Listen to Jesus: 4 Truths Every Believer Needs to Hear
During this Lenten season we’ve been leaning in close to listen to Jesus.Experience deeper faith when you realize that Jesus is speaking through His Word. As you prepare for Easter, join us in these holy moments for truths every believer needs to hear.
I’ve been posting daily short devotions on Facebook and Instagram to open our hearts to what the Spirit has to say as we meditate on a daily verse. It is my prayer that this regular practice during Lent becomes a holy habit we continue through out the year.
For this post, I’ve selected four of the most popular posts in my social media series 40 Days of Holy Moments for Lent. You can find a printable version of the text and graphics of the first week of the series in last week’s blog. Print the devotions to use as your Quiet Time to help you listen to God.
As I looked through the devotions that garnered the most response, I realized these are truths that every believer needs to hear again and again. I selected four that work together well and resonated with readers. There are many truths that deepen our faith, but these four are important to understand at the heart level for sure!
Cultivating a regular practice of meditating on His word is the most effective way to recognize the often subtle ways Jesus gives understanding and revelation. As you read the truths below, try one of the simple ways to meditate from this post or follow the prompt at the end of each reflection.
Read and reflect on the entire post, or focus on one truth a day.
Pay attention to the thoughts that come to mind about the passage. What words or phrases stand out to you? Is there a fresh thought or an encouraging insight about the truth? You are hearing from Jesus! You will find it helpful to write down what comes to mind as you pray the listening prompt.
Follow me on Facebook or Instagram for the entire series with all the graphics. Spend some holy moments with Jesus as you listen to what He has to say about these beautiful truths that will lift your spirit.
1. You Don’t Have to Bear Your Burdens Alone
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,The God who is our salvation. God is to us a God of deliverances” (Psalm 68:19-20a).
On our worst days, the ones that feel too heavy to carry, hold fast to this truth about God. These are the moments when choosing holy in the hard includes entrusting our burdens to Jesus who daily is with us, bearing our burdens.
Daily.
Every single day.
[tweetthis]There hasn’t been and never will be a day when Jesus is not our burden-carrying Savior.[/tweetthis]
During Lent we set out attention on the burden Jesus has borne for us on the cross. He Himself, with His completely sinless life, carried the weight of our sin, our wrong actions, and offenses against a holy God.
Salvation and deliverance come to us through what Jesus suffered on our behalf, the punishment that he endured in our place.
“However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, And our pains that He carried; Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted, Struck down by God, and humiliated. But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5 NASB).
There is something deeply personal about the phrase “He Himself.” How easy it is to distance ourselves from the intensity of what Jesus suffered on our behalf. For us. Instead of us.
In the quiet of this holy moment, worship Jesus with a grateful heart.
Those sinful words you wish you could take back. . . He’s already paid for them.
The diagnosis that breaks your heart. . . He’s already carried the weight of it.
The worst thing you’ve ever done. . . He’s already been punished for it.
And He still bears our burdens and still delivers. Every single day.
What is Jesus saying to you as you reflect on these passages?
2. You Are Holy and Whole in Christ
“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it” (1 Thess. 5:23-24 MSG).
This side of heaven we yearn for the wholeness of a fully integrated self—body, soul, and spirit. We interact with our world through our physical body and our five senses. We relate to others and ourselves through our soul, which includes our mind, will, and emotions.
Longing for healing, our lives are fragmented with the pathologies sin. But the good. news is that in Christ we are holy and whole.
A dwelling place for God, our spirit is created to live in communion with God. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, our spirit receives the life of God. Sin’s penalty has been paid and our sins have been forgiven.
The process of growing into our full identity in Christ is the beautiful work of God making us holy and whole. The word holy includes the ideas of wholeness, health, happiness, wellness, as well as the concept of being sacred and set apart for God.
God is transforming our mind, will, and emotions, the ways that we think and choose, as well as what we believe about God, ourselves, and others.
Over time, God brings healing and wholeness to every area of our lives so that we begin to live like who we are in Christ. Our lives change because we are holy, not to become holy.
The theological word for this process is sanctification, which you will find in some translations of this verse.
You may not feel holy at this moment, but you are completely holy in Christ.
What is spiritually true of you is the truest thing about you! Share on X
On the days when you feel like you’ll never measure up to the person God created you to be, remember He is the one who makes you holy. You can trust Him to keep His word.
Breathe a sigh of relief as you let go of the stress of trying to make yourself holy and whole.
Ask Jesus to bring your spirit, soul, and body into harmony with His sanctifying work in you today. As you reflect on this promise, what stands out to you as a fresh or empowering insight?
3. Holiness is Your New Normal
“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 NASB).
The word “righteous” is loaded with complex layers of spiritual confusion. Seriously, we have such an issue with religious words!
The shift from holiness to self-righteousness comes quickly when we define our relationship with God based on our effort. My internal radar of insecurity is always checking…am I OK with God? Am I doing what I should be doing?
For so long I defined my relationship with God based on feelings. The temptation to try be right, do better, draw closer, so that I feel all right with God is subtle.
This kind of thinking views righteousness by behavior, but holiness is a matter of identity.
Our thoughts and feelings can never accurately define or measure our righteousness. Share on X
Our souls are leaking cisterns we continually try to fill up with things that make us feel OK. This is the insecurity of finding our value in our performance rather than our identity.
Now that you are in Christ you are spiritually alive, an extraordinary new person who is right with God. You don’t earn your righteousness with good behavior.
Holiness is your new normal, your new nature, your natural state of being.
Holiness is God’s gift to bring you back where you belong, safe and secure in His family—holy and whole in Christ. Sanctification is the daily process of discovering the reality of our righteousness in Christ.
What is Jesus saying about the rightness of your true self? How does truth change your thinking today?
4. God Will Finish What He Started in You
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
Confidence is often a bumpy ride on uneven ground.
Paul was confident of God’s maturing work in the Philippines. I struggle with confidence, inspecting, and evaluating myself. Calculating the distance between where I am today and where I think I should be, my assurance wavers.
When the source of my confidence is myself and my performance, it’s easy to trip over the rocks in road.
Paul was completely confident because he understood God’s faithfulness and purpose to make us holy and whole. True confidence comes as we listen and respond to God’s voice in our lives. Trust in God takes the pressure off ourselves to obey, mature, grow, and serve from our limited resources of self.
Believing God will complete his sacred work in our hearts frees us to respond and follow him fully.
Here is the truth to listen to today: God is doing a good work in you and he will not stop until you are complete in Christ. On the days you forget, default to opinions, or fall short of his best, you can rest in the belief that he is still doing a good work in you.
When you struggle with confidence, whose voice do you hear? What is Jesus saying about the good work he is doing in you?
Which of these truths did you most need to hear today? Leave a comment and let me know.
Follow me on Facebook or Instagram for the entire series with all the graphics.
More Holy Moments to Deepen Your Faith
Give the gift of holy this Easter. Discover the practical power of intentional choices to trust God in the moment. This is your moment to deepen your faith and freedom in Christ. Learn more. This is an Amazon affiliate link at no cost to you
More Posts to Help You Listen to God
When You Long for God to Speak to You
Simple Ways to Meditate on God’s Word
8 Powerful Ways to Connect with God When He Is Silent
Ignite Your Faith with Simple Truths for Listening to God
Do You Struggle with Listening to God?
