Author: Beth Morrison

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 4:1-5:11, Revelation 14:1-20, Psalm 142:1-7, Proverbs 30:21-23

Daily Verse: “Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up:” Prov. 30:21

Unbearable people.

Individuals who suddenly experience an elevated life status can become unbearable: a servant who becomes king, a fool who becomes rich, an unloved woman who gets a husband, and a maidservant who becomes mistress. The verses that follow Prov. 30:21 helps us understand the context of it.

Statistics show that when people win the lottery, they experience bankruptcy within two to three years. As much as we think more money will solve problems, it causes them. And if people don’t know how to manage the stress that comes with riches, they falter.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” Luke 16:10

Becoming faithful in the small things helps us learn how to handle the big stuff. Instant success doesn’t allow us to gain the understanding necessary to handle it.

Trust God in the process, acquiring skills on the journey that will help you handle the blessings that come from faithfulness and not become unbearable.

Lord, forgive us for becoming unbearable when we receive blessings. Give us teachable hearts that help us learn how to handle the gifts we receive. Let us not become unbearable but draw people to Your light inside us instead. IJNIP Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 2:1-3:10, Rev. 13:1-13:18, Psalm 141:1-10, Proverbs 30:18-20

Daily Verse: “This is the way of an adulteress:  she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.” Prov. 30:20

Insensitivity to sin.

Having no regard for immoral behavior, the adulteress doesn’t care about the consequences of her actions.  In other words, she possesses an insensitivity to sin.  The femme fatale has a hardened heart and a lack of self-awareness.

Continually doing the wrong thing causes the heart to lose sensitivity.  Eventually, the wall around the soul becomes impenetrable.  Stuck in distorted thinking, our perception becomes a reality.  Harden hearts don’t receive help because they don’t think they need it.

“What good does it do to get angry?” Mom said on many occasions to me.  Because I had an angry heart, feeling cheated by life, it came out in many ways.  My mother tried to help me see the problem, but my hardened heart wouldn’t listen.

Until I met my husband, whose love for me finally penetrated the wall I erected and began to pull the bricks down, a work still in progress.

Only unconditional love can conquer hardened hearts.  Jesus offers the cure for our sinful nature and waits patiently for us to let Him into our lives.

Lord, forgive us for hardening our hearts to our sinful ways.  Open our eyes to see the areas we must give to You.  Help us find life to the fullest as we soften our hearts and accept Your grace. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zechariah 1:1-21, Revelation 12:1-17, Psalm 140:1-13, Proverbs 30:17

Daily Verse: “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.” Prov. 30:17

Mocking looks.

Through our eyes, we see the soul.  Contemptuous looks run deep and reveal the person’s inner thoughts.  Mocking our parents with eye rolls results in severe punishment.

My Mom didn’t tolerate my disrespect.  Widowed and raising three teenagers alone, she didn’t have time for our shenanigans, and we had many.  I feel shame when I think how my contemptuous ways made her life harder during those years.

Both of my parents instilled the fear of God in me.  As a result, I realize that I must answer to the Lord for my actions.  Submitting to His authority means respecting His sovereignty, including who God gives us as parents.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

Our Creator expects us to honor our parents, not disrespect them.  If we follow the Lord’s command, He promises long days in the promised land.

Lord, forgive us for disrespecting our parents.  Please help us honor and respect our fathers and mothers, appreciating them.  Guide and direct us, allowing us to serve our parents well, glorifying You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Haggai 1:1-2:23, Revelation 11:1-19, Psalm 139:1-24,Proverbs 30:15-16

Daily Verse: “The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough” Prov. 30:15

Unsatisfied desires.

According to Agur, four things never find satisfaction: death, barren wombs, land that lacks water, and wildfires. Greed, symbolized by the leech, a blood-sucking creature that never gets enough, remains insatiable.

In other words, the leech’s daughters give and give and never get enough. No matter how much they get, they want more. Death never stops coming; the mortality rate always 100%. For women struggling to get pregnant, the journey challenges their faith. Parched land consumes any water it gets, and wildfires burn out of control, devouring everything in its path.

Agur makes the point that greed never finds satisfaction.   Like a gambler who experiences the thrill of winning, greed causes him to lose reason, never getting enough of the thrill, eventually losing everything.

Satisfaction comes from following Jesus. Developing an attitude of gratitude slays greed, as we appreciate what we do have instead of focusing on what we don’t.

Lord, forgive us for letting greed take control. As we turn our eyes to You, help us find satisfaction in Jesus. Give us eyes to see the blessings we have, filling our hearts with gratitude. Let us enjoy life to the fullest as we follow You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Zephaniah 1:1-3:20, Revelation 10:1-11, Psalm 138:1-8, Proverbs 30:11-14

Daily Verse: “There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.” Prov. 30:12

Inner cleansing.

Outer cleanliness doesn’t equate to inner cleansing. Showering and washing the day’s dirt off our body doesn’t clean the heart. Exterior cleansing differs from internal cleansing.

During my youth, people attended church because of the cultural norm. Fewer people attend church now than ever. Walking through the entrance doors, listening to the sermon, and saying the right things doesn’t cleanse you. 

Unless we let God’s word permeate our hearts and transform us from the inside out, we can’t experience inner cleansing. Allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate our shortcomings will enable us to address them.

Jesus transforms our lives with inner cleansing. Become sensitive to the nudges from within that steer you in a different direction. Humility comes when we acknowledge our shortcomings and change our actions.

Inner cleansing happens when we allow Christ into our hearts and minds.

