Honest Reflections

Two-minute read.

Simple, according to the Oxford Dictionary, means “easily understood or done, presenting no difficulty.” If you think about walking, we could define it as simple, something we don’t think much about when we do it, easily understood. However, if you watch a toddler learning to walk, you begin to understand the complexity of the walking process. Only with much practice does it become something we do without thinking.

When Solomon tells us to leave our simple ways and walk in the way of insight, he wants us to grow and mature, seeing what lies beneath the surface. Like a toddler taking their first steps, we must move forward into wisdom, leaving our crawling days behind us, learning to walk and eventually run.

Placing our faith in Christ marks the beginning of our journey towards wisdom. As we take steps of faith, applying His commands to our lives, we start walking in the way of insight. Like a toddler, we first pull ourselves up, balancing precariously on our spiritual legs, then become more confident as we take one step after another.

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”

Hebrews 12:1

God has a race marked out for each of us to run. Unfortunately, if we never learn to walk, we can’t make the long strides necessary to run. We must leave our ways behind, submitting our hearts to Jesus, focusing our eyes on Him, and learning from the wisdom He teaches to walk in insight.

Thankfully, we serve a Savior who walks with us, and when necessary, carries us. Like a parent who holds their toddler’s hand as they learn to walk, Christ does the same for us. God never expected us to journey alone; He takes pleasure in accompanying us on the trip, watching us grow and mature, just as parents do with their children.

Journal Question:

What comes to mind when you think of walking in insight?

How has Biblical wisdom helped you learn to walk more confidently in life?

Define what running the race marked out for you means.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for teaching us how to walk in insight by applying Your word to our lives. Please help us continue to refine our steps and become wiser with each passing day. Let us finish our race well.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Listening to wisdom, the difference between life and favor, and harm and danger according to the Expositor’s Bible Commentary. From those two choices, I can easily decide which one I prefer; however, I often find myself in the wrong category.

For instance, “Read the fine print” refers to carefully reading an agreement before you sign it. We have all heard this piece of advice at one point or another, but how often do you follow it? When a website asks you to accept cookies, do you take the time to read about them, or do you click ‘accept’? The same applies to privacy agreements and a myriad of other “Click Here” boxes that we must navigate through before reaching our internet destination.

Watching “The Paper,” a spinoff from “The Office,” the first episode made me have an unexpected epiphany. One of the characters describes how their online newspaper gets more information from the readers than they report in their articles. As soon as someone clicks “Accept Cookies,” they get information on their browsing history, etc. All because we don’t listen to the wisdom of four words, “Read the fine print.”

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

Luke 14:38

Biblical wisdom advises us to count the cost before embarking on a project. In other words, read the fine print before you agree to something so that you will know the commitment involved. How many times have you regretted not getting all the facts before moving forward on a project or idea? We’ve all done it. Listening to wisdom helps us slow down and make better choices.

Live in God’s favor by listening to His instructions. Following the Lord’s commandments helps us avoid trouble and stay on the right path.

Journal Question:

When have you ignored wise advice?

How can you listen better to wisdom?

In what ways has listening helped you live in God’s favor and blessing?

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for giving us wisdom in Your word and through Your people to help us avoid pitfalls and experience Your blessings. Please help us listen more and apply Your teaching to our lives, keeping us out of trouble and in Your favor.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

When Solomon became king of Israel after his father, David, God appeared to him in a dream and asked a simple yet complex question:

“Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

1 Kings 3:5b

Solomon didn’t ask for money, wealth, or the death of his enemies; the young king asked for wisdom. Divine knowledge has more value than anything else on Earth. Knowing how to represent God well, loving people for Him, and building strong, healthy relationships only happen when we partner with the Savior. Solomon knew he couldn’t rule his kingdom well without the help of God. By seeking wisdom above jewels, David’s son found favor with the Lord:

“So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have you asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.”

