Honest Reflections

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 11:1-12:24, Luke 17:11-37, Psalm 84:1-12, Proverbs 13:5-6

Truth prevails.

Lies never stand the test of time. Eventually, the truth always comes out. Following Jesus means striving to live a righteous life and a life of integrity. Christ came with a purpose:

“Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 8:37

Christ tells the truth. We all sin and fall short of the grace of God. And, at some time or another, we have all lied. The consequences of telling false tales will eventually catch up with us. But when we strive for integrity, we tell the truth.

Facts don’t change, but the shifting sands of lies do. Eventually, the ground gets shaken, and liars fall prey to their tales. But standing on the rock of Jesus gives us a firm foundation, one we can plant our feet on and not have to worry about falling.

Strive for integrity, tap into Jesus’ strength, and follow Him.  Live a morally right life one day at a time as you let God’s truth and His words guide you.

Lord, forgive us for falling prey to taking the easy way out and not telling the truth. Please give us the strength and determination to live a life of integrity, choosing truth over falsities. Help us become more like Jesus one day at a time. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 9:3-10:43, Luke 16:19-17:10, Psalm 83:1-18, Proverbs 13:4

Daily Verse: “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” Prov. 13:4

Dreams inspire action.

God places hopes and dreams within our hearts. We can choose what we do with divine inspiration, act, or continue dreaming. Dreams inspire me to act; once I have a vision, I plunge ahead, probably too quickly. On the other hand, my husband tends to spend more time thinking about action before doing anything. Together we balance each other out. He slows me down; I get him moving.

Diligent work results in fulfilled dreams. But constant dreaming without action gets nothing done. Often, fear keeps people from taking the first step, but once the action begins, movement propels it along.

When my friends shared their dream of planting Life Community Church in Mt. Pleasant, SC, I eagerly joined their calling. Work began long before the first service. Standing in the back, listening to Pastor Mike’s message, a room filled with people we prayed for long before we knew their names overwhelmed me. Watching their dream become a reality changed my life and inspired me in my walk with Jesus.

Diligent people will see their dreams fulfilled. But the sluggard never gets to experience the awe of pursuing their dreams.

Lord, forgive us for not acting on divine inspiration. Please help us take the first step to achieving our dreams. As we pursue our God-given purpose, help us not lose heart. Motivate us to keep going, knowing You will bless our efforts. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 7:16-9:2, Luke 16:1-18, Psalm 82:1-8, Proverbs 13:2-3

Daily Verse: “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” Prov. 13:3

Use life-giving words.

Self-restraint with words gives life to others, but people who say everything they think causes harm. Speaking without thinking ruined relationships and caused problems that broke my heart. Learning to guard my lips helps me develop healthier, long-lasting relationships that flourish.

Words have the power to help or harm. What you say does matter, whether you think it does or not. Often, we don’t know the effect we have on people.

“Your words inspired me to pursue my dreams,” a friend told me decades ago. Working as Flight Attendants at the time, she wanted to change jobs. I don’t remember what “words,” I said to her that caused her to turn in her notice. But I know she left flying and followed her heart, married the love of her life, and found contentment.

Often, we don’t remember what we say. Three questions will help you develop restraint in your speech:  Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If “No” answers any of the questions, don’t utter the words in your mind. Keep them to yourself, guarding your lips and bringing life to others.

Lord, forgive us for speaking without thinking and causing harm to others. Please give us self-restraint to guard our lips, only saying true, kind, and necessary words to others. Let us encourage and uplift people with the language we use. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 5:1-7:15, Luke 15:1-32, Psalm 81:1-16, Proverbs 13:1

Daily Verse: “A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” Prov. 13:1

Scoffers disrespect authority.

Everyone has authority in their life; God rules over all.  But scoffers think they know better than anyone else, including God.  As a result, mockers’ hearts become hard, and they can’t learn, unteachable.  No matter the discipline, fools never learn.

On the other hand, wise people keep their hearts soft, recognizing they don’t know everything.  Remaining teachable, when Christ’s followers receive discipline, they learn and grow from the experience.

One prayer I often say, especially when I feel my heart hardening towards an individual or circumstance, helps me remain teachable.  “Keep my heart soft, Lord,” allows me to stay in tune with God, recognize my sinfulness, and grow.

“Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Cor. 13:12

Only God knows us fully, we know in part.  Remaining teachable helps us become the creation God intended.  Wisdom comes from above; discipline helps us learn the Lord’s lessons.

Lord, forgive us for the times we think we know more than we do.  Help us remain teachable, keeping our hearts soft and our minds receptive to the lessons You have for us.  Let us fulfill our purpose on earth as we become more like Jesus.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 3:1-4:24, Luke 14:7-35, Psalm 80:1-19, Proverbs 12:27-28

Daily Verse: “In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.” Prov. 12:28

Jesus gives life.

Placing faith in Jesus makes us righteous. We only contribute one thing to our salvation, sin. Death comes from sin, but life comes from Christ. Jesus overcame death when He rose on the third day. Following God’s Son leads us on the path of righteousness, and we no longer need to fear death.

Life with Christ gives us fullness. We can find no other way. Everyone has a God-sized hole in their heart that they try to fill with many things: other people, stuff, money, and work. But only God can make us whole. Following worldly ways leads to loneliness and heartache.

Fill the void in your life with Jesus. Get to know the Savior and let Him heal the brokenness in your life. God knows all, sees all, and loves all.   Only Jesus can make you righteous and following Him leads you on the right path.

Walking the righteous path requires us to follow Jesus. We can’t find life eternal any other way. Nothing we do brings salvation; Christ did that for us. Jesus replaces our sin with His perfection, making us new creatures in Him.

