Honest Reflections

One-minute read.

That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19

Divine resources come through Christ’s indwelling in our hearts. As the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us, we gain inner strength that can sustain us through the tragedies of life. Rooted and grounded in love, we receive God’s fullness, which helps us persevere when life knocks us off our feet and drops us to our knees. Our inner being receives renewal each day, the Holy Spirit working within us, enabling us to find hope in our darkest hour.

As we continually trust Jesus, He indwells within us. Our hearts represent our whole person: mind, feeling, and will. Love comes from Christ’s presence in our lives, like a tree with deep roots, creating a firm foundation for us to rely upon when the storm winds begin to blow. Paul’s prayer applies to all God’s people, leading to divine empowerment and personal enlightenment.

Understanding the depths of God’s love from a human perspective requires divine help. Paul recognizes this, praying that the Ephesians may come to know the unknowable. Ending his prayer, Paul prays for Jesus to fill us with God’s love so that we may experience its fullness in our lives. Clinging to the Lord will empower us with the tools to face the world’s challenges. Accepting God’s help gives us divine resources that we can’t access any other way. Only by submitting our lives to Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit can we find the strength to persevere when all else fails.

Application:

God gives us power through the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the gift of Jesus and His Spirit within us. Please help us access the strength that You provide from within our hearts. When life doesn’t make sense, help us persevere in faith, knowing You have a plan.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.

John 14:13-16

Praying in Jesus’s name has two aspects: a guarantee and a limitation. Like signing a check promises payment, Christ promises an answer when we pray in His name. But the answer has limits, requiring consistency with God’s character and purpose. Jesus promises an answer that will bring glory to the Father. Obeying the Lord’s commands tests the disciple’s love; will they submit to God’s will or theirs? Jesus leaves us with His Spirit to help us make the right choices.

“All Saints,”[i] a movie about a church on the verge of closing and Burmese refugees that helped save it, exemplifies the Lord’s ways. Throughout the film, the pastor feels led in a specific direction, yet hardship after hardship keeps happening, making him question his calling. Eventually, all hope seems lost. Prayers seem to go unanswered; efforts don’t seem blessed, all done in Jesus’s name. How the Lord answers prayers and how we think He will differ. What doesn’t make sense to us does to God. The movie shows how the Lord answers, but not how you think it will go.

God guarantees answers, but He doesn’t tell us how. And deciphering the Lord’s will only comes with time and perseverance. All things work for the good of those who believe and trust in the Lord, but we must go through the valley to get to the mountaintop. In the waiting room for an answer, prayer helps pass the time. Stay connected to God, even when you don’t understand, and trust the Holy Spirit to help you persevere, waiting for God’s answer.

Application:

The Holy Spirit helps us persevere.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us persevere while waiting for Your answers. Give us hope while waiting, trusting in Your sovereign will. Lead us on the right path as we follow You.

IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4663548/

One-minute read.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Psalm 107:13-16

God doesn’t forget us, no matter our rebellious spirit; the Lord delivers us from sins when we turn to Him, redeeming us. The Creator has a plan for His creation, and when we allow Him to work in our lives, submitting to Him, we discover it. Redemption breaks the chains of sin and gives us hope for a better future.

Not too long ago, I received the most uplifting message from a reader. On her way home from work, she had every intention of doing something that wouldn’t please the Lord, what I don’t know. But the Holy Spirit stopped her, and she prayed in the parking lot, turning her evil desires over to God and asking Him to help her break the bonds. And the Lord did. Right in the middle of the parking lot, He set her free from the bonds that had held her captive and renewed her spirit. Singing His praises, she shared her victory with me.

We all can find victory in the Lord when we submit our lives to Him.  God will shatter the bonds that hold us captive, freeing us from sin. What we see as challenges, the Lord sees as future victories. Tapping into the Almighty’s power, He will free us from the chains that bind us and give us new life in Christ.   Seek God and His kingdom, experience the blessings that come from above, and discover life to the fullest in Jesus.

Application:

God shatters the bonds that hold us captive.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for setting us free from our sins and giving us new life in Christ. Help us see the chains that bind us, giving them to You and discovering freedom. Let us submit our every desire to You, allowing You to transform our lives.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

Psalm 103:2-5

God redeems us from our sins with His love and compassion, lifting us out of the pit, sustaining us, and fully restoring us. The eagle symbolizes the vigor and freedom the Lord gives us when we accept His grace and mercy. The Creator hasn’t changed, but our sins separate us from Him. Our relationship remains strained until we come to the Lord, asking for His forgiveness; God forgives us the minute we confess.