1 Kings 3:11-13

By seeking wisdom above all else, Solomon received the other blessings. Without divine knowledge, the king couldn’t reign over his kingdom, and we can’t rule over ours.

We may not rule a nation, but each of us has a kingdom to watch over. Loving God and others requires a partnership with the Savior and a trust in His wisdom. The more we seek Jesus, the wiser we will become and the more abundantly we will live.

Journal Question:

Why do you think wisdom has more value than jewels?

In what way has divine knowledge enriched your life?

If God asked you what you wanted, how would you reply?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us such powerful stories to teach us about Your ways. Let us seek wisdom above all else, and allow You to do the rest. Help us rule our kingdoms well and honor You in all we do.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

“I knew you liked me when you showed up with makeup on,” Ron said.

While getting to know each other, we played a doubles match with friends. Our first time doing something outside of our tennis team, I wore makeup, something I rarely do. And Ron noticed. He didn’t tell me that day, but as our relationship progressed, he confessed that seeing me with mascara told him I liked him.

Solomon personifies wisdom in today’s verse and wants to highlight her attractiveness, just as I wanted Ron to notice me. When people want attention, they find ways to get it, and in essence, wisdom wants us to notice her. Finding wisdom gives us an avenue to experience abundant living, the knowledge we gain protects us from pain, and leads us on the path of righteousness.

Following the straight and narrow way, called the path of righteousness, means doing the next right thing. Whatever the situation, wisdom helps us decipher what we should do as we move forward. Sometimes wisdom tells us to wait, other times to flee, and sometimes to move forward with caution. Wisdom becomes more attractive as we seek it and apply it to our lives.

Whether or not I wore makeup didn’t win Ron’s heart. But seeking Godly wisdom and applying it to my life drew my husband to me. Praying to the Lord, I asked Him to help me portray Jesus accurately, and then I followed biblical teachings to learn how to do so. The Savior’s light draws people to us as we seek and follow His wisdom.

Wisdom’s call summons us to it, helping us live wisely and enjoy the benefits of divine guidance. Hear the call and follow the advice found in biblical guidance.

Journal Question:

How has wisdom called to you:

In what ways do you think wisdom helps you stay on the straight and narrow path?

What wisdom do you need today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us divine wisdom to guide our steps. As we seek You, help us live wisely as we follow Your decrees. Let us become more like Jesus as we do what He did.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Proverbs seven details how easily one can fall for enticing speech that makes the grass sound greener on the opposite side of the road. For a young man, falling into the seductive trap of a wayward woman compares to an ox going to slaughter or a deer caught in a noose; it costs the person their life.

Sin has a seductive side to it; we know we shouldn’t do something, but we do it anyway. During our first year of marriage, a door-to-door salesman came to our house, selling rainbow vacuums. His seductive speech captivated me, and I wanted to purchase the $ 3,000 machine. However, my husband didn’t buy the sales pitch.

As the salesman took his sweet time packing up his wares, he kept trying to convince me to spend the money.

“It’s not me you have to convince, it’s him,” I finally said.

Realizing Ron wouldn’t take the bait, he gave up, leaving us with his business card if we changed our minds. At the time, we couldn’t afford to spend that much money on a vacuum. If Ron hadn’t put his foot down, we would have ended up with unwanted debt, and once you start slipping down that slope, you can quickly fall.

Beware of seductive speech that sounds enticing but ultimately leads to trouble. Of course, buying a vacuum doesn’t necessarily lead to death. But cheating on a spouse often kills a marriage, destroying relationships and devastating lives.

The adage proves true time and time again: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Use caution when people flatter you with words about situations that seem unrealistically optimistic or beneficial. Seductive speech usually doesn’t end well.

Journal Question:

When have you fallen for seductive speech?

What can you do when faced with enticing language?

What helps you identify someone trying to lure you into a bad situation?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us discernment to help us know when to avoid seductive speech. Please provide us with the tools we need to avoid manipulative language that will steer us off track. Let us honor You in all we do.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Once again, Solomon repeats his fatherly advice to listen and practice his teachings so that life will go well for his child. Solomon wants only the best for his son, hoping his offspring will avoid some of the heartache the king experienced.

As parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents, we want the children in our lives to have a better life than what we perceive we had. But sometimes, in our efforts to make the next generation’s life easier, we do more harm than good. Teaching children how to live independently of us, relying on God as the only sure foundation, means we must let them go and can’t protect them from the challenges of life.

We moved six months ago into a house with a big backyard. Coming from a small house with only a back deck and a strip of grass, I had anxiety about letting the dogs run in the spacious area where I couldn’t always see them. After months of slowly allowing them to run in larger and larger areas, I am finally letting them out in the big yard regularly. As a non-parent, I can only imagine the difficulties of letting your children go into the crazy world we live in today.

But if we teach them God’s word and lead by example, we don’t have to let them go alone. Instead, we can give them to the Lord and trust Him to do what we can’t, providing them with a firm foundation to turn to when the guaranteed hard things of life happen.

Instill sound biblical teaching in your children’s lives, and rest assured that as they grow and mature, it will grow and mature with them. Hiding God’s word in our hearts gives us a reliable source of strength when needed.

Journal Question:

What teaching did your parents give you that has kept you out of trouble?

What lesson do you want to instill in your children?

How can you share your faith with your children today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us sound advice for living and helping us plant it in our hearts, keeping it the apple of our eyes. Please help us teach our children wisely and give them the firm foundation they can find only in You.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Referring to adultery, if you play with fire, you will get burned. As appealing as the grass may appear on the other side of the fence, it still needs mowed. What seems like innocent flirtation can quickly lead to third-degree burns.

Anyone can fall into temptation and find themselves in situations they never meant to happen. Thinking, “It won’t happen to me,” fools us into believing a lie. If you place a piece of cake in front of me, I might resist for a minute, but inevitably, I’m going to eat it. My thoughts will convince me one bite won’t hurt, and after I’ve taken the first one, why not eat a second one?

When the serpent convinced Eve to bite into the apple, he lied to her.

“He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Genesis 3:1

First, the serpent put a seed of doubt in Eve’s head, then he quickly moved in with the lie:

“You will not surely die. For god knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 4:-5

Death comes from sin, no matter what the enemy whispers in your ear. And, like Eve, we can fall just as quickly as she did. To avoid getting burned, don’t play with fire. God provides a way out for any temptation we face, putting guardrails into place to help us stay on the straight and narrow and not stray into places we shouldn’t go.

Become aware of your vulnerabilities. Place boundaries in your relationships that help you resist temptation. When the devil whispers in your ear, respond with three words: “Not today, Satan.” Stay away from the fire and you won’t get burned.

Journal Question:

When have you played with fire?

What boundaries do you need to set in your relationship to protect it?

How can you resist the devil’s lies?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us eyes to see and ears to hear. Please help us quickly identify our areas of vulnerability and assist us in creating boundaries that will prevent us from falling into the fire.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Reading through the Big Seven, also known as the Seven Deadly Sins, you quickly see what they kill: relationships. Haughty eyes, lying tongues, abusive hands, manipulative hearts, feet looking for trouble, false witnesses, and someone who causes conflict all destroy relationships.

We serve a God of relationships who builds community through His unconditional love and the commandments He gives us to follow. If you think about the Big Ten, the Ten Commandments, you realize they also refer to relationships with the Lord and others. Thinking in those terms, you can quickly understand why our Creator hates the things that destroy our fellowship with His family.

Haughty-eyed people judge others less than themselves. Lying tongues destroy trust and spread gossip. People who shed innocent blood cause unwanted pain and heartache. When someone plots evil that brings harm to others, it harms many people. When you go looking for trouble, you always find it. Creating conflict separates the community and causes division.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30-31

Pursuing God with all we have will grow us like nothing else. Living counter-culturally, we will lead with grace, not judgment. People will identify us by our love, and not our hate. Creating and maintaining a peaceful community teaches us to seek understanding of others and connect with them on an intimate level, leading to a more fruitful relationship.

