Category: Admonition

Use Every Opportunity to Pray

On By vickleaIn Admonition, encouragement, Scripture, worshipLeave a comment

Cultivating Honest Conversations with God (Daily Refresh, 12-3-25)

Prayer is one of the most important habits we can develop. Not only does Scripture command us to pray often, but there are tremendous benefits to building a life of prayer. 

Prayer connects us relationally to God. We can thank God for who He is and what He has done for us during our prayer time. We can ask Him for things that we need.

Even though we know we should pray, we often don’t take the time to do it. Unless we set aside time to talk to God, it doesn’t always find a way into our daily schedules. But Paul, the writer of the letter to the Ephesians, urges Christians to build a life of prayer. He says that every occasion is a chance to talk to God.

All of our requests and needs should be given to God. However, our time praying should not only be asking God for things. We should also spend part of our time in worship—thanking God for who He is and all He has done. 

Paul also encourages us to pray for other people. In fact, part of our responsibility towards others is to advocate for them through prayer. We typically remember to pray for others when something negative is happening to them. But God’s Word says we should always be praying for the people in our life.

As we pray, we should not be discouraged when we don’t see immediate change. God is always working in our lives, even if it doesn’t match our desired timeline. We may not receive the answers we want, but we can rest assured that God is always listening and working on our behalf.

Take some time today to pray to God. Thank Him for all He has done for you. Tell Him your needs. Think of a few people in your life that you can pray for. Throughout your week, use every opportunity to pray to God.

My Thoughts

I have banged this drum on several other occasions, but this article today says some things that I don’t recall saying before, so I want to reiterate how vital to your spiritual life prayer is. If I knew my husband was right there next to me and never spoke to him, I would not be valuing our relationship, would I? How much more important is God in our lives? He is always close by and yet we rush into the day often without even thinking about taking time to pray.

Prayer doesn’t have to be an hour; there is no timetable to talk to God. Just make time to do it every day and build the habit of making Him a priority every day. Then, throughout the day, you can continue to talk to Him about what you see that He needs to address.

I find myself sometimes with my thoughts wandering as I pray. People I haven’t seen in years come to my mind as I sit quietly before the Lord. I don’t claim to know exactly why, but I think the Holy Spirit knows that those people need some kind of intervention from God, so I pray for them. Whenever God brings someone to my mind, I pray. I don’t have to know why, I just have to know the One who does know and who will work in their situation. We are truly being advocates for others when we pray for them.

For me, the most important aspect about prayer is establishing God’s sovereignty in my life and my awe that He wants to spend time with me. It’s not all about my “wish list” but it is all about just taking time to talk to the Lord and then to listen to what He says to my heart, before I start my busy day.

Sometimes God comforts me, other times He admonishes me, and still other times, He just listens and I feel His calming presence. I need God every day, all day, and I think that ongoing relationship starts with prayer.

Mindset of Abundance

On By vickleaIn Admonition, encouragement, God’s blessings, ScriptureLeave a comment

Refreshed (Daily Refresh, 12-02, YouVersion)

Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out?

They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give.

The author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, said this:

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT

King Solomon knew a thing or two about generosity. In fact, Scripture tells us: “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23). But he was also generous, spending years of his life funding and building the temple in Jerusalem, as well as sharing what he had learned with others.

Some of the unhappiest people on earth are stuck in a cycle of selfishness. But if you’ve ever been generous with your life—whether you’ve given financially, contributed your expertise, invested your time, opened up your home, or offered spiritual, emotional, and physical support—you know from experience: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. 

Of course, we shouldn’t give to get. And we also must apply God’s wisdom when it comes to setting boundaries and avoiding burnout. But Jesus is the King of an upside-down Kingdom, where:

The last will be first.
The greatest will be a servant.
Those who give up their life will save it.

Jesus even told a story of a poor woman who gave more than anyone else—because she gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44).

You don’t have to be rich to be generous; you just need a heart that is willing to serve.

So today, instead of a scarcity mindset, let’s have a mindset of abundance. Our God has unlimited strength, power, and resources.

My Thoughts

As I write this, it is actually “giving Tuesday,” a phrase I am certain was coined by someone who wants you to get out your wallet. I am publishing it on Wednesday, however, because I want to think about it a while first.

It isn’t that I am against giving. Certainly not! But I am against anything that comes close to the “prosperity gospel” that I think has turned many away from the Lord, giving them the idea that they have to give to be saved and if they don’t, they will never prosper. I’m more of a proponent of giving when God tells you to, what God tells you to, how God tells you to and to whom God tells you to. The God who provided all for me will also give me the wisdom to know when, what, how and to whom without designating a specific day for it.

