Category: Uncategorized

One-minute read.

No rain came in late fall and early winter, and the land didn’t receive the nourishment needed to prepare it for planting. As a result of the drought, a non-Jewish woman faced starvation, with only enough flour and oil left to make a small loaf before they starved to death. God sent Elijah to her, and the prophet asked her to make him a cake before taking care of her needs.

“For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’”
1 Kings 17:14

The widow did as Elijah asked without hesitation, and her flour and oil miraculously stayed filled. In God’s upside economy, doing the opposite of the world yields divine results. In need of food, instead of hoarding the last bit she had, the widow gave it away and received an endless supply of food.

Trusting the Lord means living counterculturally, giving freely to God, and trusting His provision. Our Provider multiplies our gifts. When Jesus fed the thousands, He offered the fish and loaves to His Father, who miraculously fed them all with multiple baskets left over. Twice we see Christ do this, like the widow, the supply never runs out.

What do you need today? Offer what you have of it and see what the Lord does. He’ll create a way where you can’t see one and miraculously provide your needs.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for supplying all our needs out of Your glorious riches. As we come to You today with our needs, help us lay them at the Cross. Multiply our efforts as we trust in You. Let Your divine provision reign in our lives.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Moses encourages the nation of Israel to remember God’s past victories. They witnessed the plagues that the Lord reigned down on Egypt, which caused Pharoah to release them. The Israelites stood before the Red Sea, watching it part, and walked through on dry land. For forty years, the people ate bread from heaven, fresh every morning, enough to sustain them on their journey.

And now, as the Israelites face the promised land, they fear the Canaanites who currently possess it. Moses tells the community that God will handle the enemy like He handled Pharoah and the Egyptians. Reminding the Israelites of God’s presence helped calm their fears.

The Israelites did drive out the Canaanites, little by little, taking possession of the land. Relying on God, they kept moving forward. We can do the same, one step at a time; we can trust the Savior to clear our paths and provide a way to reach our destination. Instead of letting fear paralyze you, list how God’s shown up for you in the past. Remind yourself of the Lord’s work in your life, and trust that if He did it once, He will do it again.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for caring for us and leading us to the promised land. Please remind us of Your works and help us trust You for the future.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Many years passed after Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. He endured false accusations and prison before finding himself second in command to the Pharoah. When we meet Jacob’s sons, they reunite in Egypt during a great famine. Now in a position of power, Joseph holds the grain his brothers need for survival, and the siblings now realize the brother they betrayed holds their fate in his hands.

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Genesis 50:20

Joseph shows compassion for his brothers, telling them to have no fear; he will provide all they need from the storehouses. During Joseph’s journey, he experienced God’s grace and, as a result, shared it with those who meant him harm, but the Lord used it for good.

Unimaginable situations often become blessings in disguise. In the moment, we can’t see how God could use it for good, but He wastes nothing. Our deepest valleys become wells of grace that transform and teach us things we would never know otherwise.

As Joseph told his brothers, God tells us, “Fear not, I will provide for you.” Trust in your Maker to take care of your needs and pour His comfort and kindness into your life.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for giving us Joseph as an example of using the bad things in life to the good. Please help us remember that You waste nothing, and let us experience Your grace in a fresh way today.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

God softens the King of Babylon’s heart and has him show compassion on the Israelites. After the fall of Jerusalem, the people didn’t know what to do and didn’t want to incur God’s wrath with a wrong decision, so they sought Jeremiah for guidance.

When we don’t know which path to take, we have a Divine Travel Agent who will show us the way. Turning to the Lord in prayer and seeking His guidance, we must wait until we know what to do. For instance, Ron and I prayed for years about moving but never felt God give us direction until He did. Things unfolded quickly once we knew what to do, but we had to wait for the green light.

The Lord doesn’t want us to wander through life. When we seek and obey God, He gives us the steps to take. We know our eternal destination but don’t know which path the Lord will take us on to reach it. Don’t fear the unknown; trust the Savior and embrace the journey. One step at a time, Jesus leads us home.

“Do not fear him,” declares the Lord.” Let God handle the travel plans; don’t fear the enemy or the road ahead. Instead, embrace the adventure and live fully for Christ as He guides you on the path of abundant life.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for eliminating our enemy and guiding us on the path of abundant life. Please help us obey quickly, trust without reserve, and follow You wherever You take us.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Reflecting David’s spirit against Goliath, Jahaziel tells the Israelites, “The battle is not yours.” How often do we take up arms for a fight God never intended us to battle? When we don’t consult the Lord before a skirmish, we do more harm than good and often lose the fight.

King Jehoshaphat faced a vast army from the east. By trusting the Lord, the king enjoyed victory over his enemies. We don’t face the same type of armies as Jehoshaphat, but we have an enemy who seeks to devour us like a roaring lion (Peter 5:8). Thankfully, we have a Savior who gives us victory because of the cross.

We face many challenges in life, and unimaginable events sweep us off our feet and make our days seem long. But we will find victory when we stay focused on the Lord and listen to Him. The next time fear begins to invade your peace, think about today’s verse: “Thus says the Lord to you, do not be afraid!”

God has a battle plan, and He knows the course to victory. Follow Him closely, letting your Divine Protector lead you through enemy lines to the promised land. The Lord has your back!

