Author: Beth Morrison

One-minute read.

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1 Corinthians 9:25

Every other year, the people of Corinthian hosted the Isthmian athletic games, which included running and boxing. The winner received a laurel or celery wreath crown that would wither. Paul used the games as an example, explaining that we should discipline and train ourselves in the Gospel to run the race and receive the crown that will never perish: eternal life with Christ. 

Using self-control, Paul does not run the race as an undisciplined runner but as a trained athlete, and so should we. Preaching the Gospel, Paul taught about Jesus and lived by Christ’s teaching. Like all followers of Jesus, the apostle has confidence in God’s sovereign grace but recognizes his sin battle, ever vigilant not to let it hinder his race.

Staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings will help us quickly deal with sin. Guiding us like a shepherd with sheep, the Spirit’s staff nudges us back on the straight and narrow path when we begin to stray. Athletes know when they do something that will hinder their training: eating junk food, not getting enough rest, or skipping a workout. All those things will cause them not to perform at their peak. In the same way, when we let sin slither into our lives, it hinders our mission. Until we deal with the issue, we will stumble in the race. Accepting the Lord’s correction through His Spirit helps us finish well and win the crown that will never perish.

Application:

God provides an imperishable crown for His children.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us Paul’s letters to help us live well for Jesus, training and persevering on our mission to love You and others while spreading the Gospel’s good news. Help us run our race well, acquiring eternal life with You as our reward.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Proverbs 13:4

Fulfilling dreams requires diligence. Instead of sitting around hoping things will happen, diligent people work towards making things happen. When God gives us a vision, we must take steps of faith to see it become reality. Sitting around and doing nothing doesn’t accomplish anything, but developing a plan and then doing it will make dreams come true.

“Effortless is a myth,” Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, said during his commencement speech at Dartmouth University. When watching the accomplished athlete play matches, he made it look easy, and so he gained a reputation, his game effortless. But in reality, no one saw all the hard work and practice Roger put in outside the public eye, making his game look effortless. Without diligent effort, day in and day out, he wouldn’t have won more than 80% of the 1526 matches he played. Roger’s dream of becoming one of the best tennis players ever happened because of his diligence.

Whatever dream God gives you, work at it. Don’t expect things to happen without effort on your part. Creating a plan, taking one step at a time, and putting in the work will make your dreams come true. But if you do nothing, you will get nothing. You have a choice: become diligent in your efforts or become a sluggard. Whatever you put into it, you will get out of it. Work hard and see your dreams come true.

Application:

Diligence makes dreams come true.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the dreams You give us and the action plan to make them come true. Help us develop diligence in our efforts as we strive to reach our goals. When we become discouraged, give us hope, letting us persevere, no matter what.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:31-35

God doesn’t make empty promises.  Christ’s actions on the cross and His resurrection prove His love for us and plans for redemption.  Jesus fulfilled His mission willingly; the Lord gave Him up for all, participating in the plan of salvation and demonstrating His grace.  Yes, we face hardships, but God faces them with us, supplying all we need to persevere through the most difficult days.  When we sin, we do so against the Lord, but instead of charging us with our sins, God forgives us because He is for us, not against us.

In Paul’s series of questions, he asks who shall condemn us and who will separate us from the love of Christ.  We find the answers in Jesus, who didn’t condemn us but died for us because of unconditional love.  No one can separate us from Him; the Savior’s actions on the cross bind us to Him forever.  Jesus intercedes for us at the Father’s right hand, whatever needs we have.

As part of the Lord’s family, He defends us.  The only one with the right to condemn us chose instead to save us from our sins.  Placing our faith in Jesus gives us a royal inheritance no one can take from us.  God gave His Son for us, doesn’t charge us for our sins, and bonds us with unconditional love that no one can break.  The Lord keeps His promises; we can trust Him and find life to the fullest.

Application:

God defends His children.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your unconditional love and grace that adopts us into Your family and gives us divine protection.  Help us persevere through hardship, knowing You will give us everything we need to find victory.  Strengthen our hearts, and let us trust You fully.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:9-13

As our heavenly Father, God will answer our petitions in kindness, doing no less for His children than an earthly father would. Because of the Lord’s perfection, He does much more than a sinful person. Our Creator wants us to come to Him with our prayers. When we seek the Lord, He answers, opening up His storehouse of blessings.

