May 30, 2020 | Receive God's Love
We didn’t know it at the time, but we were about to face incredible life changes. I said “I do” to the man of my dreams more than 30 years ago. He was a construction worker and I was a student. The local Sheriff’s Office hired him just six short months later, and I began to feel the burden to pray for law enforcement.
For too long, I declared that “I didn’t marry a cop.” I wore that fact like a merit badge, feeling I earned an “out” if this newfound role as a cop’s wife became too difficult to bear.
I finally realized that whether I became a law enforcement wife by choice or not, it’s one of the callings the Lord placed on my life. My husband has a divinely appointed call to serve our community with integrity; therefore I am also divinely appointed to stand firm in the role of his supporter and prayer warrior. In the Lord’s strength, I’ve embraced that calling and recognize the honor that it brings to our family and future generations.
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Supporting Law Enforcement as we Pray
It’s imperative that we lift up our country’s law enforcement officers and all of our leaders from coast to coast. For many who don’t know what the life of an officer is like, you may not know the best way to pray, so I have compiled 21 prayer prompts that are detailed below.
As you pray, consider the moral decline in our world. It makes me heartsick, but honestly, we shouldn’t be surprised to see it. Look at how the last days are described in Matthew 24:12 in a variety of Bible translations:
Because of an increase in wickedness, the love of most will grow cold (NIV)
Sin will be rampant everywhere… (NLT)
Lawlessness will be increased… (ESV)
Iniquity shall abound… (KJV)
Lawlessness will multiply… (HCSB)
Pray for Law Enforcement: Those on the Front Lines of Lawlessness
Who stands on the front lines of lawlessness? Our law enforcement officers. Men and women who sacrifice themselves and family to keep their communities safe. When the world rises up to say, “We need no law!” our men and women in blue stand firm and say, “We will uphold law and order!”
For most officers, law enforcement is not a career or a profession. It’s a high calling that flows into their families as well. One of the best ways to say thank you to a first responder—and the families who sacrifice so much—is to pray for them.
When Families Feel the Burden
When I meet the wives of young officers, the deeply planted seed of fear that I see in their eyes touches my heart. I feel it.
Young wives often believe their fear is invisible – that no one can see that they’re afraid. Most of the time they’re right. But women who have lived in the same place of uncertainty recognize it in an instant.
One thing I’ve learned over the years – relating not only to a husband in law enforcement but to our marriage as a whole – is that we cannot fight a spiritual battle in the flesh. We must remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). We do not fight the government, or the criminals, or those who have developed a hatred for cops, or even our husbands. Our battle is against the enemy of our souls who desires to steal, kill, and destroy and he must not win.
As wives of our officers, we have no choice but to stand firm in our roles and fight for our men. They need us. They need our prayer coverage and our steadfast courage in the fight. Our ONLY offensive weapon in spiritual battles is the Word of God and we are to pray at all times in the Spirit. In a seemingly supernatural sense, praying for our husbands brings a level of peace and trust in the Lord for ourselves that we may not have expected.
If I had one piece of advice to give the wife of a law enforcement officer it would be this: Pray. At all times.
How to Pray for First Responders
The list of prayers that follows was developed for anyone with a heart to pray for our law enforcement officers, whether the wife of an officer or not. For some, this may be your first attempt at prayer. Please know that God hears them all. For others who may be seasoned prayer warriors, this will provide some on-target ammunition for real needs that real officers face.
For simplicity, I’ve kept the prayers male-specific, but in no way wish to exclude our female officers.
Insert an officer’s name in the blanks if you know it.
21 Ways to Pray for Law Enforcement
- Lord, please go before our officers and be their rear guard. With you before and behind them, they will be surrounded in your great protection. (Isaiah 52:12)
- You, Lord, are a shield around _______. Be his protection, his glory, and the one who lifts his head. (Psalm 3:3)
- May _______ be filled with wisdom and all spiritual discernment to walk in a manner pleasing to You, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9)
- Rescue our officers, Lord, from evil men and women. Keep them safe from those who plan evil in their hearts. (Psalm 140:1-2)
- Help ______ keep his mind steadfast on You and keep him in perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3) ** This is also a great prayer for the families at home!
