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Giving Thanks in Every Circumstance?
Giving Thanks Most of us have just celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday, but the practice of giving thanks is for more than just the fourth Thursday of November every year. You’ve probably heard the Bible verse that says “give thanks in all circumstances” (it’s found in 2 Thessalonians 5:18). As Christians, we’re supposed to rejoice and give thanks all the time. It can be easy to do this when everything seems to be going fine. Following this command gets a little difficult, however, when we face trials. What Are We Giving Thanks For? Being thankful when you get a pay raise is easier than being thankful when you’re laid off. Being thankful…
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Seven Bible Study Resources
Seven Resources for Studying the Bible Regular Bible reading is important, but sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. These Bible study resources can help illuminate how to study the Bible, provide tools to enrich your Bible study, and answer questions you might have about the Bible. I’ve loved these resources for years and have turned to them many times as I continue to learn how to study the Bible. Bible Hub and Blue Letter Bible My number one Bible study resource to recommend for you is actually two. These are two different resources that are very similar: Bible Hub and Blue Letter Bible. Both have websites,…
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How Can We Practice Our Faith?
Practicing Our Faith Have you ever thought about what practicing our faith means? The things you practice are the things you want to improve; it demonstrates your priorities, what you want to accomplish. For example… I love hiking. I’ve hiked in the mountains once—at Griffith Park to see the Hollywood sign (see one of the pictures I took above). It wasn’t a very long hike and we were only there for a few hours. I was in pretty good shape at the time and thought it wouldn’t be too hard. But the truth is it was a lot of work. The mileage was no problem, but the steep incline was…
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5 Tips to Memorize Scripture
Scripture Memory Tips Up until recently, memorizing Scripture was something I had always been interested in, but was also really intimidated by. I didn’t know where or how to start and I was pretty sure I’d be terrible at it. Last year I finally committed to making Scripture memory part of my regular Bible reading routine. This post is full of the tips that helped me memorize Scripture. Also, be sure to check out part two featuring lots of resources that I’ve found incredibly helpful as I memorize Scripture. Why Memorize Scripture? But why should you memorize Scripture anyway? Scripture Memory Stores Up God’s Word in Our Hearts Well, just…
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What Does it Mean to Pray in Jesus’ Name?
“In Jesus’ Name, Amen” Ending a prayer with the words “in Jesus’ name” has become common practice in most evangelical circles. But have you ever thought about why it’s done or what it means? Or maybe you’ve read John 14:13 and wondered why prayers prayed ‘in Jesus’ name’ seem to go unanswered? Why We Pray in Jesus’ Name This practice comes from John 14:12-14 where Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” This is an incredible statement. Whatever we pray in Jesus’ name He…
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Is Doubt the Opposite of Faith?
Understanding Doubt and Faith Have you ever felt doubt? We don’t always like to talk about it, but the fact is, doubt is something all believers deal with at one point or another. Because of this, understanding and knowing how to address doubt is vital for Christians. Many people operate on the assumption that doubt and faith are enemies, that doubt is the opposite of faith. But, if we have a biblical understanding of faith and doubt, we will see that this isn’t necessarily the case. What is Doubt? Doubt is a reality that all believers will face throughout their lives, but there are actually different kinds. Typically, believers deal…
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How to Build a Bible Reading Habit That Will Actually Stick
Why Should I Have a Bible Reading Habit? An important part of developing a Bible reading habit, or any habit, is determining your motivation for accomplishing it. The truth of the matter is there are days when all of us don’t feel like cracking open our Bibles and spending time in the Word. Whether we’re facing the temptation to roll over in bed or check one more thing off the to-do list, sometimes it’s a battle to read the Bible. When we keep our motivation at the forefront of our mind it can help us to keep trying even when we don’t feel like it. Reading the Bible is…