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God Uses the Unqualified: 7 Reasons Why God Chooses the Weak
I recently met with a friend who has been telling a relative about Jesus. Her family member doesn’t know much about God and has been grappling with the message of the gospel. My friend shared how unqualified she feels to be teaching anyone about Jesus. I gently reminded her that God uses the unqualified to fulfill his purpose. God Uses the Unqualified It has been said that God doesn’t call the equipped; he equips the called. Scripture reinforces this truth. Today, we’ll explore Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church as we discuss seven reasons why God uses the unqualified and weak for his purposes. Be sure to read to…
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18 Encouraging Bible Verses for Women to Grow in Faith
As I write to you today, our daughter is nearing her sixteenth birthday. Lately, we’ve been talking about how to find God’s vision for her future and what it means to be called by God. These conversations have led me into Scripture, seeking God’s Truth about faith, strength, and calling. Today, I’m sharing a list of encouraging Bible verses for women of all ages as we aim to walk in alignment with God and grow deeper in faith. I encourage you to share these Scriptures with the women you care about and take time soaking in them for yourself. We’ll explore some of the common Scriptures addressing women, such as…
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Joshua and Caleb: When the Giants Look Bigger Than God
Thought the past several Fridays, we’ve been learning to look for signs of Jesus in the Old Testament. The story of Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 13-14) is one of the clearest places where the Old Testament points to Christ. Today, we’ll revisit the story of Joshua and Caleb as they explored the Promised Land with the spies. Then, we’ll look at how this narrative points to the gospel. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God in deeper ways. Let’s start with a quick recap of the story of Joshua and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb: The Spies…
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Living in Expectation: 20 Bible Verses About Jesus Coming Back
When our oldest two kids were young enough to fit into a double stroller—before our third child came along—I took them for long stroller walks almost every day. Sometimes, our oldest child would look at the cloud formations and say, “Mom, when Jesus comes back, I think he’ll be riding on clouds that look these ones.” Today, we’ll look at 20 Bible verses about Jesus coming back as we aim to become more aware of this reality. I loved our daughter’s sense of expectancy. Her anticipation reminded me not to be lulled to complacency or so consumed by daily life that stopped expecting Jesus’ return. We are all susceptible to…
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For When You Need God’s Guidance: The Pillar of Cloud and Fire
“I wish God would make the way clear like he did with the pillar cloud of fire,” I said to a friend as we talked about finding God’s direction. “I’ve had the same thought,” she agreed. “But I’ve also realized he’s given us something better. The pillar of fire didn’t go away. It came to dwell within us.” “That’s a remarkable way of looking at it,” I reacted. When God’s people wandered in the wilderness on their journey to the Promised Land, God led them with a pillar cloud of fire. The fire guided them at night, and a cloud guided them by day. God’s guidance was unmistakable and straightforward. …
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9 Empowering Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
Fasting is one of the most overlooked spiritual practices in many contemporary Christian circles, but there are many benefits of fasting and prayer. The Bible describes different kinds of fasts for different lengths of time. Most often, fasting involves abstaining from food, but we can abstain from anything that brings comfort. We’ll look at more examples in today’s post. I’ll be the first to admit that fasting doesn’t come naturally or easily to me. Especially as someone who has struggled with unhealthy deprivation when it comes to eating, I’ve wrestled with fasting from food. Nevertheless, I haven’t given up on this discipline. I’ve also learned to fast from other comforts,…
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The Aaronic Blessing and Jesus’ Fulfillment
The Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) is one of the most tender moments in Scripture. God told the priests exactly what to speak over the people. Unlike the giving of the Law, the Aaronic blessing did not set boundaries; it revealed God’s heart. This blessing was more than a prayer. It was a promise. Ultimately, every line of the prayer found its fulfillment in Jesus. Today, we’ll examine the ways this blessing found its completion in Jesus. First, let’s look at the blessing. Before we begin, I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you experience greater peace in Christ.…
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How to Keep Your Faith (With Bible Verses About Faith in Hard Times)
I walk through the forest as my mind replays the events of the past months. I recently received a phone call that felt like a punch to the ribs, and I’m reeling from it. As I walk, I remind myself that God is good, and he wastes nothing. Maybe you need this reminder today as well. I invite you to join me as we explore a list of Bible verses about faith in hard times and talk about how to cling to God. Bible Verses About Faith in Hard Times Let’s start with some insights on how to keep your faith when life is tough. 7 Steps to Keep Your…
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6 Lessons From the Woman at the Well
The afternoon blazes white overhead as perspiration streams down her brow. She carries her water jug to the well, choosing to come in the middle of the day to avoid conversations with others. She will forever be known as the woman at the well, the first person to whom Jesus revealed his identity as the Messiah. Today, we’ll take a closer look at this story and reflect on some practical lessons from the woman at the well. Before we begin, I invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a library of free devotionals to help you establish a rhythm of encountering the life-giving presence of God…
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How the Biblical Feasts Point to Jesus
Reading through the Old Testament can be challenging, particularly as the biblical feasts and festivals are described. Rather than skimming through these passages, we can delve into them and learn from them. The feasts were more than ancient celebrations. They foreshadowed the restoration God’s people would one day find in Jesus. Today, we’ll examine a list of biblical feasts and see how these feasts prepared the way for Christ and his healing work. How the Biblical Feasts Point to Jesus Every year, I prayerfully pick a name of God and focus on the name throughout the year. This year’s name is Jehovah Rapha, the God Who Heals. As we closely…
