June 202406/30/2024
The word “hospitality” used in this verse comes from the Greek word meaning to be hospitable and to show love to strangers. Combine that with the readiness to help people in need, and we see the Body of Christ. Whether in our homes or out in the world, we show Jesus to others when we are gracious, generous, and genuine.
06/29/2024
These days, humility seems to be almost a forgotten word. Amid America’s prosperity has emerged prideful worldliness, set on dragging even the most devout Christians down with it.
06/28/2024
When we are feeling a lack of acceptance, we try to find acceptance in any way possible. As believers, we need to remember that our worth, value, and acceptance are in Jesus. Before the beginning of time, the Father has loved us and chosen us to be adopted as His children through Jesus.
06/27/2024
We cannot effectively walk forward while looking back. We cannot proceed ahead, when peering back to the past. We cannot easily win the prize for which God called us after getting slammed by a pole of defeat. Do not look back.
06/26/2024
Remember that he is close, always. And little by little, you will be consoled and comforted. You will see him saving you. By the grace of God, I made it out again. I remember recently wondering if he’d ever save me from my sad self. But he was. And he did.
06/25/2024
Today, we are going to pray through a prayer to find belonging when you’re feeling alone. First and foremost, I want to share that belonging is only truly found in our identity in Christ. He gives us a true sense of security in Him. He created us, He knows us, and He has set us free.
06/24/2024
Sometimes, we get moved to another part of the battlefield, and that’s okay. But at all times, we are called to forget ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow him. And that applies to our lives in Christian communities, not just privately.
06/22/2024
Man may hurt us – but God will never forsake us. And even through man’s imperfect ways, God’s still working out a perfect plan.
06/21/2024
I used to think if you followed Christ, things would be smooth sailing. After serving in ministry, I realized I was wrong. Sometimes, following the Lord means facing more problems.
06/19/2024
The Word tells us not even one sparrow will fall to the ground outside of the Father’s care. And that we should not be afraid because we are of so much more value than the sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31). He is watching every move made around you, and he will not let go of one of his children for a split second.
06/18/2024
The enemy wants us lost in fear so much that we can't enjoy the precious moments with the people around us. When these thoughts consume us, we must take them to the Lord. We must rebuke the enemy's lies and ask God to fill us with a peace that only He can provide.
06/17/2024
To break free from bitterness, I must pull it out from the roots and replace it with the good things of God.
06/16/2024
God understands fatherhood. Even though He is the perfect, flawless Father, He’s experienced the sorrow that comes with having children who struggle with believing He truly loves and cares for them. The story of the prodigal son offers fathers three steps in restoring relationships with children who have rejected them and turned away from them.
06/15/2024
No matter what feels heavy, unresolved, or utterly frustrating to the core, God is able to go before you in those things and make a way.
06/14/2024
It’s so important to understand the humanity of Jesus.
06/13/2024
Isaiah says that God will lead the blind (Israelites) in ways they don’t know. It is God who is guiding them. Yet, He promised to turn the darkness into light and to make the rough places smooth. God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9); we are rarely, if ever, privy to His plans
06/12/2024
When worry grips our hearts, we can look up and notice the land and sky around us, and we can see God’s greatness.
06/11/2024
Today, let’s offer a prayer for cancer patients and those who love them. As we call upon the God of all strength to be their portion, may we believe him for healing, comfort, and peace in the midst of the battle.
06/10/2024
The devil flees targets that are immovable. The greatest attack-back strategy against the enemy – is to stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. As we love Christ and His people, God will take care of everything else. We can trust God.
06/09/2024
We can learn from David in our struggles with sin. He used movement to avoid danger. In the same way, we must employ movement to get out of “the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12).
06/08/2024
Grace is one of the most beautiful gifts that came through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet, it’s often misunderstood and difficult to explain. Before we can notice God’s abundant grace in our daily lives, we must first understand what it is.
