Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Amos 3-4 GW; Acts 13 GW

God gives life.

Thinking about God bringing Christ back to life or the many people raised from the dead in the pages of Scripture is one way God gives life.  However, I’ve experienced God’s life-giving in other ways as well.

Most recently, when one of life’s waves knocked me to the ground, God brought me back to life.  One of those moments when you feel like giving up.  Tired of trying with nothing happening.  Sick of fighting the good fight when no one seems to care is exhausting.  Maintaining the daily routine was the only thing keeping me going, which is why I found myself once again on the floor.

On my darkest days, I crawl into my prayer closet.  Created after watching “War Room,” our guest room closet became my meeting place with God.  Ever since Ron and I’s date night at the movies in 2015, the walk-in closet is my refuge.  Within the small room’s walls, God brings me back to life.

Let God rejuvenate you.

When I’m at the bottom of the pit, my daily routine is what draws me back to God.  Because I’ve practiced the same habits for years, I do them without thinking.  Just entering the place where we meet, closing the door, and pouring my heart out to the Lord gives me strength.  As I lay in my misery, God brings me new life.  Somehow, someway, every time, God rejuvenates me and gives me the strength to get off the floor.

God will give you new life as well.  Every day, when you turn to Him, God will rejuvenate you.  God never intended for us to face life’s battles alone.  Partnering with our Maker was always part of God’s plan.  But if we don’t turn to God, He can’t bring us back to life.

Turn back to God today.  Let Him rejuvenate your life.  Stop trying to fight the good fight alone; bring in the heavy lifter.

Lord, thank You for giving us life.  Forgive us for not turning to You more regularly.  As we struggle to maintain in the world around us, provide us with strength.  Bring us back to life on those days we don’t have the energy to keep going.  When the waves of life knock us down, put us back on our feet.  Give us life.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How do you need God to rejuvenate you today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Amos 1-2 GW; Psalms 142 GW; Acts 12 GW

God knows your pain.

Whether you believe God understands your pain or not doesn’t negate Him knowing it.  Heartache and grief are isolating emotions.  Because the hurt is personal, it’s difficult for others to understand, but not God.

A few years into my marriage, Ron and I were enjoying an evening beside the campfire.  Working through a couples study, “Five Dates” by Mike and Jennifer Foster, led to an exciting conversation.  Each “date” came with a different topic.  The question we discussed was, “What two events from your childhood impacted your life?”  My immediate response was, “The death of my father.”  Ron’s were sports-related incidents.  

Ron’s response surprised me.  “Just because I haven’t gone through what you went through doesn’t mean I can’t empathize.  And it doesn’t mean you get to wear your pain like a badge of honor.”  Ron’s honesty freed me.

Don’t lose hope.

Ron empathized with my pain; God completely understood it.  Jesus died on the cross, God’s Son, innocent, yet sacrificed for our sins.  God knows my pain, and He knows yours.  Believing this truth will help you move through your pain.

God handles our pain with kid gloves.  Through the hurts in our life, we can choose how to deal with them.  For years, I didn’t manage my heartache well.  But when I started to give bits and pieces of the misery to God, He helped me begin to heal.  Through my husband, God illuminated specific areas I had yet to give Him.  After Ron spoke truth into my life, I started seeing the parts I wasn’t giving God.  Now, years later, I’ve become healthier than ever.  But first, I had to believe; God knew my pain.

Trust God knows your pain.  Don’t believe your feelings; believe your Maker.  He is with you in the pit.  God loves you.  Give Him your heartache.

Lord, thank You for knowing our deepest hurts.  Forgive us for not believing You do.  Please help us to lay our pain at the foot of the cross.  Begin the healing process in us as we turn to You.  Let us empty our hurts to You.  Fill us with Your love in return.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What pain are you holding onto today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joel 2-3 GW; Acts 11 GW

God wants you back.

Repeatedly, throughout the pages of scripture, God calls us back to Him.  The entire book of Hosea is about returning to God over and over again.  No matter how far you’ve strayed from God, He’s waiting for you to come back to Him.  Whenever you knock, the door opens:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NIV)

God wants you to ask, seek and knock.  Patiently, God waits for you to realize, you can’t save yourself.  Nor can someone else save you.  Only God has the power to give you eternal life through Jesus.  All you have to do is turn towards Him.  Give God access to your heart, all of it.  Bare your soul to Your maker; every hurt you feel lay them at the foot of the cross. 

Let go of the pillow.

