Honest Reflections

Two-minute read.

As a coach, I understand the importance of instilling the right foundation. If the essential elements get overlooked, it jeopardizes the student’s entire game. Not knowing the basics means not having anything to return to when the going gets tough. Each stroke has the same basic mechanics. In a match, when your balls start flying out of bounds, returning to the fundamental aspects helps you get your game and the match back on course.

In life, we have the same dilemma. Whatever foundation we lay for the child determines where they will look for help when life gets hard. Everyone will encounter struggles as they move through their days. When the world around us seems out of control, we need to know where to go for refuge. Training a child up in the way of the Lord gives them a solid base to build their life upon. When the storm winds blow, they know the One who can either calm the storm or them in it. But if we don’t teach them about Jesus, they won’t know to turn to Him.

In my first year of working with AWANA, a parachurch organization that supports churches in reaching children for Christ, I knew little about the program when I began volunteering. Since I began serving, I have heard story after story of how AWANA has impacted adult lives in terms of faith. They remember the verses they memorized as a child, even if they only attended sporadically, and those memories drew them back to the Lord after they strayed.

We do children a disservice when we don’t direct them on the right path. Teaching kids about Jesus gives them a firm foundation for their entire lives.

Journal Question:

When did you first learn about Jesus?

What kind of foundation did you learn as a child?

In what ways can you help children know about Jesus today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us the right path to follow and enabling us to share it with the next generation. Please help us give children a firm foundation in Christ that will help them thrive in life.

IJJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“That’s what you have in common, God,” a friend said to me as I prepared to go on my first mission trip to El Salvador. Having never travelled to a third-world country, I had anxiety about the upcoming voyage. At the time, crime ran rampant in the city, and we needed police escorts everywhere we went, unable to leave our hotel alone. I fretted over what I had in common with the people we wanted to serve, my friend’s words calming my anxiety.

Her words brought peace to my heart, and that trip validated the truth of this scripture. Standing in the makeshift chapel, chickens watching from the plastic chairs along the walls, we sang praise and worship together with our new friends. The off-key leader sang with such joy, I couldn’t help but smile, our spirits connecting in worship.

Jesus told us we will always have the poor among us. As an American, even those with the least income still enjoy life far better than the poor in other countries. No matter our economic condition, the Lord created us. The Creator has a purpose for every individual, no matter how much money they possess. Material things pass away, including our riches, but eternal life with the Lord never ends.

Value doesn’t come from our bank accounts, but from the Cross. Jesus established our worth with His mission. Dying to give us an unbreakable bond with the Creator, our worth comes from the Lord. Identifying with the Savior gives you a firm foundation that nothing can shake.

The world consistently tries to find value in temporary things. One movement dwindles, and another begins, all leading nowhere. Only when we place our faith in Jesus do we discover life in abundance. False gods lead to dead ends. But life with Christ leads to an adventure we only experience when we trust Him, giving every ounce of our being to the Lord.

Journal Question:

Where do you find your worth?

In what ways does having faith in Christ connect you to others?

What determines your value?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for creating us, rich or poor, and giving us purpose. Please help us fulfill our earthly mission as we seek You with our entire being.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Developing a good reputation takes time and effort, but it only takes a minute to destroy. When I think of moments when I soiled my reputation, it breaks my heart. In the decades I played tennis, I only lost my temper twice, but when I did, it harmed my reputation, and I regret both instances.

In my working career, I had a stellar reputation, known as reliable, trustworthy, honest, and efficient. I did my job well. Two times I got reprimanded at work, once in college working as a Front Desk Associate, a guest complained about my service, and the other time during my Flight Attendant years, I got in trouble for not sitting in my jump seat during a flight. Taking pride in my work, neither of those things happened again.

Wealth matters less than a good reputation. Often, when you have one, you will find the other. When people hold you in high esteem, they respect your integrity, loyalty, and faithfulness, which comes from putting the Lord first in your life. Striving to live for Jesus will help you live in good favor with others because Christ teaches us how to have relationships with Him and others.

As God’s representatives on Earth, we must strive to have a good name, one respected by others. More important than silver or gold, an admirable name brings praise, influence, and prosperity. Each day, we must try to live for Jesus to the best of our ability, developing a positive reputation and representing Him well.

