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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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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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10 Transformational Scriptures on Alignment With God
I sit by the sliding glass and force myself to stay for ten minutes of silence and semi-solitude. I’ve been sitting by this glass intermittently for several years now, trying to incorporate rhythms that will teach me how to have a deeper relationship with God. Today, I pull out my Bible in search of Scriptures on alignment with God. Scriptures on Alignment With God Our lives are transformed when we come into alignment with God. As God shapes our hearts to look more like his heart, our desires begin to mirror his desires. We see breakthrough in our prayers because we are praying according to God’s will. Let’s look at…
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Overcoming Hindrances to Spiritual Growth: 11 Obstacles
I sit beneath a salmon sunset and tell God I want to go deeper with him. A certain pattern of behavior comes to mind, but I dismiss it quickly. I want to grow in my faith, but I’m not willing to let go of the habits holding me back. Most of us face times when we need help overcoming hindrances to spiritual growth. Maybe you can relate. You know how it feels to ask God what he wants you to surrender into his hands, only to butt up against a bad habit you don’t really want to release just yet. I sit with my desires as the coral-streaked sky fades…
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23 Bible Verses for Encouragement in Hard Times
A vase of salmon-colored zinnias rests on the dining room table. I stare at it through tear-filled eyes, feeling discouraged by the grind of life. Pulling out my Bible, I decide to stand on God’s Truth as I work through my emotions. Slowly and deliberately, I copy a list of Bible verses for encouragement into my journal. Perhaps you need encouragement today as well. Let’s spend some time in God’s Word together. Then, we’ll talk about how to apply these Scriptures to our lives. I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you in the Lord. Bible Verses for…
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How to Cling to the Lord When You’d Rather Cling to Control
Recently, I sat with a friend in the sunshine as we caught up on life. We talked about our dreams, our families, and our desires to control our circumstances. We agreed that we want to cling to the Lord instead of clinging to control but walking it out often feels impractical. Most of us want to learn to cling to the Lord and turn to him when life gets tough, but we tend to grasp for a sense of control before we even think about turning to God for help. Learning to Cling to the Lord I want to learn to cling to the Lord, but I often hold onto…
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17 Free Devotional Books to Help You Grow With God
Are you ready to develop a deeper, life-giving relationship with God? My vision is to provide tools to help you encounter him. For this reason, I have compiled a list of free devotional books to help you draw close to God’s heart. The first four books on this list are free as eBooks with the Kindle Unlimited plan (you can sign up for a free three-month trial if you do not have the plan) and also available to purchase in print. The remainder of the list is available to download for free with just one click. No plan is required. I pray these books help you connect with the tender…
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7 Bible Verses About Your Calling in Life
When God calls you to follow him, he offers something more powerful than a plan. Today we’ll explore seven Bible verses about your calling in life and apply these truths to our lives. Let’s begin by turning to God’s Word for insight into his calling. 7 Bible Verses About Your Calling in Life Scripture offers a great deal of insight into God’s calling. Here are seven Bible verses about your calling in life. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God and embrace his calling for your life. Bible Verses About Your Calling in Life 1.…
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How to Have More Patience With My Child: 8 Tips
It’s 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday, and I need a talking break. I’ve been answering questions almost incessantly for the past 14 hours. I can’t help but wonder how the question-asker hasn’t worn down yet, but he’s going strong. I’m learning how to have more patience with my child, and I’m failing more than I’m flourishing. We’re driving home from a visit with Grandma and Grandpa when the questions begin again from the backseat. “Mom, how do they make seatbelts?” he wants to know. “Geez. Do you ever stop talking?” his older sister barks. I feel her pain and try to shoot her a sympathetic glance in the rearview mirror,…
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How to Be Thankful to God Even When Life Is Hard
It’s a quiet Wednesday evening, and I return home with a truckload of groceries to find an empty house. I have no idea that the evening is about to be a lesson on how to be thankful to God even when life is challenging. After stowing the food in the cupboards, I slip to the deck and discover my family playing in the backyard. They are laughing, wrestling, and chasing the beagles across the wilted wildflower fields. Standing on the deck unnoticed feels like a rare invitation to step back and truly see the big picture of my life from afar. I’m sure other moms can relate: Somehow, the kids…
