Honest Reflections

One-minute read.

We live in a world flooded with information but starving for wisdom. We have endless access to knowledge, opinions, and advice—yet we still often find ourselves lost when making decisions, managing relationships, or navigating challenges.

That’s where the Book of Proverbs can help us.

Through Proverbs, God invites us to live wisely. Written mainly by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live (apart from Christ), this collection of short, powerful sayings packed with practical insights for everyday life. Whether you’re navigating friendships, work, finances, or faith, Proverbs offers timeless truths that remain relevant today.

“Wise Up” takes you on a  90-day devotional journey through the book of Proverbs. Each day, you’ll reflect on a verse or passage, explore its meaning, and consider how to apply it to your life. Consider these truths God’s guideposts for living well.

You don’t need a theology degree or a perfect past to gain wisdom, just a teachable heart and a few minutes a day. Let Proverbs read you, shape you, and lead you into a wiser, fuller life.

So grab a journal, a pen, and an open heart—and let’s wise up together.

One-minute read.

Attending a NASCAR race on our thirteenth anniversary, I loved the first-time experience. The kick-off prayer asking for protection and safety, as well as blessings for the onlookers, thrilled me.

Unity strengthens us, lightening our hearts and giving us energy for the journey. Every Sunday, when I gather with other believers in corporate worship, whether at home or while traveling, I find encouragement.

Surrounding myself with other believers seeking God’s will for their lives and pursuing Him passionately helps me continue my race. Like the united crowd at the NASCAR event, they spurred one another on in their passion and encouraged the drivers as they completed the 90-mile lap race, all covered in prayer.

Living in unity and seeking the Lord with others helps us fulfill our God-given purpose. As we take one step of faith after another, united with other believers, we will gain a fresh perspective on the Creator, learning more about Him and His divine nature.

Our small group season starts in less than a month at our new home church. I look forward to developing new relationships with fellow sojourners for Christ. Living united in the Savior brings joy to the heart, encouragement for the journey, and help in fulfilling our purpose. Live united with others and experience the joy of community in the Lord.

Summer Fun Activity:

Create an album or scrapbook of all your summer memories.

One-minute read.

Reading this verse, one of my favorite worship songs comes to mind, “Shout to the Lord,” by Hillsong:

Shout to the Lord All the earth let us sing
Power and majesty Praise to the King
Mountains bow down And the sea will roar
At the sound of Your Name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to The promise I have in You.

Every time I hear the opening notes of this song, my heart flutters, like it did a second ago when I listened to it. Thinking about the works of God’s hand makes me want to shout for joy. Each day, the Lord works miracles in our lives, most that go unnoticed. He never stops, propelling us forward with divine interaction, helping us fulfill our purpose.

The Lord created the Earth for us, gave us dominion over it, and now helps us reach our destiny as we follow Him.  Shout for joy to the Lord, creator of the world, lover of your soul. Meditate on His mighty works and experience incomparable joy as God moves in your life.

Summer Fun Activity:

Make a music video

One-minute read.

Often misunderstood, delighting in the Lord means aligning your heart with His, in other words, submitting to His will instead of trying to bend God to your will. We think we know best, but we don’t. Our limited perspective skews our thinking and doesn’t take into account the entire picture.

During my single years, I struggled with why God didn’t bring me a mate. Year after year slipped by as I navigated life alone. Today’s verse challenged me because I had a desire for marriage, but the Lord had different plans for me.

“Maybe it’s not God’s plan for you to be married? We align our heart with His, and then our desires become His desires.” A friend said to me when I shared my discouragement with her. Telling me a hard truth, I didn’t want to hear it. To gain the Lord’s peace, I had to accept His will and submit my heart. Eventually, I submitted, and once I did, the Lord filled my heart’s desire, not for a mate, but for a deeper relationship with my Creator. By the time Ron came along, I had found contentment in my singleness with my heavenly Father and had accepted Him as my mate.

Align your heart with the Lord’s, allowing His desires to become your own, and find all you need in the Savior.

Summer Fun Activity:

Have a water balloon fight.

One-minute read.

For years, I’ve seen people riding bikes while their dogs jog next to them and thought What fun. This morning, I got to do it for the first time with our new puppy, Ruby, who has boundless energy and loves to play. We started a little shaky, but within minutes, she led the way, jogging ahead of me. Now, she lies on my lap, wanting more.

God leads us along the path of life, like I led Ruby on our little jaunt. Once we get the hang of following Him, we want to take the lead, but we must remember our place. Running ahead of the Savior will get us into trouble, but thankfully, the Lord doesn’t let us get too far ahead of ourselves.

Like Ruby, connected to me by her leash, we have an invisible line to the Lord that keeps us attached to Him. Through prayer and supplication, we strengthen the tie that binds us and give God the reins of our lives. Experiencing divine joy comes with a close attachment to the Savior.

Following God’s lead makes us hungry for more, creating a desire to follow Him wherever He leads us. The Lord shows us the path of life and fills our hearts with joy and divine pleasures only He can give.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go for a bike ride.

One-minute read.

