Five-minute read.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

Psalm 139:9a

No limits.

Continuing in the theme of God’s sovereignty, verse nine denotes the ends of the earth, from the breaking of dawn to the depths of the sea and everywhere in between.  With each new day comes fresh mercy from the Lord, an opportunity to start again, and try and do better than yesterday.

Recently, I started attending a 6:00 a.m. group strength class.  Since I rise early, it fits perfectly into my schedule.  Driving home, I have the privilege of watching the sun rise over the horizon, strands of brilliant light illuminate the sky as it begins its slow journey from east to west.  Something about the vibrant rays dispelling the darkness brings hope to my soul, invigorating and energizing me for the day ahead.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23

Hope comes with the rising sun.  A new chance to make different decisions and choose another path.  With each day comes new lessons, only moving on to the next one when we’ve learned the current one.  God’s sovereignty allows us free will to do what we want, not forcing us to follow Him.  When we choose to do things the Lord’s way, He blesses our efforts, supporting us along the journey and helping us move into the next phase.

Our neighbor Stephanie came over on Halloween night, and we played Phase 10.  A fun card game, the first person to complete the final phase wins.  If you don’t finish a level, you must stay on it until you do.  My poor husband stayed on one level for several rounds, frustrating him to no end, but eventually, he completed the phase.  Just like in the card game, God takes us through phases.  We can’t move to the next level until we learn what He has for us on the current level.  Sometimes, we stay in the same place for years; other times, we pass through them quickly.  But in all things, life happens in the journey.

“At every stop, some people get on the bus, others get off.” Joyce Meyer[i]

Comparing the phases of life to a bus ride, Joyce Meyer made an observation about life that applies to everyone.  The people we travel through life with change.  Some stay with us throughout our entire lifetime, others only for a short while.  But as we move from one stage to another, someone comes, and someone goes.  God remains constant throughout the entire ride, driving the bus and watching as people come and go.  His heart aches with ours when people decide to get off the bus and rejoices when people get on it.

Living a life for the Lord accepts His sovereignty, recognizing we can’t hide from Him.  God calls for us to remain teachable, always learning and growing as we draw closer to our Creator.  Applying Jesus’ teachings will transform our lives in ways we can’t imagine.  Taking us through one level at a time, Christ goes before us, guiding and directing us on the journey.  When we get stuck by the side of the road, the Lord waits patiently with us until we learn the lesson and start moving again.

Take heart; God’s presence in our life covers everything.  Teaching and transforming us each day brings new hope.  Joy comes when we choose Jesus.

Application:

God gives hope.

Each day, we mess up.  Words come out of our mouths we didn’t mean to say.  Emotions take over our actions, causing us to do something we usually wouldn’t do.  Repeatedly, our imperfections find a way to reveal themselves.  But God gives us hope we can overcome them.  The Lord’s faithful, all-knowing presence in our lives nudges us forward, giving us as many chances as we need to learn the lessons He teaches.  One step at a time, the Lord transforms us into a new person, full of love, grace, and mercy.  In His sovereignty, God knows what we need to keep us persevering on the journey.

Transformation comes through perseverance.

Journaling Questions:

1. What does the dawn of a new day make you think and feel?
2. What lesson do you think God’s trying to teach you?
3. How can you move to the next level of your journey with God?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for your limitless involvement in our lives.  As we persevere on our journey with You, help us learn the lessons You teach.  Let us draw closer to You as we tune our spirits to Yours.  Transform our lives as we repeatedly obey You in big and small things.  Build our character, strengthen our integrity, and let us become more like Jesus with every lesson we learn.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://sermons.love/joyce-meyer/5320-joyce-meyer-the-test-of-confidence.html

Five-minute read.

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Psalm 139:8

You are there.

Wherever I go, so does God.  Depths, sol in original Hebrew, refers to “grave; by extension, realm of death, deepest depths,”[i] The Lord goes with us, even to death.  Jesus overcame the deepest depths when He died on the cross.  Theologians debate what happened to Christ when he died.  We know that Jesus rose again, conquering death and leading everyone to eternal life.

Death scares me because of the unknown part of it.  Loved ones have gone before me, so I know they have the answer, and one day I will find out.  But I need not fear because God goes with us even in death.  Knowing Christ leads the way comforts me.