- Father, our officers see far more devastation and evil than most of us can imagine. Guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus with your peace, which surpasses understanding. Protect them from replaying graphic scenes in their minds.
- May ______ find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man. Shift thoughts of anyone who wishes to find undeserved fault in ______. Help his good work shine brightly for all to see. (Proverbs 3:4)
- Keep _______ blameless and pure in your sight – faultless in a crooked and depraved generation. May _____ shine among men like stars in the universe (Philippians 2:15)
- Help _____ live above reproach, faithful to his wife and family, temperate, self-controlled and respectable. Strengthen his heart that he will not fall into temptation.
- May _____ get good rest to stay healthy and alert. When he lies down, he will not be afraid and his sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)
- Lord, please help _____, a peacemaker who sows in peace, reap a harvest of righteousness. May his good deeds be returned to him a hundredfold. (James 3:18)
- May _____ devote himself to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)
- Help ______ be vigilant at all times, alert and aware of his surroundings. May he be on the alert, standing firm in the faith, and strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)
- Protect ______’s friendships, both inside and outside of law enforcement, so that he is not prone to isolation. Two are better than one…if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
- May _____ never lose hope, remembering that You, Lord, have plans for him – plans for welfare and not for evil, to give him hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
- May You, the God of hope, fill _____ with all joy an peace as he trusts in You so that he will be filled with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13)
- Make _____’s love for our community increase and overflow. Protect him, Lord, from adopting an “us vs. them” way of thinking. (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
- Guard marriages of our officers, helping them remember that their spouse is their friend and supporter, not an enemy with whom to do battle. They are no longer two but one flesh. What God has joined together, let no man separate. (Matthew 19:6) Help him love his wife as himself and equip his wife to respect him as her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)
- Lord, turn the hearts of the fathers (and mothers) toward their children, and the hearts of the children toward their fathers (and mothers). Protect the family unit. Restore broken relationships and continue to strengthen those that are healthy. (Malachi 2:6)
- Keep _____ from the temptation of repaying evil for evil and strengthen him to do what is honorable in the sight of all. When possible, as far as it depends on _____, may he live in peace with everyone. May ______ not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)
- May _____ walk daily in the full armor of God.
Praying The Full Armor of God
This list wouldn’t be complete without emphasizing the armor of God detailed in Ephesians.
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it, you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:10-18 (HCSB)
THANK YOU, for joining the battle by making the decision to pray for our law enforcement officers. Your prayers matter and encourage our officers every day.
Blessings,
photo courtesy of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, 2018
Mar 25, 2020 | Receive God's Love
If you’re like me, you might be feeling a bit unsettled these days, wondering how to find and embrace inner peace. There’s one thing that’s helped me immensely and that’s drawing near to God. My ultimate favorite way to do that is through Bible Study. I receive a lot of questions about how to get started, so I decided to post these helpful tips for Bible study beginners.
If this is your first step into learning God’s Word, allow me to be the first to say welcome to Bible study! Knowing some basic information will help you persevere, and will hopefully set a fire in your heart for learning more about God through the Bible. So let’s start at the beginning.
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Why is Bible Study Important for Beginners?
Before beginning any endeavor, it’s important to understand why you’re starting. Your “why” will help you push through when it doesn’t feel easy, or in the case of Bible study, when you’d rather press your snooze button and get a few extra minutes of sleep. Here are some compelling reasons why Bible study is important:
We learn about God.
The Bible reveals who God is and shows His character. Sometimes it seems the world portrays God as a mean judge, constantly trying to catch us making mistakes. As you open His Word, however, that’s not what you’ll find at all. You’ll begin to see His true nature as a loving Father, a helpful Guide, and a beloved friend.
The Bible is a Plumbline of Truth.
There’s a lot of noise in our society, and lots of people offering their opinions on every subject imaginable. It’s always important to have a baseline of truth from which to consider the opinions of others. God’s Word is truth (see John 17:17). When we know and understand His truth, it strengthens our daily decisions, improves our relationships, and delivers inner peace.
We discover God’s love for us.
