Called to Remember God’s Promises

I don't know what your days look like right now. Perhaps life feels like it's out of control and you're praying for the strength to see your way through. Or maybe, everything is calm right now and you're thankful for the time to catch your breath. 

Whether you're struggling and worn out, relaxed and feeling good, or anywhere in between, God's Word is full of life-giving promises to us. {Tweet this}

Here are a few I'm reminding myself of. Maybe you can use a reminder as well.

We are called to remember God's promises...

You are His.

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.  O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 NLT

Nothing is impossible for God.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 NIV

His love for you is endless.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

He calls us to life.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT

God forgives.

No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34 NIV

He sees us differently than the world does.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

He walks with us.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

God can be trusted.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 NLT

God changes lives.

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. Colossians 1:6 NLT

He is our hope and our strength.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV

He is our peace.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

In Christ,

Laura

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Courageous Women of the Bible {Book Review}

Last fall, I wrote about courage and being brave. It’s something I think about a lot because courage isn’t just for the extreme actions we hear about. Courage is needed in our day-to-day activities. {Tweet this}

To keep trying when nothing is going our way.

To face a new day when we’d rather pull the covers over our heads.

To be ourselves instead of trying to be like someone else.

To share our stories when it means being vulnerable.

To have the hard conversations even though it’s uncomfortable.

We may not think of ourselves as being courageous, but we see it in others. And, sometimes, someone else’s brave example helps us look for it in ourselves.

Because I think so much about what it means to be brave, I was excited to hear about the opportunity to review Courageous Women of the Bible: Leaving Behind Fear & Insecurity for a Life of Confidence and Freedom by LaTan Roland Murphy.

In this book, the author explores eleven courageous women in the Bible, relating their stories to ours today. What did it mean for women like Deborah, Abigail, Mary, Jochebed, and the widow with two coins to be courageous women then? And what does it mean for you and me to be courageous women today?

At the very beginning of the book, LaTan explains the difference between worldly courage and Godly courage.

“Worldly courage often makes a rebellious, sinful nature. Worldly courage screams, ‘You can’t make me do anything I don’t want to do!’ or ‘It will be my way!’ Or even, ‘You can’t stop me!’

“Courage by God’s standards is the ability to act, regardless of human fear or frailty, and enables us to do supernatural things because we are not acting alone—God is with us. And sometimes, godly courage is manifested in the ability to not act outwardly, but to wait, pray, and be still in God’s presence.

“Real godly courage is laced with an attitude of obedient gratitude, knowing that He is able to lead, guide, and direct our lives.” – LaTan Roland Murphy, Courageous Women of the Bible (pgs 14-15)

Looking back in my own life, I remember many times when waiting on God looked to others like I was doing nothing. What I knew was Godly courage to wait and listen for God to lead, looked like a lack of worldly courage to make things happen. {Tweet this}

That’s often the way it is. Walking in faith takes courage, but that faith-filled courage can be difficult for the world to see or understand.

Courageous Women of the Bible has 12 chapters. Each of the first 11 chapters focuses on a courageous woman from the Bible and includes questions to think about at the end of each chapter. The last chapter is a journaling section. I read this book on my own, but it would also make a great group study.

More about this book (from the back cover):

Learn to live, love, and lead courageously—as you boldly choose to trust God.

Whether you're facing struggles with singleness, the mounting challenges of marriage and motherhood, health issues, a financial crisis—God has equipped you to walk in freedom and confidence as you abide in Him, strengthened by His power and provision. Through the stories of eleven brave women of the Bible who made faith-filled choices that positioned them for success, LaTan Roland Murphy exhorts, encourages, and empowers women of all ages. With warmth and wit, she illustrates how you, like Deborah, Jael, Mary, and others, can look beyond your circumstances and lay hold of the courage needed to

· draw closer to Jesus when facing illness, isolation, or rejection;
· live and give generously, even amid financial hardship; and
· step out into faithful, fearless living as a wife, mother, friend or coworker—no matter the season of life or what lies ahead.

You can visit LaTan on her website, and find Courageous Women of the Bible on Amazon.