I had no less than 100 email messages in my inbox today, all asking for contributions of some kind or reminding me that I need to give to them for whatever reason. The “delete” button is my friend this morning. I already give to those I want to give to and if God prompts me to give more or to give to someone else, I will, but an email messages and various ads in my inbox won’t cut it.

I apologize if I sound harsh; I really don’t mean my words to hurt feelings or turn people away. I just want people to know that giving is a heart thing and whether you give or not, that is between you and God. God knows your heart, your resources and your abilities and He will speak to you if you listen.

I could now be a walking advertisement for the good that the organizations to which I contribute do and try to convince you to give to them, also. But that is not my purpose. My purpose is to let you know that God’s Word is true. When you give, you will be refreshed, but you need to give in the way God prompts you, not other people or even the messages that are flooding your inbox. The saying is that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” I would like to encourage you to let God be the “squeaky wheel” in your life so that when you give, it will truly be God-led and you will not feel pressured but blessed.

Stepping off of my soapbox now to wish you all a blessed day. Blessed to be a blessing, I am His servant.

Live Awake and Watchful

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture2 Comments

A Calling to Prepare (Daily Refresh, 11-30, YouVersion)

Just days before He would die on the cross, Jesus spoke these words to His followers:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Matthew 24:42 NIV

He knew exactly when He would die. He knew the hour of His resurrection. He knew the plan, the timing, and the weight of everything unfolding around Him.

But here, during a series of parables, Jesus shifts His focus to what’s still ahead: His return. And He makes one thing clear—we won’t know when it’s coming. No date on the calendar. No countdown clock. Just this charge: Keep watch.

Why? Because when we live with spiritual alertness and urgency, we prioritize what matters. We live awake to the work of God around us. We live watchful over our own hearts, refusing to drift into complacency.

If every day could be the day Jesus returns, then we must live every day with the same obedience to His calling for us.

Jesus isn’t calling us to panic; He’s calling us to prepare. He’s inviting us to stay faithful and hopeful in a world that can dull our sense of eternity. To keep our hearts anchored in the truth that this world is not our final home—and He is coming again to make all things new.

So we watch and wait, but not complacently. Instead, we live today in light of that glorious day to come.

My Thoughts

Most, if not all of us, have watched the countdown clock in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. We watch with delight and anticipation, with the hope and promise that the New Year may bring.

Should we not also watch daily with that same hope and anticipation for the return of Jesus? We don’t know when He is coming back, but we know for certainty that it is going to happen. We need to always be prepared.

We prepare for company to come by cleaning our houses and making good food, perhaps even planning activities together for after the meal. We wait with happy anticipation for their arrival and then enjoy the visit.

How do we prepare for Christ to return? We pray, we read His Word, we seek His face and we tell others about Him so that they can joyfully expect His return, also. We are not supposed to be idle while we wait. He gave us a job to do and is watching to see if we are carrying out His instructions. We are not supposed to just take for granted that we will be ready for His return but go about our lives as though we have all the time in the world to get ready for Jesus to come back. We can’t know that, so we have to always be ready. You don’t pack your suitcase when your train has already arrived at the station. You pack it long before you go to meet the train. That is why we have to pack now, be ready now, because we don’t know when the Lord will return and we want to be prepared. That’s why we have to live awake to God’s Word, listening for Him to speak to us. And we have to live watchful over our own hearts, not getting tired of waiting, but always hopeful that today might be the day.

Objective Truth

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Characteristics of God, ScriptureLeave a comment

The Truth of God (Daily Refresh, 11-28, YouVersion)

What is truth? Various generations have had different ways of answering that question. It’s a popular belief in today’s culture that truth can be whatever you want it to be. This is the idea that truth is relative and unique to every individual person.

But if everyone lives their own truth, then nobody can truly know which one is right. And if one person’s truth contradicts another person’s truth, then one of them must be wrong.

Scripture tells us that there’s an objective truth available to us that we can live by. Rather than truth being grounded in the individual, it is grounded in something much bigger than ourselves. Truth is sourced from God.

God is the Ruler and Creator of the universe, and the One from whom truth and beauty come. God’s Word contains the truths that He has spoken to us so that we might live according to His truth.

Jesus says that His teachings are true because they come from God. He goes on to say that anyone who knows the truth will be set free by the truth of God.

When we know the truth, we are no longer living according to a lie. God’s truth illuminates our life and shows us true reality. This is why Jesus says that the truth will set us free. We become truly free to live according to how God designed us to live.

