Honest Reflections

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 22:1-23:20, 2 Thess. 1:1-12, Psalm 83:1-18, Proverbs 25:11-14

Daily Verse: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” Prov. 25:11

Profound speech.

Picturing golden apples in a setting of silver speaks of beauty, value, and artistry. Using words skillfully has a powerful impact on the receiver, giving them lasting encouragement.

Recently, I spoke at Life Community Church in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. In a series on prayer, they asked me to talk about the topic because of my book, Three Word Prayers. The next day, I received an email from the founding pastor giving me feedback on my talk. Full of uplifting and encouraging words, the email fueled me onward. 

Charles Spurgeon, a pastor from the 1800s, used words skillfully. His grasp of the scriptures and his communication still impact people today. Spurgeon, who wrote many sermons, books, poetry, and hymns, used words fitly, producing beautiful fruit that continues to blossom today.

Words carry weight. How we choose to use language matters. Speaking uplifting and encouraging words at the right time will spur people to become who God intends. Choose what you say wisely, and always make sure to couch it in love.

Lord, forgive us for speaking out of turn. Please help us manage our mouths well and only speak words of love at the appropriate time. Each day that passes helps us become more skillful with our language. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 19:1-21:14, 1 Thess. 5:4-28, Psalm 82:1-8, Proverbs 25:9-10

Daily Verse: “Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret,” Prov. 25:9-10

Private quarrels.

When you divulge secrets to clear yourself in an argument, people perceive you as untrustworthy, and it will damage your reputation. Overcoming a lousy name takes a lot of time, work, and effort; even then, you may not get rid of the judgment.

People tend to hold onto the wrong things, forgetting the good. We must learn to let go of the offenses and work towards restoration. Admitting our faults, asking forgiveness, and then keeping quarrels private will help you become trustworthy and someone people respect.

When in a conflict with someone, keep it between you and them. Don’t discuss the argument with others; work to restore the relationship privately, keeping the details secret. Not only will becoming trustworthy repair the relationship, but it will deepen the friendship.

Resolution comes with trustworthiness, responsibility for each other’s parts in the conflict, and a conscious effort not to repeat the same mistake.

Lord, forgive us for breaking other people’s trust in us. Please help us build our character as we practice trustworthiness, keeping quarrels private and striving to restore relationships as You would have us do. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 16:16-18:23, 1 Thess. 4:1-5:3, Psalm 81:1-16, Proverbs 25:6-8

Daily Verse: “What your eyes have seen do not hastily bring into court, for  what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?” Prov. 25: 7b-8

Cautious Testimony.

Don’t rush to tell what you see, especially about your neighbors. If your claim has no truth to it, you will experience public disgrace. Using caution when divulging information helps us avoid embarrassment.

Jumping to conclusions about the actions of our neighbors causes trouble. As in all things, our limited perspective doesn’t give us the entire story. When a neighbor forgot to close his garage door while on vacation, I feared something had happened. Making up negative narratives doesn’t take much effort. Often, we overlook the obvious.

Using caution when talking about others helps us keep our foot out of our mouths. As in all things, if you don’t know the whole story, don’t tell it. Search for truth, speak only uplifting and encouraging words, and don’t spread rumors about your neighbors.

We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. Unless you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes, please don’t make assumptions about them. Only God knows the whole story; we should look to Him for guidance.

Lord, forgive us for making up stories. Please help us stay focused on You and the truth You reveal. Don’t let us fall into the temptation to jump to conclusions. Please give us the wisdom we need to make good decisions. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 14:11-16:15, 1 Thess. 2:9-3:13 Psalm 80:1-19, Proverbs 25:1-5

Daily Verse: “Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel;” Prov. 25:4

Remove dross.

Silversmiths remove dross from the silver, the imperfections that take away its value. By applying heat to the metal, the impurities float to the top, allowing the silversmith to skim them off, creating pure silver.

Solomon uses the analogy of purifying silver to purify a nation. By removing wicked leaders, righteous leaders remain. Followers of Christ produce good fruit, leading with humility and valuing others before themselves. By analyzing the fruit, you can determine who people follow. Selfish people only think of themselves.

Of course, we all battle selfishness and a sinful nature. As we endure the fires of life, applying God’s word and following Him obediently, we will become more like Jesus. Through Christ, we become righteous. Become a moldable vessel for the Lord. Let Him remove the dross from your life, becoming pure in Christ.

Submitting our lives to Jesus will lead us along the path of righteousness, where we will find abundant life.

Lord, thank You for purifying us and helping us become more like Jesus. Guide and direct us in all we do so that we can honor and glorify Your Name. Make us teachable; strengthen us to obey Your commands and follow You. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 12:1-14:10, 1 Thess. 1:1-2:8, Psalm 79:1-13, Proverbs 24:30-34

Daily Verse: “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” Prov. 24:33-34

Lazy poverty.

Too much rest leads to poverty. God didn’t create us to live off the efforts of other people; He made us to work. Each of us has skills that, if applied, will earn income. But if we don’t utilize the Lord’s gifts, we’ll find ourselves in poverty.

Working and enjoying the benefits of your efforts ranks as one of the many blessings of living in America. Liz Murray, the subject of Homeless to Harvard, exemplifies the outcome of hard work. Born in the Bronx to a dysfunctional family, she overcame homelessness and sexual abuse to earn a scholarship to Harvard University.

