Transformation
Encouragement on how life's trials and struggles can lead to the transformation that will shape your heart to be more like Christ, bring greater joy, and usher in the fulfillment you crave.
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10 Bible Verses for Burnout (Including Practical Ways to Recover)
Most of us will face burnout. When this happens, God’s Word can help us find refreshment. Today, we’ll explore 10 Bible verses for burnout and explore practical ways to apply these truths to our lives. I invite you to join me as I sit in the forest and reflect on the state of my soul. 10 Bible Verses for Burnout August stretches her long arms toward autumn, and it’s hard to believe these barefoot days will soon be over. Summer is a full season for our family. I often feel stretched too thin by summer’s end. I think of this as I sit by bubbling water and consider how to…
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How to Ignite Your Faith When You Feel Spiritually Stagnant
We’re driving through farm country when I hear my little boy singing with the radio in the backseat, “I gotta get that fire, fire back in my bones.” He’s three, and he’s not easy to understand, but I hear him loud and clear. His words get me thinking. I want to be a woman of fiery faith. Maybe you want to learn how to ignite your faith in a dry season, too. You are in the right place. The idea of fiery faith lingers in my mind for days after our moment in the car. I consider it as I sit by the sliding glass door in the early morning…
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3 Truths for When You’re Searching for God
I walk the country roads because I’m searching for God beneath the sapphire skies. The rolling hills and muddied pastures offer space to listen to my soul’s longings. The farmers are tilling the ground again today. The country roads smell like earth, life, and possibility. I watch the black soil turn and consider the change that will occur in this very place in a few short months. This bare patch of earth will soon birth corn stalks that reach far above my head. As I walk past the tilling tractors, I’m reminded of the words Jesus spoke to his disciples: “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts…
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Recovering From Church Hurt: 6 Steps Toward Healing
Not long ago, I received a message from a friend who was dealing with deep church hurt. She told me that after being hurt so deeply, she was never going back to church. As we talked about the issue that had caused division, we recognized that all people are broken. When we’re hurt by the church or other Christians, it’s vital to remind ourselves that no one is perfect. We’re all on journeys toward maturity, and hurting people hurt other people. In some ways, we are all hurting, and this truth can help us extend grace to others when they let us down or hurt us. Recovering From Church Hurt…
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3 Practical Ways to Overcome Temptation
The season of darkness has fallen, and the beige walls of the living room are creeping ever so slowly closer together with each passing day. I need a few fresh and practical ways to overcome temptation of all sorts. Something about these long, dark days draws me to a place where I’m tempted to return to old ways. I sit on the recliner in the 4 p.m. twilight, and I read these words: As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses,…
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5 Inspiring Bible Verses About Goals and Dreams
Most of us know we’re supposed to set goals in life. We set goals about losing weight, making money, and even honoring God through our jobs. But what does the Bible say about goals? Let’s look at five inspiring Bible verses about goals and dreams. Then, we’ll talk about how to avoid turning goals into idols in our lives. Bible Verses About Goals and Dreams 1. Philippians 3:8 NASB “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may…
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10 Affirmations for Spiritual Growth With God
Do you ever feel frustrated because your spiritual growth seems slow? Maybe you want a closer relationship with God, but the busyness of your life makes this feel unattainable. If so, you are in good company. When this happens, speaking affirmations for spiritual growth can be helpful. A few days ago, the first ivory snowflakes fell onto the lawn, and I considered the shifting seasons. I asked myself, Did I accomplish what I hoped for in this past season? How are my relationships with others? How is my relationship with God? As the snow fell silently, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d failed to reach some of my goals.…
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Why Is It Important to Know Your Identity in Christ?
I recently went to lunch with a friend who asked me a life-changing question. We were talking about finding our worth in God when she looked into my eyes and asked, “Why is it important to know your identity in Christ?” She then shared that she didn’t truly know what it meant to find her identity in Jesus. I told her about a difficult time in my life when God taught me how to find my identity in him. (You can read about it here.) Then, we discussed why it’s important to find our identities in Christ. Why Is It Important to Know Your Identity in Christ? Ultimately, knowing who…
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How to Stop Living on Autopilot: 3 Ways
The multiflora rose bushes are exploding with white blossoms when it hits me: I’m living on autopilot again. I claim I want greater joy in my life, but my decisions don’t cultivate the joy I crave. If you want to learn how to stop living on autopilot, you are in the right place. Today, we’ll talk about practical ways to slow down, be mindful, and live with purpose. How to Stop Living on Autopilot Most of us know all about autopilot. We push through our days with no margin time to notice the beauty and thousands of stressors streaming through our minds. How do we stop living on autopilot and…
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Pray Big Things for Your Little Ones
Friday isn’t my usual day to post, but I’ve been guest posting quite a bit lately. It’s an honor to write alongside John Piper and other gifted writers at Desiring God. The links below will lead you to these articles and a few more: Desiring God: Pray Big Things for Your Little Ones God Carried Us with Promises: Five Truths Strong Enough for Any Trial The Praying Woman: Five Prayers Every Mother Should Pray for Her Children Her View from Home: To the Mother Who Feels Like She Doesn’t Belong Christian Devotions Ministries: The Promise for Your Affliction You Are Cherished Thanks for reading and sharing! Have a blessed weekend!