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Keep Gleaning

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There’s something powerful about someone who keeps showing up even when life doesn’t make sense. Ruth was that kind of woman.

She wasn’t supposed to be in Bethlehem. She wasn’t supposed to be widowed, poor, or scraping together a life from leftover grain. But that’s exactly where she found herself.

She found herself in a foreign field, picking up scraps behind harvesters. No spotlight. No applause. No guarantee.

But she kept gleaning anyway.

Before we continue, let’s talk about gleaning.

Glean” means to gather leftover grain after the harvesters have gone through the field. It was a law in Israel (Leviticus 19:9–10) that allowed the poor and foreigners to glean so they wouldn’t go hungry.

“9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.”

This was God’s built-in system of provision for the poor, widows, and foreigners like Ruth. It’s a beautiful picture of mercy, dignity, and divine care.

In Ruth 2, we find Ruth asking her mother-in-law Naomi for permission to go into the fields to pick up what the harvesters left behind. She wasn’t demanding a miracle. She was just doing what she could, with what she had and  where she was. That simple obedience set the stage for everything that followed.

Gleaning was humble, exhausting work. It meant bending low, following others, and collecting the leftovers. To anyone watching, Ruth might have looked desperate or even invisible, but what others saw as survival, God saw as faithfulness.

We all have seasons like that – where our work feels thankless, our prayers feel unanswered, and our efforts don’t seem to be producing much. But what you call “barely getting by,” God may just be preparing you for great things.

Ruth wasn’t gleaning just for grain. She was gleaning for purpose, legacy, and divine connection.

Ruth didn’t know it, but someone was paying attention. Boaz, the field’s owner, noticed her faithfulness. He asked his workers about her. He heard how she stayed with Naomi, how she labored without complaint, how she didn’t rush off looking for a better field.

God has a way of putting you in the right place at the right time. Your faithfulness is never wasted.

You don’t have to post everything, promote everything, or explain yourself to everyone. Just keep gleaning. The One who needs to notice will.

Boaz didn’t just acknowledge Ruth. He blessed her. He told her,

“The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” –  Ruth 2:12 (KJV)

Ruth didn’t chase favor. Favor found her in the field.

If you’re feeling overlooked or forgotten, let this remind you: God sees the invisible obedience. He honors the ones who keep serving, keep praying, keep showing up, even when it feels like no one else sees.

Ruth’s story didn’t end in the field. It ended in a legacy. She became the great-grandmother of King David and, eventually, part of the lineage of Christ.

You may not see the full picture yet. You may still be in the middle of your own field bending low, staying faithful, doing what seems small. But there is a God who sees every effort, every tear, every silent act of faith.

Don’t stop now.

The field you’re in today may lead to favor you never imagined. Your gleaning is not in vain. Keep showing up. Keep trusting. Keep gleaning, and I am not speaking about gathering leftover grain but rather humbly, persistently gather what God is making available, even when it feels like little. It’s continuing to show up in obedience, trusting that God is working through the small, unseen things.

It’s like saying :

“I’m still trusting.”

“I’m still showing up in faith, even when life feels like leftovers.”

“I believe God sees me, even here.”

Closing Scripture:

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” – Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

Feeling like you’re in a season of silent obedience?
Share this with someone who needs the reminder that faithfulness still matters. Leave a comment with “I’m still gleaning” if you’re trusting God in a quiet season. Let’s encourage one another to keep going.

You Won’t Stay In This Pit

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A short reflection from Jeremiah 38

By Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew

Life has a way of throwing us into pits. I am not talking about physical holes in the ground but in deep places of struggle, pain, and isolation. Sometimes, those pits are emotional, where despair and loneliness seem to have trapped us. Sometimes they’re spiritual, where faith feels buried beneath doubt or unanswered prayers. Sometimes they’re mental or physical, where exhaustion and weariness make it hard to see beyond the present moment.

Jeremiah, a prophet of God, knew what it meant to be thrown into such a pit. He wasn’t there because of wrongdoing or failure. No, Jeremiah was imprisoned because he spoke the truth God had given him, words many didn’t want to hear. And when you stand for what is right, it’s easy to become a target.

In Jeremiah 38:6, we read:
“Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon, there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.” –  Jeremiah 38:6 (KJV)

Imagine that: sinking in mud, alone, surrounded by darkness, without food or water, left to suffer. This was not only a physical pit but also a metaphor for the spiritual and emotional trenches many of us find ourselves in at times.