Moments to Pray, Listen, and Think Bring Us Closer to God
15 Simple Ways to Overcome Distraction to Focus Your Attention on God (with printable)
10 Benefits of Reviewing What We Learn from God
Simple Ways Silence Can Deepen Your Faith
Discover Six Important Truths About Listening to Go
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Six Short Devotions to Help You Listen to Jesus
The Bible tells us that in these days, God speaks through his son (Hebrews 1:2). Listening to Jesus takes time, faith, and practice as we cultivate a listening life. As we prepare our hearts for Easter during this Lenten season, be intentional about making time to hear God’s voice. Ponder a short insight to help you listen to Jesus and open holy moments throughout your day. You will find tips ways to use the printable version of the devotions and the graphics at the end of the post.
The night before Lent began, my husband caught me by surprise when he made this statement: “I’ve decided to give up a few things for Lent this year. Sugar, gluten, caffeine and all processed foods.”
Umm…what happened to giving up one item for Lent?! Isn’t this a little overkill?
This isn’t the kind of Lenten observance you spring on a girl at bedtime the night before. It takes mental preparation and a serious trip to the grocery store to turn your diet upside down for 40 days. I’m thinking two things:
- I don’t want to be around when you go cold turkey on all this.
- I don’t want to join you on this zealous approach to giving up things for Lent.
Is that bad? I did keep my thoughts to myself.
Two weeks later, he is realizing that he was overly ambitious. Enough said.
Holy Moments for Listening to Jesus
There are many ways to prepare your heart for Easter. Like my husband, many deny themselves a pleasure to help focus on Christ during Lent. Others commit to spiritual practices that draw our hearts closer to Jesus. However you observe Lent, you can find daily mini-devotions on my Facebook Page and my Instagram. (If you join me in these places, please leave a comment and share posts).
Some of the reflections are adapted from Holy in the Moment, but many are meditations are from my journal. I’ll be sharing some of these short reflections each week on my website as well. Don’t miss the downloadable PDF with the six day devotional including graphics to print and share.
Create space in your day for holy moments to listen to Jesus as you ponder these simple meditations on God’s Word. Use these short meditations as part of your quiet time or as a way to connect with God in a short break in your day. If you aren’t sure how to listen to Jesus or meditate on God’s Word you will find these posts helpful.
- When You Long for God to Speak to You
- Simple Ways to Meditate on God’s Word
- Discover Six Important Truths About Listening to God
- 7 Helpful Ways to Listen to God
Day One: Holy Moments for a Living Sacrifice
Today is your day to choose holiness. During this Lenten season, let’s walk together, as we commit to offer our hearts to Jesus on a deeper level. Discover the wonder of holy and whole moments through short insights to help you live a listening life with Jesus.
Ask Jesus to open your heart to this truth about holiness:
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1).
Isn’t it a relief to recognize we don’t have to make ourselves faultless and acceptable to God? Rather than requiring our perfection, God simply asks us to offer ourselves, to place our lives in His hands.
We offer our time, effort, gifts, skills, and obedience, but we trust God for the results. Depending on God to work through our efforts brings God into our present awareness. On our part, holiness also begins with a choice—the choice to offer our everyday moments to God.
Don’t let the phrase “holy sacrifice” intimidate you. We don’t make ourselves holy and acceptable. Jesus has done the work that makes us holy and whole. Shift your perspective from the pressure of doing to the simplicity of offering.
As you reflect on the truth that your holy life is acceptable to God, what is Jesus saying to your heart?
*adapted from Holy in the Moment,
Day Two: Holy Moments to Come as You Are
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG).
I’ve read this passage more times than I can count. It never gets old, never feels stale. I think that’s because I never outgrow my need for help carrying my burdens. As you come to Jesus, release the sense of overwhelm that creeps in when life’s challenges outpace stamina.
What could happen if you pull back the throttle that keeps you running on continual over-drive, offering Jesus your heart and your trust one day at a time? This is the choice that makes all the difference.
Come as you are in this moment right now. As you hear Him whisper, “Come to me” consider how you can keep company with Jesus today. Let Jesus show you how to live in rest and rest in life.
What is Jesus saying to you about living in His unforced rhythms of grace?
Day Three: Holy Moments on Hard Days
This reflection features the most popular quote from my book, Holy in the Moment. I share this because Jesus strengthened me of this truth during the darkest moments of my sister’s battle with ALS.
“Not every moment is good but God is good in every moment.” —Holy in the Moment.
We don’t always feel holy in our hard moments when God’s goodness seems elusive.
“For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting and His faithfulness is to all generations” (Psalm 86:4-6). What does it look like to trust in God’s goodness in your life today?
It’s on our hard days that we need to practice the holy habit of remembering that God is good. Always good. Forever good.
Not every situation is good. Some situations are downright awful, the kind that threaten to unravel you to the core. I’ve had more than a few of these moments this past year. Maybe you have too.
I’m not talking about glossing over the gut-wrenching problems of life with shallow and trite religious clichés. Even when life’s tragedies cut across the grain of our hopes and dreams, God’s goodness prevails.
I can trust His heart even when I don’t understand why certain things happen. And when emotions rant and faith flounders, I can trust his faithfulness. The good news is that you can too.
Offer Jesus your honest feelings about a situation in your life that isn’t good. What is Jesus saying to you about the reality of God’s goodness in this very moment as it is?
Day Four: Holy Moments to Be Blessed
On days when consecration feels more like a cold code of conduct or a test to pass, consider the profound love expressed in these words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:3-4).
“One of our spiritual blessings, holiness doesn’t depend on our ability to be perfect, although we often try. Holiness begins with a choice, a choice God made when He chose you.”—Holy in the Moment
In this world of comparison and competition, it’s easy to strive for what we already have in Christ: significance, love, acceptance, security, worth, and value. These are few of our precious spiritual benefits as well as our deepest, God-given needs.
Will you stop and savor the truth that God has chosen you? He loves you. He accepts you, not on the basis of your best days, but on the fact that you belong to Him. Tell yourself this truth: there is nothing you have to do to earn God’s approval when you are in Christ. He sees you as holy and blameless, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.
On the days when this feels too good to be true, refuse to bow under the burden of perceived “not enough-ness.” Let your spiritual blessings lighten your load and strengthen your step. Don’t let the big or small issues of life rob you of precious gifts God has given you.
What is Jesus saying to you about the reality of your spiritual blessings today?
Day Five: Holy Moments to Pour Out Your Heart in Prayer
Prayer is a reverent offering, especially on our worst days and deepest heartbreaks. To offer up our prayer includes the meaning of presenting a gift or bringing with purpose. Pray with confidence in Christ, intentionally bringing your concerns to Him.
This act of offering is the same idea in which friends brought beggars and lame men to Jesus, people desperate for his healing touch. They brought the need to the source of help—a visible picture of prayer.
Pray passionately.
Pray hard.
Pray anywhere and everywhere.
Jesus prayed on hillsides, in lonely places, in the temple, and in the wilderness of temptation. He prayed in the early stillness of morning, and He prayed throughout many nights. Luke tells us Jesus regularly prayed in the garden of Gethsemane; just as He did on the night He was betrayed (Luke 22:39).
When the storms of life crash into your dreams, pray for commitment to obey, strength to put God’s will before your preferences. Christ learned obedience through suffering, submitting His desires to God’s perfect will. Christ’s obedient sacrifice was ushered in with prayer, “Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
When we trust God in our suffering, choosing to pray and accept His will, we express our deepest worship.
What thoughts rise to the surface when you reflect on how Jesus prayed? What is Jesus saying to you about prayer today?
Day Six: Holy Moments for Commitment
“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it” (Psalm 37: 5 NASB).
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Is your personality extroverted or introverted, or somewhere in between? Maybe you are a list maker or do you prefer to go where the wind takes you? Do you struggle to curb your tongue, complete tasks, or get to work on time? Have you committed your ways to Jesus?