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for protecting and giving us victory over the enemy. Please help us stay focused on You as we face life’s challenges, trusting You to lead us to triumph.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Joshua reminds the Israelites how the Lord humiliated the kings of their enemies in their defeats. Because God fought for them, the Israelites enjoyed victory. What the Lord did once, He can do it again. Remembering the Divine Protector’s strength helps the people move fearlessly forward.

Writing down the miracles God works for you helps you remember. The Lord does miraculous things in our lives every day, although we take most of them for granted. I noticed the rising sun as I moved boxes from our garage into the attic above it. Brilliant oranges and yellows shined brightly on my face, warming it. I felt compelled to stop and praise God for another miraculous day.

Elevation Worship’s praise song “Do It Again” has a mighty chorus:

I’ve seen You move, You move the mountains
And I believe, I’ll see You do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe, I’ll see You do it again

Whenever I sing the words, God’s Spirit moves and empowers me because I believe the Lord can do it again.

Spend time today thinking about how God worked in your life. Meditate on the miracles you have experienced. Then remind your fears of the Master you serve, and move forward boldly knowing God can do it again.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for all the miracles You work in our lives daily. Please help us remember how You’ve cared for us in the past and live fearfully, knowing You can and will do it again.
IJNP. Amen

One-minute read.

Closing his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul exhorts them to stand firm in the faith. Acting with courage means doing it afraid. Immediately, I thought of hitting the “send” button the first time I emailed Ron after we met. Scarred from past relationships, I had given up hope of finding someone. But I stood firm in my faith.

God gave me the courage to take the step of faith and try again. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that my heavenly Father loved me. Whether Ron rejected or accepted me didn’t matter because I had all I needed in the Lord, and I still do. I count my husband as one of my greatest gifts from God and cherish him daily. As I love to say, “Ron’s the icing on the cake of what I already had with God.”

Stand firm in your faith. Whatever fear you have, overcome it with trust in the Lord. Know that no matter what happens, you’ll regret not trying more than you will trying and failing. And no matter what happens, God adores you. Win or lose, the Creator will always love you. Trust in His affection, take steps of faith, knowing you will always find a firm footing in the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for loving us unconditionally and giving us the courage to take steps of faith. Please help us stand firm as we face our fears and follow You.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Speaking to the disciples, Jesus wants them to take their eyes off their uncertain circumstances and place them on God. The Savior knows what the future holds, but His followers don’t. Wanting to strengthen them, Christ reminds them where to put their trust: in the Creator and His Son.

Jesus’s thirteen words contain a timeless message. We face uncertainty in our world; no one except God knows what the day will bring. Living outside time constraints, the Lord sees the beginning, middle, and end. Because of His sovereignty, our heavenly Father has a plan for whatever happens. We can let go of the reigns and trust the Lord to care for us and our loved ones. God asks us to do one thing: believe in Him.

Atheists believe in nothing. Agnostics don’t claim faith or disbelief in God, ambivalent to a higher power. Christ’s followers believe in God. Everyone has a choice where they place their trust. As for me and my household, we believe in God, the Creator of the World, Savior and King, the Prince of Peace, the Almighty, the One we can trust.

Choose today to believe in God and experience life like you never imagined. In Him, you can trust.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for giving me faith in You. Please help me share my beliefs with all who will listen. Soften hearts and prepare the soil so that all may believe in You.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Reverential fear of the Lord and a deep respect for His sovereignty should guide our lives. We have nothing else to fear. Only God has power over life and death; we have everything we need in Him. Keeping Him at the forefront of our thoughts will help us fight for our loved ones and continually do the right thing.

Nehemiah lived with the Lord as his leader. Because of his unwavering faith, the cupbearer to the king helped rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Paving the way with prayer, Nehemiah gained permission from the king to spend 52 days restoring the wall and repopulating the city. Standing beside his fellow Jews, the people had weapons in one hand and tools in the other, on guard for the enemy’s attacks while building the wall of protection.

We don’t know what the Lord will ask us to do in life, but we can fulfill our purpose without fear, knowing that when we follow God, He will protect us from the enemy. Pray for the people in your life, talk to the Creator about them, and ask for guidance and direction. Lean into the Lord, and He will direct your paths, providing everything you need for the journey.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for reminding us of Your power. Please help us keep our eyes on You, trusting Your guidance and relying on Your provision to accomplish our mission. Take us where You want us to go; lead us to our destiny.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

“Wake up, Honey! You’re ok. I’m here.”

A few nights ago, I had a nightmare, and Ron woke me up, comforting me. In my fear, he drew me near and held me close. The horrible dreams have become less and less over the years, but I still have them. Thank God for Ron, who came near and comforted me during those times, the Lord’s hands and feet to me when needed.

When we cry out to the Divine Protector in our fears, He comes near and comforts us. Wrapping us in His arms, our heavenly Father tells us, “I’m here. You’re okay.” Turning to God, we will find refuge in His arms. Throughout scripture, He tells us to “Fear not, for He is with us.” We can rely on the Creator to protect His creation

Whatever fears wake you at night, know God comes near when you call on Him. The Almighty didn’t give us spirits of timidity but of boldness. Empowering us with His Spirit, we can rely on the Lord’s presence to strengthen us and give us what we need to face the fears that plague us and defeat them.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for hearing our cries, drawing near, and comforting us. Please help us live fearlessly for You today as we trust in Your divine protection, no matter our fears.
IJNIP. Amen