Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

2-minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28 ESV, Romans 12:1-21 ESV, Psalm 22:19-31 ESV, Proverbs 20:8-10 ESV

Daily Verse: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 ESV)

METAMORPHOO (3339): “As a verb, means “to change into another form” (meta, implying change and morphe, “form,” is used in the passive voice.)  of believers, Rom 12:2, the obligation being to undergo a complete change which, under the power of God, will find expression in character ad conduct; morphe lays stress on the outward, the present continuous tenses indicate a process.”[I]

Complete change.

Allowing God to transform you means you will change your actions.  Instead of following fleshly desires, you will pursue Godly ones.  Learning and applying Biblical principles will change what you do. 

Placing your faith in Jesus, then imitating what He did will cause you to act differently.  With over 2,000 verses about managing money, you will learn how to live within your means.  Applying God’s relational guidelines will create life-giving relationships.  The Bible has instructions on every aspect of life.  When you follow them, you will have a transformed life.

Godly transformation.

Submitting your life to Jesus allows God to transform your life, leaving behind the sins of the past; you get another chance.  Facing a tempting situation, you can choose to follow God’s commands instead of your human desires.

When someone angers me, controlling the emotion can take everything I have.  Praying “Grace, not anger” brings God into the situation and allows Him to transform me.  As I seek Jesus, my anger begins to disappear, allowing me to reason.  But only by seeking God can I experience His transformation, which leads to changed actions.

Pursue God today with all your heart.  Allow Him to transform your mind and soul.  Let the world see the difference following Jesus makes as you bring your actions in line with God’s will.  Loving God and others will lead you to live life to the fullest one day at a time.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 162) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21 ESV, Romans 11:13-36 ESV, Psalm 22:1-18 ESV, Proverbs 20:7 ESV

Daily Verse: “If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.” (Romans 11:16 ESV)

APARCHE (536): “Denotes, primarily, “an offering of firstfruits.” Though the English word is plural in each of its occurrences save Rom. 11:16, the Greek word is always singular.”[i]

Firstfruits offering.

One thing the Bible makes clear, we give our best to God.  Taking the first of our crop and offering it to the Creator makes Him top priority in our lives.  Tithing means giving God the first 10% of your income.  We can also give God the firstfruits of our day by devoting time to Him in the morning before we do anything else.

God knows our hearts.  When we offer Jesus our firstfruits, God blesses the rest.  Living off 90% of your income with God’s blessing makes it far more valuable than 100%.  Everything belongs to God; you can’t outgive Him.  Giving your offerings to God returns what He already owns and shows the Creator the condition of your heart.

Heart challenge.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul talks about firstfruits concerning faith.  If someone gives faithfully, they have their hearts set on Jesus.  But for those who don’t, their branches get trimmed, not connected to the Father.

Engaging our hearts by offering our best to God draws us closer to the Creator.  The action shows where we look for hope and provision.  Instead of turning to the world, we connect with the Big Guy in the Sky.  By doing so, we keep our eyes on Jesus.

Challenge your heart today, and give God the firstfruits of your crop.  Watch how God does more with 90% than you can with 100%.  And as for the age-old question, do you tithe on net or gross income?  The answer lies in another question, do you want God to bless on net or gross?  You choose.

Everything we have comes from above.  Without God, we don’t have life.   In all you do, put God first.  Giving God His due defeats idols in your life and keeps your heart pure.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 32) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37 ESV, Romans 10:14-11:12 ESV, Psalm 21:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 20:4-6 ESV

Daily Verse: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17 ESV)

AKOE (189): “The sense or the thing heard, a message or teaching Rom 10:16-17.”[i]

Thing heard.

Hearing about Jesus leads you to Him.  Even though my parents raised me in a Christ-following home, I didn’t truly understand faith until my twenties.  The list of do’s and don’ts found in the Bible overwhelmed me.  From my childlike perspective, my long list of sins made me unworthy to engage with God.

What I learned as I matured, God knows we will sin.  As humans, we can’t help ourselves.  Battling the flesh never ends, no matter how long you follow Jesus.  But what does happen as we pursue Christ; He cleanses us from our sinful ways.

Hearing about Jesus made me understand faith.  Believing in the supernatural requires trusting what we can’t see without proof.  The more one hears about Christ, the more one believes.  As you begin to practice what you hear, your faith will grow.

Confidence in Christ.

Hearing about Jesus and what He does in the lives of His followers will give you confidence in Him.  Listening to the miracles that occur every day in our world strengthens our faith.  Watching as bodies of believers come together to help each other in times of crisis draws us closer to the Savior.

Faith wavers when we walk alone but grows when we gather with others. Attending corporate worship allows us to hear how Jesus works in people’s lives. Listening to others will help your faith remain strong.