Lord, forgive us for trying to fill the God-size void with anything but You.  As we pursue you today, bless our efforts. Help us become more like Christ as we strive to follow Him.  Let us experience the peace that surpasses all understanding found only in You. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24, Luke 13:22-14:6, Psalm 79:1-13, Proverbs 12:26

Daily Verse: “One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Prov. 12:26

Avoid dangerous relationships.

“If so-and-so jumped off a bridge, would you?” Mom used to ask when she didn’t approve of someone. She had a way of discerning my friendships, those that built me up and the ones that tore me down. And Mom always let me know her thoughts on my companions.

As Christ’s followers, He calls us to love everyone. But we must understand that not everyone makes wise decisions. Loving them doesn’t mean we must do what others do. 

Living for the applause of nail-scarred hands will cause us to go against the world’s ways. Putting Jesus first in our lives helps us discern the actions of those around us. People who put Christ first will produce the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

If you don’t see Christ’s fruit in someone’s life, don’t follow their path. Lovers of Jesus will help you become more like Him, not take you in the opposite direction. Choose wisely whose advice you seek, don’t let people lead you astray.

Lord, forgive us when we follow the wrong people. Please give us discernment to choose wisely whose advice we take. Help us become more like Jesus as we follow Him closely. In all things, let You receive the glory and honor. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 33:1-29, Luke 13:1-21, Psalm 78:65-72, Proverbs 12:25

Daily Verse: “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Prov. 12:25

Prayer overcomes anxiety.

Learning to identify and deal with anxiety will bring peace. Writing “Three Word Prayers for Everyday Living” began my emotional healing journey. When anxiety plagues me, I know how to respond and work through them.

Anxious thoughts center on the past or future, not the present. Dwelling on negative possibilities that could happen or past events that did occur rob us of the present moment. Becoming aware of our thoughts help us identify and deal with anxiety, allowing us to become fully present.

“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.” Phil. 4:6-7

Paul’s antidote for anxiety involves turning our worrisome thoughts into prayer, focusing on our blessings, and giving our cares to the Lord, allowing Jesus’s peace to replace our anxiety.

Discover God’s peace by turning anxious thoughts into prayer, asking Christ for His peace, and becoming present now.

Lord, forgive us for letting anxiety control our hearts. Please help us identify and deal with anxious thoughts by lifting them to You in prayer. Remind us of our blessings, and let us develop an attitude of gratitude, discovering Your peace that surpasses all understanding. IJNIP.Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 32:28-52, Luke 12:35-59, Psalm 78:56-64, Proverbs 12:24

Daily Verse: “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” Prov. 12:24

Diligent hands rule.

Hard work and determination do pay off, unlike laziness.  Watching a docuseries on the lives of top professional golfers gave me a glimpse at their diligence.  Thousands of hours of practice, exercise, and mental preparation go into making them the best in the world.

As a spectator, we see the results of the effort for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.  Not seeing the diligence, just the outcome.

No one achieves success without effort.  Lazy people end up working for the diligent.  To reach the top, you must do the climb.

Each step takes us further on our journey, but we won’t go anywhere if we refuse to walk.  One page at a time, people write books.  One task at a time, people become the boss.  If you don’t do the work, you won’t receive the reward.

Lazy people work for the diligent.

Lord, forgive us for expecting the reward without effort.  Please give us a clear vision of our path to reach our goals.  Help us become diligent in our work, honoring You in all we do.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27, Luke 12:8-34, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 12:21-23

Daily Verse: “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.” Prov. 12:23

Wisdom restrains words.

Only some things we think need said. Exemplifying wisdom means we exercise restraint when speaking, taking time to think about the impact of our words before saying them. Foolish people say whatever comes to mind without using a filter.

In my younger days, I used words foolishly. My opinion mattered more than others, and I had all the answers, so I said whatever came to mind. As a result, I damaged relationships, some still broken, and caused myself much harm.

Hindsight gives us a clear vision. Now I can see the folly of my words, and as much as I wish I could take them back, I can’t. Learning wisdom means I no longer say what comes to mind, restraining myself and thinking about the impact of my words, which helps me have healthier relationships.

Using scripture as a filter for our speech helps our language become uplifting and encouraging at all times. If what we want to say doesn’t help, then don’t say it.

Live life fully by developing healthy relationships using wisdom to know what to say and when.

Lord, forgive us for speaking before thinking. Please help us guard our mouths, saying only those things which uplift and encourage others. Let us build healthy relationships one conversation at a time. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20, Luke 11:37-12:7, Psalm 78:1-31, Proverbs 12:19-20

Daily Verse: “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Prov. 12:19

Truth doesn’t die.

“Love your enemy as yourself. There’s only one guy that ever preached that, and that’s Jesus. And there’s only one guy saying that today and that’s still Jesus.” Kesley Grammar, A Jesus Revolution Exclusive

God’s word stands the test of time because of its truths. As Kelsey Grammar pointed out in his interview about “Jesus Revolution,” the true story of revival in the late ’60s and ’70s, Jesus doesn’t change. What Christ said 2000 years ago remains true, and He’s the only one still saying it.

In a world full of false narratives, find truth in scripture. Applying the teachings of Jesus helps quickly identify the lies of the world. Standing on a firm foundation means knowing which rock to attach yourself. God doesn’t change; in Him, you can stand firm.

Following Jesus leads you on the path of truth. Christ faced political unrest, zealous religious leaders, and an unstable world like ours. Jesus’ counter-cultural teachings teach us how to respond to the chaos and find His peace, surpassing all understanding.

Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve succumbed to lies. Please help us stay centered on Jesus today, applying His teachings and truths to our lives. In all things, let us honor and serve You well. IJNIP. Amen