Surrendering to God is hard. Why should I live a lifestyle of surrender to God? How do I know if I’m living a surrendered life? Jesus’ words provide a clear definition of surrender to the Father’s will. Here’s a brief reflection on surrender after a weekend retreat with a group of strangers.
Read MoreFocusing on everything that’s going wrong comes naturally, but that’s not God’s best for us. Is it possible to fire off different neurons in our brains and change our thought patterns? Let’s look at what the Bible says about God’s will for our lives and discover a key to walking gracefully through the highs and lows.
Read MoreWhen words of gratitude seem too basic, what do you do? Sometimes we feel like we have to offer something fancy to God in return for all His goodness toward us, but we’ll be relieved to discover that this isn’t true. Let’s look at what Psalm 100 teaches us about giving thanks.
Read MoreWhat is a modern definition of freedom and how does it fit into a biblical context? Is there a difference between our sense of personal freedom and the true freedom that the gospel provides for us? Let’s explore what true freedom means and how it plays out in real life.
Read MoreHave you ever wanted to do the right thing but felt powerless to fight against temptation? This is what Jesus addresses in John 8 when he compares our relationship with sin to slavery. Let’s explore what a raccoon from a classic children’s book can show us about our freedom from sin through Jesus.
Read MoreWho is the person that might be understanding more about God’s character because of you? The patience you show, the love you give, the order you keep— it all reflects God’s beauty. But sometimes we feel like the work we do isn’t adding up to much. Explore what God’s word says about staying steady in our mission!
Read MoreA women who trusts Jesus knows her goal is to glorify Him, enjoy His goodness here on earth, and spend eternity in His all-satisfying presence. But in real life, temptation is strong, and even the best of us drift off-course. How do we respond when we’re corrected? What does the Bible say about having a steady spirit that remains faithful to God?
Read MoreNear the equator, the earth spins on its axis at about 1,000 miles per hour. It’s as if all the movement happening under our feet symbolizes all the movement happening in our lives. Some days feel overwhelming, like there’s too much shifting and changing for our hearts to possibly feel steady. With all the changes we face, how does God’s word help us become more balanced, steady women?
Read MoreSome days, hearing “Jesus loves you,” doesn’t warm our hearts. In fact, the familiar words can seem deflated of meaning. Remind yourself of what God’s love is— and what it’s not— by exploring 1 John 4. It will reset the atmosphere of your heart and empower you to love others well.
Read MoreWork, marriage, parenting, being a good person— it’s all exhausting. Sometimes it feels like the thing we’re called to do is sucking the very life out of us. What does God say about our weakness? When we feel depleted, is there hope that strength will be restored?
Read MoreThe bones of our skeletal system form a framework that holds us up. Without it, our bodies would have no defined shape and would not be able to move or function. When we experience distress, our strength is drained and our hearts feel faint. What is the spiritual framework that keeps us standing?
Read MoreWhen self-confidence is low, we tend to doubt our abilities and second-guess our decisions. It’s normal to face shifting life roles and hard circumstances, but can we face them with our confidence in tact? Can confidence be learned? Let’s explore the most compelling example of confidence the Bible and find out if we have what it takes to follow it.
Read MoreDo you struggle with feeling unsure of yourself? Do you wish you could be a more confident person? Explore the difference between Christ-like confidence and worldly confidence, and discover what it looks like for God to develop confidence within you.
Read MoreDon’t want to read the Bible? Not motivated to pray? These may be symptoms of a deeper issue that effects your life more than you realize. If you procrastinate to spend time with God, or avoid it altogether, this is for you. Discover how these things are connected to growing in confidence, and become the confident daughter of God you were meant to be.
Read MorePsalm 18 contains beautiful imagery about God’s saving strength. This ancient song highlights God’s ability to sustain us through rough terrain, but there’s another promise in these verses that offers a different type of provision. What is this other way that God works on our behalf? And how is God showing His power in our current life circumstances?
Read MoreCelebrating each other’s victories and providing for each other’s needs— these are the perks of living in community with other believers. This culture of generosity and togetherness is something that has permeated Christianity since its earliest days. Where does this intersect with your real life? How might God be calling you to live generously?
Read MoreApproximately thirty years was all that sat between Jesus’ resurrection and Paul’s letter to the Philippians. So much had changed in the world—and in Paul— within those decades; yet thirty years seems like nothing compared to the centuries between then and now. What did Paul say about God’s provision in his letter and how does it affect you and I today?
Read MoreLiving with the feeling that we don’t have enough is called scarcity. When we’re stuck in a scarcity mindset, our lives are negatively impacted, and even our ability to think and make decisions is effected. The needs in our lives don’t have to drive us toward a mindset of scarcity and fear.
Read MoreWhen trials come, how do we respond? Is it true that trials make us stronger? Life holds a vast array of troubles for us— an endless assortment of heartache, temptation and suffering. Trials of many kinds is how James describes it in the Bible. Like the roots of a tree, joy stabilizes us in the storms of life. What does it look like in real life to face trials with joy?
Read MoreHaving a full tank feels good. Emptiness on the other hand… not so much. But this is the way God designed things to be. He uses these polarities to show us our need for Him. Jesus is very clear about it: He sees our emptiness and He wants to fill us with His joy!
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