06/07/2024
Peace doesn’t always come easy. Over the last few months, there have been relentless attacks against my peace
06/06/2024
Whatever the change you are currently encountering, know that with any change comes a death to the old. A way of life that you may have come to find great comfort in. There is no denying that death or loss of anything that has brought us joy can cause hurt, discomfort, and grief. I feel it. You can allow yourself to feel it, too.
06/05/2024
Don't be discouraged if setting aside time for God seems overwhelming and impossible. Start praying about God opening up moments in your day for Him. Ask for creativity. This might even be listening to worship music in the car, devotionals, or podcasts that speak His truth. The important thing is making room for Him in places and spaces that your kids will see.
06/04/2024
In choosing to overlook offenses, we can rely on God for wisdom, asking for His leading in our reactions and responses. Rather than focusing on another’s weakness, we can choose to forgive, keeping God’s forgiveness for us at the forefront of our thoughts.
May 202405/31/2024
Although we will never be perfect like Jesus, we are called to live like Jesus. This does not happen in our own efforts or intentions. This is a Holy Spirit filled way of living that reflects Christ in our every day.
05/30/2024
God wants you to see that every single day, He is giving you an opportunity to work for the Kingdom of God.
05/29/2024
No one is immune to the negative hold that money can have on our hearts in plenty or in want. I am a spender. I like to shop and get new things. However, God has taught me throughout my life to pray about my spending and to listen to the still, small voices that lead me in my financial decisions. God desires us to live a life of generosity, putting God before money. We cannot serve both God and money.
05/28/2024
Keep pointing to him with your love in the way the Lord equips you. And know that is enough. You are enough. Simply because… you are his. I hope you will rest your heart and soul with me today in your priceless value and unconditional worth. Rest in the truth that you are enough in him.
05/27/2024
Because the general public views them as fallen heroes deserving of patriotic honor, many may mistakenly think that this somehow helps to soften the blow of the loss to their family members. But for many families, it can be extremely difficult to accept and process, especially because their passing is without warning, unexpected, and with no opportunity to say goodbye.
05/26/2024
Even the most seasoned believers find their daily devotion occasionally in a slump. While it’s hard to snap out of dimness on our own, thankfully, God’s Word gives us hope and help today.
05/25/2024
When we finally decided to make the change and find a new church, we sat down to talk about the things we were looking for. My heart felt grief wash over again. Aside from wanting a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church, at the top of my list was wanting a church that desired to truly know its people.
05/24/2024
I love this passage in the Bible because it sums up the spiritual reality in all difficult circumstances. How many times do we see the enemy and opposing forces against us, just like Elisha’s servant? And that puts us in a panic - yet the angelic armies of the Living God are unseen but present nonetheless, and far greater. We just need to see that substantial truth!
05/23/2024
We love our friends, and we love our enemies. But we can only do that with the help of our loving God, as He leads and directs us to choose love.
05/22/2024
My prayer today is that we will not hinder children from knowing the Lord. Instead, let us pray that their boldness will arise. But let us also remember we cannot pray for our children to be bold in their faith if we aren’t bold enough to teach them!
05/21/2024
Casting our cares involves giving up regret by daily choosing to believe God’s word over guilty feelings and accusations.
05/20/2024
I don’t know about you, but watching the people I love struggle breaks my heart.
05/19/2024
When we begin listing all God has done, it helps remind us that, truly, there is nothing too hard for Him.
05/18/2024
It can be hard to side with God's Truth, especially if you know your choice will be unpopular.
05/17/2024
The peace the word offers is temporary. The peace Jesus provides lasts forever.
05/16/2024
Finding calm in prayer with the Holy Spirit is essential to dig deep and receive the strength needed to overcome trials.
05/15/2024
Circumstances may continue to overwhelm us, but it’s then that we need to resist the wild, noisy patterns of the world and instead embrace and listen for the internal, always present, sound, steady, still voice of God.
05/14/2024
God’s Word tells us that His nearness is good for us (Psalm 73:28) because with His nearness, which is wonderful in itself, we also receive His goodness.
