Tag: Christian

Jehu is Different

2 Kings 9-11

In Second Kings chapters 9-11 we read largely about the obedience of King Jehu in attempting to remove idolatry from Israel.  In the midst of that content there is an interesting concept that rings fairly true to today.  In Second Kings 9:22 Joram asks Jehu if he has come in peace.  Jehu responds, “How can there be peace as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”  Jehu is clearly communicating that peace does not come between God and evil.  Our application should be a bit cautious, but clear.

Some would take a verse like this to somehow support a Christian committing an act of violence against an unbeliever.  This is not a proper application of this concept and should not be condoned.  Rather, it is important to recognize that there is a difference between the ways of God and the ways of evil, and those who support the ways of God will be different than those who support the ways of evil.  King Jehu recognized that the ways of Joram were opposed to the ways of God so there would be no peace between them.

In the New Testament we find language that concurs with this concept.  Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”.  First Peter 1:1 says in part, “To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered through Pontus…”  Once we become a believer, we align ourselves with God and His plan and ways.  This causes us to become strangers in the world, as we are different than the world.  Our citizenship is no longer of the world, but rather we become citizens of heaven.  Our eternity will be on the earth, after Jesus restores it through the millennial kingdom.  This is why Paul says at the end of Philippians 3:20, “And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”.  However, our hearts and lives belong to God, who currently resides in heaven.  Our citizenship is with God in heaven, not of this earth.

Therefore, there is not peace between us and the world.  We are different.  Our lives should look different and we should be different than the world.  I believe this is the connection we can make to King Jehu’s response of clearly communicating that peace does not come between God and evil.

How should we respond then?  We should recognize that our lives are different from the world.  Sometimes that will cause awkwardness in our lives.  I attempt to hold pretty clear boundaries for the movies, shows, videos, or even reels I will watch.  If someone sends me a link of a video to watch I will ask about what it is and the content of it.  I sometimes ask if it includes any of the things I attempt to not visually consume.  This causes tension or awkwardness socially.  But I know it is best for me to be different in this way.


However, even though there is not peace between God and the world, we should still strive to live at peace with others.  Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  My response to King Jehu’s question should not lead me to go against God’s call to peace found here.  I live a different life than the world, but I also strive for peace with others, that I might show them the love of God each day of my life.  In doing this, I may win one for Christ!

-Michael Cisler


Reflection Questions

What are ways in which you can live more for God, and therefore not be at peace with the world?

How can you show others around you that you are intentional about living at peace with all people?

In what ways can we cope with the tension that sometimes is created by living at peace, but being different?

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It’s Personal

1 Kings 17-19

I have appreciated the opportunity to read and share my thoughts with you across these seven days. We’ve traced the unfolding drama of the divided kings and kingdoms of Israel. We’ve watched the culture shift, the crowd move to and fro, and the pressure rise and fall, but through their stories, one truth rings clear: the faithful know that wisdom comes from God alone.

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21)

Looking momentarily at my own nation, America is a nation with deep Judeo-Christian roots, as many of our founding documents demonstrate a commitment to God as the architect of the law that governs us. Our motto makes mention of our trust in God, we proclaim His work in our patriotic songs, open government functions with prayer, and swear in our presidents with their hand on His Word. I am one of many who believe the blessings we enjoy as a nation—even in today’s troubling times—can be attributed to the enduring declaration that the God of Israel and the Father of Jesus Christ reigns here.  Sadly, more and more are living on borrowed blessings as the altars of moral revision, self-importance, and political convenience are being fashioned and raised.

Today, we look to the prophet Elijah, who lived as a lone voice for the Lord in a nation God had once richly blessed. Elijah wasn’t trendy or tribal. His conversations with God were authentic and intimate, and he took action as one who was swiftly obedient. His faith was so personal that he was often fully dependent on the Lord even for his next meal—fed by ravens and sustained by a jar of oil and flour that never ran dry. How ready would we be to fight off the enemies of God, to recite and rely on His promises, and even to expect miracles in His name, if we lived with this kind of faithfulness?