*Giveaway*

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and BlogAbout Blogger Network, I have one copy of Courageous Women of the Bible to give away!

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post with your email address (so I can contact you if you win.) For extra entries, share this post on social media (let me know in the comments where you shared.) [Privacy policy]

Drawing ends next Monday, June 11. (Sorry, only U.S. residents are eligible to win.)

In Christ,

Laura 

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com] 

(Note: I received a free copy of Courageous Women of the Bible from Bethany House Publishers in return for my honest review.)

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Hope For When Your Hope Feels Lost

A few months ago, I wrote an article titled Hope Changes Everything. Shortly after I posted it on my own blog, it also ran on a website called Thoughts About God. There it received more exposure which led to comments and questions from readers in other countries.

The common question was…

How do I keep hoping when it feels like all hope is lost? {Tweet this}

That's not an easy question to answer. Everyone has to deal with something in life, whether it's in the past, going on right now, or something that will happen in the future. Everyone’s “something” is hard and the longer it goes on, it can feel like hope is fleeting. {Tweet this}

Without knowing individual situations, I tried to respond based on what I've learned in my own experiences…because sometimes just knowing someone else is also struggling makes a difference.

Maybe you've been asking the same question—how do I keep hoping when it feels like all hope is gone?

Please join me at Candidly Christian to continue reading where I'm sharing 4 Things I've Learned About Staying Hopeful...Hope For When Your Hope Feels Lost.

In Christ,
Laura

[Photo credit: Candidly Christian]

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3 Prayers for Today

I think a lot about manna. You know, the unidentifiable food substance God provided for the Israelites in the desert. Every morning, it sat on the ground with the morning dew and the Israelites were to gather just enough for that day.

Every day, God gave them what they needed, just enough for one day at a time so the Israelites would learn to rely on Him for their every need.

I think of manna at the end of the day when I’m not sure how I had enough strength and energy for the hard stuff I dealt with.

The tough conversation…

The disappointments…

All the ways in which I was stretched beyond what I could handle on my own….

And yet, with God’s help, I made it through.

Manna reminds me that day-by-day, my needs will be met. It may not be the way I would like (the line between want and need often gets blurred), but God knows, and I’m still learning to trust and rely on Him.

Manna is a reminder that worrying about “what-if” and “how-will-I” for the future gets me nowhere. I need to focus and look for what God is doing today. {Tweet this}

Manna leads me to pray 3 prayers. For today. And every day.

3 Prayers for Today

Lord, let me see You today.

Whatever our day looks like, God is present. On those days when we’re distracted and all we can see is what we’re facing, we have to intentionally look for Him. I’ve been reminded of His presence in the way the morning sun beamed down through the clouds as I drove to work, unexpected flowers on a plant that rarely bloomed, and the way a text or email from a friend came at just the right moment.

These may seem small or insignificant, but when we’re looking for God, they’re gentle reminders that say I AM here.

Lord, give me the strength and energy I need for today.

Just as we ask Him to provide daily provisions, like food, clothing, and shelter, I know I need His help in other ways to get through each day. I need to rely on His strength, His energy, His compassion for others, and His grace.

Jesus was always in direct contact with His Father. We need to be too. Quiet time with God grounds me and helps me focus on Him, instead of all that is going on around me. A quick prayer before we act—Lord, give me the words to speak or Lord, show me how I can support her—helps us see others through His eyes, rather than through our own.

Lord, guide my steps today.

When life feels difficult, I know that even though I can’t see what’s ahead, I need to keep doing the next thing. The problem is sometimes I don’t know what that next thing is. I know what I want to see happen, but it might not line up with God’s plan. I need Him to guide my steps and show me where my attention and focus should be.

Allowing myself to be led by Him (even on the days when I feel like I’m not accomplishing anything) may open my eyes to something He wants to show me that I’ve been missing. Or it may lead me to the rest and relaxation He knows I need.

But even better, it will draw me closer to Him as I wait on Him, lean into Him, and depend on Him. Today. And every day.

In Christ,

Laura 

[Photo credit: Unsplash.com]

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