05/13/2024
The Lord will show us the way to walk through abiding in Him, the counsel of others, or tapping into our faith reserves. May we move forward without fear in light of these truths.
05/12/2024
This Mother’s Day, let me encourage you to find freedom from mom guilt. Jesus awaits with love, understanding, and grace.
05/11/2024
When you find yourself wanting to crumble in the mess rather than praise, remember this: God has called you and equipped you for this season.
05/10/2024
Even in the best of circumstances, motherhood is not for the faint of heart.
05/09/2024
I came across Habakkuk 3:19 in my attempt to refuel my sunken strength and journal out these thoughts in my morning quiet time. And what spoke to me is this…
05/08/2024
If we pursue the things of this world, then it is pointless. We will be chasing after temporary pleasures that lead us nowhere with purpose.
05/07/2024
Will you join me in taking all your cares to God and seeking His peace amid the chaos?
05/06/2024
The idea of forgiveness is something we are introduced to early in our relationship with Jesus.
05/05/2024
We can’t decipher what is a lie if we don’t know the truth, and the truth is found in the Word of God.
05/04/2024
Reading the Bible is much more than a to-do list or a self-help book. It is coming to the living and active Word of God to be transformed.
05/03/2024
The key is not to allow a person’s actions to rob us of our worth for then we forget to look up for God’s grace.
05/02/2024
National Day of Prayer is a time for our citizens to collectively join together in unity and pray as one voice before God.
05/01/2024
Do you have a hard time slowing down too? Do you long for rest, peace, and stillness, but many times at the end of your race, you feel the urge to just keep running?
April 202404/30/2024
What would happen if we measured life by God's faithfulness and steadfastness?
04/29/2024
The Lord created us with a ray of emotions and understands that it is completely normal to experience overwhelming feelings when we are stressed, disappointed, offended, rejected, and hurt—especially anger.
04/28/2024
Unshakable faith isn’t about having the “perfect” faith that never rattles us, but rather it comes with moments that may shake us, sometimes to the core of our being, and cause us to come before God in our weakness.
04/27/2024
When we feel lost, God is our true north. He is the one who can lead us where He wants us. It is so easy to get caught up in listening to the world, so sometimes, it is best to shut it out to create a quiet space for God to work.
04/26/2024
We have been given a remarkable gift through God and His redemption story. Not only have we received eternal life with our Creator, but we have received courage in Christ that will change the trajectory of our lives and the lives of those around us forever.
04/25/2024
Have you ever wondered if there is any purpose in your suffering? We certainly don’t go looking for suffering—it comes to us because life is a journey through difficulties and triumphs. Sufferings are a reminder of what Jesus Christ went through and it is a way for us to encourage others.
04/23/2024
Whether you’re currently weighed down by responsibility or expectations or you’re drained due to disappointment and discouragement, I’d like to encourage you to take one step with God.
04/22/2024
He is our ever-present help in times of need and is faithful to strengthen us with His grace and fill us up with His peace, hope, and joy, even in the mundane.
04/21/2024
We must be aware of our thoughts so that we no longer live as prisoners to our own negative thinking.
04/20/2024
Anxiety is one of those things that God turns to good as He reveals areas we need to work through and shows us how to draw closer to him.
04/19/2024
When we witness pain, both our own or the pain of others, instead of trying to gloss over grief, let’s practice grieving with them.
04/18/2024
When we’re faced with a closed door, it might be beneficial for us to consider both Adam and Eve’s story, and maybe even cats, too, because God sometimes reveals truth to us through them.
04/17/2024
God knows all things. He knows our fears. He knows our doubts and the mind-numbing reel of thoughts that continue on a loop as we stand in line at security. The Bible promises that with Jesus, we can fight against fear and put our trust in Him.
04/16/2024
God has given you the Holy Spirit to help you, to heal you, to change your heart. Let’s ask Him to give us the strength to forgive and pray for those who have hurt us so that we can be free and honor God and show compassion toward our brothers and sisters in Christ, extending mercy because have been given mercy ourselves.
