Month: May 2021

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 18-19 GW; 2 Peter 2 GW

False teachings don’t promote love.

God is love.  Jesus came to earth because of God’s deep affection for us.  Belief in Jesus begins an adventure in learning to love.  Applying Jesus’s teaching to your life, without a doubt, will make you a better lover.  You will learn how to forgive people who hurt you.  Truth and grace will become familiar to you. As you begin praying for your enemies, your perspective changes.  Mercy becomes something people recognize in you.  Each day you follow Jesus, transformation occurs.  Slowly, you will fulfill God’s purpose for your life, loving God and loving others.

Counterfeit prophet’s message isn’t the same.

False prophets want you to worship them.  Ultimately, they want to become God.  As my husband would say, it’s the Eve problem.  Why did Eve eat the apple?

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 NIV)

Eve’s eyes were open to her sin.  She did not become like God.  False prophets, like the serpent in Eve’s story, lead you astray with their cunning words.  

Beware of smooth talkers.

Just like the serpent fooled Eve, false prophets try to fool us.  Their message is similar to Jesus’s, but it’s not the same.  Imposters master flowery language that doesn’t say much but can easily mislead you.  Anyone who promotes anything other than loving God and loving others is leading you astray.  Don’t listen to a word they say.

Jesus left us with one commandment:  Love God, love others (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV).  If whoever you’re listening to isn’t promoting love, stop listening.

Don’t fall for flowery language.  Look for evidence of God’s love.  Learn to recognize false prophets.  If they aren’t following Jesus, you’ll know by their fruit; love isn’t part of their message.

Lord, thank You for teaching us how to love.  Thank You for going first in loving us and providing a way for us to connect with You.  Forgive us for falling for flowery words from false prophets.  Today, give us eyes to see, ears to hear the lies people tell.  Let us light up the world as we love You and others.  All the glory is Yours.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Who is a false prophet in your life?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 15-17 GW; 2 Peter 1 GW

Seek truth not myths.

When God created humanity, He left us with a restlessness.  All of us have a desire to seek the unknown.  We have a thirst that only Jesus can quench:

“Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14 NIV)

Only Jesus can satisfy the thirst in your soul.   Unfortunately, people look everywhere but Jesus for answers.  We look to influencers for direction: political leaders, celebrities, sports stars, anyone who appears to have found the answers to a successful life.  We lose focus of the fact that this life is temporary.  People in the spotlight are painting the picture they want you to see.  The struggles and pain they endure are not on the latest social media post.  They create a myth that seems true, but in reality is just a house built out of glass.  One rock thrown at them by life and their stories shatter.

Jesus doesn’t shatter.

Faith in Jesus means stability.  The waves of life will come and go, but Jesus remains constant.  His peace is always present and availalbe, but first we have to seek Him.  If we don’t search for truth through Jesus, we’ll believe the myths people tell.  Only with Jesus can we have a clear vision of the road ahead.

Don’t believe myths.  Seek truth in Jesus.  Accepting Christ means gaining the Holy Spirit.  We find truth following God’s promptings.  As we let Jesus guide us, we’ll begin to identify the lies we’ve believed.  As we do, we replace them with God’s truth.  His truth accents Jesus’s majesty.

Lord, thank You for helping us see the world as it is, fallen and broken.  Remind us today of Jesus’s majesty as we seek His truth.  Forgive us for so quickly believing the myths of this world.  Instead, give us eyes to see, ears to hear the truth.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  In Him, we will experience life to the fullest.  All glory is His.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Ask Jesus what myth you are believing?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 12-14 GW; Psalms 143 GW

Remembering gives hope.

Reflecting about God’s past victories reminds you He’s got this too.  Whatever storm You’re facing, God will get you through it.  God did it before; He’ll do it again.  In His way and time, God will deliver you from your battle.

One of the darkest days of my life was the day my nephew died.  Like a son to me, my heart shattered.  But amid my despair, God’s light shined brightly.  In my situation, God used my husband to pick me up and begin piecing my heart back together.  I remember sobs vividly racking my body, wailing in distress, as my husband wrapped his arms around me and held me. Ron was God in the flesh to me at that moment.  Now, when I reflect on that day, I find hope.  God knew what I needed to carry me through that storm.  I know, He’ll take me through the next one too.  

Somehow, in some way, God always comes through.

