Christian Encouragement
If You Want to Hear God’s Voice and Heart
“Lord, are You there? Speak to me.” Have you ever wanted to hear from God? If so, be encouraged. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God is in our midst. He’s a victorious warrior but also quiet in His love.
What does that mean?
I like to think of when I’ve held our little ones. My heart felt like it could jump out of my chest because I’ve been so full of love for them. However, I’ve not been loud with them. Instead, I held them close to my heart and wondered if they could feel my heartbeat as their little bodies nestled against me.
God is magnificent. He is larger than life, the creator of life, in fact. The Bible is His love letter to us. If we wish God would speak to us, we need to recognize that He has.
Open the Bible. Hold it close to your heart. Feel God’s heartbeat as you read His Word. Listen for what He is lovingly saying to you.
Zephaniah 3:17 captures both the Lord’s magnificence and His quiet love. “The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
Lord, thank You that although You are majestic in glory, You are also QUIET IN LOVE for me. Help me feel Your heartbeat as I read Your Word. Help me know Your love in new ways.
Let God speak to you through one of our free online Bible studies. Click HERE to access them.
There Is One Who Can Purify Us
Have you ever thought, “I can’t believe I said that,” or “Why did I do that?” after saying or doing something you regretted and knew was wrong? Do you ever feel frustrated with your own sinful nature? I’m sure we’ve all been there. But here’s the good news—there is One who can purify us of our sins, and that One is Jesus.
Hebrews 1:3 says, “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Jesus did what we could never do for ourselves. He became the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for our sins, so that we could be purified and reconciled to God. Jesus was the only acceptable sacrifice because He Himself is pure and without sin. One who is not pure cannot make another pure, but One who is pure can purify us.
How do we receive Christ’s purification for our sins? First John 1:7 says, “…if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and walk in His ways, we are cleansed from our sins and made right with God. Oh, what a great and glorious work our Savior has done. He has purified us from our sins!
Lord Jesus, PURIFIER, thank You for Your sacrifice for my sins. I love, adore, and praise You!
Are you looking for some more encouragement and Biblical teachings? Listen to Debbie’s podcasts on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify!
When You’re Tired of Failed Promises
Have you ever promised something and then didn’t fulfill your promise?
If you have, you know what a horrible feeling it is. Maybe we promised, “I’ll never say that again.” Then we did. Or, maybe we said to God, “I promise if you get me out of this mess, I’ll do better next time.” Then we failed to do as we said. Or maybe we don’t trust people because they’ve made promises to us they didn’t keep.
When it comes to God, Romans 4:21 assures us, “that what God promised, He was also able to perform.”
In other words, we may be well-intentioned, but fail. Not God, though. What He promises, He will do. What a blessing to know that God keeps His promises.
In the midst of failed promises and lies, it’s a great time for us to read God’s promises in the Bible. Our hearts can be at peace as we read them because we know they are true.
Heavenly Father, in a world that is filled with lies and failed promises, I praise You for being a faithful PROMISE KEEPER.
Happy Labor Day! Find rest and renewal in God’s presence today by spending time in His Word. Our printed and free online Bible studies can help you become more familiar with God’s promises and apply His truth to your life. Explore our printed studies HERE or begin a free online study HERE.
Are You Tired of People Telling You “Chin Up”?
Do you ever get perturbed when someone tells you, “Chin up! Everything will get better”?
I get it. People may be well-intentioned, but the fact is, things may not get better. We may not be able to keep our marriage together. Our child may have special needs for the rest of their life. Our job may be tough. A person may refuse to forgive us. That’s why 2 Thessalonians 3:16 tells us to find our peace in Jesus, the Lord of peace—”Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.”
Is it easy? No. But, it’s real. I experienced it when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was 29 years old and again in 2024 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. I also experienced it when my parents were dying.
In John 14:27, Jesus describes His peace as “out of this world.” In other words, it comes from heaven into our hearts so we can go through our day with inner peace.
Changing the position of our chin doesn’t change anything… unless we are raising our faces toward heaven and opening our hearts to the Prince of Peace. He changes everything.
Thank You, PRINCE OF PEACE, that You supersede circumstances. Fill me with Your peace that is not of this world.
Would you like more grace and peace in your life? Peace with God? Peace with others? Watch Debbie’s teaching on 1 Peter 1 HERE, listen to it HERE, or purchase a hard copy of the study HERE.
If You’re Drowning In….
Have you ever thought of God as being a life preserver?
Psalm 116:6 describes Him that way. “The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.”
The word “preserve” in this verse means to save a life. No doubt Jesus fits the description. He rescues those who are drowning in sin when they call on Him for salvation.
We understand the need for someone to save us from raging waters. Do we understand the need for Jesus to save us from raging sin?
We understand the need to be saved from physical death. Do we understand the need to be saved from spiritual death?
Jesus, You are the only One who can rescue me from sin and PRESERVE my soul for eternity. I love You and thank You.
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When You Can’t Seem to Please Anyone
Do you ever feel like you can’t please anyone? Or at least, you can’t please someone you want to please; such as a co-worker, family member or friend.