Whether your path is smooth or filled with bumps and unexpected turns, commit your way to the Lord. Make the holy choice to trust Him with the entire journey. Right in the middle of who you are and what you’re doing, this is where Jesus wants to be—with you in this holy moment.
What would it feel like to go all in with Jesus? Don’t hold back. Commit your way to the Lord and trust Him with the results.
Begin a conversation with Jesus with this simple prayer: “Lord, my way, my journey, and my life belong to You. I commit my way to You and I trust You with my life.”
Which area of life do you find the greatest challenge to commit to Jesus? What does Jesus want to say to you about that?
Six short devotions to help you listen to Jesus with free download and graphics to print and share. #printabledevotions #freeprintablegraphics Share on X
How to Make the Most of These Devotions
Here are a few ideas for incorporating these short reflections to inspire moments for listening to Jesus.
- Join me on Instagram or Facebook each day as part of your daily devotions.
- Use a journal to record what you sense Jesus is saying to you each day.
- Print out this post to use as a six day devotional for listening to Jesus.
- Download and print the graphics to post as reminders, give to a friend, or paste into your journal.
Download and Print
Click here to download a PDF of the text and graphics. Let me know if you like having this kind of resource as part of the post! I’m trying something new and your feedback is really helpful.
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you.
Holy in the Moment
Give the gift of holy this Easter. Discover the practical power of intentional choices to trust God in the moment. This is your moment to deepen your faith and freedom in Christ. Learn more.
More Posts to Help You Listen to God
- When You Long for God to Speak to You
- Simple Ways to Meditate on God’s Word
- 8 Powerful Ways to Connect with God When He Is Silent
- Ignite Your Faith with Simple Truths for Listening to God
- Do You Struggle with Listening to God?
- Moments to Pray, Listen, and Think Bring Us Closer to God
- 15 Simple Ways to Overcome Distraction to Focus Your Attention on God (with printable)
- 10 Benefits of Reviewing What We Learn from God
- Simple Ways Silence Can Deepen Your Faith
- Discover Six Important Truths About Listening to Go
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Here is a sample of the free resources to deepen your life with Christ available in The Deeper Life Collection for subscribers. Sign up to receive my newsletter for access to the library and get my latest content delivered to your inbox!
Armor of God Prayer (Free Printable PDF + Daily Prayer Guide)
If you’re looking for an Armor of God prayer you can actually use each day, this simple prayer based on Ephesians 6 will guide you step by step.
Download the Armor of God Prayer PDF (Free Printable)
Want a simple way to pray this each day?
Download the printable version of this Armor of God prayer based on Ephesians 6 and keep it in your Bible, journal, or prayer space as a daily reminder to stand firm in God’s strength.
[Download the Free PDF]
What’s included in the Armor of God Prayer PDF:
A beautifully designed, easy-to-read Armor of God prayer
A printable format you can keep in your Bible or prayer journal
A simple journaling page to help you return to this prayer and reflect each day
A simple way to stay grounded in truth during spiritual battles
Armor of God Prayer (Pray This Daily)
Praying God’s Word is one of the ways we take up the sword of the Spirit. These are words I’ve prayed again and again in the spiritual battles my family has experienced.
Would you join me as we stand firm in the armor of God today?
Lord, by faith I put on the full armor you have given me. Your provision and power are my protection. Thank you for this extraordinary gift.
By faith, I put on the belt that is truth of your Word and the truth that is the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus, you are my way, my truth, and my life. Hold me together with your truth. Fortify me to the core, the center of my strength, with your belt of truth. Hold every part of me in alignment with truth.
By faith I put on the breastplate of your righteousness. Cover my heart, my source of life, and all my desires with your way of doing and being right. Guard my heart and my emotions from every dart and arrow of the Enemy. Remind me you of your nearness when I feel alone in the fight. You cover my vulnerability with your presence. Thank you that you for the gift of your righteousness.
By faith I put on my shoes of the preparation of the gospel, the good news of salvation that gives me peace. Empower me to stand and to walk in your powerful peace. May your peace prepare my motivation, words, and actions for all I will encounter today.
By faith in the power of your name, I lift my shield. Cover me with your faithfulness. Shelter my family with the shield of faith. Deflect every fiery arrow that comes against us today. We depend on you as we raise our faith over our vulnerability and need.
By faith, I put on the helmet of salvation. Guard my every thought with your saving grace. Protect my mind and don’t let me forget that you have saved me and are making me holy and whole. Let my salvation deliver me from faulty thinking that leads to doubt and defeat. Help me to remember that the battle is yours and you have already defeated the Enemy.
By faith, I take up the powerful sword of your Spirit. Open my ears to your “rhema” words “uttered by the living voice.” Guide my hand to the specific truth of your Living Word that will best defend against Satan’s schemes. Your Word is a two-edged sword, powerful to defend and to advance. Move me to wield the sword of the Spirit, for you know what will best meet the need of the moment.
In all these things, I pray in the Spirit with every kind of prayer you put in my heart. I depend on you to help me to pray. I depend on your protection and help to stand firm and resist the Enemy.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
And in the shelter of My Savior, let it be so.
You can return to this prayer each day as a way to put on the full armor of God and stand firm in His strength.
Free Armor of God Prayer Printable
In this post, you’ll learn how to put on the armor of God through prayer—and download a free printable to help you pray it daily. From small skirmishes to all-out spiritual battles, prayer is a vital part of putting on the whole armor of God.
Prayer is how we receive God’s strength to stand firm. Ephesians 6:18 reminds us to pray at all times with all kinds of prayers as part of our spiritual battle plan.
In this post, you’ll discover:
• What the armor of God means• How to pray each piece of the armor• A guided Armor of God prayer• A free printable PDF to use daily
How Do You Pray the Armor of God?
Do you think bicep curls can be a form of prayer?
Interesting question, isn’t it?
Spiritual battles are a part of daily living. Last week I wrote about the importance of putting on the armor of God. To recap, we covered the concept that the God’s armor is a way of living rather than merely a checklist of good gear to have. You can read the post here. if you missed it.
Why Prayer Is Essential to Putting On the Armor of God
Prayer is the key to standing firm in spiritual battles.
Responding to the Spirit, we pray in many ways—alone, with others, in quiet moments, or in the middle of a busy day. However you pray, the important thing is to pray.
Pray as you can and as the Spirit leads.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…” —Ephesians 6:18
Spiritual battles come in lots of shapes and sizes.
From small skirmishes to all-out war, prayer is a vital part of putting on the armor of God.
So how do we armor up to stand firm against the schemes of the devil? How do we put Ephesians 6 into action?
This is how the workout prayer became a thing for me.
Responding to the Spirit, we pray in lots of ways.
We can pray alone, with a partner, or alongside a group.
Prayer can be spoken, sung, or shouted. Sometimes we pray on the go with short prayers, quick as a breath. T
Some days we pray deep, pray long, and pray hard.
Conversational prayer or journaling prayer are also different types of prayer.
I often pray in the car or while walking.
These are just a few of the many ways we can pray.
However you pray, the important thing is to pray.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. . . (Ephesians 6:18).
Prayer and Exercise
Praying when we exercise can help us focus in prayer. During my running days, I loved to pray while jogging. Over the years, I’ve transitioned to prayer walking.
I didn’t pray much during weight workouts until one morning last fall.
My sister was heavy on my heart as she had recently been diagnosed with ALS, a terminal motor neuron disease that causes loss of strength and muscular function.
With each lift, I asked God to infuse her with every kind of strength she needed—physical, mental, and spiritual.
