Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 22-23 GW; 1 John 3 GW

Giving our life to others is love.

Christ gave His life for us on the cross, yes.  He also gave His life every day He walked the earth.  Jesus set an example for us on how to live.  To imitate Him, we must die to ourselves every day. 

“Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3 GW)

In God’s eyes, we are all equal.  When we place our trust in Him, we acknowledge His ways are better than ours.  Jesus put others before Himself; we’re to do the same.  The longer I practice Jesus’s teaching in my life, the more I begin to understand His love.

Love can’t help but give.

Love isn’t something that dies.  The visual of Jesus hanging on the cross, innocent, yet condemned, is the greatest act of giving anyone could do.  God gave His Son so we could have life.  Jesus is the translator of God’s affection for us.  His Spirit lives within us, guiding and directing us through our days.  When we tap into the living water, we find ourselves giving more, not less.

My pastor used an analogy this week that hit home.  He was asked the question: “How do you know if someone has given their life to Christ?”  His answer was profound, “If someone has become a Christ-follower, how could you not know?”

Following Jesus changes who you are.  Spiritual guidance helps you find victory over your instincts.  Understanding love will make you want to give.  People will notice the difference.

Lord, how grateful we are for another day to pursue You.  Forgive us for the times we lose the battle over our flesh. Help us forgive ourselves, just as You have forgiven us.  Lord, give us a greater understanding of Your love for us today.  Let us receive your affection deep within our soul.  Allow the truth of your love for us to take root and blossom within us.  Then let us give freely to others what You have given us. IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Who can you share love with today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 19-21 GW; 1 John 2 GW

God’s light is true.

When you place faith in Jesus, it’s the first pinprick of light in the darkness.  As you begin to develop a relationship with Him, the light gets brighter.  The better you know God, the brighter His light shines, the more the darkness fades.  But you have to take the journey.  You can’t just stop at the first pinprick.

My husband and I love taking road trips.  Our first long trip was to Miami, Florida, a three-day drive.  At the beginning of that journey, I knew my husband, but I knew him much better at the end of it.  We grew closer as we traveled together.  Traveling involves handling the unknown, fixing the flat tire, finding places to eat and sleep, driving the miles.  Each moment you experience together draws you closer, becoming one.

Journey with Jesus

Don’t just stop at believing in Jesus; live like Him.  Consider today the first day of a long road trip with Jesus.  Prepare yourself for challenges.  Understand, bumps in the road exist for everyone.  Jesus goes through the potholes of life with you.  Lean into His teachings.  Apply what He modeled to your life.  Use the gospels as your travel directory.  Each adversity you overcome with Jesus makes the light shine brighter; the darkness fades more.

Don’t let fear keep you from knowing Jesus.  He’s not condemning; He’s loving.  Jesus has the solution to life’s problems.  Take Him with you on the journey today.  Let His light shine stronger in you.  Watch the darkness fade.

Lord, how we love journeying with You.  Each day is a new adventure waiting to unfold.  Forgive us when we forget to take you on the journey.  Help us to remember who our constant companion is and what He does for us.  Jesus is the best travel partner.  He doesn’t judge, doesn’t argue, just loves.  Help us to imitate Him today.  Let today start a new journey with Jesus like we’ve never experienced.  IJNIP. Amen 

Question for reflection

How are you taking Jesus on the journey with you today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 16-18 GW; 1 John 1 GW 

God is light. 

Darkness is the absence of light.  When we enter into a relationship with Christ, it’s like turning a lightbulb on in our soul.  Our biggest battlefield is internal.  We condemn ourselves more than anyone else.  Each of us knows the sins we commit:

“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” (Isaiah 64:6 NLT)

Christ helps us live with ourselves.  His forgiving grace enters our souls and gives us hope for a better future.  His light helps us overcome our past mistakes, learning from them.  God extinguishes the darkness, illuminating our journey of becoming a new person in Christ.

Live in the light.

Participating in a relationship with God lights up your life.  As we seek Him daily, His light extinguishes the dark places of our soul.  But we have to invite Christ into our daily lives.  When we seek Him regularly, imitating what He did, we live in the light.

Light living means loving people more than yourself.  Forgiving people who hurt you frees you, not them.  Understanding you only know in part, Christ knows in whole helps you reserve judgment.  Pulling the plank from your eye before addressing the splinter in someone else’s’ will keep you humble.  

