What Is Spiritual Rest and Why Do We Need It?
What is the meaning of spiritual rest and why is finding rest for our soul important? Spiritual rest is easy to overlook until we face the burnout of mental, emotional, or physical exhaustion. Worry, anxiety, anger, frustration, bitterness, unforgiveness, and stress burden our souls. Different from self-care, soul care restores our spirit, empowering us to experience peace and perseverance when we face challenges.
What Does it Mean to Rest in Jesus When You are Weary?
The alarm buzzes me awake long before I’m ready to rise. Getting out of bed, I do a Zombie walk to the bathroom.
Feeling behind before I begin, a mental to-do list moves through the Rolodex in my head as I brush my teeth. Before I’ve gotten dressed, I worry about a family member’s health, a friend’s grief, and meeting a big goal at work. “Where is the line between concern, worry, and faith?” I ask the Lord as I finish getting ready for the day. The weight of worry makes me feel heavy and tired.
How about you? Do you need spiritual rest? Do you need to find ways to lighten the load of worries and concerns?
We all need times of rest. A rest routine--is needed to keep body, soul, and spirit healthy and happy. #spiritualrest #soulrest Share on X
Spiritual Rest Versus Self Care
Practicing spiritual rest, or soul rest, helps us bear the weight of life’s challenges. For me, emotional and mental weariness is harder to overcome than physical tiredness. When I’m weary, I often default to self-care rather than making time for soul care.
Have you considered the difference between soul rest and self-care? These two concepts often overlap. When we need rest, we tend to think about self-care or even self-comfort solutions. Self care has to do with caring for our physical, mental, and emotional needs. Soul care happens when we trust Christ with our needs, relying on his presence and help to sustain us. Here’s a few self-care things I gravitate to:
- “I need to get more sleep.”
- “If I eat healthier I’ll have more energy.”
- “Lunch with the girls is what I need.”
- “I can’t wait to chill out and watch my show on Netflix.”
It’s easy to binge-watch a show to fix our exhaustion. Though I enjoy watching a good show, it doesn’t solve the problem of needing rest for my soul. It’s easy to escape our challenges by vegging out in front of the TV or scrolling social media. The uncertainty of world events, political shifts, racial strife, and working from home creates weariness from the stress of extended loss and change.
Escaping from problems or distracting ourselves
isn’t self-care or soul care.
Self-care is necessary and important, but it doesn’t always meet the need of soul care. The burdens of life can overwhelm, making us anxious, frustrated, discouraged or depressed (to name a few). Soul care brings mental, emotional, and spiritual rest, which is different from physical rest.
What Does the Bible Say about Spiritual Rest?
The Bible has a lot to say about rest. In fact, the Bible mentions rest 548 times. One of my favorite passages is Matthew 11:28-30. Offering an invitation to experience soul rest, Jesus, our God with skin on, understands both the physical and the soul need for rest.
Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light. (NASB)
Have you wondered what it means to be yoked with Jesus?
This isn’t the kind of language we use in modern culture. The idea of a yoke may seem unfamiliar and unrelated to your life. Oftentimes we approach this verse as finding relief from our burdens. Jesus invites us to something much deeper than feeling better; he wants to teach us to live better.
To live and to work connected to Jesus is the way of a restored soul. Share on X
Spiritual rest is the rest of faith, the ability to remain connected to Christ as we live and work with Him.
Here’s a little nugget from the “Moments to Rest “chapter in my book, Holy in the Moment.
Jesus offers to help us carry the burdens of life in this vivid illustration. This passage is about more than simply giving Christ the struggles and challenges that weigh heavy on our hearts.
Three Actions of Spiritual Rest
To drill down to the core message of Matthew 11:28-30, we find these three actions:
- Come to Jesus.
- Take His yoke.
- Learn from Jesus.
This way of living is not a quick-fix solution to our troubles. Jesus invites us into a life of companionship where we walk and work with him moment by moment.
We find spiritual rest when we remember his presence and rely on his resources. Staying yoked enables us to be present with Christ. In the moment, we make choices to trust his experience, provision and leadership. Every choice to believe, abide, surrender, and trust creates moments of soul rest from the burdens of strife, worry, comparison, frustration, and so many other mental and emotional challenges.
We all have a variety of responsibilities that we carry in this life. How we carry them makes the difference between thriving in life versus feeling driven and overwhelmed. Staying connected to Christ also relieves us of feeling alone in our burdens.
Learning from Jesus Helps Us Experience Rest
One day I was having my quiet time, listening and meditating on this very same passage. The Lord dropped a question in my mind, “Who’s yoke are you carrying?” In this moment, Jesus taught me something important. This simple question relieved the emotional weariness I felt.
It was an aha moment of clarity. I was weary and discouraged by trying to carry the burden of things that really weren’t mine to carry. I realized I was carrying the burden of outcomes beyond my control.
I needed to trust Jesus because he is able to bear the responsibility of the outcomes. Have you ever found yourself taking responsibility for something that’s not yours to carry? This can be, a particular temptation for wives and moms when the lines between our responsibility and the decisions of others blur.
For example, we teach our children values, but we cannot make them embrace those truths. We can teach them what is right, but they make their own decisions about what they do and what they believe.
The old saying “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink” gets at the futility of carrying the burden of results beyond our control.
Identify the Burdens that Weary Your Soul
That morning I did a soul check: what are the things that aren’t mine to carry that I need to entrust the Lord? This is a great exercise. What burdens do you carry? Are you carrying them with Christ or trying to shoulder them on your own? Are they burdens that really aren’t yours to carry?
Depending on Christ involves trusting him with the work, process, and outcome. It is the choice to trusting him with the moment, even when the moment looks pretty messy. It was amazing how recognizing what I was was doing restored my soul. I sighed with relief as I released my concerns to Christ.