“That’s my song for you,” Ron said when I first heard “I Will Follow You into the Dark”[ii] by Death Cab for Cutie.  Dating at the time, he made the song his ringtone for me.  Listening to the lyrics, my love deepened for my future husband at that moment:

Love of mine, someday you will die
But I’ll be close behind; I’ll follow you into the dark.
No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight, waiting for the hint of a spark.

No one on Earth loves me like my husband does.  His kindness and generosity continue to amaze me.  The more I get to know Ron, the more I love him.  And through my better half, I better understand God’s unconditional love, grace, and mercy.  Ron’s willingness to follow me anywhere, even into the dark, tells me of his deep affection.  My husband loves sacrificially, without conditions, and forever.  Ron’s not perfect, but he loves me perfectly.  And through Him, I’ve learned more about love.

So, when David talks about God’s presence wherever I go, I understand its love that keeps the Lord with me.  The heavenly Father doesn’t go with us into the depths because He must; God goes with us because He loves us so profoundly.  No one loves me more than God, not even Ron.  And no one loves you more than God.  Jesus came to Earth, living a sacrificial life to connect us with the Lord.  Following God’s Son will allow us to experience peace on Earth.  You will never regret trusting Jesus.

Why do we have to go to the deepest depths?  I don’t have an answer to that question.  Pain and heartache come with living life to the fullest.  Without grief, we wouldn’t understand love.  Maybe knowing death will one day come makes us appreciate today.  Keeping the shortness of life on Earth in perspective helps us appreciate it more.  Today will never come again.  Pain doesn’t last forever; joy comes in the morning. 

We can trust God’s promise; He goes with us wherever we go.  The Lord always desires our company, like a doting father with a newborn baby; He enjoys watching us live life.  With our Maker by our side, we can live life to the fullest, no matter what giants stand before us.  In God, we can trust.

Application:

God wants to spend time with us.

Wherever I go, God goes with me because He loves me.  I can have confidence that God wants to spend time with me.  When I lift my prayers to the Lord, He wants to hear them.  I’m not bothering Him.  Me calling on God doesn’t interrupt Him or annoy Him.  I can’t pray too much.  Unlike humans, our Creator doesn’t get irritated when someone calls a lot or constantly interrupts them.  The Creator wants us to have a constant connection with Him, always praying, always seeking, always thanking; wherever we go, You are there.

You are there.

Journaling Questions:

1. How has someone on Earth shown you love?
2. How would you describe God’s love?
3. What does God’s unconditional love do for your life?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for ever doubting Your love for us.  Please help us receive Your love, allowing it to heal us from within our souls.  Open our eyes and ears to Your precious ways, constantly learning and growing.  Let us become more like Christ, loving as He did.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+139%3A8&version=NIV&tab=interlinear

[ii] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iV_1ESMHaI

Five-minute read.

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

Psalm 139:7b

Positive benefit.

As a child, I ran away from home.  Leaving my little house on the hill, I ran to my grandmother’s house, less than a half mile away, and hid under her wrap-around porch.  Sitting quietly in the dimly lit corner, shafts of light shining through the slats, I heard people searching for me but didn’t leave my hiding spot.  At this point in life, I can’t remember what upset me so much I fled the safety of home, but I do recall how much worry I caused my family.  And the relief in my mother’s voice when my grandma found me.

Unlike my mother, whose presence I fled that day, we can’t flee from God, a positive benefit to having a Creator.  Whether we believe in the Lord or not, He always knows our hiding spots.  Just like that summer day, I hid under the porch, not alone, but accompanied by my Maker, who knew exactly my whereabouts and the condition of my young heart.

Thirty-three percent of the world’s population describe themselves as lonely, one in three people in the United States feel alone.  Even more startling, sixty-one percent of younger people feel chronically lonely, and fifty-one percent of mothers with young children report feeling lonely.[i] We have an epidemic of loneliness in our world today, and God offers a solution: a relationship with Him.

Ron and I live in a 12,000-person subdivision.  Our house nestles in between several others, with little room in between.  Everywhere I look, I see people, yet one in three of them feel alone.  In my younger years, before I developed the relationship I have with God today, I often felt lonely, and on occasion, I still do.  But knowing God, spending time with Him every day, and looking for His hand at work in the world around me takes away my loneliness and replaces it with confidence in the Lord. 

