10 Benefits of Reviewing What We Learn from God
Discover the benefits of reviewing what you learn from God in your Quiet Time, devotions, or Bible study. Are you ready to maximize spiritual growth and begin the new year with a powerful learning and journaling tool? Whether you journal with words, Bible journal with art, or keep study notes, this tool will ignite spiritual growth. This post shares one of my most powerful long-term practices for a deeper relationship with God and spiritual health.
Have you considered the value of clarity in what God has been teaching you? When you are refreshed and mentally focused, we can fully enter into the new things God will do in your life.
A Spiritual Preparation for a New Year
There’s something cathartic about preparing for January, the first month of the new year. Think about the reasons we make resolutions for new growth and clean out closets this time of year.
If our physical lives need to set goals and clear the clutter, how much more to we need to mentally and spiritually prepare our hearts for the days to come?
One of the ways I transition from one year to the next is to review the lessons learned and the truths I’ve embraced.
I sometimes end the year in such a frazzle, that it takes me a few weeks to dig myself out of the physical and mental busyness that seems to explode in my home during December. You too?
For me, this past year was a milestone year–exciting and extremely busy, filled with blessings I am deeply grateful for. At the end of the year I felt like I was sprinting to the finish line trying to cram too much into the end the year. I was mentally and spiritual depleted.
The last thing I wanted to do was think about dragging all my unfinished tasks into a new year, feeling behind before it even began. Maybe you have felt that way too.
I needed time to refocus and recharge. Reviewing what I learned from God gave my soul time to catch up with my life. It gave me fresh faith to start the year with a fresh perspective.
Other years, I have the bandwidth to review my quiet time journal at the end of the year. Looking back at the verses, insights, and truths that encouraged me through the year reminds me of the truth that God speaks through the Bible. Sometimes I need this reminder of the big picture of a year, especially when it seems God has been silent for a while or I feel discouraged.
Whenever you have time to review your journal and the lessons God has taught, you will benefit from reflecting on what you’ve learned. Whether you find time at the end of the year or the beginning of the next, try this powerful practice to deepen your relationship with God and apply the truths he has brought to your attention.
Time to Refocus and Refresh Your Faith
To be honest, this girl had to take a step back for some rest and a deep dive with God. I wrote myself a permission slip to dial back the crazy and enter this new year slowly.
I needed rest for the body, but even more important, rest for my soul. There is such a thing a sustainability–our bodies will let us know when we’ve over-reached our capacity. (Our families will too. . . )
I needed time for my soul to catch up with my busy and time to prepare my heart what’s next.
I call it a Soul Sabbath for my year and all I need is time, my Bible, and my journal from the past year.
This year, I was able to set aside a day to give my attention to God for an extended time. (Yep, I wrote myself a permission slip to do that too. I even turned off the phone.)
Other years, I’ve spread it over several days for 30-60 minutes a day. Sometimes I do this is December, sometimes I review in January. I also review whenever I finish a Bible study or finish a journal/notebook.
Do what works for you, however you can carve time to refresh and refocus with God at the end or the beginning of the year. Just do it!
Try This: Schedule time to review with God. Write a permission slip for your soul. What will work best for you? A long block of time or reviewing during your normal devotional time?
What Has God Taught You?
Journaling is one the ways I record and process what God is teaching me each day. It is a way to give God my attention and process what the Holy Spirit is teaching me as I read the Bible. According to a an article from Lifeway on trends in women’s ministry, there is a renewed interest in reading the Bible and journaling.
The holy habit of reviewing the lessons God has taught me in the past year refreshes my spirit as I remember the many ways God has been faithful. Listening to God through reflective Bible reading helps us to grow closer to God. I prayerfully look back over my journal, looking for the big picture and main themes of what I’ve been learning as I read and meditate on the Bible throughout the year.
We all need time to recognize and celebrate the big picture of what God has taught. My thirsty soul needs time to soak up the goodness of God and understand a clearer vision of His heart for my next steps.
What we learn today prepares us for the road ahead. It is also a time to simply rest as I lay aside all the doing and scurrying, my heart ready to be filled anew with the refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit.
Seeking clarity as I review my journal, I watch for concepts and verses that are repeated through the year as I reflect on the big wins and difficult challenges. Try a simple prayer to get started: “Lord, show me the most important things You want me to remember.”
Try This: Write a topic at the top of each entry in your journal. This way you can quickly track trends in concepts.
Questions to Consider When Reviewing Your Journal
As you pray, ask God these questions. Reflect as you think through the questions.
- What verses came up several times in my journal?
- What topics are repeated?
- How did God speak to my challenges through reading His word this year?
- What was the over-all tone of the year spiritually? Was is it a season of struggling, strengthening, preparing, serving, or flourishing?
- Am I more or less grateful than last year?
- What seems to be the most important things God has taught me this year?
- How can I apply these lessons in the coming months?
On the pages of my journal, I begin to see the broad strokes of what God has been teaching me in the day to day. I’ve developed more helpful strategies for my devotional time. If you’d like to learn more about how I do this, leave a comment at the end of this post.
Review is a Way to Till the Good Soil of Your Heart
“And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 2And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
Matthew 13:22-23 NASB
The only way to prevent God’s word from getting crowded out in the thorns of our busyness, the thistles of our cares, and the weeds of our wayward hearts is to give time, attention, and intention to prepare our souls to fully receive God’s word (seeds).
There is great value of doing this through regularly reading and studying God’s word. Recording what we learn empowers us to remember and review, which fosters faithfulness and growth. Seeking to be faithful with our moments and days is part of creating a lifetime of holy moments.
Giving God our time and attention is a vital way of tilling the soil of our hearts for Him to multiply the fruit of His word in our lives. Using your journal to review what you have learned is powerful, whether it is at the end of the week, month, or year–or even the end of a Bible study.
This takes time. I’ll be honest. But it is time that is so very worth it!
Reviewing what God has taught me has become one of my favorite ways to spend time with God. It also is a powerful maximizer for spiritual growth.
I’ve also seen how this practice has accelerated spiritual growth and nourished my writing and speaking.
I realize this isn’t a popular concept in the frantic pace of today’s world where busy is the new holy and productivity is often confused with maturity. When we give God our time, attention, and obedience, He does great things in and through us. It begins with preparing your heart and giving God your attention.
10 Benefits of Reviewing What We Learn from God
Greater clarity and deeper time with God will give direction and ignite growth. When we are aware of what God is teaching us, we can join Him in the moment by making intentional choices to apply what we’ve learned.
- PRAYER AND MEDITATION: Meditation and prayer allow God reveal what is most important.
- CLARITY AND DIRECTION: We gain clarity and direction when we look for repeated concepts and the big picture of what God has taught over time.
- GROWTH: Rather than be forgotten, lessons learned turn into wisdom with time to mature through application.
- FAITH: Fear turns the corner to faith and unbelief bows to truth when we embrace the truth God teaches.
- REST: Weariness finds rest when we spend time with God. Meditating on what God has taught us refreshes our soul and builds our faith.
- PERSPECTIVE SHIFT: The Holy Spirit can reveal where our perspective needs to shift from self to God. Truth reveals the motivations of our hearts.
- STRENGTH: Struggles transform into strength when we trust God is working in our lives. Attending to what we learn reminds us God is with us in our challenges.
- GRATITUDE: Remembering what God has done ignites gratitude in our hearts.
- JOY: Take time to celebrate what God has taught you–the lessons learned and the victories won.
- FRESH GOALS: Yesterday’s lessons become today’s goals to multiply the value of what we have learned.
Download this list, print, and tuck into your Bible to remind you of the many great reasons to take time to review the things God speaks to you through His Word. Maximize spiritual growth and deepen your relationship with God when you capture the most important things God teaches you over a period of time. As we apply the most important things God speaks to us, our spiritual health increases as well as a strong biblical foundation for our faith. Be encouraged by the fact that God speaks to your as you meditate and journal on His Word.
Click here to download a printable version of this infographic.
Application of God’s wisdom is where transformation and growth happens as spiritual meets the practical in our lives. ““He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much. . .” (Luke 16:10). Though the context of this verse refers to money, the principle also applies to the value of what God teaches us in the moments and days of each year.
Spiritual preparation paves the way for intentions evolve into habits. Knowing + Doing = Blessing!
Maximize spiritual growth when God-lessons become spiritual goals. Being faithful to grow in what God is teaching will prepare you to receive God’s fresh blessings in the days to come.
How do you apply what God is teaching you? Leave a comment and share what works for you.
More Posts to Deepen Your Time in God’s Word
- How to Stay Focused in Prayer*
- Discover Six Important Truths About Listening to God*
- Six Short Devotions to Help You Listen to Jesus
- 5 Simple Ways Silence Can Deepen Your Faith
- 15 Simple Ways to Overcome Distraction to Focus Your Attention on God
*An all-time top 10 post.