I appreciate the way that Eugene Peterson has expressed Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, get away with me and you’ll recover your life.” Soul rest has to do with recovering life and vitality that only comes through Christ. (In my last blog post you’ll find a downloadable list of verses on the resurrection life we have in Christ).
Peterson expresses some of the nuances of soul rest. Invite the Lord with a simple prayer, “Lord, I rely on you in this moment to give me wisdom and help I need.”
And it’s that quick friends, the shift of our attention to rest in the Lord and to release our burden to the Lord. This is one way of living in the “unforced rhythms of grace.” Soul rest happens as we depend on Jesus to help, teach, and guide–walking and working, together.
Practical Ways to Find Rest for Your Soul
There are many ways to experience spiritual rest. Consider a few that have been most helpful to me:
- Ask God to examine your heart and then confess any sin that he reveals. Keep a short account with God, responding when the Holy Spirit convicts us sin.
- Trust God with the people you care about. Can I get an amen on this one? Many of the things that burden my soul involve worrying about the people I care about. Bearing the weight of how it turns out for someone else creates a lot of stress. I need to trust the Lord with my loved ones because God is faithful and working in their life. How much of our weariness comes down to the fact that we’re not trusting God?
- Discover the freedom of forgiveness. Harboring offenses is one of the heaviest burdens we can carry. Forgiveness turns the situation and the offender over to God to deal with. When we forgive, we actually lighten our own load, taking care of our own soul. In our hurt, we may view forgiveness as letting somebody off the hook, a way of inferring that what they did was okay. Friend, that’s not biblical forgiveness. Biblical forgiveness acknowledges the sin, charges the debt, states what it cost. This process prepares us to pray, “I trust you with this person and situation. I choose to forgive them because you have forgiven me.”
- Pray when you feel weary and burdened. “Lord, what do you want me to know about this burden? Is there something that you want me to see, something you want me to understand about this? Help me to turn this problem over to you. Show me how to pray about this problem.” Sometimes that’s where we need to begin. When we’re not quite sure how to turn something over to the Lord, ask for his help.
- Rest the outcome of your efforts and God’s capable hands and release the stress of performance. Give God the outcome of your effort. He can relieve us of the weight of worry because God didn’t intend for us to face our problems alone.
Trust doesn’t mean that Jesus will give you the perfect answer in the moment or solve your problems in a snap. It does mean that he’s with you in the moment and you’re working together, yoked together. Spiritual rest comes as we depend on Christ. Letting go of the weight of worry, you can trust him with the outcome, even if the outcome isn’t the one that you envisioned. What helps you find rest for your soul?
If you’ve enjoyed this post, please share on Pinterest or your favorite social media platform! Find more ways to experience soul rest with practical resources in my Subscriber Library.
Grab this Checklist for More Habits of Rest
Do you need more rest in your life? Discover the benefit of building small habits to decrease stress and empower you to rest body, soul, and spirit. After all, rest includes so much more than sleep. Don’t miss the free printable Habits of Rest Checklist to help you create rhythms of rest in your life. Make your personalized plan to get the rest you need.
Check Out the Restore My Soul Series
This post is one of a series. Don’t miss the rest of the series for more inspiration to help you experience the wonder of Jesus restoring your soul.
- How Rest and Solitude Restore Your Soul After Stress and Loss
- Why You Should Trust Jesus for the Rest You Need
- 15 Habits of Rest to Improve Your Life
The Good in Good Friday: 17 Powerful Verses on the Resurrection Life of Christ
What in the world was good about Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified on the cross? The message of Good Friday leads us to Easter as we embrace the power of the resurrection of Christ. Don’t miss the free printable list of 17 verses on the resurrection life Jesus gives us in this Easter devotion (no email needed). My Easter gift to you!
The term Good Friday juxtaposes the suffering of our sinless Savior bearing our punishment. What happened on Good Friday is the death of Christ. There is so much that is not good about this day thousands of years ago when the sky turned black and Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” How can such pain be good?
The meaning of Good Friday is found in the truth that Jesus “bowed his knee and his heart to the will of His Father. He changed history and how we understand true love.” These are the words that greeted my first thing this Good Friday as my phone buzzed with this text message from my friend Cynthia Thomas, a prayer partner, friend, and fellow writer.
The salvation Jesus accomplished for us is the deep good in this terrible day long ago. It was profoundly good when the “ground shook, the power of the blood was released, demons trembled, captives were freed, believers were healed, the veil was split in two from the TOP to the bottom and man was reconciled to God…Yes indeed, He changed history and revealed LOVE.” This is the responding text from Mary Richard, another blessed soul in our trio of prayer that moves between the hearts of Jesus-hearted friends.
More good about this day is the truth that Sunday is coming.
That good Easter morning.
In the Easter story in the Bible we read that on that first Easter morning the women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. Hearts heavy with grief, they approached the tomb to find the stone rolled away.
Thoughts and emotions tangled and fought to make sense of the inexplicable. They entered into the tomb to discover His body was gone as two men appeared:
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen.”–Luke 24:4-6a
Words that changed the course of history and announced the reality of the resurrection of Christ, resound in our hearts on Easter. Joy pulses through voices echoing through the ages, “He has risen, He has risen indeed!”
We are saved by His life—this is the meaning of Easter and the grace of God.
The meaning of the word save includes “to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.” Zoe, the Greek word for life is one of my favorite words in Scripture. Zoe is “the of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God” and is also described as “life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed,” and eternal. It is a quality of life that only comes through the pain of Good Friday with the death and resurrection of Jesus.
A practical way of living in the power of Christ’s life.
This Easter, let’s embrace this life we receive from Christ as more than a spiritual concept. Let’s embrace His life as both our holy identity in Christ and a practical way of living. Learning to live whole and healed is the saving life of Christ working in and through us. Through His life, we learn to think, act, feel like we are (our identity in Christ). Each choice to rely on Christ is the blessing and freedom of holiness.
