Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 11-12 GW; Galatians 4 GW

Doulos for God.

My introduction to the word “Doulos” happened years ago.  The pastor received a car as a gift, and “Doulos” was the license plate he chose.  The Greek word means “slave.”  In his message, the pastor talked about the word and why he chose it.  The New Testament uses Doulos 120 times.  According to the NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon:

Doulos is a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.  Metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another’s will whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men. 

In other words, the pastor was a slave to Christ, bonded with Him in his mission, as are we when we become Christ-followers.  We leave our old sins behind as we strive to become new in Christ.  When we give our life for God, we become Doulos to Him.

God’s bondservant.

Submitting your life to Christ bonds us with Him.  Every day, as we strive to follow and obey Jesus’s commands, we draw closer to Him.  Our relationship becomes more vital as our lives transform, becoming new, one day at a time.

I’m an ex-smoker, having quit when I was 30.  But occasionally, I would still smoke a cigarette.  After my sister died in 2001, I started again.  I would buy a pack of cigarettes, smoke one, and throw the rest away.  One day, my brother caught me smoking.  In dismay, I hid the smoking tobacco and immediately lied to cover up my sin.  He believed me, but the weight of lying to my brother consumed me.  Minutes after he pulled out of the driveway, I called and confessed my sin.  I’d rather tell the truth than a lie.  Integrity is built one honest statement at a time.  And, that moment helped me stop smoking again.  If what I’m doing causes me to lie, then I shouldn’t do it.  Because of my doulos, my life changed.

Become a bondservant of Christ.  Submit your life to His willingly.  Let your life change in ways you never imagined.

Lord, thank You for Jesus.  Forgive us for rebelling against Him, time and time again.  Help us today become bonded with Christ.  Let our relationships with You become more profound as we obey Your commands.  In all things, the glory is Yours.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What type of relationship do you want with Jesus?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading:  Ezekiel 8-10 GW; Galatians 3 GW

God wants you to believe.

More than anything else, belief is what God wants most.  Believe God exists, that He is real, and His promises are true.  I know how hard believing is at times.  Especially when the world around you is following apart, and you can’t control what is happening. God’s presence and consistency are what get us through those moments.  Even though we feel out of sorts, God never does.  God is always in control, His plan unfolding one day at a time.

Recently, my husband and I had the privilege of attending Lauren Daigle’s World Tour Concert. “You Say” is my go-to song when life is pressing in on me.  When the world is winning and my belief is struggling, I play the words on repeat, listening until my faith strengthens.

You are loved!

“You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And you say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours

And I believe (I)

Oh, I believe (I)

What You say of me (I)

I believe”

Today’s picture is confetti that fell from the ceiling during the concert.  Before Lauren sang “You Say,” letters written to her from listeners scrolled across the screen.  The last one was a young man, sitting in his car, watching trucks driving on the road, wondering which one would kill him.  As he began to put his foot on the pedal, “You Say” came on the radio and saved his life.

God is with you in your dark moments.  He will provide a way for you.  Trust what God’s promises say.  Believe, just believe.  All God wants is for you to believe.

Lord, thank You for always showing up.  Forgive our unbelief; help us believe.  For all those reading this today who are hurting, give them relief from their pain.  Anyone who is struggling with heartache, Lord, save them.  Reach down and comfort them in ways unique to them, let them not doubt what is happening.  God, help us all believe without a doubt, You are real.  You love us; Your promises are true.  We need You, Lord.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What makes you struggle with believing in God?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 16 GW; Mark 14 GW; Psalms 88 GW

God wastes nothing.

Our heroine today is Mary, sister of Lazarus (John 12:3 NIV).  The perfume she pours on Jesus’ feet is Nard, made from a plant in the Himalayas.  Expensive, the costly liquid was equivalent to a year’s wages.  Jesus was visiting Simon in his home with several others when Mary found him.  Watching, the witnesses think Mary’s act is wasteful.  What the onlookers didn’t realize, Mary’s actions prepared Jesus for His burial.

Days before Passover, Simon and his friends didn’t know what was coming.  None of them could understand Jesus’s death and resurrection yet.  From their earthly position, what Mary did was wasteful.  But in reality, God was powerfully using Mary. Simon and the boys didn’t have the capability of understanding this fact.  Mary’s act prepared Jesus for burial.

Only God knows.

Just like the men didn’t understand Mary’s act, we do the same.  Someone does something for Jesus in a way that doesn’t make sense to us, and we question the action.  But God understands and uses it for His good.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

No matter what the situation, God doesn’t waste it.  When we’re actively serving the Lord, fulfilling our mission to the best of our ability, God will work things out for good.  Perfection isn’t required to serve God, just willingness.