Maybe today, your heart feels just like that cistern. You’ve done what’s right, yet you’re misunderstood. You’ve tried your best, but the weight of the world presses down. You feel stuck, no light, no escape.

But the story doesn’t end there.

God Sees You

Jeremiah’s rescue didn’t come from the powerful king or a grand miracle. Instead, it came from a palace official named Ebed-Melech, a man of courage and compassion. Seeing Jeremiah’s plight, he spoke up, asking for permission to rescue the prophet. Then, with careful preparation, he lowered ropes and cloths so Jeremiah could be pulled out without injury.

This simple act reminds us that God sees us even in our darkest moments. Our suffering isn’t invisible to Him. He notices our pain and is actively working, even when we don’t immediately see it.

When you feel unseen or forgotten, hold on to this truth: You are seen by the One who matters most.

Help Often Comes Unexpectedly

Ebed-Melech was not a king, a priest, or a prophet. He was a palace servant, an unlikely rescuer. But God used him to bring help.

In your own struggles, the help you need might not arrive in the way you expect. It might come from a friend, a stranger, a family member, or an unexpected opportunity. It might be a quiet word of encouragement or a small act of kindness.

Don’t overlook the ways God works through ordinary people to bring rescue and restoration. Be open to the unexpected ropes being lowered into your life.

The Pit is Not Your Final Place

Jeremiah’s time in the cistern was painful and isolating, but it was temporary. God lifted him out not simply to save him from pain but to prepare him for the work still ahead. Jeremiah’s mission to speak God’s truth and guide his people continued.

Your current struggles, though deep and difficult, are not the end of your story. They are a part of your journey, a season of refining and preparation.

God doesn’t waste your pain. He uses it to strengthen you for what’s next.

Here is some practical encouragement for your Pit Season:

Hold On to Hope: When it feels like all is lost, remember God’s faithfulness in past seasons. Write down moments when God came through before and revisit them in tough times.

Reach Out: Don’t be afraid to ask for help or accept it. Like Ebed-Melech, there are people willing to be your rope. You might just need to let them.

Pray for Strength: Even when you feel weak, prayer is powerful. Ask God to sustain your heart and renew your courage daily.

Rest and Restore: Like Jeremiah, who was rescued carefully to avoid injury, care for yourself gently. Rest is part of the rescue.

I took time to think of how Jeremiah must have felt. I am no poet but probably if he wrote a poem of his experience, it may have sounded like this.


              “From the Depths”

I sat in silence, thick with doubt,
Where hope and light were both shut out.
The walls were cold, the sky was gone,
And all I had was holding on.

But even there, in sinking clay,
A whisper stirred the dark away.
Not thunder, fire, or earthquake near
Just one soft truth: “I see you here.”

A rope came down, not grand or bright,
But strong enough to pull me right.
Not just to save, but to restore
To teach me, I was made for more.

And if that speaks to where you are today, let this verse be your reminder:

“He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” – Psalm 40:2 (KJV)

So today, even if you’re in a pit, keep trusting. Keep holding on. Your God is near, and your rescue is already on the way. Don’t give up now. You are closer to the surface than you think.

Reset!

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When the Crash Comes After the Climb

Two days ago,  I accompanied my father and a brother, to the countryside. A place filled with good memories, where I had gone to school many moons ago. The scenery, the stillness, and the nostalgia all felt like a breath of fresh air. I returned feeling uplifted, even renewed.

But then came the crash.

Yesterday, I woke up in pain. Unexpected. Unwelcome. Unrelenting. The kind that doesn’t just interrupt your schedule. It hits your heart. It’s that jarring moment when you realize: this battle isn’t over.

I have a feeling that someone who is reading this may be experiencing something similar.

You’ve been through the valley before. You’ve fought, prayed, trusted, and waited. And slowly, you began to see the light again. The strength started to return. Your body felt more capable. You are ministering, showing up, and pressing on. There was hope again. You could breathe again. You can now move ahead with your plans.

And then, the pain reappears. The challenge resurfaces as a cruel reminder that the journey isn’t finished.

It hits physically, but it also hits emotionally. This can even shake your walk with Christ. You begin to ask, Lord, why again? Why now?

But here’s what I’ve come to know:

He sees. He knows. He cares.

“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” –  Matthew 28:20 (KJV)

In moments like these, the real challenge isn’t just in the pain itself. It’s in the reset. The spiritual recalibration. The act of saying, Lord, I trust You again today, even in this.

Because sometimes the hardest battles are fought, not when everything is falling apart, but when everything is just starting to feel normal again.

