Honest Reflections

Two-minute read.

Solomon’s referring to debt in this passage. When we put up security for a neighbor or make a pledge to a stranger, we enslave ourselves to them. The author wants us to free ourselves from the obligation as quickly as possible, forgoing rest until we do.

If you’ve ever watched a gazelle run, they reach speeds of 60 mph when running from a predator. Although cheetahs can run faster, the antelope’s endurance and agility allow them to escape. Living in herds, a gazelle becomes most vulnerable when separated from the pack.

Like a gazelle escaping a cheetah, Solomon instructs us to move quickly in erasing our debts, not sleeping until we do. Financial Peace University teaches the same principle: get out of debt first and foremost. Their average graduate is debt-free in two years or less.[1] Living without the hindrance of debt allows people to create the future they want, not one determined by outside influences.

In my early thirties, I completed Dave Ramsey’s nine-week course and became debt-free. No longer did I toss and turn at night, wondering how I would pay my credit card debt. When I married Ron, I did so without adding financial burden to our relationship. We continue to follow the principles I learned in Financial Peace University.

Move like a gazelle chased by a cheetah to pay off debts. Don’t make pledges that will enslave you to the lender. Instead, apply Biblical principles to your finances and discover the freedom that comes from them.

Journal Question:

What debts do you have?

What Biblical principle would help you most in eliminating debt?

What things can you do today to help you become debt-free?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for teaching us how to handle money and rid ourselves of debt. Please outline the steps we need to take to eliminate our pledges. Give us the tools we need to find victory over our finances.

IJNIP. Amen

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[1] https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money/financial-peace?srsltid=AfmBOopHzpE2boLYIaAMWUX-fqH18cWTsHj16lV_JwN89lOtJQfXuWXk

Two-minute read.

Ron and I just returned from an eleven-mile bike ride exploring the country around our home. Narrow country roads with quick drop-offs led us through the lush green pastures, some with crops ready for harvesting, others already harvested, waiting for winter prep. Discovering new trails, created by the Lord, exhilarates the soul.

God sees the paths we take and the roads we travel. When we don’t include Him in our plans, we often end up in places He never meant for us to go. But allowing the Lord to plan our itinerary takes us into lush pastures and green meadows where we find rest for our souls.

The Lord also understands that the paths we take speak volumes about who we follow. Following the rabbit hole of sin leads us to pain and misery, God watching us as we go, knowing that we have chosen to disobey Him. We don’t conceal anything from the Creator, from little white lies to blatant rebellion; He sees it all. And His heart grieves when we choose anything but Him.

As the giver of life, our Maker has a divine plan for us. He wants to bestow blessings upon us that we can’t even imagine, but when we choose a different path, we miss out on them. We choose each day who we will follow and what path we will take. Wise people let the Lord lead, dying to self and following the Savior wherever He wants to take them.

To live in God’s favor, we must let Him lead and trust that He does have our best interest at heart and will bless our efforts.

Journal Question:

What path have you taken that you wish you hadn’t?

Write about a time you followed the Lord’s leading.

Knowing God ponders the path you take, how would He feel about your current path?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for loving us enough to care about what path we take. As we choose which way to go today, help us make good decisions. Please illuminate the road You want us to follow.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Cisterns contain water, which refreshes the weary soul. On a mission trip to El Salvador, we visited a family home that had a cistern sitting in the courtyard area, filled with rainwater. Before drinking from it, they boiled the water to cleanse it. By doing so, they knew what the water contained and could use it as necessary.

When we drink from cisterns not our own, we have no idea what they contain and can open ourselves up to misery. Today’s verse, the cistern represents a man’s wife, the woman he delights in and satisfies his desires. Drinking from your own cistern means staying at home and enjoying life with the family instead of seeking pleasure in other ways.

According to statistics, infidelity occurs in half of marriages, men more likely to stray than women. As one pastor described it, when people drink from other cisterns, they destroy trust and cause a car crash. Adultery not only damages their relationship but also impacts everyone in their circle: children, friends, and extended family.

