Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.—Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) My barely-awake eyes finally focused on the number on the scale. The realization hit hard. Despite all of my efforts, the scale had barely moved from…
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”—2 Corinthians 12:9a (NIV) Hot tears of frustration rolled down my cheeks as I poured my heart out to the Lord. For weeks I prayed to achieve a personal goal. I adopted a plan, followed it perfectly,…
But a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.—Proverbs 13:12b (NIV) Dumbfounded, I watched my friend burst into tears as she read the email. “Can you believe this?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied, trying to understand her confusion. “This is what I’ve been praying for. Haven’t you?” She hesitated a moment and then answered, “Yes,…
“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.”—Isaiah 65:17a (NIV) Sighing with resignation, I deleted the paragraph I had just written. The words just didn’t reflect my idea. Writing can be exhilarating—and frustrating. Sometimes the words flow easily. But most of the time it’s a process of writing, rewriting, and then rewriting some…
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:5-7 (NIV) My anxious…
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”—Acts 8:29 (NIV) The Spirit told me to share these words with you. My friend spoke confidently, and then continued to voice encouragement for my soul. She could not possibly have known how desperately I needed to hear her words at that moment. But…
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.—Philippians 4:12b-13 (NIV) Years ago I traded my career as a CPA for a job as an au pair (nanny)…
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” — Luke 9:62 (NIV) Sighing, I looked at my phone. Three am. Once again my thoughts began replaying the painful memories of my past mistakes and regrets. I know I’ve said and done helpful…
When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” — Luke 13:12 (NIV) Recently I participated in some online planning workshops to help me set goals for 2024. In our discussions, this question kept popping up: “Are you a planner, or a pantser?” If…
