Spiritual Growth
These blog posts will give you spiritual growth with a deeper education of what the Bible says on a specific topic.
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The Spiritual Discipline of Silence and Solitude
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:4-5 Have you ever known an extremely chatty person? Perhaps, after a conversation with your friend, you just want a few minutes of peace. Maybe you have a talkative toddler? Or, how about a…
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High Adventures at Sea
But the disciples, who were now in the middle of the lake, ran into trouble, for their boat was tossed about by the high winds and heavy seas. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the waves! When the disciples saw him walking on top of the water, they were terrified and screamed, “A ghost!” Then Jesus said, “Be brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!” Peter shouted out, “Lord, if it’s really you, then have me join you on the water!” “Come and join me,” Jesus replied. Matthew 14:24-29 The massive rock rose very high above us as our boat approached the swimming cove.…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Gratitude
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28 I noticed I have been clenching my jaw A LOT lately. The tension in my shoulders has caused a hump in my back, and my muscles just ache. I started complaining to God and praying for Him to change the situations in my life, so my body could de-stress. But we are all in a time of added stress right now, even as we are tentatively re-entering society amid the changing landscape of the COVIC Pandemic. I have to deal with new fears and worries…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Living an Examined Life
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test. 2 Corinthians 13:5 A.W. Tozar wrote, The philosopher Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” If a common philosopher could think that, how much more we Christians ought to listen to the Holy Spirit when He says, “Examine yourself.” In a world where introspection and self-awareness are culturally glorified, how strange we would think to pursue a life examined by God Himself. Not for the purpose of finding some more profound inner happiness, but to unleash the immeasurable…
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In a Den of Lions
“Issue a decree that every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever, his Kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues, and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27 Did you grow up reading the Little Golden Books? That was how I learned my Bible stories. I remember shopping with my mom and seeing a big kiosk filled with the Golden Books. Mom usually let me get one but choosing just one was the…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Confession
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 As a little girl, when I did something I was not supposed to do, I would try to hide my misbehavior from my mom. The fear of discipline would cause me to keep my actions a secret. I suppose, often, this worked. But it never kept my heart from paying the price for my sin. What I have learned since those childhood days, is that when I “own up” to my behavior and repent, the response is often forgiveness and reconciliation. Confession is a premium…
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The Church Has Left The Building
Good morning friends! I pray that this devotion finds each of you in a place of good health, financially secure and emotionally supported. I had my traditional devotion scheduled for this morning but felt like I wanted to spend a more intimate time with you this Sunday morning. So today’s devotion is going to look more like church than a traditional devotion. Let me start with prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this new day and we rise to worship you. We proclaim your name in all the earth! You are the great Physician and today we pray for every human being who has been afflicted with COVID-19. We…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Simplicity
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Several years ago, my Uncle was killed in an accident. He was riding his bike along the road, staying to the shoulder, and being as careful as can be expected. At the same time, a mom and son were traveling down that same road. The son had dropped something and made a reasonable request for mom to retrieve this item for him. Had mom, put first things first, keeping her eyes on the road, her car would never…
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How To Pray The Scriptures
So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 Being in the Word and praying are the primary methods we use to develop a personal relationship with God. So how powerful do you think it will be when you combine the two practices? What do we mean when we say to “pray Scripture?” It simply means to order your prayer around a particular passage in the Bible. Praying Scripture uses the words of a Bible verse or passage to guide your prayer. It’s a powerful…