Mary’s willingness to give up a year’s wages to anoint Jesus’s feet shows her heart.  Maybe she could have done things differently, but she did them her way.  God knew her actions were pure.  Human understanding isn’t necessary for divine tasks.  More times than not, people won’t get why you do the things you do for Jesus.  But in time, the truth comes out.  After Jesus’s death and resurrection, Simon understood Mary’s actions, but only in time.

People serve God in different ways.  If someone’s actions baffle you, give it time.  God reveals all things at the right moment.

Lord, thank You for Mary’s example.  Forgive us when we’re unwilling to serve you completely.  As we move through our day, give us opportunities to honor You.  Let us submit to You fully today, seeking Your will, not ours.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

When have someone’s actions baffled you?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 17-18 GW; 2 John 1 GW; Psalms 86 GW

God created everything.

Look around you; wherever you are, God made your surroundings. The chair where you sit, the ground where you stand, and the air you breathe are all made by God.   Without God, none of what we have would exist.

On clear summer nights, when I look up at the stars in the sky, is when God’s creation most strikes me.  Trying to number the pinnacles of light is impossible, yet God placed them with care in their spots:

“God hung the stars in the sky—the Dipper, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the south.” (Job 9:9 GNT)

For mothers, I can only imagine the feelings they encounter as new life forms inside of them, then bursts forth nine months later.   Miraculous is the only way to describe the birth of a baby.  A new person, who will grow into their personality.  The possibilities of where life will take them, endless.

Creation doesn’t end.

God is still creating.  With every new birth, the circle of life continues.  Scientists believe our universe is still expanding.  Nobody but God knows the universe’s dimensions; our human eye can only see as far as light.  God illuminates the world farther than our eyes can see.  In Him, darkness doesn’t exist.

 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)

Life may seem monotonous to you, but it’s not.  Every day, God is creating newness.  Plants bloom, babies grow, life is constantly changing.  Tune into the wonders of the world.  Take a walk through your neighborhood, notice the changes taking place.  Babies change more in the first year of life than any other year.  Children grow more and more each day as they trek towards adulthood.  And adults change as they experience life’s circumstances, teaching them more and more about the world we live in today.

God is the Father of Creation.  His efforts never stop.  Every day, something new begins.

Lord, thank You for Your creation.  Forgive us for taking it for granted.  Help us today have new eyes for the world around us.  Let us look in wonder at all You are creating in our lives.  In You, we have new life every day.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What about God’s creation makes you awe-struck?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 4-7 GW; Galatians 2 GW

No one is always right.

Become comfortable with your imperfections.  Paul is writing to the Galatians.  If you’re unaware of Paul’s history, he killed and tortured anyone who followed Christ.  Then, one day on his way to Damascus, Paul met Jesus.  At the time, his name was Saul. After his heavenly encounter with Jesus, he became a new person in Christ, with a new name, Paul.

Paul’s conversion was miraculous.  Light shone from heaven as Jesus confronted Paul on his journey.  Immediately, Paul knew his experience changed his life.  When we meet Jesus, life change is the result.  We leave our past behind and begin rebuilding a new life in Christ.

Admitting our faults is difficult for everyone.  When I was a store manager, I made mistakes on the schedule.  My assistant would point out my errors, which made me feel like an idiot.  In my late 20’s I had high expectations of myself.  Whenever I faltered, I felt like a failure in front of my staff.  At the time, I was rebuilding my relationship with Jesus after years of turning my back on Him.  My newfound faith gave me the strength to admit my faults.

In our weakness, God makes us strong.

Admitting our weaknesses makes us vulnerable.  Recently, I watched a rising tennis star whose father is developing two forehands for the youngster. Naturally right-handed, the boy’s left forehand is the weakest.  Every opponent the young man faces knows to hit the ball to the left side.  Inevitably, they are helping the athlete become stronger by exploiting his weakness.  The more practice he gets, the stronger his forehand becomes.

In the same way, when we expose our weaknesses, God helps us become stronger. We’re able to accept our imperfections, realizing God made us that way for a reason.  Paul became God’s most prominent advocate, writing most of the New Testament.  Because of Christ,  his life changed dramatically.  Jesus does the same for us. 

Admitting you are wrong isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength.  Rebuilding occurs when we can say we’re sorry.

Lord, thank You for turning our weaknesses into strength.  Forgive us for not admitting our faults.  Help us become comfortable saying we were wrong.  As we become comfortable with our imperfections, let Your perfection cover our shortcomings.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What area do you need to admit you were wrong?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 1-3 GW; Galatians 1 GW

Choose who you please.