04/15/2024
Sometimes, we just don’t get the answers we seek. But please understand that God has not abandoned you. Talk to him from your sick bed. Talk to him if you are visiting an inpatient. Keep the communication channels open!
04/14/2024
When our focus is fixed on the Lord and his word, divisions don’t have to invade our churches.
04/13/2024
Dear friends, it is a fight for the devotion of our minds. We either stay with God and demolish demonic strategies being set up against us, or we fall into fear, worry, and anxiety that lead us away from God.
04/12/2024
We walk with Christ so that the world sees the difference Christ makes. We are to be a people who walk wisely by walking with the Lord.
04/11/2024
Contentment isn’t dependent on our circumstances; as the dictionary defines it, it is a continual state of happiness or satisfaction, a mindset.
04/10/2024
The only hope we ever have of a pure heart is by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Today, as we pray, let’s reflect on the work of God’s Spirit in us. May we come to God repentant like David and surrender to His softening of our hearts.
04/09/2024
The same Lord God who formed the first man “from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7) used dust to bring life to this blind man’s eyes.
04/08/2024
Whether we believe it or not, especially as Christians, it’s up to us to choose to focus on what God has so graciously given us rather than what the world gives and takes away on a daily basis. Godly gratefulness is not dependent on what we own; yet, God has given us so much to be thankful for in life.
04/07/2024
Discipleship does not have to be complicated. May we keep it simple by replicating how others taught us to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
04/06/2024
When we cling to God and His promises, we can rest assured that He can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good. (Romans 8:28)
04/05/2024
There will be times when reconciliation may not be an option, but we can choose to forgive. We can release the need to feel vindicated, knowing that our Father in Heaven sees and is the righteous judge. We can forgive others, even when we don’t feel like it, because God forgives us.
04/04/2024
Our spiritual lives can become more healthy and fruitful even when our physical health is declining. Today we will take some time to praise God for His kind gift of doctors and nurses.
04/03/2024
Most of the time, I have to face the fact that what I define as good may or not be what God defines as good, and sometimes it takes what seems bad in the moment to produce a greater good God wants to work in my life for His glory.
04/02/2024
Call out to Jesus, your personal Savior, to bring you out of the darkness and into the light with Him. I know He will meet you there.
04/01/2024
Following God is a beautiful partnership through our willingness to say yes to God every day, our faith, and God’s strength and empowerment through us.
March 202403/31/2024
As Christians, we have countless reasons to celebrate this Easter Sunday. By God’s amazing grace, as the popular song goes, we are receiving His gift of Salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
03/30/2024
The stillness of Holy Saturday is a deep expression of the Sabbath. Just as God rested from the activity of creation on the seventh day, so then Jesus rested from the activity of re-creation on this seventh day.
03/29/2024
On the Friday of his crucifixion, Jesus faced the wrath of God not for himself but for us. He took on our sin, our shame, and our humiliation. When I think about Jesus' sacrifice, which I would do better to meditate on frequently, I am, more often than not, left speechless.
03/28/2024
Would you let Jesus wash your feet? Isn't it hard to imagine lifting our dirty toes to the King of Kings? None of us are worthy of his care and attention; yet in Christ's perfect love, he gives us nothing less. Does your human heart struggle like mine to serve others humbly as Jesus did?
03/27/2024
This Holy Wednesday, we are invited - just like the Samaritan woman - to rest and remember Jesus and His story of salvation for us
03/26/2024
Is there someone to whom you need to grant the gift of forgiveness this Holy Tuesday? Then lift your heart to Him today and seek His help.
03/25/2024
Holy Monday reminds us of the worthiness of our Savior. He was faultless, and people had taken His house of worship and made it about selfish gain.
03/24/2024
Palm Sunday is an invitation. A chance to clear our vision. To set aside the mundane and the urgent. It’s a chance to fix our eyes on Jesus and marvel once again at the wonder of the cross.
