“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action by God–it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” James 5:16 AMP

The pictures above were taken less than a week apart at the same time of day…one in the front yard capturing the beauty of the rising sun, and the other in the backyard capturing the majesty of the moon as it’s descending. Same time, different perspectives, equal beauty. Both views created, directly and indirectly, because of light emanating from the sun. Two sides of the same beautiful coin.

Truth is power. So often we feel we are protecting someone else or ourselves by withholding truth. It’s one of the lies we’re handed by the enemy to keep us operating in darkness, shadow, and confusion. How can we ever know what’s truly real if we don’t consistently lay all our cards on the table? How often do we find a rationale for keeping a secret, when the reality is that we are only keeping it because we are afraid of the consequences of the truth? We don’t tell people how we feel when we are hurt. We hide it when we make errors in judgement, even after years and years have gone by. Consider the power Satan has over us when he can convince us to keep a secret for years and years. Consider how much power that secret holds over us, even after we’ve confessed it to God and been forgiven. Why do we fear a history that has already been wiped clean?

When we choose to love in the face of fear and pain, we are choosing God’s way. When we choose to shine light into any dark corner of our lives, we are choosing God’s way. When we play hide and seek with truth, and allow bits and pieces to stay hidden in shadow out of fear, we are choosing the way of the enemy. When we run from the fear and the pain, we only prolong and deepen the wounds being created. When we stop being afraid of being in pain and allow ourselves to simply endure it, we are choosing God’s way. We must never forget that the one thing that is certain about life in this world is that there is going to be struggle much more often that not. What I am learning is that the struggle is really only as hard as we make it.

It’s no secret that one of my biggest struggles is with panic. Something I’ve started to learn is that the panic gets much worse when I allow myself to be afraid of it. I have thoughts that will only make it worse, fears that people I love don’t really care much about me at all. I began to realize that every fear I allowed to take root in my mind was amplifying the panic ten times over. So, I began to try in earnest to consistent capture my thoughts and give them to God. When I feel afraid that someone I love doesn’t really care about me in return, or that I’m only worth as much as I am useful to them, I stop myself in my tracks and take time to remember that I’m not here to have life or be loved in the way that makes me feel good and safe in a worldly way. I am here to be the best person I can be. I am here to love without expectation or condition. I am here to be the person I would want in my own life, and to love those placed in my path, knowing that I am getting from them exactly what God needs me to have. No more, no less.

Every minute of every day, I have what I need. If I don’t have it in that moment, then I don’t need it in that moment. God will always provide. He always has and He always will. My life is a living testament to that fact. So, as you move through your day today, don’t focus on what other people are or are not doing for you…focus on the things you can control, which are your own actions. Words are one thing, but actions speak MUCH louder. Before you start feeling hurt because you’re not getting what you want, make sure you look at your own actions and be honest about whether or not they are backing up your words. Don’t be the one to throw that first stone…be the one who lives in the light. If someone else is throwing a stone at you, worry more about their soul than yours.