Every day we all face the same choice:  God or people.  Who are you going to please?  If you’re more concerned with people, God isn’t a priority in your life.  Doing what will make others happy isn’t fulfilling.  But when we care about God over people, it’s a win-win situation.  Pleasing God means loving people unconditionally, but that’s not the same as pleasing them.  Loving people for God means putting their best interests first.

For instance, if you’re five year old wants to play with a hot stove, you say no.  Pleasing the child in this instance causes them more harm than good.  Loving them means not allowing them to have what they want because you are protecting them.  God does the same thing for us.  He tells us no because the Almighty is protecting us from injury.  

Pleasing God doesn’t always please others.

In one of my social groups, we had a minor conflict occur.  At a recent event, a woman approached me with a question.  A lie would avoid controversy, but Jesus is clear; we’re not to tell falsities.  So I told the truth, which led to upheaval.  However, in the long run, exposing the truth was the best option.  A friend later said to me, “You should have just lied.” My response was simple, “I love Jesus; He doesn’t like lying.  Jesus comes first.  Sometimes God calls us to take a stand, and apparently, He wants me to take this one.”

Pleasing God and people are impossible.  We have to choose who is going to come first in our lives.  Essentially, we’re choosing between the eternal and the temporary.  Everyone knows when you buy a toy for a child, its appeal wears off quickly.  But when we decide to put God first, His presents last for eternity.

Choose wisely today.  Please God first and foremost; follow His instructions for loving people.  Not every action will make others happy, but if you love them for Jesus, you will help them know God.  The best gift you can give anyone is an introduction to the Almighty.

Lord, thank You for eternal life.  Forgive us for trying to please people instead of You.  Help us to choose wisely today.  When faced with the decision of who we are going to serve, let us always choose You.  Give us the strength and courage to do what You call us to do.  IJNIP  Amen

Question for reflection

Who are you concerned with pleasing today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Daniel 11-12 GW; James 5 GW

Suffering ends.

One way or another, what struggle you’re enduring today will end someday.  Maybe not tomorrow or the next day, but trials do pass.  In my mind, when things are at their worst, I have the same thought: “God’s got something really good in store for me.” Why else would God allow so much pain and suffering if He didn’t have something up His sleeve?

We forget so quickly; this world is temporary.  Our eternal life lasts forever.  The few decades we get on Earth are nothing compared to infinity in heaven.  A few nights ago, I was reading through our family lineage my cousin did. Scanning through the pages, I found names I’d never heard of before.  My imagination began wondering about their lives.  They struggled more than I can even imagine.  Dating back to the early 1800s, more than half lived without electricity.  Deaths from Diptheria and other deadly diseases were common.  Hospitals weren’t on every corner like they are today.  Death ends worldly struggles.

Eternity is good.

Whatever my ancestor’s struggles were, every one of them ended. God called them into eternity at their appointed time.  Whatever purpose God created for them fulfilled, final rest came.  

I still struggle with death, as many of us do. Like so many other hurting hearts, I’ve lost loved ones—some at very young ages, which is hard to understand.  But Jesus says He prepares a place for us, and I believe Him.

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2 NIV)

Faith believes something better is coming.  Belief gives hope.  If we just looked at our circumstances, we would have no hope.  But if we look to Jesus, believing His words are valid, we’ll know, suffering ends.  

Take heart today.  Whatever God’s taking you through, He’s preparing you for the blessing.  And trust Him, it’s worth the trip.

Lord, thank You for Your unending love and mercy.  Forgive us for losing hope in our struggles.  Renew our spirits today with a fresh breath from You.  Give us hope for our futures, ones that You’ve prepared for us.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How does your relationship with God give you hope?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Daniel 9-10 GW; James 4 GW

God understands motive.

We think our requests to God are pure but often aren’t. God knows when we’re asking for something for our pleasure, even when we don’t.  When I was a child, asking God to make my parents say” “Yes,” to whatever childish request I had never worked. Why wouldn’t God do my will?

Because God isn’t at my beck and call, I’m at His.  We think we know what is good for us, but we don’t.  An alcoholic wouldn’t take the first drink if he knew it would ruin his life.  God knows when we’re drinking from the wrong cup.  If we’re heading down the wrong path, God changes our direction.  Our annoyances are God’s maneuverings.   When things don’t go our way, sometimes, it’s because we’re going in the wrong direction.

Honesty is the best policy.

We can’t decipher our motives as God can.  What we can do is talk to God honestly about whatever is going on in our lives.  Currently, I have a relationship issue that seems stagnant from my perspective. I’ve followed God’s promptings to the best of my ability, but nothing seems to happen.  The harder I try, the worse the situation seems to get.  But I keep talking to God about the circumstance, asking for His guidance.  What I’ve found, God is changing me.

