“As Moses came down from Mount Sinai . . . , he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant” (Exodus 34:29)
Do pregnant women really glow? Doctors say yes. A pregnant woman’s skin can flush because her body is making more blood, and her face often shines because her skin glands are especially active. The woman may be aware of things changing inside her, but she is often surprised to learn that other people can see a difference too.
Moses did not know he was beaming. After talking face-to-face with God on the mountain, he probably felt like a changed man, but he never guessed it would be so obvious to everyone else.
And that’s the point. Sometimes we have a hard time seeing what is crystal clear to everyone else: we have changed. By God’s Grace, we are maturing. The Spirit’s activity within us is causing visible signs of that change to the surface.
This means YOU. God’s grace has been active within you. He has been busy breaking up hard ground in your heart. Old habits are becoming less entrenched. You smile more, and you are more careful with your words. Right now, the Spirit’s fruit is growing inside you. Slowly, incrementally, miraculously, you are being transformed from the inside out.
All this activity cannot remain hidden! What’s surprising is that family, neighbors, and coworkers often sense it before you do. You exude an aura of positivity and people are attracted to your vibes. They want to be in your company and they want to know what it is that makes you so joyful and so full of life.
So how about taking some time to look in the mirror today? You might be surprised by what you see. As you reflect on the ways you have changed, do not be afraid to think outside the box. For instance, maybe you have just made it through a major life transition. That is a sign of maturity. Or perhaps you have developed a new skill recently, even if it’s not obviously spiritual. That is growth.
This little exercise may inspire a spirit of gratitude in you. It may even motivate you to keep cooperating with God’s grace so that you will see even more changes. There is always, always more with the Lord. He will never stop pouring out graces on you. So keep drinking it in! Like Moses on the mountain, keep carving out bits of “face time” with God in prayer. Remember: the light of Christ is glowing within you.
“Lord, thank you for your Grace at work in me—and thank you for shining through me!”
I have felt this change in me, slowly but surely. It is indeed, by God’s grace, that He has put me through the fire, and like diamonds, He has been cutting and polishing me to be as shining as the gem that He wishes me to be….with reflective facets and a beacon of light to those who needs the light of God to shine in their lives. For we are all called to “Go forth and glorify God with our lives”
In God we trust.