We often worship Christ as our Savior and our Lord, but how often do we rejoice in the truth that He is our life? Here are two quotes from books that have increased my practical understanding of wonder of Christ’s life at work within us:
“Living in grace means that we express His life as a natural and normal part of our daily experience. We live trusting Him to express Himself through us every day.” Grace Walk, p. 174
“Christ lives in you. It is not your striving that releases Christ’s life through you. It is your trusting. Just say, “Lord, Your Holy spirit is showing me this truth. I embrace it by faith, just like I embraced Jesus for me by faith and experienced forgiveness of my sins. I now embrace Jesus in me as my life. Teach me, convince me of this truth by the Holy Spirit, so that I won’t be captive any longer to trying to produce the life myself.” The Rest of Gospel p, 62
Powerful verses about the resurrection life of Christ:
As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Easter, let the following Scriptures create space for worship and reflection on the resurrection life we have in Christ. Embrace the good of this Friday as you prayerfully consider these truths. Thank God for the eternal life that is yours in Christ. Whether you work through the verses all at once or savor one verse each day, I know Jesus will speak life to your heart as you embrace these truths. (Click here for a printable version of these verses. No email needed.)
The words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. John 6:63
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind.-John 1:1-4
Everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.-John 3:15-16
I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. -John 10:10
Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.-John 14:6
In Him we live and move and exist. . .-Acts 18:28
What in the world was good about Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified on the cross? This Easter embrace the power of the resurrection life of Christ. Don't miss the free printable list of verses. Share on X
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.–Romans 6:4
For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.-Romans 6:23
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.–Romans 8:11
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.–2 Corinthians 5:17
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.--Galatians 2:20 Share on X
Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.–Ephesians 4:23-24
In Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings. . . -Colossians 2:10-13
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. . .-1 Peter 1:3
He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.-1 Peter 2:24
By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him.-1 John 4:9
And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.–1 John 5:11-13
Click here for a printable download of these verses.
A deeper relationship with God comes through relying on the life of Christ within us moment by moment. Let’s help each other to practice a life-giving way of life with God. Which of these verses is God speaking to your heart today? Happy Easter, friend!
More Easter Devotions and Posts
Hope Rises: An Easter Poem
Easter Will Not Be Cancelled: The Unstoppable Joy of the Resurrection
4 Worshipful Ways to Remember the Resurrection Every Day
Family Traditions Create Special Moments
Days in Jerusalem: Pictures of the Wailing Wall and the Garden Tomb
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How Holy Choices Can Help When You Feel Anxious and Stressed
Ready to discover how to experience healing and wholeness by relying on Christ in your daily moments? What could happen in your life if you choose to live fully in your holy identity in Christ, trusting God to provide in this moment as it is? Celebrating the book birthday of my award-winning Christian-living book, Holy in the Moment, I’m sharing the personal story of what I learned in my battle with anxiety + giveaway included! (Be sure to enter to win at end of this post).
Holy in the Moment includes my personal journey in finding help and hope for worry, people-pleasing, perfectionism, discouragement, and insecurity. Packed with biblical insights and practical ideas to enjoy a deeper life in Christ, this book has helped thousands of women overcome fear to thrive in the freedom of holiness.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The year we moved to California is the year I thought I was going crazy. This was the year that I learned that faith is both a gift and a decision rather than an emotion.
It was a year of choosing holy in the hard . Since we’ve all had a hard year, I thought I’d share an excerpt from Holy in the Moment. In light of all we’ve faced this year, the simple ideas and soul encouragement in this book can empower us to experience deeper peace, strength, and faith.
Truth is, we all face challenges in this broken world and there are moments when life is hard. Really hard. As we reach the one-year mark of the pandemic that has turned our world upside down and redefined the word “normal” in terms of our daily lives, we’ve all faced many challenges that can take a toll on our emotional health. I’m guessing that you’re like me, longing to ditch your mask and for life to return to normal. Am I right?
Many of us are dealing with some level of grief, whether due to the loss of loved ones, the loss of opportunities and celebrations, the loss of jobs, or simply the loss of normal. For instance, we watched our daughter get married on Zoom due to closed borders with Canada. Though we are thrilled she married an amazing young Canadian, we never imagined not being present for the ceremony! (That’s a story for another day). With uncertainty and the fear-mongering of 24-hour news cycles and the division of national issues, stress and anxiety invade our lives more than we’d like. Can you relate? Right now we can all use some do-able ideas to strengthen our faith and soothe our hearts.
We need the practical power of holiness.
Back to the year I thought I was going crazy. . .
Book Excerpt from Holy in the Moment
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.
It’s during the storms of life that faith solidifies into more than a concept. How do we choose holiness on days when believing God is hard?
Holiness Strengthens Us Trust God in the Moment
I sat in a stark, utilitarian green office, checking on lab results. “No one called you?” asked a frantic nurse. She explained that my thyroid test (several months old) indicated I had Grave’s Disease, a hyperthyroid autoimmune disease. Instantly my mind snapped to high alert as I told the nurse, “I’m moving across the country in three weeks. We’re a military family with three small children. We don’t get to choose when or where we move. I can’t be sick now.”
Maybe I hoped the nurse would say something to take the problem away. Something like, “You’re right, this isn’t a good time for you. Let’s reschedule this problem for another time.” Our thoughts don’t always make sense, do they?
I don’t have time to be sick.
I didn’t matter. We don’t get to schedule challenges at our convenience.
Tested and diagnosed, I was treated with lightning speed. Just take a little pill to slow my thyroid down. Maybe this won’t be too bad, I thought as packers loaded the moving truck. We drove 3,000 miles with three young kids buckled into our over-loaded van. As the miles ticked by, I prayed everything would be okay.
