Is there a Shadow on your Canvas?

I read in a devotion this morning, that Michelangelo painted with his brush in one hand and a candle in the other. This was to prevent his shadow from being cast onto the canvas and thus covering his work in progress.

We, like that canvas, are a work in progress. Is our shadow being cast onto our own life's canvas? Is it blocking others from being able to see the work of Jesus and His glory on our canvas?

So many times, I know that I get too focused on what others think of me in worldly terms. There are many things in all our lives that draw attention away from God and onto ourselves. Things that shout out, "Hey! Look at me!"

Our cars, our clothes, our hairstyles, our careers, our homes and even our successes.

These are the kinds of things that make life 'all about us'. When life becomes all about us, it is hard for others to see Jesus in us. Living for ourselves accomplishes nothing more that casting our own shadow on the canvas that should be reflecting His Presence in our lives.

I have been so guilty of this. It is so easy to lose sight of our purpose. It is easy to allow our own shadow to be cast upon that canvas.

Paul warned the believers in Corinth that 'No flesh should glory in His presence." (1 Corinthians 1:29)

This is a warning about getting too full of ourselves. A warning that I can assure you I need daily. A warning that smacked me right in the face when I read it.

As the Lord is in the process of painting my life's canvas, I need to keep "me" out of the way. I don't want my shadow cast on that canvas and preventing Him from doing His mighty work in my life. I want the image of Christ reflected there. I want others to be able to see Jesus.

"But let him who glories glory in this, that He understands and knows me. That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgement and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight" says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:24)