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10 Spiritual Reflection Questions for Growth and Renewal
Every three months, I set aside time to reflect on where I’ve been and where I’m going. I use this time to rewrite my goals and ask God to give me a vision for the upcoming season. Today, I’m sharing the spiritual reflection questions I use during these times. Space for Asking Spiritual Reflection Questions Four times each year—at set dates—I take time to step back and reflect on life. I’ve been doing this since I was 17. As a teenager, these seasonal dates reflected the shift from one athletic season to the next. After graduating from high school, I used this time to reflect on my college goals. Later,…
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10 Bible Verses About Not Giving Up in Tough Times
The way the mittenlike leaf of the poplar unfurls from its tiny burgundy bud is an astonishing mystery to me. In these moments of wonder, the rhythms of the natural world offer encouragement about the importance of perseverance. Today, we’ll explore 10 Bible verses about not giving up in adversity. Bible Verses About Not Giving Up in Tough Times As the old poplar tree reminds me, when we stand strong in the face of challenges (including long winters, spiritually dry spells, and seasons of feeling defeated), we will eventually see the fruit of our perseverance. Perhaps you’re facing a challenging season today. If so, let these Scriptures inspire you to…
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10 Reasons to Trust God in Uncertain Times
Spring rain serenades us through the open window—singing a sweeter song than the frozen whisper of the winter we just endured. Looking back at what we’ve learned over the past few months, I’m reminded that God is just as trustworthy in the dark winters as in the hope-filled springtimes. Today, I’m sharing 10 reasons to trust God, including some lessons gleaned from our darkest winters. 10 Reasons to Trust God Maybe you need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness in your own dark season. If so, I invite you to slowly read through these biblical reasons why God is worthy of your trust. 10 Reasons to Trust God in Uncertain…
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5 Gifts Found in the Valley of Weeping
Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with blessings. Psalm 84:6 AMP The Gifts We Find in the Valley of Weeping A chorus of birdsong ascends out the window, almost as if encouraging us to hope again—reminding us that seasons change, and a master Creator has ordered the ebb and flow of the world he holds in his hand. As I sit at the window and greet the day, I thank God for the gift of springtime sunshine and the shift away from the long, dark winter months. Opening my Bible, the words of Psalm 84 capture…
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What Happens When We Pray: 8 Benefits of Heartfelt Prayer
Twilight finds me in a stand of hardwoods, and I watch the canopy flourish in the evening’s marigold glow. I’ve come to the woods to talk to God. As I sit beneath a towering oak, I remind myself of what happens when we pray. What Happens When We Pray I spent the first part of my life believing that prayer was a way of getting God to do things for me. As I grew in my spiritual life, I learned that prayer is about cultivating a relationship more than making requests. Perhaps you need this reminder today as well. Let’s take a closer look at what actually happens when we…
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7 Kingdom Prayers for Our Nation and the World
A few years ago, a friend challenged me to change how I prayed. She shared her journey of learning to pray kingdom prayers in addition to praying for her personal needs. This way of praying has radically shifted my focus. The need for God’s people to rise in a global prayer movement has seldom been more apparent. Today, I’m sharing seven kingdom prayers to pray over our nation and our spheres of influence. 7 Kingdom Prayers for the World Matthew 6:10 reads: “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus’ words lead us to consider: Just what does it look like to pray for his kingdom to…
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Embracing Your Journey: 5 Tips to Help You
“God’s gifts are woven into every journey,” a friend once reminded me. “Embracing your journey happens when you learn to see the gifts, especially the ones hidden beneath challenges.” I’ve thought of her words dozens of times since that day. I invite you to join me in a place that often inspires my writing—the tiny cabin where our family escapes for long weekends surrounded by rolling hills, beech trees, and open skies—and we’ll talk about learning to embrace our moments. Embracing Your Journey The steady cadence of rain falling on a metal roof is broken by children’s squeals in the distance. A few minutes ago, my husband and sons took…
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Sowing Spiritual Seeds: 8 Truths for When You Doubt Your Calling
When I became a teacher, I remember looking around and thinking, The needs are so great, and I’m only one person. What difference can I possibly make? The idea of sowing spiritual seeds for God’s glory felt like a long shot. I was just trying to survive. Two decades later, I’m no longer teaching in a public school. But I often look at the world’s condition and have similar sentiments. The needs are so great. I feel so small. What impact could I possibly make? Maybe you’ve experienced similar thoughts. Sowing Spiritual Seeds When You Feel Insignificant Not long ago, I read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. The…
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How to Cultivate Contentment When You’re Tempted to Grumble
A grey sky hovered over the mountains as we climbed out of the valley. Cloaked in wildflowers and the viridescent glow of summer growth, the hillsides held us in welcoming arms. The scene felt like a gentle invitation to cultivate contentment and peace. As we traveled up the mountainside, the tender growth of flora was gradually replaced by tall stands of conifers—lodgepole and jack pine surrounding us like protective guardians. We spotted elk grazing in meadows and moose meandering through willows. The shift came slowly at first. The trees began to thin and give way to more expansive meadows. Before long, the scant trees all clung to the mountainside below…
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10 Bible Verses About God’s Timing and Faithfulness
It’s a cloudy Monday morning when I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about God’s timing. Beside me, the amaryllis has burst into full bloom. It bows low under the weight of its heavy blossom. It seems ironic that after waiting for it to bloom for so long, the weight of the blossom might crush it. I watch the amaryllis become its fullest self, and I wonder about my own growth. I’ve been waiting on God this year. Reflecting on my waiting season, I wonder if waiting on God has been more purposeful than I’ve imagined. Maybe God knows that if I bloom before I’m ready, the weight…
