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10 Biblical Affirmations for Hard Times
Are you facing a difficult situation right now? I invite you to join me as we explore 10 biblical affirmations for hard times and difficult circumstances. Speak these words when life is tough and you feel discouraged. 10 Biblical Affirmations for Hard Times This week, the robins returned to our wilted lawn. I envisioned the coming days with emerald grass and sapphire skies overhead. I turned the calendar to March two days early because I just couldn’t wait. Perhaps I was wishing my life away, but I wasn’t overly concerned. I wanted to wish away the long, cold months of winter and welcome sunny afternoons in the backyard with little…
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Trials of Faith: 3 Promises for Tough Times
We all face trials of faith. When these times come, we can respond in a variety of ways. Some people blame God for trials, take offense, and turn away from him. Others try to fix the broken circumstances as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, some of us numb ourselves or escape into work. Today, we’ll talk about how to grow through trials of faith instead of being thrown off course by them. Trials of Faith Last year at this time, the valley behind our house flooded. After three days of rain, the ice encasing the creek finally gave way, and the whole valley was swallowed in the icy torrent. Standing at…
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God Uses Broken People—and He Wants to Use You
Have you ever wondered if your mistakes disqualify you from serving God? Today, I warmly invite you to travel back in time with me, and I’ll bear witness to the fact that God uses broken people—and he wants to use you. We’ll also look at eight biblical figures who were used by God despite their brokenness. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you as you follow God by faith. Now, I invite you into my story of brokenness. God Uses Broken People My early twenties were tumultuous. I was angry with God and decided to live for myself instead…
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How to Overcome Storms of Life: 10 Insights
Not long ago, we awakened to a world encased in a silver sheen of ice. Crystal droplets, frozen in time, hung from the railing of the deck like daggers waiting to fall. The wind howled, and frozen shards flew from the jostled branches of the poplar tree. The scene prompted me to think about how to overcome storms of life. How to Overcome Storms of Life The storm raged all day. When I came home from getting groceries in the evening, our daughter, Bekah, was outside attempting to feed our three pet beagles. Our beagles are hunting dogs, and they are happiest living in a well-insulated kennel in the backyard;…
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A Prayer for Strength and Healing When Life Hurts
The Queen Anne’s Lace stands in full bloom—sprinkling the fields with flourishes of ivory. Admiring it from the window, I utter a silent prayer for strength and healing. Not long ago, I slipped into the woods on a balmy evening. As I gazed into the murky creek water, I assessed the state of my soul and realized I was wrestling with uncertainty. The creek bottom exhaled the pungent scent of decaying earth, and I immediately sensed an invitation: Anyone can declare trust in God when life’s going well, but it takes faith to declare our trust when life feels uncertain. A Powerful Prayer for Strength and Healing: “Lord, I trust…
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8 Hope-Filled Bible Verses About the Storms of Life
We all face storms in life. If you feel like your ship is about to sink, let’s dig into God’s Word together as we uncover eight hope-filled Bible verses about the storms of life. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional to help you weather life’s most difficult storms. Bible Verses About the Storms of Life Twenty years ago, I boarded a plane in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvnaia and flew to Anchorage, Alaska. I spent the next three months working in a deli outside Denali National Park and traveling across the state on the weekends. One weekend, I took a ferry through the fjords near…
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How to Give Thanks to God in Tough Times
Not long ago, I sat down with an older, wiser woman, and we had an honest conversation about our lives. We talked about how to give thanks to God in tough times, and she shared her wisdom and experience. No matter what you’re facing today, if you can learn to cultivate gratitude in difficult seasons, God will use it to lift your head. Here are a few things my friend offered to me as we sorted this out. I pray they encourage you to keep looking for God’s gifts in your life as well. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to…
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12 Bible Verses About God’s Care for Us
Smoky wisps of fog wrap their fingers through the goldenrod as I sit by the window in prayer. I’ve been distracted lately, and my thoughts have been far from God. A familiar question runs through my mind: Is God mad at me for neglecting my relationship with him? Pulling out my Bible, I begin my search for Bible verses about God’s care for me. Bible Verses About God’s Care for His Children I find the following Scriptures and sit with them for a while. 12 Bible Verses About God’s Care 1. 1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time…
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Psalm 23 Prayer Points With Scriptures
We all face times when we need the assurance that God is with us in the valley of the shadow of death. We need his assurance, comfort, and guidance. Today, we’ll explore six Psalm 23 prayer points with Scriptures to guide our prayers. Then, I’ll invite you to apply these prayers to your difficult situations. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you find comfort in the Lord. Let’s begin with our Psalm 23 prayer points. Psalm 23 Prayer Points With Scriptures Psalm 23 is an excellent model for prayer when life is difficult. Let’s use God’s Word to guide…
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A Powerful Prayer for Healing: Press Into God’s Power
Praying the words of others can be a powerful way to pray because we can soak in the words we are praying rather than trying to think of what to say. Others’ prayers can guide us and lift our heads when our emotions are shaken. Today, we’ll discover a powerful prayer for healing by an Italian priest named St. Padre Pio. Then, we’ll pray seven additional prayers for healing. I invite you to join me as I recently sat by the window at dawn and prayed this prayer. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God.…
