Author: Ryan Shinn

True Wisdom – Proverbs 3:1–8

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

At its core, the passage is about wisdom, not as something acquired through intelligence, education, or experience alone, but as something that flows out of a right relationship with God.

For me, this passage is a reminder that wisdom does not come from being well-read or well-informed, even though those things have value. Real wisdom comes from trusting God rather than relying on my own reasoning. That is not always comfortable. I tend to believe that if I think long enough or analyze deeply enough, I can figure things out. This passage pushes back against that instinct. It says that understanding begins with trust, not control.

What I need to do is seek God first, not as a last resort after my own ideas fail. His answers may not align with my expectations, and they may even contradict with what feels logical to me at the time. But God sees what I cannot. His perspective is broader, deeper, and far more reliable than my own. Trusting him is not a loss of independence. It is the beginning of real wisdom.

Refuge – Psalm 46:1–11

Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

This psalm speaks to people living in a world that feels unstable. The writer describes upheaval in the natural world and chaos among nations. Mountains fall, waters rage, kingdoms rise and collapse. None of that is minimized. Instead, the reader is called to respond by trusting God, who stands above both nature and history. Peace does not come from control or certainty, but from knowing that God remains present and powerful no matter what is happening around them.

It is easy for me to get distracted by the size and scope of world events. In our time, that distraction often comes through politics, conflict, and constant news. Those things can feel overwhelming and even decisive, as if they are the main story. This psalm reminds me that they are not. God is not reacting to history. He rules over it. The natural world and human affairs are both under his authority.

What I need to do is resist the temptation to treat my problems or the news cycle as the ultimate reality. That way of thinking places far too much weight on human power and far too little on God. Staying close to him puts everything back into proper proportion. Reading this Psalm, I am reminded of a line I had on a poster as a kid, a simple prayer asking God to “help me be a winner in his eyes first, and only then in my own.” That perspective matters. God is my refuge, despite the constant upheaval around me, and that is where my confidence belongs.

Being a Blessing – Jeremiah 29:1–14

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This passage is very specific about timing and context. God is speaking to people who have been forcibly removed from their home and are living under a foreign power. False prophets were telling them that rescue was coming quickly, that Babylon would fall, and that triumph would come soon.

God corrects that message directly. The exile would last longer than they wanted, and instead of resisting or withdrawing, they were commanded to build lives, raise families, pray for Babylon, and seek its welfare. That would have been a hard message to hear. God does promise restoration, but not before calling his people to be faithful right where they were.

Reading this today, I cannot help but think about how easy it is to speak negatively about the place I live. It is common to focus on what is wrong, what feels broken, or what we disagree with. Yet God did not tell his people to undermine Babylon or curse it. He told them to pray for it and contribute to its good. Their well-being was tied to the well-being of the place they lived, even though it was not their ideal home, or even a place that honored God. That principle still matters. Christians are called to be a stabilizing and hopeful presence, not a hostile one.

What I need to do is be intentional about making the place I am in better because I am in it. People rarely respond well to constant opposition, but they do notice humility, service, and positivity. God is often known to outsiders through the way his people live among them. I want to be clearer about what I am for, not just what I am against, and to be a blessing even when I disagree. That kind of action is not as flashy, but it is deeply biblical.

Watchfulness – 1 Peter 5:6–11

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

The original readers of this passage were living with real danger. Following Jesus was not just inconvenient or unpopular; it could expose them to suffering, imprisonment, or death. When Peter warned them about the devil prowling like a lion, they may not have thought first about temptation in a private sense. They likely thought about exposure, betrayal, and physical harm. In that light, Peter’s call to humility, shared suffering within the Christian community, and God’s promise to restore and strengthen them makes a lot of sense. This was not abstract theology. It was instruction for survival and faithfulness.

My own suffering is far smaller by comparison, but that does not mean it is meaningless to God. It is easy to treat my own struggles as the center of the story. Peter reminds me that suffering does not make me exceptional, and blessing does not make me entitled. I have far more to be thankful for than I usually acknowledge, and humility keeps that gratitude honest.

What I need to do is stay humble and alert without being afraid. I am not facing threats to my life because of my faith, but I do face dangers of pride, distraction, and drifting away. The enemy often works more subtly now, through self-focus rather than fear. Humility is the safeguard. God is strong enough to protect, restore, and establish me. My role is to trust him, remain watchful, and remember who I am and who he is.

Fear & Courage – Psalm 31:19–24

Psalm 31:24 (NIV)
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”

David writes this psalm from a place of having come through distress. This passage is about fearing God, not man, and then taking courage because God will protect and provide. God saw, protected, and provided—even when it felt impossible. What begins as a cry of need resolves into confidence and praise.

This is not a shallow optimism. David does not deny danger or suffering. Instead, he testifies that God’s faithfulness extends even into moments where rescue seems unlikely. Because of that experience, he turns outward at the end of the psalm and calls others to be strong and courageous—not because life is easy, but because the Lord is trustworthy.

For me, this passage is a reminder that strength is not found in self-reliance or clever plans. It is found in trusting God’s character. Fearing the Lord does not mean living in anxiety or dread. It means recognizing who He is—and who I am not. God does not ask me to outmaneuver my problems. He asks me to place my hope in Him, knowing that He sees more, knows more, and can act where I cannot.

Following Rules – Mark 2:23–28

“Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’” (Mark 2:27, ESV)

Jesus and His disciples are walking through grainfields on the Sabbath, doing something ordinary and necessary: eating. The religious leaders object, not because anyone was harmed, but because a rule was violated. In response, Jesus reaches back to Scripture itself, reminding them of David eating the consecrated bread when necessity demanded it.