My parent’s bedroom didn’t have a door. Whether or not the house designer intended for the small room off the kitchen as a bedroom, I don’t know. But one door led upstairs to two more bedrooms, one to a bathroom and one to the kitchen. We didn’t have a door to knock on to gain entrance. But every time I went to Dad with a problem or request, he responded with kindness, love, and sometimes irritation. Our heavenly Father responds better than any human dad ever could.

The greatest gift the Lord gives us resides in our hearts. Taking up residence inside of us, the Holy Spirit creates an unbreakable bond between God and us. Every need we have, Jesus meets. When we ask, the Lord responds, often not how we expect, but always with an answer. Go to God with all your burdens; find rest in Him.  Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your soul as you seek the Lord for answers.

Application:

God gives us perfect gifts.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for answering all our prayers. Please help us trust in You, giving us the faith to persevere when we don’t understand the answers. Strengthen us for the journey, keep our hearts tuned to You, and help us live fully in Christ.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19

Divine resources come through Christ’s indwelling in our hearts. As the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us, we gain inner strength that can sustain us through the tragedies of life. Rooted and grounded in love, we receive God’s fullness, which helps us persevere when life knocks us off our feet and drops us to our knees. Our inner being receives renewal each day, the Holy Spirit working within us, enabling us to find hope in our darkest hour.

As we continually trust Jesus, He indwells within us. Our hearts represent our whole person: mind, feeling, and will. Love comes from Christ’s presence in our lives, like a tree with deep roots, creating a firm foundation for us to rely upon when the storm winds begin to blow. Paul’s prayer applies to all God’s people, leading to divine empowerment and personal enlightenment.

Understanding the depths of God’s love from a human perspective requires divine help. Paul recognizes this, praying that the Ephesians may come to know the unknowable. Ending his prayer, Paul prays for Jesus to fill us with God’s love so that we may experience its fullness in our lives. Clinging to the Lord will empower us with the tools to face the world’s challenges. Accepting God’s help gives us divine resources that we can’t access any other way. Only by submitting our lives to Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit can we find the strength to persevere when all else fails.

Application:

God gives us power through the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the gift of Jesus and His Spirit within us. Please help us access the strength that You provide from within our hearts. When life doesn’t make sense, help us persevere in faith, knowing You have a plan.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.

John 14:13-16

Praying in Jesus’s name has two aspects: a guarantee and a limitation. Like signing a check promises payment, Christ promises an answer when we pray in His name. But the answer has limits, requiring consistency with God’s character and purpose. Jesus promises an answer that will bring glory to the Father. Obeying the Lord’s commands tests the disciple’s love; will they submit to God’s will or theirs? Jesus leaves us with His Spirit to help us make the right choices.

“All Saints,”[i] a movie about a church on the verge of closing and Burmese refugees that helped save it, exemplifies the Lord’s ways. Throughout the film, the pastor feels led in a specific direction, yet hardship after hardship keeps happening, making him question his calling. Eventually, all hope seems lost. Prayers seem to go unanswered; efforts don’t seem blessed, all done in Jesus’s name. How the Lord answers prayers and how we think He will differ. What doesn’t make sense to us does to God. The movie shows how the Lord answers, but not how you think it will go.

God guarantees answers, but He doesn’t tell us how. And deciphering the Lord’s will only comes with time and perseverance. All things work for the good of those who believe and trust in the Lord, but we must go through the valley to get to the mountaintop. In the waiting room for an answer, prayer helps pass the time. Stay connected to God, even when you don’t understand, and trust the Holy Spirit to help you persevere, waiting for God’s answer.

Application:

The Holy Spirit helps us persevere.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us persevere while waiting for Your answers. Give us hope while waiting, trusting in Your sovereign will. Lead us on the right path as we follow You.

IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4663548/

One-minute read.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Psalm 107:13-16

God doesn’t forget us, no matter our rebellious spirit; the Lord delivers us from sins when we turn to Him, redeeming us. The Creator has a plan for His creation, and when we allow Him to work in our lives, submitting to Him, we discover it. Redemption breaks the chains of sin and gives us hope for a better future.

Not too long ago, I received the most uplifting message from a reader. On her way home from work, she had every intention of doing something that wouldn’t please the Lord, what I don’t know. But the Holy Spirit stopped her, and she prayed in the parking lot, turning her evil desires over to God and asking Him to help her break the bonds. And the Lord did. Right in the middle of the parking lot, He set her free from the bonds that had held her captive and renewed her spirit. Singing His praises, she shared her victory with me.

