thoughts by Julie Cosgrove Archives - Daily Thoughts about God

Published November 2, 2023

What Do You Say?

Her sixty-two-year-old father teeters between life and death after a severe stroke. As a single mom with four small children living two hundred miles away, her heart tears in two. What do you say?

A coworker was just handed divorce papers. His face pales as his twenty-two-year-old marriage slips from his grip. What do you say?

What is there to say when tragedy strikes?

Proverbs 2:1-5 gives us a clue:

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

When tragedy hits and the reasons seem unclear, words feel futile. You wring your hands, tongue-tied. That’s the moment to turn your ear to God and ask Him for help. Cry aloud to understand so you can, in turn, know how to comfort the person in the deep throngs of grief and bewilderment. Step out of yourself, your own inadequacies, or your desire to band-aid it all, and let the Holy Spirit’s warmth and wisdom guide your actions and your words. Then, you will know what to say.

All-knowing, All-caring God, please instill in us Your wisdom so we know how to respond in love and comfort to a hurting world and shine forth Your glory and peace. Through Your Son, we pray. Amen.

Thought: When you read about, hear about or witness a tragedy, take a moment to pray before you respond. Let God equip you. Then have faith that He is working through you.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

How Dare He?

A local Christian radio personality relayed how she was driving down the road when a cop flashed his lights and motioned her to pull over. She admitted her blood pressure rose and her teeth clenched because she wasn’t speeding. How dare he?!

Then he told her that around the blind curve was a huge obstacle in the road and the road was very poorly lit. At highway speeds, she’d have careened into it. Other policemen were removing it now. Would she mind waiting about ten minutes.

After she sputtered and nodded, the officer jumped in his car, and with lights flashing, swirled around to block the road for the oncoming vehicles behind her. She publicly thanked the policeman on the radio and apologized for her initial reaction.

It made me wonder how often God blocks my path and I grouse out about it. How often does He detour me from danger and I complain because things are not happening “my way“? How often were those irritating moments that delayed me –like the cat hacking a fur ball in my shoe just before I went to slip it on, or a button snapping that I have to quickly repair, or the moving van blocking my exit from my apartment complex for a few minutes– actually work to my advantage without me knowing it?

^“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Lord, forgive me. Let me publicly say thank you to You for putting obstacles in my path and delays in my day. Thank you for the story on the radio today that stepped on my spiritual toes a bit. Next time, I will try to be more patient and praise You in all circumstances. Through Your Son and by Your Spirit I pray, Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

From: https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/

Mouthing the Words

“Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.” Psalm 51:15

During the recent pandemic, a dear friend of mine did something rather unusual. A wiz at sewing, she normally makes prayer quilts for hospice patients and the elderly as a ministry. But during the lock down, she switched gears. She made cloth masks, but with a distinct difference. Hers had clear plastic in the front, so deaf people could still read the lips of their family members and the teachers who wore them. She saw a need and knew she could fill it with her talents.

Jesus saw people’s needs and helped them. Then once their plight was eased, their hearts were open to the salvation and the love he offered.

We all can find a way to help others. That is what being a disciple is all about. It is following Jesus’ example and spreading the Gospel’s message that God loves us and wants to be with us. This is conveyed by our actions, and if necessary, words.

We may think the little things we do, such as smiling at a frenzied clerk, or waving to the widow sitting alone on her porch, has no effect. But God can take our acts of kindness, big and small, and use them to bring people to want to know him.

If you see someone in need, reach out in love. Find ways to ease their pain, hold their hand, or just listen without judgment. Let your attitudes and actions reflect Christ’s working in your life. Be willing to be Jesus to them and let God do the rest.

Lord God, please show me how you can use me. Help me be the disciple you want me to be as I read your Word and follow your Son’s example, seeing to others’ needs and then, when prompted, sharing that I do this because of the way your amazing, forgiving love has influenced my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name, my Lord and example. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

A Fortunate Lesson

“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry” 1 Corinthians 10:14

A friend came over to watch my latest movie I got in the mail. We ordered Chinese food to be delivered. At the bottom of the sack were two fortune cookies. I like fortune cookies. They are just sweet enough without totally wrecking my diet. I cracked mine open to see what silly fortune lay inside. I always like to look and read it, roll my eyes, then toss it away, ignoring the lotto numbers on the reverse side. This time, it was empty! No fortune. At first I felt rather cheated. Then God, in His subtle way, let me know He was teaching me a lesson.

