God welcomes and promises to help those who bring their pain to Him. Psalm 42:1-11; Psalm 43:1-5 A lament is an expression of sorrow or complaint. About one-third of the psalms fall into this category, which tells us that God welcomes these kinds of prayers from His children. In fact, they’re an essential component of communication … Continue reading Choose Hope
Blog
Looking Forward
Because God promises a glorious future, Christians can find the strength to wait—even when it’s difficult. Joel 1:1-20 More often than not, waiting involves a lot of stress—especially when we don’t know how long it will be until the holding pattern ends. During the wait, we sometimes turn away from God and yearn for a … Continue reading Looking Forward
God’s Guide to a Fruitful Life
Is the character of the Savior increasingly evident in you? Proverbs 3:1-4 Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit” (John 15:5). As we live the Christian life in dependency on the Holy Spirit, two things will become … Continue reading God’s Guide to a Fruitful Life
Overcoming Trials
Trouble is part of life, but God always provides what we need in order to endure. 1 Peter 1:3-9 Some people have the wrong idea about the Christian life. Once they become believers, they expect smooth sailing. However, Jesus made it clear that we’ll all face troubles. His own life was no exception—He endured false … Continue reading Overcoming Trials
Responding to Hardship
Hardships or trials are an opportunity to see God work on our behalf in ways we can’t imagine. 1 Peter 4:12-19 When you are going through a hardship, what’s your first response? Do you want to run away as quickly as possible to escape it? Though that’s a normal feeling, God has a different way. … Continue reading Responding to Hardship
A Life Without Lack
The longer we follow Jesus, the more we discover that He is all we truly need. Psalm 23:1-6 “How much is enough?” a reporter once asked John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil and the first American billionaire. “Just a little bit more,” Rockefeller said. While few of us have the resources of the super … Continue reading A Life Without Lack
The Treasure of Faith
Spiritual legacies begin with God’s faithful ones—will others learn of Christ through you? 2 Timothy 1:5-14 Where does faith come from? It’s a gift of God, ultimately, but the Bible repeatedly points to the value of a faithful life. One example is the apostle Paul’s disciple, Timothy, whose mother and grandmother were strong role models … Continue reading The Treasure of Faith
Abraham’s Perfect Faith
Pause right now to remember the ways God has kept His promises in your life. Genesis 22:1-9 Let’s take a look at Abraham’s story to see what the stages looked like in his life. Little faith. When God told Abraham he would have a child in his old age, Abraham not only doubted, but Scripture says … Continue reading Abraham’s Perfect Faith
Listen, Really Listen
ISAIAH 55:3 "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live." Most people live on the surface. They miss the most astonishing things. They see and yet they do not see. And the reason is they aren’t really looking. The same is true about what they hear. They listen with the … Continue reading Listen, Really Listen
Thou Shalt Guide Me
"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." PSALM 73:24 Perhaps, today, you have a problem which has baffled you. Try allowing this text to penetrate your mind until it becomes a dominating conception, and it will do some important things for you.It will make you understand that there is … Continue reading Thou Shalt Guide Me