Honest Reflections

One-minute read.

Training for a new position, surrounded by people I didn’t know, when asked, “Do you believe in God?” I needed divine courage to say, “I love Jesus.” Sometimes, caring what people will think can make us hesitate to share our faith. But as the pastor said in yesterday’s message, we have two jobs: plant and water.

Telling people what Jesus did and does for us plants seeds in their hearts. As they explore and ask questions, those seeds get watered. Sometimes we plant the seeds, sometimes we water them, but we don’t always do both. But we can’t do either if we don’t speak the truth of the Savior in our lives.

The minute I said, “I love Jesus,” the man beside me said, “Amen, Sister. My aunt thinks I’m lost, but I’m not. I love Jesus through and through.” Immediately, my hesitation left me as my new friend started watering the seeds I planted. And I took delight in God’s commandment that says if you deny Me (Matthew 10:33). I’ll deny you; I don’t want God ever to deny me.

Take delight in God’s commands as you put them into practice and watch Him work miracles in your life and those around you. Only when you do can you experience the divine delight.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for divine strength to speak of Your testimonies and delight in Your law. Please help us plant seeds wherever we go, watering them at every opportunity. Let us build Your kingdom with You, one day at a time.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

As a child, did you ever have a blissful moment where you twirled in the sun, enjoying the warmth of its glow and the beauty of God’s creation? I did. Growing up in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, when the seasons changed and winter gave way to spring, my heart soared as the trees budded and the flowers bloomed, and I could run the hills barefoot.

Living freely for Christ, hoping in the Lord’s promises, and experiencing the anticipation from trusting God and submitting to Him helps me discover that sense of wonder. Knowing that I’ve died to self and done what the Creator calls me to do lightens my load because I know He works all things to the good for those who believe in Him, and today’s struggles will fade in the light of eternity.

Where we place our faith determines the condition of our hearts. Trusting the Lord’s promises plants seeds of hope. But if we fill our souls with the things of this world, we will discover misery. Lasting peace only comes from above; we cannot find it on Earth.

Walk in freedom as you apply God’s laws to your lives, experiencing the joy of obedience and the peace that comes with it.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for giving us Your laws to apply to our lives. Please help us discover the freedom that comes from obedience to You as we wrestle with today’s challenges. Let us live boldly for Christ.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

People like to make fun of what they don’t know. If they don’t know Jesus, they make fun of Him and His followers. Even after writing devotionals for years, a part of me still shrinks from people’s opinions. But then I think of Jesus, and the ridicule and mocking He took on the cross from His people, and I realize, I haven’t experienced anything close to what He did for me.

When people want to know why you follow Jesus, tell them about His love. Explain that love requires action, a verb has movement, a noun doesn’t. And Christ moved for us, from heaven to Earth, in bodily form, to create a connection that no one can break.

The steadfast love of the Savior has eternal bonds that tie us to our heavenly Father. As part of God’s family, we have nothing to fear on Earth, especially what other people think of us. The only opinion that matters has a divine vantage point on our lives. Nail scarred hands applaud us when we follow the Lord and obey His commands.

The more obedient we become, the more we will understand God’s love for us, and the more we will have to share with others when they ask.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for teaching us the ways of love through Christ. Please help us become imitators of Jesus as we put into practice His teachings. Let us always have a ready answer for anyone who asks.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Repentance brings forgiveness, which leads to new life. Releasing shame and guilt gives way to joy as the Lord gives us second, third, and fourth chances. None of us lives a sinless life. Each day, we make choices that go against God’s will, and often, we don’t know it.

God debunks the lies we believe with His truth. Allowing Him to search Your heart and shed divine light into the dark crevices will reveal weeds that have choked out the truth. Believing falsities takes our eyes off the Son and leads us off the narrow path.

Our minds can grab a lie and plant it in our souls as truth. Following the misinformation leads us off the straight and narrow. And in this world, deciphering truth takes divine help. I’ve often believed lies, and I discover the truth only with the Lord’s help. We can’t believe anything we hear or see on social media; we must verify the facts through trusted sources.

When we follow Him, God turns us away from our sins, making us long for His truth and ways. Let the Lord search your heart, pulling the weeds and planting seeds of truth in their place.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for debunking the lies we believe and giving us the second chance we need. Please help us seek Your truth and not the world’s. Keep us on the straight and narrow path with Your divine love.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Doubt creeps into all believers’ lives and can happen anytime. Years of following the Lord and nothing appearing to happen can make one wonder. We don’t understand many things God does because His thoughts and actions don’t conform to ours.

In Psalm 22, David describes a vision of Jesus on the cross, chronicling the pain of pierced hands and feet and feeling forsaken by His Father. But crucifixion didn’t start until 500 years after David’s life, and Christ’s sacrifice came another 500 years later. David couldn’t understand his vision or God’s actions at that moment.

But the shepherd boy always trusted that the Lord’s promises would come true. And they did.

Asking God for confirmation of His promises strengthens our faith, overcomes our doubts, and helps us live fearlessly for Him. Talk to the Lord honestly about your concerns, bare your heart to Him, and wait for God’s word to prove true in your life.

Jesus brought salvation to all who trust and believe in Him. Fulfilling prophecy, every promise the Lord makes, He keeps. The things of this world don’t stand the test of time, but you can trust the Rock of Salvation that never falters, and always provides a firm foundation to weather life’s storms.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for fulfilling Your promises and keeping Your Word. Please help us cling to the Rock as we wait for Your promises to unfold in our lives.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

As a child, I resented having to follow God’s law. My parents instilled in me a fear of the Lord and the consequences of sinning. The slightest misstep would bring the Almighty’s wrath into my life. Resenting God and feeling like I could do nothing right, my lack of obedience caused all my problems—or so I thought.