Bible study is especially important for beginners who want to discover how God sees them as His children. Through God’s Word, I discover that I am His child, He loves me unconditionally, I never disappoint Him, and that He values me just as I am—so much that His Son willingly sacrificed His life for me. As you dig into His Word, you’ll realize He feels just the same about you
What is the Best Way for Beginners to Study the Bible?
While there are many methods of Bible study, the best way for beginners to study the is to. . .
- Observe the Text by slowly reading and examining what it says.
- Interpret the Text by looking up meanings of words in the original language and taking context into consideration. Even beginners can do this easily with Bible apps like Strong’s Concordance or through websites like blueletterbible.com.
- Apply the Text by taking what you learn to heart. Consider how it can impact your situation, your upcoming decisions, and your current needs. Then trust God’s instruction and live it out.
Bible Study Ideas
As you begin to study the Bible at home, here are some ideas to get you started.
Study the Bible by Verse
Bible apps like You Version Bible provide a verse of the day and offer a large number of translations to choose from. Using that as a starting point, you can use the Observe, Interpret, Apply method of Bible study (detailed above) to learn more about that verse.
Study the Bible by Topic
If you’re currently struggling with something specific (such as fear, worry or anxiety), you can use sites like info to search for those words and discover what the Bible says about them.
Study the Bible by Book
Many people study individual books of the Bible, like the book of Esther, for example, or John, or Matthew, or Romans. By studying a book in its entirety, you’ll discover much deeper meaning and context than studying by verse.
Bible Study Groups
It’s always nice to study with a group of friends. Having the ability to talk about what you’re learning is helpful and many times additional resources are used inside groups. Since it’s difficult to meet in groups right now, online Bible studies are becoming more popular. One I recommend is through the Facebook group for The Joyful Life Magazine. They offer online studies once a quarter or so.
Bible Study at Home
Here’s where I want to encourage you right now. Just begin today, right where you are. Pray and ask God to lead you with His wisdom, then open His Word and begin. The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll reap some of His overwhelming blessings. Engage with your family members, or start off on your own. There’s no reason to fear because God will meet with you when you seek Him. When the Bible seems confusing, look into different versions or look up the word meanings as suggested above, or consult with a friend or pastor who knows the Bible well.
Tools for Bible Study Beginners
You may wonder what you need to begin studying the Bible. What you truly need is simply a Bible (electronic or in book form), a pencil, and some paper. The more you progress, however, the more you’ll enjoy having some writing tools to use. The pages of paper Bibles are thin and a lot of the writing instruments we use every day bleed through the pages and make it hard to read. Here are some of my favorite writing tools that I use specifically for Bible study:
Bible Study Pens
I like these Micro Pens from Amazon because they come in a variety of colors, they’re fine-tipped which makes it easier to write in small spaces, and best of all, they don’t bleed through Bible pages. This set from Sakura is even higher quality but has fewer color selections.
Bible Study Highlighters
Call me crazy but my favorite Bible study highlighters aren’t highlighters at all. They’re colored pencils, but they never bleed, they’re comfortable to write with, and they come in a large variety of colors. Check out these Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils. You can also find Bible Study Highlighters in Bible book stores or online, but I find they’re more expensive and don’t last as long.
Sticky Notes
It’s nice to have smaller, narrower sticky notes that fit into the margins of your Bible. For that reason, I like those designed for calendars like these from Erin Condren. (And they’re cute)!
Bible Reflection Worksheets
I created these printable worksheets to use over and over with any book or passage of the Bible. They’ve proved invaluable in my faith walk and I hope you’ll enjoy them!
Books I recommend for Bible Study Beginners
It’s always a good idea to start to accumulate a small library of resources. There are several books I recommend—specifically for Bible Study beginners—because they have fueled my own faith.
- Without question, you need a Bible that’s easy to read and understand. To begin your journey, I recommend a version that’s a bit more conversational in tone, but still maintains the integrity of original Biblical texts. The CSB version is my favorite and is available in these gems: The Study Bible for Women, She Reads Truth and (in)Courage Devotional Bible.
- Believing God was the first book I ever read by Beth Moore and it had a profound impact on my life and ministry. It remains one of my highest recommendations, even after all these years.