Each of us is called to that kind of personal, committed, lived-out faith. It may seem like faith is inherited—passed down through our nation’s heritage or through family and friends—but true faith is never proximal. Hanging with a spiritual crowd, attending high-energy worship services, or serving on a ministry team are not guarantors of a relationship with the Lord.  Personal faith is born in the discomfort of repentance, in the surrendering of fear, and in the offering up of our possessions. These are the intimate things God desires from us. In the abandonment of self, we begin to hear God’s call clearly—and are emboldened because we know our Creator personally.

“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” – 1 Kings 18:36–37

In this week’s reading, we’ve seen that change in a nation is inevitable. I pray that “In God We Trust” will continue to stand as a reminder of our nation’s steadfastness for the Lord. But however long it endures, let it always point us to something greater—our personal relationship with God, built through surrender, obedience, and faith. If the Lord is God, stand for Him—even if you stand alone. Because at the end of the day, it’s personal.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What character traits do you find in Elijah? Is there one you would like to have more of in your life? How would you go about adding more?
  2. What choices are before you today?
  3. Which one will you choose? Why?
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Too Much Experience

1 Kings 15:1-24
2 Chronicles 13-16

I will be celebrating my 40th birthday in just a few short weeks. To be candid, I’m not exactly thrilled about this milestone—but one thing I am looking forward to is being able to say, “That was half a lifetime ago.” There’s something satisfying in acknowledging that with age has come experience.

One of the longest experiences I’ve had is playing guitar. For the last 1,352 weeks, I have averaged a few hours of play and have become masterful at my style. That’s not a gloat or a flex—just an illustration that I’m familiar with my craft. Much of what I do now is second nature, developed through repetition and refined over time. The same could be said of anyone who’s practiced a craft or trade for a significant portion of their life.

But experience is a double-edged sword. It gives us the ability to say things like, “I’ve seen this before,” or “We’ve already tried that,” or “We’ve made it through worse.” That can build confidence as we develop our approach. But when we rely solely on experience or live under the illusion there is nothing to learn, we may fail to consult the Word of the Lord. We make ourselves the master of our own fate, and in time, we are doomed to fail.

King Asa was a dependable leader. After the division of the kingdom, his reign represented a season of peace and prosperity.  These blessings came upon the whole of Judah because he “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord.” Asa tore down idols, repaired the temple, and called the people to return to God. He didn’t trust in his half-million soldiers alone.  He petitioned the Lord for help:

“Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” – 2 Chronicles 14:11

As a result God delivered Asa and the people of Judah.  In gratitude and commitment, Asa responded in worship.  His people offered a tremendous sacrifice as a wholehearted oath to their Deliverer. Again, the Lord gave them a season of rest.

But in Asa’s 36th year—after decades of faithfulness—something changed. Faced with conflict, he no longer sought the Lord. Instead, he relied on his own strategy, forming a treaty with a foreign power. The prophet Hanani rebuked him:

“Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” – 2 Chronicles 16:8–9

The temptation to take matters into our own hands often comes not in times of scarcity, but in times of prosperity.  Our experience, knowledge, notoriety, or wealth can make us feel capable, but no matter our breadth or depth, we each have  blind spots and limitations that fall far short of the omniscience of our Heavenly Father.  This is the great irony: the more experienced we become in serving the Lord, the more we should rely on His voice. If anything, maturity should deepen our dependence, not diminish it.

God is ready to win battles for those who are whole-hearted committed to Him. May we be found among them—not only in our youth or our desperation, but even more in our decades of experience. Let us not confuse our  familiarity with faithfulness. And when we hear His voice—whether in instruction, correction, or comfort—may we respond with the same dependence that brought us to Him in the first place.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What did Asa do right? What did Asa do wrong? What might his thought process or motives been when he was doing right? And when he did wrong?
  2. Consider your own life – when did you seek the Lord and He blessed you for it? When did you NOT seek the Lord, but relied on your own strength, decision making skills, and human knowledge? What was the outcome?
  3. What does it look like to seek the Lord and rely on Him?
  4. In what areas are you currently relying on the Lord? Where are you in danger of falling into the “too experienced”, can-do-this-on-my-own trap?
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God’s mercy (hesed) endures forever!!

