Tag: bible
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Running to the Refuge
God is my fortress and my refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. I’ve read that Scripture, and I’ve sung that song, but now I’m living that life. It has become very real to me. There’s one thing I’ve figured out about life in my nearly 50 years of living it: in this…
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The Greatest Miracle
I had heard it so much all my life, really—or at least as long as I can remember—that Jesus loves me and that he forgives my sins. All of them. That he has saved me. It’s been spoken on the tongues of preachers, sung in anthems, said in prayers, written on signs. I’ve even read…
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The True Meaning of God’s Favor
What does favor look like? For a long time, I thought that if you were in someone’s favor, everything would be wonderful—that they would pour out honor and blessings on you. Like at work: if you had your boss’s favor, you’d get promoted, you’d get the best opportunities, you’d stay on the “winning” side of…
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Selective Reading
I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept of selective listening, and if you’re a parent, you’ve likely accused your children of it. It’s when you listen but only hear the messages you want to hear, while somehow ignoring everything else, even if it’s said. It’s as if you’re deaf to any instruction other than those…
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Armor Up: Fighting the Battle Within
The best generals and warriors understand that battles aren’t always won by might; they are also won by perception. If you can convince someone they are defeated, they will stop trying to fight. These are tactics that aim to deceive, confuse, and psychologically break your enemy’s will to fight rather than relying on a direct…
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When I don’t
There is a newer, and really fun praise song people sing at churches all over. It’s actually just called “Praise.” There’s a line in that song that I was thinking about this morning. It says, “I’ll praise when I feel it, and I’ll praise when I don’t.” I’ve been reflecting on this idea of moving…
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Lifting Up Weary Arms: A Journey of Faith
I haven’t been writing lately. When I try to tap into that part of myself that’s inspired, I find very little. Why? Absolute weariness. Weariness can lead to many symptoms, and a lack of creativity is just one of them. It also has a tendency to take me down that dark road where I wonder…
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A New Outlook on Prayer
Recently, at work, I’ve noticed a team member with a particular habit in their communication that I believe holds a valuable lesson for us all. Picture this: we’re in a meeting, collaborating to find solutions and make progress on our project. We’re preparing for the tasks ahead. Then it happens. He speaks. I’ve started to dread…
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Trials of Many Kinds
Recently, I’ve been reflecting a lot on life and its challenges. I’ve written about the importance of approaching the Lord with sincerity and seeking His help when we need it. Our faith strengthens through exercise, and we all know that it gets exercised only when we actively use and work it. Often, it’s the difficulties…
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The Fear of God
In my journey through the Old Testament, even the parts that might feel less exciting or harder to understand, I found myself at the book of Job. I really enjoyed the book of Job and thought I fully understood it already. To my surprise I discovered a new lesson, a truth that we all can…
Devotions For Real Life 