Marriage takes work. If we don’t boil the water in our own cistern and take the necessary steps to make it safe, we won’t experience the joy that comes from it. Straying to other cisterns doesn’t bring clean water; it just makes life more difficult and causes heartbreak.

Take the time to boil the water and create clean drinking water. Healthy marriages come from two partners willing to do whatever it takes to maintain a healthy relationship that produces good fruit. Fix the issues, and they go away. Ignore them, and they fester and eventually decay the marriage.

Joy comes from diligently nurturing your cistern and making it a desirable place to draw water. Experience the blessings of a well-tended water reservoir, and stay faithful to it.

Journal Question:

How does your spouse refresh you?

What does it mean to boil the water in your cistern?

What do you love most about your cistern?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your provision of a spouse. Please help us do the necessary work to have a thriving marriage. Show us the way, direct our steps, and help us remain loyal to our cistern.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Do you know who had crappy friends? Job. Found in the Old Testament, the book of Job tells the story of a faithful servant of the Lord who lost everything —children, wealth, and health —but refused to turn away from God. When the tragedies occur, three of his friends show up to support him. For the first seven days, they remain silent, but then they start giving Job their theories on why this misery has befallen him.

Eliphaz theorized that Job’s misfortune came from his sin. Bildad believed his misery came from wickedness, and Zophar thought Job had unconfessed sin, which caused his troubles. Job had to guard his heart from their well-meaning words, because none of them got it right.

Keeping our hearts with all vigilance means paying attention to the seeds that people and circumstances try to plant in them. If Job had listened to his friends, his heart would have started producing the wrong kind of fruit, based on lies. But Job protected his spirit by focusing on God’s goodness and sovereignty, which can do whatever He wants when He wants to do it. As a loyal servant of the Creator, Job never wavered in his faith.

Stay alert to the influencers around you and the message they try to plant in your heart. Well-meaning friends can lead you down unwanted paths. The same applies to things we watch, read, or experience. If we allow our thoughts to stray from the Savior, we can quickly find ourselves entangled in worldly pursuits that lead to devastation.

Keeping the Son in your eyes helps you stay vigilant, watch over your heart, guarding it from the temptations of the world. God’s Spirit within us will help us discern what we let into our being and protect us from it. God blessed Job’s faithfulness, restoring his life and doubly blessing him.

Guard your heart, keeping your eyes on Jesus, and experience the abundant life He intends you to live.

Journal Question:

When have well-meaning friends led you astray?

What circumstance do you have a hard time understanding from God’s perspective?

How can you keep a vigilant eye on your heart today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit, which guards our hearts and helps us keep our garden weeded. Please help us stay vigilant and aware of well-meaning individuals who attempt to sow discord. Let us honor and serve You in all we do.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Hiking in the woods of West Virginia last summer, we traversed our way around mountains on foot paths that required us to walk single file. We had to keep our eyes on the trail ahead of us because rocks jutted out randomly, tree roots appeared periodically, and ferns blanketed the terrain, making it hard to see either of them.

“I hate not being able to look at the trees,” my friend said.

The woods hampered our steps, not allowing us to walk freely, but with focused intention. We definitely could not run.

Solomon describes a different kind of walk. Gaining wisdom allows us to step surefootedly, not stumbling, knowing precisely what to do and where to go. Divine knowledge helps us not only walk, but run with confidence, knowing the Lord leads the way.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

God’s word teaches us wisdom, which guides our path and provides direction for our lives. Following Jesus takes some of the guesswork out of daily dilemmas. The Savior instructs us to love God and others, and then sets the example of how to accomplish our mission. With Him, we will walk unhampered and run with joy.

Seek divine wisdom and allow it to guide you. Let God’s word illuminate your life, faithfully walking with the Lord, one day at a time.

Journal Question:

How have you sought wisdom in the Bible?

In what way does God’s word illuminate your life?