As Christians, we are to worship only the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three in one. After all, the first and second commandments instruct believers to have no other god before Him and not to worship idols. Today, we don’t sacrifice to Egyptian, Roman or Greek gods and goddesses, or bow down to Baal, but idol worship is still prevalent in many subtle ways in our culture.

Like reading a fortune from a fortune cookie. Have you read your horoscope in the newspaper? Do you avoid ladders or black cats? Habits and traditions seep in. It may sound innocent enough, but each time, it is chipping a little chink in the armor of the Spirit of God. Whether we realize it or not, each time we turn our attention away from His control over our lives there’s a slight indentation from an arrow aimed at our faith, a crack that lets in a tiny bit of temptation. No big deal, or is it?

The next time you wish upon a shooting star, blow on a dandelion, throw salt over your shoulder, knock on wood, read your horoscope or crack open a fortune cookie, think about it. God is a jealous god. He wants us to rely on Him and remember He is Lord over our lives, our thoughts and our actions. A fortune-less cookie became a fortunate lesson for me. It was a reiteration that my Lord is all I need. Jesus told us not to be anxious about our futures but to seek first the righteousness of God. (Matthew 6)

Next time, I’ll pray for another empty cookie! I still like to eat them.

Question: What are you relying on instead of God’s Word?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Compassion-ate

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.” Psalm 25:4

I have a horrible sense of direction. No internal compass. As a child I was told my eyes faced north, the back of my head faced south, my left hand pointed west, and my right hand east. But no one explained they had purposely positioned me so this would be true. Later I learned to look for the sun. That gave me an idea where westward sort of was, so I had some sense of direction.

Today, we seem to no longer have a moral compass in our society. We have laws, but the goal now seems to be who has the smartest lawyer who can find a way for the law not to apply to their situation. Children are taught over-tolerance in school, to the point that all behavior is okay and acceptable.

When the Hebrew nation left Egypt, they had a physical guide–God’s compass-ion. Because He cared for them, He guided them safely in the way they needed to journey.

“Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. Nehemiah 9:19

In our life journey, the Bible is our best compass. When we look to the Son, Jesus, as our example, we get our moral and spiritual bearings. He shows us which way we should go. He is the Way (John 14:6). Because of His compass-ion, once we accept him as our Savior, He embeds an internal compass in our souls called The Holy Spirit to be our guide.

I may not know north from south at times, but I know Who to look for to point the way, be it a decision I need to make, a direction my life needs to go, or whether I should just stand, be still and wait. I look for the Son.

If you are feeling a bit lost today, seek the Compass-ion of God. Let Him direct your path. He won’t steer you wrong.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Within Reach

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1

On a whim, I stopped at a fast food restaurant to get a cold drink while dashing about with my to-do list of errands. There was a line of cars at the drive-through, so I decided to go inside instead.

I saw a dear friend of mine bent over her computer, holding her right hand to her mouth, worry lines exaggerated on her forehead. I waved to get her attention but she was too busy concentrating on what was on the screen. Then I saw a tear run down her cheek, so I slid into the booth and placed my hand over hers as it crunched a to-go napkin. She jolted. Then relief filled her face. “How did God know I’d need a good friend right now?” she whispered. On the screen was an email from her son with disturbing news. We bowed our heads and prayed.

David asked why God seemed so far away in times of trouble. I think if we are honest, that same question has crossed our minds as well. God is always present. Sometimes we just need to look up from our troubles to see Him. Maybe in a rainbow, a song on the radio, or maybe a friend who comes alongside at just the right time.

Or, perhaps He will provide the opportunity for us to be there for someone else so that, as we give, we will be ministered to as well. As I held hands and prayed with my friend, I felt God’s loving touch.

Jesus, You knew suffering when You walked on our soil, and in Heaven You continue to pray for us here in earth who continue to suffer. Fill each of us with the assurance that You are there, You care, and You will provide support, comfort and love. And Lord, spur in us the desire to be there for someone else when You provide that opportunity. Amen.

Thought: Is God calling you to be a comfort to someone? Don’t shoo the thought away when their name enters your head. Pray for them. Then call them, text them or go hug them. And if you need comfort right now, be open to the ways God will let you know He’s there.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Looking for a Bumper Crop?

Insights on Spiritual Growth

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8

God didn’t create me with a green thumb. But I have friends who are avid gardeners. They plant tiny seeds and nurture the plants all the way to maturity, each bearing the vegetable or herb or fruit they are supposed to bear. A tomato plant doesn’t sprout okra, or a carrot a potato.

