Five-minute read.

You perceive my thoughts from afar.

Psalm 139:2b

No escape.

David understands how intimately God knows us; we can’t escape His presence. The Lord knows our thoughts, good, bad, and indifferent. The shepherd boy understood he couldn’t escape from the Creator, a blessing in David’s eyes, not a curse.

Thoughts lead to actions. Because I thought about exercising at the gym, I went to a strength training class. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think about doing something. God knows every thought we have. The Lord understands our outward activities come from inner thoughts. What we think becomes what we do.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.“

2 Corinthians 10:5

Nothing gets by our Maker; He knows every thought we have. I have awful thoughts, especially against people who cut me off in traffic or do something I perceive as offensive. Realizing God knows those instinctive human reactions to worldly situations embarrasses me internally. But then I remember the Lord leads with grace and mercy. Christ knew my imperfections and died for me long before I took my first breath.

Taking our thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ means thinking about what we think about. If I don’t identify my thoughts, I can’t change them. 

For instance, a player must often hit the ball over a small body of water in golf. Many golfers will use a “water ball” for these shots, balls they don’t care if they lose. However, if players decide to change balls because they don’t want to lose their good ball, they already have thought about hitting into the water. In other words, their thoughts have determined they can’t hit the ball across the water before they ever strike it. And guess what? They typically end up hitting the ball into the water because they had the thought.

I don’t change my ball because I don’t want negative thoughts in my mind. God’s knowledge of my thoughts makes me think about what I’m thinking and identify negative messages, stopping me from doing negative actions. Trusting God hears my silent prayers gives me the boldness to seek and do the Lord’s will. Using scripture as a lens, I take captive errant thoughts and allow God’s influence to help me become obedient to Him in mind and body. Our thoughts govern our actions, and submitting to God controls our thoughts.

Prayer helps us change our thoughts as we invite God into the conversation. Yes, the Lord already knows, but He wants a relationship. Working together in unity requires effort from both parties. We can’t have a connection with our Maker if we don’t seek one. And we can’t change our thoughts if we don’t connect with God. The Lord reveals lies we believe in our minds, exposing them to the light, not letting them take root in our souls. 

Embrace God’s knowledge of your thoughts. Understand that the Lord loves you and wants an intimate relationship with you. God delights in you. Nothing pleases the Creator more than when we connect with Him, body, mind, and soul. Transformation comes when we unite our lives with Christ.

Application:

Intentional thoughts.

God knows our thoughts, and we should know them as well. Thinking about what we’re thinking will help us change our thoughts and actions. When someone cuts me off in traffic and mean thoughts enter my head, I don’t have to keep thinking those thoughts. Knowing God knows my thoughts and that He loves everyone, even bad drivers, means He wants me to love them, too. 

I can change my thoughts by confessing my negative thoughts to God and inviting Him into the equation. Instead of asking the Lord to curse the offender, I ask Him to bless them, which changes my thoughts and actions towards the person.

Intentional thoughts lead to deliberate actions, leading to more Christ-like living when we make our thoughts obedient to Him.

Journaling Question:

1. What am I thinking?
2. How can I become more aware of my thoughts?
3. What can I do today to make my thought life obedient to Christ?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for believing lies and having negative thoughts. Thank You for holding me accountable to my thought life. I’m grateful. You know, every thought that runs through my mind. Help me become more like Christ as I align my mind with Yours. Let my actions reflect Jesus because my thoughts do. IJNIP. Amen

Five-minute read.

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.

Psalm 139:1

God knows all!

“Knows” means complete, divine discernment.[i]  Written by David, a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14), the shepherd boy laid bare his soul before the Lord. Found innocent in his Maker’s sight, David received a verdict of righteousness from the judge. The Lord’s knowledge of the earthly king favored David for his loyalty to the heavenly Master. God washed away David’s sin with His grace and mercy.