What would it feel like to walk with unhampered steps in your life?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your word which illuminates our path and helps us confidently face the day ahead. Please help us seek Your wisdom above all else, following the guidance You give us to accomplish our purpose on Earth.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Speaking about wisdom, Solomon refers to it as “her.” Seeking sound advice and living by it will save and guard you from trouble. We always have something new to learn, and even though we may possess wisdom in one area, it doesn’t mean we know everything.

For instance, the 40-year-old house we bought has many issues. Since we’ve moved into our new home, we’ve had electricians, A/C technicians, and multiple other experts in their field in our house, helping us fix the problems we have found. By using a qualified person to address the concern, we can have confidence in the work. However, if we relied on people without the proper knowledge, we would only compound the problems.

Similarly, when we turn to scripture for wisdom on life, we will find it. Reading the words written so long ago by faithful followers of the Lord, we will discover the riches of knowledge that will help us make good decisions and not take us down the wrong path. Applying God’s word to our lives keeps us safe and guards us from the common pitfalls in life.

We have a choice of how we live our lives. Choosing to live for the Lord gives us access to His vast wisdom, which no one can fully comprehend. But when we choose to live for self, we eliminate God’s library of knowledge and find ourselves in situations we never wanted to experience. More often than not, our choices lead us into misery.

Seek divine wisdom in all situations. Allow the Lord’s guidance to guard your heart and keep you from falling into the devil’s trap. Live fully in Christ and experience the freedom He gives you.

Journal Question:

How has God’s wisdom guarded your heart?

In what ways can you seek wisdom today?

What area of your life do you need God’s wisdom?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us a manual for life in Your word. Please help us seek Your wisdom and apply it to our lives, allowing it to guard us, but also transform us into new creations. Let us live fully for You today.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“See a need, meet a need,” a common phrase in church circles, aptly sums up today’s verse. When we can do something for someone, we should. Many times in life, when people go through difficult circumstances, we can’t do anything physically, but at the very least, we can pray.

Doing good things for other people happens in many different ways. From opening the door for someone to cooking a meal for a family in need, it typically doesn’t take much effort on our part, but it has a significant impact on the receiver of the deed.

My latest book, “Random Acts of Kindness:  40-Day Challenge,” focuses on doing good deeds. In addition to the book, I created a companion jar filled with scrolls containing random acts of kindness ideas for 40 days, designed to help people spread good in the world.

At my last book signing, I met an aunt who lost her niece a year ago in a tragic car accident. As the first anniversary approaches, the young girl’s mom wants to commemorate the day by doing random acts of kindness. Although I can do nothing to bring her niece back, I gave her aunt my book and the companion jar to help them honor her life the way her mom wants to do.

We never know who the Lord will put before us, or what good we can do for them. However, we can always find a way to do something uplifting and encouraging for them, whether it’s buying them lunch or giving them a book. Seeking God’s will for our lives starts with loving Him and others. When we obey His commandment, we’ll find our purpose. And when we see a need, we will meet it.

Journal Question:

How have people done good for you?

In what ways have you lived out today’s verse?

How can you apply “See a need, meet a need” to your life?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for meeting our needs and giving us blessings we can share with others. As we go about our days, please help us see the needs of others and meet them to the best of our ability. As we receive Your blessings, let them flow freely from us to others.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Who doesn’t want a straight path to walk? Visiting Watkins Glen State Park in upstate New York, we traversed 800 stone steps on the Gorge Trail, the closest to Glen Creek, which creates the 19 breathtaking waterfalls for visitors to view. Twisting and turning, we had to pay attention to prevent slipping and falling on the trail.

Straight paths with no grade make hiking so much easier. Life’s twists and turns can take our breath away as quickly as a beautiful waterfall. Trust in the Lord helps us navigate circumstances with clear direction and divine guidance, allowing us to avoid pitfalls that could waylay our journey.