“Lord, let the movement of my body… be a prayer.”
I had made a natural shift from praying while exercising to exercise as a form of prayer. Both work together.
What Is the Armor of God in Ephesians 6?
Maybe it sounds strange to think of bicep curls as a form of prayer, but that is how the Spirit led me to pray.
As we seek to deepen our prayer life, the Holy Spirit can be very creative in prompting us to pray.
God has given us spiritual protection and instruction to face the spiritual battles that are part of life. We activate God’s armor through praying in the Spirit.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.–Ephesians 6:11-12
Armor of God Prayer (Based on Ephesians 6)
The time to pray is now.
May we develop a deeper understanding of how to put on the full armor of our God who fights for us and will not be defeated.
Mind. Heart. Truth. Action. Peace. Spirit. Word. These are key concepts to attend to in the care and keeping of Christ.
Let’s ask God to heal our hearts from the distractions that deflect our attention from prayerful living.
Now more than ever may God teach us to pray in the Spirit, training us to be alert and faithful intercessors.
Now more than ever.
Download your free Armor of God Prayer PDF and keep it nearby as a daily reminder to stand firm in God’s strength each day.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Armor of God Prayer
Can I download the Armor of God Prayer as a PDF?
Yes, you can download a free printable PDF version of this prayer above to use daily in your quiet time or prayer routine. PDF includes printer friendly and decorative prayer,
What is the armor of God prayer?The armor of God prayer is a guided way to pray through Ephesians 6:10–18, helping you put on each piece of God’s armor as part of your daily spiritual life.
How do you pray the armor of God daily?You can pray through each piece of the armor—truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word—asking God to help you live in each one.
Why is the armor of God important?The armor of God equips us to stand firm in spiritual battles, reminding us that our strength comes from the Lord.
Where is the armor of God found in the Bible?Ephesians 6:10–18 describes the full armor of God and how believers are called to stand firm.
Previous Post: How to Stand Firm in the Armor of God
About the Author
Ginger Harrington is a Christian author, speaker, and host of the Habits of Hope Podcast, where she helps women build daily rhythms that strengthen faith and cultivate lasting hope. With over 15 years of blogging and ministry experience, Ginger writes to encourage spiritual growth, resilience, and a deeper walk with God in everyday life.
You can explore more resources in the Deeper Life Collection or listen to the Habits of Hope Podcast for biblical encouragement and practical next steps.
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How to Stand Firm in the Armor of God Right Now
God equips us with spiritual armor to stand firm in the spiritual battles we face. Explore the meaning of the armor of God in this meditation on Ephesians 6:10-18 that shows why we need to put on the armor of God and how to do it.
As I scroll social media feeds, I am burdened to learn of deep losses of many friends. I know I am not the only one facing hard things, grieved by loss in my life and darkening days around the globe. In the shadow of loss, I feel small, weary, and vulnerable. Maybe you do too.
In my quiet time, I sense the Spirit speak to my soul, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).
Today I declare God’s Word rather than give into fear or get lost in grief.
I choose to look beyond appearances. God has both promised and commanded us to trust in his strength and might. I could use more strength and might right now. How about you?
The word might stops me in my tracks. I feel powerless to fix broken lives around me and uncertainty of the future feels scary. Might is God’s ability to do, to manifest his full power and strength. Because he has the power and might to defeat evil, we don’t have to have all the answers or battle it out alone. Our best response is to grab hold of God’s strength by faith and not let go.
God’s strength becomes ours through receiving and trusting.
How counter-intuitive this is to our human instinct to depend on ourselves. We want rush in and do big things that lead to amazing victories. And wrap it all up by dinner time.
When our strategies fail, we say, “Well, there’s nothing left to do now but pray.”
To fight first and resort to prayer if nothing else works is not God’s way. This is not how we experience victory in our spiritual battles and it certainly doesn’t help us put on the armor of God.
The Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18.
As I meditate on Ephesians 6:10-18, the passage the Lord brought to mind, the words seem to come to life.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints. . . (Ephesians 6:10-18 NASB).
What is the armor of God?
Spiritual warfare is part of every-day living this side of heaven.
At times, spiritual warfare comes in ordinary thoughts, misperceptions, irritations, conflicts, and disappointments. But there are times when spiritual attack blasts in hard and heavy. Unexpected trauma knocks us off our feet, leaving us dazed and disoriented. Our souls want to buckle beneath the burdens we bear. How we respond to the darts and arrows of the Enemy makes a powerful difference.
The armor of God is a lifestyle rather than a checklist. #armorofgod #standfirminfaith Share on X
In the book The Invisible War, Chip Ingram reminds us “the armor is a description of how we are to live out a dynamic relationship with Jesus. This is a lifestyle, not a checklist. These pieces of protection aren’t things that we can mechanically pray onto ourselves each morning in a step-by-step routine. It is a visual aid to help us understand how to live out a relationship with the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is, of course, important to understand what these things are and how to apply them, but there’s nothing ritualistic about them. Putting them on doesn’t happen merely through a brief morning prayer time. It’s a lifestyle issue – the product of weeks, months, and years of practice and cultivation. This is something we do, not a formula we recite” (84).
Ho there, I’m busted. Um. . . I’ve prayed the armor of God that way. . .a lot.
How many times have I recited the armor of God like a mantra, a good luck charm against evil that might invade my day? There is faith in this kind of armoring up, but it is a quick and get on with it kind of thing.
Today is different. I’ve seen the Enemy march in to kill, steal, and destroy those I love. Repeated bad news has become a deep call to intercessory prayer. The battles are real and the stakes are high.
Debilitating disease and death claimed my sister as well as two other family members in the past few months.
Broken relationships have ripped apart two marriages of family members we love deeply.
Families have fractured and the fall out grieves my soul.
My heart already misses my daughter who packs her suitcase for her return to her home in Canada.
Our world cringes in horror at this week’s headlines as war breaks out between Russian and the Ukraine.
Spiritual warfare is real. Really real.
Maybe you sense the spirit of heaviness in the onslaught of strife that rips through our nation. Maybe you are one of the many who have poured your hurt, grief, need, or loss into the echoing chambers of social media feeds. If this is you, friend, you are in my prayers.
Next Post: A Prayer to Put on the Armor of God + Free Printable
It’s time to stand firm in the armor of God.
I pray through the next phrase in this passage, listening for anything God wants to say.
The call to pray in faith resounds as Father draws my attention to words “Put on the FULL armor OF GOD.”
1. Put on the armor of God.
It’s time to put on the armor of God. Right now. Today. Not tomorrow or some other day when it is more convenient or we feel more spiritual.
The FULL armor- this means that there is nothing lacking, nothing that falls short. In this complete protection, we are fully covered…. when we put it on.
Isn’t it easy to leave these spiritual weapons dusty and unused in the pages of our Bibles?
2. Who’s armor is it?
OF GOD.
This is His armor, this protection and equipping God provides. As I mull over this passage, the Spirit reveals that this armor is a gift of grace that protects and empowers. I don’t think I have thought much about what a gift from God this armor is. These days, I need God’s covering like my lungs need air.
3. The action of taking up God’s armor.
God reminds me to armor up in the protection He has provided. To “take up” the full armor of God is translated in the KJV as “take unto you” which means to raise, to take up a thing, to use it, to receive, and to take up, in, or unto. There’s something intensely personal about putting on the armor of God.
We take up our gear with faithful intention through prayer and perseverance.
Prayer is the sacred space where the spiritual meets our reality. Prayer transforms experience, truth becomes knowing, as the power of God is released.
Stand firm in the battle.