Liz didn’t expect other people to support her. After losing her mother to AIDS,  she commited herself to finishing high school in two years instead of four. Entering an essay in a New York Times contest heralded her entrance to Harvard.

Don’t waste the talents God gave you. Anything becomes possible with the Lord and hard work.

Lord, forgive our laziness.  Please guide and direct us to the lives You desire for us.  Help us use the talents You gave us to honor and glorify You.  Motivate us to work harder and become more like Jesus every day.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 10:1-11:23, Colossians 3:18-4:18, Psalm 78:56-72, Proverbs 24:28-29

Daily Verse: “Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” Prov. 24:29

Avoid retaliation.

God doesn’t want us to get vengeance against those who offend us.

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21

When someone hurts me, I want to strike back. My natural self-defense mechanism kicks into action, and I must restrain myself from saying what comes to mind. On those occasions when I fail, I do a lot of damage.

Not retaliating, allowing the Lord time to work, and praying for your enemies will improve results. The Lord knows exactly what to do for all parties concerned, leading to growth and a closer relationship with Him.

Enemies become friends when you let the Lord lead the way.

Lord, forgive us for retaliating against our offenses. Please give us the strength to refrain from getting vengeance, giving You time to work on the situation. Help us become more like Jesus with each day that passes. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 8:8-9:26, Colossians 3:1-17, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 24:27

Daily Verse: “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and then build your house.” Prov. 24:27

Financial stability.

Referring to marriage today’s verse refers to a man’s financial security before getting married. Having finances in order gives people a strong foundation for beginning a life together.

Before I married Ron, I managed my finances, tithing, paying off debt, and saving. My husband did the same. When we started life together, we had a firm financial foundation, which we have maintained.

“Put your money in one account. Otherwise, you’ll start lying to each other,” said a friend, married for 30-plus years. Her advice remains the best financial tip we received before marriage. All our divorced friends said we should have separate bank accounts, and all our friends together for decades said joint. As soon as we returned from our honeymoon, we merged our accounts.

Finances remain one of the top arguments in marriage. Developing a budget and controlling your money instead of letting it control you leads to fewer fights and a stronger marriage. 

Don’t let money cause division in your marriage. Work towards financial stability and create a firm foundation for your marriage.

Lord, forgive us for not controlling our finances. Please help us make wise decisions with our financial blessings, honoring You and those we love. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 6:16-8:7, Colossians 2:8-23, Psalm 78:1-31, Proverbs 24:26

Daily Verse: “Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.” Prov. 24:26

Truthful answer.

Speaking honestly marks a good friendship. People who love you will tell you what you need to hear, not want you want to hear. When my husband told me he had reservations about marrying me because of my anger issues, I knew he loved me. Instead of lying, he told the truth and helped me become more self-aware. 

Even though I had dealt with some of my anger issues, I hadn’t faced all of them. Because of my husband’s love, I worked to identify the root of the deep emotion and find healthy ways to cope. In August, we celebrated eleven years of marriage.

On the other hand, I’ve had plenty of friends who tell me what they think I want to hear, and I don’t consider them friends. Most don’t stand the test of time because they lack trustworthiness. I have yet to discover a way to have a relationship with someone whose word you can’t trust.

Honest answers build relationships and develop character. Telling the truth takes courage and honors God. Ultimately, the truth always comes out, save time and money, and speaks honestly.

Lord, forgive us for not telling the truth. As we move through our day, help us answer honestly, building relationships as we speak with love. Let our words bring life to the relationships in our lives. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 4:19-6:15, Colossians 1:18-2:7, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 24:23-25

Daily Verse: “These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.” Prov. 24:23

Judge wisely.

Showing partiality in judgment angers God and will bring consequences. Assuming things causes wrong conclusions that hurt people. Court cases require witnesses, so convicting the guilty happens with the facts, not assumptions.

Judging on appearance causes the most issues. Just because something looks a certain way doesn’t tell the whole story. During my college years, a friend cheated on her husband with another co-worker. But I didn’t believe the story when I heard it, thinking she wouldn’t do such a thing. However, she did, and appearances deceived me.

Before passing judgment, spend time getting the facts. If anything doesn’t add up, continue searching until it does. Don’t settle for partial truths and easy assumptions. Put the time and effort into finding out the whole story and filling in all the gaps. Only then, conclude.

Partiality causes pain. Judging quickly convicts the innocent and lets the guilty go unpunished.

Lord, forgive us for judging too quickly. Please help us to make good decisions by gathering all the facts and then drawing proper conclusions. In all things, let us honor You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18, Colossians 1:1-17, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 24:21-22

Daily Verse: “My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise,” Prov. 24:21

Live in peace.

Escaping the calamities that the world endures means not joining in with rebellious people who seek to cause trouble. 

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Cor. 15:33

Who you spend your time with determines what your future looks like. Walking with wise people brings wisdom; walking with fools brings heartache. As I get older, my inner circle grows smaller. Setting boundaries in relationships helps me surround myself with wise people who have my best interest at heart.

Look for people whose lives reflect their beliefs, not intimidated by the world’s morality, but living for the applause of One. Who people worship determines the way they live their lives. If they live for Jesus, their outward actions reflect His grace and mercy. Many people say they live for Christ but only live for themselves.

Use discernment in developing those who influence your life. Don’t follow rebels; trust those who exemplify Christ in their lives.

Lord, forgive us for following anyone but You.  As we move through our days, give us discernment when choosing our friendships. Help us develop life-giving relationships with people intent on living their lives for You.  IJNIP. Amen