“For He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

My confidence comes from believing and trusting the promises God made.  When my faith begins to waver, I meditate on scripture.  Meditate means “think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.”[ii]Finding and centering my mind on the Lord’s promises helps me weather the storm, building confidence in the Creator’s presence and plan for my life. 

Embrace the positive benefit of the Lord’s constant presence in your life.  When loneliness begins to overtake you, center Your mind on Jesus.

“Jesus fed 5000, but only 500 followed Him after lunch.

He had 12 disciples, but only 3 went further into the garden,

and only 1 stood with Him at the cross.

The closer you get to the cross, the smaller the crowd becomes.”

Unknown

Don’t let the devil get a foothold with his lies.  Even though you may feel alone, God never leaves you.  The crowd may get smaller, but the Lord doesn’t.  Intimacy with your Maker will fulfill all your needs if you trust Him.  Whatever circumstance you face today, God faces it with you.  The Lord moves mountains, calms the waves, and whispers in your ear, “I got this.”  Trust in Him.

Application:

Never alone.

Working from home alone can feel lonely.  Some days, I realize I haven’t seen a soul except my husband.  Life can seem tiny like I live alone in a bubble.  But I recognize feelings lie and don’t reflect reality.  Knowing I can’t flee from God, that He goes with me wherever I go, helps me find victory over feelings of loneliness.  Even though life can seem isolated, God always carries me in His hand, never leaving nor forsaking me.

God’s my constant companion.

Journaling Questions:

1. What makes you feel alone?
2. How can God’s presence help you find victory over loneliness?
3. How does knowing you can’t flee from God comfort you?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for believing our feelings.  The next time feelings of loneliness surround us, help us identify the lie.  Remind us of Your Presence and that wherever we go, You go.  Let our faith grow each day as we rely more and more on You, not getting sucked into the things of this world but centering our thoughts on the hope You offer.  In all things, may You receive the glory and honor.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.crossrivertherapy.com/research/loneliness-statistics#:~:text=Statistics%20show%20that%20one%20in,children%20also%20report%20feeling%20lonely.

[ii] https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=592163180&sxsrf=AM9HkKkuWTZosk_kaCclUNV0G575XX-s9A:1702986353231&q=meditate&si=ALGXSlaYxyllm14_NEvUA9w95SVcf4Gc_Uq1YxjnSOqofcD1OqEl3aZ3tasGlLXtoMfBn4ugS3zMJqHErS5UMR2Wd_uAPcQHDSO5AJzOJAKnULsJqNq1pZM%3D&expnd=1&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjuzJDFtpuDAxVEGlkFHXVcBEsQ2v4IegQIERBW&biw=767&bih=814&dpr=1.25

Five-minute read.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Psalm 39:7a

No hiding.

Ruah, the original Hebrew word for Spirit, means the seat of life, spirit being, especially the Spirit of God.[i] The seat of life comes from the Lord; every breath we take, we do so because of Him.  Nothing lives without the Creator’s knowledge; no leaf falls to the ground without Him knowing. We can’t hide from God, no escaping His eternal presence.

During my single years, somewhere along the way, I heard a challenge. Ask yourself this question. If your future spouse was with you at any moment, would they approve of your actions?   The pastor called this the “Eye Theory,” essentially acting as if our someday partner could see our current situation. Planting that seed in my mind made me think more about what I did and live more intentionally as I prepared for marriage.

God does see everything we do. His Spirit resides in all places; nowhere can anyone escape the Lord. His omnipresence means our Creator will always lead and hold the believer, no matter where we go. Darkness can’t ruin the light of God; the Lord dispenses the dark, illuminating it with His presence.

Guilt may make us want to flee from God. Sinning separates us from the Lord, causing us to want to hide. 

“Don’t check the cameras!” said five-year-old Benji, dressed in red pajamas. Talking with his mom, he held an open Christmas present that he “didn’t open.”  For three minutes, the video shows him pleading his case, eventually breaking into tears as he begs her not to check the cameras. Knowing the cameras would reveal the truth, he realizes he has no choice but to come clean.

“Yes, by accident,” the young tike says through gasping sobs, finally confessing his sin.[ii]

Benji had no problem believing his mom had a camera watching the tree. In today’s world, video surveillance happens everywhere. Watch any crime show, and you will see detectives using footage from street cameras, businesses, and homes to catch the criminal. Like cameras, God’s Spirit covers the universe, not a street He doesn’t see. The Lord forgives our wrongdoings and offers us a chance to try again.