The same is true with us humans. God grants each of us the talents to do the tasks He has appointed us to accomplish. He equips us, nurtures us, pulls the weeds of negativity and sin from around us, and even stakes us so we grow in the correct direction. When we feel parched or hungry, He waters us with His Word, the fellowship of others and worship. In return, we bear the fruit He has deemed us to bear.

It is easy to become envious of someone who seems to be growing faster, taller, or more abundantly. But, if you are called to be a potato quietly growing under the surface don’t wish to be a tomato bursting in bright color and juiciness for all to see. In God’s garden, we are to become what He has made us to become. An old saying states we should “bloom where we are planted.” Our job is to absorb all the nutrients He provides on a daily basis so we become resistant to the things that want to thwart our growth. When the time is ripe, He will walk through the garden and pick us.

Dear God, grow me in the way You wish. Let me yield my crop according to Your will. Thank You that I am significant because You planted me for a purpose. Help me not to compare my growth to others in unhealthy ways. And when the time is right, let me bear the fruit of the Spirit so others may feed on Your Truth. Amen.

Thought: Does your spiritual growth feel slow or stymied lately? Ask God how you can bear more fruit for Him.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Rocky Place

“I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out…he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2

In the English language, “rock” is a dichotomous word – a word that has opposing meanings. It can mean shaky and unstable—the shocking news rocked my world. It can also mean, solid, strong, and immovable. That is the Rock of our salvation—Jesus. As the old hymn states, “On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Think of the movies with scenes in the deserts in Arabia. There are miles and miles of sand hills that shift and move in the wind. No foothold. No relief. You can sink up to your knees in the sand and pulling your legs through it is an arduous struggle. It drains you of your strength. Then, at last there it is. A boulder peeking up. A place where you can rest. Refuge.

“I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out…he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2

If you are in the shifting sands of life right now, seek out Jesus.

He will be your rock, your stronghold, your refuge.

You can rest in Him. Let Him give you a respite from your troubles and struggles. Renew your strength by tapping into His.

Dearest Lord, let us always turn to You for strength and safe refuge when we’re struggling in the shifting sands of this world. Be the solid thing on which we can stand, and the firm foundation on which we can rest. Amen.

Thought: If you are in an uncertain place right now, pick up a small stone and carry it in your pocket. Each time you feel overwhelmed, grab hold of it and let it remind you of Christ, Your Rock.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Piece versus Peace

I have heard serene and beautiful places described as a “little piece of heaven“. It may be a pristine beach with tumbling waves glistening in the moonlight. A vast mountain vista or a bubbling creek under the canopy of shade trees. But it is ONLY a piece.

It cannot replace the inner peace that comes from Heaven.

Why? Because where we live and move and have our being is time-bound. Our world is ever changing– minute to minute, second to second. Weather can affect that serenity. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and blizzards ravage the earth. Human progress can affect it as well. Bulldozers can topple mountains and oil tankers spill black gunk into the water, coating everything. And even if the serene views remain intact, our human emotions can discolor it. When we are angry or depressed we often block out birdsong and sunshine filtering through the leaves. No wonder cartoonists depict a dark cloud over the head of their characters. If there is one thing that is definitely not constant, it’s our mood.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

This peace that passes all understanding, as Paul describes it, is not affected by change. It is constant, eternal, and unmoving. It doesn’t come and go, or ebb and flow. It is there like a solid foundation that is unshakeable even in times of turmoil. You can cling to it and know it’s not going to crumble. This peace only comes from anchoring our hearts, minds and souls into the living waters of our faith in God. It transcends whatever is happening in our ever-changing world, because His peace is not of this world. It is Heaven-sent. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “...in me you can have peace.”

Two words that sound the same but are so different.

The first one, pIEce – where the IE stands for I Enjoy – is fleeting. It can be gone in a moment.

The other is pEAce – where the EA stands for Eternal Access. For the believer, it is always there, no matter what.

Which will you choose to bask in?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission
From: https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/

Squeezing God In

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7

Squeeze your day in around your time with God.

Today, we are busy people. Cell phones in our pockets or tucked inside our bags – they all make us feel as if we have to be available 24/7. Before, when the phone rang in the middle of the night, it was an emergency. Now, a ping can mean someone we know in Stockholm is responding to our text.

Global communication is a reality for many of us. That is good for spreading the Kingdom, for doing business, and keeping touch with family. But, it also can suck away our time like a giant vacuum. With the world constantly tapping on our shoulders, it is harder than ever to find time to respond to God’s holy taps.

Yet, our Lord wants to hang out with us so much; he hung on a cross so that could happen. He opened the lines of communication between the temporal world in which we live our lives and his eternal presence – 24/7. He is always waiting to talk with us and show us his love.