What we need, who we need, all vary.  Only God knows the perfect solution to your battle.  But He doesn’t give us the battle plan.  Typically, we don’t have advance notice when a storm is about to hit.  If we try to predict, we’re usually wrong.  But God never is.  He knows precisely what is coming your way.  God already has the battle won, but we still have to go through it.  Jesus told us the truth:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

Take heart today; Jesus overcame the world.  Reflect on past victories.  Gain hope from what He already did—expectantly waiting for God to do it again.

Lord, thank You for being our victor.  Thank You for all of our past victories.  Forgive us for forgetting so quickly what You have done for us.  As we face the trials of this day, let us find hope as we reflect on what You did before.  Help us meet our battles with confidence, knowing, You’ve got this too.  In You, we can trust.  Give us Your peace that surpasses all understanding; as we remember, Jesus already overcame the world.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What did God do for you in the past that gives you hope for today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 10-11 GW; Psalms 44 GW

God’s strength brings victory.

Sometimes, I think the hardest thing to do is ask for help. For some reason, needing assistance equals weakness. But the truth is, we all need help. When it comes to battling the pressures of life, we need God’s assistance. Asking for aid isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength.

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)

Accepting you need help in your life is okay. Your independence doesn’t determine your value.  Allow God and people to help you.  Fellowship is a church term that means “friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interest.”  God created us to live in a community with others.  Life isn’t a solo sport; it’s a team sport.  We all have positions to play in the game of life. God is the captain; He’s directing the game.

Partner with God.

Develop a partnership with God.  Give Him controlling interest in your life.  When life is demanding answers, defer to God’s will.  Go all-in with your Creator, and let Him lead you on a fantastic journey.

Stanley Tam, the founder of US Plastic Corp, is a hero of mine.  When he founded his company, he visited an attorney.  The lawyer drew up a partnership agreement between Stanley and God.  Stanley legally made God the controlling partner of his corporation.  In 1955, Stanley turned the entire business over to God.  To date, US Plastic Corp, wholly non-profit, has generated over $140 million used in God’s work, loving people.  

Why did Stanley do this?  Simple, obedience to God.

Start today.  Ask God for help in your battles.  Make Him the controlling partner.  Expectantly waiting for God to move.

God, You rock!  Thank You for being You.  In Your strength, we can face hard stuff, knowing You are with us.  Forgive us for not asking for help sooner.  Forgive us for thinking we could do it without you.  Today Lord, we make a partnership with You.  Controlling interest of our life is Yours.  Today we choose to follow Jesus.  One step at a time, one day at a time, we want to live our lives for You.  Draw us close.  Strengthen us for the journey.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Who has a controlling interest in your life?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 9  GW; Psalms 120 GW

Self-deception skews perspective.

We can’t see ourselves as other people do.  Our perception of events is tinged with deception because we lie to ourselves ALL of the time.  Believing a lie occurs so quickly, we don’t even realize we do it.

Take, for instance coaching a tennis player.  Often, during drills, I ask the students, “What do you think happened in that point?”  They always have an answer, and it’s usually the opposite of what occurred.  Students can’t see themselves play the point.  They may think their feet are moving, but they’re standing still.  Every time a player misses the ball completely (including myself because we all do it), they look at the racquet.  Of course, the equipment is the problem; it couldn’t possibly have anything to do with not watching the ball.

God knows the lies you tell yourself. He’s your coach, gently pointing out the truth to you. Opening your heart to Jesus will help you decipher the truth. His Holy Spirit works from within us to help us see ourselves as we are, sinners in need of a Savior.

Embrace God’s truth.

Rid yourself of lies by believing what God says.  My favorite way to remind myself of who I am is blasting Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” on repeat.  Eventually, I begin to remember I am God’s child, fully and completely loved.  In Him, I don’t have to fear the truth.  No matter what the lie, God reveals reality.  When He does, you will experience freedom.

Ask God to search your heart for lies you are believing.  Experience freedom as He lovingly reveals the truth.  Remember, You are His child, fully and completely loved.

Lord, thank You for bringing truth into our lives through Jesus.  Help us understand; we lie to ourselves more than we do anyone else.  Forgive us for so quickly believing the false words.  Instead, help us embrace who we are in You.  From the bottom of our soul, let us feel Your love for us.  Whoever reads this prayer, let them receive Your truth.  Expose the lies they have believed.  Replace the deceptions with Your truth.  Our salvation comes through You.  We lay our sins at Your feet and ask for a new life in You.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What lie have you told yourself lately?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 7-8 GW; Psalms 83 GW

God’s ways are not our ways.