Holiness is Faith is for This Moment
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV). We need now-faith for all of life’s moments—the good and the bad. Hope is not wishing; though we often feel like faith is nebulous as cotton candy, whips of air held together with sugarcoated wishes. Just have enough faith and you can conger up whatever you want, our misconceptions whisper.
Don’t we chide ourselves to try harder?
Faith doesn’t come by trying harder.
I’ve made that mistake many times and it only leads to discouragement. Have you ever been tempted to think you must act better and perform the right spiritual tricks—as if God is only moved to work in a life if the faith is good enough? Yes, me too!
That puts it all on us, doesn’t it?
Assurance grounds faith in reality—that which has actual existence. It is a steady-minded believing with confidence, courage, and firm trust. There’s nothing maybe-ish about faith.
Faith is a gift from God, not some secret power we must manufacture on our own. Faith is inseparably tied to the power and holiness of God. #christianfaith #overcominganxiety Share on X
In the Greek, power is translated dynamis, which is God’s power for creating life, performing miracles and righting the crooked soul. This is power we need for all of our right now-needs. Every single one.
Choosing faith begins with the holiness of God, not on our ability to harness faith and make it go our way. Faith to believe begins and ends in the rightness of God—His way of doing and being right. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
A Simple Choice When We are Anxious and Stressed
Here’s the simple decision of a moment: to believe or not, to trust or not.
We make thousands of choices every day. It only takes a moment to respond with now-faith and discover more of God. Holiness is quietly accomplished as we receive the life of Christ in this now-moment.
God graciously stirs up more faith when we embrace and live out the faith we currently hold in our hearts. Step by step and choice by choice we can walk into greater faith and wholeness. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). In this small three-letter word, but, is the choice of the moment.
We can choose the wholeness of believing God, faith for every moment. Or the buts can become excuses and questions turning our eyes away from God’s power and presence.
I experienced this mentally, physically, and spiritually in a way that tested my faith far beyond the borders of what I thought I could handle. Have you also experienced situations pushing you past your current level of faith?
God gave me strength to hold on in the moment.
In the coming months, I learned to rely on God’s power to choose faith, one moment at a time. With each choice to believe, There wasn’t any other way to get by.
At the end of our cross-country trek, we pulled into military housing in California. We drove slowly down the street, looking for the address of our new home. Tidy, small homes faced the sidewalks where children played. ”Is that our house?” piped little voices from the back of the van. More than ready for the end of a long journey, I felt the fresh excitement of new beginnings . . . until I saw our house.
Dank yellow paint peeled in spots and weeds grew two feet tall in cracks of cement. With a hole in the foundation, and dead, uncut grass, the house had a dilapidated, musty, uncared for look. We’re going to live here? Shouldn’t this place be condemned?
This was the moment the imbalance of my hormonal system tipped to a place called uncontrollable. Plunging down the steep drop of a thyroid-induced roller coaster, blood pulsed and adrenaline flooded my system and it was months before I felt anything close to calm.
It was months before my hands stopped shaking.
Believing God is a Choice Not an Emotion
Fear stormed in with a take-all vengeance, threatening to wash me away in an unrelenting flood of anxiety. Clouds gathered and my hormonal system cracked open with internal thunder. Dread plagued my days as we got settled and I tried to care for three young children in an unfamiliar place.
With my body stuck on constant go, sleep became impossible. I spent the dark hours pacing the house, wearing a thin path in the carpet. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t turn off my racing thoughts or squelch my feelings of fear.
Hang tight to faith no matter what your feelings tell you.
How do you choose to believe, to stand strong in faith while swirling in overwhelming uncertainties: I’m going crazy. Will I ever feel normal again? How do you choose holiness in an iron grip of fear? These are crucial moments to remember that believing God is a decision, not an emotion.
Many nights I was too jittery to sleep but too weak to stand. While the rest of the family slept, I rocked on my knees pleading, “God, help me!” Heart pounding with my pulse out of control, I longed to unzip my skin and climb right out of myself—be anywhere but stuck in this broken body.
I didn’t recognize myself anymore. Who was this frantic, fear-crazed woman taking over my life?
The holy practice of praying God’s Word.
Praying like gasping for breath when the water is over your head, I clung to God’s promises in Isaiah 43 with the blind strength of a drowning woman gripping a lifeline:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you” (Isaiah 43:1b-2).
These words helped me hang on, minute by minute.
Our soul, the inner life of personality, mind, will, and emotions, is a like deep pool filled with what we believe–really believe–not just know or agree with.[i] This is the truth we live.
We need the restoring work of holiness in our thoughts, feelings, and core beliefs.
Our core beliefs are tucked away in the secrecy of our soul. Some of those beliefs are the truths of God. But others are conclusions and misperceptions, based on experiences, thoughts, and emotions impacted by our history. Sometimes truth and false beliefs born of pain and sin lie side by side in the depths of our soul. We have a desperate need for God’s healing and restoring work of holiness, bringing our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in line with God’s truth.
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. . . And are intimately acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:1, 3b).
No one knows us better than God. Dallas Willard explained, “You’re a soul made by God, made for God, and made to need God, which means you were not made to be self-sufficient.[ii]“ He understands our struggles, and part of holiness is His desire to cleanse us inside and out from the bondage of sin and self.
Given a choice, we would prefer to leap from sinner to sanctified in one quick leap, skipping all the mundane moments and difficult times. But day-by-day, God’s works to heal our hurts, restore our vision, lift our emotions, guide our steps, and fill our lives with the indwelling Christ. Jesus is the saver, the Savior, of our souls.
Especially in our toughest experiences, holiness is found in each small-but-significant choice to trust God one more time. #christainmaturity #believinggod Share on X Inhale another breath and move forward with another shaking step. Never discount small, brave acts of faith that spur you to go on rather than give in.
Remember God is with you when you feel anxious.