2 Chronicles 6-7

Psalm 136

Psalms 136:1-9(NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;
6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;
7 To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever—
8 The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.

(I quoted the above section in the NKJV version because of the familiarity of the phrase “His mercy endures forever” but encourage you to read it in a different version as the word “mercy” is translated many ways.)

The Hebrew word “hesed” is found about 250 times in the Old Testament.  It is translated “love and faithfulness,” “unfailing love,” “faithful love,” “steadfast love,” and “loyal love,” depending on the Bible version used.  It has a bigger concept than just God’s love or mercy.  His love for His people is an central and essential part of God’s character.  The core idea of this term communicates loyalty or faithfulness within our relationship. Hesed is closely intertwined with God’s covenant with His people Israel in the OT.  

We see this in our section of reading from 2 Chronicles today where Solomon is dedicating the Temple.  The Temple in the OT is the dwelling place of God, specifically at the holy of holies, in the ark of the covenant.  God’s “hesed” is in the perfect performance of His commitments expressed by the tablets that God gave Moses on Mt Sinai. 

2 Chronicles 6:7-11(NLT) Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, 9 but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’ 10 “And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with the people of Israel.”

After a dedication service in Chapter 6, in Chapter 7 we see where God approves and accepts the sacrifices made there by the people.  He does this by sending fire down, which we see as God’s approval of the sacrifice.  God’s fire and presence are put in this Temple building giving His presence to that place.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3(NLT) When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!”

Think about the day of Pentecost at the start of the church that we are part of.  God’s fire came down and rested on each of the apostles showing God’s approval and acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ.  The holy spirit is given to those that follow Christ from that day.  We are the Temple of God’s building, the church of the body of Christ.  God’s enduring love is given to us with the same commitment and intensity as He has shown Israel in the OT.  Our relationship with God is based on the covenantal sacrifice of the blood of Christ which allows us into the place and presence of Him. 

Have a great day today with the mighty hesed of God watching over and keeping you in all you do!

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

  1. What verses of Psalm 136 really stand out to you? Are there any surprising verses? What do you notice about God’s character?
  2. Where have you seen God’s hesed in Scripture? Where have you seen it in your lifetime? Are you confident it will endure forever?
  3. Are you living in the place and presence of God?
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Sayings of the Wise

Proverbs 22-24

There have been countless attempts to condense all the complexities of life into a few simple and concise rules to follow. If the steps are practiced effectively then success will be rewarded. Variations of these lists are reiterated over time through experience of generations adapting to changing societies. Each one tries to improve upon the previous list, but there are often more similarities than differences. While there are some noticeable differences between many of these lists and Proverbs 22-24, as a whole these chapters are simply a list of sayings meant to be followed for success. It certainly wasn’t the first list nor last, but it accomplishes the same goal, with the added benefit of being God’s trusted word. 

These thirty sayings are introduced in chapter 22, and it is encouraged for all to hear and pay attention to. “Counsel and knowledge” are provided with a reward of increasing trust in God along with honesty and speaking the truth (NIV, Proverbs 22:17-21). They don’t necessarily promise to bring worldly success, though many do, but instead offer the opportunity to further develop a relationship with God. These sayings align with seeking wisdom. Following them will result in the growth of truthful actions, trust, and an increased ability to love God and others. 

Each of the sayings provide guidance on some aspect of life, though there is overlap. Some of the sayings teach how to interact with others and develop meaningful relationships. For example, avoid exploitation, consider the perspective of others, and don’t be associated with people who will only cause trouble and be a bad influence. Other sayings claim that righteous character and behavior will be rewarded socially, and even if there is no benefit in today’s society God will reward those in the future. Similarly, the opposite is warned against. Another common theme is to not get caught up in chasing money or other common indicators of success, as they aren’t as meaningful as they may initially seem. Lastly, these sayings teach the value in learning and the willingness to be taught.