But remember this: You’re not alone. And you don’t have to feel ashamed.

There are others who have walked closely with God, who hit these same emotional and spiritual crossroads. Those who we see as Giants of the faith have faced hard resets. What’s the reset I speak of?

Moments when pain, fear, and fatigue brought them a fresh reminder of the need for total dependency on God. In situations like these, the reality is that this moment is just between you and God.

Let’s take Elijah, for example.
Elijah was a prophet who had just experienced a mountaintop moment –  literally. He stood boldly on Mount Carmel, challenging the prophets of Baal in a dramatic showdown. Fire came down from heaven. The people fell on their faces. The false prophets were defeated. It was a spiritual victory like no other.

But shortly after that high point, something shifted.

Word came that Queen Jezebel wanted him dead. This one threat, after such a great moment of power, sent Elijah spiraling into fear and despair. He ran for his life, leaving behind his servant, and went alone into the wilderness. He didn’t just run physically. He ran emotionally. At one point, he sat under a tree and prayed a heartbreaking prayer:

“It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
– 1 Kings 19:4 (KJV)

Can you hear the exhaustion in that? The weariness? This wasn’t just fear. It was burnout. Elijah,  the man of fire and courage, had hit a wall. His physical fatigue had collided with emotional emptiness.

But here’s the beautiful part: God didn’t scold him. He didn’t tell him to “snap out of it” or “have more faith.” Instead, God sent an angel to minister to him.

The angel didn’t preach. He brought food and told him to rest.

“Arise and eat because the journey is too great for thee.” – 1 Kings 19:7 (KJV)

Elijah slept, ate, and slept again. It was God’s gentle way of saying: I see you. I know you’re tired. I’m not done with you, but first – rest.

Later, God led him to Mount Horeb, where Elijah hid in a cave. And when God finally spoke, it wasn’t through the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. It was through a still small voice.

That whisper carried more power than the fire on Carmel.

It was God’s reminder: Even when you’re broken, I am still here. Even when you’re empty, I will carry you.
So What About You?

Maybe today you’re in that same space.

You thought the worst was behind you. You felt stronger. You were stepping back into your calling. And then, out of nowhere, a flare-up, a bad report, a wave of exhaustion or pain, something that reminded you: the battle is still real.

It’s okay to grieve that moment. It’s okay to feel the weight of it.

But don’t stop there.

Talk to Him. Cry out to Him. Hit reset.

He’s still God in the pain. Still present in the crash. Still worthy of trust in the in-between.

Your story isn’t over. And you’re not the only one who has to pause, breathe, and reset their faith.

Some of the greatest testimonies come not from those who never fell, but from those who got back up again and again, leaning on the strength of God.

Let’s Talk:
Have you ever faced a moment when the reminder of illness or struggle threatened to undo the progress you’d made? How did you find your footing again in God? Share your heart. Someone else may be walking through the same thing right now.

A Life That Honors God

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Day 5: Walking in Wisdom Series

Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Let’s be honest. Trusting God sounds easier than it feels. That is particularly true when life isn’t going the way you hoped, when answers aren’t coming fast enough, or when your understanding says, “This doesn’t make any sense.”

We’re taught to plan, prepare, analyze, and make good decisions. And that’s not wrong. But Proverbs invites us into something deeper:
A way of living where trust isn’t a backup plan. It’s the foundation.

All Means All

This verse doesn’t say “trust the Lord with the parts of your heart you’re comfortable surrendering.”
Nope. It says:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.”

* That includes the areas you don’t talk about.
* The things you still worry about.
* The decisions that feel risky.
* The relationships that are hard to navigate.
* The future that feels fuzzy and uncertain.

Wisdom says: Don’t just hand God your Sundays. Hand Him your schedule, your struggles, your ambition, and your wounds.

And not just in theory but also in practice. In all your ways, acknowledge Him. That means: “God, I want You in this. I don’t want to move forward unless You’re leading the way.”

Stop Leaning on the Wrong Thing

Have you ever leaned on something, and it gave out? It’s not a great feeling. That’s what happens when we lean too much on our own understanding. It looks sturdy. It feels logical. But it’s limited.

God sees the full picture. We see fragments. He sees the next five years. We see the next five minutes. So when the Bible says not to lean on our own understanding, it’s not because our thoughts don’t matter. It’s because they can’t carry the weight of the future.

And here’s the good news:
When we stop leaning on ourselves and begin leaning on Him, He directs our paths not just vaguely but intentionally.
He leads us where we need to go sometimes, with clarity and sometimes through closed doors. But it’s always with purpose.