Our problem is we don’t honestly give our troubles to God.  Even when we think we do, we don’t.  In my last therapy appointment, we talked about letting go.  My therapist used a pillow to illustrate her point.  Each of us held opposite ends of the rectangular pad.  When she tried to take the pillow from me, I resisted giving it to her.  Her point was simple; we’re not giving it to God.  When God tries to take our burdens from us, we resist.  Just like I wouldn’t let go of the pillow, I don’t honestly give my cares to God. 

God wants us to give everything to Him.  The more earnestly we seek God, the more we release to Him.  Seeking God through fasting and tears is a profound journey.  Releasing all of the pain from within our being to the Creator is challenging but healing.  

Don’t hold on to the pillow any longer; let God have it.  Discover God’s peace that surpasses all understanding when you do.

Lord, thank You for Your unending patience with us.  Forgive us for holding onto our pain instead of releasing it to You.  Give us the courage to let Your light shine into every corner of our hearts today.  Help us release our burdens to You completely.  Every day, let us surrender to You again.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What do you need to surrender to God today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Joel 1 GW; Acts 10 GW

God remembers.

Cornelius, a Roman Soldier, was God’s servant.  Fearing the Lord, Cornelius prayed and did good works.  God noticed.  Now, at this crucial time in history, Cornelius is a significant player.  Immediately, Cornelius obeyed the angel, sending messengers to bring Peter to him.  

Meanwhile, Peter has his vision in the city of Joppa, opening the door for Gentiles (non-Jews) to become part of the movement. Cornelius’s messengers arrive, the Holy Spirit tells Peter to go with them.  So he does.

When Peter and Cornelius share their visions, they both recognize God’s hand.  Peter shares the message of Jesus with the crowd; the Holy Spirit shows up, life change occurs for all.

I picture Cornelius, a middle-aged man who always does the right thing.  Worked hard for his family, helped others to the best of his ability, and stayed connected to God. A regular, hardworking guy who thinks no one notices.  But God does; he never misses a thing.

God notices you.

You may not think He does, but God notices.  And He remembers.  When you held the door open for a stranger or kept your tongue when you wanted to lash out, God saw.  When you prayed to Him, God heard you.  Just because God doesn’t answer the way you want doesn’t mean He didn’t listen.  We work for God; He doesn’t work for us.  

And feelings lie, all the time.  Don’t allow emotions to dictate faith.  God knows you’re trying.  He sees your heart, God remembers.  Every day, your efforts are growing God’s kingdom.  Each act of love towards someone else is a building block.  Together, we build the Kingdom.

Lord, thank You for seeing everything.  Forgive us for thinking You don’t.  Help us understand; life is a journey  Each day, we’re becoming a new creation, leaving the old behind, starting fresh.  Let us have grace for ourselves as You do.  Soften our hearts, keep us pure.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What do you do when God doesn’t feel close?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 48 GW; Acts 9 GW

Prayer works.

Can you imagine this scene?  Tabitha, lying dead after suffering an illness, her body prepared for burial.  Peter arrived after receiving an urgent message from the disciples saying they needed his help.  Upon his arrival, widows surround him, showing Peter the clothing Tabitha, also known as Dorcus, sewed for others while alive. If I was Peter, I think the pressure of the moment might get the best of me.  But not Peter, he knew what to do, pray!

Even after following God for five-plus decades, I still have moments of doubt.  In my prayer journal, I often write these words, “God, forgive me for doubting.”  As many miracles I’ve seen God perform in my life, I still doubt.

But not Peter.  Kneeling, he prayed. Somewhere in Peter’s Spirit, God answered.  Knowing what to do, he turns to the dead woman and says, “Tabitha, get up!”  Her eyes open, she looks at Peter and sits up.  What an incredible moment in time.

Take the position.

When Peter knelt and prayed, he was placing himself in a position of submission.  I’m not saying we have to get on our knees every time we chat with God.  But I do believe placing yourself in a submissive position helps your heart surrender to God.  Each morning, when I end my prayer time, I get on my knees.  Something sacred occurs at this moment where my heart softens as I submit myself to God’s will.

One of the most powerful moments of my life occurred in Nags Head, NC, during my twenties.  Single, with a girlfriend, we escaped for a night away from life.  Honestly, I can’t remember why we were both struggling, but I know we were.  Sitting in our hotel room, we decided to give our struggles to God.  I will never forget both of us getting on our knees together beside the bed and praying.  Life changed at that moment, my journey back to God becoming more of a reality.  

Prayer precedes miracles.  Take the position.  Submit to God, let Him do the work.

Lord, thank You for working miracles in our lives.  Forgive us for trying to control things on our own.  As we humble ourselves before you today, let our hearts come into alignment with Yours.  Let Your blessing and favor cover us as we move through our day.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How do kneeling and praying draw you closer to God?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 46-47 GW; Acts 8 GW

Life change happens.