Everyone has moments of doubt.  Life’s challenges can make one wonder.  But our faith will grow when we hear about Jesus and the modern-day miracles happening in the world today.

Develop confidence in Christ by listening to what others say about Him.  Attend a local church with solid teachings, and you will hear about the wonders of the Savior.  When you do, you can’t help but believe in Jesus.  Apply what you hear, and your trust in Christ will thrive.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 11) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34 ESV, Romans 9:25-10:13 ESV, Psalm 20:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 20:2-3 ESV

Daily Verse: “Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,” (Romans 9:32 ESV)

 PROSKOPTO (4350): “Of Israel in regard to Christ, whose Person, teaching and atoning death, and the gospel relating thereto, were contrary to all their ideas as to the means of righteousness before God, Rom 9:32.”[i]

Contrary ideas.

Jesus’ ministry on earth introduced contrary ideas of God’s righteousness.  Before Christ, the law defined if one could stand before God blameless.  But with Jesus, He makes us able to stand before God with no sin. 

Without a doubt, we will all stumble over the law.  The white lies you tell still count as falling short of the mark.  Cheating on taxes means cheating on God.  Indulging in food and drink defines gluttony.  Jewish law contains 613 commandments people must follow to remain blameless before God.  No one can do it, only Jesus.

Solid foundation.

Following Jesus creates a solid foundation for you to walk.  You become righteous because of Christ.  God knows we need a Savior because we can’t uphold the laws. Therefore, Jesus came to do what we can’t do for ourselves.

Accept your sinful nature.  Stop fighting the natural and accept the supernatural.  Allow Jesus to cleanse you from your sin, placing it at the foot of the cross.  When you stumble, Christ helps you to your feet.

Jesus gives you stability in a fallen world.  The culture’s constant state of change makes it difficult to find solid ground, but God’s unchanging character provides us with a place to stand.  Shifting sands cause unsteady feet, but the rock of Jesus doesn’t move.

Become righteous before God by placing your faith in Jesus.  Let Him guide you along the path of righteousness, one step at a time.  With Jesus, you will walk on a firm foundation, no longer stumbling over laws you can’t keep.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 214) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14 ESV, Romans 9:1-24 ESV, Psalm 19:1-14 ESV, Proverbs 20:1 ESV

Daily Verse: “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— “ (Romans 9:1 ESV)

SUNEIDESIS (4893): “Literally means “a knowing,” a co-knowledge with one’s self, the witness borne to one’s conduct by conscience, that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives.  That process of thought which distinguishes what it considers morally good or bad, commending the good, condemning the bad, and so prompting the former to do the former, ad avoid the latter, Rom 2:15 (bearing witness with God’s law) Rom. 9:1.”[i]

A knowing

Co-knowledge with oneself, a knowing that directs us from within our souls, conscience guides us in God’s will.  As a lifelong Christ follower, I believe the better you know the scriptures, the more your conscience will speak to you.  What we put into our minds becomes evident by the actions we take.

“You’re the one who has to sleep with yourself,” mom said.  Over my lifetime, the words came from my mother’s lips often.  Her advice remained the same when faced with tough decisions and forks in the road that could lead to different places.  Years after she moved to heaven, I still hear her voice at pivotal moments, reminding me that we must live with our decisions.

Follow the prompt.

The longer you follow Jesus, the more prompts you will receive.  As you learn about His ways and begin memorizing the scriptures’ wisdom, the Holy Spirit will guide you.  Moments of uncertainty will come with a nudge in one direction or another.

For instance, Solomon tells us in the book of Proverbs that the borrower becomes a slave to the lender.  Recalling my days steeped in credit card debt, I quickly realized the truth of these words.  I didn’t sleep well when I laid my head down to rest with a mound of bills.  But once I worked to become debt free, my evening’s rest became much sweeter.  No longer a slave to the lender, I slept like a baby.

Now, I listen to God’s prompting whenever I get the urge to overspend.  Solomon’s words pop into my mind, and I restrain myself.  I do have to sleep with the decisions I make.  Following Jesus helps me make better decisions.

Let the Holy Spirit guide you from within your heart.  Read and memorize scripture to help you deal with life’s tricky situations.  When in doubt, take the high road, and do what Jesus did.  Without a doubt, you will sleep much better.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 241) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22 ESV, Romans 8:26-39 ESV, Psalm 18:37-50 ESV, Proverbs 19:27-29 ESV

Daily Verse: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26 ESV)

STENAGMOS (4726): “A sigh, groaning.  In Rom 8:26, in the plural, of the intercessory groanings of the Holy Spirit.”[I]

Groaning sigh.