A Free Resource to Go Deeper with God
Grab your Spiritual Growth Pack of tip sheets. This power pack includes tips, prayers, and truths to help you thrive in your relationship with God.
Turning This Practice into a Habit of Hope
If this method of reviewing the year has been meaningful to you, you may enjoy this week’s Habits of Hope podcast episode and blog post. It offers a lighter, reflective conversation about how reviewing what God has taught us becomes a Habit of Hope—one that helps us carry wisdom forward with intention and trust as we begin a new season.
Think of it as a companion to the deeper work you’ve just read—an encouraging conversation that helps reflection turn into formation.
👉 Listen or read: How to Start the New Year with God: From Reflection to Formation
25 Ways to Enjoy a More Meaningful Christmas
Part of the magic of Christmas is the joy of family traditions. Meaningful Christmas traditions create memories that connect families through the years, often passing from one generation to the next. Decorating the tree, holiday baking, and reading the Christmas story have been part of every Christmas I can remember. Each year we look forward to favorite activities and events that have become part of celebrating Christmas. Our family also enjoys trying new ways to enjoy time together at Christmas that make for a more meaningful Christmas. Consider this list of 25 meaningful Christmas tradition ideas. Which one could become a new Christmas tradition in your family?
Christmas traditions help focus on the meaning of Christmas.
Counter the push of consumerism and commercialism this Christmas with sacred traditions that focus on Christ and time with family. In the busyness of the season, it is easy for meaningful moments to get lost in the rush. Activities, parties, and events can make it hard to spend time together as a family if we aren’t intentional. Preparing for the rush of the Christmas season with good planning can help us make those meaningful moments happen. Take time to think about what special traditions and activities you want to ensure happen for your family. Schedule them on the family calendar and share the dates with your family. This often works best when you plan as a family, taking into account various schedules and events already planned. As you choose activities, consider which ones will help your family focus on the meaning of Christmas.
Try a new sacred tradition each year to create holy moments for your family.
Traditions are memorable part of Christmas. Making Christmas cookies, hanging outdoor lights, and attending church on Christmas Eve are a few of the traditions we do every year. Our family looks forward to these traditions as we connect with the meaning of Christmas and enjoy time together. We also incorporate new activities that are of interests as our family grows and changes through the seasons of life.
Though many of our traditions are still a fun and meaningful part of Christmas, we’ve added new things that have been very special. One year, a visit with relatives in North Carolina was a very special addition to our Christmas. When our girls were home from college, they enjoyed having a devotional time together, reading and discussing Bible verses or devotions. One year we took a trip to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens, enjoying the lights, carols, and festive shows. We’ve been back several times and it’s always fun.
As much as I love traditions, it has been very special to add new activities over the years. We are starting a new tradition…of trying something new each year. Trying new things, means adjusting some of the “normal” traditions so that we aren’t running ragged by Christmas day. As you plan ways to make Christmas meaningful for your family, consider this list of ideas. Which activity could help your family enjoy time together, focusing on the true reasons we celebrate the holidays?
25 Simple Ways to Enjoy a More Meaningful Christmas
To keep things fresh, consider starting a tradition of trying one new thing each year. Involve your kids in choosing a new activity to add to your celebration. Maybe each year a different child gets to help choose the activity.
Give gifts of service or time to someone in need.
Read Christmas devotions by candlelight at dinner or before bed each night.
Create a Family Christmas Journal. Let everyone write letters to God expressing thanks and praise for God’s blessings. Add favorite verses and a few family pictures. Write notes of appreciation for each other in the journal. Write down special moments to remember. Let younger kids draw pictures. What fun to save your family Christmas Journal, adding to it through the years.
Create a Christmas memory book or photo album. Enjoy adding new pictures each year. Makes a wonderful gift as well!
Collect Christmas cards in a basket. Pray for one family at each meal as you draw a card out of the basket.
Write down something that is your gift for Christ, kind comments for family members, or reasons for gratitude and place in a white stocking or special box throughout December. Share the contents of the stocking as part of your Christmas Eve celebration.
Take a short trip together to visit family or a fun destination.
Celebrate Advent.
Attend a concert of sacred music.
Make an Advent Jesse tree, adding one handmade ornament each day. You can request a free download to make ornaments from Ann Voskamp’s best-selling Christmas book here.
Give a daily gift of encouragement to others.
Pay kids for chores to use for a gift for Jesus. Put money in a gift box to use for Angel Tree or Toys for Tots.
Share the Gospel through the book, Legend of the Candy Cane. (affiliate link) Or share the story with this free printable tag from Happy Home Fairy.
Support a missionary or relief organization.
Draw family names for mystery gifts of service each week in December. Try to guess who had your name.
Send Christmas cards, Scripture verses, or care packages to deployed military.
Give a Christian book or devotional to read as a family.
Invite those without family around to join your family for Christmas.
Wrap and hide the Baby Jesus from your Nativity. Let kids search for the Baby Jesus as the first or last gift of Christmas.
Make a birthday cake for Jesus.
Choose a Christmas verse to pray for each member of the family. Mark it in your Bible to pray throughout the year.
Commit to practicing kindness daily.
Attend a Christmas Eve service.
Act out the Christmas story—dressing up is fun for young kids.
Which of these simple ideas will help you enjoy a more meaningful Christmas with your family? What is one way you stay focused on the holy in your holiday this Christmas?
Enjoy a Free 7-Day Christmas Devotional for a More Meaningful Christmas
Get a free Christmas devotional from Ginger when you sign up for my newsletter! Enjoy this beautiful ebook to spark hope in your life this Christmas. Focus on the meaning of Christmas with this resource in your quiet time, family devotions, or small group. From my heart to yours, I wish you a Christmas season filled with worshipful moments with Christ.
Enjoy the Best of Christmas from Ginger
A curated collection of Christmas content from award-winning author and blogger, Ginger Harrington. Take the Christmas Worship Challenge, read inspiring devotions, download free gifts, gather ideas for family fun, make a special gift, and chuckle with Ginger’s Christmas humor. Read the story of Ginger’s Christmas miracle in a free chapter from her book, Holy in the Moment. Enjoy the best of Christmas that you’ll want to come back to year after year!
Read, listen, or watch the story of a Christmas miracle I experienced where God taught me about faith, hope, and healing. This is a behind-the-scenes podcast and related blog post featuring content from the first chapter of my award-winning book, Holy in the Moment. (This is an affiliate link.) A poignant story from one challenging Christmas in my life was truly a Christmas miracle. Give the gift of holy this Christmas–Holy in the Moment makes a wonderful gift to encourage faith in a practical way. Learn more about the book here.
Download your free chapter here.
*This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you.
23 Bible Verses to Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart
The Bible teaches the value of giving thanks with a variety of truths and instructions that help us cultivate a grateful heart. Giving thanks is also an important practice for mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. This post explores what we can learn about gratitude from a variety of Scriptures on giving thanks. Don’t miss the free Gratitude Journal Download at the end of this article.
Most people agree that being thankful and showing gratitude are important. Hashtags like #gratefuleveryday and #gratitude, and #gratefulheart are popular, especially this time of year. According to Top Hashtags, gratitude hashtags are trending for 2023 on instagram and TikTok. But we don’t need to follow social media trends top know that thankfulness is important.
Before our children could talk, we taught them sign language for the words, “please,” “more,” and “thank you.” It was amazing how quickly they understood and repeated the signs. As they began to talk, we spent a lot of time teaching the importance of manners. “Say thank you,” I often prompted when they received a compliment or a gift.
The Importance of Thankfulness and Gratitude for Your Well-Being
Can expressing gratitude improve your mental, physical health?
Though we know gratitude is important, we may not realize the powerful role of thankfulness in our well-being. Being thankful can become a mindset that improves physical, mental, and spiritual health. Dr. Caroline Leaf writes that negative emotions impact our brains, but positive feelings of love, joy, appreciation, and gratitude increases our resistance to disease and “changes the shape of our DNA for the better” (Switch on Your Brain, p. 35, affiliate link).
Other researchers show that thankfulness has these additional benefits for health and well-being:
Better mood
Decrease anxiety and depression
Increase quality of sleep
Reduces stress
Promotes happiness
Helps with pain
Improves self-esteem
What Does it Mean to Be Thankful?
The Cambridge dictionary defines thankfulness as “the feeling of being happy or grateful because of something.”
The biblical meaning does deeper than feelings and is a vital aspect of our relationship with God. To be thankful is to express gratitude to God with praise and adoration.