03/23/2024
Without despair, there is no need for hope. Without the darkness, there is no need for the hope of light. And without death, there is no need for the renewal of life.
03/22/2024
If you’ve been set free by Jesus, Easter is a wonderful time to thank God for His promises that were fulfilled through His Son. In His own words, Jesus tells us four life-changing ways His resurrection sets us free.
03/21/2024
Have you ever asked yourself if you will ever be healed or whole? Life has a way of breaking you down. Sin had a way of destroying you. When we look at our world and even our personal lives, this side of eternity can feel hopeless.
03/20/2024
As we go participate in our many family traditions, celebrations, and gatherings, let's not forget to point our kids to the true source of our joy.
03/19/2024
Today, I invite you to join with me in praying together to intentionally reflect in three areas. Our sin, His greatness, and His Spirit’s leading.
03/18/2024
Biblical compassion exudes kindness, extends forgiveness, is humble and patient, and bears one another’s burdens (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:1, Galatians 6:2). Essentially, it is selfless.
03/17/2024
St. Patrick’s Day reminds me God sees me. I hope we all take a moment to remember our ancestors, our history, and our journey thus far with God, remembering every layer of our story has been written purposefully by a God who loves us more than we can comprehend.
03/16/2024
You may not be the next Billy Graham sharing the gospel with millions. But you may be called instead to give loving attention to just one other person.
03/15/2024
God’s ways are not always our ways, but his ways are always the best. Let’s go to God now and ask him to give us a glimpse of his perspective.
03/14/2024
To truly see a glimmer of heaven, we look to the Bible to give us glimpses of it through the eyes of those who have beheld it, including Stephen, who saw it as he was being stoned to death, and the rich man looking over from Hades. As well as the Apostle John, who received a personal tour of heaven.
03/13/2024
Although we may wrestle with why God has allowed certain things to take place, He offers Himself as a refuge. He is not scared or unprepared for your questions, tears, or anger. His hands are strong enough to hold us when we are falling apart.
03/12/2024
Friend, I know how difficult it is to keep your thoughts focused on the Lord. To not be swayed by the things of this world, prioritizing the things that have no eternal significance over time with the Lord. But we serve a God who is patient with His children and gives grace and mercy when we fall short.
03/11/2024
The feeling of depletion is not in itself a blessing, but when we take it to Christ, it can be turned into a testimony of the fullness of God. Let’s go before the throne of grace and ask the Lord to meet us in our personal situations. He cares for each of our needs.
03/10/2024
Continue to stand in the gap for those that God lays on your heart. Pray diligently for them. Embody God’s love in their life. Show them how much the Father cares for them with your own caring words and kindness. Remember that God loves them and desires for them to find freedom and redemption even more than you do.
03/09/2024
When your peace begins to deplete, do you pause and seek a restoration of God’s refreshment and direction?
03/08/2024
Making a joyful noise doesn’t necessarily mean we need to shout, but we can have a joyful battle cry in our hearts that will propel us into a grateful attitude. If you woke up today with worries on your mind instead of a joyful noise in your heart, it’s never too late to turn it around. God hears our battle cry.
03/07/2024
In a culture that thrives off of cutting off relationships and “canceling” anyone who makes you frustrated, I ask myself daily how I can follow God’s will and not be led by my own carnal nature to run from things that feel tough. This battle of knowing when to step away or adjust a relationship can be overwhelming.
03/06/2024
Music is amazing. It is a way of expressing our emotions artistically. It joins us with others. It is unique, reveals a person’s style, and plays a huge role in culture as a whole. Can you think back to two or three specific moments when God used a song to encourage you in your faith?
03/04/2024
When clarity is what you’re seeking, can I remind us both to pause and seek God. Seek him and his Word first in all things, and look and see all the things he will do.
03/03/2024
Have you ever felt discouraged in your faith, as if you were lacking all the resources necessary to live your faith in the way that God is calling you?
