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3 Questions to Ask If You Want a Deeper Relationship With God
I sit by the sliding glass and force myself to stay for ten minutes of silence and semi-solitude. I’ve been sitting by this glass intermittently for several years now, trying to incorporate rhythms that will teach me how to have a deeper relationship with God. Most of the time, nothing spectacular happens by this window. I watch the poplar leaves wave mitten-like hands at the dawn. The slow fade of verdant wildflower fields captivates me as summer slips into the cool days of autumn. The Psalms help me lift my eyes to the work of God’s hands. This particular morning, I’m met with a surprise out the window. A grey…
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How to Cultivate a Consistent Prayer Life: 17 Tips
The roadsides are blanketed with wildflowers, and we often spend evenings playing kickball in the backyard now. It’s not officially summer yet, but it feels like summer has already settled upon us. As our rhythms change, I long to learn how to cultivate a more consistent prayer life, especially in this busy season. As I reflect on this desire, I’m reminded that God doesn’t want to be an add-on to my busy summer; he wants to do life with me. Perhaps you need this reminder as well. Today, we’ll discuss practical ways to cultivate a consistent prayer life. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a…
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8 Bible Verses for Overcoming Anxiety With God’s Help
I’ve dealt with anxiety for as long as I can remember. Throughout my journey, I’ve learned that God wants to help me exchange anxiety for peace. Today, we’ll look at seven Bible verses for overcoming anxiety. Then, I’ll share a story of applying these Scriptures to an everyday moment. 8 Bible Verses for Overcoming Anxiety Let’s start by turning to God’s Word. Bible Verses for Overcoming Anxiety With God 1. Isaiah 41:10, ESV Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. This is one of my…
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5 Steps to Take When You’re Feeling Uninspired
I’d been feeling uninspired for a few weeks when my life suddenly came to a screeching halt. I was unmotivated to write, weary from parenting, and I felt stuck. Most of us know all about feeling stuck. We get stuck in bad habits, complacency, escapist behaviors, and deep, muddy ruts along the paths of our lives. What do you do when you’re feeling inspired and struggling to find the courage to do something about it? I wrestled with this question as the milky light of winter dawn eased through the windowpane. A thought came to mind. It went something like this: “Have you forgotten your why?” I spend most of…
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Christian Devotions for Kids: Blogs, Books, and More!
Throughout the past year, our daughter Bekah has been asking to start her own blog for kids. A few weeks ago, I told her if she could write fifteen Christian devotions for kids, we would do it. Honestly, I expected her to write a post or two and lose interest. Christian Devotions for Kids Much to my surprise, she wrote all fifteen posts with focus and determination. With sheer ten-year-old vision and insight, she has proven herself. Her vision is to write devotional posts each Wednesday and posts with fun activities every Friday. It looks like we’re doing this! This isn’t a vision I pushed upon her because I have…
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How to Find Freedom From Your Secret Sins
A hint of frost rests on the once-lavender heads of the Canada thistle today. I sit at the window with intentions to soak in God’s restorative presence, but what settles upon me sends a chill down the nape of my neck, like frost on a clear winter dawn. The chill is my body’s response to the reality that the secret sins of my life are not hidden from the One who paints the dawn with shimmering ice. Most of us have secret sins. We want to find freedom, but we feel stuck, and we’re not sure what to do about it. This post will help you find freedom. I also…
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What Are the Blessings of God?
After praying together as a family, our son recently asked, “Mom, what are the blessings of God? You’re always asking God to bless us, but what does that mean?’ I told him that God’s blessings include peace, protection, comfort, joy, and more. As I reflected, I told him that everything good in our lives is a blessing from God. God’s blessings include family, friends, our home, summer sunrises, wildflowers, and more. Since that day, I’ve been more mindful of paying attention to God’s many blessings. If you’d like to cultivate a greater awareness of God’s blessings, you are in the right place today. Today, we’ll explore the question, “What are…
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Satisfaction in Jesus: A Question to Ask Yourself
I’m not thinking about how to find satisfaction in Jesus as the wind rustles the maple leaves. However, as I open my Bible for inspiration on the warm afternoon, I discover stumble a surprising scene. A blind man named Bartimaeus is crying out to Jesus from the roadside. Stopping, Jesus looks at blind Bartimaeus and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” For an instant, I imagine I am the blind man, and Jesus is asking me this question. “Jesus, you know what I want you to do for me,” I whisper in the deepest part of my soul. As the words leave my lips, I realize…
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10 Steps to Take When You Feel Empty Inside
Fog hovers over clear water this morning. I sit in silence feeling empty inside. When’s the last time you stilled your soul long enough to be real about the places where you feel empty inside? We all have empty spaces. Emptiness might look like numbness, emotional distress, loneliness, isolation, or grief. When we feel empty inside, it can be hard to know where to turn. Today, we’ll look at ten things to do to fill the emptiness in our souls. When You Feel Empty Inside The feeling of emptiness can have many causes. Sometimes, grief leads to emptiness. All losses involve grief, not only death. We can feel empty inside…
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God Has a Plan for You—Even When He Seems Silent
We awoke to a fresh inch of snow on the lawn on the first day of April, and it felt like one more day tacked onto a never-ending winter. Whether you’re facing a long winter or enduring a difficult season that seems like it will never end, it can be hard to hold onto hope. You need to know that God has a plan for you, especially when he seems silent. Most of us don’t wait well. Waiting for a dream to come to fruition or a difficult time to end can be deeply discouraging. God Has a Plan for You While You Wait King Solomon said it well in…
