Honest Reflections

One-minute read.

2024 YR4, the nickname of an asteroid whose potential orbit could impact Earth in 2032, made headlines recently. The Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a division of NASA, calculated a 1.2% chance of it colliding with our planet. However, they have revised their calculations to .04%, making it highly unlikely to impact us. Known as a “city killer” because of its potential to wipe out an entire city upon impact, for a few weeks, YR4 caused quite a stir among the world’s population.

One day, the Earth will give way, and the mountains fall, whether by asteroid or some other means; only God knows when, where, and how. However, as followers of Jesus, we have nothing to fear because we already know the truth. The Lord numbers our days; nothing lasts forever, and our lives on Earth a dot on the timeline of eternity.

Living fearlessly for the Lord means accepting our limited life span on Earth. The struggles we have today will quickly fade in the light of eternity. When God calls us to our heavenly home, we leave the land of the dying and enter the land of the living.

Whatever fear plagues you today, remind yourself of the Lord’s sovereignty. Cling to the promise of the glory that awaits you. Don’t let fear rule your life; give that seat to the Savior. Lean into His strength and let Him defeat your worries.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for the sun shining on our faces and the Son shining in our lives. Please help us live in the light of Your glory, knowing that one day, we will experience the wonder of heaven where You reside, our worries gone as we bask in Your love.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

We rest securely when we praise God for His counsel and wise instruction. Applying scripture to our lives over and over builds our confidence in the Lord’s promises. Eventually, deciding who we should follow becomes easier as we realize that doing things according to God’s instructions always yields the best outcome.

And the Lord tells us repeatedly, “Fear not.” When we lose sight of the Almighty, fear creeps in and takes control. But when we keep the Son in our eyes, we will find victory, have many things to praise God for in our lives, and discover secure rest.

Divine obedience, walking in the Lord’s ways, and following His precepts will result in blessings. But we find heartache when we veer from the straight and narrow path. Often, fighting the battles we face seems lonesome, but God never leaves our side. To experience victory, we must face a challenge and overcome it. Only then will we discover the divine success God has for us.

Whatever challenge you face, look to the Lord for a strategy. Remember, God’s ways differ from ours, and divine tasks may seem ludicrous. The Israelites probably felt silly when Joshua led them around Jericho, playing trumpets. But when the walls fell, they experienced victory like never before.

Experience a glad heart and rest for your soul as you enjoy divine victory from the Lord. Obey God, trust His promises, and live life fully with Christ.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for giving us so many reasons to praise You, especially the guidance and direction You give us to live life abundantly. Help us stay close to You as we fight our battles and experience the victory You have for us.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

David never misses sleep over his situation, whether surrounded by enemies or in the safety of his home; the mighty warrior puts all his trust in God. Because David commits his way to the Lord, he doesn’t worry about the outcome. The king understands we must have battles to experience victory, and the Almighty gives him the win.

For example, when David faced Goliath, he did so, knowing that the Lord fought with him. In every battle, David knew who led the way. The shepherd boy turned warrior only gets into trouble when he leaves God out of the equation. If David follows the Lord, he sleeps well, his confidence in the divine.

When facing adversity, instead of letting fear take the lead, give it to Jesus. Remind yourself of the victory from the cross, given freely to all who believe and trust in the Lord. We don’t have to fear people; with God on our side, we can have confidence in His plan. The worse the circumstances may seem, the more glory the Lord receives. Remind your mountains who created them and who can move them wherever He likes.

In Christ, sleep well, knowing He has your back.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for giving us a good night’s rest as we trust You to handle our battles. Show us the way, give us divine tasks, and let us experience victory in You.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Surrounded by tens of thousands of his enemies, David abandons his worries to the Lord and goes to bed. By sleeping, God’s warrior expresses his confidence in the Lord’s ability to lead him to victory.

Everyone experiences feeling surrounded by adversity. Some days, whatever you try to do seems to come with opposition. Spiritual attacks can feel like armies flanking us on all sides. If we give the devil an inch, he takes a mile.

Instead of letting the enemy’s attacks get to you, give them to the Lord and rest in His strength. God has given us victory; we must remember who has our back. Living in the peace that surpasses all understanding, as David did while on the battlefield, requires a close connection with the Prince of Peace. Following Jesus means always keeping Him in front of you.

When the enemy surrounds you, look up. Trust the Savior to defend you. Remind the devil he loses every time, always. You have nothing to fear with the Lord on your side. He fights for you, going in front and protecting you from the rear. In God, you can take refuge and sleep well, knowing victory will come.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for giving us the victory through Jesus. Please help us keep our eyes focused on You when the enemy attacks. Let us live in Your peace as we face the battles before us.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Eliphaz, a friend of Job who lost his family, health, and money, gives a long lecture explaining why God’s servant has endured such hardship. In Eliphaz’s opinion, Job’s sin caused heartache, and the Lord punished the non-Israelite for his actions. As a resident of the Land of Uz, scholars believe Job doesn’t come from one of the twelve tribes.

People want to explain what they don’t understand, especially in the face of tragedy. Asking “Why?” doesn’t dispel the pain. And even when we know the why, it still doesn’t remove the heartache. Only God can comfort us in our darkest valleys, and He does. We will all experience devastating days, but we can trust the Lord’s divine protection to get us through them.

Job waited on the Lord for 37 chapters before God spoke to him. The three friends show us what not to do when we comfort those in distress. Instead of trying to explain what we don’t know, the best course of action comes from presence. Sitting with someone amid grief, not speaking, but showing up for them, listening, and comforting them with your presence goes much further than any words you speak.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for the examples of what not to do when comforting a friend. Please help us use our words wisely, showing up for people in need and letting them do the talking.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

“He spoke to their heart,” the Hebrew words for “he encouraged them” speak volumes about our connections with each other and the Savior. Elisha speaks directly to the discouragement and fear the people experience, assuring them the Lord has more power than any human army.

