Shedding Light Ministries

07/19/2026

Put the Word First

by Gloria Copeland

“[For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing].... Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.” Proverbs 4:7-8, The Amplified Bible

I want to tell you the only real secret to getting ahead in this world. It’s simple. Put the Word of God first place in your daily life.

“Well,” you may be saying, “I’ve heard that before. It’s no secret.” But when you understand what I mean, it could be a revelation to you.

You see, the Bible is not just a textbook, a storybook or a history book. It’s a handbook for living. It’s the wisdom of Almighty God written down so that you can apply it to your everyday circumstances.

God says that wisdom is the “principal thing.” Principal means “first in importance.” That means the Word of God needs to occupy the place of highest importance in all of your activities. I know from experience what an impact that can have on your life.

Twenty years ago I decided to read the Gospels and the book of Acts three times in 30 days. It seemed an impossible task at the time. With two small children and my house turned upside down from a recent move, I couldn’t see how I could possibly spend that much time reading the Word and still get everything done. But I set myself to put other things aside and do it anyway.

Surprisingly enough, at the end of the first day I had accomplished more than I would have under normal circumstances. And by the end of that 30 days, I’d not only read the Gospels and Acts three times, I’d kept all my housework done, taken care of my children, and refinished several pieces of furniture to boot! I was amazed.

You’ll be amazed at what happens in your life too, if you give God’s Word priority. But let me warn you, don’t wait until you think you have the time. Satan will see to it that you never do.

Just do like I did and set other things aside. Invest your time in the Word first and that investment will soon be paying off in every area of your life.

04/03/2026

03/22/2026



Wake up, and look up.... give thanks to Jesus for what He has done, feel Him in your midst right now. 

His presence is with you. No matter how dark the valley or how breathtaking the mountain top - God's presence isn't far from you. He's nearer than you think. 

Are you experiencing a valley today?

In your finances? 

In your marriage? 

In your relationships? 

In your health?

In your sickness?

In your depression, worry, and anxiety?

The presence of your pain is not the absence of the Loving presence of your Heavenly Father. We learn more about the presence of God in the valley than we ever will on the mountaintop. 

There's value in the valley. It's vital that you understand that God doesn't take us through the shadows to destroy us, but He does it to develop our faith. The moments we feel hopeless are the moments we will actually humbly seek God's help. You weren't created to walk apart from His Spirit. Don't do life alone. You won't make it that way. 

The great spiritual danger we face is not in suddenly sprinting away from God but allowing your heart to slowly drift from His presence. 

Today, you may be filled with questions for God – facing new unknowns. 

He is the God over all we don’t know—over every question, struggle, trouble and fear in our hearts. He's an all powerful God who walks with us and holds our hand through every storm. Psalms 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Our valleys do not threaten His love, nor does it obstruct His goodness and kindness. And they certainly don’t change His attention and His heart's affection towards us. 

Invite Jesus into every moment of your day, whether it’s filled with highs or lows, whether it’s a glorious day or a dark night of the soul. Amen!

02/12/2026

I don't know who this is for but the Lord wants you to know the battles you fought for so long and the suffering you endured is not in vain! God uses everything for his goodness it was to build you up to the soldier that you have become for his kingdom. EVERYTHING you endured will be used to help others walk out there freedom. He's proud of the person you have become continue walking out your freedom with your head high and your crown straightened on your head! Phil. 4:13

01/25/2026

My heart is so moved seeing people on fire for God especially the youth praying and worshipping! What a night of Praise 🥰🙌🙏

01/18/2026

God, in His Goodness, Protects and Directs You

“My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11 (TLB)

Shepherds carry tools to care for and protect their sheep. They use a rod for guarding and protecting, and they use a curved staff to rescue the sheep.

We are like lost sheep in need of protection and direction—so Jesus came to earth to be our Good Shepherd. He said, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11 TLB).

Just as a shepherd uses the physical tools of the rod and the staff for direction and protection, God wants to direct and protect you. Here are two ways he does that:

If you follow him, Jesus leads you in the right direction.

You need a guide—Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who leads from the front and calls you forward. This is different from a cowboy, who drives cattle from the back. Jesus is not going to push you through life. He gets in front of you and essentially says, “Watch how I do it. Look where I go.”

John 10:4 says, “When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice” (CEV).

If you bring your hurts to him, Jesus is compassionate.

Jesus has compassion on us, because he knows that we are helpless without him. Matthew 9:36 says, “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (NIV). The sense in the original Greek text is that Jesus hurt deeply for the people in the crowd and wanted to help them.

In the same way, when you bring your pain to Jesus, he doesn’t put you down; he lifts you up. He doesn’t hassle you; he heals you.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd, who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 ESV). Because of his goodness, you can trust him to direct and protect you.

In what direction is Jesus leading you right now in your work? Your family? Your community? Your church? Your relationships?