Trying to please people who are difficult to please can cause us to feel defeated and drained. However, it helps if we place our primary focus on pleasing the One who is most important – our Heavenly Father. Jesus models doing that even when others were disappointed in Him. For instance, no doubt the disciples were disappointed when Jesus didn’t resist being crucified. Martha and Mary were disappointed when Jesus delayed coming to their sick brother’s side. Jesus explains His actions in John 8:29. “He (the Father) who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” No, we can’t always please others. But we can follow Christ’s example of pleasing our Heavenly Father. Following are ways Jesus pleased the Father. Which are you doing? Which might you begin to do?
- Jesus used Scripture to stand against Satan’s temptations. We can do that.
- Jesus shared His Father’s kingdom principles, how to be forgiven, and how to be saved. We can do that.
- Jesus reached out to people; to help them. We can do that.
- Jesus looked up in prayer and thanked His Father for hearing Him. We can do that.
- Jesus prayed before He made decisions. We can do that.
- Jesus followed His Father’s leading rather than doing things on His own initiative. We can do that.
Heavenly Father, as Jesus was PLEASING to You, help me be pleasing to You.
Looking for some more resources to deepen your relationship with God? Click HERE to check out the books and Bible studies written by Debbie. You can also access free online Bible studies by clicking HERE.
If Jesus Is the Great Physician, Why Didn’t He Heal…
Life is filled with joy, but also pain. Sometimes the most painful questions we ask are, “Why didn’t God heal a loved one or friend?” If you’ve had those questions, you’re not alone. We don’t have the answers to many questions. In times of pain, when we don’t understand and we don’t have answers, we look in faith to Jesus. He allowed Himself to die so we’d have visible evidence of not only His love but also eternal healing.
Jesus knew there would be challenging questions on this side of heaven. He said to those listening to His teachings in Luke 4:23, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!'” But instead of preventing His death, He died a painful death with no pain killers and with no one holding His hand. He died to pay for our sins and, by His resurrection, gives proof of ultimate eternal healing. For that, we are grateful beyond words and continue to look in trust to our loving Savior and Great Physician.
Jesus, eternal PHYSICIAN, thank You for rising from the dead so I can see the ultimate healing You give to all who place their faith in You; to me. Please help me trust you in times of pain and when I don’t see the answers in difficult times.
If you’re struggling with disappointment or unmet expectations, find encouragement in Debbie’s book, The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World.
True and Lasting Peace
Many of us today seek peace. We may watch a movie or scroll through social media to distract us from anxious thoughts. We may pursue financial security, hoping money will bring peace.
Although pursuing things in search of peace may not be bad in and of itself, it’s important to recognize the source of true peace, which Judges 6:24 explains is the Lord. “Gideon built an altar to the Lord and named it ‘The Lord is Peace.’”
The Lord is Peace. Jesus affirmed this before His ascension into heaven. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). The peace Jesus promised wasn’t just for the disciples, but for us. Jesus understood the troubles and trials of life. But in the midst of them, He gives peace that supersedes what the world offers. I came to know His peace when I was 29 years old and received a letter from MD Anderson telling me that I had Stage 1 ovarian cancer. As I cried out to God, He assured me that He would be with me, my husband, and child. If I died, He would take care of them and I would be in heaven with Him. Jesus’ peace flooded my soul as it did again in 2024 when I was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Do you know His peace? Do you practice and experience Philippians 4:6-7 “…be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If you don’t know the peace Jesus offers, cry out to Him today. Proclaim as Gideon did, “The Lord is Peace.”
Lord, thank You for the PEACE You give that is not of this world.
If you or a loved one are walking through cancer or another difficult season, we invite you to visit Hope for the Cancer+ Journey. There you’ll find encouraging resources, uplifting music, and reminders of God’s presence to help you experience His peace day by day.
Keep Looking for Opportunities
Are you concerned for a family member or friend who refuses to trust Jesus for salvation? Are you worried they’ll die apart from Christ?
If we’re concerned for the unsaved, it’s for good reason. This world isn’t all there is. There is life beyond the clouds that we can’t see just as there is life below the oceans we can’t see. Yes, all people are alive after they pass through this life—either in Christ’s presence or apart from Him for eternity.
Jesus implores us to take the way to heaven, through Him. So, what do we do if an unsaved friend or family member refuses to turn to Christ? We align ourselves with the Lord, who we’re told in 2 Peter 3:9 is “not slow about His promise, but is patient…not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
God is patient. Keep praying. Keep looking for opportunities to speak the truth in love.
Heavenly Father, thank you for being PATIENT. Help me be like you—patient and prayerful.
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Straight to the Point
Do you agree that personal problems can seem overwhelming at times?
What about national and international problems? Do they cause you to shake your head and wonder what the world’s coming to?
What about health issues? Is your health or someone else’s health a concern?
Then there are financial issues, parenting, marital, and work challenges that can be ongoing struggles.
Jesus interrupts our conflicted worries and gets straight to an important point that each of us must remember. “In the world, you have tribulation, (pressure, affliction, oppression, and distress), but take courage, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Is that a good word for you to hear today? Jesus is bigger than the world and its problems. We can look to Him, to His Word, and empowerment for whatever we face.
Jesus has overcome the world. He is present to help you. Look up to the Overcomer.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the OVERCOMER. I praise You for the peace, direction and empowerment You give me as I trust in You.
Want to dive a little deeper into John 16:33? Watch this video clip of Debbie teaching on the passage.