Daily: Finding Meaning Through Reflection

This morning, I’m meeting up with some friends, so I’m trying to get my usual morning routine done earlier than usual. My routine involves reading from four daily readers, highlighting sections that stand out to me, and jotting down any thoughts or lessons that come to mind.

I pasted my notes into GPT and asked it to rewrite them as if I were writing to Mom. It came back with a nice little letter. Here’s what GPT gave me:

Listen to the article:

Listen to the Deep Dive:

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Dear Mom,

Sometimes it feels like the end is near, but people just keep going. You know, life throws tough situations at us, but we can face them better by staying calm. If we think about things and reflect on them ahead of time, it takes the sting out of the challenge.

I’ve been reflecting on the idea of accepting our smallness in the grand scheme of things. Funny enough, recognizing how small we are can actually make us strong. It’s that awareness that brings us power and meaning. When we see ourselves as part of something much bigger, it can give us a sense of awe and connection.

So, I’m reminding myself: get up, move on, and keep going. It’s all about advancing, step by step, with the strength of our character. Life will knock us down, but we have to keep getting back up.

I’ve also been thinking about how some of the deepest prayers aren’t even spoken—like “groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26). Those prayers, I believe, are ones God hears and answers in ways we can’t even imagine.

Sometimes it feels like I’m facing an iron gate, but believing prayer can open even that.

Love, Andy

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And here are my original notes:

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A friend texted me asking about the meaning of the name Israel, so I looked it up.

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Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” This verse reminds us that the Holy Spirit is there to support us in our weakest moments, even when we can’t find the right words to pray.

There’s a story in Genesis 32:28-29 about Jacob’s encounter with a mysterious man, often thought to be God or an angel. During the night, Jacob wrestles with this man, and their struggle becomes a pivotal moment. In verse 28, it says: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

The name Israel means Prince with God or He who struggles with God, depending on how the Hebrew is interpreted. This moment symbolizes Jacob’s transformation, both spiritually and personally.

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I remembered something from many years ago. I was at a house meeting where the host had gathered Chinese international students—whether they were from China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan—to introduce them to God and share about faith. During the meeting, a lady from China asked, “China is such a great country. If God wants more people to believe in Him, why didn’t He send Jesus to China first?”

At the time, I wasn’t a Christian, and I thought her question sounded a bit arrogant. But honestly, I didn’t know the answer either, and the host didn’t have a convincing response. It wasn’t until later, when I read a verse in the Bible, that I understood. The verse explains that God chose Israel not because it was great.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8: The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; . . .

It reminded me that God doesn’t think the way we do. His ways are different from ours.

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I must be about my Chinese naming endeavor.

I need to focus on my Chinese naming endeavor.

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GPT: Here’s a revised version with a stronger focus on the reader’s perspective, making the content more engaging, useful, and relevant:

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Finding Meaning Through Reflection: Lessons from a Morning Routine

Transforming Your Morning: Insights Worth Sharing

Some mornings are different, aren’t they? You’re up earlier, rushing through routines, preparing for something special—a meeting with friends, perhaps. This morning, I found myself doing just that. My usual routine involves reading four daily devotionals, highlighting what resonates, and jotting down lessons or reflections. But today, I tried something new. I asked GPT to reframe my notes into a letter for my mom, and what came back was profoundly simple yet deeply meaningful.

A Letter That Speaks to All of Us

Here’s what GPT crafted, and I think you’ll find it as resonant as I did:

Dear Mom,

Life can feel like a relentless struggle sometimes, but I’m learning that staying calm and reflecting in advance can soften even the toughest challenges.
There’s a paradox I’ve been pondering: embracing our smallness in the vastness of life doesn’t diminish us. Instead, it gives us strength and perspective. Recognizing our place in the grand design restores a sense of awe and connection.

I’m reminding myself every day: get up, move forward, and keep going. Progress is built on resilience and character. Even when life knocks us down, we rise.

And then there’s prayer—the kind that’s too deep for words. Romans 8:26 reminds me of this: “groans that words cannot express.” These silent prayers, I believe, are the ones God answers most profoundly.

Sometimes, it feels like I’m staring at an iron gate, but faith has taught me that believing prayer can open even that.

Love, Andy

What Sparked These Thoughts?

The original notes behind the letter were raw and unpolished, but they held truths we all can relate to:

These reflections remind us to face the day with courage and humility.

Lessons from Scripture: Wrestling with Meaning

A friend texted me about the meaning of Israel, which led me down a path of discovery. In Genesis 32:28-29, Jacob wrestles with a mysterious figure—God or an angel—and emerges transformed. His name changes to Israel, meaning He who struggles with God or Prince with God. This struggle wasn’t just physical; it was spiritual and personal. It’s a reminder that through wrestling with life’s hardest questions, we too can be transformed.

Romans 8:26 adds another layer: the Spirit intercedes for us “with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Even when words fail, our deepest prayers are heard.

A Question That Changed My Perspective

Years ago, at a gathering of Chinese students, someone asked why God didn’t send Jesus to China first if He wanted more people to believe in Him. At the time, the question felt arrogant, and I had no answer. But later, I found clarity in Deuteronomy 7:7-8: God chose Israel not because it was great, but because it was small.

This reminded me that God’s choices don’t align with human logic. He often works through the least likely, reminding us that greatness comes not from our merits but from His purpose.

Closing Thought: Focus on What Matters

As I reflect on these lessons, I’m reminded of my own endeavor—helping people find their perfect Chinese names. It’s a mission that connects individuals to something bigger, just as these reflections connect us to deeper truths.

What about you? What’s your endeavor today, and how will you bring meaning to it?