We can come to our Protector with a humble heart, confessing we opened the present. Just as Benji’s mom folded him in her arms, comforting him after he admitted his guilt, God does the same for us.   The Lord wants us to come to Him with our sins, allowing Him to wipe away our tears and heal us from within our spirit. Following God means we align our soul with His, living life as one with the Lord.

Don’t fret because God knows everything, His Spirit always present, no matter where we go. Instead, embrace your Creator’s presence. Mold your life with God’s as you follow Him and serve Him. No need to fear the Maker’s reaction to your sins; He’s already forgiven them. Like the mom in the video, God desires us to come to Him and share our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. The Lord created us; He knows our imperfections better than we do and still loves us.

Take comfort knowing you can’t hide from God’s Spirit. Embrace a relationship with God. Let Him into the darkest parts of your heart so He can shine His light, expelling the darkness. 

Application:

Embrace God’s presence.

Standing in line at Dollar Tree during Christmas, it wrapped down one aisle and around the next. Looking at the impatient people irritated at the wait, I thought of God and His love for them and me. Taking the opportunity to practice patience, instead of getting upset, I used the time to research new projects on Pinterest for my shop. Knowing God’s Spirit dwells with me, even in line at the dollar store, made me choose to respond differently to the aggravating circumstances, which resulted in peace to my soul.

Thank God for His never-ending presence, helping me become more like Christ and less like me.

God’s presence makes me live better.

Journaling Questions:

1. What does it mean to you that God’s Spirit is everywhere?
2. How can you become comfortable with God’s omnipresence?
3. What does God’s presence mean in your life?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for trying to hide from You.  As we pursue You today, help us become comfortable with Your omnipresence. Let us respond to the world around us as you would have us do, sharing love with all. Hold us in Your arms when we falter; help us find our way again when we sin. Guide and direct us with every breath we take. In all things, let You receive the glory. IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+139%3A7&version=NIV&tab=interlinear

[ii] https://www.facebook.com/DailyMailVideo/videos/1199078980297484/

Five-minute read.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139:6

Unattainable knowledge.

Nothing occurs to God; He already knows everything.[i] When I came across this note in Vine’s Expository, it struck me. How sad God never gets the joy of something occurring to Him for the first time.

Just this morning, I had an epiphany about my thought life. When God opens my eyes to a new truth, the first time something occurs to me, it frees me. Today’s freedom moment came when I realized I don’t have to think about a thought just because I have it.

For instance, I’ve started a strength training program to help battle aging. Since I began, my body weight increased. When I weighed myself today and saw the higher number reflected, I thought. “What a loser, doing all this hard work, and all you do is gain weight.”

But then I began coaching myself. Reminding myself consistent practice pays off. Even though I don’t see the results immediately, I must keep going, and eventually, it will all come together. Life has big moments, but most come from a string of repeated moments that lead to victory. Books don’t get finished the day you start writing them. I didn’t gain ten pounds in one day; good or bad, things happen over time. And the coaching continued until the positive thoughts took root, and I let go of the negative ones.

In other words, I don’t have to attach to the thought; I can let it go. And I can attach myself to the positive, life-giving thoughts that keep me moving forward. I find it thrilling when things occur to me for the first time, and I learn something new that helps me live more abundantly.

But God never has things occur to Him. He already knows everything there is to know. I will never truly understand the Lord’s sovereignty on this side of heaven; just too much for this human mind to grasp. And even though my Maker never has anything occur to Him, I bet He rejoices when I do.

Each step of faith we take, every truth we believe, every lie we debunk pleases the Lord. Creator of the Universe, nothing thrills God more than when we discover new things about ourselves and the world. Becoming more like Christ happens over a lifetime. The results will eventually show themselves. Nothing happens immediately for us, nor did God design life that way. To arrive at any destination, we must take the journey.

How our Mighty Heavenly Father knows everything, I will never understand completely. But I trust the Lord’s wisdom. Spending my waking hours trying to attain God’s thoughts will lead to frustration. Our Creator didn’t design us to know everything; the Lord made us to trust. Our life begins when we submit it to God and build a relationship with Him.

Just like starting a new exercise program, repeated practice creates confidence. The more we spend time with our Maker, the more faith we will have in His grand design. And we will begin to accept that we can’t know everything God knows, but we can trust Him anyway.