What Honoring God Looks Like

To honor God isn’t just to obey a list of rules. It’s to say, “God, I trust You more than I trust me.”

When you take a job not because it pays the most, but because it’s where He’s leading, that’s honoring God. When you walk away from a relationship that’s pulling you out of alignment, that’s honoring God. When you say “yes” to a calling that scares you but keeps showing up in your spirit, that’s honoring God. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s always wise because when you honor God with your life, you place yourself under the covering of His direction.

Walking in Wisdom This Week

As we bring this five-day journey through Proverbs to a close, here’s the heart of it all: Wisdom isn’t just about knowing what’s right. It’s about surrendering to the One who is right. Always.

So here’s the final challenge for the week:

What’s one area of your life that you need to stop trying to control?

What’s one decision where you need to pause and ask, “God, what would You have me do?”

What path do you need to trust Him to direct even if it doesn’t make sense right now?

You don’t have to figure it all out.
You just have to trust the One who already has.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I want to live a life that honors You, not just in church, but in every detail of my days. Teach me to trust You with all my heart. Help me to stop leaning on my limited understanding and instead acknowledge You in every decision. I surrender my plans, my fears, and my future to You. Direct my paths. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

✨ Call to Action:

Where in your life are you learning to trust God more deeply right now?
👇 Share your thoughts or message privately if you’d rather. Let’s finish the week strong? walking in wisdom, together.

Walk With The Wise

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Day 4: Walking in Wisdom series

Proverbs 13:20 (KJV)
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

There’s a saying: “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” Sounds dramatic, but the older I get, the more I see just how true it is. Proverbs doesn’t beat around the bush here. It draws a clear line:
Who you walk with, who you spend your time with will influence the direction of your life.

Not might.
Not maybe.
Will.

The fact is we absorb more than we realize.

Spend enough time around gossip, and your words start sounding like whispers behind someone’s back. Hang out with people who constantly complain, and suddenly, your blessings start feeling like burdens. Stick with people who take their faith seriously, and before long, you’re praying more, believing more, and growing in ways you didn’t expect.

Why?
Because proximity leads to influence.The atmosphere you live in will shape your mindset, your habits, and even your standards.

It’s not a comfortable truth, but Proverbs says it plainly:
“…a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

In other words, you can be wise all you want, but if you’re walking with foolish people, their path becomes your path.

It doesn’t matter if you’re not doing what they’re doing. Just being in that space long enough will wear you down, or worse, draw you in.

Think about Lot in the Bible. He had the opportunity to walk in wisdom. But he chose to live near Sodom, and the rest is a sobering story. Sometimes destruction doesn’t come from our own foolishness, but from who we’ve chosen to keep close.

Choose Your Circle on Purpose

This doesn’t mean we cut off everyone who’s struggling or imperfect (we’d all be friendless if that were the case!).
But it does mean we ask:

1. Who are the people I’m letting influence my decisions?

2. Do they pull me toward God or distract me from Him?

3. Do they challenge me to grow or enable me to stay stuck?

4. When I leave their presence, do I feel built up or drained?

Wisdom isn’t just about who you follow. Walking with the wise doesn’t mean everyone in your life needs to be a spiritual giant. It just means your closest relationships should reflect the direction you want your life to go.

One of the best ways to walk with the wise is to intentionally seek out voices of wisdom. That could be a spiritual mentor, a godly friend who doesn’t just tell you what you want to hear but what you need to hear. Seeking voices of wisdom also includes your choice of books, podcasts, or teachings that stir your spirit and expand your understanding.

Let’s normalize this:
You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Ask questions. Learn from someone else’s journey. There’s wisdom in connection. Don’t let pride keep you isolated when God wants to use someone to pour into you.

Walking in Wisdom This Week

Here’s a challenge for this week:
Take inventory of your inner circle.
Not with judgment or comparison, but with clarity. Who’s helping you grow?
Who’s holding you back? What adjustments might you need to make to walk more closely with wisdom?

If you realize your circle is lacking the kind of people you want to become, pray. Ask God to bring those connections.
He’s faithful to send the right people at the right time.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, help me walk with the wise. Show me where I’ve been influenced by the wrong voices. Give me discernment in relationships, and surround me with people who push me closer to You. Help me also be someone others can walk with in wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

✨ Call to Action:

What’s one relationship in your life that’s been shaping you lately?
👇 Share your thoughts or send a message, and let’s talk about how to walk in wisdom together.

