What he offers is more sustaining than a simple meal of bread and fish. He offers us life: yes, it’s eternal life in heaven, but we also have the ability to experience life here on earth. Life of freedom from the bondage of sin. Our flesh is in entrenched in sin (Jn 6:63), but the Spirit of God gives life. The all-powerful presence of the Spirit makes His home in you. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead LIVES. IN. YOU. And we so desperately need Him.

To the girl who is struggling. The girl hurting. The girl hoping for breakthrough and broken chains. The girl stuck in patterns of unbelief. The girl desperate to feel alive. The girl muscling through her days in her own strength.

It may be easier to talk about it, worry about it, or post about it, but those things are not fruitful. We know the correct answer, and it’s not found on our phones, it’s found on our knees.

Spending intentional time with the Lord gives Him the opportunity to reveal any areas that need to be improved or changed, so we can repent and continue to be transformed in His image.

I do encourage you to make your application personal and practical….otherwise it becomes another broken New Year’s Resolution. The more specific you can be, the more likely you will see change or growth over time.

I’m reminded from time to time that any time spent with our children is a beautiful opportunity from God that can evoke love, safety, laughter, warmth, importance and closeness. As we approach this Christmas season, what memories are you creating?

“What does it mean?” Not “What does it mean to us?” but “What did God mean for the original audience?”

The question we ask here in the Observation stage is, “What does the text say?” During observation, we want to read the text thoughtfully, sit with it, inspect it, and look deeply.

Friend, every piece of Scripture is God breathed and inspired. I don’t want to miss one thing He has to say, but we have to learn how to read it all to gain a better and growing understanding of it.

When we face a battle for our memory, which directly affects our ability to rightly see God’s faithfulness, we too can raise an Ebenezer, and the only response that we can give is genuine thanksgiving, because by His help alone we have come.

In all transparency, I wish I was writing from a place of rest and not weariness, but that just isn’t true. Many days, I do feel tired and worn down. But one essential thing I’m learning with God is the importance of community. In our moments of weariness, we must realize we are not alone.