What if you could turn one of the most popular Sunday school songs into a high-energy folk anthem? A song that you might hear at a concert instead of in a classroom. That was the challenge Tyler Ratcliffe made up for himself, and "This Little Light Of Mine" is the result. But what began as a simple challenge quickly evolved into a personal anthem.
Tyler discovered that letting your light shine isn't just a cute children's lyric; it's one of the hardest and most courageous things to do… and most people don't do it. So here's a song to encourage you to make a change.
Instead of only looking forward to heaven, the song calls us into the here and now. In other words, while we long for the "city" with "golden streets," our mission is to refuse to hide who you are, refuse to shrink your faith, and choose to stand out in a world that often wants you to blend in. This isn't just a small flicker; it's a "Holy Spirit blaze!" It's a commitment to be authentic everywhere, from "the back roads and the highways" to our own hometowns.
May this song be an empowering reminder of your unique potential. Are you ready to stop blending in and stand out and let your own light shine brightly?
(Related scripture: Matthew 5:16; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; Philippians 2:15)
Background:
This song actually started as a writing challenge that I made up for myself. I wondered what it would sound like to take one of the most popular Sunday school songs ever written and turn it into a high energy folk anthem. Something raw and honest. Something you might hear at a concert instead of in a classroom.
But very quickly as I dove into it, it stopped feeling like a challenge and started feeling like a personal anthem. The older I get, the more I have come to realize that letting your light shine isn’t a cute children's lyric. It’s actually one of the hardest things to do and most people don’t do it. It means refusing to hide who you are, refusing to shrink your faith, and choosing to stand out in a world that often wants you to blend in.
So what began as a simple experiment became a reminder to myself. On the back roads, the highways, to my friends, anywhere He sends me, I’m gonna let it shine.
Release date: March 13, 2026
Connect with Tyler Ratcliffe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerphilipratcliffe
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0euDLs4W0eQeDah3IjcxDN
Would you like to hear more CCM music? Then check out our Christian playlists on: https://www.christiandance.eu/playlists