Watch Your Words

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Day 3: Walking in Wisdom Series


Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”


Words. Just a few letters strung together, but they carry the power to lift someone up or tear them all the way down.

It’s wild when you think about it. God created the world with words, yet we sometimes throw ours around like they don’t matter. But here is something to take away from today’s post – your words do matter. Proverbs makes it clear: our words are not neutral. They either speak life or they speak death. There is no middle ground.

You can tell a lot about what’s going on in a person’s heart by what’s coming out of their mouth. Joy, bitterness, pride, compassion,  wisdom, or even foolishness. All of it eventually makes its way out through our lips.

The Everyday Power of the Tongue

Think about your past week or the past few days or even years. How have you used your words?

* Did someone feel encouraged after talking to you?

* Did your words at home reflect patience or frustration?

* Did you vent more than you prayed?

* Did you speak about others in ways you wouldn’t if they were in the room?

We often underestimate the power of everyday conversations. But wisdom says what you say can shift the atmosphere in your home, your workplace, and even your own mental state.

When the verse says “they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof,” it means what you sow, you reap, speak bitterness, and bitterness grows. Speak truth and grace, and you’ll see those things multiply in your life.


Life or Death – It’s Your Choice

I once heard someone say, “Your mouth is either building a future you’ll be glad to live in or one you’ll wish you could escape.”


It’s easy to speak without thinking, to joke in ways that cut others down or to “keep it real” without keeping it loving. Wisdom calls us to do more. The truth is that your words are a tool, and like any tool, they can build or destroy. This means that we need to dispel the myth that “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can do me no harm.”

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself today:

1. When you speak to your children, are you building them?

2. When you talk about your spouse, are you affirming or tearing down?

3. When you talk about yourself, are you declaring truth or repeating lies?

What you say shapes what you see. It creates the climate you live in.

Check the Source

If your words are constantly sharp, critical, or negative, it’s not just a “personality trait.” It’s a heart issue.

Scripture tells us:

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34 (KJV)

So maybe the real question is:  What’s filling your heart right now?

* Are you spending time in the Word, soaking in truth?

* Are you letting gratitude shape your thinking?

* Or is your heart overflowing with frustration, offense, or fear?


If the heart is the reservoir, the mouth is the faucet. What comes out reveals what’s been building up.

Walking in Wisdom This Week

Here’s the challenge this week: Pay attention to your words, not just when you’re in “church mode,” but when you’re:

* stuck in traffic

* scrolling through social media

* talking to yourself after making a mistake

* joking around with friends

* venting at the end of a long day

Every moment is an opportunity to either release life or something else.

Choose life.

Speak it over your situation.
Speak it over your family.
Speak it over your mind.
Speak it over your calling.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, help me to be mindful of my words. I don’t want to speak carelessly. I want to speak life. Let my words reflect Your heart and bring encouragement to others. Keep me sensitive to the impact of what I say, and teach me to honor You with my tongue. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


✨ Call to Action:

What’s one area where you need to speak more intentionally over yourself, someone else, or a situation?
👇 Drop a comment or message. Let’s grow together in wisdom and in speech.

Guard Your Heart

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Day 2: Walking in Wisdom Series


Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

We don’t really think about it, but our hearts are always open. Open to words, experiences, people, and environments. The question is: what’s getting in?

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt drained, even though no one said a word to you? Or maybe you scrolled through your phone for five minutes and suddenly felt discouraged, irritated, or envious?

That’s not random. That’s your heart reacting to what’s been allowed in.

Proverbs 4:23 is one of those verses we’ve probably heard before, but it’s one that hits differently the more we grow.


“Guard your heart with all diligence…”


Why? Because your heart sets the direction of your life. What gets in will eventually shape how you think, how you speak, how you treat people, and how you see yourself and God.

Think of your heart like the control room in a movie or music studio. It may be tucked away, but what happens there affects everything else.

If the enemy wants to derail your purpose, he doesn’t need to break your leg or crash your car. He just needs to sneak into your heart, drop in a little bitterness, plant a seed of insecurity, get you distracted by comparison, or let one lie sit long enough to become a mindset.
Before you know it, your thoughts are foggy, your prayers feel dry, and your joy gets low.

That’s why Proverbs doesn’t say “visit your heart once a year.” It says:
Guard it with all diligence.
In other words, be intentional. Stay alert. Do heart checks often.

Heart Inventory Moment

Let’s pause and do a quick heart scan.

* What have you been feeding your heart lately?

* Are you spending more time consuming negativity than meditating on truth?