Saul approved of Stephen’s murder.  He dragged people from their homes and threw them in prison.  Persecuting followers of Christ was his passion; Saul did it well.  But then, one day, Saul met Jesus.

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:3-4 GW)

From that moment on, Saul was never the same.  His killing of innocent men and women stopped as Saul discovered new life in Christ.  

Meeting Jesus does change your life.  God gives you a second chance.  All of the mistakes and blunders from your past don’t define who you are.  Instead, new hope arises as you get a “do-over.”  Faced with the same circumstances, you can make a different choice.  Obedience to God means doing what He wants instead of what you desire.  God’s way is always the better way.

Get to know Jesus.

Life change happens the moment you place your faith in Jesus.  Like Saul, in an instant, everything changes.  However, that minute is the beginning of a journey that never ends.  Saul’s trip began with three days of blindness and fasting as his traveling partners led him to Ananias, who gave him back his sight.  Saul becomes filled with the Holy Spirit and experiences baptism.  According to theologians, over ten years pass before his name becomes Paul.  In other words, Saul’s journey took time.

Our journeys take time as well.

Life change happens one day at a time.  When I first started following Jesus as an adult, my entire life changed.  My relationships are what experienced the most significant transition.  When you begin to understand the immense love God has for people, you can’t help but love them too.  Realizing the grace God extended to me made me want to do the same for others.  But changing was a process that is still occurring today.  Every day, God teaches me something new.

Experience life change.  Let God’s spirit guide your life.  Journey with Jesus, one day at a time.

Lord, thank You for giving us life change.  Forgive us for not getting to know You better.  Help us today learn more about You.   Let us experience life change like never before as we pursue You with our whole hearts.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

How has your life changed since meeting Jesus?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 45 GW; Acts 7 GW

Truth reveals.

Stephen, a disciple of Jesus, was the first martyr in 36 A.D.  Only 29 years old when he died, Stephen is a hero of mine.  Brought before the Sanhedrin, Jerusalem’s supreme rabbinic court, they accused him of speaking against the Jewish Temple. When asked the question, “Is this true?” Stephen defended his faith by recalling the lives of Abraham and Moses.  He reminded the chief priest of how the people turned their back on God.  Then Stephen accused them of acting just like their ancestors, lacking obedience to God.

Of course, the council members didn’t like what Stephen said.  They refused to listen to him.  Instead, they murdered him, leaving their coats with a young man named Saul (Acts 7:58 GW).  If you’re not aware, Saul becomes Paul after he meets Jesus on the road to Damascus, writing much of the New Testament.

“While council members were executing Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, welcome my spirit.” Then he knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them.” After he had said this, he died.” (Acts 7:59-60 GW)

Cling to Jesus.

Feedback is crucial if we are to grow.  The Sanhedrin couldn’t hear what Stephen was saying because he offended them.  If Stephen was right, then they were wrong.  The Sanhedrin couldn’t accept the possibility they were at fault.  Instead of dealing with their issues, they decided to get rid of the problem.

But you can’t get rid of Jesus.  Hiding from God never works.  He knows everything, good, bad, and ugly.  AND Jesus loves you!  Don’t run from Him; cling to God.  Lay your burdens at the foot of the cross, allow God to show you the error of your ways.  Understand, He wants you to find life to the fullest by letting go of the past and embracing the future God has for you.

We are all sinners in need of God’s grace.  Admitting our faults allows us to find healing.  Let God reveal the truth to you.  Embrace the love He has for you today and always.

Lord, thank You for revealing the truth to us.  Forgive us for our sins.  Help us accept the truth in our lives; let us become new people in Christ as we submit our lives to You.  May obedience to You become our top priority.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What truth is hard for you to accept?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 43-44 GW; Acts 6 GW

Find your lane.

Each of us has different gifts given to us by God.  Today’s scripture is about a conflict that arose.  While the disciples were busy sharing the good news, Greek-speaking Jews accused them of ignoring the needs of widows in the community.  Realizing they couldn’t do everything, the apostles chose seven men to help them deal with the issue in their ministry.  The solution pleased everyone.  Some served the widows, while others continued to devote themselves to prayer and spread God’s word.

None of us can do everything.  God equips us for our role in life.  Defining your passion helps determine your groove.  I’ve always wanted to write, but I didn’t pursue the passion until my fifth decade.  Writing my first book on prayer was something I couldn’t accomplish alone.  Editors, artists, photographers, lawyers all helped me create the finished work.  Each of us had a different purpose on the same project.

Do what you do.