An important part of learning what is true and what isn’t is reading God’s Word. He has spoken to us through His Word, and all that He has spoken is true. When we read and memorize God’s Word, we learn more and more about God.

Take some time today to thank God for revealing Himself to us through His Word, and for illuminating our lives with His truth.

My Thoughts

These days are not days of truth but rather of lies and subterfuge and deception. “Everybody lies” is the new mantra, and it is backed up by the fact that we can see it daily on any news media we watch. Everyone “spins” the truth so that it says what they want it to day. The interpretation of events is different on Newsmax, CNN and MSNBC.

You know who does not “spin the truth” or ever lie? God! In Numbers 23:19, it is plain to read that God does not lie. If He says it, He does it. Period. That’s why He is a Promise Keeper.

I have been disappointed many times in life by people who tell me one thing and do another. Or those who tell a “little white lie” to hide the real truth. You know what I am talking about. It’s an easy trap to fall into. Should I tell the truth and risk hurting that person and perhaps losing their friendship? Or should I just lie to protect them? The answer lies in your heart; you tell the truth and let God work things out for you, even though it may not happen immediately.

As you immerse yourself in God’s Word, you learn to recognize truth and to be more accustomed to telling the truth in difficult situations. Jesus didn’t mince words and try to tickle the ears of the Pharisees. He called them out, saying they were vipers, they stole from widows, they prayed to be seen. If Jesus was not afraid to tell the truth, and He is our example, then we should do likewise.

Real truth is not subjective. There is no such thing as your truth and my truth. There is only God’s truth and it is the foundation for all we believe and for what we say to others.

The Purpose of Pruning

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture3 Comments

I am one of those people who wants to hold on to things, even if they are dead branches, because they have become part of my life and I am used to them. But in my devotional today, it was brought to my attention that pruning is a good and necessary thing, for plants and for me.

My source for the usefulness of pruning is Southern Living

Directing Growth: Pruning helps train young trees and shrubs to develop a strong structure. Crossing branches, branches that curve towards the center of the main leader trunk, and multiple leader branches are removed. As a tree grows, the lower branches are often removed to gradually raise the crown of the tree.

Size Reduction: Reduction cuts decrease the height (topping) and spread of a tree or shrub. Pruning also improves the health of the plant by reducing the above-ground portion of the plant relative to the root system. 

Thinning: Removes branches on individual limbs to create even distribution throughout the crown of the tree.  Thinning enhances light penetration and is especially beneficial for trees and shrubs that grow quickly to inhibit overgrowth.

Now, let’t take each of these practical uses and apply the scripture verse to them. Pruning directs the growth and trains the young trees to grow properly. That sounds like a good reason for us to want God to prune us. We don’t want to grow unhindered in all directions and then stop growing because we have gotten too far away from the central trunk system (God) who nourishes us.

Pruning improves the health of the plant by reducing its size. Again, overgrowth means that we are “getting too big for our britches” and may need to be reminded of Who is in control…and it’s not us!

Finally, and most importantly, I think, is the thinning. Notice that this “enhances light penetration.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be big and bushy with lots of branches and then no light getting to the inner parts of me. We need God to be able to shed His light on us as we read and study His Word and talk to Him each day. Thus, we need pruning to get rid of what is not needed so God can water what is needed for us in our spiritual lives.

My conclusion is that pruning is necessary and we need to submit to it as a part of our walk with God. We can’t grow closer to Him if all we want to do is show off all of our new growth. We are to grow for Him, in Him and through Him, and when He says it’s time to be pruned, prayerfully submit and let God have control. After all, what He wants is for our good always in all ways.

What’s Your Target?

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Quotation and Citations1 Comment

I always ask my husband for a target. For example, what is my target time to be ready to leave to go to an appointment? What is the target for the dinner, i.e. what are we supposed to bring? I need a focus, a target to keep me centered.

This shows my desired target every day, all the time.

There are a lot of things in our lives that plead for our attention. There is entertainment on little devices and large televisions, just waiting for us to click. There are phones that ring and mail to be answered, especially that annoyingly cumbersome e-mail. Regardless of how many other things want our time, our time belongs to the Lord first. Then the other things fall in line behind Him. Think about what you spend your time doing and ask yourself if you are giving God enough of your time or only the leftovers. The One who created you and who also made a way for you to have a relationship with Him deserves the head seat at your table, the bullseye for your target every day.

Devoting Yourself

On By vickleaIn Admonition, God’s blessings, prayer, Scripture, YouVersion App1 Comment

What does the word “devote” mean? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, devote is defined as “To give or apply (one’s time, attention, or self, for example) entirely to a particular activity, pursuit, cause, or person.” Now, read that again slowly and think as you read to what or whom you are devoted.