* What shows, music, social media, or even conversations have been shaping your thinking?

* Who are the voices you’re letting influence your emotions?


Listen, I’m not saying everything in life has to be “super spiritual” all the time. But wisdom says pay attention because whatever you allow in your heart will eventually lead your steps.

Now, here’s a key thing: guarding your heart doesn’t mean building a wall. We’re not called to be cold, closed-off, or suspicious of everyone and everything.

Guarding your heart simply means being selective.
It means you start asking questions like:

* Is this feeding my faith or draining it?

* Is this drawing me closer to God or slowly pulling me away?

* Does this relationship help me grow, or is it sabotaging my peace?

And when the answer’s clear, have the courage to make a shift.

It might mean putting the phone down more often.
It might mean curating your feed, your playlist, and your habits.

But the goal isn’t just protection. It’s preservation of purpose.

So what does it look like to guard your heart this week? Here are a few answers to this question:

1. Wake up and invite God in before you invite the internet in.

2. Notice what triggers stress, comparison, or discouragement, and bring that to God.

3. Choose worship, truth, and Scripture over negativity and noise.

4. Don’t ignore red flags in your thoughts. Address them early.


A guarded heart stays soft toward God and firm against foolishness. Over time, that kind of heart becomes a wellspring of peace, clarity, and strength.


A Simple Prayer

Lord, help me to guard my heart this week. Not with fear but with wisdom. Show me what needs to stay and what needs to go. Let my heart be a place where Your truth lives and grows. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

✨ Call to Action:

What’s one practical step you can take this week to guard your heart more intentionally?
💬 Leave a comment or message—I’d love to hear how God is leading you.

The Beginning of Wisdom

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Walking in Wisdom Series – Day 1


Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”


Have you ever had one of those moments where you realized you didn’t know as much as you thought you did?

Maybe it was in a conversation where you spoke too quickly and later wished you had listened more. Or a situation where you rushed ahead, confident you had it figured out, only to hit a wall.

Proverbs has this way of gently tapping us on the shoulder and saying, “Slow down. Let’s start with what really matters.” And in this very first chapter, verse 7, we’re told exactly where wisdom begins: with the fear of the Lord.

Now, let’s clear this up before going any further. “Fear” in this particular instance doesn’t mean being afraid of God like He’s waiting to strike us down. It’s about reverence or respect. It’s recognizing that God knows better than we do and that His way is the best way even when it doesn’t make sense to us in the moment.

We live in a time where people chase after advice from YouTube videos, self-help books, motivational quotes, and the latest “life hack.” And hey, there’s nothing wrong with learning from others. But the Bible is clear: real wisdom begins not with Google but with God. And here’s the twist. It’s not just about having knowledge. You can have five degrees and still make foolish choices. Wisdom is more about posture than IQ.

It’s a heart posture that says:

“Lord, I don’t want to just do life my way. I want to do it Your way.”

When we start from that place, when we truly reverence God, seek His guidance, and acknowledge Him as Lord, our steps begin to align with purpose.

Think about this: What if you filtered every major decision in your life – job, relationships, finances, and how you spend your time through the question:
“Does this honor God?”

It’s a simple question, but it can completely shift how you live.

* Instead of just chasing success, you begin to pursue significance.

* Instead of reacting to people “in your feelings,” you start responding with grace.

* Instead of leaning on your understanding, you slow down and pray first.

Sounds countercultural, right? But that’s what wisdom looks like in God’s Kingdom. It begins with putting Him first, not as an afterthought, not just when we’re desperate. But first.

I have had seasons where I leaned more on my own logic than on God’s leading. I’ve made decisions that looked good on paper but left me feeling empty inside. And every time, I’m reminded: Wisdom doesn’t begin with confidence in self. It begins with surrender to God.

Some of the wisest people I know aren’t loud or flashy, but they walk with quiet strength and peace. You can tell they’ve spent time with God. You can tell they fear the Lord, not in a trembling, terrified way, but in a deeply honoring, trusting way.

So, as we start this week, I want to challenge you (and myself) to ask this question often: “Am I honoring God in this?”

* In how I talk to others?

* In the way I spend my free time?

* In the decisions I’m making?

* In what I’m allowing into my heart and mind?

Let’s stop trying to impress the world with our smarts and start impressing heaven with our surrender.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, teach me to walk in wisdom. Help me to honor You in my thoughts, my words, and my decisions. I don’t want to lean on my own understanding. I want to start with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

✨ Call to Action:

What’s one area of your life where you’re learning to put God first right now?
👇 I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment. Let’s walk in purpose together.