Finding your lane means understanding your gifts.  If you know that you can’t cook, then don’t offer to serve in the kitchen.  However, if you love cooking, help feed those in need.  Some people sing others play instruments, while others run the lights.  No one does everything on their own; we all need help.

Billy Graham, the famed pastor of the last century, filled stadiums with over 200 million people.  Even though his name is the one remembered, countless people helped make those events a reality.  Janitors prepared the venues; organizers promoted the event, greeted people, and helped them find their seats.  Not one event did Billy do on his own; many served namelessly to help spread the gospel’s good news.

Find what you love, then do it for God.  Whether you write notes to people suffering, take meals to the sick or lend an ear to someone who needs to talk, all of these things serve God. Find your lane, then move forward, full speed ahead.

Lord, thank You for giving us purpose.  Forgive us for thinking we don’t have anything to share.  Help us today find our lane; show us where you want us to serve.  Help us grow the kingdom with the gifts and talents You’ve given us.  All glory is Yours.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What do you love to do?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 41-42 GW; Acts 5 GW

Belief changes everything.

From the moment you first put your faith in Jesus, life changes.  Acknowledging you’re not in control of the universe is a relief.  Trust me, I tried for years to make the world revolve around me, but it doesn’t, nor ever will.  Admitting my way of living wasn’t working; accepting the grace and mercy God offers genuinely did give me new life.  Jesus can do the same for you.

God cares about your heart.  He wants to give you the peace that surpasses all understanding.  But accepting God’s gifts means you must believe.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)

Peace, not Pain.

“Peace, not Pain” is chapter 8 in my book, “Three Word Prayers for Everyday Living.”  My friend Lori created the prayer during a painful period of her life.  Because she believes in God, she clung to “Peace, not Pain” and found a way to move through the hurt, experiencing God’s joy at the moment.  Belief gives us the power to keep moving forward when life knocks us down.

Choose to believe today.  Take a chance on Jesus.  God isn’t the fruitcake many think He is.  Undoubtedly, in our humanness, we’ve all misrepresented God.  None of us can perfectly represent God’s unconditional love and grace to others, but we can try.  We can try to love others as God loves us.  

Drawing closer to Jesus means getting to know who He is.  And quite frankly, Jesus is incredible.  Jesus loves you, died for you, and wants you to have life to the fullest.  Which you will, when you begin to follow Him.  Jesus will take you places you never thought you would go.  

Believe in Jesus.  Let Him change your life, one day at a time.  Stay the course, live the adventure.

Lord, thank You for giving us the gift of faith.  Forgive us for not believing in You more.  With all my heart, I pray for people to have confidence in You.  As people turn to You, change their lives in ways they can’t imagine.  Give them peace in their hearts and lives to the fullest as they put their trust in You.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

What stops you from believing in Jesus?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 40 GW; Acts 4 GW

God evokes strong feelings.

Whether you believe in God or not, He inspires passion.  Recently, promoting my new book, “Three Word Prayers for Everyday Living,” I advertised on Facebook.  The first comment was negative from a non-believer, which then spurred more negativity.  However, since the book wasn’t released, none of the commenters read it.  God gave me a whole new insight into the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Statistics show, most people don’t read the Bible. However, they have extreme opinions about something they haven’t read.  And people have profound emotions about God, whether they believe in Him or not.  As Christ-followers, we can’t let people’s negativity stop us from sharing our faith.

Speak boldly.

No matter what the opposition, share God’s love.  People exist who live to criticize others.  Criticizing people is easier than looking at the plank in their own eyes:

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:4 NIV)

We all have planks.  If you’re a close personal friend of mine, you know what mine are.  Before we point the finger at others, we must first examine ourselves.  When we do, we’ll realize we need God’s grace and mercy first and foremost.

When haters hate, give them to God.  As I read the negative comments, I prayed for my critics, “Bless them, fix me.”   Bringing God into the conversation reminds me, we’re all sinners in need of grace.  And God is a controversial topic for many people.  Life circumstances cause people to doubt God’s existence.  Conversing with an unseen God seems insane to some people, but maybe that’s because they never tried it.  I don’t know; I’m not God.

But I do know, God is real.  When people are negative, God is your refuge.  In Him, find protection from the storm.  Don’t let haters stop you from speaking boldly.

Lord, thank You for the firm foundation You provide.  Forgive us for succumbing to the negativity of this world.  Give us boldness to speak of Your love, grace, and mercy.  When people attack, let their efforts roll off our backs.  Don’t let us internalize the hatred; fill us with Your love instead.  Help us speak boldly always.  IJNIP.  Amen

Question for reflection

Whose negativity do you need to pray for today?