Comforting Others with the Comfort of God’s Word
“God’s Word is living and active, and it does not come back void (Heb. 4:12; Isa. 55:11). And its pages are filled with incredible truths. Revelation 21:4 tells us that one day God will “wipe away every tear” from the eyes of his children and “death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more.” What a promise to hold onto in our darkest times—and the Bible is a book all about why and how this promise will come to pass. Where else can we find the words of a Creator God who experienced the same human pain and loss as we do? himself.” Comforting Others with the Comfort of God’s Word by Kelly Ottaway
Why Should We Memorize God’s Word?
“How often do we scroll through Instagram, Facebook, or Google for help on a situation we’re walking through? How quick are we to shoot a text to a friend for advice or help? It’s so easy for us to look to tangible helps to soothe our souls (and there is good to be found in these things!). But how often do we neglect first going to the Word as our primary help? While our lives are ever-changing, God’s Word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven (Psalm 119:89). The Word of the Lord is perfect, flawless, (Psalm 18:30), and will stand forever (Isa. 40:8). The Bible is living and active, it has the power to speak to our hearts (Heb. 4:12), and it will not return empty (Isa. 55:11). In all things, the Bible speaks a more relevant word and offers timeless truths that will never pass away (Luke 21:33).” Why Should We Memorize God’s Word? by Hunter Beless
Discover the Beauty of Slow Scripture Meditation
“As we begin to study and make discoveries in Scripture, we often want to know everything—immediately. The idea of pondering just one verse at a time seems frustratingly slow. But spiritual maturity and scriptural understanding most often come not through giant leaps and marathon study sessions but by steady faithfulness, day after day. Scriptural meditation helps us to slow down, to zoom in, and to hear the Lord’s gentle voice whispering through his Word.” - Discover the Beauty of Slow Scripture Meditation, by Katherine Pittman
The High Priestly Prayer: How Jesus’ Words Help Us Pray
“We can only imagine how heavy our Savior’s heart must have been as he washed his beloved disciples’ feet, knowing within a few hours he would be dying on a cross for them . . . and for us. He knew they would desert him at his darkest hour, and yet, he chose to pray for them . . . and for us. That powerful prayer—called the High Priestly prayer of Jesus—is found in John 17. As believers, we can apply that same prayer to our own lives today.” - The High Priestly Prayer: How Jesus’ Words Help Us Pray by Judy Dunagan
A Foolish Love by Katy Morgan
“It is one of the most moving—and terrifying—moments in the story of David. In 2 Samuel 6, the ark of God is brought to Jerusalem. As this symbol of God’s presence is brought through the city, David strips down to what is apparently very little and dances before it “with all his might” (v. 14). Later, David finds his wife Michal waiting at home. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today,” she spits sarcastically (v. 20). The narrator tells us she despises him for what he has done (v. 16). The story is moving because it reveals the depths of David’s unashamed devotion to God. But it’s terrifying because it forces us to realize that we’re a lot less like David than we think. Too often, we’re rather like Michal instead.” - A Foolish Love, by Katy Morgan
Praying the Psalms: An Invitation to Intimacy
“The Psalms show us that it is right and good to bring all our authentic emotions to God in prayer. They invite us to come to him, raw and unfiltered, in every circumstance we face. The Psalms demonstrate how an honest, angry prayer can also be humble and God-oriented, or how the act of prayer itself can reshape our fear and worry into praise. Moreover, we remember that the Psalms were intended for corporate use, bidding us to bring our unmasked selves to church and to our Christian community. Our only mistake would be to refuse the Psalms’ invitation, bottling up our emotions or attempting to handle what we are facing in our own strength.” - Praying the Psalms: An Invitation to Intimacy, by Caroline Cobb
Leaving a Legacy: Learning from Puritan Women of Faith
“The main lesson all of us—whether single, married without children, or married with children—can take away from this story is that it is vital for women to pass on the faith in their families and communities, and though there may be many factors working against us in accomplishing this task, we can move forward with faith and labor to the best of our abilities knowing God has equipped us. For Lucy Hutchinson, this meant applying her skills of reading, writing, and thinking to author an entire book. But for Hutchinson’s mother, Hutchinson’s daughter, and even Hutchinson herself, this didn’t mean becoming professional theologians. It simply meant fulfilling their God-given duty and entrusting the fruits of their work to him.” - Leaving a Legacy: Learning from Puritan Women of Faith by Jenny-Lyn de Klerk
When Justice Feels Far
“I bet you’ve breathed long enough to see injustice. Our chests tighten as the question of justice sticks in our minds like a bee stinger hard to remove. So, we who follow a just God turn to him and ask “How is this just?” We know he rules. We know he is good and righteous. We see the discrepancy between God’s character and this world, and we want to know if he is doing anything. We’re not alone in these questions. They are the questions God’s people have been asking for millennia. We stand in their legacy as we ask, and we can read what the Lord spoke to them in the Scriptures to know what he would say to us as well.” - When Justice Feels Far, by Taylor Turkington
Hope for the Homesick
“Homesickness is a feeling we all carry within us. It makes itself known from time to time, perhaps when we pack up our bedroom to head to adulthood, when we come back and realize we’ve changed, or anytime we change houses or towns. It can prick our hearts even as we stay put. Maybe home doesn’t feel safe—or perhaps it is safe, but late at night we worry someone terrible will intrude or someone wonderful will leave. All of it leaves us longing for a permanent, impenetrable place where we are planned for, welcomed, safe, loved, and liked. We all have stories of homesickness, and that’s why it matters that God has a story of home for us.” - Hope for the Homesick by Caroline Saunders