Six weeks later and twenty pounds lighter, I was severely sleep-deprived and emotionally strung-out with anxiety. Afraid to go out and afraid to stay in, I tried not to give into fear. I failed again and again, face-planting in the muck of difficulty. God’s Spirit strengthened me over and over, reminding me of the Isaiah passage I had memorized: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
I was afraid of being afraid.
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
I was afraid of nothing specific.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched . . .
I was afraid of everything.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Savior. Holy One.
The Lord is my God; He is with me and He is with you.
Choosing holiness on the hard days comes down to believing God is our savior who walks with us in all things.
Stop allowing emotions to dictate and define your faith.
This is true not because it feels true. Fear was the only thing I could feel at this time. Maybe God removed any emotional, warm-fuzzy feeling of His presence to teach me to stand on the truth rather than feelings.
To believe God’s words were true, I had to stop letting my emotions dictate and define faith.
How about you? Have you struggled to settle emotions and trust God in all the challenges of this past year? Discover what happened when things got worse before they got better in the rest of the chapter. No need to enter your email, just click and read. Check out the book page on this site for more information and free book resources like printable quotes and a discussion/journal guide. All free with my gratitude for reading and sharing Holy in the Moment.
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You’re invited to join our Holy in the Moment Community, an interactive reader group of women seeking to make the holy choice of relying on Christ in all their moments. Together, we are practicing life-giving choices to thrive in our identity in Christ, one choice at a time!
We’re starting a new discussion so this is the perfect time to jump in! Get started with the free chapter and order a copy of the book here.
Your Holy Moment Tracker
Practical reminders to rely on Christ in the moment. Track your choices to build holy habits to help deepen your life with God, others, and yourself. God is working through our daily choices. This handy tracker will help you develop spiritual attention and holy habits. You’ll also get a blank tracker to personalize for the holy habits God is working into your life. Click here to download your tracker.
[ii] Dallas Willard, quoted in John Ortberg, Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You (Grand Rapids: Zondernan 2014) 39.
Strategies and Scriptures to Combat Negative Thinking: With Free E-book
Toxic thoughts are corrosive to our spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational well-being. Learn to identify negative thinking patterns and develop mental and spiritual strategies to overcome negative thinking. Change negative thinking with biblical wisdom and help for breaking the pattern of negative thinking. I hope you enjoy this expanded update to the most visited post on my website.
Are you ready to stop letting your thoughts boss you around?
With nearly every conversation we ask, “How are you?” I answer, “Fine. I am doing well.”
And I am.
And yet at the same time, beneath the fine, I often hold a silent conversation with myself. Negative thoughts invade the peace of my days, breaking in just when I think I’ve put them to rest.
Strategies to Combat Negative Thinking
Negative thoughts take on a life of their own if we permit the old accusations and toxic patterns to have their say. It can be helpful to understand common types of negative thinking. I wrote about that in this post on how to identify and overcome negative thinking. Self-criticism that comes with personalizing and minimizing are a few of the patterns I’m working on. Kindness to others comes easier than kindness to myself. Do you say things to yourself you would never say to someone else? In fact, healthy and holy choices with our thoughts and emotions is my most popular and impactful speaking topic because we need encouragement and strategies to combat negative thinking.
When we develop the mental and spiritual strategies to overcome negative thinking, we shed ourselves of dead-weight internal words that drag us down and distort our perceptions.
When it is quiet, and its just you and your thoughts, what is your heart saying? Consider the following strategies that have brought a deeper level of wellness and freedom in my thinking.
- Embrace your ability to choose the thoughts you dwell on.
Awareness is the first step to making better choices with our thoughts, words, and actions.
Think about what you're thinking about. When negative thoughts bombard your mind, choose to reject toxic thinking. #overcomenegativethinking Share on X
In Holy in the Moment, I shared a helpful illustration that helps me to break the cycle of negative thought patterns.
Your mind is a door to your soul, and you are the doorkeeper. Though there are many things in this life you can’t control, God has gifted you with the ability to open and shut the door to your mind, to choose what you will think about.
You can choose thoughts you will receive and the ones you will reject. I’m not saying you can keep a thought from knocking at the door—but you can choose whether or not you will agree or dwell on the thought. The more attention and confidence we place we place in a thought, the stronger it grows. Isn’t it time to learn to shut the door to unwanted thoughts? -Holy in the Moment
A powerful way to break the cycle of negative thoughts is to recognize that our emotions are responses that indicate what we believe to be true in the moment. Reframing our inner conversation to acknowledge our feelings but focus on truth changes the neural pathway of the thought.
Awareness of the types of negative thinking empowers us to make a different choice when these kinds of thoughts that demand our attention by pounding on the door of our minds.
2. Pray for God’s help for breaking ingrained thought patterns.
Prayer is a powerful practice for overcoming our tendency to dwell on the negative. Many negative thought patterns run under the radar of our awareness and are often habitual patterns that can be hard to harness. God is the one who does the heavy lifting in transforming our thoughts. A simple strategy is to ask Christ to empower you to recognize negative thoughts and to make a better choice. In the moment, rely on Christ to help you to choose to break the cycle of toxic thinking:
- Faith in the place of doubt.
- Rely on the Spirit rather than default to old patterns of the flesh.
- Good instead of evil.
- Love rather than animosity.
- Trust instead of anxiety.
- Forgiveness rather than bitterness and resentment.
- Right instead of wrong.
- Purity over immorality.
3. Bring your thoughts under the control of the Holy Spirit.
In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we find a powerful and practical strategy for making holy choices with our thoughts: “We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP, emphasis added).
To capture our thoughts is to recognize and notice them, and it is also refusing to let toxic thoughts run wild, build walls, define identities, or drive decisions. Capturing is surrendering thoughts to Christ rather than letting them fester or entrench themselves in our minds.
