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17 Bible Verses About God’s Plan: Hope for Unexpected Seasons
Blue jays shatter the silence of morning with an almost offensive cacophony. I watch them from the window as I prepare to embrace the day ahead. The past month has brought some unexpected challenges, and I open my Bible in search of Bible verses about God’s plan. When nothing goes as expected, it can be helpful to anchor ourselves to the promises of God. We need to remind ourselves that when the bottom falls out, he is still good. Even when our circumstances feel anything but kind, our world is held together by a good Father who can only be love. Bible Verses About God’s Plan When our finite minds…
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Blaming God for Suffering: How to Release Offense
A curtain of stratus clouds shrouds the sun, and morning finds us with hoary light. As I gaze out the window, I remember a similar morning years ago. It was the morning I decided I was never again blaming God for allowing suffering or difficulty in my life. I told him that I would never again take offense, blame him, or hold it against him when trouble came into my life. Blaming God for Hard Times I made the commitment at the end of a long season in which everything seemed to be going wrong. Within the span of three months, both our young pet beagles died suddenly; our financial…
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10 War Room Prayers for Victory in Life’s Battles
Morning greets us soundlessly this time of year. The light has begun to push back the darkness, but winter’s arms still enfold us. I sit in the corner of our dining room each morning and pray for our kids. I pray for friends and family members, the people who are within our inner circle. This dining room has become a war room over the years, and from this corner I pray war room prayers for victory in every area of life. Today, we’ll explore 10 war room prayers for life’s battles. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help guide your…
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5 Steps to Take When You Feel Angry With God
I recently went to lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in several years. As we caught up on life, our conversation turned to God. Her face immediately grew cold as she expressed, “God and I aren’t on good terms right now.” It was clear she was angry with God. “Do you want to talk about it?” I gently asked. “Well, after everything that happened last year, I’m not sure I want to follow a God who would allow such terrible things,” she admitted. In the previous year, she’d endured some painful losses. I listened as she shared her story. I also told her about a time in my life…
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8 Prayers for Strength and Patience in Difficult Times
I marvel at the almost-winter moon, a silvery second-light casting soft shadows on the wall. I’m restless tonight, unable to sleep, and I take the advice of a friend, using these quiet hours to seek God. On this night, I mostly pray prayers for strength and patience as we press into the long, winter months to come. Prayers for Strength and Patience At various times in our lives, we all need to pursue God for strength while we push through difficult times. If this resonates with you, here are some prayers for strength and patience. I invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free Advent…
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15 Healing Scriptures for Physical and Spiritual Well-Being
The season’s first skiff of snow greeted us with the dawn this morning, and I thought of the places we’ve been and the things that have changed since we last woke to a wintry morning. I pulled out my Bible in search of healing Scriptures to carry us into the new season. Recently, a friend remarked that everything God permits in our lives is part of his plan to heal us. I’ve been thinking about these words for days. Every relational struggle, health crisis, financial setback, and difficult situation exists to heal us. And the ultimate “healing” is that we will emerge looking more like Jesus. As we reflect on…
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10 Prayers of Praise to Lift Your Head
A white moon washes the forest in waves of pellucid light, a benediction. I went to the woods to ground myself. As the light fades, I realize I’ve stayed longer than planned. Closing my eyes in the moonlight, I turn to God with prayers of praise in hopes that he might lift my head. When life is challenging, turning to God in praise can help us rise above our circumstances. This doesn’t mean we ignore our emotions; rather, we process them in God’s presence. After we have sorted through these feelings, we anchor ourselves to God. One way to secure this anchor is through praise. If you need God to…
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Devotions for Tweens: Books by Kids for Kids
Several years ago, when our daughter was 11, she approached me with a surprising question. She asked, “Mom, will you write a kids’ devotional book with me?” I said yes. Four years later, I’ve now written three books of devotions for tweens: two books with our daughter and one with our sons. We’re excited to share these books with you here today. Best of all, you can download all three of these books in Kindle form for free with the Kindle Unlimited plan. A free three-month trial will give you plenty of time to read these books. If you’d rather find them in paperback form, they are available to purchase…
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12 Healing Bible Verses for a Broken Heart
We all face heartache in life. When these times come, an invitation always awaits: We can turn to the One who always understands. Today, we’ll explore 12 Bible verses for a broken heart and soak in God’s truth for our painful moments. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free download to help you find healing and hope in God’s presence. Bible Verses for a Broken Heart Let’s take some time to uncover what God’s Word says about healing a broken heart. God’s Definition of “Good” Romans 8:28 is often quoted in difficult times: “God causes all things to work together for good to those…
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God’s Purpose for the Storms of Life
The sky opened wide this afternoon, and raindrops the size of marbles splashed in tiny pools upon our faces. We ran through the forest as thunder growled, surprised that the canopy overhead did so little to protect us from the rain. I had no way of knowing that the afternoon thundershower was about to be a reminder of God’s purpose for the storms of life. God’s Purpose for the Storms of Life As the dusty trail turned slick with mud beneath our feet, my son’s laughter was drowned out by the roar of falling sky meeting leaves and earth. We reached the truck saturated and mud-covered up to our knees,…
