It was the summer of 1998. I was fourteen years old when my dad came to my two sisters and I and informed us that we would be moving from the only home we have ever known in suburban Michigan to a small town in Wisconsin. My dad worked as an administrator for a small health care agency which was experiencing layoffs, forcing him to find a new job. This kind of news would be shocking to any family, much less when you are a shy fourteen year old about to enter her first year of high school. My...
When we set out to accomplish a goal, we often make one of two errors. We either try to do everything on our own, relying on our own wisdom, strength, and ability. Or, we pray and ask God to help us, but we fail to do our part. I have found that it is only when we actively engage in a partnership with God that the impossible suddenly becomes possible. After all, He never intended us to do anything on our own, so it would be foolish to imagine that we can accomplish anything apart from Him.
One...
“How do I know if I’m hearing from God or just being influenced by my own thoughts?”
“How do I learn to hear from God?”
“I think I’ve heard the voice of God, how do I keep from doubting that it was really Him?”
Have you wrestled with questions like these? If so, today’s Dashing Devotional is just for you!
When I mentor people in their walk with the Lord, questions like these are the most common I hear. Know this though, you were made to hear from God. I pray today’s encouragement and guidance...
The dictionary defines vision as the act or power of imagination. (Merriam-Webster, 2016); When we actively use our imaginations to produce vision, it is incredibly powerful. When we have a vision, we are essentially using our imaginations to dream and fulfill what God has placed in our hearts. I am a firm believer that our lives will head in the direction of our vision, and we can't make lasting change in any area of our lives without it.
As powerful as it is however, vision often doesn't...
If I could give believers one piece of advice on where to focus their energy in terms of their spiritual growth, it would be to invest quality time in studying the Word and to cultivate a deeper prayer life. Nothing else will translate to greater confidence, breakthrough, and movement of the Lord in and through you than will a deeply rooted habit of consuming scripture and faithfulness in consistent prayer.
For many, the first of these two—spending time in the Word—seems to come more...
Have you ever heard someone say, what you believe is what you will eventually become!? This may seem like a far-out claim, but I can speak from experience that there is great truth in these words! In fact, a big part of my freedom from disordered eating and chronic dieting came when I started to believe I could achieve a healthy relationship with my body and food. I have now been completely free from a negative self-image, dieting, and have maintained my desired weight for over ten years. I...
“My beloved speaks and says to me, ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. ‘For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. ‘The flowers appear on the earth once again; The time for singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. ‘The fig tree has budded and ripens her figs, And the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away [to climb the rocky steps of the hillside].’” Song of Solomon 2:10-13
Behold!...
The word "peace" is found all throughout the bible. Specifically, there are two times where the word peace is applied to an action that we must take, which is to seek it and pursue it, (Psalms 34:14 and 1 Peter 3:11). Understanding and practicing the pursuit of peace is something that I have felt the Lord calling me to work on and study more. I tend to lean toward a racing, anxious mind which makes it very difficult to maintain peace.
There are so many different ways that we can actively seek...
I am not a big fan of New Years Resolutions. I feel like they carry a negative connotation and are more tied to feelings of guilt, rather than to Godly intentions of purpose and growth. In my opinion, they are also usually about an unrealistic quick fix, and therefore don't set us up for long-term success. I know everyone has their own opinions, and if New Years Resolutions work for you, by all means, take advantage of them! I have just noticed certain patterns with myself and others in years...
Nourish: Discover God's Perfectly Balanced Plan for Your Body and Soul Encouragement and practical knowledge for living a healthy spiritual & physical lifestyle, inspiring you to get healthy from the inside out.
Devotions for a Healthier You A devotional filled with scriptures, encouraging stories, and tips on keeping a healthy mind, body, and spirit.
100 Simple & Delicious Recipes for Clean Eating An inspirational cookbook chock-full of healthy, innovative yet simple recipes.