Easy to say, right? On our good days when all is right with the world, the deception of the Enemy seems a distant rumble. Standing firm seems a given for the believer. No big deal.
And yet, Ephesians 6 calls us to the priority of standing firm in our daily battles big and small. Putting on the complete armor of God coupled with consistent prayer in the Spirit empowers us to stand firm in the strength of Christ.
Using our armor for defense and offense is the Spirit-empowered condition where spiritual battles are waged and won. In these days, taking up the full armor of God empowers us to stand firm against the “the schemes of the devil”.
When battles for souls rage, living in the full armor of God is the path to victory. #armorofgod #spiritualwarfare Share on X
As I reflect on this power-packed passage, strength rises in my soul. I feel faith increase with a renewed energy and resolve.
Conviction pulses through my veins with the power of God.
Stand on the truth of God’s Word no matter where the winds of culture blow.
Stand in the power of the Gospel when faced with the reality of sin.
Stand with the grit and tenacity of a bulldog with a bone in his mouth.
Stand with a soul-deep refusal to doubt the sovereignty of God or the presence of Christ in the fray.
Stand firm and don’t relinquish ground to the Enemy.
Standing firm in the full armor of God is our anthem, our deep desire, and our fervent prayer.
Today and every day, “stand firm.” Don’t give an inch of territory to the Devil.
Not today.
What helps you to stand firm in the armor of God? Leave a comment and let me know!
Many spiritual battles begin with our thoughts.
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Related posts to deepen your faith.
When Bad News Becomes a Call to Intercession
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Be Still to Discover Your Strong
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Posts with Free Printable Lists
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10 Perspective Shifts to Free Your Heart from Fear of Failure
Do you need help to trust God more fully when fear of failure drags you down? We are tempted to put time with God aside when we feel stressed to succeed in all the tasks before us. When fear of failure presses in, listening to God can change our perspective.
Meditation on God’s Word and prayerful journaling are a powerful combination. They are spiritual disciplines that open space for us to meet with God. Rather than a formula to follow or a skill to practice, listening to God develops as we bring our concerns and questions to Him. In today’s post, I share from a journal entry I’ve come back to again and again. Be encouraged with valuable perspective shifts that can strengthen you to trust God more fully and overcome fear of failure.
Is Fear of Failure Pulling You Down?
I sat in my favorite chair, taking that first sip of coffee that tastes so good. In the middle of writing my first book, the weight of deadlines and expectations felt heavy. Intimidating. And more than a bit overwhelming.
My work called out for my time and attention, but I knew I needed time with God before rushing into the day. In my quiet time, I began to talk with God about the worries that were pulling me down.
Recognizing when fear is at the root of our concerns enables us to have an honest conversation with God. Share on X
- Do I have enough words to finish this manuscript?
- Is my work good enough?
- What if nobody reads my book?
These were a few of the fears that replayed in my thoughts. The pressures that Christian authors face are very real. I’ve faced these same questions too many times to count.
Prayer Creates Space to Share Our Fears with God
Maybe for some, confidence comes easy. For me, confidence is a winding path on uneven terrain. Coming to God with my fears and frustrations, I longed to receive encouragement as I picked up with my daily Bible reading plan. With an exhale of breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, I prayed.
Lord, You know my concerns and that all too familiar fear of not being enough. As I read, open my ears to receive what You want to talk about today. Draw my attention to the words You want to ensure I don’t gloss over. Help me to know what You want me to understand about my fear.
Meditating on God’s Word Helps Us Listen to God
Bible meditation is a spiritual discipline that helps me to hear God more clearly.
Here is my highlight of what I read in 2 Corinthians 2:
But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. . . For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ, in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
I realized that my concerns of finishing the book and the many tasks that go along with publishing triggered the old patterns of my flesh.
The old fear-of-failure flesh pattern had surfaced again.
The patterns that elevate good performance as the definer of worth and value were alive and flourishing. Maybe you have struggled with the pressure of a performance mentality a time or two as well–I’m pretty sure this issue shows up in all of our lives at some point. If not daily. . .
Slowing down to reflect on what a passage actually says is a powerful way of listening to God, giving attention for the Spirit to speak.
Slowly I mulled over these truths:
- God leads us in His triumph in Christ.
- God manifests through us the knowledge of Christ.
- Our goal is to respond to what God manifests in us with sincerity.
- Relying of Christ, we share what God has taught us.
Sensing God had more to show me, I wrote the thoughts that came to mind. Prayer and meditating on Scripture create a sacred space for listening to God. I share these insights as they have encouraged me many times. I hope these thoughts will prove helpful in your own struggles to let go of the fear of failure.
Listening to God Expands Our Understanding
Shift your perspective.
These are three simple but powerful words.
To shift perspective is to look at something differently.
To think differently.
To respond differently.
It is to see a fuller picture than the flat-sided, one dimensional view of our current position. Perspective is also “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.” When the fear of failure gets in the way of answering God’s call, we need to shift our perspective.
10 Perspective Shifts to Free Your Heart from Fear of Failure
- Replace worry with gratitude. Be thankful for what God is doing rather than be anxious about how you well are doing.
- Focus on following God over fretting about failure. Trust God to lead you. You’re not in this alone and it doesn’t all depend on your ability.
- Don’t let the fear of failure ignite discouragement. Shift your heart from seeking personal success to rejoicing in the triumph of Christ as you bring every discouragement to Him.
- Don’t compare and compete. Culture is rife with temptation to measure yourself against others. These toxic sisters never lead us to God’s perspective.
- Keep your focus on God’s glory rather than bowing to the pressure to succeed. You have nothing to prove. In Christ you are deeply loved and valued; you are already worthy. Trusting God in the process is the path to success that carries eternal weight.
- Ask God to speak through you, “Lord, please manifest Your words through me today.”
- Shift your outlook from obsessing over outcomes to sharing God’s Word with sincerity as you follow Christ.
- Be confident in Christ. Be competent through Christ because your adequacy is from Him.
- Stop giving into the condemnation of your fears. Pressure to prove yourself drains life from your soul.
- Enjoy God’s presence and trust Him to lead you to the path of life rather than the quick route to momentary success.
*Click here to print list below.
In the sanctuary of my soul, God reminded me that it is His Spirit that gives life and liberty. His Words are the words that matter and His leadership is faithful and sure. Today as I come back to this journal entry, I am strengthened once again to let go of fear as I trust in God’s guidance and provision.
And just maybe, God is expressing Himself to you as I share what He has been teaching me. Would you let me know if these freeing perspective shifts are empowering for you?
Whether we succeed or fail, the real win comes when our perspective shifts to glorifying God over personal gain. Share on X
Which one of these perspective shifts helps free you from fear of failure today?
Need Help for Processing Fear and Worry With God?
Are you looking for a practical way to process vulnerable emotions like fear and worry in a way that draws you deeper with God? It’s so easy for fear to prompt us to pull in, to isolate ourselves. God can feel very distant as we struggle with emotions we’d rather not experience. If this is you, I have a couple of resources to help.
Flourish: An Emotional Health Workbook is a printable resource in my Subscriber Library. In this workbook, you’ll find tips and exercises to work through emotions with God. You can sign up here to get access to the Library.
Be sure to check out the thoughts and feelings chapters in my book, Holy in the Moment. These two chapters are packed with concepts from my own journey in healing from anxiety.
Related Posts
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- Simple Ways to Meditate on God’s Word
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- Help for Moments When Worry and Anxiety Get the Best of You
- Five Powerful Choices to Free Your Heart from Fear
- 4 Ways to Make Time for God in a Busy Life
*This post may contain affiliate links at no cost to you.