Let Christ’s light shine intensely into your soul.  Expel the areas of darkness with God’s lightbulb.  Allow Him access to all places, don’t hold back.

Praise You, God, for Your light.  Forgive us for not giving you all of our hearts. As we embrace the love, You offer, provide us with courage to let You into our soul.  Help us share the dark areas with You.  Give us understanding of Your love as we open ourselves up to You more and more each day.  Deepen our relationship with You as Your light illuminates the crevices of our soul.    Illuminate us.  Free us from sin.  Let us live in Your light.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What area of your heart are you not letting God into today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 14-15 GW; 2 Corinthians 13 GW

Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are one with you.

Why do we need all three?  God’s love is something we can’t fathom in our human condition.  God understands our limitations, which is why He sent His Son.  Jesus is human and divine, God in the flesh.  We can relate to Jesus because He has human qualities.  He experienced the same human emotions we do, yet He didn’t sin.  Jesus helps us understand the depths of God’s love for us.  When He ascended into heaven, Jesus left us a helper, His Spirit.  When we place our faith in Jesus, His Spirit takes up residence in our hearts.  Together, we are one with God.

Take a coffee bean, for example.  When you look at the brown pod, you can’t understand all of the glorious goodness inside of it.  However, when you add hot water, you begin to experience the aroma and taste the beans hold.  The first sip of the aromatic brew immediately begins to awaken your senses and energize your body as it becomes one with your being—three things, made into one with you.

Appreciate the brew.

God’s love is like the coffee bean.  We can’t truly appreciate His affection without the help of Jesus.  Just like the hot water brings the coffee alive to our senses, Jesus does the same with God’s love.  We begin to experience God as we live like Jesus.  When we place our belief in Christ, like drinking coffee, His Spirit lives within us.  Our soul blends with God’s Spirit, and we are energized and awakened to new life.

Drink deeply of God’s love today.  Experience His presence as you imitate Jesus.  Let the Holy Spirit prompt you as you enjoy this day.

Lord, how grateful we are for You.  Help us understand how three are one with us today.  Let us experience Your love as we place our faith in Jesus.  Prompt us with the Holy Spirit to live like Christ.  Jesus loved all, help us do the same.  Today Lord, may we all choose You to follow.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How does Jesus help you understand God’s love for you?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 12-13 GW; 2 Corinthians 12 GW

Thorns keep the heart in check.

Paul had some sort of thorn in his side.  Scripture isn’t clear what exactly causes his discomfort, but it’s enough to beg God repeatedly to remove it.  Finally, Paul resigns himself because whatever the thorn is, God isn’t taking it away.  Instead, God uses the minor irritation to keep Paul humble.

Pride is a common struggle for us all.  The definition of pride is a feeling of “deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements.”  Think of how you feel after completing a monumental task.  For me, finishing another year of writing daily devotionals gives me a sense of accomplishment.  As I write throughout the year, I experience the same type of satisfaction on a smaller scale when I conclude another month.  Pride is subtle; we don’t realize we’re its victim. Conceit is at the heart of a lot of issues in life.  We easily forget the help God gives us in our daily lives. Because we fall prey to the negative emotion so quickly, God gives us thorns to keep us humble.

Thorns remind us of God.

Whatever Paul’s thorn was, he couldn’t remove it himself.  If Paul could have pulled the irritant out, he would have. He needed God’s help to rid himself of the discomfort.  God didn’t want to help.  Paul repeatedly tells God about his problem.  His thorn draws him into a deeper understanding of who God is.  As Paul understands God’s grace and love more, his humility increases.  But without the thorn, the conversation wouldn’t have begun.

Your thorns are a talking point with God.  Like Paul, ask Him to remove them.  If He doesn’t, maybe God’s using them in your life, like He did Paul’s.  Humility is at the heart of love.

Lord, thank You for the thorns in our life that keep us humble.  Forgive us for letting pride rear its ugly head in our lives.  Thank You for the reminder; without You, we are nothing.  Cultivate humble hearts in all of us.  Help us lead with love as we go through our day.  In all things, let us give You the glory.  Let unexpected blessings fill the day ahead.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How is God using your thorns to keep you humble?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 11 GW; 2 Corinthians 11 GW; Psalms 56 GW

Your weaknesses are God’s strength.

