Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV When we think of encouraging scriptures we might often think of gentle
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I
I had the fun job of setting up a prayer room each day for our church’s Vacation Bible School. Over 100 children from preschool up to grade 4 and over 30 leaders (teens and adults) a day went through. One of the prayer room activities was to brainstorm things they were thankful for. If
Psalm 139 is lots of people’s favourite psalm and if you take time to prayerfully rest in its many parts you can find new ways for that beautiful word from God to soak into your life. Let me start by explaining this example of creative ways to spend time with Jesus took place in our
” Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13 Ever feel like you’re alone and don’t belong? If you have followed
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
It means we don’t have a high priest who needs to lead us or intercede for us with God. (Hebrews 10:11-25, 1 Peter 2:5-9) We have access to God — unmediated, no help required, open access to God. We can pray and talk directly to God anywhere, anytime, and in any number of ways. God
Sometimes it’s not the new things that work for us, it’s the tried and true. Or often, it’s the true but not recently tried. You see what I mean? Perhaps something you already know but haven’t tried for a long time is a good way for you to draw close to God. Do you have
YES. It’s less about us and more about God. The God who sent His Son, Jesus to give us life by dying in an agonizing and humiliating way on the cross. He did that because of His love for us. (John 3:16 – “for God so loved the world”) He did that to set us