Living for the Lord causes us to view people through His lens, not ours. Jesus died for all, and He expects us to love all. Learning how to do that will take you away from the Big Seven and teach you how to live like Christ.

Journal Question:

How would you characterize the Big Seven?

In what ways have one or more of these sins impacted your relationships?

How has trying to love God and others changed your life?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for teaching us how to have healthy relationships that flourish and produce good fruit. Please help us identify areas in our lives that we need to fine-tune, becoming more like Christ.

IJNIP. Amen

Two-minute read.

Solomon’s referring to debt in this passage. When we put up security for a neighbor or make a pledge to a stranger, we enslave ourselves to them. The author wants us to free ourselves from the obligation as quickly as possible, forgoing rest until we do.

If you’ve ever watched a gazelle run, they reach speeds of 60 mph when running from a predator. Although cheetahs can run faster, the antelope’s endurance and agility allow them to escape. Living in herds, a gazelle becomes most vulnerable when separated from the pack.

Like a gazelle escaping a cheetah, Solomon instructs us to move quickly in erasing our debts, not sleeping until we do. Financial Peace University teaches the same principle: get out of debt first and foremost. Their average graduate is debt-free in two years or less.[1] Living without the hindrance of debt allows people to create the future they want, not one determined by outside influences.

In my early thirties, I completed Dave Ramsey’s nine-week course and became debt-free. No longer did I toss and turn at night, wondering how I would pay my credit card debt. When I married Ron, I did so without adding financial burden to our relationship. We continue to follow the principles I learned in Financial Peace University.

Move like a gazelle chased by a cheetah to pay off debts. Don’t make pledges that will enslave you to the lender. Instead, apply Biblical principles to your finances and discover the freedom that comes from them.

Journal Question:

What debts do you have?

What Biblical principle would help you most in eliminating debt?

What things can you do today to help you become debt-free?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for teaching us how to handle money and rid ourselves of debt. Please outline the steps we need to take to eliminate our pledges. Give us the tools we need to find victory over our finances.

IJNIP. Amen

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[1] https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money/financial-peace?srsltid=AfmBOopHzpE2boLYIaAMWUX-fqH18cWTsHj16lV_JwN89lOtJQfXuWXk

Two-minute read.

Ron and I just returned from an eleven-mile bike ride exploring the country around our home. Narrow country roads with quick drop-offs led us through the lush green pastures, some with crops ready for harvesting, others already harvested, waiting for winter prep. Discovering new trails, created by the Lord, exhilarates the soul.

God sees the paths we take and the roads we travel. When we don’t include Him in our plans, we often end up in places He never meant for us to go. But allowing the Lord to plan our itinerary takes us into lush pastures and green meadows where we find rest for our souls.

The Lord also understands that the paths we take speak volumes about who we follow. Following the rabbit hole of sin leads us to pain and misery, God watching us as we go, knowing that we have chosen to disobey Him. We don’t conceal anything from the Creator, from little white lies to blatant rebellion; He sees it all. And His heart grieves when we choose anything but Him.

As the giver of life, our Maker has a divine plan for us. He wants to bestow blessings upon us that we can’t even imagine, but when we choose a different path, we miss out on them. We choose each day who we will follow and what path we will take. Wise people let the Lord lead, dying to self and following the Savior wherever He wants to take them.

To live in God’s favor, we must let Him lead and trust that He does have our best interest at heart and will bless our efforts.

Journal Question:

What path have you taken that you wish you hadn’t?

Write about a time you followed the Lord’s leading.

Knowing God ponders the path you take, how would He feel about your current path?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for loving us enough to care about what path we take. As we choose which way to go today, help us make good decisions. Please illuminate the road You want us to follow.

IJNIP. Amen