- Kay Arthur is another Bible study favorite because she teaches you to mine God’s word for truth on your own. I recommend Lord Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days.
I hope these pointers and recommendations get you off to a strong start in Bible study, especially if you’re a beginner. As always, I’d love to hear your comments and suggestions!
To your closer connection to God,
May 6, 2019 | Receive God's Love
It was a tough morning. I could barely keep my eyes open and struggled to get out of bed with any level of energy. I felt mentally ready to face the day and my spirits were high, but my body wasn’t cooperating. It just wanted more sleep!
Have you ever felt that way?
Naturally, I made my way straight to the coffee pot, which is part of my normal routine. But caffeine didn’t do the trick. I’ve noticed that it’s not always the miracle pep-provider that I hope. Fresh fruit for breakfast didn’t help, either. My time with Jesus helped a bit and I could finally start to move the wheels on this bus. Once I got moving, I started feeling a lot better. My liveliness and clarity were great through a couple of morning meetings, but then I sat down to work at my desk and my energy plummeted again.
Why am I so tired, I wondered. And then it became clear. I haven’t taken a real day off for weeks. Our entire family is getting ready for some big moves and gigantic changes and we’ve all been running proverbial marathons. Several of us have been sick, fighting through colds, coughs, and sneezes just trying to stay on track. It seems we never stop. And that’s probably because, in reality, we never stop.
Rest in the Bible
There’s a little gift the Lord gave us that we tend to overlook. It’s the gift of rest. If I dig deeper into my honesty tank, I’d say we ignore the gift. On purpose. That’s not good.
Our family has a propensity to let our ever-increasing task list and upcoming deadlines keep us from enjoying Sabbath. Perhaps your family does too.
Many Scriptural encouragements remind me that the Lord provided rest for our good. Yet it is an aspect of His protection and provision that we often fail to embrace. Consider with me:
Mark 6:31— And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat (ESV).
Matthew 11:29— Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (ESV).
Exodus 34:21— “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest (ESV).
Mark 2:27— And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (ESV).
Setting aside a day each week for rest is commanded (“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . .” [Exodus 20:8]), and as with all Scriptural commands, it’s intended for our good and God’s glory.
Rest and Productivity
I find it remarkable that when I take true, Sabbath, I’m more productive afterward. I recognize the Lord’s hand of favor and ease over my work. It’s as if I get more done after a break than I would have without one. Then I wonder why it’s so easy to ignore rest and work straight through the week.
Apparently, I’m not alone in neglecting my rest. The Lord addressed it through His prophet, Isaiah. “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling. . .” Isaiah 30:15 (ESV).
This verse is convicting! God offers us so much in our rest, yet we are quick to turn our back, believing we can accomplish more in our own strength. He wants to do more than provide for our rest, He wants to be our rest. By connecting and abiding in Him, thorough His Word and in prayer, we can find refreshing rest in His presence.
Spiritual Growth Through Rest
As we work to sprout our spiritual growth, let’s make a conscious effort to rest our bodies, minds, and spirits. On top of adopting some of the practices we’ve outlined in this series (time in His Word, meditation, and worship), schedule a real, actual day off and rest. Your rest can look a lot different than being a couch potato. You might decide to sleep late or take a nap, but you’ll also find rest as you get out and do something you enjoy—something that’s not part of work or a project on your “to-do” list.
Rest is a wonderful practice that helps us keep God as a high priority in our lives and avoid making our tasks an inadvertent idol. But rest often takes intentional focus. It certainly doesn’t flow into our lives naturally, so we must actively pursue it to enjoy it’s wonderful benefits.
May you embrace the joy of the Lord today,
May 4, 2019 | Receive God's Love
Springtime brings one of my favorite things—songbirds. Their lovely melodies thrill my heart, especially the meadowlarks. It’s not a far stretch to imagine that they lift their voice to the Lord in praise. After all, Psalm 150:6 says, “let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
If the birds can praise Him, so must we. What a lovely way to sprout our spiritual growth.
In today’s noisy world, it’s easy to forget that we can worship God wherever we are and in whatever we do. Of course, we can worship on Sunday, but we can also praise Him while folding laundry, changing diapers, driving to work, having a lunch meeting, or helping children with their schoolwork. Our praise can take on many forms, like quiet meditation or writing, generosity, serving, speaking, or singing about Who the Lord is and all He has done.