Application:

Accept the unknown.

Walking by faith means I must accept not getting answers to all my questions. In a world filled with sinners, including myself, bad things will happen. But we can find peace when we trust God’s sovereignty and ability to know everything. The Lord promises to make all things work to the good for those who believe and trust in Him. Instead of asking why, we can begin to question what? What do you want me to learn from this situation, Lord?   We don’t have to know all the whys because we know the One who does.

Trust God’s sovereignty.

Journaling Questions:

1. What baffles you about God’s sovereignty?
2. How can you become comfortable not knowing all the answers?
3. What do you think the Lord’s teaching you today?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for questioning Your sovereignty. Instead of asking why, help me start asking what. Teach me Your ways; allow me to become comfortable living in the unknown, trusting Your knowledge. Thank You for guiding and directing us, loving us with every step we take. Help me become more like Christ as I follow You.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] Vines Expository Bible Notes: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+139%3A6&version=ESV

Five-minute read.

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

Psalm 139:5

God carries us.

After praying for decades for someone to sit beside me in church, God brought Ron into my life. Nothing warms my heart more than when I feel his arm drape around my shoulders during service, pulling me into his shoulder for a reassuring hug. Whenever Ron wraps me in his arms, I praise the Lord for the gift of having someone hold me.

God always has His arm around our shoulders. You could say the Lord confines us. The original Hebrew word for “hem,” tsuwr, means “to cramp, i.e., confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile) bind (up), fortify, [and my favorite] put up in bags.”[i]

Bags make me happy; the more pockets, the better. Of course, I also love totes with no pockets; bags of all types make me smile. Thinking of God putting me up in a bag, I picture the tote I bought a couple of weeks ago—black canvas, with a small logo on the front, no other markings. One small, dark, metal hoop wraps around the handle, another stitched into the top seam inside, places to hang keys and water bottles. One zippered pocket on the interior allows me to put small items.

Tote bags hold lots of items and give them room to move inside of it. Life inside God’s tote bag allows for our free will. Protected by the outside walls of the bag, the Lord’s arms carry us, even when we do not realize it—making sure to protect us from the world around us. Observing from above, the Lord knows what He allows into our lives. Nothing enters the Lord’s tote bag without His knowledge.

Now and then, our Protector allows things into our lives we may not want, but through them, we grow more like Jesus.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Trusting God through the storms we endure in life challenges anyone. Recently, an acquaintance passed away unexpectedly at the age of fifty-nine. Although I didn’t know the man well, his death rattled me. Pioneering tennis in our local area, the business owner positively impacted countless lives, yet the Lord called him home. Only a few years younger than him, the tennis coach’s sudden passing amid a vibrant life jarred me, a reminder of life’s fragility and God’s sovereignty. 

Why did God let that in my bag? Why does the Lord let any of life’s challenges into our bags: joblessness, financial insecurity, betrayal, tragedies, natural disasters, sudden losses, infidelity, the list goes on and on. If God cramps and confines us in His arms, putting us up in a bag that protects us, why does He let difficult things into our space?

Through life’s storms, God refines us into fine gems. If we didn’t go through the fire, we wouldn’t experience the refinement. We can trust the Lord has us in His bag, wrapped in His arms, confined and protected, not allowing us to endure alone but always with us.

Our Maker hems us in His arms, puts us up in a bag, and carries us. His reassuring gestures communicate unconditional love. All things work for the good of those who believe and trust in the Lord (Romans 8:28).

Application:                                

God carries us.

Next time you place your possessions into a bag, think of God carefully placing You in His tote. As you walk through your day, carrying the pouch with you, taking out and putting things into it, think about how the Lord does the same for us. Some things our Protector lets into our lives, other things He takes out of them. Whatever God does, we must trust He’s doing it for our good. We may not see the benefit of a situation, but we will eventually find it in our Creator’s presence.

In God, we can trust.

Journaling Questions:

1. What comes to mind when you think of God bagging you up?
2. How does knowing the Lord surrounds you build your faith?
3. What things do you wonder why God let into your bag or took out of it?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for surrounding and keeping us safe in Your arms. Forgive us for questioning why You allow certain things into our lives and take other stuff away. Please give us faith for the journey, guiding and directing our steps as we will enable You to lead us. IJNIP. Amen

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[i] Strong, J., & Lindsay, G. (1975). Strong’s concordance: Bible dictionary ; study of the words of Jesus. P.T.L. Television Network.

