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10 Refreshing Bible Verses to Replenish Your Heart and Mind
After a day of rain, we awaken to glimpses of blue above the canopy. The forest is alive today. Songbirds I cannot name greet the dawn with cheerful chatter, and I open my Bible in search of refreshing Bible verses to match the brightness of this morning. We are at the cabin again this weekend. The air is pouring off the hillside with the brisk remnants of the night, and I am thankful to be here on this porch. Inside, our boys play a card game—war, I think—and my husband cooks pancakes over the blue flames of the old propane stove. The air smells like freshly cut firewood and damp…
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10 Prayers for Teachers This School Year
Over the years, the end of August has always marked the beginning of the new school year, a time filled with expectant prayers for teachers and students. Twenty years ago, this time of year meant something very different to me than it does now. As a high school teacher, this season was filled with anticipation as I prepared my classroom for a new year. Now that I’m no longer working in a classroom, the anticipation is different. As a mom, I scramble to make sure everyone in the house has what they need for the new year. The boys need at least a handful of unstained, untorn T-shirts, and we’ll…
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15 Bible Verses About God’s Blessings
God’s blessings often come in the most unexpected packages. His blessings come in the form of interruptions and detours we never would have chosen for ourselves. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about God’s blessings as we aim to cultivate grateful hearts. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you recognize God’s blessings in your life. 15 Bible Verses About God’s Blessings Here are God’s words about blessings. Bible Verses About God’s Blessings 1. Ephesians 1:3 ESV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the…
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How to Lament With God: Finding Healing Through Honest Prayer
Years ago, a friend encouraged me to lament with God after a difficult loss in my life. “It’s important to let all these feelings out because they can lead to bitterness toward God if you hold them in. Tell him what you’re feeling. He can take it,” she said. Taking her advice, I went to the woods on a snowy winter evening. I let the tears flow as I sat along a quiet stream. I also let my anger out as I threw rocks into the water and told God that what happened didn’t seem fair. Verbalizing my anger, frustration, and confusion, I didn’t hold anything back from him. After…
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8 Bible Verses About Not Being Afraid: Finding Courage in Christ
We all deal with fear. In these moments, we can defeat fear by standing on God’s Word. Today, we’ll explore eight Bible verses about not being afraid. First, I invite you to join me in the wilderness as fear threatened to paralyze me. We’ll talk about overcoming our fears in practical ways. Then, we’ll dig into God’s Word for eight verses about not being afraid. 8 Bible Verses About Not Being Afraid Sometime after midnight, the coyotes woke me from a deep and dreamless sleep. As they sent their sad serenade into the inky night sky, I arose and went to the window. Our beagles joined in the melody, and…
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15 Bible Verses About Spiritual Growth (With Applications)
I once asked a friend how to discern spiritual growth. She said, “Are you more loving than you were a year ago? If so, you are growing.” I took her words to heart. After she left, I began searching for Bible verses about spiritual growth. Bible Verses About Spiritual Growth I found the following 15 Bible verses about spiritual growth. I pray these verses bless you as you apply them to your life Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook that will help you establish a rhythm of connecting with the presence of the life-giving God daily. 15 Bible Verses About Spiritual…
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15 Bible Verses About Surrendering to God
Robins chatter on the lawn, delighted after an early morning deluge chased the earthworms from their sleepy hideaways beneath the earth. As I watch them from my chair beside the window, I pull out my Bible in search of Bible verses about surrendering to God. I’ve been clinging to control lately, I need God to help me release my clenched fists and trust him. Today, I’m sharing 15 Bible verses about surrendering to God. May these Scriptures help us all release our grip and trust God. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook that will help you establish a rhythm of connecting…
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God’s Timing for Your Healing: 15 Bible Verses About Restoration
The hills tell a story as their ruffled crests flog in the summer wind. I remember when these hills were blanketed with sparse glimpses of crusty snow, interrupted by tufts of beige grass and patches of mud. Today, the lush summer meadow seems to speak of the power of restoration. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about restoration as we seek God’s healing. I invite you to join me as I stroll down the country road and seek God for restoration. Then, we’ll turn to God’s Word. God’s Timing for Your Healing: 15 Bible Verses About Restoration As I walk down the road, I’m reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:11. God makes…
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Trusting God With Your Wounds: Bible Verses for Inner Healing
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. Pulling out my Bible, I make a list of Bible verses for inner healing. In the silence of the woods, I let the words wash over me and begin the process of healing me on a deeper level. Today, I’ll share these Bible verses for inner healing. Then, we’ll talk about how to seek God for emotional and spiritual healing. Be sure…
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Grow Closer to God: 15 Practical Ways to Deepen Your Relationship With Him
Shortly after daybreak, I step outside and let the warm summer rain wash over me. Being in nature always feels like an invitation to grow closer to God. The water streams down my brow in tiny rivulets, and I amble down the muddy road. The cacophony of water falling on the canopy overhead drowns out every other noise. The songbirds, insects, and tree frogs are all silent. Most likely, they are hidden away in their forest homes—hunkered down and waiting for the sun to emerge. I think of my family back at the cabin. They’re probably playing board games and eating pancakes. Like the animals, they’re waiting out the deluge.…