Many of us find it hard to squeeze quiet, devotional time with God into our day. But, when we begin to grasp the concept that God is there in each and every moment, we realize that it works better if we can squeeze our day into our time with God. After all, he never hangs up on his end.

Holy Lord, forgive us when we are scurrying through our day and do not include you in it. Help us to discover ways to be more aware of your presence, your love and your Holy Spirit’s guidance. We can never flee from your presence. Thank you for your Son’s death and resurrection that makes it possible for you to always be with us. Amen.

Be creative about how you squeeze God into your day. Talk with him as you wait in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or in that fast food line. Pray while you shower. Listen to his still small voice whispering throughout your day like a spiritual Bluetooth in your faith’s ear. How will he reveal his presence to you today?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

So Much More

“Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you! ”Jesus replied,“ Let us go somewhere else — to the nearby villages — so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Mark 1:36-38

When Jesus healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, the word spread quickly. All evening and into the night people crammed the entryway with their sick relatives. Jesus healed many of them, but not all.

Then, Mark tells us Jesus went off by himself to pray in the wee hours before sunrise. Later that morning, when more people banged on the door and demanded Jesus’ healing, the disciples went looking for him. I think Jesus’ answer might have shocked them a bit.

God called his Son to give eternal life, yet the people could only see the need for healing the shell in which they lived there and then. They missed the point. They couldn’t see that Jesus came to offer them so much more. If he had returned to that town, he may have been mobbed by those still seeking healing. None of them realized the deeper healing he offered through his teaching and eventually through his sacrifice on the cross.

So, after praying about it, Jesus obeyed his Father and moved on…. The truth of the gospel is this: there is more to life than what we are facing, suffering or rejoicing in right now. Sure, we can pray for Jesus to heal us, relieve us, or help us through whatever we face today. However, Jesus calls us to experience something beyond our daily needs. If you feel overwhelmed in your life right now, pray about it. Refocus on the gospel and its message — Jesus came to give us so much more than what worries us at the moment.

Father God, help us to realize your great plan for all who call Jesus their Savior. Let us not be so concerned about the here and now that we miss your blessings and promises for the hereafter. Amen.

Seek to focus on your eternal destiny, thanking and praising God for all that you have received and will receive in Christ.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Not That Simple

“Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’ Proverbs 9:6

Living the Christian life isn’t an easy thing.

Has anyone ever told you being a Christian is easy? Did you laugh in response? If you have been a believer for more than fifteen minutes, you probably have realized it’s not.

Becoming a Christian seems simple enough — accept the fact that you cannot save yourself or ever earn your way into Heaven. Instead receive the free gift Christ already purchased for you. And yet, for many it becomes so very difficult because their pride, skepticism, or feelings of unworthiness snag them.

In a strange way, the world’s method is the simpler one. The world says you have to “make it on your own” with blood, sweat, and tears. “Every man for himself.” “The one with the most toys wins.” “Be all you can be.” “Just do it.” You know the slogans.

But Christ tells us to open our hands and hearts to receive that which his blood, sweat, and tears already provide. Be servants, not masters. Put others first. Die so you can live. In your weakness, there will be immeasurable strength.

And the world scratches its head and claims this is either too foolish or too hard.

Paul understood the dichotomy way back in the first century.

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

How about you? Will you give up the simple ways to embrace the deeper, richer foolishness of God? You may find it is the wisest decision you ever made.

Dear Lord, you know how hard it is to swim upstream against the currents of culture. Help me to lean on your strength and not my own limited understanding. Teach me daily to embrace your wisdom and insight instead of the simple lies of the world. Amen.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the behaviors or habits in your life that are unwise. Ask him to help you understand his calling on your life and to walk in obedience, especially when you face temptation to turn away from him.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is another suggested prayer:

“Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now and trust Him to do so.

Dangling Threads

You want to pull it, but you know you shouldn’t. That dangling thread on the seam of your clothes is bugging you. Does that describe your life?

I looked down and saw it. Arghh. Now would everyone see it? Would it snag on things through the day? A broken strand of thread dangled out of the seam. And I was running late.

Do I pull it? Is it worth the risk unravelling the whole hem?

Tape it? Most likely it wouldn’t hold very long.

Snip it? A temporary fix, but that wouldn’t solve the issue of the broken thread unravelling again. I knew the integrity of the stitch had been compromised. But it might give me time to deal with it later…when I get the chance.

Things in our lives can feel as if they are starting to unravel.

What we have carefully hemmed together is starting to tear.

What do we do about it?