Beyond mental and physical benefits of thankfulness, the Bible teaches us about the spiritual blessings of gratitude in our relationship with God and with others. Exploring Bible passages on giving thanks provides many lessons on the spiritual value of gratitude.
23 Verses to Help You Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart
Consider the importance of what we can learn about giving thanks and gratitude from this selection of Bible verses. As you read, reflect on what God’s word reveals about the importance and benefits of thankfulness as well as instructions to help us cultivate the habit of thankfulness as a core value.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments from His mouth (1 Chronicles 16:8-12).
Giving thanks to God is listed with other worshipful actions to express honor and gratitude to God. Each of these actions can help us deepen our relationship with God.
Prayer: call upon His name
Worship: singing and giving God glory
Speech: Talk about His wonders
Attitude: be glad
Dependence: seek the Lord and His strength
Focus: Seek His face continually
Remember: Don’t forget the great things God has done
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV).
This specific instruction is repeated 77 times in the Bible. Repetition points to the importance of the goodness and faithfulness of God that deserves our thanks. Gratitude is a foundational response to the sovereignty of God.
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1-2 ESV).
In this passage, David commits to thank God for wonderful things He has done. Some consider this psalm to refer to David’s victory over Goliath. Written directly to God, this passage can inspire us to express whole-hearted gratitude to God in prayer.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him” (Psalm 28:7 ESV).
Psalm 28 is a lament where David faces danger with faith. In troubling times, David’s faith is strengthened as he expresses gratitude to God.
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night… (Psalm 92:1-2).
Thankfulness can be a regular pattern throughout the day as we declare the wonder of God’s character. Think about ways you can weave thankfulness into routines of your day to help cultivate a grateful heart.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good… (Psalm 100: 4-5a).
This is one of my favorite passages on thankfulness. In this Psalm we learn a valuable insight about connecting with God. Entering God’s presence with gratitude and praise honors God and prepares us to worship.
“I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well” (Psalm 139:14).
In this intimate reflection, David meditates on the wonder of how God has made him. We often struggle to value the unique and wonderful way God has made us. Giving thanks can shift our attention to the powerful truth that we are created in God’s image.
Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence (Psalm 140:12-13).
This verse links thankfulness and dwelling in God’s presence. Let your gratitude take you into a deeper relationship of abiding with God.
“Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Your name; the righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me” (Psalm 142:6-7).
David prays while hiding from his enemies. He turns to God in the midst of danger and discouragement making the decision to entrust his circumstances to God. This passage gives us a powerful example to follow of trusting God with a thankful heart in life’s challenges.
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans1:21 ESV).
This sobering passage show us the danger of slipping into patterns where we do not honor God or give Him thanks. Habitual ingratitude darkens thinking and perspective.
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:56-58).
No matter what we face, we can thank God that in Christ we will be victorious over sin and death. Remembering this truth strengthens our motivation and resolve to stand firm as we do God’s work.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).
This passage reveal several reasons to give thanks to God for his continual leadership and presence in our lives.
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers…” (Ephesians 1:16 ESV).
Paul affirms the Ephesians, sharing how he regularly thanks God for them in prayer. It’s important to thank God for the people in our lives in prayer.
“And there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:4).
Paul instructs us on the importance of our words—both the attitude and content of what we say.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
This is one of my favorite passages on prayer. When we feel anxious about the uncertainty of life, Paul reminds us ask for God’s help with a thankful heart. Thankfulness helps us focus on God’s faithfulness when we feel anxious.
“And let your living spill over into thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7 MSG).
I love the simplicity of The Message in this verse. How purposeful are we about gratitude? When we cultivate grateful hearts, there is a natural overflow into the way we live. Thankfulness becomes an organic way of being rather than a set activity or action.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:15-16).
This passage on thankfulness focuses on characteristics of the body of Christ and the power of God’s word within us.
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17).
Honoring Jesus through motivation and gratitude is a habit to infuse all of life. Whatever you do in word and deed—that covers it all. This verse shows us that gratitude should be a natural part of our life with God.
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians ESV 4:2).
In this instruction on effective prayer, Paul encourages believers to develop a consistent prayer life with a thankful heart. Prayer and giving thanks are paired together, highlighting the importance of gratitude to God.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV).
The words “always,” “without ceasing,” and “in all circumstances” point to a prayerful way of living that includes joy and thankfulness no matter what challenges we face.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…” (1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV).
Supporting leaders in prayer is an important role for believers. We may not always agree with the decision’s leaders make, but they need God’s guidance and help. It’s interesting that praying for leaders includes gratitude.
Building the Spiritual Habit of Giving Thanks in Your Life
Cultivating a thankful heart impacts our lives in countless ways. It isn’t always easy to choose to give thanks, but it is an important spiritual habit to pursue reaping mental, physical, and spiritual benefits drawing us into a deeper life with God. Which of these verses could help you have a more thankful life? Leave a comment and share what resonates with you about gratitude today.
Download Your Free Gratitude Challenge Journal
Challenge yourself to apply the tips in this post with your free gratitude journal. 30 days of prompts and encouragement to cultivate a more grateful heart. Join thousands of readers who have benefitted from this simple resource. Download and print your copy today!
Related Posts
6 Habits of Hope to Increase Your Trust in God’s Faithfulness
Why Positive Thinking is Good for a Healthy Body, Soul, and Spirit
How to Identify and Overcome Negative Thinking
Pondering Gratitude
Thanksgiving is More than a Holiday
Preparing for Thanksgiving from My House to Yours
References
Dr. Caroline Leaf, Switch on Your Brain:The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health (Includes the ’21-Day Brain Detox Plan’)
The Top 10 Scientific Benefits of Gratitude
Can Expressing Gratitude Improve Your Mental, Physical Health
6 Habits of Hope to Increase Your Trust in God’s Faithfulness
Habits of hope increase our trust in God’s faithfulness. Discover six practical ways to increase your trust in God’s faithfulness on your good days as well as your hard times. Practice these habits to hold on to hope as you recognize and rely on the faithfulness of God in your life. Ready to get started?
The Online Wiley Library defines Biblical hope as “the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness.” Knowing and experiencing God’s faithfulness strengthens our faith to hold onto hope even in the worst moments of life. Cultivating habits of hope equips us to trust in God’s faithfulness when we need it most.
One of those moments blindsided me when my sister was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). My heart broke at the terrible news of this terminal diagnosis that would gradually rob her of all ability to move and even breathe. Questions and fears spiraled in my head, making it hard to catch my breath at times.
How could this be?
Why would God allow this to happen?
How are we going to make it through?
There were many hard days–we often joked it was like living in a puzzle. As soon as we would find a way to navigate one problem, she would loose more strength, bringing more challenges to overcome. I discovered that habits of faith positioned me to receive God’s strength, hope, and endurance I needed in the hardest season of my life. Having practical ways to trust God strengthened me to be a source of help and hope for my sister as she navigated her final days with courage.
What Does the Bible Say About God’s Faithfulness?
The Bible has much to say about God’s faithfulness. On verse that stands out to me is Psalm 33:4:
“The Word of the Lord is faithful and true;
He is faithful in all He does.”
A key attribute of God’s character, his faithfulness provides a firm foundation for our faith and hope. Because God is trustworthy, we can expect to experience his faithfulness in our life.
But it doesn’t always feel like God is faithful.
Have you experienced this tension between faith and experience? Between knowing facts that God is faithful and recognizing through your experience that God is faithful? Habits of hope bridge the gap when we wait for God in our hard places. This feeling of dissonance is part of every person’s journey of spiritual growth. Believe it or not, it can be a way God increases your faith and shows you his goodness.
Experiencing God’s Faithfulness in Hard Times
In the Bible, there are various words for the concept of knowing. One of them is ginosko. We can find this word in John 8:32 where Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In this verse he is talking about far more than knowing truth on a factual level. Ginosko is knowledge that goes beyond information and often is related to intimate knowledge built through relationship.
Caring for my sister as her health and mobility declined, put us in daily situations we had to depend on God. I found that spiritual habits helped guide my thinking during this emotional time.
The power of habit can increase our trust in God’s faithfulness. Share on X
Each time we recognize and respond to God’s faithfulness in our life, we have the opportunity to grow in faith.
God wants to build an intimate relationship with each of us. One where we know him more deeply as we experience his faithfulness and love in the midst of our problems.
Please understand that I’m not speaking from theory or giving platitudes to feel better. Nobody has time for that. We deeply benefit from practical habits and mindsets that empower us to rely on the goodness of our faithful God in every circumstance. God used these practices to minister to my heart even in the darkest moments of caring for a loved one dying from ALS. I hope they will help you build a foundation of experiencing God’s faithfulness in your life as well.