Today’s hero, Gideon, is going into battle against the Midianites.  God told Gideon he had too many men to fight.  Understanding man’s struggle with pride, God knew if Gideon won with a vast army, they would forget God’s part in the victory.    God gives Gideon directions on how to choose the men to take into battle with him.  Gideon had 300 men who lapped water like dogs to bring into action.  They won by blowing their horns and breaking jars, causing the Midianites to fight amongst themselves.

You may not feel that you have what you need to face the battle ahead; remember, feelings lie.  If you’re partnering with God, He is your greatest ally; with God, you can meet any army.  Wherever God guides, He provides.  Whatever tools are necessary for you to win, God will give you.  With God as your Commander-in-Chief, the victory is already yours.

Let God choose the equipment.

When my husband and I were first married, he decided to rent a plot at the local community garden.  Never having planted a garden before, I will never forget his first attempt.  Leaving for work, he showed me the handheld shovel he would use to plant the 400 sq. feet garden.   My husband figured it out quickly; he needed a bigger shovel.

We try to fight our battles with the wrong equipment.  Instead of trusting God, we make poor choices.  When you’re facing a dilemma, ask God what tools you need.  Don’t pick the wrong shovel.  Seek God and His guidance to fight your battles.  Each of us has a different purpose; no two fights are the same.  Only with God’s help can we find personal victory.  God’s way isn’t our way and often is a little weird.

Lord, You are our biggest ally.  Forgive us for not turning to You sooner.  Guide us today into our battlefields.  Give us the equipment we will need to find a victory that gives You all the glory.  We know we can’t win without Your intervention.  Strengthen our faith as we face our foes.  Help us keep moving forward, taking territory from the enemy.  You are our Commander-in-Chief.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What battle is God helping you fight today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 5-6 GW; Psalms 121 GW

Look up, find God.

All you have to do to find God’s help is seek Him.  God is waiting to help you with whatever storm you’re in today. 

Our problem isn’t God; it’s us.  We don’t seek God amid the struggle.  Life engulfs and overwhelms us.  What seemed simple at the start becomes complex and challenging.  Before you know what is happening, you find yourself on a completely different path from which you started.  The best thing about being at rock bottom, it forces you to lookup.

“My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let you fall. Your guardian will not fall asleep.” (Psalm 121:2-3 GW)

God has an answer to your struggle.  Acknowledge Him, ask God for help.  Wait for Him to move in your situation.  When He does, you will have no doubt it was God.

Blue skies are behind the clouds.

Each week, during our weekly prayer zoom, we discuss different aspects of prayer.  A couple of weeks ago, during a discussion of suffering, a friend made this statement:

“Suffering isn’t the absence of peace.”  Jennifer Johnson

Jen was reading in Philippians, thinking about Paul.  While suffering, He still had peace.  Paul suffered like most of us never will.  A good portion of the letters he wrote in the New Testament he did while in prison, chained to a guard.  Yet He still had peace.  

Blue skies exist even though storm clouds cover them.  Thunderheads come and go, but the blue sky is always present.  The same is true of God.  His peace is always available to You, no matter what the circumstances.  All you have to do is look for God, and you will find Him.  He is always present.  We’re the ones who don’t seek Him.

Look up today.  Ask God for His help. Wait expectantly for His answer.

Lord, thank You for always being present with us.  Forgive us for not seeking You amid the storm.  Forgive us for trying to navigate life without You.  As we look for You today, let us find You.  Help us during our storms.  Remind us, You are always present, even in the midst of our struggles.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What help do you need from God today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 3-4 GW; Psalm 20 GW

Know Who your strength is.

God gives victory to His children.  When we follow and obey Him, success comes.  Boasting about God means you recognize His power in your life.  Without Him, victory doesn’t come.  With God, all things are possible.

“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NKJV)

Boasting about God reminds you of His strength.  As you face the mountain in front of you today, remember, God is bigger than it.  You aren’t climbing alone.  God is your lifeline.  

When a mountain climber ascends a mountain, He uses a rope.  Mountaineers use carabiners to clip their lifeline to bolts inserted into the rock as they climb.  If they misstep, the cord keeps them from plunging to their death.  Without a sturdy rope, adventure seekers can’t reach the top.  With the rope, they get to the summit.

God’s lifeline never breaks.

