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10 Prayers for Happiness and Strength
When life is challenging, turning to God in praise can help us rise above our circumstances. Today, we’ll explore 10 prayers for happiness and strength to fill our hearts when life is challenging. I invite you to join me on an autumn evening as I prayed the following prayers for joy. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God and find hope. 10 Prayers for Happiness and Strength Most of us face times when praising God doesn’t come easily. When these times come, we can always praise God for his character and goodness. The following prayers…
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10 Bible Verses About Dwelling in the Presence of God
What do you want your life to be about? I asked myself this question the other day as dawn ascended in shades of lilac over the tree line. Opening my Bible in search of Bible verses about dwelling in the presence of God, I thought about learning to embrace more of life’s moments, cultivating joy, and rising above stress. Bible Verses About Dwelling in the Presence of God As I watched the sunrise, I reflected on the previous day and noticed some unhealthy patterns: my tendency to hurry through certain chores, impatience with my family, and an undercurrent of stress flowing beneath all my moments. There were no epic disasters.…
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Mama, Let Go of Your Desire to Control
I’m so excited to share a guest post from my friend Tabatha today! Tabatha has been an inspiration and encouragement to me time and time again, and I think her words will resonate with every woman who has a hard time with the desire to control the outcomes in her life! Here are Tabatha’s words: As a lover of the outdoors, kayaking has been on my bucket list for quite some time now. For many years I’ve envisioned gliding on the still waters of a serene lake while greeting the morning sun . . . The glorious autumn leaves surrounding me as I listen to the sweet music of birds…
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14 Bible Verses to Help With Anxiety and Stress
We all face stress in life. Stress comes in the form of full schedules, unexpected crises, and everyday issues in our workplaces. What does the Bible say about stress and anxiety? Today we’ll explore 14 Bible verses to help with anxiety and stress. We’ll also discuss three biblical ways to cope with stress. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you cope with stress. 14 Bible Verses to Help With Anxiety and Stress Let’s begin by turning to God’s Word. Bible Verses to Help With Anxiety and Stress 1. Matthew 10:29-31, ESV Are not two sparrows sold for a copper…
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How to Grow Closer to God: 9 Practical Suggestions
I walked down the road for the sheer joy of stepping into the ivory firmament and breathing deeply today. Maybe I needed a fresh lesson on how to grow closer to God. I’d been feeling distant and disconnected from him, and I hoped that time outside might help me reconnect with him. I was still within eyeshot of the house when something caught my eye. Surrounded by sleepy beige earth, a single sprig of yellow-crowned goldenrod danced in the afternoon breeze. Bending low, I stopped to admire the tiny ray of hope in the middle of the desolate, almost-winter world. There is always beauty woven into barrenness. Somehow, that tiny,…
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10 Bible Verses About Serving Others in Hidden Places
Do you feel weary as you continue to invest in a calling that feels hidden and difficult? If so, you are not alone. Pull up a chair, and we’ll explore 10 Bible verses about serving others in hidden places today. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you as you humbly serve others. Bible Verses About Serving Others in Hidden Places The days passed slowly the year God wove her together in the darkness. It can be hard to hold onto hope when your dream is still covered in obscurity. You start to wonder if the dream will ever come…
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What Is God’s Will for My Life? (10 Absolutes)
An oak leaf falls to its final resting place on pale grass—russet and scaled with age. I consider the sights it saw from its perch high above and imagine its six short months were filled with wonder. I’m in the woods tonight to pray about God’s will for my life. I’m not trying to discern an impacting career change or a move across the country. I simply want to create space to assess the rhythms of my days and make sure I’m still in step with my Guide. Twenty years ago, I sat in this same span of forest and asked similar questions about God’s will for my life. I…
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The Teens in Your Life Need This Book: Transforming Your Thought Life for Teens
I spent almost a decade teaching teens in a local public high school. Throughout those years, I also served as a youth leader and mentored dozens of teens through the tumultuous journey of adolescence. I wish Sarah Geringer’s book Transforming Your Thought Life for Teens had been available throughout those years! This book is a follow-up to Sarah’s book Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus, released in 2019. I was powerfully impacted by Sarah’s book Transforming Your Thought Life and appreciated the way Sarah was relatable and yet also pointed me back to the truth of God’s Word. When I heard she was writing a follow-up book specifically…
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8 Bible Verses About Abundant Life in Christ
The hayfield has been reduced to prickly stubble, and I wonder if the lush roots grieve what’s been lost. As the geese honk overhead, I stare at the sky and ask God to lead me into a more abundant life in Christ. I pull out my Bible in search of Bible verses about abundant life in Christ. How do we experience this kind of abundance in our everyday places? 8 Bible Verses About Abundant Life in Christ Here’s what I find: Christ’s definition of abundance is quite different from the definition of the world around us. Let’s take a closer look at three Bible verses about the abundant life. Be…
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A Daily Bible Reading Guide to Transform Your Life
The sumac has come to life in shades of fiery crimson. I stare at it from my perch by the window and open God’s Word with a sense of expectation. A few weeks ago, I started a new daily Bible reading guide, and this devotional is leading me straight to the Lord. I’ve been learning from Patsy Burnette for years, and when she released her 365-day devotional book Sweeter Than Honey, I jumped at the opportunity to draw near to God with Patsy. I have not been disappointed. Sweeter Than Honey walks the reader through the full Bible in one year—reading chronologically, which is a compelling way to read through…