We bring Christ into the negative when we entrust our thoughts to Him. Dr. Caroline Leaf explains that when we do this, something amazing happens both spiritually and physically. Harnessing negative thought, changing it through awareness, repentance, and forgiveness, and replacing it with truth helps rewire healthy new circuits in our brains, part of God’s transforming work in our minds. (Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health, p. 71, affiliate link).
4. Renew your mind by meditating on God’s Word.
On a quiet morning I prayed about my negative thoughts. God drew my attention to these words in Psalm 104:33-34. As I wrote them in my journal the Holy Spirit shared new insights with me. If you want to change your negative thinking patterns, praise and meditation are powerful ways God can transform our minds and renew our thoughts. Here is a sample of what I learned as I listened to God as I reflected on His Word.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live
- Praising God is a life style.
- It’s a choice for every day.
- Praising God makes our heart sing (rather than strive within us).
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
- Music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, creativity, and memory.
- A worshipful mind becomes part of who we are and how we live.
Let my meditation be pleasing to Him;
- Meditation in this case refers to our thoughts.
- This is a prayer, a goal, and an intention: to have thoughts that are pleasing to God.
- There is a partnership between our intention/action and God’s provision.
As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord.
- This is a commitment and a decision to make.
- I shall indicates both choosing and believing; it relates to both process and outcome.
- Gladness is the both an intention and the by-product of focusing on God rather than our complaints or troubles.
- When gladness is my state of being, I will not be held captive by negative self-talk.
5. Memorize key verses to replace negative thoughts with God’s truth.
One of the weapons of spiritual warfare is the sword of the Spirit. The Word of God is living, active, and powerful for fighting the battlefield in our minds. Try memorizing a few of the scriptures below to break the pattern of negative thinking in your life.
I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.–Psalm. 119:11 NLT
Win the Battle in Your Mind
Friends, negative thinking is not going to go away on its own. Those toxic thoughts will not straighten up and decide to play nice. Let unattended, our thoughts run rampant with complaints, fears, criticisms, envy, bitterness… Take your pick–there’s plenty to choose from.
Rely on Christ as you practice these strategies to stop negative thinking. Just a warning: this is NOT a one-time thing. Fight the battle as many times as it takes. Remember that you have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to help you. When negative thoughts bombard your mind, entrust the Holy Spirit to do what you cannot do on your own.
Only when we let go of our toxic thinking will we have empty hands and ready hearts to receive God’s blessings. This is an intentional choice we make to obey God and honor others, as well as ourselves. Free from our toxic thinking, we can thrive in the confidence we are loved, valued, and filled in Christ.
5 Powerful Scriptures to Combat Negative Thinking
Win the battle for your mind with these powerful verses. Speak, write, pray, sing, or memorize God’s word to replace toxic thoughts.
Let God’s truth change the way you think.
1. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ… 2 Corinthians 10:5
3. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
4. The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
5. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Going Deeper Begins With Our Thoughts
Are you ready to stop allowing your thoughts to boss you around? Yes, me too! Together, let’s stop allowing toxic thoughts to sabotage our spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational well-being. Go deeper than the surface of your thoughts to identify negative thinking patterns as you practice these mental and spiritual strategies to combat negative thinking. Apply biblical wisdom as you trust Christ to break the pattern of negative thinking.
Friend, a deeper life starts now as we combat negative thinking. What helps you to break free from negative thoughts?
If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links in the footer below.
I’m asking God to help you overcome negative thinking today!
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Looking for more verses to add to your arsenal in the battle for your thoughts?
Get this practical, free e-book Overcome Negative Thinking for a Deeper Life: 50 Scriptures to Combat Negative Thinking in my Subscriber Library. If you’re already a subscriber, head to our free gift page and download your copy. Use this little book of encouragement, scriptures and images to encourage your heart and empower you to win the battle in your mind! (Updated contents!) Sign up here to get my emails and access to the library.
If this post resonates with you, please check out my book, Holy in the Moment Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life, particularly the chapters on thoughts and emotions. *This is an affiliate link at no cost to you.
Don’t miss these related posts:
- Why Positive Thinking is Good for a Healthy Body, Soul, and Spirit
- How to Identify and Overcome Negative Thinking
- Why You Should Stop Discounting Your Anxiety
- Are Your Feelings Defining Your Faith
- 10 Free Resources for an Emotionally Health You
- 20 Toxic Ways of Thinking That Will Poison Your Life
- 3 Reasons Why You Should Let Go of Negative Thinking
Top Blog Posts to Deepen Your Life with God, Others, and Yourself
Do you want to live fully in Christ with a deeper life of faith and freedom? Words to encourage your heart, strengthen your soul, and deepen your faith. It is an honor to share this journey with you. If you are new here, this is a great place to start with an overview of my website with lot’s of linked topics. If you’ve been a friend on the journey, enjoy this curated collection of the best of the blog for a deeper life.
A Deeper Life
Living out what we believe, trusting God in all our moments brings a holy joy to our lives. In Christ, the power of Holy Spirit is present every day. Every. Single. One.
Let the spiritual meet the practical in your life, as you cultivate a deeper life with God, others, and yourself. Holiness, our deep identity in Christ, thrives as we choose to love God, embrace truth, and enjoy life.
Holy and whole moments are for giving love—heart, soul, mind, and strength—to God, to others, and to ourselves. We’ll practice choosing the one thing, the best thing, God asks of us. This is His way for the whole and the holy. The secret of living whole in this life is discovering the joy and freedom of God’s grace filling all our days.
Blog Topics for Healthy and Holy Living:
- Emotional Health
- Identity and Freedom in Christ
- Replace Lies We Believe With Truth
- Freedom From the Things Holding Us Back (Flesh)
- Self-worth and Work
- Overcoming Anxiety
- Dealing with Our Thoughts
A deeper life with God is the fruit of loving Him and loving others with a whole heart. Love is the foundation opening our lives to the fresh flow of the Holy Spirit. How will life be different as we choose to love God with everything we’ve got?
