Overcoming Trials
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The Journey to Inner Healing: Trusting God With Your Wounds
Evening casts a hushed shadow over the valley, and I pause to listen to the chimelike song of a red-eyed vireo. Our family has slipped away for a weekend in the woods, and everything about this weekend feels like an invitation to a deeper level of inner healing. The past few months have led me on a surprising journey of pursuing deeper levels of healing for wounds I thought I’d dealt with decades ago. Unearthing these memories hasn’t been easy, but it has been so deeply healing and restorative. I’ve encountered both the fierce protectiveness and the tenderness of Jesus like never before. I’ve come to know him more deeply, and…
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8 Ways to Resist the Devil and Live in Victory
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 “We need to be careful not to give the enemy too much credit,” a wise friend recently pointed out. “Satan does attack us, but we also face attacks simply because we live in a fallen world, and our flesh gravitates toward sin. ‘The devil made me do it,’ is not always a valid explanation.” I’ve been thinking of her words often. Satan prowls around the earth looking for people to devour. We also live in a fallen world in which imperfect people are constantly dealing with the sinful desires common to human nature. In…
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How to Make Thankfulness Your Sacrifice to God
“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God . . .” Psalm 50:14, NLT A million snowflakes fall effortlessly to the frozen earth, piling upon themselves in brilliance while I stand silently watching. My heart is heavy as I stand in this winter forest today—grieving so much change and loss over the past months. As the snow settles with an almost undiscernible hush, a verse comes to mind: “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God” (Psalm 50:14, NLT). A friend’s words reverberate in my heart at the same time, reminding me to give thanks even in the pain of this season. Sometimes, thankfulness is nothing short of a sacrifice—a gift offered with a…
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20 Bible Verses About Worship and Praise
God’s Word has a great deal to say about worship and praise. Today, we’ll explore 20 powerful Bible verses about worship and praise. Then, we’ll have an honest conversation about learning to exchange worry for worship. Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you exchange worry for worship. 20 Bible Verses About Worship and Praise Let’s start with soaking in these Bible verses about worship. Bible Verses About Worship 1. Romans 12:1 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is…
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7 Powerful Scriptures for Spiritual Attacks
I spent most of my life assuming that fearful thoughts, negative circumstances, and challenging situations were “just happening to me.” Over time, I learned that the spiritual realm is just as real as the physical realm; furthermore, we can fight back against the spiritual forces of evil. Today, we’ll look at seven Scriptures for spiritual attacks as we learn to stand our ground against the enemy. I invite you to join me as I recently identified a spiritual attack and stood my ground by speaking God’s Word. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you stand strong. Scriptures for Spiritual…
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What Is the Spirit of Offense & How to Overcome It
As a young woman, I blamed God for almost every unfortunate turn of events in my life. This spirit of offense led me to blame him for everything from shattered athletic dreams to hard breakups. At the time, I was largely unaware of the enemy’s schemes. I had not yet learned that Satan’s primary battle strategy is to lead us to embrace the spirit of offense, angrily blaming God for the troubles of life. Today, I’m sharing my journey with the spirit of offense. I invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free eBook that goes into greater depth. Rejecting the Spirit of Offense Several…
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12 Ways to Destroy the Works of the Devil
Over the water of a still lake, a cluster of hardwoods casts russet shadows. I’m in the forest tonight because I need this space to sort through a series of challenges our family has been facing. I sense we’ve been facing one spiritual attack after another, but I realize that we cannot destroy the works of the devil without identifying them first. The forest is a mishmash of colors—cranberry, ochre, and umber. As I gaze at the scene, it’s hard to discern where reality ends and the mirror image begins. At times, I’ve experienced similar sentiments in my spiritual life. I’ve scratched my head in bewilderment as I’ve aimed to…
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15 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 15 Bible verses about not giving up in adversity. I invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you persevere through life’s difficult seasons. 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),…
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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. Be sure to read to the end…
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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…