Maturing in my faith helped me understand God’s commandments not as rules to hinder my fun but as precepts that protect me from harm. The more I practiced the Lord’s commandments, the more I experienced His peace. God’s ways don’t dampen life; they give it an abundance we can find no other way.

Growing into adulthood, the Lord led me on the path of His commandments. As life happened, and I made poor choices, I would think of what the Bible said to do, and start doing those things instead of mine. The more I applied God’s commandments to my life, the better life got. Releasing control to the Savior allowed me to let go of the past, embrace the future, and discover divine joy.

You too can experience divine joy by letting the Lord lead you on the path of His commandments. Begin with one thing God tells us all to do: forgive, pray for your enemies, honor your parents, tell the truth, etc. Whatever commandment you choose to implement in your life, watch how the Creator uses it to draw you closer to Him and experience His peace like never before.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for helping us live abundantly as we apply Your principles to our days. Please help us obey as challenges arise, trusting You to lead us on the path of righteousness.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

God gives us directions to protect us from evil and encourage us on our journey. When we subject ourselves to the world’s ways, we will quickly discover heartache. People’s biased version of truth leads us on wayward paths, missing out on the blessings found in the Lord’s will.

Where the world values wealth, power, and prestige, Christ shares love, peace, and joy. Divine understanding brings spiritual gifts of contentment and acceptance. Instead of constantly striving for the next thing, we find satisfaction in the only thing that truly matters: Jesus.

Accepting our human frailties allows us to embrace the Lord’s help, which turns our weaknesses into strengths. Understanding God’s law shows us the pathway to healthy relationships; our roots grow deep in His love, and our branches bloom with affection for those the Lord gives us. Each person we meet becomes another opportunity to share the love we receive from the Creator.

As we seek the Maker’s help in keeping His commands, we will receive it. Living in the victory of Christ means we have the tools necessary to overcome the challenges we face. Learning and applying the Lord’s word to our circumstances will help us experience the joy that comes from following Him.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for equipping us to face the days, weeks, months and years to come. Please help us live in Your victory, applying Your statutes to our lives and enjoying the rewards that come with them.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Gaining a sense of freedom from anxiety and care, submitting to the Lord lets Him do the heavy lifting. We only control our actions, nothing else. How other people respond, the words that come from their mouths, and the circumstances that we encounter all happen without our input.

But clinging to the Lord’s commands keeps us focused on our part, and what we can do. As we put God’s ways into practice, responding as Jesus would instead of our fleshly desires, our heart grows. Love flourishes as we plant seeds of hope with every step taken in the Creator’s will.

The more steps of faith we take, the more we want to take and the faster we take them. Running into the arms of Jesus becomes our response to the world’s manipulations. When sorrow comes, the Lord comforts us, the hope of eternity helping us persevere through it. Implementing God’s precepts brings no shame, releases us from anxiety and fear, and allows us to live in the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Run to the Savior. Experience life in abundance as You give Him your cares, living in the freedom that only comes from the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You, Lord, for giving us instructions on how to live, carrying our fears and anxieties for us, and helping us enjoy the peace that comes from You. Please enlarge our hearts as we take steps of faith, following You with all we’ve got.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Devastating days happen to everyone. The day my nephew died, my college roommate’s tragic death, and the loss of several friends’ children in untimely and tragic ways all brought me to my knees, filling me with sorrow and making me question the Lord. In those dark hours, I felt lost and alone, but then God. Somehow, someway, the Divine Comforter found me and pulled me into His arms, comforting me in my sorrow.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4

Read at funerals, Psalm 23 has the power to comfort those in their grief. Meditating on God’s presence, comfort, and protection helps people persevere through their most difficult moments. Remaining faithful in our pain, trusting the Savior to guide us, the Shepherd leads us through the valley back to the mountain top.

Sorrow makes us vulnerable, susceptible to false teachings. Death comes to everyone, but eternal life with the Lord only comes to those who believe and trust in Him. Keep the Son in your eyes, lean into His presence, and allow Him to carry you through the valleys. The ways of the world will only bring you more sadness, but life everlasting comes when you trust the Savior.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for meeting us in our darkest hour and giving us hope when we need it most. Please help us lean into Your ways and not let the world lead us astray. Comfort and protect us in our darkest hours.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

If we never struggled, we would never turn to God. The psalmist, having faced his mortality, realizes he has no power over life and death. Because of the author’s realization, he turns to the Lord and meditates on his wondrous works: the rising and setting sun, the breath of a newborn baby, the sounds of nature, and so much more.

Learning the ways of the Lord through His Word opens our eyes to the miraculous nature of our Creator. Meditating on God’s promises helps us implement them in our lives, overcome adversity, and discover the victory found only in the Savior.

God’s word acts like a tiller on the soil of our hearts. Cultivating and preparing the soil, scripture reveals the weeds that we need to pull from our soul and prepares it for planting the Lord’s precepts, which then blossom and bloom into extraordinary acts of love. Without the seeds of forgiveness, grace, and mercy, we would never become better; bitter roots would bind us in misery.

Ask the Lord to open your eyes to the meaning of His Word. Seek to understand the scriptures and transform your life in ways you never imagined. Only divine engagement can help you fulfill your God given purpose. Live fully in the Savior.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You, Lord, for guiding us to Your Word and allowing us to experience Your wondrous works. Please help us understand Your precepts and put them into practice in our lives.
IJNIP. Amen