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A Prayer for God to Take Control in a Situation
Snow falls like a million answers to all the wishes cast on shooting stars. I made a wish while the moon shined white last night. I whispered it in the quiet part of my heart where child-like hopes mingled with prayers. On the surface, it seemed to be a wish for everything to turn out okay. On a deeper level, it was a prayer for God to take control in a situation that was weighing on my heart. A Prayer for God to Take Control in a Situation It was a prayer for my child. Long story short, I feel like I’ve been failing this child. Most parents have this…
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10 Replenishing Bible Verses About the Goodness of God
I sit by the window as God infuses the sky with light, and I begin the day in my usual way. I open God’s Word. Today, I’m searching for Bible verses about the goodness of God. 10 Bible Verses About the Goodness of God As the lavender glow of dawn washes over me, I soak in the following verses and am filled with peace. When life is challenging, meditating on God’s goodness can change our hearts and lift our heads. I invite you to join me as we soak in these Truths together today. Bible Verses About the Goodness of God to Lift Your Head 1. James 1:17 (ESV) Every…
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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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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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How to Hear God’s Voice: 4 Keys
Do you want to learn to hear God’s voice and stay in step with him as you make decisions? God wants to reveal himself to us and teach us how to discern his quiet whispers. How to Hear God’s Voice Today, we’ll begin by discussing the most common ways God speaks to us. Then, we’ll explore a practical way to create space for listening to God. Let’s start with the ways God often speaks. 1. God speaks through his written Word. Most reliably, God speaks through his written Word. Has a Bible verse ever jumped off the page as if it were written just for you? Have you ever felt…
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Dwelling in the Presence of God: 3 Practical Ways
The morning glories are climbing the neighbors’ porch beams when I stop along the road and come to a realization: I want to live a life spent dwelling in the presence of God, but hurrying is pulling my attention away from his presence. God is always present with us, which means that we are always dwelling in his presence; yet it’s easy to become distracted by the demands of our days and fail to cultivate the awareness of his presence. As counter-intuitive as standing along the road and watching the climbing vines feels, I could learn something from their slow climb heavenward. Staring at the climbing vines, I’m amazed by…
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3 Ways to Hold on to God When You’re at the End of Your Rope
Someone tied a ragged rope swing over the creek last summer. I walked by that rope all winter, frayed edges hanging grey and frozen over icy water. Sometime in the thickest part of those long winter months, the old rope started to remind me of the truth I needed when the sun hid its face for weeks on end: Hold on to God, and when you reach the end of your rope, you’ll find he was the one holding onto you the whole time. It’s not easy to hold on to God when your life falls apart and your grip loosens. But maybe the best news of all is this:…
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Feeling Discouraged? This Is for You . . .
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. On one level, admitting to the discouragement feels like ingratitude. I have a life many women envy. I’m able to work part-time from home and spend most of my days caring for our three children. On a different level, this work feels like a cycle of 15 tasks that will never, ever end. I wonder if I’m making an impact on the world, and this work feels too hard, too humble. No matter where you spend your long days, you probably know about hard and…
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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 goes off the rails, 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…
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God, Lead Me in the Right Direction: 9 Prayers for Guidance
I recently drove ten minutes to the North Country Trail for an hour of hiking beneath the naked arms of the hardwoods. As I walked, I considered my life, my daily rhythms, and the state of my soul. “God, lead me in the right direction in my life,” I prayed. Every few months, I slip away to talk to God about the direction of my life. Mostly, I want the assurance that I’m walking according to God’s plans. Perhaps you need this space, too. Today, we’ll talk about how to find God’s direction and the importance of seeking his guidance. God, Lead Me in the Right Direction We all need…
