Author: Beth Morrison

Two-minute read.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 

Hebrews 12:11 

Regular chastisement leads to a harvest of righteousness and peace.  Every day, the Lord corrects me in some way, shape, or form.  Most days, His lessons come in the way of nudges from the Holy Spirit, a word spoken in haste, an action that didn’t communicate love or an errant thought that needed addressing.  At other times, the correction hurts more and causes me to wrestle with the Lord as I strive to find His will. 

When the tenth anniversary of my nephew’s death occurred, I struggled.  The gravity of the loss swept over me, and I did not feel like loving anyone.  With a short fuse and little patience, kindness took work.  By Wednesday of that week, my humanity reared its ugly head, and I did something I regret, and the Lord chastised me.  At that moment, I did not feel joy; I felt sorrow.  But as I worked through the situation, seeking restoration, I found God’s peace again.  Doing the right thing, putting God first, and living for His approval transformed me as I learned the lesson and restored the relationship. 

Sharing my faith publicly holds me to a higher level of accountability and helps me mature in my beliefs as I follow the Lord. I can only fulfill my divine mission by honoring God and serving Him with discipline and correction. 

No matter when we turn to the Lord, He loves us in our sins.  But He doesn’t let us stay there.  As we give our lives to God and follow Jesus, He begins to discipline us, molding us into new creations.   The correction doesn’t feel joyful at the moment, but as we learn the lessons the Lord has for us, we will discover a harvest of righteousness and peace. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for loving us enough to correct us, help us mature, and prevent us from staying stuck in our sinful ways. Please give us eyes to see and ears to hear Your disciplines, training us to become more like Christ as we submit our lives to You. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 

1 Corinthian 9:10-11 

Paul addresses the question of supporting God’s servants as they labor in their work. Giving his life to the Great Commission and sharing the Good News with the world, Paul argues that the church should support the efforts of those working for the Lord. Quoting Deuteronomy, the apostle makes his case:  

“Do not muzzle the ox when it is treading out the grain.” Deut 25:4  

In ancient times, while the oxen pulled the threshing sledge over the grain or treading it with their feet, the farmers fed them while they did their work. Placing a feeding bag over their mouths, the oxen received nourishment as they labored. Paul argues that caring for the cattle teaches us about the Lord’s care for us. Just as the plowman and the thresher expect God’s blessing when they do their work, those laboring for Christ expect the same as they share in the crop.   

We need physical nourishment for our bodies to serve the Lord. As an ex-flight attendant, the company trained me to put an oxygen mask on myself before helping others do the same. If I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t help others breathe. In the same way, we need to support those working for the Lord, sharing the gospel. Helping nourish their physical bodies through tithing to the local church supports their mission and their bodies to do the work God called them to do. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for giving us a mission and the resources to complete it. Please help us willingly support those working hard for You.  When we see a need, allow us to meet the need, spurring Your laborers to do great things for You. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 

John 4:35-36 

Sowing and reaping coincide. Giving our lives to Christ provides us with the reward of eternal life.  

“For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.” C.S. Lewis³ 

As people give their lives to the Lord, they reap the benefits of life with Jesus. No one group does all the reaping, nor does it happen in just one era. We glean from the generations who went before us, sowing seeds of love that turn into decisions for Christ. While we sow new seeds in the lives of people around us, the ones we planted long ago come to maturation as people submit their lives to Jesus, becoming part of God’s family.  

Like the farmer rotates his crops, planting some in spring and others in fall, tilling the soil, and watering the seeds, we do the same each day. As we engage with people around us, we look for opportunities to sow seeds for Christ. Developing relationships helps us water what we have sown with the hopes that they will grow and flourish into fully devoted followers of Jesus.  

Eternity started long before we gave our lives to Christ. The present moment connects us with the eternal story unfolding around us. We work for the Lord daily until He calls us into our eternal glory. With urgency, we should scatter God’s seeds of love to everyone around us, looking for opportunities to help them grow and multiply, spreading the excellent news of Christ to the world. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for giving us eternal life with You and a mission to accomplish on Earth. Strengthen us for the journey, and let our hearts overflow with divine love so that we can sow seeds that reap eternal rewards. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Allow both to grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” 

Matthew 13:30 

Scattering weeds among the crops, the owner blames the enemy. Realizing that trying to separate them before the harvest causes extra work, the owner tells them to wait until time to gather the wheat. Binding the plentiful tares, another name for weeds, together and burning them gets rid of the pesky plants; they will no longer contaminate the grain.   