Regardless of our method, heartfelt worship is essential to sprouting our spiritual growth and deepening our connection to God. And we needn’t save our worship for Sundays.
What Happens When We Worship God?
As we lift up our voice in praise, the Bible reveals several things that happen:
- Psalm 22:3 tells us that the Lord inhabits the praise of His people.
- Through praise to the King, we enter His gates and courts (Psalm 100:4).
- Exaltation of the King invites His response as He accepts our praise offering.
- He captures and consumes our attention as our focus shifts from ourselves to the One worthy of adoration.
- The light of the Lord casts out all darkness (Psalm 139:11-12) so that we can have uninterrupted, unhindered time with Him, enjoying the satisfaction that comes through such wondrous communion.
I don’t know about you, but I long for the Lord’s involvement throughout my week and praising His holy name invites His presence and power. One of my favorite Bible events shows this perfectly.
The Power of Worship
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat learned that a vast number of enemies were coming to fight. He was afraid (naturally—I would be too), and verse 3 tells us that he “resolved to seek the Lord.” He and his people fasted and then declared adoration to God. In response, the Lord caused His Spirit to fall on a man named Jahaziel and said, “You do not have to fight this battle…I am with you” (vv 14-15). Wow. Can you imagine the peace and assurance that brought?
In the morning when it was time to face their enemies, Jehoshaphat “appointed some to sing for the LORD and some to praise the splendor of His holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing” (verse 21, HCSB).
Here’s the amazing part. When the people lifted their voices in praise, the Lord set an ambush against their enemies and defeated them. The enemies turned on one another and destroyed each other. And it happened, “The moment they began their shouts and praises” (verse 22). That’s not a coincidence. If we don’t believe that God moves through our praise, we should take a much closer look at the Scriptures and watch more intently in our own lives.
Let’s not save our worship on Sunday, but praise Him with all our might, in spirit, and in truth, just as Jesus instructed in John 4:24. It’s sure to sprout our spiritual growth, draw us deeper into His presence, and enrich our abiding connection with God.
May you embrace the Lord’s joy today –
May 2, 2019 | Receive God's Love
Yesterday on the blog I laid out a simple, 15-minute challenge to sprout our spiritual growth:
Read 5 Psalms and 1 Proverb each day.
The simple practice helps turn our hearts to God and keep Him at the forefront of our minds. The Psalms are filled with encouragement and hope while the Proverbs teach wisdom and point us toward a character-filled life. Reviewing them often—reading God’s Word as an ongoing process—draws us into a deeper, abiding connection with the Lord of Hosts.
That’s the entire goal for sprouting our spiritual growth. It’s the process of transformation that draws us into a closer relationship with Jesus. It prepares us to allow the Holy Spirit, making us more like Christ so that we may participate in the divine (see 2 Peter 1:3-8).
As we begin to adopt new practices, it’s not merely for the sake of doing, it’s for the sake of displaying more of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and less of our worldly nature.
Today’s challenge is also simple:
Mull it over.
Meditate on God’s Word
The thought of meditation has taken on some negative connotations. Eastern religions and new age thinking often twist the Biblical practice. Throughout God’s Word, however, we’re instructed to mediate (mull over) on God and on His precepts and ways. When we meditate according to God’s instruction, we ponder His truths.
Biblical meditation is not a practice of emptying our minds to let “the universe fill the voids.” Rather, it is focusing intently on God’s Word.
As you read Scripture, take time to pause when a verse stirs your heart. For example, when I read Psalm 5:12 yesterday, it captured my attention and felt like a spiritual hug from God. So I paused to meditate.
A Meditation Example
In The Passion Translation Psalm 5:12 says:
“Lord, how wonderfully you bless the righteous. Your favor wraps around each one and covers them under your canopy of kindness and joy.”
I began to mull over the verse, considering the wonderful blessings that God gives His children. My mind traveled back a few days and I recalled God’s goodness in both large and very small ways. I thanked the Lord and spent time recognizing each gift as coming from my Heavenly Father.
