LIGHT THE WAY

There’s something I’ve been thinking about.

We cannot deny God publicly and then privately beg Him for miracles.

We cannot tuck our faith away like a secret relationship we’re embarrassed to admit.

We cannot only post about Him when things are going well and then panic-text heaven when everything falls apart.

That’s not relationship.
That’s convenience.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. — James 4:8

If we want closeness, we have to offer closeness.
If we want guidance, we have to allow leadership.
If we want protection, we have to acknowledge the Protector.

You can’t treat God like a secret girlfriend or boyfriend you only call when you’re lonely.

Faith is not something to be ashamed of.

Here’s another truth we don’t talk about enough:

Systems teach us how to “properly” praise God.

They give us checklists.
Dress codes.
Language codes.
Performance standards.
Cultural expectations.

They quietly suggest that God only listens if we meet the requirements.

But God does not follow man’s systems.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7

God met Moses in the wilderness.
He met Hagar in the desert.
He met David in the field.
He met Peter in his failure.

Before they were polished.
Before they were platformed.
Before they were approved.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. — Psalm 34:18

God meets you where you are.

Right now.

God meeting you where you are does not mean you create your own version of Him.

It does not mean you rewrite truth to match comfort.
It does not mean growth isn’t required.

It means you approach Him honestly.

God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. — John 4:24

Find the way you meet God.

Find the right church.
Sit in meditation.
Walk in nature.
Lay in bed and pray.
Whisper gratitude while driving.

Take advantage of omniscience.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? — Psalm 139:7

He is everywhere.

You do not need man’s permission to approach Him.

And when you succeed — honor Him.

Every good and perfect gift is from above. — James 1:17

Don’t deny the gifts He has given you.

Your intelligence.
Your resilience.
Your creativity.
Your leadership.
Your ability to rebuild.
Your business ideas.
Your ability to love.

Confidence is not arrogance when you acknowledge the Source.

Denying your gifts is not humility.
It’s ingratitude.

Some of us were taught that faith should be quiet.
Private.
Hidden.
Polite.

But we’ve confused humility with concealment.

Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. — Matthew 10:32

That doesn’t mean we perform religion.
It means we don’t deny relationship.

You don’t get to ignore someone consistently and then demand their emotional labor when you need something.

That’s true in human relationships.
It’s true spiritually too.

God is not a backup plan.
He is the foundation.

Here’s the part people miss:

When you love God openly, you love yourself honestly.

Because to love God means:
• You believe you were created intentionally.
• You believe your life has meaning.
• You believe your mistakes are redeemable.
• You believe you are worthy of grace.

We love because He first loved us. — 1 John 4:19

If you’re ashamed of God, somewhere deep down you may also be ashamed of yourself.

But when you embrace faith without apology, something shifts.

You walk differently.
You speak differently.
You choose differently.

And when you love yourself — truly love yourself — every other area improves.

Your relationships improve.
Your boundaries improve.
Your finances improve.
Your health improves.
Your decision-making improves.

Because rooted people make rooted choices.

If you are praying for:

• A godly relationship
• Financial breakthrough
• Protection for your children
• A new home
• Business growth
• Peace

But you’re afraid to openly acknowledge God in your life…

There is a disconnect.

Can two walk together unless they agree? — Amos 3:3

Alignment matters.

Faith isn’t a trend.
It isn’t seasonal.
It isn’t something you perform to earn approval.

It is relationship.

And relationship requires honesty.

The moment you stop being embarrassed about your faith,
you stop being embarrassed about who you are becoming.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? — Psalm 27:1

Faith builds courage.
Courage builds confidence.
Confidence builds action.
Action builds transformation.

You cannot fully love yourself while hiding the Source of your creation.

And once you love yourself properly —
everything else begins to align.

• God meets me where I am.
• I worship in spirit and in truth.
• I honor the gifts I have been given.
• I am not ashamed of my faith.
• My relationship with God is authentic and growing.
• I align my life with what I pray for.

God,

Thank You for meeting me exactly where I am.

Forgive me for the times I minimized You in public but magnified my requests in private.

Remove shame.
Remove performance.
Remove fear of judgment.

Teach me to worship You in spirit and in truth.

Help me honor the gifts You have placed inside me.

Let my life reflect relationship, not convenience.

Align my heart with Yours.
Strengthen my faith.
Guide my steps.

Amen.

This week:

Meet God where your heart opens.

In church.
In silence.
In nature.
In gratitude.
In success.
In struggle.

Honor Him publicly.
Thank Him privately.
Stop shrinking your faith to fit into systems that were never built by Him.

God does not need performance.

He desires relationship.

In solidarity and faith,
Lyndsay LaBrier
Light the Way