Spiritual Life

One of my favorite Bible stories is about Elijah hearing God. 1 Kings 19:11-13 says, "The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"It's a descriptive account of how Elijah expected to hear God and how God actually showed up. He looks for God in the powerful winds, earthquake, and fire. God was not there. Unexpectedly, he heard God speak when he quietly waited at the mouth of a cave, and God whispered to Elijah.How often do I look for God to show up as a mighty storm in my life or for him to get my attention by literally rocking my world, such as we see with earthquakes? At times, God speaks in those moments and is with us when our lives take unexpected turns, but what about the innumerable ordinary moments that make up most of our lives? Does God care about our daily routines? Is it possible to hear him as we walk to get the mail or make lunches?What about while cleaning the dishes or driving to work? Does he only check in with us on Sundays when we attend church services, or does Monday through Saturday matter to him, too?How can we start hearing that still, small voice in our everyday routines? It takes intentionality, for sure! Life is busy, we are distracted, and God can get pushed to the background of our lives.Let's be those who pursue his heart, voice, and presence daily!

Have you ever wondered how to discern the voice of God? Maybe questioning if it was your own thoughts or God that was speaking to you? I know I have. I often wish God would talk to us like He did in the Old Testament with a commanding voice, burning bush, vivid dream, or just break through the clouds. It appears that distinguishing the voice of God from our own thoughts, or worse yet, the infiltration of the enemy, has always seemed to be a bit of a mystery. But, if I can assure you of anything today, it is this - God is a loving Father who wants to speak to all of us. Many times, it is just in a little less climactic way.Come to think of it, if God spoke to us through a burning bush, loud voice, or a talking animal, as He did with Balaam’s donkey in the Bible, could you imagine how we would react? There is no doubt that God’s line of communication is indeed limitless. But the point is that God knows how to reach our hearts and reveals Himself (even in biblical times) in such a unique way. Isn’t it heart-warming to know that God cares for us and loves us so deeply that He provides personal ways for us to commune with Him, offering more than a one-way conversation?Even still, hearing from God takes practice in patience and learning the art of being still. We must also be mindful of the “voice” we are entertaining. There are generally three options: your own voice, the enemy’s, or God’s. While our inner voice usually tunes into our wants and desires, claiming to offer sound advice may not align with God and His Word due to our sinful nature. The enemy’s voice is loud, condescending, and condemning, usually pointing fingers, bringing on blame and bitterness. Then there is God’s voice. His voice is convicting and will call out your sin, but will always lead you back to the truth, offering you freedom wrapped in forgiveness. His words are spoken with love and compassion, coated in wisdom, offering hope and healing.So, with that, how do we hear God’s voice above all else? Oh, friend, read on, and let’s discover ways to be still, quiet our minds, and open our hearts to receiving the most beautiful conversation that will grant us peace, offer us clarity, and define our purpose in this life.

The Bible has much to say about sleep. And like food and water, the passages cover the physical, emotional, and spiritual metaphorical aspects of sleep. What does the Bible say about sleep?

Why do you believe? In what moments has Jesus touched you in such a way that you know that you knowHe is the“Son of God, the King of Israel”?

Did you feel it? Scientists recently reported that Earth reached its highest average temperature in recorded history. Is this the beginning of the end? Some people believe climate change will be the end of us, or the world could end with a global pandemic like covid–19, a worldwide natural disaster such as solar flares from the sun, or nuclear or civil war. When an era like the 2020s brings chaos and calamity, people begin to talk more about eschatology—the theological study of the "end of the world" or "end times."What we believe about the end times determines how we live in the middle. As Christians, the Bible is our final word about the ultimate destiny of humanity—and it has a lot to say. Jesus, Paul, John, and Peter all spoke about the end of the world as if it could happen at any moment. Peter wrote:The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore . . . (1 Peter 4:7 NLT)“Therefore” is the pivot Peter uses to swing from scary predictions to practical steps as he reveals these five surprising strategies for surviving the end of the world as you know it.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/franckreporter

For several reasons I’m looking for a new church home. I’m looking for guidelines to help me in my search.

