think or God hasn't forgotten you. Sometimes that one phrase is enough to remind her that she's not abandoned and that God is still working through her story. You know, your words may be the very tool God uses to break through someone's despair. Never underestimate the healing power of a spirit-led word spoken at the right time.

Paula Behrens:

Another way to shine bright against the backdrop of darkness is through little things, acts of service. These things don't have to be big and they don't have to be elaborate. It's things like making a meal for someone or holding a baby so a new mom can take a much needed nap, or offering a prayer with a co-worker or simply listening without rushing to give advice. All these things are ways we can shine God's light into the life of another, and often it's not just the act itself but the heart behind it. When people sense that you've slowed down long enough to care about them, they glimpse Christ's heart through you. It's not about perfection, it's about presence. I've seen this firsthand in my coaching practice.

Paula Behrens:

Women often come into sessions weary and overwhelmed, almost apologizing for not doing enough in their walk with God. But when we walk through the Peace RESET together, a simple, Spirit-led process of pausing, breathing, bringing thoughts captive to Christ, and allowing him to replace old lies with his truth, when that happens, something shifts. I remember one woman in particular. She came in carrying the heavy weight of feeling like a failure in her home. But as we moved gently through the peace reset, using natural, God-designed aromas to help her calm her body and release the negative charge attached to those painful memories, she began to soften. With scripture guiding her thoughts and prayer anchoring her heart, the truth of God's love began to break through. By the end of our time together, her face looked different, lighter, calmer, more hopeful. She told me, I feel like I can breathe again. Nothing extravagant happened. We didn't solve every life problem, but God used that intentional sacred space to release tension, quiet the inner noise and restore peace. That's what being a light looks like in real time, creating room for God to restore what's broken, so his light can shine more clearly through us.

Paula Behrens:

Now you may wonder, why do we include natural aromas in the Peace RESET? Well, the answer goes back to how God designed our bodies. Our sense of smell is directly connected to the limbic system of the brain, the part that stores emotions and memories. But here's the beautiful truth, God gave us these natural aromas not just for enjoyment, but also as tools for healing. When we pair these aromas with an intentional, step-by-step technique designed by a clinical psychologist, they gently help us release the negative charge attached to past memories or trauma. What once triggered fear, shame or sadness can lose its grip as a sense of peace takes its place.

Paula Behrens:

In Psalm 51, verse 7, David prayed, Purge me with hyssop and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. This verse reminds us that God's cleansing power reaches every part of our being. Through His Spirit, and even through natural, God-designed aromas like hyssop, he gently purifies our hearts and helps us let go of the pain caused by old wounds that are trying to hold us captive. Through the Peace RESET, women experience the freedom of letting go and the joy of receiving God's truth in a very tangible way. It's a reminder that he created our minds, bodies and spirits to work together in harmony and that his design is always good.

Paula Behrens:

And here's something we often forget. Our light grows brighter when we take time to sit with the source. You cannot pour from an empty cup. The closer you are to Christ in your daily rhythms whether that's reading scripture in the quiet of the morning or praying while you fold laundry or journaling your gratitude before bed the more naturally his light will spill out of you. Have you noticed how a fluorescent light that's being unplugged slowly dims until it flickers out? That's what happens when we try to serve others without staying connected to Jesus. But when we remain plugged into his presence, we shine consistently, steady, dependable, and warm. That is why I often say small steps, add up. Give yourself room to breathe, make it doable today. Maybe your small step is opening your Bible to just one verse. Maybe it's whispering a prayer on the school run. Maybe it's pausing before you go to bed to say, Lord, thank you for this day. These small choices will anchor you to the source and from that anchor you will shine.

Paula Behrens:

Friend, I know you may be feeling stretched thin. You want to witness to your family, but sometimes you feel spiritually alone. You want your kids to grow up knowing Jesus, but it feels like such a heavy responsibility. Can I remind you, you don't have to carry this alone. God is faithful to work through even the smallest seeds you plant. Your whispered prayers, your patient endurance, your daily choice to forgive, your decision to open the Bible, even when you're tired, these things matter.

Paula Behrens:

Galatians, chapter 6, verse 9, says: Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Your consistency, even when it feels unseen, is sowing seeds that will one day bloom into a harvest of faith in your family and beyond. When you live with Christ at the center, you become a lighthouse without even realizing it. People will be drawn to the peace you carry, the steady faith you cling to, and the hope that shines even in trials. Think about this. A lighthouse doesn't chase the ships. It simply shines faithfully, steadily, and ships find their way because of its presence. That's what your faith can do in the lives of others.

Paula Behrens:

So let me leave you with a reflection. Who in your life right now needs a gentle touch of God's light through you? What small act, maybe a note, a prayer, a listening ear could you offer them today? Remember, being a light isn't about you shining the brightest in the room, it's about pointing others to the One who is the Light of the world.

Paula Behrens:

If you're longing to release the weight of old hurts, calm the swirl of overwhelm and step into God's presence in a deeper way, I'd love to invite you to a one-on-one Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour plus Peace RESET. During this session, we'll walk through a gentle, spirit-led process that uses God's designed aromas to help release the negative charge of past memories and restore your heart to wholeness. You'll also walk away with a simple devotional rhythm and printable resources that work for your current season of life, something that will keep you connected to God without adding more pressure. Our goal is to give you both freedom and clarity so you can carry God's Peace forward and shine his Light as a steady beacon of faith in your family. You can save your seat today by going to paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). Book your session now, while the Peace RESET is still on the table.

Paula Behrens:

Thank you for tuning in today and remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more women like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next time as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time.