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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…
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Bible Verses About Loving God With All Your Heart
Autumn writes a sun-splashed story in shades of ochre and crimson. This season of change reminds me that God is always working, and in his work, he is always loving us. I recently dug into Scripture in search of Bible verses about loving God with all your heart as I aim to embody his love. Today, I’m sharing the verses I found. I also encourage you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God. Let’s begin with God’s Word. Bible Verses About Loving God With All Your Heart Here are God’s words about how to love him with…
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Meekness in the Bible: Strength Under Control
Years ago, a wise older woman offered a definition of biblical meekness that has stayed with me. She said, “Meekness is essentially teachability.” Today, we’ll dive into Scripture for a deeper understanding of meekness in the Bible, exploring how we can live with strength under control while exuding patience and gentleness. Jesus declared, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5, NIV). Let’s consider what it means to be meek as we aim to embody this often-misunderstood characteristic. Meekness in the Bible The Bible helps us understand meekness and offers examples of how to embrace it in our daily lives. The Greek word for meek in…
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Rahab: How the Faith of an Unlikely Woman Points to Jesus
Rahab was a prostitute who lived in the thick wall surrounding the city of Jericho. When Israel secretly sent spies to plan their attack against the city, Rahab hid the spies from authorities and helped them escape. The spies promised that when Israel returned to attack Jericho, Rahab and her family would be spared. She was told to tie a scarlet cord in her window so the army would know which house to spare. Lessons From Rahab Rahab and her family were saved during the attack. She eventually became a follower of God and was even in the lineage of Jesus. Rahab is listed in the famous “Hall of Faith”…