When I started my crafting business, I accidentally spray-painted our neighbor’s car, not realizing it. On a girl’s trip, my husband called and told me he had an angry visit from the husband and wife, who speak very little English. Mortified at my actions, embarrassment filled me as I thought about what I had done. Facing the consequences when I came home, I marched over to their house to offer my apologies and offer to pay for the damage. Their forgiveness and grace restored our relationship, making us whole again.

The Lord does the same when we come to Him with our misdeeds. The minute we confess, He forgives and redeems us, showering us with love and renewing our energy. Our Heavenly Benefactor gives us everything we need to live abundantly with Him.  But we must seek Him, confessing our sins to receive the benefits.

Application:

God redeems us.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for redeeming our lives, restoring and giving us new life in You.  Help us to become more sensitive to our sin, recognizing and confessing it quickly to You.  Let us live abundantly in Your grace.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:9-11

Parents desire to give their kids good gifts. If a child asks for something to eat, they don’t give him a stone, something he can’t eat. They also don’t give the kid something poisonous that would harm him. So if we, as sinners, know how to give good gifts, God gives even better gifts as our sovereign Lord and Savior, Creator of the Universe, perfect in every way.

God wants us to ask for His kingdom’s blessings to train us. To encounter the Lord, we must have a relationship with Him and seek Him regularly. As God’s children, we must ask Him for our heart’s desires, just like kids ask their parents on Earth.   I love watching children in the stores with their parents, sons, and daughters, asking their moms and dads for things they see on the shelves. Sometimes, parents say yes; other times, I hear, “Put that back,” but I rarely see them get angry at their children for asking.

The Lord wants us to ask Him for things. He wants us to talk to Him about the things in our hearts. Sometimes God says yes, other times no, and often He answers, wait. But the Lord always answers a doting Father who loves and adores His kids. Through our requests and His answers, we learn more about God as He grows and matures us into fully devoted followers of Christ.

Application:

God dotes on His children.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for blessing us with the best gifts. Help us become more comfortable asking You for the desires of our hearts, then align our hearts with Yours. Let us continue to learn and grow as we receive Your response, trusting You for the best gifts.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:31-33

Non-believers worry about temporal things, such as what to eat and wear. But as believers, God doesn’t want us to pursue food and clothing as a primary goal; instead, we should replace such pursuits with a goal of greater significance, His kingdom. Focusing on the Lord and doing His will means putting the things of God first. When we do that, the Almighty provides all our needs. We needn’t worry about what we eat and drink because we know the Lord will provide for us.

Pursuing righteousness in Christ means submitting to God’s will. The Lord will provide all our necessities; we don’t have to worry about them. Of course, what we think we need and what God believes can differ. We might desire a Ferrari, and the Lord might provide a Honda. Either way, we have a car to drive, a luxury not everyone has. Aligning our desires with God means submitting to His will, thanking the Lord for His blessing, and finding contentment in what we have instead of focusing on things we don’t possess.

Set your gaze upon the Son, and let Him supply all your needs. Build the kingdom and pursue a higher calling, introduce others to Jesus, and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ. God will fulfill all your needs, providing food, drink, and clothing. As our Ultimate Supplier, we have everything we need in Jesus.

Application:

God supplies all our needs.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for caring for us and providing all the necessities we need. Help us to pursue Your kingdom first and foremost. Let us grow more like Christ as we consistently follow Him, enjoying Your blessings.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

James 5:14-15

Calling the church’s elders to pray over us during sickness will connect us with the Lord’s divine healing. One way or another, God will restore our health. The Divine Healer saves the sick and forgives their sins, restoring their body and soul. James prescribes prayer and oil, Biblical medicine, as the cure for illness. 

The reference to forgiveness of sins comes from the possibility that the illness comes from persistent wrongdoing.    Therefore, the Lord’s forgiveness brings healing. Coming before the elders with repentance, confessing sin, and having them pray for the person means they will turn from the sin that caused the illness and experience complete healing. Sin can physically impact us if it becomes a habitual offense. 