10 Biblical Ways to Show Love
These 10 biblical ways to show love help us build good relationships and share the love of God. When we love others, we demonstrate what the love of God looks like. Bible verses on love teach us many practical ways to love one another well. This post features an excerpt on loving one another from my award-winning book, Holy in the Moment.
My daughter loved to draw when she was little. With fingers curled around chunky crayons, she drew pictures of houses, flowers, and sunshine. Her favorite thing to draw was the people in our family giving each one of us big eyes, wide smiles, and stick-drawn arms. At times, one person was as big as the house, with fingers touching the sun peeking out of the top of the page. Assuming the big person was Daddy, I asked, “Who’s this?”
With the candor of a four-year-old, she announced, “Me!”
A perfectly natural way to see the world for a child, but every now and then, I revert back to my child-self, loving others as if I’m the sky-reaching, cloud-catching person who fills the whole picture.
Understanding how easy it is to love from self rather than the nature of Christ within, the apostle Paul instructed the Philippians: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).
Our new identity loves others with patience, kindness, and forgiveness, but we must unlearn the old tendencies to react with the flesh—impatience, pride, selfishness, and resentment.
Learning to love with the fullness of agape is the un-selfing of our souls.
Love Is How Holiness Builds Relationships
Reach for holiness and express agape through your thoughts, words, and actions. Choose to love in the nitty-gritty minutes of your day. When your husband forgets to take out the trash, choose patience. Frustrated with the kids? Self-control can harness irritation. When a friend seems to have the perfect family, refuse to be envious. When love is difficult, hold on to hope and keep praying.
Sounds simple doesn’t it?
Simple doesn’t always equal easy.
Choose to receive this agape-love of Christ and let it flow out to those around you in the choices you make. Abiding and resting in Christ enables you to make the most of your life by sharing what you’ve been given.
Filling up with God’s love energizes the words you say and how you spend your time. What will happen when you take it one moment at a time, depending on Jesus to empower you to give your very best self in loving others? How will your relationships be different?
“Every moment is an opportunity to practice a gesture of love.”—John Ortberg, The Me I Want to Be
What can happen when we set aside our petty differences, the things that don’t matter but divide? Forgiving one another is one of the love-one-another ways God matures and completes (perfects) us.
Power ignites when we give what we have received—the needed blessing of acceptance healing to the soul—accept one another. When we overcome selfishness to serve one another, we demonstrate the love of God to a world that doesn’t know God.
10 Biblical Ways to Show Love
Here are a few of the many passages that teach us how to show Christian love. When we love others, we demonstrate what the love of God looks like. The Bible shows us many practical ways to love others. Which one of these actions of love do you most need to give in your relationships right now?
Be devoted and give preference to one another (Romans 12:10).
Build up one another (Romans 14:19).
Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25).
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
Bear one another’s burden. (Galatians 6:2).
Be kind, tender-hearted and forgiving with one another (Ephesians 4:32).
Regard others as more important (Philippians 2:3).
Bear with and forgive complaints against others (Colossians 3:13).
Encourage and esteem one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11-14).
Don’t we love it when other people do these things for us? I can hear you thinking, I’d love to do these things, but I can’t keep up with my life as it is. How do I find time?
God will give many opportunities in the midst of our day to encourage others. So as you go, love one another in practical ways fitting the moment.
Love in one simple way at a time.
Small daily acts of intentionality turn bad days around, and as we express the love of Christ, loving one another is a powerful way God turns lives around. Share on X
Don’t miss the moment, for when we listen to Jesus, living out of our true identity—in Christ, holy hearts say yes to loving one another. And as we do, our view of others increases as our focus on self decreases in the light of love.
What is one simple way you can make a difference in someone’s life with a simple act of love?
Holy in the Moment
Holy in the Moment is a powerful encouragement for anyone who struggles to overcome anxiety, perfectionism, insecurity, or other mindsets that hold us back. Grow in holiness without the pressure to have everything “just right.” Through gentle encouragement, biblical insights, and applicable ideas you can experience a deeper life of freedom in Christ. Transparently sharing my own struggles, I want to help you live from the reality of hope, healing, and holiness. Learn more here or grab a copy here. (Affiliate link at no cost to you). Download a free Journal and Discussion Guide for the book here.
Printable Quotes on Love
Check out this free collection of printable quotes on love. Free with sign up for my newsletter, you can download this PDF from my Subscriber Library. Click here to sign up.
More Posts for Stronger Relationships
Holy Moments Are for Loving One Another
25 Good Habits for the Art of Friendship
Will I Love My Neighbor?
Live Love This Valentine’s Day
16 Ways to Love People Better
*This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you.
Does Your Soul Talk Strengthen Your Faith?
We all face honest questions that come from the gritty places where experience rubs like sandpaper against the grain of truth and faith. In Psalm 103: 1-4, David demonstrates the role our self talk can play in strengthening our faith. Let your soul talk encourage you to hold fast to what is true about God despite the challenges you face. Remembering the benefits and goodness of God is a powerful part of worship that blesses the Lord and strengthens our faith.
The first few verses of Psalm 103 have been one of the many passages God continually speaks to my heart in a hard season. I’ve learned from the words, but also from the example of how David worships and prays.
How Do You Speak to Your Soul?
Do you ever talk to yourself? I do. Seems like there is a lot of chatter in my head. Some of it is helpful, but negative self talk can derail my attitude and perspective. Sometimes I mutter under my breath the thoughts I don’t want others to hear. These are grumbly thoughts, complaints, and often drip with resentment or sarcasm.
This isn’t the way David speaks to his soul.
Most of the time, my soul talk is silent before others but loud in my head. Frequently, my self-talk is critical, condemning, and discouraging. This self-talk isn’t the kind that builds up or accomplishes any good purpose. At times I talk to myself in ways I would never speak to someone else. I’m working on this bad habit, but my inner critic still hijacks my thinking more often than I’d like.
Do you ever say things like this to your soul?
“You idiot, why did you say that?”
“You’re hopeless.”
“Why can’t you do better?”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Do you know this toxic kind of soul talk? David demonstrates a powerful way to refocus our soul talk on the faithfulness of God.
Soul Talk that Strengthens Your Faith
“Bless the Lord, my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.”–Psalm 103:1
David’s soul talk strengthens his faith rather than tears himself or others down. His thoughts become an honest form of prayer.
David doesn’t allow emotions to drive his faith or dictate his actions.
He coaches his heart to worship God in the midst of life as it is.
He reminds himself to put his attention on God’s holy presence and benefit.
He rehearses the goodness of God even in difficult times.
Sometimes we also need to preach to ourselves. Let your soul talk encourage you to hold fast to what is true about God despite the challenges you face.
When I shift my thoughts to worship and praise, I remember the reality that God will never stop being God.
Worry and fear take a back seat to the love of God when we practice the presence of God rather than dwell on problems. Share on X
If all that is within me is blessing God, adoring Him with a trusting heart, what’s left to wallow in worry or fester in fear?
Our soul talk can lead us to worship that changes the landscape of our heart.
Soul Talk that Blesses God
Isn’t it easy to overlook the goodness of God when we feel stuck in the hard? Intentionality in this passage goes two directions. One direction leads us to bless, praise, and adore the Lord. When David speaks to his soul, he affirms the importance of blessing the Lord from his deepest places.
A second way is the purposeful act of remembering the goodness of God. David realizes how easy it is to forget the many benefits of who God is and what He has done. The more we bless the Lord, the more likely we are to notice and appreciate all He has done on our behalf.
After David reminds himself not to forget the benefits of the Lord, he lists several benefits of God. Remembering the benefits and goodness of God is a powerful part of worship that blesses the Lord and strengthens our faith.
