I had something strange happen to me yesterday evening. I went outside to take out the trash, and the sky captured my attention. It had an otherworldly appearance and I've never seen anything like it. It was covered with dense, thick, dark clouds, like a heavy blanket. Yet in the midst of the cloud blanket, there was a narrow strip of blue. And in that blue the sun was shining as bright as I have ever seen it, primarily because its light was concentrated in that one area since the clouds were preventing the light from diffusion.

I paused to look around my neighborhood. The effects from the sky on the neighborhood was a peculiar mix of sunshine and shadow. It captivated me so much that I sat down on the bench outside of my front door. Then, I heard the Lord clearly say to me that what I was seeing is what is happening in the world now. Storm clouds are gathering. The world is only going to get darker, but it is an opportunity for his people to shine brighter. The brightness of the light will draw others to us who are looking for a way out of the darkness. And we must be ready.

After He said that, I said out loud, "I will shine for you Lord."

Then I went back into the house. A little later, I walked past my windows and out of curiosity decided to look out of the front door to see if the sky was the same. But the sun was now hidden and the clouds had completely taken over.

This experience made me recall this scripture from Proverbs 21:17-21, which I had just read a few days prior in my private bible study:

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
So that your trust may be in the LORD;
I have instructed you today, even you.
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?

As the scripture says, we must be ready to answer words of truth to those who come to us. You are someone's answer because you contain God's word of truth within you. You are like the sunshine, a beacon in times of darkness.

If this currently does not describe you and you desire it, it is not too late. Ask the Lord to awaken within you a hunger to study his word. One thing I always ask before I study is for God to prepare the soil of my heart, and make it good ground. I ask him to break up the fallow ground and stony places, and to remove any thorns or weeds (worries and cares) that might choke the word and prevent it from flourishing there.

I ask him to sink the high quality seed of his word deep into my heart so that I understand it and build up my character so that when troubles come, I will have root within myself to endure them. And I ask God to help me to cultivate his word in my heart so that I bring forth a 100-fold return of righteousness, peace, and joy, giving glory to his kingdom.

My ministry is encouraging God's people to choose the way of health in every respect, physically, mentally, and spiritually. As you know, I was once 85 pounds overweight. Back then I was so focused on my own unhappiness with my weight - low energy, depression, and aches and pains that came with it that it hindered me from being about my Father's business.

While at first I cared about reaching my ideal weight for appearance sake, now I realize it is about much more than that. It is about taking care of my health so that I can be of more use for the kingdom. It was about removing this clear hindrance to me fulfilling my calling.

I knew that I could be someone's answer if I could only look past myself and in humility recognize that I could not overcome my food addiction by myself. I needed God's help. And in surrendering to him, he came through for me and is enabling me to use my painful experiences to write to you today.

So please, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you today if there are any habits that you are harboring that are hindering you from your destiny, which is to become someone's answer by drawing them to Christ.

The time is short, but you can redeem the time. I urge you to start today, for your sake and for those you are destined to help.

"I'll take care of me for you, if you'll take care of you for me." - Jim Rohn