I am devoted to God, my marriage and my family. How do I know? Because I pursue them daily, making them priorities. I get up early each morning and start my day spending time with God in His Word, praying and asking for insight into what I should share on my blog and into what I need to do to follow Him more closely. You know that the Bible says that where your treasure is, that’s where your heart is. What you devote your time to says a lot about your priorities, doesn’t it?

Today’s scripture verse in the Daily Refresh on the YouVersion App says this:

So, we know that this means to apply your attention and time entirely to prayer. What does that look like? I think it means to focus on praying. What are you watching for? I am watching for God to move in my life as I listen for Him to speak to me. And I am always thankful for a new day that starts with prayer.

Prayer doesn’t have to be a long speech to God about all that He has done and all that you want Him to still do. My prayers are actually very simple. I start by naming a character trait of God that I am particularly thankful for that morning. Then, I confess my sins and ask for forgiveness. Then third part of my prayer is to again thank God for something special that He has done for me. And the next part of my prayer is to ask God for mercy and grace for various family members who have needs. I end my prayer with thanksgiving and praise. I know it sounds complicated, but it really only takes less than ten to fifteen minutes. I don’t look at the time, but I know it isn’t too long. But it is a vital part of my day, to just focus on the Lord and have a conversation with Him. It’s a “good morning” greeting to my Maker. Then, I pray to Him throughout the day as any need or thought that I need His guidance comes up. And I always end my day with prayer, too. The time I spend with God in prayer is all His time, no interruptions or conversations. The phone is on silent and away from me. The books I need to read for that day can wait. The chores can wait. That time is God’s and I try very hard not to be distracted or hurry through my time with Him.

God is always there, waiting for us to notice and to spend time with Him. How important would you feel in someone’s life if they never spent time talking to you and then listening to what you had to say? After a while, that kind of relationship would break down. We need to nourish and cherish our relationship with God as it is the foundation for all of our other relationships to which we are devoted. So, devote yourself to prayer? That is a definite “yes” and a resounding praise for time to spend with the Creator of the Universe who always has time for us.

Daily

On By vickleaIn Admonition, encouragement, God’s blessings, promises, Scripture1 Comment

The Cambridge Dictionary says “daily” means “happening on or related to every day.” Of course, you already knew that! And I am sure that you can think of more than a few things that you do daily. For me, what comes to mind immediately is brushing my teeth, taking my meds and checking my blood pressure. But did you know that the Bible talks about doing things “daily” also?

One of the first scriptures I learned about and took to heart was the one in Matthew where Jesus says to give Him your burdens because what He gives in return is easier to bear. In the Old Testament, Psalm 68 encourages us to praise God for daily bearing our burdens. Well, guess what? The Lord cannot bear for us what we are holding onto and refuse to let go of. So, we have to daily lay down our burdens, whatever is worrying us, and trust that God is taking care of it. It’s a habit that I plan to work on because I am not there yet.

I am almost certain that this scripture verse is familiar to all of the Christians here in the blogosphere. Deny, take up your cross and follow…did you see that very important word daily? This is not a once-and-done action. Daily, we deny ourselves. Daily we take up our cross, the life that God has gifted us with along with the purpose that we are fulfilling in Him. And we follow Jesus, daily. We cannot say that, “Well, back in 1973, I became a Christian, so that is all done and I’m on the right road to heaven.” Again, this is a daily commitment to the Lord, not a “I did it, I got the tee shirt and now I am securely on my way to heaven.” Maybe. The assurance comes because we daily re-commit our lives, our everything, to Him. Sometimes, it’s easy to walk backwards and get tangled up in the world’s standards and attractions. That’s why it’s important to daily commit ourselves to our life with God, in God and through God. He is the one who sustains our lives, in every way, including physically, emotionally and most importantly, spiritually. We cannot stay alive spiritually without daily spiritual food. I didn’t eat a meal back in 1973 and tell myself that was all the food I needed for the rest of my life. I need to daily soak in His truth from His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to nourish my soul so that bearing my cross is not a burden but an honor because I am carrying out God’s plan for my life, daily.

We walk by the Spirit daily, with God’s Word hidden in our hearts and with a day that starts right with time with Him. I would no more think of running out the door without brushing my nasty overnight teeth than I would go out without getting dressed first. We cannot even consider being ready to walk by the Spirit daily without preparing ourselves by immersing ourselves in His Word. You may have five minutes, ten minutes, an hour or more to spend in His Word. I don’t think God is as concerned about how much time you give Him as how much quality time you spend daily with Him, getting to know Him better through His Word and devoting time to talking to Him in prayer.