Benefits of God to Talk to Your Soul About
“Who pardons all your guilt,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with favor and compassion…”–Psalm 103:3-4
God forgives. Our deepest spiritual need is forgiveness of our sin that separates us from God. I’m so grateful that God pardons our guilt and forgives our sin, the root of every issue we face in life.
God heals. What a blessing to have a God who heals. Consider what this verse reveals about God’s heart and nature.
God redeems. The blessing of redemption is a powerful gift of God. Salvation includes the eternal as well as the daily. It spans eternity yet reaches into the intimacy of this very moment.
Forgiveness, healing, and redemption–what a powerful trio of life-changing blessings from God. These benefits reveal the heart and nature of God at work in our weakness.
Soul Talk When You’re Stuck in the Pit
We’ve all experienced times of “pit living,” seasons, circumstances, or mindsets that seem to keep us trapped. We’ve known days we can’t lift ourselves out of the depths. Our emotions see no way out, no solution at hand, no future to enjoy. In the dark of the pit, hope can be hard to access as circumstances seem to bury faith along with our dreams.
But God.
Here’s the truth: there is always a way when God is with us. From the pit we may not be able to see the way out, to access the solution, or to change our present reality. When the pit is all you can see, all you can imagine, remember today is not the end of your story. This may be the message your soul needs to hear today.
The pit will never define your identity or your future. We have a God who forgives our sin, heals our diseases, and redeems our life from destruction. These are the reminders our soul needs when life is hard.
Redemption is God’s Work
How many times have I worn myself weary with the work of trying to save myself, to scrape and claw my way out of the pit? How many times have you? To redeem is to purchase, to rescue, to deliver, to ransom, to avenge. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, we worship a God who redeems.
David demonstrates the value of soul talk that focuses on God rather than our problems. Practicing the presence of God rather than the persistence of our problems is one holy choice that changes our soul talk and our thinking. It is a powerful way of participating in the process of renewing our minds.
The Journey from Pit to Crown
The redeeming of our lives, our hopes, our future is the compassion and favor of God at work. From pit to crown, this is the redemptive journey of the life-restoring work of God. The favor, kindness, and compassion of God lifts us from defeat to victory.
Is your heart longing to see God’s favor in your life? Beautiful one, strengthen your soul by blessing the Lord. Lift your eyes from the pit. This is not where you belong. And it is not where you are going to stay.
The fact of your present circumstance is not the truth of your identity or the dictator of your life. Share on X
Remember you have a God who redeems your life from the pit, saves you from destruction, and crowns you with favor and compassion.
How Do You Speak to Your Soul?
One of the most powerful ways you can bless the Lord is to remember who He is from the depths of the pit. Hang onto hope and trust God to be God. This is the conversation we need to have with our soul. Psalm 103 teaches us to speak to our soul in a way that blesses God and strengthens our faith.
Today, as you speak to your soul, remember you are forgiven, healed, redeemed, and crowned with the compassion of God.
Yes, my soul, remember this.
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What to Do When Bad News Becomes a Call to Intercession
When bad news shakes your heart, learn how to pray with faith, rest in God’s care, and trust His strength through uncertainty, fear, and hard seasons.
No matter the moment, what it looks like, what it feels like, what it brings—this is your moment to pray.
When bad news impacts those you love, prayer becomes a vital source of strength. Trials have a way of creating a call to intercede, as we turn to God on behalf of others. Holding onto faith in the midst of the struggles of family and friends, prayer becomes a powerful part of God’s work in their lives.
It also opens the door to growing in prayer as the Holy Spirit helps us to pray as the situation needs. Trials teach us to pray from the deep, vulnerable places of our heart as we bring our needs to God. Is this a time you need to pray fiercely?
Praying When Life is Hard
The last five months have been a season of many hard things happening in our world and in my extended family. Many days, my heart is heavy, as I trust Jesus for wisdom to encourage and support those I love.
I’ve been in the secret place with my Father. I can’t help but run to Father in prayer. He draws me deeper into intercession by virtue of the pain of loss and the struggle of uncertain times. With every distressing text or phone call I receive, I call out to Christ. I feel the pain of broken relationships and hurting hearts on one side of the family. At the same time I wrestle fears for my sister facing a devastating diagnosis.
I cannot help but pray throughout the day. Even as I fall asleep I talk with Jesus with prayers that slip down my cheeks onto the pillow. However much and however long it takes I will trust Father and keep praying. This season is a call to intercession. Not because I think it would be nice to learn more about prayer, but because someone must stand in the gap and plead for the intervention of the only One who can restore peace and heal broken lives. The only One who can give strength to face hard days with wisdom, grace, patience, and faith.
Love Calls Us to Intercede in Prayer
In answering the call to intercede, I have entered into a time of instruction, training, and strengthening as Jesus teaches me to stand firm and pray boldly. This is what trusting looks like in my life lately.
As I turn to Christ with my heavy heart, He reminds me that He carries the weight when I remember to trust him with the people I care about. He frequently reminds me of this vital truth because my emotions are vulnerable to fear and worry.
God Meets Us As We Pray for Others
As we pour out out concerns for others, God often meets us in a special way. This kind of prayer strengthens our own hearts as well as becomes a channel of blessing those we pray for.
As I prayed one morning, Holy Spirit slipped a picture of Jesus into my mind. Our Good Shepherd was carrying my sister close to His heart where she could hear his heartbeat. He reminded me she is loved, protected, and safe in His care. The Spirit not only calmed my anxious heart, but He also gave me a vivid image to pray for her as well. Maybe this mental image will comfort you today as you let these verses strengthen your heart.
Hear the sound of my pleadings when I cry to You for help,
When I raise my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. . .Blessed be the Lord,
Because He has heard the sound of my pleading.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart triumphs,
And with my song I shall thank Him.
8 The Lord is their strength,
And He is a refuge of salvation to His anointed.
9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever. —Psalm 28:2, 6-9 NASB
Problems, Pain, and Prayer
My younger sister has been weakening since February. Muscles withering, she now struggles to stand, move. her legs, and even sit up. She fights to take even a single step. Growing weaker almost by the day, she recently received a medical diagnosis of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This image of Christ carrying her splits me wide open. Problems like this cause great pain to our hearts and draw us to our knees in prayer.
This disease is unthinkable, yet it is happening.
My soul recoils as fearful thoughts drive me to my knees like never before. This prayer picture soothes the ache in my heart with the vivid illustration of the compassion of Christ. Our shield of strength, refuge, and salvation, our Good Shepherd carries us. He hears our cries and provides help. I am undone by the tenderness and power of Christ. I sense these words in my spirit:
Pray fiercely but rest in faith.
Believe My word and trust My heart.
And when it all feels too much, remember I will carry you.
Pray Boldly in the Tension Between Need and Faith
There is a tension between desperate need for prayer and the abiding place of resting faith. Need and faith are parallel tracks of prayer leading us to a deeper experience of God’s presence. Share on X This is what mercy and grace look like right in the midst of our trials.
Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.—Hebrews 4:16
In every problem, every issue, every need, every desperate lament of our hearts and need of our souls, Jesus makes the way for us to come confidently to God.
What an incredible promise of mercy and grace to help in the problems of this day. Not because we prayed the right prayer but because we turn to God rather than counterfeit sources of help . We refuse to let our problems distract us from the care and compassion of Christ.
We hold fast to our confession that we trust in Jesus, our perfect High Priest. His sacrifice for our sin saves us in the midst of spiraling pathologies and problems of this fallen world.