Five-minute read.

Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely.

Psalm 139:4

Every word.

Sometimes, I know what Ron will say before the words leave his lips, but most of the time, I don’t. To know someone’s words, we must understand what they think, and we don’t possess the power of telepathy. But God does, in His sovereignty, He knows our thoughts, and therefore, He knows the words that will come out of our mouths.

When I think of some of the words I’ve said, it embarrasses me. Times when gossip has left my lips, or I say curse words in anger make me blush. As I age, my words improve because I submit them to God. Learning to control my emotions and not succumb to temptation and share a juicy tidbit or let explicates come from my mouth comes with maturity. But, as always, I still have a way to go.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6

Understanding God knows my words before I speak them convicts me of what I say. Putting into practice Paul’s words to the Colossians means I must stop and think about what I want to say before I say it. The Lord always wants us to use gracious speech seasoned with salt. In Colossae, at the time of Paul’s letter, unbelievers charged Christ’s followers with misconduct, not unlike today. Because of the accusations, Paul urged believers to choose their words and actions carefully to avoid slander.

Every situation requires different words. When I coach a beginner tennis student, my language differs from teaching an experienced player. However, regardless of skill level, all students need assurance and encouragement. One rule of thumb I use when talking to anyone, student or otherwise, comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”  Ephesians 4:29

Simply asking myself, “Is this uplifting and encouraging?” before I let the words come from my mouth changes my language. Wanting to honor God with our lips means we must become intentional about what passes through them. And just as the Lord knows our thoughts, we must also know them. Often, we don’t realize the rabbit trails we follow with our minds, getting lost in our thoughts. Believing lies takes us places we don’t want to go; only with God’s help can we stay focused on the truth and keep our thoughts in line with the Lord.

Gracious speech, tinged with salt that uplifts and encourages the listener, comes from the Lord. We can change our words by aligning our thoughts with God. To bring our minds into agreement with the Creator, we must spend time with Him.  Praying, reading scripture, journaling, and connecting with other believers help us stay in tune with the Lord. The closer we walk with God, the more our thoughts and speech will align with Him.

Application:

Words matter.

Before we let anything slip from our lips, we must think about what we want to say. When teaching a tennis lesson, the student criticized himself after every mistake. Constantly berating himself, I stopped him midstream and said, “Become your own best friend.”

“What?” His look of surprise told me volumes. My student didn’t realize his negativity, so I spent the next few minutes giving him ways to change his thinking and become more optimistic about his game. Instead of focusing on mistakes, celebrate the victories, devise a game plan to improve weaknesses, and stop focusing only on the negative.

Gracious speech begins with gracious thinking. Aligning our thoughts with God helps us become more like Jesus, using only uplifting and encouraging words spoken with love and kindness.

Words give life if used properly.

Journaling Questions:

1. How do your words impact those around you?
2. In what ways can you improve your speech?
3. How does understanding God knows your words before you say them make you feel?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for empty words that don’t give life to others. Please help us use our language wisely as we draw closer to You.  Help us become aware of our thoughts that lead to our words. Let our speech become uplifting and encouraging to all, giving life to the receiver and helping them draw closer to You.  IJNIP. Amen

Five-minute read.

You are familiar with all my ways.

Psalm 139:3b

Close acquaintance.

Who knows you best in this world? My husband comes to mind for me. Although Ron knows nothing about me, he knows more than most. However, no one knows me as well as the Lord. God knows every hair on our heads:

“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:30

According to Healthline, humans have an average of 100,000 hair follicles.[i]  With 8.1 billion people on the planet, according to 2023 polls, that’s a lot of hair for the Lord to know. Yet He does. 

Cakan, the original Hebrew word for familiar in today’s verse, means to be familiar with; by implication, to minister to, be serviceable to, be customary.[ii]  Knowing us intimately, God knows our needs before we do. When my Mom landed in the hospital with an emergency Whipple procedure, removal of the spleen, part of her colon, and part of her pancreas, we found out she had pancreatic cancer. Praying fervently for the Lord to save her life, I discovered that God answered my prayer before I prayed. 