God speaks groans.  When we don’t have words to pray, the Holy Spirit does it for us.  Sighs of sadness and pain become prayers to the Lord, a way of lifting our sorrow to Him, seeking God’s comfort.

When one of my best friends moved to Mt. Pleasant, SC, to plant  Life Community Church with her husband, I groaned a lot; we both did.  Our friendship blossomed on the tennis court, a place we met often.  We checked the weather and our schedules each week to see how much time we could spend on the painted asphalt.

As the day of their departure grew closer, the sighs became longer and louder.  Never one to like change, the sadness I felt overwhelmed me.  But God heard each groan and answered with love.

God comforts.

On Valentine’s Day 2007, the caravan for S.C. left Williamsburg, VA, to fulfill God’s call on my friend’s lives.  To commemorate the day, I bought us matching V-day shirts to wear for the trip.  Helping them relocate helped me persevere through the loss of my tennis buddy and spiritual mentor from my daily life.

During my time of groaning, God comforted me.  Christ met me in my pain and carried me forward, drawing me closer to Him.  As a result, my relationship with the Creator exponentially grew as I spent more time with Him.  How God soothes our hurting souls differs from person to person.  In God’s sovereignty, He meets us uniquely and speaks to us differently. 

Allow the Holy Spirit to pray for you.  Trust that God understands the groans of your heart.  Let yourself grieve the losses, seeking God in your despair.  When you do, God will meet you in your darkest moments, comforting you and bringing light to lead you forward.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 233) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19 ESV, Romans 8:9-25 ESV, Psalm 18:16-36 ESV, Proverbs 19:26 ESV

Daily Verse: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9 ESV)

OIKEO (3611): “To dwell” (from oikos, “a house”), “to inhabit as one’s abode.”  It is used of God as dwelling in light, 1 Ti 6:16; of the indwelling of the Spirit of God in the believer, Rom 8:9.”[i]

One’s abode.

When the Holy Spirit takes residence inside us, we become His abode.  God’s address comes from within us.  Light enters our soul, brilliant radiance kicking the darkness from our hearts as we let God into every nook and cranny of our being.

Often, we only allow God into the foyers of our home.  Not wanting to expose our misdeeds, we give Jesus partial access to our hearts.  Locking the door on the messy rooms in our hearts doesn’t allow healing. But if we genuinely want to experience freedom in Christ, we must also expose the ugly parts to Him.

And if we don’t give Jesus access, we don’t belong to Him.

Open the door.

During my childhood, my bedroom remained a colossal mess.  Clothes and toys everywhere, closing the door hid the clutter. I hated when mom made me clean my room, comfortable in the turmoil of my sanctuary.  But when I did, I would leave my door open for everyone to see the clean floors, dusted shelves, and made bed.

God wants you to open the door of your heart to Him.  He’s not asking you to do the cleaning yourself; Jesus wants to help you pick up the mess.  No one understands your hurts and heartaches more than Christ.  You don’t have to hide the unpleasant rooms from God; He already knows what’s behind the closed door.

Accepting God’s unconditional love happens when we open the doors to our hearts and give Him full access to us.  Allow the Holy Spirit to take up residence in your today.  Take a few moments and ask Jesus to search your heart.  Let Christ show you the areas He doesn’t have access to, then open the door and welcome Him into the mess.

Allow Jesus to clean the messy rooms of your heart, bringing you freedom from sin.  Live life to the fullest, forgiven and free in Jesus.  No one loves you more than Christ; nothing you do will change His affection for you.  Giving Him access to your whole heart will bring full life to you in ways you won’t know until you invite Jesus into your entire abode.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 176) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10 ESV, Romans 7:14-8:8 ESV, Psalm 18:1-15 ESV,

Proverbs 19:24-25 ESV

Daily Verse: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15 ESV)

MISEO (3404): “Basically means having a relative preference for one thing over another by way of expressing either aversion from, or disregard for, the claims of one person or thing relatively to those of another.  It may work itself in strong emotion, but not necessarily.  Said of wrongdoing Rom 7:5.”[i]

Relative preference.

Hate, a strong aversion to someone or thing, a powerful emotion that, left unchecked, causes unbelievable damage and requires work to control.  Everyone has feelings of hatred at some point or another; what you do with those feelings matters most.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul hates that he does things he knows he shouldn’t nor wants to do.  Welcome to the world of sinful nature; we can all relate to falling short of the expectations we place on ourselves.

Why do we do what we don’t want to do?  Battling the flesh began long ago, and until Jesus returns, it will continue.  Everyone shares the same struggle.

Repeated grace.

Do your best to honor God and fulfill His will for your life.  And when you falter, give yourself grace.  Paul would get the Most Valuable Player trophy for his efforts spreading the good news of Jesus if such a trophy existed, yet he still battled his sinful nature.  Only Jesus succeeded in doing what none of us can live a sinless life.