Apollos is named in the scriptures several times by Paul who knew him personally. This verse says he was a “learned man.” Some could say of me that I am “learned.” After all, I have a degree in Spanish and history and a graduate degree in educational administration. But what I consider when I desire to be “learned” is to be versed in the scriptures, in the things that really matter in life, This verse doesn’t leave us to guess what Apollos was learned in because it explains that he had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. That comes, I think, by daily spending time in His Word. In a world full of Katy Perrys and Taylor Swifts, I would rather be like Apollos. Thus, I need to give my time daily to what will benefit my most, to God’s Word, soaking it in and letting it bathe me in truth and light.

So, back to my first question? What do you do daily to spend time with your first priority, which should always be God? Think about it. Schedules may need to be adjusted and time managed differently in order to daily devote yourself to time with the Lord, but I consider it a habit well worth cultivating. Don’t you?

Under Construction

On By vickleaIn Admonition, encouragement, Scripture1 Comment

When you see a sign like this, do you rush to get around it or do you look closely to see how much progress is being made? I think the answer depends on how much you have at stake in the completed project. How interested are you in it, in other words?

We recently had a new Dunkin Donuts being built in a nearby town. My husband who loves all things coffee and donuts commented every time we went by about whether they were making significant progress or not. It was just completed, and of course, he went to check it out. How could he not when he was watching them build it? His interest was piqued and he couldn’t wait to see it all done.

We are all buildings under construction, and sometimes others are interested in what is being built and want to help us along to being completed. Others just want to gawk and keep going. But there is a third group that wants to try to tear down whatever has already been built. How do some help and others tear down? God is the builder, and some help by encouraging us in our walk with Him. We may not have a roof and be leaking, but God is repairing, replacing and restoring as fast as we will allow Him to do so. We have to be open to the changes in our hearts and attitudes that need to occur in order to complete the building. In order to be open to the changes, we need encouragement from others, especially those who have already experienced some of what we are going through.

When we encourage others, we get encouraged ourselves. We are a community of believers, not a one-man show.

The ones who discourage us are those with disparaging remarks, like, “You say you’re a Christian, but I’m just not seeing it.” Or, “If you’re such a good Christian, why do you use the language you do sometimes?” You know what I mean. We are Under Construction, meaning God is still working on us. We are not perfect and probably never will be on this side of heaven. But we keep reaching for that perfection and each time the Holy Spirit leads us away from temptation and toward goodness, we are helping to build the person we are supposed to be. Unbelievers don’t understand the whole thing about not being finished yet. They expect us to be super-Christians, without sin or errors or any humanity left in us. Only Christ would meet their expectations and they don’t believe in Him. The truth is that we all hear more discouraging remarks every day than the positive ones.

I want to encourage you today to build someone up. Think of someone who can use an encouraging word. Call that person, write him/her a note, go to visit them. Just make a point of being an encourager today. Running errands today? Who might you meet that could use an encouraging word? You have a vested interest in the progress of others because they are your brother or sister in the Lord, or even possibly someone with whom you can share your testimony so that’s they can start on the road to salvation themselves. Remember that we reap what we sow, so let’s all of us sow seeds of encouragement. After all, don’t we want to see everyone a completed and perfect work of God? Heaven awaits. Until then, we are all “Under Construction.”

Agur’s Prayer

On By vickleaIn Admonition, encouragement, God’s blessings, Scripture2 Comments

I had not heard this section of scripture called this before, but when I looked it up in my Bible, I found that it is indeed attributed to Agur.

This is a prayer for God to help him not to lie, but it is also a prayer asking for contentment. Notice that he doesn’t want to be impoverished or rich. In our era, the propensity is to want more and more, no matter how much you have. Contentment is fleeting. Agur wants a daily provision so that the doesn’t have too much and then think he doesn’t need the Lord anymore. Nor does he want too little because then he may be tempted to steal which would dishonor God.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone prayed this prayer and meant it? Instead, we are focused on praying for a better car, a larger house, a bounteous feast for Thanksgiving, etc. All we really need is the food to nourish our body every day and a shelter to live in for protection from the weather. That food is really more than bread though. I think it also means the spiritual food that we need daily in order to continue on the right path with God.

Agur had the idea of contentment long before it was a memory verse from the New Testament. I desire to be content like Agur, not too much or too little, but just enough and exactly what I need for every day. God is in the habit of providing what we need when we ask in faith and according to His will. He may even provide some of our wants, too, but we should be content with having our needs met, don’t you think?