Study the sayings of the wise and learn from them. These thirty sayings are included in the book most known for wisdom, so if wisdom is loved these sayings should be considered in daily life. The increase in wisdom associated with applying these chapters will encourage genuine care and love for others through truthful words and actions. Further, trust in God is strengthened by wisdom in knowing how God defines success. Although it is still just a condensed list, follow these sayings and success will naturally be rewarded.

-Josiah Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. How is the wisdom found in Proverbs 22-24 similar to wisdom literature from other times and cultures? How is it different from what “the world” today says is wise and profitable for success?
  2. In your relationships with others which of these sayings of the wise would you benefit from focusing on this week?
  3. How can you work towards the ultimate success of having a better, growing relationship with God?
  4. Which verses would be great on your refrigerator, desk, bathroom mirror or bedside table for the next month? Post them.
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Love is the Greatest Motivator

Proverbs 19-21

Every chosen action is a result of a complex combination of a variety of motivations, but each one can be traced back to a source of love. Some form of love is at the base of every decision, as people prioritize what they love most. The recipient of love could be God, oneself, another person, a physical object, or even intangible concepts such as happiness or power. Loving God is a common commandment and suggested motivator throughout the Bible, but not every other object or concept is as desirable to love from a biblical perspective. Wisdom is needed to differentiate between what should be loved, and what shouldn’t be, which will ultimately have a great impact on what decisions are made and what actions are taken. 

Proverbs is known for describing wisdom and contains numerous examples of valid sources of love and others that should be avoided. Wisdom itself is a great concept to love according to the Bible, as Proverbs 4:7 commands to “Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (NIV). Wisdom is so valuable that it is worth sacrificing all else. In other words, the love for wisdom should be greater than the love of money, material resources, fame, power, or anything else. All those concepts and objects are discouraged as primary sources of love throughout Proverbs. 

While there are many things not worthy of love, Proverbs and the rest of the Bible offer several suggestions to give one’s love to. Most notably, aside from God, are other people. The command to love others is present throughout the Bible, but it is even more meaningful and impactful than simply being nice to one another. Not only is some form of love at the root of all motivation, but the recipient of that love is commonly love itself. People love to be loved. God designed people to need to be loved, and Proverbs 19:22 claims that “what a person desires is unfailing love”. Many people are willing to sacrifice a lot to be loved. It is the greatest motivator and is often the force causing many actions and behaviors. While it is still beneficial to simply be kind to a neighbor or provide for the physical needs of others, genuinely loving others requires providing what is needed most—love. Building a strong and unselfish relationship on unfailing love increases the impact one can have in the lives of others. It makes it easier to spread God’s word and His Kingdom. 

As with all things, it might require some sacrifices to love others effectively. However, that isn’t a problem if love for others is greater than the love of whatever is put aside. Sacrifices will always be made for what is loved the most. Therefore, carefully prioritize what is loved. Love God and love others to use the natural motivation to encourage godly choices, behaviors, and actions to have the greatest impact in the world.

-Josiah Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. “Some form of love is at the base of every decision, as people prioritize what they love most.” – What do your decisions show that you love most?
  2. What do you WANT to love most? What is getting more of your love now than it deserves?
  3. What sacrifices have you already made for what you love most? What additional sacrifices might be ahead? What sacrifices have others made for you?
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Whatever You Do

Proverbs 16-18

In the book of Proverbs, we find a treasure trove of wisdom that has the power to transform our lives. Chapter 16 is no exception, offering profound insights that speak directly to our hearts and the way we navigate this world. Today, let us take a closer look at verse 3, which encourages us to commit our work to the Lord, knowing that He is the one who establishes our plans.

In a society driven by achievement and self-reliance, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that success is solely dependent on our own abilities and strategies. We may spend countless hours meticulously crafting our plans and pursuing our goals, forgetting that we are called to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and seek His guidance in all that we do. However, Proverbs reminds us that true success comes from surrendering our efforts to the Lord.