Six Habits of Hope to Increase Your Trust in God’s Faithfulness
1. Look for God’s faithfulness.
Consider how often we miss ordinary moments of God’s daily blessings in our lives due to not paying attention. Lamentations 3:23-24 tell us about God’s faithfulness:
The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB)
Take a moment to reflect on the truths of God’s faithfulness in this passage. Unceasing love, kindness, and mercy, as well as compassion that will not fail. I love that these gifts of grace are fresh every morning. This means, you can’t ever use them up, run out, or fall short. God will always be faithful.
Because God’s word tells us he is faithful we can look for his faithfulness with active faith. Expectation, hope, and waiting are all powerful acts of trust in the faithfulness of God.
This isn’t expectation that demands God prove his faithfulness to us. But rather, it is anticipation built on trusting God’s Word.
Consider how your faith will increase when you note daily examples of God’s goodness, whether big or small. Here are a few ideas to get started:
Keep a list of answered prayers.
Write down daily blessings of God’s faithfulness.
Note “God Moments” in a journal, notebook, or margin of your Bible.
The Daily Examen includes a practice of noticing moments you felt connected to God the end of the day.
When watching for God’s faithfulness becomes a daily mindset, you will notice many ways God is active in your life. The more you recognize his faithfulness, the more your faith will increase. Nurturing your faith today, will prepare you to trust God more fully when you experience difficult times.
2. View God’s faithfulness as a fact, not a question.
Faith requires we trust in God even when we don’t see tangible evidence of his faithfulness. It’s tempting to want proof of God’s faithfulness before we trust him. We want to see it, then believe it. This mentality views God’s faithfulness as a question for debate rather than a fact of his nature.
Habits of hope equip us hold fast to the Word of God, especially when life is hard. Meditating on the truths of God’s character helps bring our expectations and prayers into greater alignment with God’s nature.
Remembering the truth of God’s faithfulness can also protect us in spiritual warfare. The enemy often plants suspicious thoughts in our minds, stirring up doubts about God’s trustworthiness. When the truth of God’s faithfulness is debatable, we play into the enemy’s hands, leaving us with shaky faith.
What if . . . we stop having that debate in our minds?
What if . . . we don’t give the enemy an opportunity to create doubt?
What if . . . we embrace the truth that God is faithful and begin to see our challenges from that perspective?
Our circumstances do not define God’s faithfulness. God is faithful IN your challenge. Share on X
When you catch yourself feeding fear with “what if” questions, change your answer. Tell yourself the truth– a very practical way to stand firm in the truth God’s faithfulness, especially in difficult times.
What if things don’t work out? GOD is faithful.
What if make a mistake? God IS faithful.
What if I fail? God is FAITHFUL.
You catch my drift, right? Don’t think I’ve got this down. I can worry with the best of folks, but I’ve learned the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness as a habit of hope.
3. Draw near God rather than let doubt drive you away.
Don’t let doubt or disappointment drive you away from God. What if you change the pattern of doubtful questioning by seeing difficult moments as a signal to turn to God. Share your fears and emotions. Invite Jesus into your thoughts and emotions, seeking his comfort and guidance. Use the following questions or prayers to lean into God:
“Lord, show me how to pray right now.”
“Lord, open my eyes to your faithfulness today.”
“Lord, what do you want to show me about yourself in this challenge?”
“Lord, what do you want me to understand about myself or this problem?”
“Lord, thank you that you are with me. Comfort me with your Spirit.”
“Lord, I entrust my hopes and emotions to you. Show me how to navigate this hard time.”
Even when you don’t understand his plan, believe in his faithfulness, and trust his heart. Hold onto hope and don’t let go. God often reminds me of this quote from Charles Spurgeon when I have questions and confusion in tough situations.
“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”—Charles Spurgeon
Our struggles are meant to take us deeper with the Lord, not drive us away from our faith for God.
4. Experience emotions but don’t let them rob you of hope.
Our emotions play a huge role in whether we truly believe God is faithful.
When we struggle to find emotional equilibrium in stress, loss, or uncertainty, focus on the reality of God’s faithfulness and truth. It’s easy to feel disconnected from God’s presence when we feel sad, lonely, heartbroken, or angry.
Have you ever said something like this: “I just don’t feel like God is with me right now”?
Feelings carry messages about what we believe in the moment. They reveal what we think about our situation, other people, ourselves, or even God’s faithfulness.
As we learn to recognize and process our emotions with God, faith increases as we embrace what is true. We often miss these verses that sandwich the familiar Lamentations 3:23-24:
“So I say, “My strength has perished,
And so has my hope from the Lord. . .This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3:18, 21, 22-24 NASB)
Jeremiah practices a powerful habit of hope by affirming God’s faithfulness in the midst of discouragement, depression, and despair. Even when it doesn’t feel true, speak the truth to your soul: God’s compassion and grace is new for you every morning. He is faithful.
5. Make an intentional choice to trust God with hope.
And how do we do that? One moment at a time.
This has been a theme that has brought freedom from anxiety and worry in my life. So much so, God gave me the opportunity to write a book about it!
Holy moments happen when we choose to believe God is faithful, rather than default to fear, stress, or doubt. When we’re faced with problems, the present moment is the time to rely on God‘s faithfulness.
We can’t re-write yesterday’s experience or schedule tomorrow’s intention to trust in God. The more we practice the holy habit of choosing faith in the moment, the more we see the reality of God’s faithfulness in our story.
If your faith doesn’t feel strong enough to slay giants like David, ask God for faith to pick up the stone and put it in your slingshot. Rely on his provision for faith you need to take your next step. Trust him with now—how life is and how you are.
6. Respond to God’s faithfulness with gratitude.
Cultivate a daily habit of gratitude and worship to nurture hope. I wonder how many prayers God has faithfully answered that I didn’t notice or didn’t thank him for. Can you relate? Remember the story of Jesus healing ten men whose lives were destroyed by leprosy (Luke 17:11-19)? How convicting that only one returned to express his gratitude!
As we cultivate a thankful heart, gratitude helps us to notice the big and the small ways that God is faithful in our lives. Gratitude trains us to see God at work around us. Daily gratitude helps us to be faithful in the small things. As Jesus said, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10 ESV).
Isn’t it interesting that in God’s faithfulness, he helps us learn to be faithful as well? Gratitude opens our hearts to the work of God around us. I’ll be honest, there are times when this is hard to do. Embracing God’s faithfulness makes us deeply thankful that we are not alone in our struggles.
When you don’t have the answers, thank God because he’s faithful.
When your heart feels like it might drop out of your body, thank God because he’s with you.
When the darkness feels overwhelming, thank God for his light.
When you wonder if you’ll ever feel happy again, thank God with your tears because he’s collecting every single one of them.
When you worry that you could never make up for your actions, thank him because you are already forgiven.
Trusting in God’s faithfulness is a dynamic journey of daily choices that create habits of hope. Some days will go better than others so it’s important to trust God with the process. Today is not the end of the story.
Believe God to be who he says he is and trust him to do what he says he will do. Share on X
Habits of hope pave the way from knowing the fact of God’s faithfulness to a deep, relational knowing through our experience. Begin to practice these daily habits of hope to help you recognize and rely on God’s faithfulness. Start now to build habits of hope in your life. They will bless you on your good days and increase your faith on your hardest days. These habits of hope were game-changers for me both during my sister’s illness and in grieving her passing.
Which one of these faith-building practices do you most need in your life right now? What habit of hope helps you hold trust in God’s faithfulness when you experience hard times? Leave a comment and share a hope builder in your life.
A Free Resource Just for You
Meet your new favorite resource to cultivate habits of hope in your life. Nurture your soul today for stronger faith when you need it most. Available as a free resource for a limited time!
The Daily Examen
With roots in the Catholic contemplative tradition, The Daily Examen is a helpful way to reflect on your day and grow in intimacy with God. There is also a phone app that provides prompts to help you connect with God’s faithfulness with the Daily Examen. You can explore the phone app here.
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20 Powerful Blessings and Scriptures to Pray for Godly Marriage
Get a free printable list of powerful Scripture prayers for marriage and Bible verses to pray for marriages. We pray for our children’s marriages with these marriage prayers and blessings. May this collection give you special words to pray for marriages in your life–your’s or someone else’s! Be inspired with biblical principles that foster good marriages and strong families .
A blessing is the profound act of willing and speaking good into the life of another person. One of the most well-known blessings in the Bible is found in Numbers 6:22-26:
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
“‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
In this passage, God stresses the importance of blessing others with his presence and goodness. In Living in Christ’s Presence, Dallas Willard explains, “Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another. It isn’t just words. It’s the actual putting forth of your will for the good of another person.” It is the gift of willing the good of another in the presence of God. (affiliate link at no cost to you0.