Blog topics for deeper life with God:
- Relationship with God
- Spiritual Simplicity
- Holiness and Whole-Living
- Discipleship of the heart
- Prayer and Worship
- Loving Others
- Ministry
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”—John 8:32
Discover how to learn and apply Biblical wisdom in a way that helps you live out what you believe. Embrace the truth of who you are in Christ and find freedom from struggles that hold you back. The power of Truth transforms our lives thought by thought, word by word, and choice by choice. Holiness and wholeness come one choice at a time.
Blog Topics for Embracing Truth:
- Spiritual Focus in a Busy Life
- Quiet Time
- Listening to God
- Biblical Insights and Devotions
- Tips and Tools for Embracing God’s Word
- Spiritual Disciplines
Discover freedom to live fully in Christ. Rest in the vibrant life of Christ setting us free to enjoy each day. A deeper life creates joy. Enjoying real life in Christ is experienced through choices we make moment by moment. Joy and her sister happiness are a non-negotiable part of relishing life. It’s important to understand joy is not the absence of pain in circumstances, but rather the presence of God in the midst of them.
[tweetthis]Come see what’s new at GingerHarrington.com. We’ve got a new look![/tweetthis]
Blog topics for enjoying life:
Yes, we ‘ll still do fun and goofy posts of humor (cause Quirky-Girl has to get out every now and then), but we’re also writing about…
Together, let’s ask God to release His Spirit on a deeper level in our lives.
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38
Maybe you’re feeling stuck and stale in some way. Life has challenges and hard moments that weary the soul. Our innermost being is the part of us that really matters. The deep, tender, beautiful place of soul and spirit where we are most truly ourselves in union with Christ. In today’s chaotic and hectic culture, it takes intention and effort to mature in faith and attend to the deep places of the heart.
Have I got this down? Nope. This blog is about what God is doing, and I’m on the same journey as you.
We all need God’s fresh presence flowing in us and through us every time we show up.
- Every morning we put our feet on the floor.
- Every day we love families and encourage friends.
- Every time we face hard days.
- Every moment we rely on the power of Christ rather than ourselves.
- Every thought we speak and every decision we make.
God gives us a fresh start each day to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Every moment offers a new opportunity to choose God’s best. Let’s live fully in our identity in Christ with deeper faith and freedom so we can thrive in the beautiful purpose God has for our lives. Ready to journey together to a deeper life in Christ?
Enter to win these books to deepen your faith.
We’re celebrating! Enter our book bundle giveaway for a chance to win this collection of books for a deeper life. I’m sharing a few of my favorite books God has used to bring deeper hope, healing, and wholeness in Christ.
Holy in the Moment includes my personal journey in finding help and hope for anxiety, people-pleasing, perfectionism, discouragement, and insecurity as well as biblical insights and simple ideas to enjoy a deeper life with freedom in Christ.
The Rest of the Gospel is a book that brought deeper understanding of my identity in Christ and how to live the Christian life in dependence on Christ. God brought me a lot of soul healing through the truths in this book.
Life With God is one of my favorite books on reading God’s Word, listening to God, and living in a deeper awareness of God.
Sacred Rhythms is another favorite. I love everything I’ve read from Ruth Haley Barton. In this book, I appreciate the way she approaches spiritual disciplines as ways of connecting more deeply with God in the process of spiritual transformation.
These are a couple of books that have been part of my process of a deeper life. What book has impacted you in your spiritual journey? Enter the Rafflecopter to win this book bundle. There are lot’s of ways to enter!
This post contains affiliate links.which means I’m paid a small commission at no cost to you if you click through to purchase. Thank you for supporting my writing ministry.
Simple Ways to a Deeper Life with God, Others, and Yourself
God invites us to experience a deeper relationship right where the spiritual meets the practical in our busy lives.
Pursue a deeper contentment, joy, and confidence in everyday life with God. Learn to live fully in your identity in Christ with deeper faith and freedom so you can thrive in the beautiful purpose God has for your life. Isn’t that what we all want?
Hello friend! What better way to start the year than with a fresh new look and updated website! Be sure to look around and explore all the new things on this site! You’ll find resources, blog posts, videos, podcasts, recommendations, and lots or free content. I’m super grateful for the amazing help of Susan Stillwell at Fistbump Media! Didn’t she do a wonderful job?
Don’t miss the celebration book bundle giveaway at the end of this post!
Are you longing to thrive in a deeper life of hope, health, and wholeness in Christ?
Tired of feeling stuck in patterns, thoughts, and emotions that drain life from your soul?
Looking for practical ways to deepen your life with God, others, and yourself?
Friend, I’ve been there. Living a with-God life happens moment by moment. Your friend for the journey, I hope you’ll join me in pursuing deeper contentment, joy, and confidence in everyday life with God.
Discover holy and whole living for the worriers and the strugglers, the go-getters and the perfectionists. What sets my soul on fire is helping women to embrace the truth that sets us free to thrive in our identity in Christ.
I’ve had my battles with worry, perfectionism, insecurity, and discouragement, but I’m learning the daily grace of relying on Christ moment by moment. I wrote a lot about this in my first book, Holy in the Moment. This may sound like a lot of spiritual mumbo-jumbo, but the truth is . . . it makes a real difference
Our innermost being is the part of us that really matters. The deep, tender, beautiful place of soul and spirit where we are most truly ourselves in union with Christ. In today’s chaotic and hectic culture, it takes intention and effort to mature in faith and attend to the deep places of the heart. We live in a world that is consumed with appearances but neglects the real condition of the heart. This isn’t God’s way.
“God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”—1 Samuel 16:7
God not only knows what’s going on in our hearts, but He also cares about our hearts. The deep work of God heals our hurts, restores our vision, lifts our emotions, guides our steps, and fills our lives with the indwelling Christ.