Walking with the Savior will help you develop an admirable reputation, not on our might, but His. Give God the credit for the blessings in your life, especially a good reputation. Keep in mind how quickly you can lose your good name and the difficulty of getting it back once lost. Follow Jesus and discover how to build a reputation that no one can tarnish.

Journal Question:

How would other people describe your reputation?

In what ways can you develop a good name?

How have you harmed your reputation in the past?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for showing us how and giving us the tools to have a good reputation. As we strive to follow You, let us keep building our good name, representing You well in all we do.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Nothing we think we know, understand, or plan can stand against the Lord. We can’t make the sun rise or set. Arrogantly, we think we control our small world, but we don’t. God puts breath in our lungs; life force comes from Him. No matter how much we try to argue the premise, we will always lose.

People don’t like the lack of control we have in this life. Digging into the deep-rooted issues of individuals often leads to their effort to control the uncontrollable. In truth, we control our thoughts, actions, and words, but nothing else. We have no control over how long we will live, or what the day ahead of us holds, and we certainly don’t control God or other people.

Learning to accept our lack of control helps us enjoy life better. Instead of arguing with the Creator, we accept His sovereignty and our role as His children.

During my childhood, I didn’t understand a lot of my parents’ actions and decisions. Mom’s “Because I said so” answer to my “Why?” didn’t satisfy me. I learned that arguing with my parents did no good and only wasted my time and energy. But as an adult, I have a better understanding of her “No’s” and “Yes’s.”

In the same way, I’ve accepted God is God and I’m not. Instead of trying to argue with Him, I choose to submit to His will and join the Lord in His work. Aligning my heart with the Creator’s brings it peace. Instead of trying to control the world around me, I enjoy and experience it with the Savior.

Live surrendered to the Lord’s will and save the energy of trying to oppose Him. Experience an abundant life as you trust God’s plan for it, knowing eventually it leads you to your eternal home with Him.

Journal Question:

When have you tried to outwit God?

How has the Lord changed your best laid plans?

How can you submit to the Savior’s will for your life today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for controlling not only our lives, but the world. Many will come against You, but Your purposes always prevail. Help us live in the knowledge that You are God and we are not, experiencing life in abundance as a result.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“God hears the conversations we don’t.” Somewhere in the last couple of months, I heard that statement, and it stuck with me. Maturing in Christ, I’ve realized I don’t know what other people think, and that when I assume I do, I get myself into trouble, creating false narratives. However, the Lord does know the hearts and minds of others, and the intention behind their actions, exposing them.

During my single years, online dating frustrated me. None of the potential matches coming to fruition. As I prayed about the situation, sharing my discouragement and disappointment with the Lord, I began to gain a new perspective. God protected me from people He knew wouldn’t make a good partner for me. As I embraced that thought, it helped ease the frustration.

In the same way, when God removes people from your life, consider it an act of protection. We don’t know the conversations they have when not in our presence, nor the intentions of their heart. But the Lord does, and He protects His children from those who would do them Harm.

Arguably, sometimes the Lord does allow wicked people into our lives. When He does, God has a purpose for it, purifying and teaching us through the situation. We can’t begin to understand the Creator’s thoughts, but we can trust that He has our best interests at heart.

Whatever the situation, the Lord knows all the facts. He knows the evil intent of the wicked, and in God’s perfect timing, they will suffer the consequences of their thoughts and actions. Only when people repent do they receive the saving grace of the Savior.

And, we all have wicked thoughts, sinners by nature; none of us should consider ourselves better than others. Instead, we need to repent, confess, and believe; only then can we receive the joy of the Lord, our strength, and a firm foundation.

Journal Question:

When has God protected you from someone else’s wicked motives?

How does knowing God hears the conversations we don’t impact you?

What do you need to confess to the Lord today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for protecting us from the wicked intentions of others. Please help us trust you more, especially when we don’t understand the reason behind a situation. Let us lean into You in all ways.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Divine knowledge comes from the Lord’s examination of our hearts. I used to think I had the right perspective, but God has taught me, with love, that I didn’t. Because we lack knowledge, we can’t come to the right conclusions. We may know in part, but we don’t know in whole.

“Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.”

1 Corinthians 13:9-10

Perfect in every way, God sees and knows everything. Whatever thought you think, the Lord knew it before you thought it. When we get on our high horses, thinking we have the answers, the Creator quickly reminds us, we only know in part. Only when our Maker calls us home will we receive full knowledge; until then, we only know a portion of the story.

And you know what, we don’t have to know everything because we know the One who does. With Jesus, we can live life fully, loving people for Him. Right or wrong doesn’t matter nearly as much as knowing the Savior and the gift He offers.

Let God examine your heart and teach you new ways to respond. Accept you don’t know everything and trust the One who does. When I let the Lord into the recesses of my heart, He always heals me.

For instance, I defined righteous anger incorrectly for most of my life. I thought the term meant someone offended me, but when God examined my heart, He taught me I had it all wrong. Righteous anger means someone offended the Lord, not me. Learning freed me from sin and helped me grow and mature.

Enjoy the benefits of a heart examined by the Lord. Grow in Christ as you seek more of Him and less of you.

Journal Question:

When has pushing your agenda caused you harm?

In what ways has God examined your heart?

How can you apply today’s verse to your life?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for examining our hearts and cleansing us from wrong thinking. Please help us remember we don’t know everything and do not push our agendas on other people. Let us defer to You in all things.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

When God searches our hearts for motives, He doesn’t miss a thing. The Lord gives us breath; it permeates every aspect of our body, bringing life to us. When we allow His light to search our hearts, exposing our iniquities, it frees us from the bondage. Once we recognize a problem, we can address it, but if we don’t know about our issues, we can’t heal them.

In the Bible, iniquity is a type of sin that includes a conscious decision to hurt someone else or to rebel against God’s law. From an etymological perspective, scholars relate the Hebrew word עָוֹן (avon), meaning literally “crookedness,” “perverseness,” i.e., “evil regarded as that which is not straight or upright, moral distortion.” [1]

Hiding within our hearts, each of us has sin battles. When we have selfish motives, we try to hide them behind our actions. But God knows the inner workings of our souls and our true intentions. Revealing them to us helps us overcome them and prevents them from ruling our lives any longer.

For instance, I struggle with envy, desiring what someone else has that I don’t. I envy other people’s success —friends of friends, people who have grandchildren, and on and on the list goes. But when the Lord highlights the emotion, it allows me to conquer it. Instead of harboring hard feelings, I give them to the Savior and celebrate the other person’s blessing. Only then do I find victory.

When God reveals a sin hidden in our hearts, He corrects it with gentleness. Not with condemnation, but with love, the Lord shows us a different way to respond, helping us overcome the issue, purifying our hearts, and making us more like Christ. Nothing feels better than the chains of sin breaking and the Holy Spirit filling our hearts with His presence.

Let the Lord’s light search your heart, find freedom as He reveals truth to you, allowing you to become more like Christ.

Journal Question:

How does having God search your heart make you feel?

In what ways has God corrected you in the past?

What does letting go of your sin mean to you?

Prayer:

Lord, we thank You for Your presence in our lives, the breath You give us to breathe, and Your light that searches out iniquities in us. Please help us give You more of ourselves, seeking Your will for our lives.

IJNIP. Amen

---

[1] https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-iniquity-in-the-bible.html#:~:text=Share,’%E2%80%9D

Two-minute read.

“Ears to hear, eyes to see,” my favorite six-word prayer, one I lift to the heavens often—things like hatred, jealousy, greed, and power blind us. We can get so consumed in an emotion that we can’t see or hear the truth. Pride often has a part in our blindness; like a steel wall, it shields us from vital information.

We serve a revelatory God. Through a relationship with the Savior, He reveals truth to us, things we can’t see on our own. The more we give ourselves to the Lord, the more He shows us. A spiritual world exists beyond the physical one where we live. A thin veil separates our world from the next, and Jesus connects the two.