The Importance of Praying for Marriage
We’ve just returned from our son’s wedding. I’m still basking in the afterglow. I catch myself reliving the sacred moments as I enjoy the pictures again and again. In a short time, our family has doubled as all three children enter into sacred unions to form families of their own.
- Our son enters more deeply into manhood as a husband, promising to love, cherish, and provide for his beautiful bride.
- Our daughters leave days of adolescence and childhood behind receiving new names as they become wives.
- Three couples begin the process of building a life together in the care and keeping of God,
God reminds me of the many years we’ve prayed for each of our children’s spouses, even before they were born. Through the years, we’ve asked God to nurture, protect, and bless each future husband or wife. With a grateful heart, I rejoice witness the fulfillment of these prayers as three young couples stand before God, committing to love one another for a lifetime.
Now the shimmer of the wedding celebrations settles into the daily choices and challenges of building a godly marriage. It is no small matter to merge two distinct personalities, histories, and lifestyles together. In the days to come, each partner will discover many new things about their beloved and themselves as they learn the art of loving well. Though many days will be filled with joy, they will also face challenges that require patience and sacrifice. (photo credit below: @zachbradleyphotography)
Scripture Prayers for Marriage
Though many of these Bible verses are not specifically marriage verses, they address character, words, and actions that grow faith and foster healthy relationships. The Bible teaches us much about how to love one another which is foundational for strong and godly marriages. Use the Scripture prayers for marriage in this post to inspire a regular habit of praying for your marriage.
Each passage includes concepts that I have prayed for my own marriage through the past thirty-four years. They are underlined in my Bible, many of which I memorized over the years to help me remember to apply them to my life. They have shaped my faith and guided me as a wife.
Now I pray these Scriptures as a blessing for my children and their spouses. I hope it will inspire you to bless the marriages of your loved ones with God’s favor and provision. (I have written these prayers to bless my children, but you can change the pronouns to pray for your own marriage. You will find both versions in The Marriage Blessing download available with this post.)
20 Powerful Blessings and Bible Verses to Pray for Marriages
Use this list of Bible verses and Scripture prayers for marriage to strengthen relationships with a spiritual covering.
Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Lord, it is no small thing to bring two families together through marriage. Help our children to joyfully establish their own households. Blend the best of each background into a beautiful new family. Bless our children as they look to each other for the things Mom and Dad used to provide. Teach them what it means to be one flesh as you bring a healthy and holy unity to their relationship. Inspire our children to invite you into the transition of becoming one. Lead and guide them into what that looks like in the reality of establishing a home in daily tasks such as getting to work on time, making decisions, and cooking dinner.
Matthew 6:33-34
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Lord, teach our children to look to you to meet every need rather than worry about provisions. Whether the need is spiritual or physical, show them you are faithful to provide the needs of each day.
Mark 10:9
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.
Lord, in today’s world there are many things that can destroy a marriage. I pray for protection over this marriage. Let nothing and no one separate the two precious hearts you have brought together.
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Lord, give our children hearts to obey your command to love one another. Deepen their understanding and experience of your love for them in a way that changes the way they love each other.
Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Lord, pour out your love on this marriage through the power of the Holy Spirit. May they each pursue knowing you with purpose and passion. Equip them with the gift of your Spirit that is the true hope of a healthy and happy marriage. Bless our children with the power of your love working in their hearts.
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. . .
Lord, help our children to be devoted to one another in friendship and love that grows stronger through the years. Help them to honor one another, putting the other person first. May they cherish one another, seeking ways to honor each other on a daily basis.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. . .
Lord, guide them on the days when love doesn’t come easily. When conflict, disagreements, or differences divide, remind them to stop and pray. Let love calm strong emotions and reconcile misunderstandings. Move them to respond with love rather than react with pride, anger, or frustration. Help them to work out issues rather than harbor resentment. Give them humble hearts that don’t insist on their way or have to say the last word. May they always love with faith and hope that strengthens them with endurance during difficult days. Build a healthy relational foundation with your unconditional love that never fails.
Galatians 5:22-23a
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. . .
Lord, bless their home with joy and laughter for a lifetime of sweet memories. Bless them with the fruit of your Spirit to build a strong foundation for a long and healthy marriage. May they always express the fruit of Your Spirit with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. Draw their hearts close to yours and teach them to depend your resources for selfless love and faithfulness.
Galatians 5:25-26
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Lord, may our children desire to live in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Be their leader and guide as they depend on you to not give into the flesh patterns such as pride, strife, and envy.
Ephesians 4:1-3
Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Lord, let your calling inspire our children to love each other with gentleness and patience, committing to prioritize unity and peace in marriage. May they always seek to please you with attitudes, words, and actions. Help them to act with integrity and faithfulness, especially when they struggle to get along. Bless them with unity as they schedule plans, make decisions, adjust to changes, and navigate conflicts. Don’t let disagreements place them on opposite sides, fighting against each other rather than for each other.
May each one embrace US over ME, making WE more important than the momentary difference.
Ephesians 4:14-16
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Lord, though this passage isn’t written for marriages, I pray that you will help our children continue to mature in faith and godly character. Help them to grow spiritually as they grow in marriage. Let their conversations be truthful and motivated with love. Cultivate their unique personalities, gifts, skills, and temperaments into a beautiful, strong, and healthy relationship that is a valuable part of the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Lord, teach our children how to process anger without sinful attitudes, reactions, or actions. Navigating powerful emotions like anger is one of the great challenges of living together. Help them to work through anger productively, not allowing bitterness, resentment, or division give the enemy opportunity to weaken their relationship.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Lord, give our children the self-control to guard their speech. Let this verse become a filter for how to communicate well. Help them to build the holy habit of being purposeful with words to build one another up. Give them a check in their spirit before venting words that can tear down their relationship.
Ephesians 4:31-32
All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Lord, may kindness and compassion be the normal for their marriage. Help them to guard their marriage with forgiving hearts, always remembering their own need for forgiveness. Equip them with healthy communication skills to work through discord.
Colossians 3:12-17
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Lord, help our children to pursue love and godly character with energy, faith, and intention. Motivate them to seek you first in all things as you work in their hearts. Let unity, kindness, and gratitude create a oneness in marriage that only comes from your Spirit. Give them the desire to abide in your word, growing in wisdom and godliness that infuses all they do.
1 Thessalonians 13:12
May the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another. . .
Lord, bind hearts in love as only you can. Deeper, wider, true, and higher—let your love increase and abound in this marriage. Let love for you and for each other grow stronger in each season of life.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
Lord, give our children a holy boldness to depend on your power, love, and discipline to work within their marriage. Don’t let fear keep them from doing what is right or working through challenges. Help them to trust you when uncertainty or trials stir up worry and fear.
Hebrews 10:24
Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. . .
Lord, let this couple inspire one another to show love to each other and to others as a consistent way of living. Give them generous hearts to do good deeds and seek to be a blessing in all they do.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Lord, give our children ears to listen to the heart, the unspoken words and deeper emotions that are often unsaid. Help them make the most of the good and the least of each other’s faults or weaknesses. Let love be the priority as they make daily choices to love in practical ways. When sin creeps in, may reconciliation be the goal that wins the argument.
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.
Lord, thank you for this marriage. Strengthen our children with the power of your Spirit to be filled with the fullness of your loving Holy Spirit. You are the source of all they need to thrive in live, love, and marriage. May they come to know your love more deeply in ways that empower them to love each other in the faith and fullness of your Spirit. I ask you to bless their marriage above and beyond the words of my hopes and prayers for my children. Fulfill your beautiful purpose in bringing these two people together in love. Be glorified through this marriage with a legacy of faith that continues to future generations.
10 Ways to Use this List of Blessings and Bible Verses to Pray for Marriage
Whether you are praying for your child’s marriage or for your own, there are a variety of ways to use this list. Consider the following ideas or come up with a few of your own. Get the free printable list of Bible verses and prayers to make the most of this practical list to pray for marriages in your life.
- Pray through the entire list on a yearly or monthly basis.
- Meditate on one verse a day or one per week.
- Share specific verses in cards or texts for your spouse or child.
- Use verses as journal prompts for reflection or written prayers.
- Add to the list with additional verses and prayers.
- Discuss how you might apply these truths in relationships.
- Explore the verses as part of a family Bible study on marriage or relationships.
- Reflect on verses with God to identify areas for personal growth and transformation.
- Memorize a few verses so you don’t forget to apply them.
- Add verses to wedding photo album.
What other ways could you use this list to pray for marriages and relationships in your family? Be sure to share your ideas in the comments below!