Finishing Strong: Finding Purpose in the Final Stretch

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Let’s be honest, by the time Friday rolls around, we’re running on fumes. The early-week motivation fades, our to-do lists are half-complete (if all that), and we’re tempted to just coast into the weekend. It’s easy to think, “At least I made it.” But what if there’s still purpose in these final hours of the week? What if finishing well matters more than we realize?

In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul said something powerful:

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”  2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)

Now, Paul was reflecting on a lifetime of ministry, but this principle applies to our everyday lives too. Each week is a journey, and every Friday is a small finish line. Whether this week brought breakthroughs or battles, the way we close it off matters.

Let’s talk about what it means to finish strong, even if the week didn’t go as planned.

1. Pause and Reflect

Before you check out mentally, take a moment to reflect. What did God do in your life this week? What moments made you pause, grow, or lean on Him more?

Some weeks are filled with clear victories. Others feel more like a blur of stress, decisions, and trying to stay afloat. But even in those weeks, God is still working.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

Gratitude shifts our mindset. Instead of seeing a week full of things we didn’t finish, we begin to notice the grace that carried us through.

2. Let Go of What You Can’t Carry

We all carry things from day to day: stress, unfinished plans, or words we wish we’d said differently. But God never meant for us to drag that weight from one week into the next.

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

Read that again – He cares for you. That means you can drop the baggage at His feet. Whatever didn’t go right this week, give it to Him. You’re not meant to carry everything.

You may have missed a deadline, lost your temper, or just felt distant from God. He’s not waiting to scold you. He’s waiting to help you reset.

3. Stop Relying on Your Own Strength

Sometimes we push so hard to “power through” the week that we forget where our strength comes from. God doesn’t want you to grind your way to Friday. He wants you to lean on Him all the way through.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 (KJV)

Finishing strong isn’t about pushing yourself to the limit. It’s about surrender. It’s about saying, “Lord, I don’t have much left, but I trust You to carry me the rest of the way.”

When we shift from striving to surrendering, we find strength we didn’t even know we had.

4. Rest with Purpose

Rest is not just something you deserve after a hard week. It’s something God designed for you. From the very beginning, He modeled rest, not because He needed it, but because He knew we would.

The kind of rest i that restores you isn’t mindless scrolling or just crashing on the couch. True rest comes from being in God’s presence. It’s a chance to realign, refocus, and reconnect with the One who’s carried you this far.

So don’t just fall into the weekend. Step into it with peace, knowing that your rest is holy.

5. Purpose Doesn’t Clock Out on Fridays

Even when the workweek ends, your purpose doesn’t. God still wants to use you – your words, your presence, and your kindness through the weekend.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

He hasn’t stopped working in you just because it’s Friday, and He hasn’t forgotten the plans He has for your life.

Finishing strong means choosing to believe that this week had meaning, even the messy, confusing parts. It means walking into the weekend with hope, not heaviness.

Final Thoughts

You may not have done everything you wanted to this week. But if you kept going, kept praying, kept trusting, you finished well. Not perfectly, but faithfully.

So today, take a breath. Lay down the pressure, look back with grace, and look forward with hope. God is still with you, and He’s not finished with you yet.

Finish strong – not in your strength, but in His.

A Fish’s Perspective

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I had been swimming in the deep for what seemed like hours. The water was cool, clear, and teeming with life. I darted in and out of the shadows, blending with the ebb and flow of the ocean. For a while, everything was peaceful, just the gentle push of the current against my scales, the occasional flicker of light from above, and the murmur of distant sounds.
 
Then, without warning, something shifted in the water.
 
A small flicker of movement caught my attention. I paused, my instincts on high alert. The surface above seemed calm, but there was something strange – a vibration, a subtle ripple, something different from the usual flow.
 
I swam closer, curious, wondering if this was something I should investigate.
 
At first, I thought it was just another part of the underwater dance, some fleeting debris, or perhaps an old piece of seaweed. But as I drew closer, I saw it clearly now: a glinting object, shining brightly beneath the water’s surface. It moved ever so slightly, beckoning me closer, almost as if it were an invitation.
 
The light danced off of it, reflecting in such a way that it seemed… alive.
 
And I was drawn to it. There was something enticing about it, something I couldn’t resist. Without thinking, I darted toward it, the glittering object promising a meal, or …. something. As I closed in, I moved faster, my heart quickened, my instincts now drowned out by the lure’s pull.
 
And then… snap.
 