Lord, forgive us for acting cleansed on the outside and remaining dirty on the inside. Help us become sensitive to the Holy Spirit, purifying our hearts and making us new. Free us from our sins as we confess them to You and change our ways. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19, Revelation 9:1-21, Psalm 137:1-9, Proverbs 30:10

Daily Verse: “Do not slander a servant to his master,  lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.” Prov. 30:10

No meddling.

At first glance, today’s verse means don’t talk about someone to his boss. If you don’t speak the truth, you look like a fool. Think of every petty, jealous character on T.V.  The more they try to bring other people down, the more they fall themselves.

A second interpretation means you don’t get in other people’s business, or you will find yourself in trouble. Gladys Kravitz, the neighbor to Samantha on the pop culture sitcom “Bewitched” comes to mind.  She portrayed the epitome of a nosy neighbor who couldn’t keep their nose out of everyone else’s lives.

As Christ’s followers, we shouldn’t slander anyone. God commands us to use our words wisely, uplifting and encouraging others. Slandering does the opposite. And unless people ask for advice, we shouldn’t give it to them. Don’t use someone’s prayer request as an opportunity to meddle.

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.” Mom’s advice stands true long after God called her home. I’m still learning to follow these words, but they keep me out of trouble.

Lord, forgive us for not using our words well. Please help us speak only uplifting and encouraging words, stay out of other people’s business, and honor You in all we do. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Nahum 1:1-3:19, Revelation 8:1-13, Psalm 136:1-26, Proverbs 30:7-9

Daily Verse: “Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,” Prov. 30:8

Balanced blessings.

Agur, the author of today’s verse, doesn’t want anything to take him away from his relationship with God. To draw closer to his Lord, Agur asks for divine help to prevent him from lying or becoming obsessed with possessing or wanting material things.

When in want, we can become desperate, willing to do anything to meet our needs. On the other hand, when we have plenty, we can forget who provided our blessings to us. Both situations bring us out of alignment with God, causing division in our relationship.

However, when we develop an attitude of gratitude, realizing circumstances can change instantly helps us stay balanced. In all situations, we can find something to give God praise. Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, thanked the Lord for fleas in her cell because they kept the guards away, allowing her and fellow inmates to study the Bible.

Keeping the Son in our eyes will help us maintain a centered lifestyle, develop integrity, and balance our blessings with an attitude of gratitude.

Lord, forgive us for getting caught up in worldly possessions. Help us develop an attitude of gratitude as we stay focused on You. Let us become more like Jesus every day. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Micah 5:1-7:20, Revelation 7:1-17, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 30:5-6

Daily Verse: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Prov. 30:5

Flawless word.

Trustworthy purity, God’s word has no deceit or falsity in it, flawless in every way. Because we can trust the Lord’s word, we can take refuge in it, finding security in His promises.

“Your Bibles printed on paper are a blessing, but to have the Scriptures written on the heart is far better.” Charles Spurgeon

Writing God’s word on our hearts takes intentional meditation and memorization of His word. Not one of my strengths, I constantly work on inscribing scripture on my soul. Screenshotting a verse in today’s technological world lets me save it on my phone, make it my wallpaper, and learn it. As I move through whatever, God’s word guides me.

Imprinting scripture on your heart will lead you to the truth. God’s word opens our eyes to imperfections we can’t see in ourselves. Accepting our flaws deepens the desire for Jesus’ perfection, as He covers our sins and makes us new in Him.

Seek refuge in God’s truth and find peace.

Lord, forgive us our errant ways. Let us add nothing to Your word, accepting its truth and relishing in the security we find in it. Guide and direct us in all our ways as we pursue You with our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Micah 1:1-4:13, Revelation 6:1-17, Psalm 134:1-3, Proverbs 30:1-4

Daily Verse: “The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.” Prov. 30:1

Honest confessions.

Agur, the writer of today’s verse, confesses his weariness. In the verses that follow, he laments his shortcomings. Lack of understanding and the inability to learn wisdom and knowledge of God tire Agur out.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Isaiah’s words often run through my mind. More things happen in life that I don’t understand than I do. Bad things happen to good people every day with no explanation. Sometimes, our hard work doesn’t yield results, and life seems to mimic a hamster running endless circles on an exercise wheel.

Faith in God trusts His ways even when we don’t understand. Working all things to the good, the Creator does have a plan unfolding.

Trust the process.

Lord, forgive us for wearing ourselves trying to do things You never wanted us to do. Help us relax and trust Your plan for our lives. Allow us to accept our thoughts will never match Yours. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Jonah 1:1-4:11, Revelation 5:1-14, Psalm 133:1-3, Proverbs 29:26-27

Daily Verse: “Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.” Prov. 29:26

True justice.

Ultimately, God doles out justice. And we may disagree with the Lord’s actions. Cozying up to someone in authority to get what you want does no good if God Almighty has a different course of action.

When I flunked calculus during my long and arduous journey through college, I tried persuading my professor to give me a passing grade.

“Sometimes you need a kick in the butt, other times a pat on the back. Right now, you need a kick in the butt.”

My professors’ words rang true, and God’s justice for my lack of effort prevailed. As a result, I retook calculus and worked a little harder.

Doing the right thing and following God’s decrees takes more effort, but in the long run, it makes for a much smoother course. Don’t miscalculate and assume justice comes from an earthly ruler, directing supplication towards them, wasting time.

God decides consequences always has and always will.

Lord, forgive us for trying to manipulate outcomes. Give us the strength to take the high road, submitting our ways to You.  As we seek Your justice, let us find peace of heart. In all things, let our actions glorify You.  IJNIP. Amen