03/02/2024
We serve a God who knows and loves us intimately, who lends his ear to hear our cries ( Psalm 116:1-2). We simply have to call on His name.
03/01/2024
Watching someone you love live their life apart from Jesus is excruciating. You want to be the one to save them, even though you know that’s not how salvation goes. I write this as the one who wasn’t living for Jesus and caused excruciating pain to those who loved me.
February 202402/29/2024
If you’re a part of a complicated denomination, simplify it. Lent is between you and Jesus. Make some margin to connect with Him. Take the journey.
02/28/2024
Very few things hurt worse than being misunderstood, especially when the one who misunderstands is someone very close to you. Whenever I face a situation like this, I want to get defensive. I want to explain myself.
02/27/2024
God equipped you with time, talents, and treasures. Could you be the answer to a friend or family member’s prayer?
02/26/2024
Discouragement is a dangerous foe, but we have power through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to loosen its hold on us. We can speak truth to our weary hearts, seeking Jesus as we trust him to respond. God Almighty loves us and has called us to a great purpose.
02/25/2024
I invite you to join me in taking a pause in your morning, even if it is after all the kiddos are in school (or you have to hide in your closet), so you can truly honor God for all His goodness and faithfulness. Because the truth of the matter is that when we give thanks to God in the morning, it sets the tone for our day and gives way for us to praise Him throughout it.
02/24/2024
We have the honor and ability to bring our families before the Lord in prayer, while we also have to choose to submit our families to the One who watches over each of our people all the time. Being the watchman for our people isn't an easy task, but it's a holy calling.
02/23/2024
Our deep bond with the Lord, made possible because of Calvary, changes everything. His love transforms us and radically alters what we do with our lives.
02/22/2024
I’m not sure what it looks like out your window right now or if the neutral colors of a cold, dim winter even darken your soul and spirit like they tend to with mine. But, we most certainly all walk through and weather seasons where the life surrounding us feels less than bright, our purpose tank is falling toward empty, or our contentment with the same ole, same ole is next to non-existent.
02/21/2024
I don't know exactly what you are going through right now, but I do know that God sees you, and even when it feels like He has checked out, I can assure you He is there with you. And here’s the other good news: even if, like me, faith doesn’t come naturally to you, we can ask God to help us in our unbelief.
02/20/2024
Although we can’t go back and regain opportunities to share the gospel with those who have passed away, we can learn from these sorrows and make an effort to share Him with others from here out, like there is no tomorrow to come. Because the truth is, we aren’t given a guarantee that they will be here next year, month, or week or even tomorrow.
02/19/2024
As believers in Christ, we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which means we live out His fruit in our lives. It just so happens that complaining is not on that list. Today, we will take time to pray against complaining in our own lives and press into gratitude by faith in Christ.
02/18/2024
When we follow His way, truth, and life examples, we fully surrender our lives to Him and seek His will and way.
02/17/2024
There is something incredibly beautiful that happens when we allow the joy and peace of God to be what we live from.
02/16/2024
Is there a desire God has planted in your heart? Maybe a story you want to share? Or perhaps you are in need of encouragement and looking for someone to stir your faith?
02/15/2024
When we draw close to God, he is quicker at drawing closer to us! Today, not only tomorrow.
02/14/2024
Most of us often learn how to serve others by watching those close to us serve. As neighbors, friends, co-workers, family members, and especially as parents, we have countless opportunities to model serving one another and, in the process, to encourage and inspire others to serve each other.
02/13/2024
Remember that God sees you. When you feel invisible, remember that his heart is tender toward you. He walks with you, guiding you, bringing you comfort and rest.
02/12/2024
Words can be painful. Sometimes I think it might be easier to endure sticks and stones over a verbal attack. May we extend forgiveness to those who have carelessly spoken a rash word that caused us pain. And ask the Holy Spirit to transform our rash words into words full of wisdom that bring healing.