The situations God puts in our lives grow us.  God purifies our hearts by giving us what we need, not what we want. One of my favorite movies, Bruce Almighty, depicts what happens if God said “Yes” to everyone’s requests.  Chaos would rule because our desires aren’t pure.  Think of some of the situations you’ve prayed about in your life. With hindsight, you’re thankful God said, “No.” We all have them.

God knows our motives.  He purifies our hearts with His answers.  If God doesn’t give you what you want, trust He’s got your back.  No one loves you more than God.  Believe God knows what is best for you, especially when you don’t.

Lord, thank You for saying, “No” to us.  Forgive us for expecting You to answer to us.  Help us accept Your sovereignty in our lives.  Whatever answer You give us, we know it’s the best one.  Protect us from ourselves. You know we need it.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How has God annoyed you lately?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Daniel 7-8 GW; James 3 GW

Tongues praise and curse.

One minute we’re praising God; the next moment, cursing people.  More times than I’d like to admit, I’ve had people say this to me.  “God doesn’t know them like I do.”  Typically, these words come after I remind them, “God loves whoever too.”  When someone has hurt us, the last thing we want to think about is God’s affection for them.  After all, how could God cherish someone who caused us pain?  The answer is simple because He created them.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NIV)

What I’ve learned about difficult people in my life, they are the ones God uses to grow me.  Loving people you like is easy; however, caring for those who annoy you, not so much.  Obedience to God requires loving people.  God created us in His image, but each of us has a unique personality.  The challenge comes in showing affection for those opposite of us.

Keep a soft heart.

Recently, my therapist gave me a new prayer.  We were discussing someone whose actions aren’t lovely towards me.  Understanding this person is operating from a place of pain, I’m trying not to take offense.  But when someone is intentionally mean to you, keeping a soft heart is challenging.  We can’t remain affectionate towards them without God’s help, which is why my therapist told me to ask God to keep my heart soft.

Ever since my therapist said these words to me, they’ve changed my life.  Anyone at all who offends me, I immediately begin praying, “Keep my heart soft.”  Her words captured me.  My therapist made me realize how easily we harden our hearts towards people because of their actions.  But if we’re to love like Jesus, we need to keep our hearts soft.  Controlling our tongue helps us accomplish our goals.

Speak only uplifting and encouraging words.  If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.  Ask God to keep your heart soft towards those who hurt you.  Let praises come from your lips, not curses.

Lord, thank You for creating us in Your image.  Forgive us for cursing others.  Help us keep soft hearts towards those who offend us.  Let words of praise come from our mouths.  Stop us from saying mean things that cause pain.  Fill our mouths with uplifting and encouraging words only.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

Who is your heart hardened to today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Daniel 5-6 GW; James 2 GW

God writes divine messages.

King Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, threw a party and decided to use the gold and silver utensils his grandfather stole from God’s temple.  Amid the banquet, a hand appears and begins writing on the wall, but no one can interpret the writing.   Finally, Daniel, a prophet of God, comes and reads the words: Numbered, Weighed, and Divided.

Daniel explains to the king because Belshazzar used the utensils from the temple, he was declaring himself mightier than God.  As a result, God sent this message:

“This is its meaning: Numbered—God has numbered the days of your kingdom and will bring it to an end. Weighed—you have been weighed on a scale and found to be too light. Divided—your kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 5:26-28 GW)

Pay attention to the writing.

King Belshazzar didn’t live to see another sunrise; he died that very night.  He ignored the writing because he genuinely thought he was invincible.  God sends us messages, too; it’s up to us whether we accept them or not.

The first place to hear from God is through the scriptures.  Technology may change, but the human condition doesn’t.  Emotional reactions and situations aren’t anything new.  Instead of jealousy over someone’s horse, we’re now envious of people’s cars.  Relationships endure lying, cheating, and stealing throughout history.  How to deal with these situations is what we find in the Bible.

If we ignore the writing, we miss the message.  Part of my daily practice is to read the chapter of Proverbs that coincides with the date.  Thirty-one chapters mean one for every day, which also equals fresh wisdom daily.  Every day my heart receives a message of wisdom from God, written by Solomon for all to enjoy.

Take time to read God’s writing.  Spend time in the scriptures daily.  Your life will change, without a doubt.

Lord, thank You for Your love letter to us.  Forgive us for not reading the scriptures more.  Help us today; receive the message you’re sending us.  In all things, let us submit to You.  As we read Your word, let it change our lives for the better.  Help us represent You well today. IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How has reading God’s word changed your life?