Author: Beth Morrison

One-minute read.

God’s precepts bring life to those who follow them. Righteous rules lead to right living because we learn an important lesson: life doesn’t revolve around us. Implementing the Lord’s word into our lives teaches us to prioritize loving Him and others.

Many people debate the Lord’s precepts, but loving Him and others has no gray areas. No matter what we may feel toward someone, we must find a way to love them.  By implementing God’s righteous rules into our lives, we will find ways to love others.

For one thing, God judges people, not us.  Scripture clearly shows that He will decide on someone’s words and actions.  Secondly, where someone starts differs from where they end.  Christ gives us new life, transforming our lives one day at a time as we follow Him.  And thirdly, we only grow and mature when we do.  We must apply God’s word to our lives, doing it regularly, to experience the transformation that comes from it.

Embrace God’s righteous rules, which allow us to live fully for Him. Putting ourselves last, God and others first, leads to a joyful life filled with unexpected blessings. Try it; you just might like it.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for giving us righteous rules that lead to right living.  Please help us embrace and do them, experiencing the abundant life of following You.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

On our honeymoon, Ron and I rode our bikes to the movies.  Staying on Hilton Head Island, famous for its bike paths, we rode to the quaint theater in daylight, not thinking about the sun going down while we watched the movie.  However, with no bike lights or street lamps, the three-plus-mile ride back to our place quickly made us aware of our miscalculation.

Ron went first, holding his phone flashlight to light the path for us. I followed, doing the same.  Slowly but surely, we made it to our temporary home and created a lasting memory.

God’s word lights our path.  Sometimes, we can see as clearly as a bike ride in the sun.  But other times, the light barely breaks the darkness, only enough visibility to take the next step, or in our case, ride the next foot.  But you can count on scripture to light your way and give you direction.

Whatever area you struggle with today, find scripture that applies to it.  Within the 66 books of the Bible, God doesn’t leave anything out.  Following the book’s directions will teach you how to love God and others, and enjoy an abundant life filled with the Lord’s unexplainable peace.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for lighting our path and giving us direction.  Please help us follow You closely, allowing You to illuminate our way, and lead us where You want us to go.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Gaining understanding from obedience to the Lord’s precepts prompts more obedience.  As we apply God’s word to our lives, things unfold in miraculous ways that cause us to desire more.  Sweeter than honey, the Creator’s ways inspire transformation in us.

Scripture changes us from the inside out. Our outward actions change as we plant verses in our hearts, letting them take root and blossom. With the Lord’s help, we can change our selfish responses into Godly ones that encourage and uplift others rather than tear them down.

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Prov. 11:25

God blesses us, and we let the blessings flow to others, creating a circle of life that keeps giving.  The more we follow the Lord’s precepts, the larger the circle grows, sweetening our souls.  Apply the Father’s commands to your life, and gain divine understanding as miraculous things happen in your life.

Nothing compares to living divinely.  Trusting and implementing God’s promises into your life will never cause regret.  In Him, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose. The Teacher educates us with grace and mercy, then shows us how to share it with others.  Through His precepts, we gain sweet understanding.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for giving us sweet precepts to follow, bringing new life to us.  Please help us obey quickly and gain the understanding that comes from it, following You with our entire being.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

“Do you like chocolate?” My friend messaged as we planned our future lunch date.

“Absolutely!  Too much!” I responded.

At this point in life, I’ve learned the things that can derail me, physically and spiritually.  Learning and keeping God’s precepts helps me not overdo it in any one area:

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.”

1 Corinthians 6:12

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians talks about moderation.  Although Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law, that doesn’t mean we have a hall pass on living lawlessly.  God’s precepts protect us from ourselves and the evil desires we all battle.

Gluttony challenges me. I tend to overdo it, and keeping chocolate in my house sets me up for failure with my health goals. Therefore, I buy small amounts and don’t stock them, which helps me enjoy my favorite dessert in moderation.

Learn and apply the Lord’s precepts daily to keep your feet from evil. You will find freedom and renewal as you keep your steps on the straight and narrow path.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for Your precepts that help us avert evil desires and stay focused on You.  Please help us hold back our feet from temptation and win the battle of selfish desires.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

During my single years, I tried online dating. Using eHarmony, I didn’t have much luck. Anytime a connection got close to a meet, they would ghost me. At first, I let the dating game bring me down, but then I realized God protected me from the wrong mate. Years later, I can see His hand at work, but at the time, I couldn’t.

As I started to apply God’s precepts in my life, I realized that the Lord didn’t want us to get hurt, so He gave us laws to live by that protect us from ourselves and the actions of others.

For instance, if you study the Biblical diet of the Old Testament, you will find its nutritional value. Eliminating preservatives, food processes, and sugar from our diets won’t hurt anyone, but it will help them live healthier, fuller lives. Not having sex outside of marriage protects the heart from the pain of abuse and rejection. Living in moderation doesn’t let anything control our lives. On and on the list goes of the way the Lord puts guardrails in our lives to help us enjoy it to the fullest.

Keeping God’s precepts will illuminate His wisdom in your life. Meditating on the Lord’s ways helps us enjoy an abundant life under God’s wings.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for Your precepts, which protect us from ourselves and others. Please help us keep them to the fullest and enjoy the wisdom that comes from You.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

“You have the Bible in your pocket.”