Deep friendships don’t have to take a lot of time, but a consistent rhythm really helps.

How do we remain friends with people who have lost their faith yet keep the relationship intact? Here are some ways to reach out in healthy ways.

The popular Breathe Bible audio experience voiced by entertainers like Kevin Sorbo, Hill Harper, and Jesse McCartney, is now available. Learn more about the show and meet the cast.

If Christians have confronted a leader on sinful behavior and they've been gaslighted, there are certain things they can do to protect themselves and others from this behavior.

Life is an adventurous journey that is filled with opportunities. Sometimes, you find yourself at a crossroads, unsure of whether to continue down a particular path or to make a change. You face a decision about whether to stay or go from a situation. It’s important to seek signs from God to help you figure out the best course of action at those times. If you’re in a situation that is no longer good for you – such as an unhealthy relationship or an unproductive job – God will lead you to move on from it. The Bible provides valuable wisdom on how to understand when God is telling you to move on from situations that are no longer where you should be.Remember that seeking God’s will requires patience and discernment. Don’t rush the process. Communicate regularly with God, and seek counsel from faithful people you trust, such as mentors, friends, clergy people, or counselors who can provide additional insights and support in your decision-making process. Carefully determine what to do as God gives you signs and leads you in a certain direction. Trust that God will reveal your next steps for moving forward at the best time and in the best ways.Here are five key signs God is telling you to move on:Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Rasica

So I came into college with as many questions as I had in high school, really asking, you know, where do I fit in? How do I belong? How do I get guys' attention? How do I make other people love me and want me and accept me ... a lot of questions that I feel like a lot of us wrestle with because we all want to be loved. We all want to be known. We all want to feel like we belong

The young nation of Israel learned a lesson about this early on in their journey to the Promised Land. When the people found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the powerful Egyptian army, they let fear overcome their faith. Moses reminded them to look to the Lord, who could – and would – deliver them.

Cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit is a lifelong journey of learning, for every believer, a relationship that requires daily attention and care to grow.

I have always been taught that drinking was spoken against in the Bible and that it was wrong. Recently, I've been talking to a Christian friend who told me that it was actually okay to drink alcohol according to the Bible. Can you help me sort out these conflicting values?

Most of us think giving is associated with gifts. Money is often tight in my home, so I must find other things to demonstrate giving besides material things. But I find myself doing so out of obligation and feeling angry and emotionally depleted as a result. Yet, we can give many thingsother than money. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."We can choose to be cheerful givers, but it's important to know our limitations and not feel like we are ignoring our own needs. Here are six things you can give well without stretching yourself thin and still making time for your responsibilities:

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Zaikina

Growing up, the Bible was in my bedroom but seldom opened. I believed in Jesus and cannot remember a time I felt as if God didn’t exist. God just was. However, I did not follow Him as Lord and Savior growing up. In God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness to me, that changed over time. Far from being a God who “just was,” I discovered that he is “the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come” (Revelation 1:8).As different opportunities arose, I heard more of God’s Word through circumstances, through other believers, through music, and for myself as I started to open up the Bible and engage with it more. What I found was a book that was the very word of God, which is “alive and active… sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).Here are a selection of verses that have shaped my walk as a follower of Jesus. May they bless you as much as they have encouraged and sustained me.Photo credit: Unsplash/Carolyn V

Here are some ways through the Bible to be able to differentiate between effective and ineffective communication.

It does matter what we do with our body after death because what we do is a picture of what we believe about the hope of the resurrection. That does not necessarily mean that one burial method is to be preserved over others.

The marks on the back door tell of the growth of the children over the years.The clothing in back of the closet the kids can no longer wear speak of the growth of your young’uns.The escalating cost of schoolbooks as the kids move into high school and then into college bear eloquent testimony to the maturation of the offspring.They’re growing up.But how can you tell when spiritual growth is taking place? Where are the markers? How are we to know if one’s development as a disciple of Jesus Christ has plateaued or is even regressing?To my knowledge, there is no answer book for this question. There are only indicators.Here is my list of ten signs–indicators, markers–that we are growing in Christ, that we are getting it right.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Abimelec Olan