If you were being 100% honest, would you say your faith is floundering or flourishing? It's an interesting question, because as much as we truly WANT to grow in faith, the honest fact of the matter is that most of us are stuck. Or at least, not making much progress.   We say we want to read the Bible, but then we get distracted and forget. We say God is our #1 priority, but then we fail time and time again at even the most basic tasks. We know that God promises us a life that's full and abundant, but then we're too scared to step out of the boat to radically embrace all He has to offer. Too hard. Too scary. Maybe tomorrow.  (And oh yeah, I'm definitely preaching to the choir here.)   But what if... we decided we were done playing the same ol' tired learn more...

Post by Gina of GinaMPoirier.com For the longest time, I thought that I pretty much stink at praying. Don’t get me wrong, I come to God regularly, maybe with a prayer list or journal in hand if I’m really on top of things. But too many times, daily prayer has just been an item on my spiritual checklist, and as a result it has felt rote, aimless, boring and powerless. I quickly lose focus and my mind wanders to what it thinks are more interesting pursuits. That’s humbling to write.   I’ve wondered at times, What is wrong with me? Is there a “right” way to pray? Or a wrong way? What exactly does God expect us to say when he already knows our thoughts, anyway? I think Jesus’ disciples wondered about some of these things. I’m guessing this is why he offered them learn more...

Do you ever struggle to read the Bible consistently?  Maybe you get so caught up in day-to-day life that you simply forget to read your Bible. Or you tell yourself that you'll get around to it "later," but then you never do. If that sounds all too familiar, you're definitely not alone. Keeping a consistent quiet time is something most Christians struggle with from time to time -- including me!   So last week I came across the the 2017 State of the Bible Survey, and I thought the results were SO interesting, I just had to share.   For example, did you know: 58% of Americans wish they spent more time reading or listening to the Bible Yet only 16% of American adults read the Bible daily -- 37% if you count those who read the Bible once a week or more. learn more...

For years, I had a bad habit. I ate cookies. Now cookies themselves aren't bad. (Quite delicious, actually!) But it was the way I ate them. You see, I didn't just enjoy one or two cookies, dipping them in milk and savoring them slowly. No, I was a stress eater. And anytime I was stressed out, overwhelmed, or worried, I'd head straight to the cupboard where I could find the relief I needed. Nothing like an entire package of Oreos to help you feel okay, right? Especially when you practically inhale them in no time.   Of course, everyone's search for comfort looks a little different.   For Bekah DiFelice, author of "Almost There," a brand new book published by Tyndale House, today's post sponsor, comfort was spelled H-O-M-E.  And in "Almost There," Bekah learn more...

“I’m struggling with not enough time for me right now.” I got this message from one of my readers recently when I asked moms what they were wrestling with. I shook my head in understanding…because it’s a sentiment I’ve heard again and again. She went on: “I feel like a brat saying that, but in the hustle and bustle of motherhood I sometimes feel like I've lost myself.”   It’s an issue I think so many of us relate to. We know we should probably be taking better care of ourselves—“filling up our tanks,” so to speak—so that we have more to give. But then we feel guilty…because isn’t a life of self-sacrifice the Christian way to live?   There is a lot of secular self-help information out there about stress relief, finding yourself and meeting your full learn more...