From a worldly perspective, the enemy scatters lies that take root in non-believers’ hearts and cause them to miss the truth of Jesus. Only with God’s Spirit can we discern the weeds from the crop, following Christ and receiving eternal life. Not until the final judgment will the Lord separate non-believers from believers. Until then, we can pray for those who believe lies to have eyes to see and ears to hear the truth, discover Jesus, and allow Him to transform their lives.  

Satan blankets our world in a web of deceit. Playing on emotions, the enemy leads people astray with subtleties that closely resemble truth. Planting honest seeds in people’s lives, praying they take root in good soil, and watering them with love will help them discover Jesus. When the harvest comes, God will separate the weeds from the crop, and they will perish in the fire. But until then, we can pray for them to see the truth, discover Jesus, and find eternal life in Him. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for giving us eyes to see and ears to hear the truth of Jesus. As we move through our days, help us share what we have found with others. Soften the hearts of non-believers, till up the soil of their soul, and let them receive the truth of Christ. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. 

Proverbs 26:1 

“Honor inappropriate to fools,” begins the commentary on this verse in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary. A smile adorns my face as I think of my week and the “fool” I encountered. When visiting a favorite restaurant, the perfect storm of an unexpected rush, lack of servers, and my long day created an unforeseen issue. The manager handled the situation poorly and got himself into trouble, speaking without thinking and letting his emotions rule his actions. God used the experience in my life to practice grace and, once again, reinforce that I can do hard things.  

My heart aches for the manager because I have done what he did and allowed my emotions to control my actions, creating problems for myself. Thankfully, God’s grace gives me a second chance and will enable me to try and do better the next time. The Lord doesn’t honor fools, but He does give them opportunities to grow, and as His followers, we should do the same. Remembering what Christ did for us, fools in our sin, helps me to let go of my selfish desires and put on the cloak of Jesus. Without Him, I wouldn’t have life and have it in abundance.  

We all encounter fools and act foolishly. Human imperfection leads to bad decisions and emotional responses. Walking with Jesus allows us to learn from our mistakes and try again. As we accept the Lord’s grace, we receive it to share with others, remembering that none of us deserve the forgiveness Christ gave us on the cross.  

Fools don’t receive honor, but they do receive grace. And sometimes, we must extend it, even when we don’t want to do it. What Christ gives, He expects us to share with others. 

Prayer: 

Lord, forgive us for acting foolishly. Please help us learn wisdom as we seek You, accept Your grace, and extend it to others. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear our foolish ways, looking to You for wisdom to do better. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. 

Proverbs 25:13 

Referring to the refreshing breeze from snow-capped mountains, a snow at harvest brings life to a weary soul. Like a cool drink on a hot day or a cold cloth on a forehead, it instantly brings relief.   Anyone who faithfully relays good news revitalizes the soul and spurs people on their journey.  

Paul, the beloved writer of most of the New Testament, constantly brought good news. Writing from prison, chained to a guard, the apostle faithfully wrote letters of encouragement to the fledgling churches. Thousands of years later, his letters continue to invigorate and strengthen Christ’s followers daily.  

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13  

Ten words from a faithful messenger, found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, refresh the soul and apply to any situation. Meditating on Paul’s words helps us continue to share the good news with others despite the circumstances we face.    

What is the good news? Christ died for all; He offers salvation to everyone, Jew and Gentile. Through forgiveness of sins, Jesus connects us to our Creator and gives us eternal life. We have everything we need in Him to face the day’s challenges and live life to the fullest. Like a cool breeze on a hot day, the good news of Jesus refreshes the soul and strengthens us for the journey. With Him, we can persevere.    

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for the good news of salvation through Jesus. Please give us opportunities to share Christ with all we meet, becoming faithful messengers like Paul. Let us refresh others with the good news of Jesus. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. 

Proverbs 18:20 

“Words create worlds,” Pastor Mike says all the time. What comes from our mouth determines the harvest. Fruitful, life-giving words produce a bountiful harvest, but critical speech kills the crop. Striving to speak uplifting and encouraging words constantly takes effort and help from the Lord.  

Love fatigue, a term I recently heard from Jon Tyson, a pastor in NYC, describes my current emotional state. As a pastor or anyone trying to follow Jesus, pouring your heart into someone, then having them leave or not appreciate the effort takes a toll. Remaining positive and not letting bitterness take root becomes challenging. “Lord, forgive my hardened heart,” started my journal entry this morning.  

Seeking God helps me keep my heart soft. Sharing my fatigue with Him helps me remember the Cross and Jesus’s selfless actions. “Jesus got frustrated too,” my husband said when I shared my feelings. Keeping the Son in my eyes helps rejuvenate my heart, plow up the hardened soil, and soften it, allowing me to speak uplifting and encouraging words because I want to create worlds that give life to others, not take away from it.  