The words came from a video on Facebook when I did a quick scroll. A new friend posts videos and photos regularly of his faith journey. Having had a rugged start to life, his salvation during his teen years started his evangelistic journey. Forgiven much, he loves much.

We do carry the Bible in our pocket. The Youversion app costs nothing but gives everything. At any moment, you can draw from the Bible’s wisdom and let it guide and direct your life. Meditating on God’s word becomes easier when you always have it with you.

During Biblical times, religious leaders wore little boxes on their arms that carried specific scriptures written on scrolls. Now, we have a smaller device containing the entire 66 books, with an easy-to-navigate system allowing us to access what we need when needed.

Applying God’s word to our lives does make us wiser. We avoid worldly pitfalls and stay focused on the truth of the Savior.  Meditating on Biblical precepts gives us discernment.  Instead of falling for the fake news and partial stories we see online, we recognize the emotional manipulation and can let logic take the lead as we search for truth.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for giving us easy access to Your word and helping us to live wisely.  Please help us quickly find what we need, when we need it.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Freedom comes through Christ as we receive His forgiveness and experience new life. No longer bound by our past, we can live differently, making choices based on God’s word instead of our limited perspective.  Though enemies may attack, they will not win, because Jesus protects us from their ploys.

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Psalm 118:6

When Jesus overcame death with His resurrection, giving us eternal life, we no longer need to fear it.  Glory awaits us when we take our last breath, today’s trials gone forever as we bask in the light of the Son.

Don’t let the emotion of an attack cause you to lose sight of the Savior.  Lies can easily distract us from God’s truth.  Stay focused on Jesus, look to Him for guidance by following His example.   Christ faced every persecution, even more than we will endure, and He did it all with love and grace.  Evil doesn’t stand a chance with the Savior.

Enjoy the freedom that comes with Jesus.  Place your faith in Him, learn His ways, and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding, no matter what the enemy tries to do.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for giving us new life in Christ that comes with freedom.  Please help us live fully for Jesus, trusting His promises, and not allowing the enemy to get a foothold.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

God’s precepts give order and preservation to life, helping us persevere through affliction and experience miraculous events.  Prayer focuses our attention on the Lord and connects us to Him.  The stronger the connection to the Creator, the more vibrant our lives become.

In our security-driven world, everything requires a password.  I can’t post a devotional without my password.  Online banking has strict requirements to utilize the system.  Healthcare, shopping, and streaming all require credentials to use them.  Once connected, we can enjoy the services, but without the password and a strong connection, we can’t.

Remembering God’s precepts acts like a password. Recalling the Lord’s promises helps us connect to Him on a deeper level, allowing us to enjoy the benefits of our Savior. Grace, mercy, peace, and unconditional love come from above as the Creator’s promises come true in our lives.  Thankfully, with Jesus, you don’t need a password. You can connect to Him at any time. He waits for your call.

Meditate on the Lord’s precepts and talk to God about His promises.  Watch as they unfold in your life, helping you persevere.  The more promises you know, the more you can lean into them.  Connect to your Maker, talk to Him about your struggles, and let God’s precepts guide you through the trials of life.

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank You for giving us precepts we can trust.  Please help us use them to connect with You, drawing deeper into our connection with You and finding victory over life’s challenges.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

We stopped at TAC RV on the border of North Carolina and Virginia to get propane for our tanks. While Ron had them filled, I wandered inside to shop. The beautiful young lady behind the counter noticed my T-shirt from the church we attended.

“I go there!” Crystal said, as God orchestrated a divine appointment that began our friendship. I will never forget Crystal whipping her phone out and friending me on Facebook. Still friends, we don’t see each other as much these days, but our connection remains strong in the Lord.

I ask the Lord to help me keep His divine appointments each week, not wanting to miss any. Sometimes, He empties a propane tank or orchestrates a flat tire. You never know the Lord’s plan, or how He will get you where He wants you to go, but you can trust He will.

Following Jesus gives you an unseen calendar, filled with divine appointments that will change your life. Staying alert and tuned into God’s workings will help you recognize them when they happen. Life-changing, divine appointments come in various ways; sometimes, what seems bad becomes the best thing that has ever happened to you.

Let God fill your schedule with divine appointments and enjoy the blessings that come from them.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for filling our calendars with divine appointments that change our lives. Please help us keep them all, get us out of the way so You can do Your thing.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Camping in early May beside an artificial pond, geese, ducks, and herons populate the small water spot. Goslings follow their momma across the surface, dad bringing up the rear, protecting them. Trees blossom, kids play, and life moves slowly, another spring coming to life.

Year after year, the earth stands fast, God’s creation going through the cycle of life. Scripture often refers to the seasons, nature’s rhythm set long ago by our divine Creator. The Lord’s foundation doesn’t change; firmly fixing His word in the heavens, we can count on the promises within the Bible’s pages.

Listening to chattering geese and chirping insects, God’s creation thrives with life. Even though we only live on Earth briefly, we can cling to the Lord and enjoy the world He created. Abundant life comes from following Jesus. Applying His solid teachings to our circumstances helps us discover the victory Christ gave us on the cross.

Life changes constantly as we move from one day to the next, but the Lord’s word doesn’t. We can find stability in God’s promises and experience a vibrant life as we follow Him. Lean into the Creator’s faithfulness today and enjoy His blessings.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for giving us an abundant life filled with the wonder of Your creation. Please help us live fully for You today and experience the blessings from our devotion to You.
IJNIP. Amen