Experiencing God’s Presence in Our Problems
Let your worries shape your prayers rather than allow your problems pull you away from trusting God.
Let your need draw you closer to God.
And when you can’t seem to get there yourself, trust Him to carry you.
Don’t let heartbreak or fear rob you of the strength found in bringing your needs to God.
Understanding our weakness, Jesus faced and overcame all the temptations we experience. This is why we can pray and receive grace in the very throne room of God.
Yes, pray fiercely. Boldly. Pray confidently with heart and hands open and ready to receive precious grace.
Intercessory Prayer is Work and Worship
In this season, prayer is my work, my honor, and my worship. Prayer is an unseen expression of faith and trust.
Is God drawing you deeper in prayer during these days? Do you sense the call to intercession? Is God calling you to deeper faith as you pray for needs that feel overwhelming? Do you need to trust in Christ like never before?
You are not alone. Your Savior strengthens and carries you. He’s made a way for you to come boldly to God in prayer.
In the conflict and the strife.
Pray with faith.
In the confusion, every decision that seems to have no good answer.
Trust His heart.
In the diagnosis that devastates and threatens to steal a life.
Pray in the Spirit.
In the shadow of the pandemic and the countless losses of many kinds.
Pray with the sword of the Spirit in your hand and your shield of faith raised high.
Do you hear Abba’s call? Can you sense the love of Christ strengthening you?
Pray fiercely and rest in faith.
This is your moment to trust in Jesus.
Benefits of Grow Christian Blog Course
Ladyboss Blogger’s Grow Christian Blog Course is impressively comprehensive, packed with information, instructions, ideas, recommendations, and templates on every aspect of blogging. Wowza, I wish I had known this information the first few years of blogging! I’m excited to up-level my blog with what I’ve learned. I don’t write a lot of reviews, but I love to share great resources.
These days you can find an online course for practically any subject under the sun. After 2020, online courses have exploded. Scrolling through social media, it only takes a moment to find an ad for the latest opportunity to grow skills. Inundated with ads, It can be hard to decide whether or not to take a course. Then there is the issue of which one’s are worth the investment.
Content Creators Need to Continually Learn New Skills
In the social media and blogging arena, trends are continually changing. The expectation of publishers to have a strong online platform increases every year. New technology adds to the need for content creators to continue to learn and grow. It can feel overwhelming to decide which courses to invest time and money.
I’ve recently completed a couple of blogging courses as part of a major website update earlier this year. I committed to make the most of my investment in a new website by making time to learn the skills to take my blog to the next level. I wanted to grow in both foundational and advanced skills in this ever-changing field of online content creation. I’ve come a long way since I began blogging in 2009, but there is always new information to learn.
If you promise not to laugh too hard, I’ll share this with you. When I started blogging I didn’t even know how to email a photo. Seriously–you promised not to laugh!
Even the most basic aspects of working with a website were a slow learn. My brain seemed to scramble, making the technology curve a challenge. I’ll forever be grateful to friends who took time to teach me the basics. In fact, my college roommate built and designed my first website. I was terrified I was going to do something to break it and make the site crash! I wish I’d had access to LadyBoss Blogger’s courses from the beginning.
Grow Christian Blog is an Easy-to-Use Course
Being a bit of a techno-phobe (is that a real word? Not sure.), the first thing I loved about the course is Elaine Rau’s ability to present information in an easy-to-understand manner. Not once did I feel lost when lessons covered more technical aspects of blogging. In my book, that’s a huge win!
The LadyBoss Grow Christian Blog course features is impressively comprehensive, packed with information, instructions, ideas, recommendations, and templates on every aspect of blogging. Wowza, I wish I had known this information the first few years of blogging!
What a benefit to fast-track by having so much information in one place. Designed to equip Christian bloggers to grow. this blogging course is developed by, Elaine Rau. With God at the center of the course, Elaine addresses mindset and purpose before diving into technical content. She has a pretty amazing story if you want to read it here.
Featured on Forbes, the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and 500+ media sites, Elaine shares that her mission is to “help Christian bloggers and influencers market and monetize their content so we can start to see more uplifting Christian content in the media. God gave you a voice, use it for His glory.”
A Quality Course for Christian Bloggers
I loved the breakdown of how to focus your time on the many aspects of successful blogging. Organization and time management are areas of blogging that I have struggled with over the years. I was surprised that content creation, the actual blogging, is only 10%. That is probably what I’ve been doing, but for years, I’ve felt like I was somehow failing or not doing enough that I wasn’t able to spend more time writing.
Pshew! Goodbye to guilt and hello to a more realistic plan/expectation to use my time wisely in sharing the messages God gives me to write!
The Foundations section gives a realistic and simple overview to plan, produce, and manage your time and effort. This comprehensive view ties all the tasks together with purpose, which I found very helpful: purpose 10%, content 10 %, income 20%, strategy 20%, email 20%, and traffic 20%. Understanding the valuable and needed role of each component helps me make the best use of my time. The modules on editorial calendars and writing for SEO are making a big difference in my traffic and the growth of my email list! Tangible results make investing in education well worth the effort!
Ready, Set, Grow!
LadyBoss Blogger teaches students how to avoid or fix common mistakes bloggers make. Oops…been doing a couple of those, but I’ve got them fixed now. That feels like a major accomplishment. Overcoming issues makes implementing new skills far more productive.
The lessons I found most helpful covered how to maximize the power of email in growing my blog. Three modules covering different aspects of email included traffic, set up, strategy, opt-ins, landing pages, and crafting effective email series. So helpful! One thing I particularly appreciate is how often Elaine includes screen shots and clear how-to instructions. For the non-techie crowd (like me), good instructions, examples, and templates make this course well worth the investment.
The two modules on Pinterest were also extremely helpful. Traffic, creation, optimization, rich pins, ranking, algorithms, design, video/story pins, are some of the Pinterest topics covered in the course. Again, lots of examples and ideas make moving from information to application a breeze. Rau shares the power of Tailwind for automation and growth for your pin account. There’s even viral pin templates to load into Canva to make creating effective pins a breeze. I use Canva and Tailwind nearly every day, so I’m glad she included these powerful tools in the course.
The final modules of the course offer an overview of monetization and bonus lists, links, and templates. The monetization is enough to get you started, but Rau offers more extensive learning in three additional monetization courses including Make Money Blogging, Make Money as an Influencer, and Monetize Your Blog and Instagram.
I’m excited to take my blog to the next level with all that I’ve learned from the Grow Christian Blog course! I haven’t had time to apply everything I’ve learned yet, but I’m thrilled to see my traffic and email list growing significantly with just the changes I’ve made thus far. Here’s a screen shot of my google analytics showing growth in the since I started the course.
This course is well worth the investment if you are going to apply all the great content Elaine teaches. I’m not saying this course includes everything you will every need to know for a successful blog, but it covers a ton of things that will help your blog grow. If you’re just getting started, the Launch Christian Blog is the course to get you going.
At the end of the day, the greatest content in the world will not make an impact if you don’t apply what we learn. I’m scheduling time on my calendar to continue to apply what I’ve learned.
I look forward to learning more from LadyBossBlogger!
Get a Discount on Grow Christian Blog Course
The Grow Christian Blog course is $197. If you’re interested in checking out Grow Christian Blog, enjoy a 20% discount when you use this promo code at check out: 238290_qnre2les! That brings the price down to $157 when you use my affiliate link and promo code.
Have you taken a great blogging course? Who have you learned from lately? Leave a comment and ask a question or share a resources. I love to hear from you!
*This post includes affiliate links at no cost to you. This means I earn a commission on any sales at no cost to you. I received access to this course free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