Scripture was never meant to be wielded as a weapon against human need. Jesus then delivers a clarifying statement that cuts through religious rigidity: the Sabbath exists to serve people, not to enslave them.

That moment exposes the difference between God’s moral will and the religious systems built around it. God’s commands are not indifferent to human suffering, hunger, or need. When rules are applied in a way that creates pain, burden, or unintended harm, something has gone wrong in how they are being understood. Jesus does not discard the Sabbath; He restores its purpose. What was meant as a gift had become more important than the people, and Jesus refuses to let God be portrayed as uncaring or detached.

That truth matters deeply in the real messiness of life. There are moments when religious rules collide with human reality in ways that feel paiful. This passage reminds us that God is not unaware, and He is not cold. His care for people is greater than His commitment to rigid rule-keeping. Obedience to God was never meant to crush those He loves. The heart of God is not legalistic; it is compassionate, attentive, and merciful.

Following Jesus means trusting that God’s laws flow from His care, not from indifference. When obedience becomes painful in ways that seem overpowering, this passage reassures us that God sees, God knows, and God cares. The Sabbath—and every command—finds its meaning not in rigid enforcement, but in love that serves human flourishing.

Living Sacrifice – Romans 11:33–12:2

Romans 12:2 (NIV) – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Paul begins this section with what amounts to a hymn, pulling language from the Old Testament to describe God’s wisdom, knowledge, and ownership over all things. Everything comes from Him and exists for Him. Because of that reality, Paul then calls believers to offer their lives as living sacrifices. His original readers would have immediately thought about temple sacrifices, animals whose lives were poured out completely on the altar. Paul turns that image on its head. God is not asking for a dead offering. He is asking for a life that is set apart for His purposes.

In that light, what follows that makes sense. If a person’s life belongs to God, then it should not be shaped by whatever the world says is normal or desirable. Paul tells them not to be molded into that pattern, but to be transformed by him, instead. This idea of being set apart would have been familiar, especially through things like the Nazarite vow, where a person’s entire life was dedicated to the Lord. The Old Testament talks about that. Here, Paul is applying that same idea to everyday Christian living.

This passage reminds me that the word “therefore” matters. It connects God’s greatness and ownership directly to how I live. My life is not my own. I have been bought with a price. My work, my habits, my decisions on an unremarkable day in September. God does not want occasional sacrifices or seasonal displays of devotion, like we do for Lent in March. He wants my ordinary life. That kind of surrender is far more meaningful than giving something up for a short religious season. God does not want a small thing from me. He wants me.

Joy, Prayer, & Trust – Philippians 4:4–9

Philippians 4:6 (NIV) – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Paul opens this passage with a call to rejoice, and he repeats it as if to make sure it is heard. He then tells believers not to be consumed by worry, but instead to bring everything to God in prayer. There is an implicit command here about focus. Rather than fixating on needs, fears, or unanswered questions, Paul directs attention toward God and the good things that come from him. Trust and prayer are meant to replace anxiety, not coexist with it.

For me, this is a needed reminder. It is easy to focus my prayers on what I lack or what feels urgent. Those things matter, but they are not meant to dominate my thoughts. God calls me to dwell on who He is and what He has already shown Himself to be. When I focus on His faithfulness instead of my concerns, it reshapes how I see everything else.

This passage calls me to approach God with joy and expectation. I do not know how every situation will work out, but I do know that God is always good. He is always faithful, and He always does what is best for me, even when I do not understand it. My role is to bring my requests to Him with thanksgiving, trusting His character rather than trying to manage the outcome myself.

Taste & See – Psalm 34:1–10

Psalm 34:8 (NIV) – “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

This psalm is an outpouring of praise. David is not speaking in theory. He is responding to a very real moment when he cried out to God in fear and was heard. God protected him, provided for him, and surrounded him with care. David describes the angel of the Lord encamping around those who fear God, a picture of active, personal protection. He even goes so far as to say that those who fear the Lord will not lack any good thing.

That last statement can feel bold, even uncomfortable. When I read it alongside the rest of the Psalms, it becomes clearer. David also wrote many psalms of desperation, pleading for help when things were not going well. This one shows the other side of that story. God was not ignoring him. God was (and is) at work, even when it may not have looked that way in the moment. Still, it raises honest questions when we look at people around the world who are crying out to God and seem to be lacking so much. We also need to remember that scripture does not pretend those situations don’t exist.

What this passage reminds me is that no problem is too big for God. His provision and protection are not limited by the size of the need. God cares about my fears, my needs, and my safety. Even when I do not understand how provision shows up, I am called to trust that God is bigger than the problem and that He is paying attention.

Saved for a Purpose – Ephesians 2:8–10

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV) – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

This passage is carefully structured to make one central point clear. We are saved by faith, not by works. Our own behavior, no matter how well intentioned, cannot earn salvation. Scripture is blunt about that elsewhere, comparing our righteousness to filthy garments in Isaiah. If salvation depended on our performance, every one of us would fall short. Paul removes that possibility entirely. Salvation is a gift, given by grace.

At the same time, Paul does not dismiss good works. He places them in the right order. We are not saved by good works, but we are created for them. God has plans, prepared ahead of time, for how his people should live and serve. That distinction matters. Good works are not the entrance requirement. They are the result of a life already changed by grace.

This passage is a strong reminder for me. I do not do good things to earn God’s favor. I do them because God has already shown me grace and has intentionally placed opportunities in front of me. That means I should be paying attention. God created me for this purpose, and I need to be more focused on recognizing and stepping into the good works he has already prepared.