True Belief Leads to Obedience
“What does it mean to believe in God? Maybe it’s like this: while we exercise our muscle to believe—while we abide in the vine, walk with the Good Shepherd, rest in our Father’s arms, and turn in the direction of our Heavenly Father, day after day—we remember the context in which we do our believing and choosing. For the only reason you and I can choose God is because, given the choice between us and everything else, he chooses us—every time.” - True Belief Leads to Obedience by Laura Booz
Genesis: From Slavery to Freedom
“Genesis was a gift to God's people. It was a guide to assist Israel in re-narrating their experience of life post-slavery. Even though the stories in Genesis are now nearly 2,500 years old, they feel familiar. I feel a strange connection to Israel's hopelessness in Egypt. I don't wake up to brick-making, but I do wake up to the slavery of shame.” - Genesis: From Slavery to Freedom by Chris Ammen
Yearly Bible Reading: Reading God’s Word for Our Joy
“One of God’s sweetest gifts, besides Himself, is his Word. Scripture is God-breathed. Both the Old and New Testaments are his words that reveal him to us (2 Peter 1:21). The Scriptures are useful, binding, relevant, and true (2 Tim. 3:16–17). The law is perfect and revives the soul (Ps. 19:7). The Lord uses His Word to bring people to Himself (Rom. 10:17). God has been gracious to give you and me access to know many things about Him: His creation, His desires for us, and, most important, His Son. Are we reading and treasuring this precious gift?” - Yearly Bible Reading: Reading God’s Word for Our Joy by Trillia Newbell
Don't Miss the Gospel in Your Bible Study
“‘What would you miss from the gospel story if the passage you're studying right now wasn't in the Bible?’ This insightful question was posed to me by a mentor. Her hope was to convince me of this truth: the individual sections we study in Scripture are part of one big story. The entire Bible works together to tell one overarching narrative. In other words, the Bible is one book. Its forty different authors are inspired by one divine Author to tell one central story: God’s redemption of sinners through his Son.” - Don't Miss the Gospel in Your Bible Study by Nana Dolce
Expect God's Word to Change You
“Do you ever wonder if God’s Word is making a difference in you? Maybe you read, memorize, and study it, but you’re not sure it’s doing much good. Take heart! Even when you don’t feel it, God is continually using his Word to transform you from the inside-out.” - Expect God's Word to Change You by Laura Booz
Sensing God in Scripture
“A passage like “The heavens declare the glory of the Lord” (Ps. 19:1) becomes a passport to praise as we give God the credit for every marvelous star in the night sky. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8) takes on new gusto as we enjoy the good gifts he lavishes on us. Even the quietude of “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10) becomes to us a solid shelter when storms are raging. A well-developed biblical imagination cannot even see a seed planted in the ground without reflecting on the nature of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 13:31–32). Spiritual parallels are everywhere, particularly for a mind steeped in Scripture.” - Sensing God in Scripture by Scott James
Straight Outta Context
“As we read larger portions of Scripture more of the Bible’s context becomes available to us. However, we must be careful that we do not spend so much time investigating unnecessary or extra-biblical context that we miss the main point of a passage. We can fall victim to chasing cross references and studying Bible maps and charts and learning about leprous diseases until we lose the main point of a passage. Or even worse, we can lose real communion with the Lord by allowing all the fact-finding to derail our study. We must remember that studying the Bible is primarily a spiritual exercise that uses the intellect. It is not primarily an intellectual exercise cloaked in spirituality.” - Straight Outta Context by Kristie Anyabwile
Why and How Do We Study God’s Word?
“God wants you to know him. He has made this possible by revealing himself in Scripture. When you are diligent to prioritize his Word, he is faithful to meet you there. So know that however you choose to read God’s Word this year, if you approach it humbly, seeking to know and love God more, then by his grace and by the power of his Spirit, his Word is able to shape, grow, and change you.” - Why and How Do We Study God’s Word?, by Lauren Bowerman
How Should We Cry Out to God?
“In so many ways I see the tension between brokenness and beauty, injustice and promised redemption, Jesus’ finished work and the pain that still exists in our world. And as I wander through this broken world with my broken body, I am encouraged by the model I see from the psalmist: a model of honest, true, broken lament that leads to sure, true, steadfast hope. I see him enter into the grief, acknowledge the brokenness, and yet in the midst of it still cling to faith in God. My heart swells at the thought, “could my grief be the very path that leads me to deeper hope?”” - How Should We Cry Out to God? by Lauren Bowerman
Grief's Path To God
“In our grief, we wait. Our souls wait for God to show up, to redeem, to carry us through. We hope in his word, his promises, his character. This is the intersection of pain and promise, this place of waiting in our grief. It may not be the grief of losing someone you love. It may be the death of a dream that you grieve, the loss of a relationship, the disappointment of a spouse’s choices or even the inability to conceive. It may be the loss of an ability, health, or youth. We bring these losses to God and we wait. But notice how we wait.” - Grief’s Path to God, by Christine Gordon and Hope Blanton
Confess Your Sins—and Sing!
“David, our psalmist, stands before a great Judge in Psalm 32. But he does so to argue his guilt—not his innocence. David admits his sins and instead of a conviction, this Judge grants forgiveness and full pardon. What kind of Judge is this? What criminal justice system on earth acquits a confessing offender? How should we understand this passage? How does Psalm 32 encourage a Christian to make bold confessions of sin before the holy Judge of heaven?” - Confess Your Sins–And Sing! by Nana Dolce