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

Hebrews 11:1

The eyes and ears God gives us to see and hear rely upon faith. Amid darkness, the Lord shines a light and illuminates our path. To receive the gift, we must humble ourselves and ask for it. Admitting we don’t know everything and need help connects us to the one who does. With Christ’s help, we can become fully mature, enjoying an abundant life as we purify our hearts and follow Him.

Carrying around hatred and jealousy exhausts the soul. Wrapped in selfishness, the negative emotions rob people of life. Outside sources fuel the anger, and they get on a Ferris wheel that only ends when they choose to lay it at the foot of the cross. But to submit, you must first let go of self, the part that challenges people the most.

Receive the gift of grace God offers. Ask Him for ears to hear and eyes to see, and allow the Savior to fine-tune you, purifying your heart and giving you life in abundance.

Journal Question:

What has blinded you from seeing the truth in the past?

How would you describe the spiritual world?

In what ways has God revealed truth to you?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the gift of eyes to see and ears to hear. Please help us submit our lives to You, allowing You to show us our iniquities, and cleansing them from us. Let us become more like Christ with each passing day.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“Always say please and thank you,” said my friend Leslie.

Volunteering with Leslie at church, I asked her what marital advice she would give me. She didn’t hesitate with her response. Married to the love of her life for decades, she gave me the best piece of advice I’ve ever received.

Forcing myself to say “please” and “thank you” to my husband, even when I don’t want to, makes me think about him. Selfishness tears a marriage apart, putting our needs before our spouses doesn’t produce good fruit. In God’s design for marriage, two people become one. To create an unbreakable bond, each spouse must put their partner’s needs before their own. Mindfully saying “Please” and “Thank you” helps acknowledge the other person and their efforts to become one.

Asking the right questions leads to good advice. Wisdom comes by requesting it. In my prayer time, I ask the Lord for His wisdom, and in life, I seek it from my wise friends. Every person we meet has wisdom to share. If we learn to ask the right questions, we’ll find good advice on whatever the subject.

To receive good advice, we must desire it. Then we must search for people who possess it. For me, I go to people whose lives I would like to model. During my single years, I sought advice from married couples whose union I respected and admired. Since I’ve married, they have become our marriage mentors. Their support and love help us become one, experiencing marriage to the fullest.

Live life to the fullest by learning how to mine good advice from the wise. Seek wisdom from those who possess it. Start with God, ask Him for guidance on seeking advice, and see where He leads you.

Journal Question:

What advice have you received that has impacted your life the most?

In what ways do you seek good advice?

How can you tell who will give you the best advice?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us wise people who can give us advice. Please help us seek wisdom by asking the right questions to You and others. Let us become wiser with each day that passes.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Reject discipline, and you will not become knowledgeable. Remaining teachable requires humility and understanding that we all still have more to learn. If we think we have all the answers, we stop listening and, as a result, turn our back on knowledge.

As a teenager, I remember getting irritated with my mother because I received so many lectures on various life topics, and I tuned her out. She could talk all she wanted, but I didn’t hear a word she said, my mind somewhere else. At that point in my life, I thought I knew everything and didn’t want her input.

But now, four decades later and ten years after Mom moved to heaven, I would love another lesson from her. The older I get, the less I know. This world has so much in it, we can’t possibly know everything about it. Only the Creator knows His creation’s secrets. But we can listen and learn about them as long as we remain teachable.

I joined a Discipleship Group this fall at our church, which consists of six women who gather weekly to discuss the Bible. Using a 260-day New Testament reading plan, we hold each other accountable to do the work. Five days each week, we read a portion of the Bible and then use the HEAR (Highlight, Explain, Apply, Respond) method to analyze whatever verse stands out to us, texting a picture of our notes to the group after we finish, helping us build a daily discipline of studying God’s word.

Discipline with accountability helps you remain teachable. Listening to the Lord’s instructions and applying them to our lives allows us to grow closer to God and each other. Remain teachable, keep listening, and keep learning.

Journal Question:

When have you ignored someone’s instructions?

How can you become more teachable today?

In what ways can you develop better discipline?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us instructions to follow. Please help us remain teachable, keeping our eyes and ears tuned to You. Let us learn the lessons You have for us, as we become more like Jesus with each one.

IJNIP. Amen