02/11/2024
When one season comes to a close, and we see new doors open for our lives, we need space to process grief while simultaneously embracing the joy that comes when we start something new. We often don’t feel things in a vacuum. Each new experience offers a mixture of positive and negative feelings, and that's okay.
02/10/2024
We may never forget the sin against us, but we can forgive, trading resentment for reconciliation.
02/09/2024
The motive behind Adam and Eve’s disobedience was comparison, which led to covetousness, which led to pride, which led to selfishness, which led to ungratefulness for what God had already provided (all rooted in fear).
02/08/2024
Prayer is powerful. Our prayers are heard in heaven. Scripture says the Lord is already on the move in response before we are done praying. He loves us, His children. So why does it feel like our prayers go unnoticed and unanswered at times?
02/07/2024
What if I held God’s blessings close to my heart rather than in contempt? What if I chose to walk in joy and gratitude versus pity and annoyance?
02/06/2024
It can seem like a mountain-sized challenge to fight against the work of the enemy each day. We can be tempted to ignore the spiritual battle taking place out of fear or indifference. We can fix our eyes on the temporary instead of the eternal.
02/05/2024
But as wonderful as being freed from sin’s grip, God doesn’t want us to stop there because Jesus is the door, the gate to knowing Him as Father.
02/04/2024
We are able to keep pressing forward, casting off distractions, discouragements, and disappointment because He is the One who is faithful to complete the work that He began in us.
02/03/2024
Being children of God is our inheritance! We have the ability to be Spirit-led. “There is so much more I want to tell you,” Jesus said, “but you can’t bear it now.” (John 16:12 NLT) We often crave answers we don’t receive direct answers to.
02/02/2024
On a scale of 1 to 10, how patient are you? Do you greet long line-ups with ease? Do you sit in traffic jams in a state of quiet contentment? If you are like me, probably not.
02/01/2024
Today, my prayer for you is that you find your joy in the Lord. No matter what the situation looks like around you, you make the choice to run to Him.
January 202401/31/2024
The mindset of Christ helps us lay aside our worst-case scenarios and view other people through the lens of humility so we can discover the power of God at work in them and us.
01/30/2024
In Romans 8:1, the Bible tells us that we do not have to carry condemnation in our lives when we’re truly in Christ. If you are a born-again believer, condemnation does not exist because the punishment for our failures and sins does not exist.
01/29/2024
The truth is the more we engage with others, the more inevitable conflict becomes. But we have two options when approaching difficult interactions: we can harbor bitterness or show the love of God.
01/28/2024
The power of winter in the physical world allows the ground to rest so that in the growing season, it can do what God designed it to do—produce life. We also produce life. We can speak life with our words and bring life with our actions. But there’s a season for rest too.
01/27/2024
With eyes full of unimaginable end-of-the-world apocalyptic and catastrophic images, many are up at night, unable to sleep or find rest, living in a perpetual state of terror.
01/26/2024
Great leaders are formed by learning and observing the strategies of those who have blazed the trail before them. But there is a fine line between learning from others and comparing ourselves to each other.
01/25/2024
No matter what is going on around us, even if it seems like everything is falling apart, we must remember that God holds the entire universe in His hands. He is completely sovereign. Nothing passes through His hands by accident.
01/24/2024
The next time something catches you by surprise, and you find those anxious feelings bubbling inside you, your thoughts going every which way, try this. Allow anxiety to prompt you to pray. Talk to God about your problems and trials.
01/23/2024
While we can’t save others, God, in His graciousness, invites us to be co-laborers with him in the process!
01/22/2024
To be able to imitate Christ and enjoy this kind of fellowship with Him, we must look to Jesus as our example. Even though Jesus was God in the flesh, He still leaned upon God the Father for everything He said and did while He walked this earth. Jesus would rise early to pray and seek God for His will for the day.
01/21/2024
Our Savior, Jesus, is empathetic toward us. Empathy means a wise understanding of what another person is going through. Many people say, “I know how you feel.” Jesus actually knows.
