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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 to help you grow closer to God. 15 Bible Verses About Spiritual Growth 1. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) But the fruit of the…
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Rolling Our Burdens Onto God: Finding Peace in Surrender
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 think of George Müller, who was known for the idea of rolling our burdens onto God.* Perhaps what I need most today is to roll my heaviest burdens onto the Lord. We don’t have to carry our burdens and cares alone. God invites us to cast our burdens onto him and allow him to sustain us (see Psalm 55:22). Rolling Our Burdens Onto God What does this look like? Let’s consider a few insights to help us release…
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God’s Timing for Your Healing: Trusting the Process and Power of 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. I’m reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:11. God makes everything beautiful in its time. God’s Timing and the Power of Restoration This truth pertains to the farmers’ barren fields as well as our barren hearts. When life is tough, trusting God’s timing for our healing isn’t easy. Most of us prefer to rush through the wilderness seasons of life instead of walking…
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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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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.…
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15 Bible Verses for Travel: Anxiety, Safety, and Uncertainty
After 11 days on the road, we returned home to western Pennsylvania last week. All in all, the trip reminded me of how to thoroughly enjoy God and his gifts in every situation. I also pulled out my Bible as I reflected on God’s Word regarding travel. Today, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses for travel. At the end of today’s post, I’ll share some practical insights we can learn from traveling. You’ll also find a free devotional eBook that makes a great travel companion. 15 Bible Verses for Travel Let’s start by turning to God’s Word. Bible Verses for Travel: Anxiety, Safety, and Joy 1. Proverbs 16:9 The heart…
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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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Persevere in Prayer: A Simple Tip for a More Consistent Prayer Life
I was 22 years old, full of dreamy ideals, and fresh out of college when I became the Life Skills Support Special Education teacher in a small-town public high school. I had visions for planning engaging lesson plans and teaching my students to thrive in the world. A month into my new career, I vividly remember sitting in the classroom at the end of a grueling day, wiping the tears from my eyes, and wondering how in the world I was going to force myself to return to the classroom the next day. Nothing about my job was going according to my plans. I spent most of my time trying…
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Short Prayers for School: 8 Prayers for Your Kids
Our mornings typically begin with a familiar rhythm. There are commands about brushing teeth and making beds. We search for missing shoes and cross-country uniforms. Amid the chaos, I try to pray over our kids, but it doesn’t always happen. If you can relate, I’m sharing 8 short prayers for school today. Pick just one of these prayers to pray every day, and your kids will be blessed. Speak these prayers over your kids or invite them to pray as well. Short Prayers for School: 8 Prayers for Your Kids I originally wrote these Bible-based prayers at the start of a new school year, but now I pray them all…