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. . . And are intimately acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:1, 3b). No one knows us better than God. Dallas Willard explained, “You’re a soul made by God, made for God, and made to need God, which means you were not made to be self-sufficient.[i]“ We can trust God with our spiritual growth, because He is in the process of putting us together, holy and whole—spirit, soul, and body.
I help busy women—gals like you— experience hope, healing, and wholeness in Christ so they can thrive. I’m passionate about teaching women to live fully in their identity in Christ with deeper faith and freedom so they can thrive in the beautiful purpose God has for their lives. Isn’t that what we all want?
Stick around and let’s pursue a deeper life in Christ and enjoy what matters most. I write and speak about biblical truth, healthy thoughts and emotions, listening to God, overcoming anxiety, spiritual practices, and trusting Christ to do the deep work of heart change.
Live holy and whole as we journey with Christ to deeper. . .
intimacy with God
understanding of God’s Word
relationships with others
understanding of ourselves
freedom from the fears that hold us back
Consider a few simple ways to a deeper life with God, others, and ourselves. Download the printable version of this list to keep as simple reminders for living from the inside out. Add to it with the truths God speaks to you as you meditate on His Word in the days to come. Click on the image to download.
Together, we’ll discover whole moments are for giving love—heart, soul, mind, and strength—to God, to others, and to ourselves. We’ll practice choosing the one thing, the best thing, God asks of us.
Are you ready to thrive?
A deeper life starts now.
Free resources for a deeper relationship with God.
In my Subscriber Library you’ll find a variety of ebooks, workbooks, journals, printable graphics to deepen your relationship with God. Sign up to gain access to these resources for spiritual growth!
Celebrating with a fun giveaway!
I’m celebrating this new site by giving away a book bundle of a few of my favorite books for a deeper life in Christ! Enter to win in the Rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
[i] Dallas Willard, quoted in John Ortberg, Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You (Grand Rapids: Zondernan 2014) 39.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Devotional Book
Do you use a devotional book as part of your regular time with God? Discover 4 practical spiritual growth tips for getting the most out of your devotional book from guest author, Kathy Howard. Be sure to enter to win a copy of her new book at...
Ignite Your Faith with Simple Truths for Listening to God
Simple truths about listening to God from Isaiah 50:4-5 can ignite your faith. Hearing God strengthens our souls and deepens our relationship with God. Benefit from developing the holy habit of discerning God’s voice. Don’t miss the...
Focus on Jesus with the Christmas Worship Challenge
Embrace the holy in your holiday.
Let’s practice the holy habit of worship, cherishing the presence of Christ, our Immanuel for a more meaningful Christmas. How could this Christmas be special when we put worship at the top of our Christmas to-do list? Choose to put the best first and rediscover the gift of simplicity by taking The Christmas Worship Challenge. One devotion featuring a simple worship challenge for each day of December. Are you in?
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
–Matthew 6:33
Consider this verse in light of the Christmas season. The spiritual principal here is profoundly practical. In a few words, Jesus teaches us how to keep our priorities in order.
We worship when we seek Him first…
Can it be that choosing to worship first, that we will be better equipped spiritually and practically to enjoy all the wonder of a more meaningful Christmas? In truly worshipping Christ, we will find strength to trust God in uncertainty and hope for the future, building a transforming habit of hope to carry through the new year. May our hearts heal as we choose worship over worry this Christmas.
So here’s the Christmas Worship Challenge…
I invite you to join me as we seek to increase our heart for worship throughout December. As we begin this special month, let’s ask God to open our hearts with an intention to worship and treasure the true wonder of Christmas.
This Christmas Worship Challenge series draws our attention to Christ. I will share Scripture, practical suggestions, and insights to enhance worship. I will often link to music videos of Christmas songs for an easy and inspiring way to worship.
You may be thinking, “Nice thought, but I don’t have time.” My goal is to keep this short, giving a few thoughts to chew on. The challenge is to work on developing a mindset to worship, to enjoy God’s presence throughout each day this December.
Let’s do this together and experience the joy that comes from worshipping Christ. This challenge will not be complete without participation. Let’s encourage one another and share insights, experiences, and blessings that come with being intentional in worship this month.
Take the Christmas Worship Challenge
Are you ready to rejoice? Ready, set, worship! Sign up to get the following short devotions, quick worship challenge, and inspirational song for each day this December.
Worship Like a Wise Man
The Glory of Christ
Both Child and Mighty God
Four Ways to Love God
God With Us
Two Ways to Exalt Christ This Christmas
A God who Speaks
Let Beauty Spark Your Worship Today
Make it Beautiful
Give God Glory: Put on You’re Dancing Shoes
A Lesson From the Christmas Shepherds
Make it Known: Another Lesson from the Shepherds
Treasuring and Pondering: Meditation of the Heart
Fullness of Grace: The Divine Multiplier
How to Find Joy
Worship by Giving the Gift of Prayer
Believing God: The Rest of Peace
Break Out of Your Worship Rut
Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child
The Worship of Gratitude
Celebrate Christmas: Give God the Gift of Yourself
Why You Should Sing in the New Year with a New Song
We Don’t Worship Alone
10 Practical Tips to Deepen Your Worship Now (Summary of Worship Tips from the Challenge)
10 More Tips to Deepen Your Worship Now
Worship You Don’t Want to Miss
More Free Content for a More Meaningful Christmas
Read the story of a Christmas miracle I experienced in the first chapter of my award-winning book, Holy in the Moment. (affiliate link) You’ll read a poignant story from one challenging Christmas in my life at the end of the first chapter. What can happen when a cross-country move, a challenging medical diagnosis, and a family emergency push you to your limit at Chrismas? Read the story of what happened here. 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 an affiliate link at no cost to you.