01/20/2024
Do you struggle with believing lies? Is there a particular deceit that entangles you, trapping you on more than one occasion? For me, that lie is that what I do with my time and how I use my talents are insignificant.
01/19/2024
What motivates your drive toward Christ? For the Apostle Paul, it was the prize of the upward call of God.
01/18/2024
Let’s choose to remember these truths in moments of fear and pain. Life is going to throw us some challenges. It’s not going to be easy all of the time. But in Christ, we have the strength to get through it.
01/17/2024
After almost nine years of sobriety, someone I love relapsed back into the pit of addiction. Stunned by this setback and overwhelmed with disappointment, I’ve questioned why God would allow something that was once such a testimony of redemption to be squandered by a series of bad choices.
01/16/2024
The Bible continually calls us to patience. Patience is an unpopular discipline, particularly today. We are told that time not spent in activity is but a waste; Idle hands are the devil’s plaything, we hear.
01/15/2024
If we find ourselves no longer hungry for spiritual things, our spiritual health may be in great danger. We need to find out why we have stopped being hungry for pursuing God’s Word and Kingdom pursuits.
01/14/2024
This title seems odd, right? Why would people want to know the reasons someone prays? Well, I believe when someone knows why we pray and who or what we’re praying for, they get a glimpse into who we are and what God is doing in our lives.
01/13/2024
There is so much out of our control. This fact, along with the overwhelming standards of beauty, performance, and success, produces a perfect storm of anxiety about not being good enough.
01/12/2024
As readers of the Bible, we often get caught in the mindset of reading the Bible to find ourselves. It is true that the Bible is full of the ways that God loves us, the beautiful ways that God created us, and how He longs to be invited into our lives.
01/11/2024
We want to be the sole protector of our people and our circumstances, we want to be the guide of our life, we want to be the redeemer of hardships we face, and we want to act as Savior.
01/10/2024
Have you ever drifted down a river in a boat? When we drift, we are at the mercy of the river current. We risk collision with floating tree trunks or shallow shores
01/09/2024
Paul knew following Jesus in a world full of temptations was going to be arduous, like running a long race. One that would require the right pacing. He knew we would fare better if we didn’t come out the gate ablaze and burn out too quickly.
01/08/2024
May we approach planning humbly, learning to adjust and adapt when things don’t work out how we’d hoped. Because God is all-knowing and loves us dearly, we can trust His plans are always better than anything we orchestrate.
01/07/2024
Jesus was the servant of all. In fact, He was the Servant King. Christ shares in the Gospel of John the importance of serving and following Him as He serves others.
01/06/2024
Positive thinking is important, but without proper roots, we may force our view of what is good in front of what God proclaims “good.” Gratefulness intersects with positivity in a realistic way which allows us to see what we currently have and entrust God with what is to come.
01/05/2024
Do you ever start January with resolutions all shiny and bright? Do you think, “This is the year I’m going to get it all together?” And some of us work those goals like a bread maker kneading dough. But others, like myself, find those shiny resolutions dulling after a few days.
01/04/2024
We fall prey to a lie that true and lasting change depends only on our ability, convincing ourselves we aren’t capable. Have you ever been there?
01/03/2024
Daily tasks, jobs, and roles can regularly leave us feeling depleted and run down. In addition, our stubborn human hearts often deter us from dealing with sin, conflict, and emotion. Besides that, we are finite beings and simply run out of our own meager supply of goodness. Left to ourselves, we are going to fall short every single time.
01/02/2024
Every year I pray and choose a word that will set the tone of the new year. Some words I’ve chosen are words such as kind, patient, and this past year I chose the word proclaim. It is such a joy to see how God uses words and this simple yearly rhythm to grow me and direct my steps.
01/01/2024
The year is over and done with, and the new year, as it always does, has begun in earnest. Every year, as New Year’s Day draws closer, we all want to imagine that a prosperous and optimistic future awaits us. So much so that we alienate ourselves from all the bad that we experienced during the past year and look forward to a new beginning.