Sometimes, healing comes from the Lord calling us home. Leaving our physical bodies and entering eternity with Jesus restores us to total health. All the troubles of this world disappear, our bodies made new when we reach heaven. Hard to accept from an earthly perspective, healing comes in many forms. One way or another, God heals us from our illness. We find salvation and forgiveness of sins through prayer and supplication, cleansing us and making us whole. Bring your ailments before the Lord, allowing others to pray for you, and find divine healing from above.

Application:

God heals us.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your divine healing. Strengthen our faith as we come to You to restore our bodies and minds. Give us complete healing as we submit our lives to You.  Forgive our sins and make us new.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Enlist the Lord as your travel agent through life. Instead of leaning on your understanding, tap into His ways, acknowledging Him and allowing God to plan your steps. We have a limited view, our perspectives short sighted. What seems right to us may cause harm. And the things in life that seem bad could cause us to praise God. We don’t know because we only see life from a narrow view.

Planning a vacation takes research and effort. You must determine where you want to go, how to get there, where to stay, and what to do once you arrive. Calling a travel agent and allowing them to take care of the details makes the trip much more enjoyable. We have the Almighty we can call to guide and direct us on the paths we should take. When we trust Him, we don’t have to worry about what comes our way because we know the Lord will use it for our good.

Put your trust in God. Instead of leaning into your limited understanding, acknowledge the Lord and let Him guide you down the right path. Not only will the Almighty direct your steps, but you will also have abundant life following Him.  Nothing spells adventure like letting God plan your life trip. He will take you places you never thought you would go, and you will experience unbelievable things with the Lord as your guide.

Application:

God will make your paths straight when you trust Him.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for making our paths straight as we trust You and acknowledge Your ways. Help us to continually seek You for guidance, following the Holy Spirit’s promptings and taking steps of faith that allow us to live an abundant life.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:9-10

Paul shares the heart of the gospel with Jews and Gentiles; God welcomes all into His kingdom if they confess with their mouth and believe in their heart. Confessing means saying they have faith in Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection. Believing means accepting the truth of Christ’s actions. With acceptance comes salvation and peace. We must choose who we will follow and what truth we will believe each day.

Acorns become oak trees. Our first steps of confession and belief plant seeds in our hearts that, as we pursue and follow Jesus, begin to grow. The more we apply Christ’s teaching to our lives, the larger the branches become, producing more fruit and sharing the good news with the world. From one seed comes innumerable others that impact the world and grow God’s kingdom.

Salvation means we have a declared destination where we will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord. But before we reach our endpoint, we must take the journey. God doesn’t immediately call us home; each day, the Lord has divine tasks for us to accomplish: loving Him and others. As we complete our mission, we will introduce others to Jesus, who will book their room in heaven and begin to share what they have found. The never-ending circle of life continues as we share the good news with others, and they, in turn, do the same.

Application:

Salvation comes through Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Jesus, who gives us salvation when we confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts. Help us share the good news of Christ with others every day, drawing them to You and building Your kingdom.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Prayer, God’s prescription for anxiety, turns our concerns into conversations with the Lord that bring us peace. When we identify and talk to the Lord about the things weighing down our hearts, we discover answers we can find no other way. First, thanking God for His blessings immediately focuses our attention on what we do have. Then, as we give Him our requests, we have confidence that the Creator has the answers we seek and will take care of the problem. Releasing our cares, we can accept God’s peace, which guards our hearts and minds.

When Ron and I spent two hours on the side of I-95, watching cars race past us as we waited for help to arrive, I prayed. Instead of letting the anxiety that wanted to overtake me have control, I focused on Paul’s words to the Philippians. As I began thanking the Lord for His protection, I found more and more things to add to the list. My heart found peace as I gave my concerns to God, waiting and trusting until He got us back on the road.

We have a choice when life gives us flat tires; we can fret or pray. Sometimes, people don’t choose to return to the road, even after a new tire. Staying stuck in the moment, they don’t want to continue on the journey, fearful of what else could happen. Trusting the Lord means acknowledging flat tires will happen, but God will help us fix them and get us back on the road, leading us to our eternal home, one day at a time.

Application:

God gives us peace when we give Him our anxiety.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for answering our prayers and giving us Your peace. When we get flat tires, help us remain calm, access Your help, and live in Your peace. Get us back on the road, don’t let us get stuck in our anxiety, and help us honor and serve You well as we trust You.

IJNIP. Amen