Committing our work to the Lord involves recognizing that He is the ultimate authority and the source of all wisdom and understanding. It requires us to approach our tasks, aspirations, and dreams with an attitude of humility, acknowledging that apart from Him, we can do nothing of lasting significance. We are called to submit our plans to His will, seeking His guidance and trusting that He will align our desires with His purposes.

By entrusting our work to God, we are liberated from the burden of self-reliance and the anxiety that often accompanies it. We can rest in the assurance that the Lord, in His infinite wisdom and love, will establish our plans. This does not mean that we will be exempt from challenges or difficulties along the way, but it does mean that God will faithfully guide us, direct our steps, and use our efforts for His glory.

When we commit our work to the Lord, we invite Him to be an active participant in every aspect of our lives. We open ourselves up to His guidance and leading, allowing Him to shape our plans according to His perfect will. Our work becomes an opportunity to partner with God, to be instruments through which His purposes are fulfilled in this world.

As we reflect on Proverbs chapter 16, may we be encouraged to surrender our ambitions, our dreams, and our work to the Lord. Let us seek His wisdom, trust in His guidance, and find peace in knowing that He is the one who establishes our plans. By entrusting ourselves to Him, we embark on a journey of purpose and fulfillment, where our lives become a testament to His grace and faithfulness.

-Austin Kizer

(originally posted for Seek GrowLove on May 16, 2023)

Reflection Questions

  1. In what areas of your life would it be wise to surrender your plans to the Lord? What does that look like? What thoughts and feelings does it create? Pray for help in doing so.
  2. What does true success look like? Is it possible apart from God and His plans?
  3. What will God reveal to you about Himself in your Bible reading today?
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The Real Right Thing

Proverbs 13-15

Have you ever found it easier to see the right thing for someone else to do than for yourself?  There is a reason for that.  We often times can tell someone what to do but can’t seem to do it for ourselves.

For example:

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous

In this proverb we see that lying only brings destruction.  We ourselves hate being lied to.  We hate seeing people live a lie. We know how much damage it can do.  We know this but I bet if I asked if you have ever lied or lived a lie you would probably say yes.  I bet if I asked you if you knew how to correct that in someone else’s life you would have an answer almost immediately.  It is so easy to see the foolishness in someone else.  It’s easy to know what to do to correct their wrong behavior.  But I bet it is harder to correct in yourself.  Why can we see the answer to foolishness in others easily but have such a difficult time correcting it in our own lives? 

   The answer is we have no emotional ties to their sin.  We won’t have to deal with the consequences of trying to correct our behavior.  I can tell you how to correct your behavior all day long because I don’t have to do it.  I don’t have to deal with the mess.  But if I have to correct a sin I know what that will take, and often times I don’t want to deal with the pain and hurt that comes with going back and fixing issues like lying bring about.

Read Proverbs 14 and see if you can see any foolishness in your life that you need to correct.  Are their verses in this chapter that really resonate with you?  Can you see the foolishness in those verses?  Can you recognize the wisdom it takes to realize that some of these verses apply to you.  Are you willing to recognize the wise thing to do and apply it to your life?  Your foolish ways become harder and harder to stop the longer you wait. 

The very first verse illustrates this perfectly:

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

Are you tearing your life apart by not recognizing wisdom?

I’m praying for you.

Andy Cisneros

(originally posted here on August 15, 2017)

Reflection Questions

See Andy’s suggestions and questions in the last full paragraph.

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    The Voice of Wisdom

    Proverbs 7-9

    Do you ever find yourself looking at someone else’s situation or decisions and think, “I would have done that completely differently”? Of course you have. We all have. The world is full of armchair quarterbacks and side seat drivers. It’s so much easier to look at someone else’s situation and evaluate it as an outsider without the pressures of personal consequence. 

    In the heat of the moment, standing at our own crossroads, however, we get wrapped up in the “what ifs” and the worries about whether or not we are making huge mistakes. So how do you know when you’re doing something wise or foolish? 