Get the Printable Version of This Post on Praying for Marriage
Share the Gift of Marriage Prayers and Blessings
As you will the good of your family in the presence of God, I hope you will be inspired to love whole-heartedly in your own relationships as well. Look forward to seeing God’s gift of love working in the marriages you support in prayer. Do you have a favorite blessing or Scripture to pray for marriage? Do you know someone newly married or a couple seeking to revitalize their relationship? Share this post or the link for the printable list to encourage them as they seek to cultivate a healthy and happy life together.
Photo credits for the images in this post.
I’m thrilled to share a few photos from my children’s weddings in this post. Photo credits are in order of the photos in the post.
- Josh Tournemille
- Zach Bradley Photography
- @SydneyTobinPhoto
More Posts to Deepen Prayer in Your Life
- When Bad News Becomes a Call to Intercession
- How to Stay Focused in Prayer
- Powerful Prayers for God’s Direction for our Children
- Powerful Truth Gives Direction for Our Children
- 8 Powerful Ways to Connect with God When He Is Silent
5 Ways to Restore Your Soul This Summer
Ready for a Summer Soul Refresh? Take a break from busy by making time for things that restore your soul. This summer, let’s live well with intentional choices to nourish body, soul, and spirit– this is the heart of a summer soul refresh. Check out the free summer bucket list for your soul at the end of this post!
Have you ever come home from vacation so tired that you need another vacation? Maybe your soul is out of sync and you feel more than a little frazzled. Take a break from busy by making time for things that restore your soul. This summer, let’s live well with intentional choices to nourish body, soul, and spirit– this is the heart of a summer soul refresh.
Really, there’s just so much to love about summer! Whether you like to plan summer fun with a bucket-list packed with activities, or take a more casual approach, it’s time to get inspired for a great summer to refresh your soul.
“Holiness inhabits the small things, faith for our moments, simple and short. Added together, holy moments change lives and steer destinies in God’s direction. But it all comes down to attitudes and choices made . . . one moment at a time.”–Ginger Harrington, Holy in the Moment
These are the words that open the first chapter of my book Holy in the Moment. They speak of a concept that is a theme in my life, the power of our choices in the moment. And they are great words to keep in mind as we enjoy the summer season.
Let’s offer our moments for God to renew our hearts, re-vitalize our energy, and re-focus our perspectives. Whole-hearted living is the best way to enjoy this summer. Body, soul, and spirit—we are created to experience the wholeness and fullness of life in Christ. How can you set aside time for God to replenish your soul in the coming weeks?
For here’s the truth, summer days will slip like sand through our fingers if we let them. How do we make the best use of the time given, each day wrapped in the gift of twenty-four hours? Time to rest, play, visit, travel, create, read, and relax–these are just a few of the things on my list of summer plans. How about you?
Practice the Art of Mindful Living this Summer
Is your soul healthy? The art of mindful living keeps our eyes open to the glory of God around us. Notice and appreciate things like sunlight sparkling on water, the cardinal that lands on the porch, the laughter of children chasing fireflies on a warm evening.
Travel and vacations, children coming home for visits, longer evenings, and gatherings with a few friends provide great opportunities to make memories and invest in meaningful moments with people we love. Around here, we love hosting cookouts and game nights. Train Dominoes, Hand and Foot, Monopoly Deal, and Code Names are a few of the favorites our family and friends enjoy. Have you ever hosted a game night?
What’s good for your soul this summer? One of my favorite summer soul-care activities is summer reading. I already have a stack of books calling my name. Kicking back with a great book and my toes in the water is my all-time favorite summer refreshing activity. How about you? What helps you re-set your soul?
Soul Care When Your Summer is Busy or Stressful
Especially when summer is busy, stressful, or just not what you expected, mindful living and intentionality go a long way to keep your soul from spinning into overdrive. This summer, relaxing moments and lazy afternoons are on my wishlist, much harder to make happen. It the pace of this particular year, I make myself stop and take small breaks to put my feet up, refocus, and practice gratitude.
I’ve been working on settling my sister’s estate for the past six months. Preparing her home for a new owner has been emotional and challenging as I commute between TN and VA, taking care of two houses. Now more than any other summer, I need to be intentional about making time to restore my soul.
The heaviness of grief of losing my sweet sister to ALS brings an emotional need to make time to feel the feels and lean into Jesus despite the busyness of these days. The simple grace of shifting my thoughts from busy to grateful releases the stress of the moment. Being purposeful to plan ahead for fun moments with family and friends takes more effort, but it refreshes my heart to laugh, celebrate, and enjoy life.
Choices to Restore Your Soul During a Stressful Summer
I fight my tendency to push back time to relax or restore until after the work is done. That strategy leaves me ragged, as my body aches from the push of hard work and the stress of trying “to get it all done.”
I remind myself to take things one day at a time.
I pray in the moment for energy to finish what is before me. I ask God to empower me to appreciate the blessings in each day as it is.
And I mark time on my calendar to do add a few soul restoring moments to the schedule.
I plan for fun moments with family and friends–even if it is weeks out.
Somehow, planning moments to step back and rest feels like a permission slip to set aside the work even if there are still many tasks on my do-list. For many of us, out schedules stay busy in the summer, so it is all the more important to carve out time to replenish energy and enjoy summer days. Trust God to help you find ways to restore your soul, whether your summer is relaxed or busy, carefree or stressful.
The Lord is my shepherd,I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside quiet waters.He restores my soul. . . (Psalm 23:1-3.
You’ll find lot’s of easy ideas to rest and restore this summer in this post and in my popular resource, Summer Soul Refresh, a bucket list of 31 soul-renewing ways to make the most of warm summer days. Join our community to get access to my Subscriber Library of premium content including the Summer Soul Refresh.
Summer moments are the perfect time to refresh with simple choices that renew our energy, refocus our relationships, and restore our souls. Grace to live well in little choices–isn’t this the blessing we crave?
5 Ways to Restore Your Soul This Summer
Delight in simple pleasures. Sit on the front porch, twirl sparklers on the 4th of July, slurp on popsicles in the yard, or read a book by the pool. Celebrate the simple things this summer and let the happy moments win the day.
Eat healthy. Visit a farmer’s market. Load up on fresh fruits and vegetables for healthy summer menus. Enjoy salad suppers or fire up the grill. Nourish your body with healthy eating. Purpose to try one new recipe each week to revitalize summer suppers.
Focus on fun. Bring back game nights, invite friends for dinner, go roller skating with the kids. or have a water gun fight. Fun times create great memories that can deepen relationships and keep life fun. One thing’s for sure, happy moments are good for the soul!
Enjoy more time in God’s Word. I love the way the schedules loosen their grip, freeing a little more time to meditate on God’s word or read books that foster spiritual growth if we are purposeful. Summer is a great time to change up your spiritual routine with a new devotional, praying through the Psalms, or experimenting with Bible Journaling.
Be creative. Creativity refreshes the soul, keeping hands busy in a way that allows the mind to tap into the vitality of creative energy. When we are creative, we look at the world in a different way. Imagination, art, color, texture, sounds, and story are all components of making something beautiful. It is a kind of play that ignites our imaginations. Start a DIY project, color a picture, make a scrapbook, paint a wall, make a collage, plant a garden, or enjoy a craft project. These are just a few ways to spend some refreshing summer hours.
Trust me, intentionality creates big dividends in our health, relationships, work, emotions, and spiritual growth. Today is a gift, so enjoy the present and make this a summer to remember!
Good-for-Your-Soul Posts to Enjoy
What is Spiritual Rest and Why Do We Need It?
Finding Soul Rest from the Burdens that Weigh You Down
Does Your Soul Talk Strengthen Your Faith?
10 Bible Verses for a Healthy Soul
25 Good Habits for the Art of Friendship
How Holy Choices Help You Feel Less Anxious and Stressed
How to Increase Mental Focus with Brain-Healthy Habits for Life
Learn how to increase mental focus for a healthier body, soul, and spirit with practical ideas to build brain-healthy habits in your life. In today’s digital world, we all struggle with interruptions and distractions, making it hard to maintain mental focus. Lack of mental focus can impact us on both a practical and a spiritual level. Boost your brain power with nutrient rich foods, focus-building activities, and spiritual practices for greater mental focus. This post is adapted from The Wellness Project, a free email series to you develop healthy habits in your life.
Attention and mental focus is a gift from God. An important way to live well and honor God is cultivate brain-healthy habits into our daily routines for body, soul, and spirit.
Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.
Jim Rohn
A Funny Story About My Lack of Mental Focus
To be honest, mental focus has not come easily for me. I used to jokingly refer to my self as a professional airhead. Now that made for a good laugh when speaking at events, but it isn’t a helpful thing to say to myself. However, I admit my lack of attention to detail created some spectacular moments. The kind where you are horrified and embarrassed in the moment, but later…they are hilarious.