To create satisfied lips, turn to the Lord for help. Ask Him to soften your heart, remove any bitter roots, and give you uplifting and encouraging words to always speak. No matter what frustrations we face, Jesus faced them too and still chose to give His life for us. In Him, we can find renewal and the ability to live life to the fullest. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for helping us overcome love fatigue, softening our hearts, and re-energizing us to fulfill our purpose. Please help us keep the Son in our eyes, remembering what He did for us. Let us not get weary as we follow You. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 

Galatians 6:9 

Growing weary happens when we have full schedules, sleepless nights, and a mind that won’t quit. But if we can find ways to stay focused on Christ and let Him determine our paths, we will find the energy to run our race well, not get sidetracked, and complete the divine tasks the Lord gives us. Accomplishing the jobs the Lord assigns us matters the most. Everything else compares to a hamster running on its wheel, going nowhere; he exhausts himself and becomes weary.  

Farmers know it will take months to reap a harvest when they plant their crops. In the same way, we can’t expect immediate results from our work today. I had a handful of followers when I first began writing, but discipline and time have helped it grow. For every bestselling author, they had a day one when no one read anything they wrote. But staying on task and running their race, they eventually reaped the harvest.  

Start your day with the Lord, allowing Him to determine your calendar. Gain strength from God as you let go of your agenda and accept His. Whatever the Creator wants you to do, He gives you the tools. If you feel weary and worn out, deeply dive into your calendar with the Lord and let Him prioritize it. In the long run, you’ll find a lot of the things sucking energy from you need to go. Following God’s agenda will invigorate you, not exhaust you. Don’t let weariness keep you from reaping the harvest the Lord has for you.  

Prayer:  

Lord, thank You for giving us the strength to accomplish Your will. Please help us submit our schedule to You, following Your agenda, not ours. Prioritize our days as we seek You, putting You first.  

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” 

Matthew 9:37-38 

Jesus, talking to His disciples, seeks to inspire compassion in them.  Judgment comes to all; introducing people to the Savior and helping them develop a relationship with Christ makes for a bountiful harvest—unfortunately, the number of harvesters pales compared to the size of the field.  To engage people in life with Jesus, we must put others before ourselves and go into the field to find them.  

“The days of expecting people to attend church are over,” I told Ron.  Talking about the current statistics on church attendance in the United States, since COVID, once regular attenders didn’t come back.  Many replaced physical church attendance with online viewing, but it doesn’t compare to gathering in a community and worshipping the Lord.  

Unlike the culture of my childhood, where most people attended church, the field no longer comes to us; we must go to it.  “The Forge” movie tells the story of discipleship in today’s world.  Meeting people in the marketplace, forming a non-judgmental relationship with them, and showing them the love of Christ brings in the harvest.  Do what Jesus did: go into the world and love the people you meet.  Strengthen your love muscle; Christ’s light will shine brightly in everything you do. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for giving us work to do, loving You and others. Please help us love the people we meet today and every day well. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear their hearts and introduce them to the One who can heal them.  

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing. 

Proverbs 20:4 

“The Forge,” the latest movie from the Kendrick brothers, centers around a nineteen-year-old boy finding his way in the world. At the film’s beginning, he has no direction, spending his days playing basketball and video games with his friends. Living with his single mother, he does not contribute to his upkeep. Things quickly come to a head when Mom feels forced to give him an ultimatum: start paying rent or get out.

No one gets through life without working—people who can work but don’t miss the blessing. Not only does the person miss out on the reward, but the satisfaction of a well-done job builds confidence. Personally, I don’t believe in retirement; nowhere in the scriptures does the good book mention it. Technically, I retired 10 years ago from my career, and now I work for the Lord, seeking His will and accomplishing His purpose. Becoming a writer, I write for Him first and foremost, something I will do until the Lord calls me home.

We reap what we sow, but we must sow to reap. If we do nothing, we receive nothing. God didn’t give us gifts and talents to hide under a rock; He expects us to use them to accomplish His will for our lives. Whatever the Lord calls you to do, He will provide the tools for you. But if you don’t plow the fields, you won’t reap the harvest and will find yourself with nothing. Whatever bounty you want to receive, you must sow the seeds, whether financially, relationally, or spiritually; you must plant the fields to enjoy the harvest.

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for giving us talents to use in our work. Please help us plant the fields so we can reap the harvest. Guide and direct our paths, allowing us to fulfill our purpose and receive the rewards You have for us. 

IJNIP. Amen