Next, I pondered the idea of His favor wrapping around me. It isn’t in front of me or behind me, but wraps all around me, shielding me from every direction. When I considered being covered by a canopy of His kindness and joy, I couldn’t help but smile.
Mulling over this passage brought a new thought to my mind: How can I live differently today knowing that God’s favor wraps around me, He has blessings in store for me, and that I am covered in His kindness and joy? As I face things like an uncomfortable conversation, or a new business venture, or deal with a challenging personality, how can I think and act differently knowing the promises of Psalm 5:12?
Embrace God’s Promises
The Psalms and Proverbs are books of poetry. They’re beautifully written AND they are God’s truth. They’re thick with promises that the Lord will fulfill, and gifts that He wishes to lavish upon us as His own.
By mulling over Scripture, by taking the time to recognize that the Words are intended for me, personally, and by receiving them as my own, my outlook changes. My mood improves. And my hope and joy grow. I recognize that the Lord doesn’t intend for me to say stuck in a life of hum-drum, but longs to bless me as a child of the King.
As we move toward sprouting our spiritual growth, I encourage you to take a few minutes after reading God’s Word and mull it over. Let it penetrate your mind and sink into your heart. Receive God’s promises and grab hold of them with all your might.
Additional Help
My friend, Manyesha Batist helped me greatly. I’m thrilled to share her short video that helps me meditate on God’s Word.
If you’re joining me on this journey of spiritual growth, I’d love to know! Please reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram. And share this post with others if you feel they’ll be blessed!
May God’s Word strengthen you today,
May 1, 2019 | Receive God's Love
I adore spring. The world is alive with the hope of new beginnings and fresh starts.
After a long winter (this year our Colorado winter stretched all the way to May) the newness of spring is a reminder of the redeeming work of Christ. No matter how cold and bleary our past, He makes a way for renewal and hope. Jesus reminds us, regardless of how far we feel we’ve drifted from an abiding connection to Him, that He is steadfast and longs to draw us close once again. I love that.
I’ve recently come out of one of those hazy, blustery seasons of life and I yearn for a fresh start. My connection with God seemed to hang on by a thread and I struggled to feel His nearness or discern His promptings. I was in a season of spiritual winter, to be sure.
Stepping into spring and renewal inspires me greatly. Suddenly, I feel alive and rejuvenated, ready to take on the world. More importantly, I’m ready to reprioritize my walk with Jesus. Intentionally and on purpose. Care to join me?
Sprouting Spiritual Growth
I know what you’re thinking. It’s May. Things are crazy busy this time of year. Is this the best time to make new commitments?
Oh, my sister, yes. Yes it is. Our commitment to Christ is the most precious gift in our lives and leaving it untended will cost us dearly. The blessings of abiding are more than we can imagine so let’s reach out and grab hold. Let’s allow our spiritual growth to sprout again and take root. We don’t have to spend hours a day pulling weeds from our spiritual gardens. Drawing close to God is a little like breathing. It’s something we do all day, every day, alongside every other activity we face.
A 15-Minute Challenge
Could you commit, say, 15 minutes a day to focused, Christ-centered activity? Maybe give up a hand of solitaire on your smartphone or choose a messy bun instead of grabbing the curling iron. I know you can find a quarter of an hour at least 5 or 6 days a week.
Last month I decided to read 5 Psalms and 1 Proverb each day. It took me less than 15 minutes each day. Most days I picked up my Bible and read before starting my daily to-do’s. Sometimes I read while I rocked my sleeping granddaughter or while my grandson played with his toys next to me. I’ll admit, there were a few days where I didn’t get it done, but most days I did. And you know what? Just that little bit of time in God’s Word stirred my heart and poured hope and truth into my dry, dusty heart. As they say, a little goes a long way and I’m enjoying the process again this month.
Will you accept the challenge to read 5 Psalms and 1 Proverb each day for the month of May? Let’s band together and give God’s Word our focus and attention for a few daily minutes.
I hope you’ll join me! If you’re up for the challenge will you let me know? Let me know on Facebook or Instagram and I’ll be happy to pray for you during the journey. I know you’ll love it and the joy it brings to your jumbled life.
May God’s Word strengthen you today,