What I’m about to share is a true story. Yes, I actually had this lack of mental focus.
In 1988, I left town for the weekend with a group from church. To save time, I parked my car in a McDonalds parking lot to pick up a carpool. I made sure to look the door of my car. Good for me–very focused.
We had a great weekend. When I returned to my car on Sunday afternoon, I saw a note tucked under my windshield wiper: “You left your keys in the car door. Please come to the office to sign for them.”
Whatttt???!
A momentary lapse of attention. . .
I left my keys in the car door–sometimes I stun myself with my lack of mental focus! God was watching out for me. The parking lot “just happened” to be next to a police station.
My distraction and lack of mental focus could have been very costly!
The ages of 15-30 were my glory days of being disorganized and inattentive to details. By the time I had the responsibility for keeping three small children alive and well, I new I needed to develop my mental focus. Increasing mental focus can involve work, but there are many activities and habits we can incorporate into our daily life to boost our attention span.
The Market for Your Mental Focus and Attention
Did you know that your attention is now a high-value commodity in an information driven and tech saturated culture? Studies conclude the average iPhone user touches the phone 2,617 times a day, with the highest users touching the phone up to 5,400 times a day. Social media developers have been reported to not want their children to use social media. Platforms are designed to compete for your attention, keeping you scrolling, liking, and commenting. The market for your attention and focus is real and impacts us in many ways.
Other research states that attention spans are down from 12 to 8 seconds, just one second more than a goldfish. In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer writes, “There are literally thousands of apps and devices intentionally engineered to steal your attention. And with it your money.” He asks the vital question many overlook, “What is all this distraction, addiction, and pace of life doing to our souls?” (affiliate link)
Why You Should Develop Your Mental Focus
Mental focus benefits far more than your physical brain function. Your ability to think, interpret, remember, learn, relate, and work require mental focus for optimal performance and wellbeing.
Mental focus is the art of sustaining our attention. In the book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, Cal Newport warns that constant distractions of social media, email and instant messaging make deep concentration difficult, but also diminishes our capacity to do deep work requiring sustained periods of concentration. (affiliate link).
There is no shortage of distractions in our lives. Culture worships at the altar of hyper-efficiency by multi-tasking. The reality is focusing on two or more tasks at one time interferes with working memory and can potentially lead to long-term memory issues. Washing the dishes while watching TV might not be a big deal, but texting while driving can be deadly. Madore, a multitasking researcher writes, “When you have competing sources of attention, your task performance is often going to be reduced.”
Not only does distracted driving cost society $40 billion a year, but statistics show the human cost:
Nearly 4,000 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015.
Distracted driving was the reported cause of death of 3,450 people in 2016.
An estimated 391,000 drivers were injured in distracted driving crashes in 2017.
I’ve been rear ended by someone while they were texting at a stop light. Fortunately it was a minor incident. These statistics are a sobering reason why we need to fight distraction.
Brain-Healthy Habits to Boost Mental Focus
Fortunately, there are a variety of things we can do to support and improve mental focus. As you read this section, consider specific ideas to practice this week that can give you a digital detox and improve your focus. Take note of other tips to try later. Improve your physical, mental, and spiritual health by cultivating habits that increase your mental focus. How many of these can become brain-boosting habits in your life?
Daily physical activity
Mental puzzles, games, and activities
Read and learn new things
Play an instrument
Learn a language
Practice mindfulness
Pray and meditate on Scripture
Don’t put off making decisions
Practice healthy stress management
Develop systems to stay organized
Limit TV and digital entertainment and social media
Get adequate sleep
Enjoy in person social interactions
Limit distractions and multitasking
Don’t touch your phone when driving
Use digital apps for alerts and reminders
Add important birthdays to your calendar with yearly alerts
Don’t over schedule appointments and activities
Take mental breaks during long periods of deep concentration
Change tasks when you experience mental fatigue at work
Limit alcohol consumption
Schedule time for rest after completing projects or extra-busy weeks
Take frequent breaks when driving long distances
Get adequate vitamin D and other brain-boosting nutrients
Put phone away at mealtime
Share worries or concerns with a supportive friend
Avoid procrastination
Reduce clutter in your environment
Memorize Scripture
Make eye contact when conversing with people
There are many apps designed to train your brain. If you’re going to use digital media, brain training is a better choice many digital games. Here is an article listing the top apps to train your brain. Research shows mental games and brain trainings improves mental focus and memory. The good thing is mental games and learning new things can be fun as well as boost your brain function!
“The true art of memory is the art of attention.” Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Please Note: Seek help from a medical professional memory loss or brain fog if disrupts your work, daily life, or well-being.
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Mental Focus Empowers Spiritual Growth
In today’s digital age of distraction, it is difficult to focus our attention on God. How many times have you meant to read your Bible but responded to texts, emails, and social media instead?
Technology, communication, and entertainment aren’t the only source of distractions in our lives. The pace of work and family life often squeeze out time and mental bandwidth for staying connected to God.
Sometimes, it feels like a total win to sit down and open my Bible. Remembering the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit helps us focus. We live in connection with God in all that we do, not just when we pray and read our Bible. A deeper life increases as we learn to be attentive to God in all of life. We can start now to develop a deeper relationship with God.
Making the effort to focus our attention on God places us in a heart posture to receive all the Lord has for us today. Bring the holy into your moments with deeper spiritual attention. You can entrust your battle with distraction to God’s loving care.
Intention and attention go together. Prayer, listening, and meditative Bible reading can train us to pay attention to God in all we do. There is also current research finding a connection between memorizing Scripture and improved memory.
Like Moses, may God give us the “capacity to see the bush burning in the middle of our own life and having enough sense to turn aside, take off our shoes and pay attention! The burning bush was, after all, a most ordinary object that became extraordinary because it was on fire with divine activity.” (Ruth Haley Barton, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership). affiliate link
The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
-Proverbs 18:15 NASB
More Tips to Increase Mental Focus for Spiritual Growth
Let’s not miss what God has for us today because we were too distracted. Consider these ideas to increase spiritual focus in spiritual practices. Each of these ideas can both improve your spiritual attention and become brain-boosting habits.
Silence your phone and put it out of sight.
Take a few deep breaths, letting go of tension as you exhale. Breathe in the life of God and exhale your distracting thoughts.
Give yourself time to transition from activity to attentiveness from doing to being present. Stillness and silence helps turn our thoughts to God. Praying this phrase from Psalm 46 is helpful: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
If you get distracted, just come back to focusing on God.
Keep paper handy to note tasks that come to mind. Writing relieves us from fear of forgetting something important.
Download more ideas to boost spiritual focus here.
Which of the ideas and truths in this email inspire a goal you want to work on this week?
Related Posts for Mental and Spiritual Focus
15 Simple Ways to Overcome Distraction to Focus Your Attention on God (with printable)
How to Stay Focused in Prayer
Do You Have Spiritual ADD?
10 Benefits of Reviewing What We Learn from God
15 Habits of Rest that Will Improve Your Life
Strategies and Scriptures to Combat Negative Thinking: With Free E-book
“The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on gingerharrington.com are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.”
5 Things to Remember About God’s Calling and Gifts
Do you struggle to believe God has called you to use your gifts? Finding your purpose and calling can be a challenge. When it comes to calling and spiritual gifts we are often far more concerned with what we think we can’t do , rather than on what God can do. Discovering your spiritual gifts is part of knowing God’s calling for our life and trusting God in the process of ministry is part of a deeper life with God.
Consider these truths to grow in confidence that God has spiritual gifts and a calling for you.
“God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called”–author unknown . Identifying and growing in our spiritual gifts is part of God’s equipping process as we prepare to do the things He has called us to do.
5 Things to Remember About God’s Calling and Spiritual Gifts
1. You have a spiritual gift.
When it comes to calling and gifts we are often far more concerned with what we think we can’t do , rather than on what God can do.
Remember Moses, staring into the hot flames of the burning bush, conversing with God? God calls Moses to be a messenger, and Moses’ gut-level respond is to object, “Who am I?” He continues, “What shall I say to them? What if they don’t believe me?” (Exodus 3).
Next Moses brings up the reason why he can’t do what God has asked–I’m not good at talking to people–I am slow of speech. For every I’m not Moses gave, God responded with an I am–I AM who I am, I am with you.
It is important to remember there is a big difference between a spiritual gift and a talent. Talents are part of our personality, but spiritual gifts are the Holy Spirit at work.
2. When God calls, whether or not we have a gift is not the issue.
The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say” (Exodus 4:11-12).
