What do you do when you feel anxious or afraid? Ask a friend for advice? Roll over everything endlessly in your head? Try to distract yourself? Or do you go immediately to God? I’m learning to do the latter but it’s still not instinctive. I’ve been dealing with multiple unrelated health issues, some of which… Continue reading Wrestling with Fear of the Unknown — Vaneetha Risner
Category: Devotionals
The Privileged Life: “Fire Extinguishers” for Our Tongues
“See how great a forest a little fire kindles!Andthe tongueisa fire, a world ofiniquity.” (James 3:5b-6a) Wildfires are terrifying and tragic. No one yet knows for certain the origin of the horrific fires earlier this month in Lahaina, Maui.* Drought and windy weather set the perfect stage for a small spark to turn into a… Continue reading The Privileged Life: “Fire Extinguishers” for Our Tongues
True Hope for Hard Seasons
It wasn’t your traditional school drop-off scenario. No little ones tumbled out of a minivan as their mom waved goodbye and dodged other vehicles in the carpool lane. Instead, it was quieter—idyllic, almost, as my fully-grown younger brother and I pulled into the shaded circle drive of his graduate school building. The peaceful rustle of… Continue reading True Hope for Hard Seasons
5 Ways God Serves As Your Refuge – Spark of His Glory
5 Ways God Serves As Your Refuge. Amid life’s challenges and uncertainties, when our world seems to spin out of control, our hearts crave a safe haven—a place where fear is replaced by faith and uncertainty finds its answer in unwavering hope. In those moments, God emerges as our refuge, a solid rock on which… Continue reading 5 Ways God Serves As Your Refuge – Spark of His Glory
Abraham Intercedes For Sodom
What does it mean when someone intercedes in prayer like Abraham did for Sodom? It’s when a person prays a pointed prayer on behalf of one or more people. Let’s look at why Abraham felt the need to intercede for Sodom. And why he made the following statement to the Lord. Surely you wouldn’t do… Continue reading Abraham Intercedes For Sodom
Discover The Desires Of God’s Heart – Part 2 – Pursuing Intimacy With God
Discover The Desires of God’s Heart – Part 2 In Part 1 of this series of articles on the desires of God’s heart, we looked at God’s main call and desire for His children and followers. What is His main call and the main desire in God’s heart for His children ? To have the closest possible… Continue reading Discover The Desires Of God’s Heart – Part 2 – Pursuing Intimacy With God
Don’t Look In, Look Up
“I have to figure out my purpose!” I listened as a young woman shared her anxiety about missing her calling in life. She was in college and wanted to live for God but felt stuck in the waiting room until she discovered what God had made her to do. How could she start living for… Continue reading Don’t Look In, Look Up
Changing Seasons of Life – Enjoying the Journey
The last few months have been some of the most blessed and some of the most challenging of my life. I don’t understand how those two things coexist, but they usually do. The season we are currently in can be described best in one word: transition. You know – the “in between” times of life. If… Continue reading Changing Seasons of Life – Enjoying the Journey
Ever Feel Like You’re Bothering God?
The police do answer 911 calls—even if it does embarrass the pastor. Our church celebrated my first anniversary as pastor by taking over a local park for a Sunday afternoon picnic. The afternoon included a lot of food, and after a couple of hours, it included the police. The squad car pulled up and the… Continue reading Ever Feel Like You’re Bothering God?
New Jerusalem is a Mutual Indwelling
The New Jerusalem is the tabernacle, and in another sense it is a temple. This is a strong proof that the New Jerusalem is not a physical city but a personal entity. The New Jerusalem is the believers, God’s tabernacle, and God, the believers’ temple. He dwells in us, the tabernacle, and we dwell in… Continue reading New Jerusalem is a Mutual Indwelling