Everyone has parts of their story they don’t want others to know about them. Talking with a lifelong friend, she knows the sins of my past.

“That’s because I know what you did in your twenties,” she said.

Laughing, I couldn’t help but agree. And for days after, every time I thought of our conversation, it made me smile. So funny, but also miraculous because God has brought me so far from those days and truly transformed my heart. Confessing my sin to the Lord and letting Him search my heart allowed God to replace my shame with His love. God’s grace helped me forgive myself, let go of my transgressions, and become a new person in Christ.

Having the Lord search your heart can seem like a daunting task. Exposing all our sins takes courage. Fear keeps us quiet, afraid of rejection. But God already knows everything you’ve done or will do. As Creator of the universe and Creator of you, nothing escapes the Master. When God searches our hearts and we reveal our deepest secrets, nothing surprises Him.

Not only does God know what I did in my twenties, but He also knows the unloving thoughts I had yesterday. And He still loves me. Jesus died on the cross knowing the hearts of people:

“Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.”

Psalm 44:21

We can come confidently before the Lord and bear our souls to Him, just as King David did. God already knows because of His complete and divine discernment. But He wants a relationship with us, one that has no walls. Resting in the Creator’s unconditional love for us allows us to accept ourselves. What we think of as imperfect, God makes perfect through Him.

David didn’t fear the Lord searching his heart, nor should we. As we open ourselves up to God, He reveals to us unhealthy areas and then heals them. One hurt at a time, one day at a time, we become whole in Christ, eventually perfect when God calls us into our eternal home with Him.

Application:

No need to hide from God. Once forgiven, always forgiven.

Stepping onto the tee box in front of a stranger, I thought, “Wait until he sees this drive.” Because of my consistent practice, my ball striking in golf improved. The moment I became better at contacting the white, pimpled ball with my club, pride immediately began to raise its head.

“That’s sin! Oh Lord, forgive me.” 

My next thought identified and confessed the inappropriate thought. Because God already knows my thoughts, the quicker I identify and admit them to Him, the faster I can let them go.

God already forgave me the minute I asked Him into my life. He knows my struggle with sin will continue until I reach my eternal destination. I don’t need to hide from the Lord; I can live transparently with Him.

Journaling Questions:

1. What part of my heart am I hiding from God?
2. What fear keeps me from living transparently with the Lord?
3. What can I do today to draw closer to Jesus?

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for trying to hide our imperfections from You.  Search our hearts and judge our ways. Let us receive Your grace and mercy as we submit our lives to You.  Help us live in Your promises, knowing nothing we do will separate us from Your unconditional love. As we receive Your grace and mercy, help us share it with others, introducing them to their Creator. 

In Jesus’s name, I pray,

Amen

---

[i] Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament

Copyright 2004

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Malachi 3:1-4:6, Revelation 22:1-21, Psalm 150:1-6, Proverbs 31:25-31

Daily Verse: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, she laughs at the time to come.” Prov. 31:25

Confident future.

What better way to end one year and begin another than with confidence that laughter leads the way no matter what comes next. Because of a noble wife’s diligent and prudent work, she gains strength and honor from a solid financial position, giving her confidence to face the days ahead.

My grandfather unexpectedly died of a heart attack in 1937, leaving my grandmother widowed and alone. To provide for her children, my mom only five years old at the time; grandma took in laundry and sold eggs to pay the bills.

Although I barely knew Grandma, I remember her tall stature and no-nonsense personality. In the face of adversity, she rose to the occasion, doing what she needed to do to survive. And she laughed, always quick with a smile.

In this life, hardship will come. But we will find victory when we ground ourselves in the Lord, following His commands. We can laugh at the days to come, knowing God determines our path, His plan unfolding with each breath we take.

Lord, thank You for another year. As we begin another trip around the sun, guide and direct our paths, making our feet surefooted. Let us laugh at the days to come as we trust in You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Malachi 1:1-2:17, Revelation 21:1-27, Psalm 149:1-9, Proverbs 31:10-24

Daily Verse: “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” Prov. 31:10

Excellent wife.