When we boast about what we can’t do, we’re glorifying what God can do.  Paul is listing things he could brag about but doesn’t.  Instead, Paul highlights his weaknesses to show God’s strength.  Paul realizes, without God, he can do nothing.  He’s also emphasizing; we’re in this together:

“When anyone is weak, I’m weak too. When anyone is caught in a trap, I’m also harmed.” (2 Corinthians 11:29 GW)

All of us fall short in some way.  We are perfectly imperfect people.  Through our imperfections, God’s perfection shines.  Instead of hiding your weaknesses, embrace them.  Realize, your shortcomings are for your purpose on earth.  God created you specifically for something only you can do.  Through your weaknesses, find God’s purpose.

God knows your weaknesses.

You can’t hide from God.  Whatever weakness you’re ashamed of today, God already knows.  He is waiting for you to give it to Him.  When you say, “I can’t,” God says, “I can.”  But first, you have to tell Him.  More than anything, God wants a relationship with You.  He wants you to communicate with Him about all your anxieties and fears.  Whatever shortcoming you’re struggling with in life, take it to God.  Let Him help you overcome with His strength.

You will always have weaknesses in your life.  Today, my struggles aren’t the same as 20 years ago, but I still have flaws.  Some battles are life long, some only for a season.  But in each of our weaknesses, God helps us overcome.  He gives us the strength we need for today.  Lay your imperfections at His feet, watch Him create perfection.

Lord, how grateful we are for Your strength.  When we are weak, You are strong.  Forgive us for trying to hide our weaknesses from You and the world.  Give us strength today to overcome our failings.  Help us glorify You as we face the day ahead, accepting our imperfections.  Help us understand; whatever shortcomings we have, they are part of our purpose.  Each of us has a destiny to fulfill, help us today to move forward in it.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

What weaknesses can you brag about today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 8-10 GW; 2 Corinthians 10 GW

God’s weapons destroy people’s defenses.

But what are God’s weapons?  Paul, the author of this letter, is trying to communicate “with the gentleness and kindness of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:1 GW).  As believer’s we have Christ’s Spirit within us; we are to bear His fruit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

Showering people with the love of Jesus breaks down their defenses.  As you begin to build a relationship with them based on truth, slowly, the walls will come down.  But not overnight; deeply hurting people take time to trust others.  A lot of the pain we experience in life comes from the people we know and love.  Stranger’s actions towards us typically don’t hurt as much as a friend’s betrayal.  Each time someone causes us pain, more layers form. 

Jesus wants to help, not hurt.

Jesus doesn’t want us to add more layers to people’s pain.  He wants us to love them just as they are.  Each of our journey’s in life are different.  We are to help people keep moving forward in their faith.   Letting God’s Spirit lead us means putting love into action.  All of the fruits of the spirit are rooted in love.  Against love, no law exists.

Whatever attacks come your way today, respond in love.  Let God’s Spirit lead you.  Watch as you begin to bear its fruit.

Lord, how grateful we are for Your weapons.  Forgive us for not using them more.  Help us to learn to love better today.  Give us joy and peace to share with the world.  Let patience and kindness pour from us.  Help us share Your goodness and faithfulness with others.  Let gentleness and self-control rule in our lives.  For the hardened hearts we meet today, let Your spirit in us soften them.  As we give You the glory, may the good news of Christ spread to all.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Whose defenses in your life need more of Christ’s love?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 6-7 GW; 2 Corinthians 9 GW

You have everything you need.

If you live in America, the odds are good you have more than you need.  Organizations offer food and shelter to the homeless. We have the freedom to live as we choose. Your life truly is what you make it in America. Our nation is blessed.  We don’t realize how blessed we are.  

Nothing brought home my blessings, like visiting a Third World Country.  My one trip abroad was to El Salvador.  I will never forget the lessons I learned spending a week in that country. Men armed with assault rifles everywhere; I was afraid to go anywhere by myself.  We visited the home of one of the single mothers we met.  When I needed to use the bathroom, I will never forget the outhouse, no running water, and no electricity.  The family used water from a dirty cistern to cook meals.  Children became ill with dysentery from the bug-infested water.  Living in America is a blessing; we are the Land of the Free.  We have more than we need.

We have excess.