We all can find victory in the Lord when we submit our lives to Him.  God will shatter the bonds that hold us captive, freeing us from sin. What we see as challenges, the Lord sees as future victories. Tapping into the Almighty’s power, He will free us from the chains that bind us and give us new life in Christ.   Seek God and His kingdom, experience the blessings that come from above, and discover life to the fullest in Jesus.

Application:

God shatters the bonds that hold us captive.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for setting us free from our sins and giving us new life in Christ. Help us see the chains that bind us, giving them to You and discovering freedom. Let us submit our every desire to You, allowing You to transform our lives.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

Psalm 103:2-5

God redeems us from our sins with His love and compassion, lifting us out of the pit, sustaining us, and fully restoring us. The eagle symbolizes the vigor and freedom the Lord gives us when we accept His grace and mercy. The Creator hasn’t changed, but our sins separate us from Him. Our relationship remains strained until we come to the Lord, asking for His forgiveness; God forgives us the minute we confess.

When I started my crafting business, I accidentally spray-painted our neighbor’s car, not realizing it. On a girl’s trip, my husband called and told me he had an angry visit from the husband and wife, who speak very little English. Mortified at my actions, embarrassment filled me as I thought about what I had done. Facing the consequences when I came home, I marched over to their house to offer my apologies and offer to pay for the damage. Their forgiveness and grace restored our relationship, making us whole again.

The Lord does the same when we come to Him with our misdeeds. The minute we confess, He forgives and redeems us, showering us with love and renewing our energy. Our Heavenly Benefactor gives us everything we need to live abundantly with Him.  But we must seek Him, confessing our sins to receive the benefits.

Application:

God redeems us.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for redeeming our lives, restoring and giving us new life in You.  Help us to become more sensitive to our sin, recognizing and confessing it quickly to You.  Let us live abundantly in Your grace.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:9-11

Parents desire to give their kids good gifts. If a child asks for something to eat, they don’t give him a stone, something he can’t eat. They also don’t give the kid something poisonous that would harm him. So if we, as sinners, know how to give good gifts, God gives even better gifts as our sovereign Lord and Savior, Creator of the Universe, perfect in every way.

God wants us to ask for His kingdom’s blessings to train us. To encounter the Lord, we must have a relationship with Him and seek Him regularly. As God’s children, we must ask Him for our heart’s desires, just like kids ask their parents on Earth.   I love watching children in the stores with their parents, sons, and daughters, asking their moms and dads for things they see on the shelves. Sometimes, parents say yes; other times, I hear, “Put that back,” but I rarely see them get angry at their children for asking.

The Lord wants us to ask Him for things. He wants us to talk to Him about the things in our hearts. Sometimes God says yes, other times no, and often He answers, wait. But the Lord always answers a doting Father who loves and adores His kids. Through our requests and His answers, we learn more about God as He grows and matures us into fully devoted followers of Christ.

Application:

God dotes on His children.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for blessing us with the best gifts. Help us become more comfortable asking You for the desires of our hearts, then align our hearts with Yours. Let us continue to learn and grow as we receive Your response, trusting You for the best gifts.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:31-33

Non-believers worry about temporal things, such as what to eat and wear. But as believers, God doesn’t want us to pursue food and clothing as a primary goal; instead, we should replace such pursuits with a goal of greater significance, His kingdom. Focusing on the Lord and doing His will means putting the things of God first. When we do that, the Almighty provides all our needs. We needn’t worry about what we eat and drink because we know the Lord will provide for us.

Pursuing righteousness in Christ means submitting to God’s will. The Lord will provide all our necessities; we don’t have to worry about them. Of course, what we think we need and what God believes can differ. We might desire a Ferrari, and the Lord might provide a Honda. Either way, we have a car to drive, a luxury not everyone has. Aligning our desires with God means submitting to His will, thanking the Lord for His blessing, and finding contentment in what we have instead of focusing on things we don’t possess.

Set your gaze upon the Son, and let Him supply all your needs. Build the kingdom and pursue a higher calling, introduce others to Jesus, and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ. God will fulfill all your needs, providing food, drink, and clothing. As our Ultimate Supplier, we have everything we need in Jesus.

Application:

God supplies all our needs.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for caring for us and providing all the necessities we need. Help us to pursue Your kingdom first and foremost. Let us grow more like Christ as we consistently follow Him, enjoying Your blessings.

IJNIP. Amen