Jesus knows our hearts and speaks directly to them. When we have life-giving conversations, we talk to people’s hearts. The cords that bind us come from the heartstrings that connect us.

Fear drags our hearts and minds into turmoil, but Jesus dispels the anxious emotion with His grace and peace. Overcoming the world, Christ shares His strength with us by connecting our hearts to His. As we follow and grow in our faith, sharing what we have found with others, we replace fear with the joy of the Lord, knowing we have all we need in Him.

Have heart conversations today. Start with the Lord, then with others. Connect on a deeper level, speak to people’s negative emotions, and remind them of the God we serve. Nothing conquers fear like the unconditional love of Jesus, bringing light into the darkness and dispelling lies with divine truth. Remember, the power with us from the Lord far outweighs anything the enemy throws at us.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for speaking directly to our hearts, illuminating the doubt and discouragement, and eliminating it. Please help us focus on Your power and not get distracted by the enemy’s ploys.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

In Dothan, the prophet Elisha became trapped by the Aramean army. His servant awakes and finds themselves surrounded by the enemy. But Elisha doesn’t panic; instead, he assures the servant that God’s forces far outweigh the Arameans. The prophet prayed, giving his companion supernatural vision and the ability to see the angelic forces. God miraculously saved the duo by blinding the Arameans and allowing them to leave the incident unscathed.

Sometimes, the numbers looked stacked against us, but God always has a plan, and His army far outnumbers the enemy. Only by becoming trapped could Elisha’s situation glorify the Almighty. Like Moses standing before the Red Sea, we must reach the water’s edge before God parts it.

Whatever impossible situation you face today, have no fear; God makes everything possible. You may not see the angelic forces around you but don’t doubt their presence. Whether the Lord blinds the enemy or parts the sea, He will give you victory if you trust and obey Him. Ask the Lord for eyes to see and ears to hear, and wait expectantly for His revelation.

Do not be afraid; God’s army far outweighs any enemy attack you may endure.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for stacking the odds in our favor, even if we can’t see them. Please help us live fearlessly for You as we endure enemy attacks, knowing divine victory awaits us.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Joshua trusted God’s promise; he moved into the promised land through the parted waters of the Jordan River. When the Lord told Joshua to march around Jericho seven times in seven days, the warrior did it, despite how ridiculous he may have felt. Trusting his Creator gave Joshua an unforgettable place in history. Because of his faithfulness, God extended daylight to accomplish His goals.

Writing by the window and watching the sunrise over the trees has become my favorite way to begin the day. As I finish this sentence, the sun’s rays peek over the clouds, revealing their brilliance—a new day has begun. Each morning, God reveals His sovereignty in the rising and setting sun. Only the Lord controls the fiery balls’ movements, something we take for granted.

But Joshua didn’t, relying on God to slow down the sun’s evolution to defeat the Amorite kings and take possession of the promised land. The Lord fulfilled his promise to Joshua, giving the kings into his servant’s hands.

Whatever promise the Lord makes, He keeps. Stand firm on the rock today, trusting God to do whatever it takes to fulfill His word.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for the reliability of Your word and the fulfillment of Your promises. Please help us stand firm today, knowing You will do whatever it takes to keep Your commitments.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

“Lord, go before me and clear my path.”

When I am anxious about doing something, I pray that eight-word prayer that comforts me. Knowing God goes before me helps me take the steps necessary to do the divine task. In one of his last exhortations before dying, Moses gives Joshua this infamous message as they prepare to take the promised land.

Like any relationship, it takes two to tango. To receive God’s blessings, we must take steps of faith. The Israelites had to walk into their future; the Lord didn’t bring it to them, and He wanted them to do so without hesitation or fear, so God led the way.

I learned an interesting fact about the Tabernacle: it resembles a human body. Animal skins covered the outside, while blue, purple, and scarlet cords filled the inside, like the skin covering our arteries and veins. God dwelled in the innermost part of the Tabernacle, just like He lives in our hearts.

We don’t go anywhere without the Lord. He leads us by day and by night, just like He did the Israelites. Wherever God’s taking us, He goes before us and clears the path. We can trust in His leadership.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for going before us and clearing our paths. Please help us follow You fearlessly, trusting You for the journey. Encourage us and uplift us as we follow You.
IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

God gives the Israelites four commands as they prepare for battle: do not be fainthearted, do not be afraid, do not be terrified, and do not give way to panic. Even though enemies surround the people, the same Lord who led them from Egypt will lead them to victory over every one of their opponents.

During our second week in our new home, my sweet Sophia, our rat terrier rescue who captured my heart, escaped from the yard. My emotions quickly escalated as I thought of losing her. Then I heard a voice saying, “Do not panic.” I knew I needed to remain calm if I wanted to think clearly.

Those three words helped me regain control of my feelings and focus on the Lord, asking Him for help. “Pray, not panic,” the prayer from my book “Three Word Prayers for Every Day Living” for moments of distress proved effective again. Rounding the corner of our house, I saw my sweet girl and called her to me, tempting her with a treat she couldn’t resist, all well once more.

Keeping the Son in our eyes helps us overcome fear and panic, strengthens our hearts, and gives us victory over whatever enemy we face. Listening to the Lord’s commands and trusting His deliverance will provide us with success.

Prayer:

Lord,
Thank You for giving us the tools to control our emotions, center our thoughts on You, and win over our enemies. Please help us seek You first in all things, letting You guide our paths.
IJNIP. Amen