When we landed in Atlanta on our flight home from El Salvador, I’ll never forget the feeling of letdown.  The people I met on my trip, their happiness and joy was incredible to me.  These women and children, who had nothing, enjoyed life more than my friends back home, who had everything.  Their relationships with each other weren’t surface.  Life in El Salvador didn’t revolve around consumerism; it revolved around God.

Realize, you have everything you need.  God provides in abundance.  From your blessings, do good things.  

Lord, thank You for Your provision.  Forgive us for thinking we lack anything.  Our country overflows with food and shelter for its people, thank You.  Help us manage what we have well.  From our abundance, help us to do more and more good things.  Give us spiritual eyes today to see how we can bring joy into the world with our actions.  Make our spirits sensitive to the needs around us.  Help us love everyone we interact with today in a way pleasing to You.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

Are you doing more and more good with what you have?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 4-5 GW; 2 Corinthians 8 GW

Commit to Christ, experience His joy.

Paul is talking about the suffering believers in Jerusalem experienced.  The Macedonia church was poverty-stricken. Famine covered the land, family members disowned them, and they could not make money.  On top of all that, Jewish and Roman authorities were double-taxing them.  From a worldly perspective, life sucked.  But they were all in with God; His priorities were theirs.  Generosity flowed freely from them, even though they had little to give.  With joy, they gave willingly.  Godly perspective is different from worldly perspective.

Our worldly status doesn’t define our freedom in Christ.  Generosity doesn’t require perfect conditions.  I wrote my first tithe check when I was on unemployment.  Five months passed before God blessed me with a permanent job.  My new tithe amount was greater than my entire unemployment check.  Generous giving comes from a heart grounded in Christ.  Tithing isn’t a money issue; it’s a heart issue.

Christ-centered hearts are generous.

Why I love tithing, it’s a heart check.  If I’m struggling to give, I know I’m placing my bank account over my love for Jesus.  Remembering, all I have comes from above reminds me; it’s not mine anyway.  None of what we have is truly ours.  God gives, and He takes away.  What we have today, we might not have tomorrow.  No guarantees exist in this world, but Christ guarantees our eternal world.

Whatever suffering you’re enduring today, look to Jesus.  Ask Him into the situation.  Place your faith in His plan.  Let your heart overflow with joy as you gain new perspective through Christ.

Lord, You rock!  Thank You for letting us live in America, Land of the Free.  Forgive us for taking our freedoms for granted.  Help us today remember those less fortunate than ourselves.  Give us generous hearts as we focus our gaze on You.  Whatever sufferings we’re experiencing, allow them to draw us closer to You.  Let this prayer start a conversation with You that lasts all day. Fill our hearts with joy as we join You in Your work.  IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How committed are you to Jesus today?

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 13 GW; 2 Corinthians 7 GW

Godly distress causes u-turns in thinking.

Every time I hear the phrase, “You don’t find atheists in foxholes,” it makes me smile.  A foxhole is “a hole in the ground used by troops as a shelter against enemy fire or as a firing point.” In other words, when people fear for their lives, they pray.  Whether they believe in God or not is irrelevant.  When you’re in a life or death situation, you recognize your limitations.  You know only something outside of yourself can save you.  Thinking changes when pressure is applied.

Hopefully, God doesn’t need to use a foxhole to get your attention.  But trials in our lives do bring us to our knees, causing us to look heavenward, seeking God’s aid.  When we bring God into our story, our thinking changes.

Changed thinking, changed actions.

Experiencing God’s grace changes your life.  When you are in your foxhole, surviving unscathed, credit goes to God.  His protection, provision, and guidance were the navigators.  Whatever the story of survival is, I’m sure you can’t make it up.  The details of God’s working in our lives are so personal; He’s the only explanation.  Godly distress draws us closer to our Creator; it illuminates His closeness in our lives.  As we know Him more, our thinking changes and our actions become more loving.

Whatever foxhole you’re in today, pray.  Seek the God who can get you out of the pit.  Give Him the glory when He brings you victory.

Lord, how grateful we are for Your sovereignty.  In all things, You rule.  Even when we don’t believe, You love us.  Forgive us for our unbelief.  Thank You for Your protection during the storm.  Give us tails of survival that spread Your good news to the world.  Lord, let us experience Your grace today in a new and unexpected way.  As we draw into You, let us feel Your presence with us.  In all things, we give You the glory. IJNIP. Amen

Question for reflection

How are you experiencing God in Your life today?