Repeatedly giving myself grace requires work.  Coaching myself through my sinful mistakes requires God’s word, Jesus’s sacrifice, and intentional forgiveness.

Reading God’s word reveals the areas I need forgiveness in both action and thought.  Thinking about Jesus and His actions on the cross reminds me that He’s already forgiven me.  Now, I must intentionally forgive myself for whatever sin I’ve committed.  And then I start again on the journey, trying to go and “sin no more.”  When I inevitably fall, I repeat the process.

God’s grace forgives the moment we confess, don’t hold onto what God absolves.  Give yourself grace, repeatedly, just like Jesus does.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 165) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11 ESV, Romans 7:1-13 ESV, Psalm 17:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 19:22-23 ESV

Daily Verse: “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.” (Romans 7:4 ESV)

EGEIRO (1453): “As a verb, is frequently used in the NT in the sense of “raising” (active voice), or “rising” (middle and passive voices) from sitting, lying, sickness, of raising or rising “from the dead.”[i]

From the dead.

Christ fulfilled the law when His resurrected body left the tomb.  All debts paid, freedom comes in absolution.  Letting go of past sins makes room for future blessings.  Saying “No,” to what you used to say ‘Yes” changes your life in ways you’ll never know until you try.

Jesus knows we can’t have life to the fullest if we live under a cloud of condemnation.  We condemn ourselves far more than anyone else ever will.  Knowing the mistakes we’ve made and the regrets we have, berating ourselves becomes a pastime.

But then Jesus came to release us from our torment and set us free.  By forgiving and loving us unconditionally, Jesus brings our dead souls back to life.

Revive in Christ.

Jesus knew the worst sin we would commit in this lifetime, and He still went to the Cross for you and me.  Past, present, and future, Christ knows your story, and He loves you.  God’s Son adores you so much; He died for you.

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Allow the resurrection to resurrect you.  Forgive yourself for past mistakes as Jesus has.  Come back to life in God’s love.  Every breath you take, remember God gave it to you.  The Creator wants you to live life to the fullest. Make peace with your past, learn from it, and move forward. Accept Jesus’ gift of grace and mercy.

At lunch with a friend, I listened to her condemn herself for past transgressions.  I reminded her that those things happened in the past; today, she has the opportunity to make different choices and do other things.

When God gives us fresh mercy each morning, it’s a reset button.  We get to try again at what we didn’t do well yesterday, trusting God will bless our efforts.  Yes, each step comes with challenges, but we overcome them one by one with Jesus.

Live fully today, knowing Jesus loves all of you, past, present, and future.  Nothing you do can make God stop loving you.  Basking in His love will give you life to the fullest.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp.74-5) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17 ESV, Romans 6:1-23 ESV, Psalm 16:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 19:20-21 ESV

Daily Verse: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4 ESV)

SUNTHAPTO (4916): “To: from 4862 and 2290; to inter in company with, i.e. (fig.) to assimilate spiritually (to Christ by a sepulture as to sin Rom 6:4.” [i]

Assimilate spiritually.

Buried with Christ in baptism means we align our spirit with His. The public expression of faith tells everyone who you follow. Going into the water represents dying to self; coming out means living for Christ. A renewing of your soul as you begin a spiritual journey with Jesus.

Leaving behind our sinful past allows us to experience new life. Instead of following the paths that lead to death, we can find life to the fullest following Jesus. God doesn’t illuminate the entire trip; He guides us one step at a time.

Follow closely.

Everything we do has kingdom impacts. Each word from our mouth, God knows. Whether we uplift, encourage, tear down, or destroy our language and actions matter. The smallest act of kindness can change the world, but so can the tiniest act of hate. Whatever you do causes a ripple effect that impacts the world around you.

Lining our spirit up with Jesus allows us to follow Him closely. The more integrated we become with Christ, the more His light will shine through us. Our words and actions will become aligned with His, and just like Jesus, we will turn the world upside down, one act of love at a time.

As you get to know Jesus better, assimilating your spirit with His becomes the only choice. No other way can you find life to the fullest. Only Jesus has the key to eternal life, peace on earth, and unending love. In Him, you will find what you can find nowhere else.

Bury yourself in Christ today. Let your spirit melt into His. Jesus’ love for you can help you overcome any obstacle. Whatever crisis you face, seek God. Look for answers in the pages of scripture. When you find what Jesus did, apply it to your life.

Every journey has potholes. None of us live a pain-free life. But with Jesus, we can overcome the hardships as we seek strength from the Creator. Allow the Holy Spirit to navigate the rough terrain and cling to Him with all you got. In Jesus, you will find victory.

---

[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 242) Thomas Nelson