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What Happens When We Pray: 8 Benefits of Heartfelt Prayer
Twilight finds me in a stand of hardwoods, and I watch the canopy flourish in the evening’s marigold glow. I’ve come to the woods to talk to God. As I sit beneath a towering oak, I remind myself of what happens when we pray. What Happens When We Pray I spent the first part of my life believing that prayer was a way of getting God to do things for me. As I grew in my spiritual life, I learned that prayer is about cultivating a relationship more than making requests. Perhaps you need this reminder today as well. Let’s take a closer look at what actually happens when we…
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7 Kingdom Prayers for Our Nation and the World
A few years ago, a friend challenged me to change how I prayed. She shared her journey of learning to pray kingdom prayers in addition to praying for her personal needs. This way of praying has radically shifted my focus. The need for God’s people to rise in a global prayer movement has seldom been more apparent. Today, I’m sharing seven kingdom prayers to pray over our nation and our spheres of influence. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free eBook to guide you in seven days of praying for our world. 7 Kingdom Prayers for the World Matthew 6:10 reads: “Thy kingdom come…
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15 Bible Verses About Hospitality: Plus Creative Ideas
Most people think of hosting guests for meals or overnight visits when they hear the word hospitality. Yet hospitality is much more than opening our homes. We can offer hospitality anywhere by opening our hearts to others. Today, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses about hospitality. Then, we’ll explore eight creative and low-key ways to extend the gift of hospitality. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you carry God’s love wherever you go. Let’s start with seeing what God’s Word says about hospitality. 15 Bible Verses About Hospitality Here are 15 Bible verses about being hospitable. Bible Verses About…
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10 Bible Verses About Enjoying Life and Embracing Your Journey
“God’s gifts are woven into every journey,” a friend once reminded me. “Embracing your journey happens when you learn to see the gifts, especially the ones hidden beneath challenges.” Today, we’ll talk about how to embrace our journeys. Then, we’ll explore ten Bible verses about enjoying life more fully. I invite you to join me in a place that often inspires my writing—the tiny cabin where our family escapes for long weekends surrounded by rolling hills, beech trees, and open skies—and we’ll talk about learning to embrace our moments. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook that will help you establish a…
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15 Bible Verses About Habits and Healthy Rhythms
Our habits are important. They form the rhythms of our lives and guide our days. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about habits and consider how we might align ourselves with God as we seek healthy habits. 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. Bible Verses About Habits and Healthy Rhythms Let’s see what God’s Word says about habits and routines that will lead us closer to the Lord. 15 Bible Verses About Habits and Daily Rhythms 1. 1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV Or do you…
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Sowing Spiritual Seeds: 8 Truths for When You Doubt Your Calling
When I became a teacher, I remember looking around and thinking, The needs are so great, and I’m only one person. What difference can I possibly make? The idea of sowing spiritual seeds for God’s glory felt like a long shot. I was just trying to survive. Two decades later, I’m no longer teaching in a public school. But I often look at the world’s condition and have similar sentiments. The needs are so great. I feel so small. What impact could I possibly make? Maybe you’ve experienced similar thoughts. Sowing Spiritual Seeds When You Feel Insignificant Not long ago, I read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. The…
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Good Morning Prayers and Blessings to Start Your Day
The yard is muddied with footprints and tire tracks, and a warm front blows in from the south. I’m thankful for the early thaw. As I gaze out the window on this winter morning, I feel inspired to write a list of good morning prayers and blessings. Good Morning Prayers and Blessings I invite you to join me in praying through these good morning prayers and blessings. Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you stay in step with God every day. Good Morning Prayers and Blessings: Start Your Day With God 1. Thank God that he is with…
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How to Cultivate Contentment When You’re Tempted to Grumble
A grey sky hovered over the mountains as we climbed out of the valley. Cloaked in wildflowers and the viridescent glow of summer growth, the hillsides held us in welcoming arms. The scene felt like a gentle invitation to cultivate contentment and peace. As we traveled up the mountainside, the tender growth of flora was gradually replaced by tall stands of conifers—lodgepole and jack pine surrounding us like protective guardians. We spotted elk grazing in meadows and moose meandering through willows. The shift came slowly at first. The trees began to thin and give way to more expansive meadows. Before long, the scant trees all clung to the mountainside below…
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15 Powerful Bible Verses About Hope in Suffering
Pale winter sunlight slips through the curtain, and splashes of cobalt rupture heaven’s veil. Winter feels long in these parts. Hard circumstances are unfolding in the world around us, and I open crinkled pages in search of a few Bible verses about hope in suffering. Regardless of its form, God invites us to draw near to him in times of suffering and heartache. Today, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses for hope in suffering. Be sure to read to the end of today’s devotion for a free devotional eBook for hope in suffering. Powerful Bible Verses About Hope in Suffering Perhaps these words hold the secret to navigating suffering: If…
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15 Bible Verses About God’s Timing and Faithfulness
It’s a cloudy Monday morning when I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about God’s timing. Beside me, the amaryllis has burst into full bloom. It bows low under the weight of its heavy blossom. It seems ironic that after waiting for it to bloom for so long, the weight of the blossom might crush it. I watch the amaryllis become its fullest self, and I wonder about my own growth. I’ve been waiting on God this year. Reflecting on my waiting season, I wonder if waiting on God has been more purposeful than I’ve realized. Maybe God knows that if I bloom before I’m ready, the weight…