    Chapters 7 and 8 of Proverbs personify danger/foolishness and wisdom as two women. The first woman is the strange or adulterous woman, luring in a simple youth. She uses “smooth talk” and “persuasive words” to seduce him. I feel it’s worthy to note that sexual sin is being used in this personification, probably because it’s the most common and most dangerous. And her opposite is wisdom, who doesn’t use tricks or wordplay, but speaks plainly. She promises no shortcuts, but offers instruction, knowledge, and truth. 

    Both women have some similarities though. They are both crying out to those around them, trying to persuade others to follow them. They are both offering up benefits to listening to their words. So how do we know which to listen to? 

    It seems obvious when we read the chapters, right? It’s less obvious in our own realities, though. Less obvious, but it’s still possible to make the correct choice. As in all decisions, we should test our options against scripture. If you want to know if your actions are wise or dangerous, test them against God’s word. Discernment, the ability to judge well, is a skill that everyone can, and should, develop through practice. The more we know of God’s word, the better equipped we will be to look at the paths before us and choose the wise one, the one that aligns best with scripture. 

    When wisdom calls out to you, don’t you want to be familiar with her voice? 

    My prayer for you is that you become so familiar with the voice of wisdom, the words of God, that you are not easily fooled or led astray. I hope you will love instruction so that you will continue to grow in wisdom and righteousness. I pray that you find the benefits of wisdom listed in chapter 9: “For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.”

    -Jenn Haynes

    Reflection Questions: 

    What decisions do you face right now? Have you placed your options up against scripture? 

    How is your scripture study? In what ways can you make yourself more familiar with God’s word, and the voice of wisdom, so that you can easily recognize it?

    Are there any voices of temptation in your life right now that are trying to call out to you? Take a moment to honestly analyze and reflect. Often we want to shy away from facing the hard truth that there are likely things in our lives that we enjoy but that we should give up because they are unwise. Does that hold true for you? 

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    Heart Protection

    Proverbs 4-6

    My husband and I went to an amusement park last week with our three kids. Though I suffer from motion sickness in a major way and I’m terrified of heights, I still love roller coasters. Going on them with my kids has been a fun, new blessing, and I love that they are all big enough to ride them with us now. But I’ve also noticed that they are slightly less enjoyable in another way. I now do something on coasters that I’ve never done before.

    I pray. Like constantly. Through the whole thing. The second we start going upside down all I can think is, “God, my entire family is on this contraption, please hold us safely in your hands!” I spend the entire ride begging for God’s protection. It eventually just turns into a long stream of silent pleas of, “Oh God, oh God, oh God pleeeeeeeease keep us safe!” All I can focus on is my family’s safety.

    I know that the older I’ve gotten, the greater my anxiety has grown. This especially holds true with my kids. They are all running around in this world like nothing can harm them and all I can think is that literally EVERYTHING can harm them. And I want so badly to protect them. We’ve invested a great deal into several devices all designed to help us care for our kids’ medical needs. We have an alarm on our house to alert us to danger at night. Smoke alarms in appropriate rooms, and carbon monoxide detectors as well. Our family is precious to us and we want to guard it with all we have. 

    But we also want to guard our hearts in the same way. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” EVERYTHING we do flows from our hearts. Just as we all do certain things to keep our bodies safe, we should be protecting our hearts as well. Over and over in Proverbs, the importance of wisdom is repeated. If our hearts are filled with wisdom, love, truth, and righteousness, then these are what will come forth in our actions. Hearts full of wisdom will not only keep us on good, straight paths, but will also be a light for others to see as well. 

    -Jenn Haynes

    Reflection Questions: 

    What is attacking your heart right now? What is badly influencing you? How is this showing in your actions and your words? How can you better guard your heart from those things? 

    If you are a parent, how can you help your children protect their own hearts? 

    Is everything you are doing showing others a path toward God? 

    My prayer for you today is that you continue to find wisdom and instruction in these proverbs and use them in ways that will protect your precious heart. Fill it with all that is good and holy!

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