Instead of relying on our limited understanding of the world around us, we can lean into the Savior and trust His knowledge. Giving God our heart allows Him to go before us, straightening our paths and giving us victory in Him. We don’t have to know the itinerary; we can trust the travel agent to get us to our destination as efficiently and easily as possible.

As you begin your day, ask the Lord to straighten out your path. Permit Him to take you where He wants you to go. Admit you don’t understand everything and rely on His perspective to lead you. In all things, trust the Savior and let Him guide your way.

Journal Question:

Describe a path you walked that challenged you.

How would you rate your level of trust in God?

What path do you need the Lord to clear for you today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for knowing the direction You want us to travel and preparing the path for us to follow. Please help us trust You completely, acknowledging Your ways and allowing You to lead us to our destiny.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

God’s word protects us from ourselves. We think of enemies as those outside of us that would do us harm. But, in truth, the decisions we make and actions we take often cause us more pain than anyone else. By following the Lord’s commands, we’ll find, He truly does have our best interest at heart.

“Because I told you so,” said my mother more times than I can remember. As a child, when she gave me directions, I often replied with one word, “Why?” Mom’s five-word response didn’t satisfy my curiosity, so I would do what she told me not to do, and end up regretting it.

Like the time mom told me not to let any pilots in my room when I became a flight attendant. If I had followed that advice, I would have saved myself a lot of heartache. But I did learn lessons I haven’t forgotten and didn’t repeat the mistake. And I wish I had listened to my mother.

Like I wish I had listened to God about His direction for relationships. Eventually, I did wise up and begin following the Lord and my mother’s advice, but only after I caused myself harm, leaving scars from the battles I fought because I didn’t listen.

Save yourself heartache and follow the Lord’s commands. You will quickly learn that He’s helping you, not hurting you. By applying God’s principles to your life, you will become more like Jesus, living abundantly in His love, and not suffering the self-inflicted wounds of poor decisions.

God will lengthen your days, adding not only years to your life, but also peace to it. Trust in Him, remember His commands, and enjoy life to the fullest in Christ.

Journal Questions:

What parental advice do you wish you had followed?

Do you tend to follow rules or break them?

What commandment of God’s do you have the hardest time obeying?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us directions for life. Please help us write them on our hearts, not forgetting them, adding peace and years to our lives. Let us live in Your love, basking in Your blessings as we follow You.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Along the Alleghany River in Pennsylvania runs the 51-mile Redbank Valley Trail. Maintained by volunteers, the non-motorized, 4-season trail has scenic beauty and connections to other trails. Continuously growing and connecting to other bikeways, the wide path features easy-to-follow markings, making it easy to traverse.

Some paths take more effort. Following the path of righteousness, which begins by placing our faith in Jesus, requires a partnership with the Savior. Unlike the Redbank Valley Trail, which provides a clear view of the path ahead, we don’t always know what our next steps will look like following Jesus.

Like a dense fog covering the Redbank Trail, we can’t see more than a foot ahead and must trust God to show us which way we should step. Obeying the Lord’s commands helps us find a sure footing. Even if we can’t see the path, we can trust God for solid ground.

A few years ago, when my mother had an unexpected illness, it took my entire family by surprise. Navigating the raw emotions that came to the surface made me feel directionless. Realizing I had no control over the situation, I didn’t know what to do. My prayer became, “God, show me the next step.” He always did, and in the process deepened my trust in Him and drew me closer to the Savior.

Ever since that season, I have made it a common practice to ask the Lord to direct my steps. Allowing the Savior to guide me helps me find the path of righteousness, leading to a more abundant life than I ever imagined.

Ask God to give you direction. Allow the Lord to illuminate your path, showing you one step at a time where He wants you to go. Let the adventure begin!

Journal Question:

How has God directed your steps?

How would you define the path of righteousness?

What area do you need the most guidance in today?

 Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us a mission here on Earth. Please show us the direction You want us to go, and give us the steps You want us to take. Let us not miss a thing as we follow You wholeheartedly.

IJNIP. Amen