Ten years earlier, Mom had a blockage in her colon; surgery bypassed it by removing a small section of the organ. Cancer tends to grow towards scar tissue, which it did in my mother’s situation. Instead of the pancreatic cancer growing up through the midline of her body, around vital organs, it grew into the colon. As a result, the doctor removed the cancerous mass, adding years to my mother’s life and answering my prayer before I ever prayed it.

Knowing someone’s needs allows us to meet those needs. God uses His intimate knowledge of us to minister to our requirements, supplying us with our necessities at any time. Just like when I know someone has a need, I can meet it.

Because of my close acquaintance with my husband, I know his needs. When he has dirty laundry, I wash it. Because Ron cooks more than me, I clean the dishes and counters after he presents us with a meal. When his dad declined due to dementia, I found ways to support my husband as he took care of his father. Knowing Ron intimately gives me the privilege of serving him and meeting his needs when possible.

To help someone, we must know them. The Lord knows us better than anyone else and meets our needs. But we may not always agree with God’s decisions or how He meets our desires. Submitting to the Lord’s sovereignty means trusting Him, even when we don’t understand or agree.

Our Maker knows His creation. Familiar with us down to the hairs on our heads, God knows everything. When our hearts break, so does the Lord’s. When we celebrate, so does our Creator. Understanding our needs, God meets them long before we even know it. Not a breath taken happens without the Lord’s knowledge. Loving us unconditionally, nothing about us surprises God; we don’t need to hide anything from Him. The Lord already knows and loves us anyway.

Application:

God knows every hair on my head.

Because the Lord knows everything about me, I can let worry go. When something happens that I don’t understand, I can trust God does. Not only does the Creator know how many hairs I have, but He knows what He created me to do. Fulfilling my life purpose only happens when I submit to God and let Him lead me step by step where He wants me to go.

When war broke out in Israel, it canceled my mission trip to Egypt. Saddened by the events, I comforted myself in God’s sovereignty. Because nothing happens without His knowledge, I trusted the Lord’s plan for my life, and knowing that fact comforted me in my disappointment.

God knows my needs before I do, and He meets them.

Journaling Questions:

1. How well do you think God knows you?
2. In what ways does God show you His presence in your life?
3. Knowing God knows the number of hairs on your head, how does that give you confidence in His sovereignty?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for doubting Your knowledge of me. Help me trust that You know every part of my being, meeting my needs before I have them. Please help me believe Your promises, relying on them daily. Let me become more like Jesus as I submit my life to You.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.healthline.com/health/how-many-hairs-on-a-human-head#:~:text=per%20square%20centimeter).-,Hair%20follicles,of%20hairs%20on%20your%20head.

[ii] Strong, J. (2012). Strong’s concordance. LENNEX Corp.

Five-minute read.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

Psalm 139:3a

Sorted and separated.

Zarah, the Hebrew verb for discern, translates as “search out” or “scrutinize.” [i] Describing a farmer winnowing his crops, separating the wheat from the chaff, the Psalmist uses it to depict God’s examination of our ways; He never misses a thing. No chaff remains after the Lord sorts and sifts us.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Cor. 10:13

In life, we can fall into the temptation of believing God doesn’t know our sufferings. But the Lord knows every hurt we experience, every pain we feel. During good times, we often forget our Creator, not needing His assistance nor seeking His presence. But when a crisis occurs, we call out to the Creator, desperate for His help.

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Becoming aware of God’s constant presence in our lives requires discipline. Job suffered unimaginable heartache, losing his family, livelihood, and health, yet never lost faith in the Lord.  God’s servant’s faith developed over a lifetime of trusting and following God.

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job 23:10

Trials refine us like precious metals; the heat removes the impurities and leaves only the gold behind. All suffering on earth will end; this life a temporary one. But the purification process prepares us for our eternal home, sorting out the chaff and transforming us into the image of Christ. 

Through Jesus, we can endure. Putting into practice the teachings of Christ will guide us through the trials and tribulations of life. God’s Son kept an open line of communication with His heavenly Father.   Jesus didn’t seek His will but God’s. And when Christ returned to His rightful place beside the Creator, He left us the  Holy Spirit to guide and direct us.

Cling to God, knowing He has a plan for your life, one only you can fulfill. Allow the Lord to sort and separate you, knowing your pain will refine you like gold and prepare you for your eternal home. When the Holy Spirit nudges you from within your heart, acknowledge and follow Him.

