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40 Names of God to Restore, Refresh, and Heal You
Several months ago, I realized I’d been turning to worldly things to fill a void within me. I’ve turned to all sorts of vices over the years, and they never satisfy in a lasting way. Today, we’ll explore the way studying the names of God can fill the emptiness within us and help us find strength in him. My most recent attempt to fill the emptiness was with books, specifically books about thru-hikers. Reading isn’t a bad way to spend our time, but when we replace seeking God’s face with anything, good things can pull us away from the best thing. In the course of one week, I read three…
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10 Biblical Prayers for Healing and Strength
In case you missed yesterday’s announcement, I have exciting news! My newest book, Anchored: A Teen Devotional for Understanding the Old Testament and Applying It to Your Life is now on sale here! Now, let’s get to today’s post as we join in praying these prayers for healing and strength. I gaze out the window and remember humid summer mornings on the deck, wrapped in birdsong as the sun ascended over the eastern horizon. As I sit with this chilling autumn morning, I turn to God in desperate prayer. God is a good Father. He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord Who Heals. Healing is in his nature, and he wants…
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Anchored: A Teen Devotional for Understanding the Old Testament
I have exciting news today! My new book, Anchored: A Teen Devotional for Understanding the Old Testament and Applying It to Your Life, is now for sale in print and on Kindle! I wrote this book after many conversations with Christian teens led me to a surprising realization: Many teens who have grown up in the church don’t know the Bible. Even more, they aren’t familiar with many of the key Old Testament stories. The idea of applying these “outdated” narratives to their everyday lives feels entirely unrealistic. My vision is to teach teens the key narratives from the Old Testament while helping them see that all of Scripture is…
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Ehud: Our Limitations Are God’s Tools
During the days of the judges, Israel continued in the cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and peace. The nation was in the season of sinful rebellion when God raised up an unlikely deliverer, a man from the tribe of Bejamin named Ehud. Ehud was unlikely because he was known for being left-handed. This doesn’t seem like a bid deal to us today, but the ancient culture considered this a deficit in both war and everyday life. Military training favored the right hand. Additionally, the right hand symbolized strength, honor, and authority; meanwhile, the left hand was viewed as less honorable. Nevertheless, God often chooses the overlooked, and he chose Ehud…
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10 Life-Changing Bible Verses About Being Transformed
For years, I kept a photo of a monarch butterfly on my mirror. Beneath the photo, the following words offered a daily reminder: “You are a new creation in Christ.” These words, from 2 Corinthians 5:17, make up one of many life-altering Bible verses about being transformed. A friend gave me the photo shortly after I decided to follow Jesus. It was a reminder that my old life was behind me. Every time I looked at the card, I reminded myself that I was a new creation in Christ, and the sins of my past were washed away by the blood of Christ. More than a decade later, I became…
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Live in the Now: 7 Ways to Walk It Out
Before we talk about how to “live in the now,” I invite you to join me as I prepare to release a new book. On November 3, I will release a new book for teens. It’s called Anchored: A Teen Devotional for Understanding the Old Testament and Applying It to Your Life. My vision is to teach teens the key narratives from the Old Testament while helping them see that all of Scripture is relevant to our everyday lives. These devotions delve into everything from anxiety to sexuality, all drawn from the truth of God’s Word. Watch for it to release soon or preorder the Kindle Version on Amazon here!…
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Othniel: 8 Applicable Lessons From Israel’s First Judge
The book of Judges describes the events that took place after Joshua’s death. The tribes of Israel began taking possession of the land, and judges were appointed to lead them. Othniel was Israel’s first judge. Othniel was a relative of Caleb, who had given a favorable report of the Promised Land after exploring it as a spy. As Israel moved into the land and began conquering it, Othniel proved his courage by capturing the city of Kriath-sepher. As a reward, Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage (Judges 1:12-13). A pattern was set in motion as Othniel began serving Israel as a judge and leader. This pattern would continue…
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Jesus in the Old Testament: The Golden Thread of Scripture
“I’ve been studying the presence of Jesus in the Old Testament, and it’s changing the way I understand the Bible,” a friend shared as we sat in my living room on a winter afternoon. “I can’t believe you just said that. I’ve been doing the same thing!” I exclaimed. We spent the next 20 minutes talking about the remarkable symbolism of Jesus in the tabernacle and the ways various biblical accounts in the Old Testament pointed to Christ. The study of Jesus in the Old Testament is often referred to as “typology,” a foreshadowing of Jesus and other New Testament themes in the Old Testament. Today, we’ll look at 20…
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Give It to God: 15 Bible Verses for Anxiety and Stress
Before we explore today’s Bible verses for anxiety and stress, I invite you to join me as I prepare to release a new book. On November 3, I will release a new book for teens. It’s called Anchored: A Teen Devotional for Understanding the Old Testament and Applying It to Your Life. My vision is to teach teens the key narratives from the Old Testament while helping them see that all of Scripture is relevant to our everyday lives. These devotions delve into everything from anxiety to sexuality, all drawn from the truth of God’s Word. Watch for it to release soon or preorder the Kindle Version on Amazon here!…
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Achan: The Progression From Temptation to Sin
Dust lingered in the air like a curtain, and smoke plumed heavenward. Achan wiped his brow with the back of his hand and sheathed his sword. The battle of Jericho was over. God’s command had been clear. Everything in the city was devoted to the Lord. No plunder was to be taken. Achan moved through the rubble as an eerie silence fell over the destroyed city. All around him, remnants of the once-formidable fortress lay scattered. Achan: A Lesson on the Progression Into Sin Among the rubbish, Achan spotted something beautiful, untouched by the flames: a colorful Babylonian robe. Reaching down to touch the unmarred garment, a thought passed through…