Before I even realized it, I felt the sharp tug, the sudden weight that yanked me upward, away from everything I had known. My body was pulled from the safety of the depths and dragged toward the surface, the water no longer surrounding me but feeling like a far-off memory.
 
I fought against it. I twisted and turned, trying to break free, but the pull was relentless. The world above me seemed so strange, bright, harsh, and filled with unfamiliar sounds. The weight of the hook pressed into my mouth, and I was trapped. There was no escaping. My body flailed helplessly as I was lifted further and further from the water.
 
And then, I was there, hanging in midair, suspended by the very thing I had been drawn to. The light that had seemed so inviting now felt foreign and overpowering. I had crossed the line, gone beyond the depths that once gave me safety and peace. And now I was caught.
 
In that moment, I felt a mixture of fear, confusion, and resignation. Why had I swum toward that glittering object? Why hadn’t I just kept to my path in the depths, away from the unknown, the danger that now held me captive?
 
As I hung there, suspended by the line, I realized something. The surface wasn’t just a place of danger. It wasn’t all bad. The fisherman who had cast the line wasn’t there to harm me. He had a purpose—a plan that, though I couldn’t fully understand it, was about to change my journey in ways I could not yet fathom. He saw me. He cared enough to cast the line and bring me to a new place, a new understanding.
 
What I had seen as a threat was actually the beginning of a new chapter in my life—a transformation, not an end. Though I was caught, I was not forgotten.
 
Through The Eyes of The Catch
 
From the fish’s perspective, we can reflect on our own journeys. How many times have we been drawn by the glittering promises of life, tempted by what seems like a good thing only to find ourselves caught in situations we didn’t expect? How often do we swim along, unbothered, until something catches our attention, and we make a choice, not realizing the potential cost? It’s easy to be drawn to what shines, but just like the fish, sometimes we end up caught by the very things we thought would bring us fulfillment.
 
Yet, even in moments of being “caught,” we can recognize that God has a plan. What seems like a snare is part of the process of our transformation. The fisherman’s line, much like God’s hand, may pull us out of our comfort zones, but it is also the very means by which He draws us closer to His purpose. The catch is not a punishment but an invitation to a greater purpose.
 
 
Reflection
 
In life, there are many things that can tempt us away from the path we know is right. They shine and glitter, promising fulfillment, security, and satisfaction. But, just as the fish is drawn to the lure, we, too, are sometimes lured by things that seem good at first, only to find ourselves in a struggle, unsure of what to do next.
 
The fish’s journey reminds us that sometimes, we’re caught not because of malice but because of a greater plan, a plan we don’t fully understand at the moment. When we find ourselves in situations where we feel trapped or pulled in unexpected directions, it’s important to remember that God’s hand is still at work. He may be pulling us out of our comfort zones to teach us something new, to transform us in ways we can’t yet see.
 
Reflect on a time when you felt drawn to something that ended up being more challenging than you anticipated. What did God teach you through that experience?
 
Are there areas of your life where you’re tempted by the “glittering lures” of the world? How can you seek God’s wisdom before making decisions?
 
Just as the fisherman had a purpose in catching the fish, what purpose might God be working in your life right now, even in the midst of challenges?
 
Your Personal Reflection
 
Reflect on a time when you were “lured” by something you thought would bring fulfillment but later realized wasn’t what you expected. How did God help you through that experience?
 
 
In what areas of your life do you need to pause and assess whether you’re being drawn by the right things? How can you better align your desires with God’s will?
 
 
How can you trust God’s plan, even when you don’t understand why He’s allowing you to go through certain situations?
 
 
Prayer
 
Lord, give me eyes to see beyond myself. Help me consider the lives I touch, the people I encounter, and the impact of my words and actions. From the fish’s perspective, what feels like pursuit might be fear, and what seems like provision might bring discomfort. Teach me to walk gently, speak wisely, and act with compassion.
 
May I never become so focused on the catch that I forget the soul. Slow me down, that I might listen. Soften me, that I might understand. And shape me into someone who reflects Your heart, even when seen from the other side of the line.
 
In Jesus’ name, Amen

A Fish’s Perspective is just one chapter from the upcoming book
Lines in the Water – Spiritual Lessons from Fishing,
a 6-part Devotional/Guided Journal series by Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew.

🎣 Ready to dive deeper?
📖 The full book releases this August on Amazon.

Join the journey of faith, reflection, and transformation one cast, one lesson, one page at a time.

Stay connected through the Steps of Purpose Blog for more exclusive previews, insights, and updates from upcoming books.