Finding a wife of noble character blesses any man. Described as virtuous, honorable, and strong, she works hard to create a loving home for her family and friends. Like wisdom, her value far exceeds that of precious jewels.

“She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” Prov. 31:12

For years, I prayed these verses over my life and my husband’s long before I met him. Knowing my many shortcomings, I hung these verses on my bedroom wall and began to pray them, asking God to mold me into a wife of noble character.

Ruth gives us a glimpse of an excellent wife. Found in the Old Testament, the Moabite woman endures heartache and suffering, losing her husband and leaving her homeland to follow her widowed mother-in-law back to Bethlehem. Eventually, she married Boaz and secured a place in Christ’s lineage from her virtuous life dedicated to the Lord.

Strive for excellence and develop a noble character with God’s word.

Lord, thank You for giving us Ruth as a model of a noble woman. Help us pursue excellence by developing a strong character based on virtuous and honorable ways. Let us become more precious than jewels to our spouses. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 14:1-21, Revelation 20:1-15, Psalm 148:1-14, Proverbs 31:8-9

Daily Verse: “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Prov. 31:9

Defend the Defenseless.

As a king, Lemuel had the responsibility of defending those who couldn’t protect themselves. Life’s cruelties leave people desolate; righteous rulers should help them, championing their rights. As Christ’s followers, we should do the same.

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common…. and it was distributed to each as any had need.” Acts 4:32, 35b

Together, we form the body of Christ, all one heart and soul; we should care for each other. If we successfully defended the rights of the defenseless, we would not need government subsidies to help those in distress. 

Shining the light of Jesus into the dark world should draw people to Christ’s church. Unfortunately, churches have become known for their judgment instead of their love.

Defending the defenseless and caring for the needy will show Christ’s love to the world and help people survive life’s cruelties.

Lord, forgive us for not caring well for others. Please help us do better in defending the defenseless and helping those in need. Let us become known for our love instead of our judgment. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 12:1-13:9, Revelation 19:1-21, Psalm 147:1-20, Proverbs 31:1-7

Daily Verse: “What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?” Prov. 31:2

First warning.

King Lemuel recalls an oracle his mother taught him. Massa, the original Hebrew word for oracle, means prophetic utterance, pronouncement, with the focus on the content of the message. In the King’s situation, his mom warns him about women not to spend his strength and ways on them.

The indelicate Arabic term used to describe women refers to females who ruin rulers. Culturally, kings had many women in their lives: wives, concubines, and female servants; men had harems. King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, learning from his father, King David, who also had a vast harem. For both men, their harems caused them much trouble.

King Lemuel’s mother doesn’t want her son to follow in the footsteps of rulers who faltered because of women. In the verses to come, we will learn what a woman of noble character looks like. 

Heeding his mother’s warning leads King Lemuel to discover a wife of noble character, one who uplifts and encourages her husband, not tearing him down.

Lord, help us heed the advice we find in Your word. Let us not waste our time on earth by pursuing trouble, but instead, give us discernment to make wise decisions and live life to the fullest in Christ. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zech. 10:1-11:17, Revelation 18:1-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 30:33

Daily Verse: “For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.” Prov. 30:33

Sage advice.

Yesterday, the author warned us of foolish exaltation. Today’s verse tells us why. Pride and evil planning cause strife, which compares to twisting the nose, causing it to bleed—undesirable results from undesirable actions.

When I exalted myself to a fellow golfer about breaking a 100, his reaction surprised me. Instant tension developed between us, causing division. Because he perceived me as a braggart, it caused dislike. We have never talked about golf since.

Although I don’t completely understand my friend’s reaction, I appreciate that my self-exultation caused it. Unintentionally, I twisted his nose and caused it to bleed. The phrase “nose out of joint” means upsetting or offending someone by making them feel less important or valuable.