The Lord wants you to live life in abundance. He pulls us from our sins and gives us new life. We can endure all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

Application:

God refines us.

When my nephew died, I experienced pain like never before. As the years marched onward, I wrestled with God’s decision to call Cody home instead of healing him on earth. People asked me difficult questions: “Why didn’t God answer your prayers?” “Why did God take Cody?” As I searched for answers from above, I found comfort from the Great Comforter. And I accepted some answers I won’t know until I reach heaven.

But I trusted God’s faithfulness in my pain. And I learned that He never leaves me nor forsakes me. Working through the loss introduced me to a grace I’d never known before and refined me. Instead of becoming bitters, I allowed God to make me better as He sorted and separated me from my fleshly desires and His Godly purpose.

In the heat of the battle, God removes the chaff and separates us from our sins, refining the gold within us.

Journaling Questions:

1. How do you feel God’s presence in your life?
2. Where do you feel God’s absence?
3. In what ways has God refined you through the struggles you’ve endured?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for doubting Your process. As I face the challenges to come, let me do so confident of Your presence amid the fire. Sort and separate me from my sin, help me become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, transforming me. Help me become more like Jesus as I faithfully pursue You.  IJNIP. Amen

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[i] https://www.bibleref.com/Psalms/139/Psalm-139-3.html#:~:text=God%20knows%20our%20ways%2C%20our,doesn’t%20miss%20a%20thing.

Five-minute read.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

Psalm 139:2a

Rise and walk.

Since the onset of menopause, sleep and I have an ongoing battle. Each night, I clock-watch.

“Alexa, what time is it?”

“The time is 12:59 a.m.”

Great, another sleepless night. Rolling over, I wait for the clock to strike 4:00 a.m. (since the clocks fell back an hour, 5:00 a.m. in the summer months) to get up and start my day, which means opening the YouVersion Bible app and spending time in God’s word. December mornings include sparkling Christmas tree lights piercing the darkness, with flickering flames from our gas fireplace adding a dancing glow.

God knows our battles with insomnia, what time we get up, and where we sit. He never leaves or forsakes us, not even on lonely, sleepless nights. My early mornings allow me to spend quality time with the Lord. Experiencing the Creator’s Spirit in those early hours prepares me for the day ahead. Inspiration for my writing comes from time in the scriptures, words that read my heart and illuminate areas I need to submit to the Lord.

“But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Rise and walk?”

Matthew 9:4

Our Maker doesn’t miss one waking or sleeping moment of our lives. Like a loving Father watching his children sleep, God delights in us. Jesus knows our thoughts and understands we have evil in our hearts. The Lord shows us how to overcome our human nature by accepting His grace and mercy, forgiving sins, and simply saying, “Rise and walk.”

Believe today in God’s word. Believe that He knows when you sit and when you rise. Expect the Lord’s presence, even if you don’t feel it. Feelings lie, but God never does. Whatever promises the Creator makes, He keeps, like these five:

• Direction and clarity (Prov. 3:5-6)
• Peace (Isaiah 26:3)
• Security (Psalm 56:3-4)
• Victory (Psalm 20:7-8)
• Joy (Psalm 13:5)

Rest in the truth of God’s word, rely on His promises, and know He never leaves your side. Rise and walk boldly, understanding your Maker already paves the way for you.

Application:

God knows every move.  

When darkness surrounds me, and sleep alludes me, I’m not alone. Sleepless nights can make me feel isolated, especially when my hubby sleeps soundly beside me. My feelings say I’m the only one in the world awake. But that’s not true. One scroll through my Facebook feed tells me others share my struggle. And the Lord never sleeps; His word tells us so.

. Trusting the Lord’s promises means believing them. God watched me get out of bed today; He knows where I’m sitting right now. Never for a moment does my heavenly Father leave my side.   And He doesn’t leave yours either.

God knows every toss and turn. We never make a move without Him. The Lord loves us too much to leave our side. In Him, we can trust.

Journaling Question:

1. What keeps me from believing God’s word?
2. How can I become more trusting of God’s promises?
3. What can I do today to begin believing God’s with me always?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for thinking You leave me. Open my eyes to Your presence in my life. Help my unbelief. Convict me of Your never-ending presence in my life. Help me believe that You know when I wake and where I sit. IJNIP. Amen