Social media describes our culture as being in chaos. News cycles report a back-and-forth type of mentality, keeping us in a place of unease and uncertainty. Wars and rumors of wars. Sex trafficking. Political turmoil. Emptying and splitting churches. Homicides every day. Innocents gunned down. Life would be easier if we crawled into bed and […]
From the moment we are born, our bodies begin to age. But throughout childhood, adolescence, the teenage years, and young adult decades — we don’t feel old. Then one day, folks are celebrating our 50th, 60th, 70th birthdays and beyond. If we are fortunate enough to live into our 80s, we will likely suffer from
My favorite time of the day is at its end — when I crawl into bed, pet the cat, pull the covers over me, and say my last prayer of the day. Just before sleep claims me, I practice the spiritual discipline of Examen — to examine the events of the day and offer them
When we go through hard times, it is helpful to find a therapist, a biblical counselor, or a spiritual director who can walk with us through the issues. Point us toward resources that might open a door for help or provide an a-ha moment of illumination. It is also crucial to have praying people on
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Multiple times in the Old Testament, we find the imagery of God’s right hand. And in Psalm 18:35, it is that right hand that promises to sustain us. “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me.” (NIV). For many of us, the right hand is dominant, especially useful for situations
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We do not know her name, but she was obviously attuned to God’s voice. We only know of her location and of how she remains an integral character in two Old Testament stories. The widow of Zarephath took care of Elijah, God’s prophet. Her home was in the middle of a coastal town where Baal
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It has been seven years since I first began bringing my request to God. So far, no direct answer. Only silence. Isaiah reminds us how God sometimes answers in the silence. “Truly you are a God who hides himself” (Isaiah 45:15 NASB). It is in the silence that God hides. Speaking no reassurances. Giving no
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As God sustains us and we allow his inner work into our souls, stability becomes our watchword. In fact, stability is also a physical necessity. Exercises that strengthen the core keep us stable as we age, eliminating dangerous falls that can break bones and disable us. When life is hard, we need the stabilizing force
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Nothing affects our peace and joy as much as suffering some type of pain: mental, emotional, physical. The story of Job and his faithfulness is the classic example. Job passed the test. But we are not told how long his affliction lasted. Was it just for a few weeks or months? Or was it years
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When we go through a situation where we need to be sustained, we may not feel very strong. In fact, we may realize just how weak we really are. We may have lost control of a situation. We may have come to the end of ourselves and cannot reason our way out of the trouble.
God’s Sustaining Power Read More »