I never want to make someone feel less important or unvalued. Therefore, I must watch my words and cover my mouth when tempted to exalt myself foolishly.

Choosing words wisely builds relationships. Foolish exaltation tears connections apart.

Lord forgives us for putting people’s noses out of joint. Please give us discernment and wisdom when choosing our words so that we uplift and encourage people instead of tearing them down. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 9:1-17, Revelation 17:1-18, Psalm 145:1-21, Proverbs 30:32

Daily Verse: “If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.” Prov. 30:32

Control output.

“Not to brag about myself, but…” Watching a golf clinic on YouTube,  the coach began with those words, followed by a list of his accomplishments over the past fifty years of his career. Without a doubt, he possessed the knowledge to respect his teaching. Giving credentials to support your authority differs from exalting yourself.

When I broke a 100 for the first time in my golf score, I exalted myself, telling anyone who would listen. However, it took a while for me to repeat the feat; stroke play humbles any golfer. 

Exalting myself foolishly over a game taught me a lesson in humility. Each time I play a round, it tests my integrity. Keeping accurate scores takes brutal honesty and develops character. Foolishly exalting myself only leads to more humbling.

Better your hand on your mouth than foolish exalting. With every mountain comes a valley. My mother always said, “If you are worthy of praise, let someone else do it; don’t do it yourself.”

Lord, forgive us for foolishly exalting ourselves. Please teach us humility with a gentle hand as we follow You.  Keep us hungry for Your word and humble for Your teachings. Let us become more like Christ every day. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 8:1-23, Revelation 16:1-21, Psalm 144:1-15, Proverbs 30:29-31

Daily Verse: “Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride” Prov. 30:29

Majestic qualities.

Leaders have a stately stride. Using animals as examples in the verses that follow today’s scripture, lions, strutting roosters, and he-goats all possess majestic qualities. The human model of a king standing with his army makes the fourth.

Mel Gibson’s portrayal of Sir William Wallace, a late 13th-century Scottish warrior in the 1995 movie Braveheart has a memorable scene. Wallace sits tall on his stallion in front of his army, giving a freedom speech:

“They may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom.”

Gibson’s stately stride atop his mighty steed creates an unforgettable image of a king before his army. With a confident demeanor, strong leaders stand tall when leading troops into battle.

Standing tall and walking with a stately stride gives us confidence when facing life’s struggles. Propping ourselves on God’s promises will give us the strength for the fight, knowing we already have victory in Jesus.

Lord, thank You for giving us powerful examples to spur us onward. As we face the day’s challenges, please give us the weapons to enjoy victory. Patience, self-control, grace, and mercy, the things of Christ, will lead us to success. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 6:1-7:14, Revelation 15:1-8, Psalm 143:1-12, Proverbs 30:24-28

Daily Verse: “Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise:” Prov. 30:24

Four things.

Ants, rock badgers, locusts, and lizards have small stature but extreme wisdom. Ants show forethought in preparing for winter by storing food in the summer. Rock badgers exemplify ingenuity in finding a place of security. Locusts have incredible cooperation and order, organizing their military division and causing problems for humans. Finally, lizards have elusive boldness, simultaneously attending King’s courts and servants’ houses.

Learning from God’s creation helps us become wiser. Each month, we save for the winters of life with an automatic withdrawal to our emergency account, learning from the ants. Creating a safe living environment requires adjustments as things change. Working well with others helps us develop a support system to help us through life’s trials. And walking boldly with Jesus takes us places we never thought we would go.

Ponder the world around you. Think about how the creatures of the earth manage their lives. Ask yourself, what can I learn from them? Pray for God to give you divine insight into the things of the world and what you can learn from them.

Lord, thank You for giving us examples to learn from in your creation. Open our eyes to see what you have for us to know; give us teachable hearts. Let us become who You desire as we grow wiser, learning from Your Creation. IJNIP. Amen