Our mountains are metaphorical, but they still require a lifeline.  Just as mountaineers use bolts to clip their line, prayer allows us to climb.  When we begin the uphill trek, God gives us places of rest.  We can find shelter in His arms as we gain strength for the next climb.  Inch by inch, yard by yard, day by day, we make headway up the mountain.  Eventually, we will overcome.  One day, we will reach the summit.  When we do, we will boast about all God did to get us to the top.

As you set about today’s climb, take your lifeline.  Ask God to carry you up the mountain.  Tell Him you can’t do it alone.  Let His strength support you.  If you need rest, find it in the shelter of your Creator.

Boast about God.  Tell the world about your victory in Him.

Lord, thank You for giving us victory.  Forgive us for not recognizing Your part in our wins.  Without You, we can do nothing.  As we climb our mountains today, guide us with Your rope.  Help us take the next steps in our journey.  Keep us moving forward, following You.  Give us victory over our battles.  Strengthen us for the trip.  Give us Your peace that surpasses all understanding.  Let us boast about You today.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How can you boast about God today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 12 GW; Psalm 50 GW

God’s rescue causes praise.

Soldiers pray when they are under enemy fire.  Students cry out to God when facing a test in school.  Mothers call on God on behalf of their children.  In times of trouble, soliciting help from God is easy.  When we survive whatever storm we’re facing, praising God is natural.  The greatest gift you can give someone is introducing them to God.

As a child, my mother taught me to pray.  At night, she knelt with me at the side of my bed, and we recited this prayer together:

“Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I died before I wake,

I pray the Lord, my soul, to take.”

At dinner time, I prayed for our family meal:

“God is great; God is good.

Let us thank Him for our food.

By His hands, we all are fed.

Give us Lord our daily bread.

Amen”

These simple prayers taught me where to turn in times of trouble.  My mother made prayer a priority in my life.  She taught me how to talk to God.  As a result, I’ve chatted with God all of my life.  As I grew older, my prayers became more profound and heartfelt.  To this day, my husband and I pray over our meals together.  

God doesn’t sleep.

No matter what the situation, God is awake to hear your prayer.  Whether the simple prayer of a child or the anguished prayer of someone in pain, God listens.  He will rescue you from the trouble you face.  But He won’t do it the way you think.  

When God answers, you know it’s Him.

Without a doubt, God will rescue you.  He will give you the strength to face the storm.  Turn to Him; talk to God; let it all out.  Then praise Him for His response.  Thank God for carrying you through your trials.  Rest in His peace that is everlasting.

Lord, thank You for hearing our prayers.  Whether the simple words of a child or the heartfelt words of an adult, thank You for answering.  Forgive us for not talking to You sooner.  Forgive us for trying to handle things on our own.  Rescue us from our distress.  To You goes all the glory and praise.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Have you asked God to help you through Your storm?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Psalm 119:89-176 GW

God’s commands bring delight.

Amid adversity, God has the answer:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

When trouble and distress are surrounding you, God has your back.  He’s your first line of defense against whatever adversity you face.  Falling to your knees in prayer is the mightiest stance you can take.  God’s sovereignty reigns, no matter what the circumstances.  In Him, you will find delight as He strengthens you.  

Trusting God is present during difficult times isn’t easy.  God doesn’t give us His plan for our life all at once; He does it step by step.  Whatever is happening in your life may seem out of control, but God is with you in the battle.  Satan tries to distract us from God’s promises with his lies.  Staying focused on God keeps your eyes on the truth.

God is God.

Our biggest problem in life is finding the truth.  COVID highlights the difficulty of knowing what to believe.  Hospitals changed their coding to include “Flu, Pneumonia and COVID” as the same thing.  Actors portray doctors giving false information to the world.  Social media sites censor the information that is shared.  How is anyone to know what to believe?  We don’t have to know; God knows.  Staying focused on Him will always lead you to find the truth.

God doesn’t change.  He is the same today as yesterday or tomorrow.  Jesus’ teachings withstand the test of time.  Thousands of years later, they are still true.  No matter what life situation you are in today, the Bible has an answer.  God’s word is truth.  His commands will make you delighted.  In Him, you can find strength.

Lord, thank You for not changing.  No matter what the scenario, You always remain solid and firm.  Forgive us for not coming to You sooner in our distress.  Forgive us for trying to solve life’s problems on our own.  Strengthen us for the battles we are in today.  Guide and direct us on our journey.  Delight us with Your commands as we apply them to our life.  We know, in all things, You’re the one in control.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What command of God delights you?