Do we yank at the problem to get rid of it quickly and take the chance of it all falling apart? If we tug, it might reveal more and more that has become untied.

Do we tape it and hide the issue from others, hoping it will stay beneath the surface. Then go one about our business as if it is fixed?

Or do we snip at it each time it appears, never really investing the time to dealing with it properly?

Do we rush to discard that piece of clothing, put on something else, and toss it in the to-be-meded pile?

Or do we actually stop, take time to tie it, stitch it back, and secure it so it doesn’t happen anymore?

I once heard that a day knotted with prayer at both ends won’t unravel. Paul says it this way:

“The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.” 1 Colossians 1:5 (MSG)

When something snags in our lives, we need to deal with that dangling thread lest it unravel us.

Hope, bolstered by prayer, is the best way to re-anchor our faith. We need to allow our Lord to be the needle which can guide the wayward thread and knot it so it doesn’t affect the rest of the hem that is our life.

That may mean stopping what we are doing in order to handle it. It may involve a few pricks of our conscience as His needle deals with the transgression, anger or guilt. Perhaps it will cause us to halt in our tracks and not go further until we are sure it is dealt with properly.

But unless it is resolved correctly, that dangling thread tickling our conscience will bother us over and over until we are forced to deal with it. And by that time, the things hemming our lives might be starting to unravel enough that it shows.

By Julie Cosgrove
used by permission

Shining Faces

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.” Psalm 67:1

I remember one of my mother’s favorite sayings: “How I love to see your shining face.” When faces shine they are elated, full of joy, love and anticipation. “Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow” are the words in a familiar carol that describes children waiting for Christmas.

It is humbling and awesome at the same time to me that God wants to bless us and be gracious to us. But more than that, He wants to shine upon us. Why? So we can spread the light. When I have been in His presence, His light is reflected in me for others to see. The Old Testament talks of Moses’ face shining so brightly after he communed with God that he had to veil it.

Jesus said He is the Light of the World, the one thing that can dispel the shadows in our souls. We, too, are called to

“let our light so shine before mankind that people may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

When God’s light shines upon us, we are blessed double-fold. We receive the warmth of His loving presence and are also called to be His reflection to a dark, hurting world. Like the star over Bethlehem, we become a beacon for all seeking truth, love, and refuge. In anticipation, with our eyes all aglow, we point to our Savior.

Shine, Jesus shine. Amen.

How will you reflect the light of Christ this holiday season? Will other people bustling and shopping see Him reflected in your face?

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by Permission

Christmas Is For Children

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’” Luke 18:16-17

I know it’s not actually in the Bible, but I can picture the little drummer boy on the night Christ was born. There he was, peering around legs, sheep, and long robes. Maybe he heard the angels sing to the shepherds? Perhaps he was sleeping at the inn and awoke to the ruckus outside. Curious, he went to see what the fuss is all about. People were bringing gifts. Someone said this was the new king. The little drummer boy steps forward and offered his song, and the babe in the manger smiled at him. Barumpa, pum, pum.

Many people say Christmas is for children. We grown-ups are too harried, too conscious of the money, too cynical to get sucked into the whole thing. Christmas bonuses go to paying down bills, or buying gifts for the kids. It doesn’t matter. It’s all become too commercial anyway. Bah-humbug.

Yet Jesus invites us closer to the manger. “Don’t be anxious about material things,” He says. God loves and cares for us. Seek the kingdom first (Matthew 6:25-33). Draw near like a child with curiosity, openness, and faith. Embrace the season once again in its original joy.

Dearest Lord, invite us into your presence with the innocence of a child. Help us to adjust our faith-eyes to see you shining through the glitter and presents and parties. Then, in humility, let us bow down before your manager and once again declare you king over our lives. Amen.

By Julie Cosgrove
Used by permission

Category: <span>thoughts by Julie Cosgrove</span>

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.” Psalm 51:15

FURTHER READING

“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry” 1 Corinthians 10:14

FURTHER READING

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.” Psalm 25:4

Further Reading

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1

Further Reading

Insights on Spiritual Growth

Further Reading

“I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out…he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:1-2

If you are in the shifting sands of life right now, seek out Jesus.

He will be your rock, your stronghold, your refuge.

Further Reading

It cannot replace the inner peace that comes from Heaven.

Further Reading

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’ Proverbs 9:6

Living the Christian life isn’t an easy thing.

Further Reading

Things in our lives can feel as if they are starting to unravel.

What do we do about it?

When something snags in our lives, we need to deal with that dangling thread lest it unravel us.

FURTHER READING

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.” Psalm 67:1

FURTHER READING

FURTHER READING