There is a powerful lesson for all of us contained in what some only consider a children’s story. What a struggle it is for me to get this past my head and into my heart. When it comes to our calling and gifts, it is easy to focus on why we can’t rather than on how God can. We forget that He has promised to provide for us in the process.
3. Don’t give in to fear when it comes to spiritual gifts and calling.
God has not given us a spirit of fear, especially when it comes to using our gifts. Yet so often, some form of fear or discouragement can derail our desire to boldly answer God’s call. “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6-7 NASB).
1 Timothy 1:7 speaks to this timidity we can slam into when it comes to using our gifts. Every gift is from God—it is His and He takes pleasure in seeing His gifts come alive in the unique personality of every one of His children. Believing this truth releases us to us our spiritual gifts with joy and wisdom. Since every gift is God working through us, we need to boldly follow His leading.
4. Use your spiritual gifts.
It is so easy to get twisted around when it comes to serving God with our gifts. Easy to loose perspective that we are part of a whole. Somehow we get disconnected from the body with all its variety.
Our attention pulls inward as we compare our ability, evaluate our performance, measure our opportunities. Vision veers off-center from releasing our gift to the glory of God, and we find ourselves holding back.
5. It’s all about Him.
I have had many conversations with God about this over the last few years. One conversation made it into the worn pages of my journal–words stretched tight over timidity and discouragement.
5 Things to Remember About God’s Calling and Gifts Share on X
Child, remember this.
I call you and it is not because of what you have done or what you can do. Neither will it be inhibited by what you can’t do.
Each gift comes with My purpose and grace.
Know that I will show you what, when, where, how. You don’t have to make it happen all on your own. Dance in your gift through a partnership of faith, for it is…
My gift.
My calling.
My purpose.
My grace.
The responsibility is on Me.
Your job is to learn and obey,
Love and listen,
Wait and follow,
Release and rejoice.
Day by day and step by step follow me.
Follow me in your prayer, in your needs, in your plans and desires.
Follow me when I lead through others and when I lead through opportunities.
Follow me when I change your direction or broaden your focus.
If your eyes are on me, you don’t have to figure out what is next.
Use your gifts—discover and share.
Enjoy the process!
Let joy overcome fear because I am with you.
Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Has someone encouraged you to use your gifts?
Get the Book to Discover More About Your Purpose
Experience freedom from insecurity and perfectionism as you fulfill your calling to live fully in Christ. Discover simple ways to make the most of each day, relying on Christ’s provision moment by moment. Click the image to learn more.
Practical Resources to Grow in Faith
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3 Tips for Healthy Eating with a Positive Mindset
Get motivated to build healthy eating habits for health and well-being. These easy tips for healthy eating include your mindset as well as habits with food and nutrition. Discover how good you can feel when you give your body the nutrients you need to be your best. Join author, blogger, and fitness instructor, Ginger Harrington and coach, Gay Brownlee, for a conversation on practical tips for healthy eating habits for greater health and wellbeing.
The Challenge of a Healthy Mindset toward Food and Body Image
In our image-driven culture, many of us struggle with some toxic combination of body image, eating habits, weight, guilt, and shame. Constantly bombarded with images of ultra-thin and beautiful people in media, it is hard not to compare yourself.
Maybe you’ve seen the movie, “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Consider this conversation between Nigel and Andy:
Andy Sachs:
So none of the girls here eat anything?
Nigel:
Not since two became new four and zero became the new two.
Andy Sachs:
Well, I’m a six…
Nigel:
Which is the new fourteen.
Watch the clip here. Though we know this is a movie set in the fashion industry, I think it reveals much of our cultural obsession with size, weight, and body image.
My Personal Struggle with a Positive Mindset toward Food and Body Image
Growing up, I was what they call, “on the pudgy side.” Between fourth and sixth grade, I was sometimes made fun of because I was taller and heavier than most of the girls in my school. It was hurtful. Dieting and the desire to lose weight has been a part of my mindset since I was 12.
If you have read Holy in the Moment, or the free chapter, you may remember my challenge with Grave’s disease, which impacted my thyroid. What I didn’t write about was that due to radiation treatment, I no longer have a functioning thyroid. I gained over 40 pounds in a year, despite stringent eating habits in the journey to get my levels to normal. I’m very grateful for hormone replacement, but it is not the same as your natural body function.
All this to say, healthy eating and a healthy self-image is a battle I am well acquainted with. For the past 23 years, I feel like I live on a diet to try to maintain and not gain further pounds. Not fun. To be honest, I can get very discouraged and my mindset regarding my weight isn’t always healthy.
I share a little of my story to illustrate that our relationship with food, eating habits, dieting, and healthy self-image can get tangled up. For many, especially women, healthy eating habits often have a soul and spirit connection. A soul connection in that our thoughts, emotions, and self-image often intertwine with our mindset about food. There can also be a spirit connection when we struggle to accept ourselves as fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14).
Maybe this doesn’t relate to you, but considering that two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese and childhood obesity is on the rise, many of us can grow in both healthy eating habits and a healthy mindset about food.
“We define healthy eating as having a healthy balance of foods and having a healthy relationship with food.”
—anonymous
Your Healthy Eating Habits Matter
Food is fuel for our bodies, but much of the food we eat does not serve our bodies well.
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “Unhealthy diet contributes to approximately 678,000 deaths each year in the U.S., due to nutrition- and obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.” This is a sobering statistic that impacts all of us, either directly or for a friend or family member.
Regardless of the number on the scale, the size of our clothes, or how we feel about our looks, healthy eating habits are important for all of us. A lifestyle of healthy eating habits and a healthy mindset empower us to feel good, fuel our bodies, and support our health. Watch the video for helpful tips to cultivate healthy eating habits for your body and soul.
Join The Wellness Challenge
Discover how good you can feel with7 days of health-focused emails from Ginger. Each one is packed with motivation, information, and tips to help you build consistent habits of heath. Focus on consistent, simple practices to experience greater well-being. Healthy looks great on you! Join hundreds of women and get started with The Wellness Challenge today.
Meet Health Coach Gay Brownlee
As a health coach, Gay specializes in helping people lose weight and build optimal health for the past 14 years. In this video, Gay shares how she got started on her wellness journey as well as powerful lessons and mindset shifts that create a healthy relationship with food.
The most powerful change of perspective is to stop thinking of healthy eating as a life of restriction and deprivation–especially if your goal is weight loss. Gay shares how learning to think of good eating habits as freedom to choose to feel good and increase our health. For me, this has been a game-changer. She has helped me reframe my thinking from a deprivation, missing-out, “diet” mindset, to focusing on a lifetime of habits of health. I hope you will be encouraged by our conversation as well!
We chatted about several important mindset changes that are vital to healthy eating as a lifetime journey, focusing on progress rather than obsessing over perfection. Set boundaries with foods you enjoy but don’t support good health, rather than eliminate completely from your diet. After all, nothing stirs up a craving for chocolate cake more than telling yourself you can’t ever eat that favored food again. Learning to rethink guilt and shame about food choices can help us develop a healthy relationship with food for a lifetime.
“Healthy eating is a way of life, so it’s important to establish routines that are simple, realistic, and ultimately livable.” Horace
Key Points for Health Eating and a Positive Mindset with Food
A healthy life includes your body, soul, and spirit.
Eating isn’t only about what you put in your mouth, but also how you think healthy eating,
Many people struggle with a healthy mindset about body image and relationship with food.
See healthy eating as freedom to feel your best rather than a lifestyle of restriction.
Remember what you really want for the long-term rather than a passing desire of the moment.
Eat to regulate blood sugar for good health and weight loss.
Eat small meals often to sustain energy and experience less cravings.
Choose carbohydrates on the lower end of the Glycemic Index.
Pair carbohydrates with protein to regulate blood sugar.
Develop micro habits to set yourself up for success and limit temptation.
Healthy eating and weight loss are a journey based on our daily choices.
Give yourself grace and focus on a lifestyle of health by celebrating progress over perfection.
What helps you cultivate healthy eating habits for your body as well as your mind and emotions? Leave a comment to share what helps you. It may be just the tip someone needs today. Click here to watch now.
Links Mentioned in the Broadcast
Ginger’s book, Holy in the Moment (amazon affiliate link at no cost to you)
Sign Up for The Wellness Project
Get Ginger’s Newsletter and Access to the Subscriber Library
Gay Brownlee’s Website
Connect with Gay Brownlee on Facebook:
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The Wellness Challenge Blog Posts
Although this is a free email series, read a few related blog posts to get motivated to build healthy habits.
28 Motivating Quotes to Build Healthy Habits this Year
Why Positive Thinking is Good for a Healthy Body, Soul, and Spirit
*The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on gingerharrington.com are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
