-
15 Bible Verses About Living Life to the Fullest
I’ve been watching the poplar leaves grow on the tree in the backyard this spring. Their tiny faces glanced at me through the finger-smeared glass the day I turned the calendar to May. As I opened my Bible in search of Bible verses about living life to the fullest, the leaves offered a reminder as well. I reflected on the weeks spent watching them emerge and change. I remembered noticing the first tiny buds. Every day, they grew a bit more, and I didn’t miss it when the tiny leaves finally grew wide and offered shade on a sunny afternoon. Watching the summer canopy grow was a gentle reminder of…
-
10 Biblical Affirmations for Hard Times
Are you facing a difficult situation right now? I invite you to join me as we explore 10 biblical affirmations for hard times and difficult circumstances. Speak these words when life is tough and you feel discouraged. 10 Biblical Affirmations for Hard Times This week, the robins returned to our wilted lawn. I envisioned the coming days with emerald grass and sapphire skies overhead. I turned the calendar to March two days early because I just couldn’t wait. Perhaps I was wishing my life away, but I wasn’t overly concerned. I wanted to wish away the long, cold months of winter and welcome sunny afternoons in the backyard with little…
-
8 Bible Verses About Joy and an Invitation to Encounter God
A fresh blanket of snow found us in the early hours before dawn today. I walked to the window and got lost in the purity of the wild world, and in the process, a spark was ignited in my soul. It felt like a fresh outpouring of joy—joy I’ve been craving for far too long. I pulled out my Bible in search of inspiring Bible verses about joy and started soaking in the words. Many of us look to the long winter season ahead, and we could use a fresh outpouring of joy. Let’s turn to God’s Word and soak in these truths about the joy of the Lord today. …
-
8 Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God
I walked in the winter forest last night. On the cusp of twilight, a million snowflakes clung to the outstretched arms of the maples. Stopping to sit among them, I pulled out my Bible in search of Bible verses about finding rest in God. With cares so heavy I hesitated to name them, I soaked in God’s words, praying for his strong arms to reach down and lift my burdens. Instead, the hushed silence washed over me. Refreshed me. And when I turned to leave the forest, I felt it. The burdens were lighter. Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God Perhaps you need God to lift your burdens too. …
-
My Favorite Prayer Guide of 2022: Hidden Manna on a Country Road
Cinnamon-colored sycamore leaves fall slowly, surrendering to the earth. I hold one in my hand, and it covers my flesh like a glove. For an instant, my mind drifts away from the problems of work and home. Peace cloaks me, and I think about the book that’s been serving as my prayer guide this autumn. In her new book Hidden Manna on a Country Road: Seeing God’s Daily Provision All Around Us, Sarah Geringer writes: “When I feel the overwhelm of a bigger-than-me situation, I know it’s time to hit the gravel road and pray it out, surrendering it so I can experience God’s peace. I also know that whether…
-
5 Morning Routines to Help You Start Your Day With God
Autumn rain hangs from the spruce boughs like glass beads. Cleansing the sleepy earth, it feels like God’s invitation to begin again. I’ve been thinking about my rhythms lately—analyzing the morning routines that are working for me in this season as well as the ones that aren’t. The Importance of Morning Routines Last week, I felt tempted to return to self-effort in an attempt to restore some off-kilter areas of my life. However, this morning, the ivory mist reminds me that a Spirit-filled life is not built around willpower but around rhythms. The rhythms we establish ultimately make up our lives. 5 Morning Routines to Help You Begin Well If…
-
How to Give Thanks to God in Tough Times
Not long ago, I sat down with an older, wiser woman, and we had an honest conversation about our lives. We talked about how to give thanks to God in tough times, and she shared her wisdom and experience. No matter what you’re facing today, if you can learn to cultivate gratitude in difficult seasons, God will use it to lift your head. Here are a few things my friend offered to me as we sorted this out. I pray they encourage you to keep looking for God’s gifts in your life as well. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to…
-
8 Bible Verses About Being Worthy Enough in God’s Eyes
Our ideas about the way God sees us radically impact our lives. Today, we’ll explore eight Bible verses about being worthy enough in God’s eyes. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook for overcoming doubt and insecurity. First, I invite you to join me at the creek with my child, and we’ll talk about how God sees us. 8 Bible Verses About Being Worthy Enough My little boy and I inch closer to the creek beneath the silver arms of the sycamores. Expectantly, we walk to the bend where the water pools in shades of ethereal emerald, and he wiggles with excitement. …
-
God Will Sustain You: Lean Into His Grace
Do you need the reminder that God will sustain you and carry you through whatever you are facing today? Let’s learn how to lean into his grace and trust that he is working in our lives. God Will Sustain You Not long ago, I wrote myself a letter. I desperately needed the reminder that God’s grace is sufficient in every season of life. If you need this reminder today, these words are for both of us: A Gentle Reminder That God Will Sustain You Dear friend, no matter what happens today, remember to breathe. When the to-do list mocks and the work is overwhelming and the noise is deafening, breathe.…
-
How to Know If You Are Walking in the Spirit: 5 Ways
Have you ever wondered how to know if you are walking in the Spirit? Maybe you want to be used by God and live for his honor, but you wonder if you are making a difference. Today, we’ll talk about how to know you’re walking in the Spirit and explore practical ways to stay in step with the Holy Spirit. First, I’ll offer a silly example of choosing between walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh. Then, we’ll look at five ways to walk in the Spirit. How to Know If You Are Walking in the Spirit Every summer, we clean our house by spraying it with a…