Reducing stress, when we laugh, we take in more oxygen, which helps stimulate organs, improve circulation, boost brain health, and enhance relaxation. So, when did you last laugh?

Good, belly roll laughter doesn’t happen often enough for any of us. But when we follow the Lord, He will give us reasons to squeal with joy, even in the pit. Learning to laugh at ourselves will start the ball rolling.

Cleaning out my father-in-law’s attic after he passed, the July heat caused the dust to coat me, leaving me filthy from head to toe. Taking a selfie, I sent it to a good friend, and we both chuckled at my appearance. Two years later, I still chuckle when I think of the memory.

God does great things for us every day. The breaths we take, the food we eat, His provision gives us life. And Jesus showed us how to live it. Portrayals of the Savior smiling and laughing help me better envision the loving nature of God.

Christ came not only to save us, but also to give us life in abundance. Living fully for the Savior includes laughing often, thanks to the joy-filled hearts that come from His saving grace.

Summer Fun Activity:

Blow bubbles

One-minute read.

As a child, every night at dinner, I said the prayer for the meal:

“God is good, God is great, thank You for this food. Amen.”

Short and sweet, we couldn’t eat until I said the words. The routine felt more like a chore than a worshipful act. Now, Ron says the prayers over our meals, not the exact words, but still short and sweet. Those moments when we enjoy a meal together, acknowledging God for it, have become a favorite part of my day.

Meal times, whether just the two of us or with friends, have an intimacy to them. Discussing life’s happenings, the good and bad, while eating defines an aspect of fellowship that Jesus exemplified.

Many of the Savior’s pivotal moments occurred while He shared a meal with His followers. The most famous dinner, the last supper, gave us direction for remembering and honoring Him long after He ascended to heaven. Breaking bread with others honors Jesus and draws us into a closer relationship with Him and those who share our table.

Thank God for His provision and enjoy the food He provides. Find gladness as you share a meal with others, remembering the Lord and glorifying Him.

Summer Fun Activity:

Visit a water park.

One-minute read.

On vacation in the Finger Lakes region of New York, sitting outside our camper, the sun warming me, the birds serenading, rejoicing in the Lord comes easily. Giving thanks in this circumstance doesn’t take much effort; my prayer, praise, and worship.

But at other times, rejoicing always, praying continually, and thanking God takes more effort.  The loss of a job, a loved one, or a relationship can spiral us into the pit of despair, where looking up at the Savior seems impossible. At these times, Corrie Ten Boom comes to mind, a holocaust survivor who praised God for the fleas.

Imprisoned for hiding people from the Nazi’s, she found herself in bleak circumstances, with countless other women, including her sister, locked in crowded barracks, with fleas. Because of the tiny insects, the guards wouldn’t enter the room. Corrie and Betsy miraculously smuggled a Bible into their prison and started studying the word with the other prisoners. Honoring today’s verse, they thanked the Lord for the fleas that kept the guards away and allowed them to study His word.

Whatever circumstances you find yourself in today, find one reason to thank God. Look to the Savior for strength to persevere, and discover the joy that comes from the Lord.

Summer Fun Activity:

Eat Ice Pops

One-minute read.

Sunday mornings when the worship band begins to play, my heart leaps with joy, especially when they sing one of my favorite songs. Closing my eyes and lifting my arms, God’s spirit rejuvenates me from what lies behind and prepares me for what will come. Strengthened and renewed, the time spent in corporate worship with other devoted followers of Christ encourages me like nothing else.

Our strength comes from above. When the tolls of this world begin to weigh us down, we have a Creator ready to lift the burden from our shoulders and replace it with His strength. Knowing that our time on earth has an end, we can trust in the Savior to help us persevere until He calls us home to Him.

When you need strength, drop to your knees, lift your arms to the sky, and ask the Lord for help. Allow His Spirit to fill your soul, strengthening you for the battle ahead. You have a trustworthy God, ready to help you, whatever your need. Tuning into Him will align your heart with the Creator’s endeavors and give you divine tools to help fulfill your purpose.

Lean into the Lord, receive His strength and guidance, and experience divine joy.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go on a bike ride.

One-minute read.

“I want to open a campground in my seventies. Yeah, that would be fun!”

Sitting around the campfire, Ron started dreaming about what we could do a couple of decades from now. As he talked, I began praying, realizing that anything could happen between now and then, but God willing, with prayerful waiting, maybe one day we will own a campground.

Waiting on the Lord to fulfill God-sized dreams strengthens us. As we begin to hope and pray for future events, seeds begin to grow, and paths begin to appear. Hope energizes us and gives us strength to continue the journey when life tries to bog us down. We need aspirations to keep hoping for a better tomorrow.

In Jesus, we have the best hope of all, Him and the eternal future that we will share, basking in the light of His glory forever. Hope in the Lord, allow the Almighty to give you strength to persevere, knowing you won’t grow weary as you run to your destiny.

With Christ, we have all we need to achieve our divine purpose, strengthened by the Savior, the impossible becomes possible. Run towards your dreams with the hope of the Lord leading you.

Summer Fun Activity:

Go on a nature walk.