5 Bible Verses to Refresh Your Soul

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5 Bible Verses to Refresh Your Soul

 

“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” — Exodus 15:2

 

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” — Romans 15:13

 

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13

 

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” — Psalm 46:10

 

7 Bible Verses about Love

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7 Bible Verses about Love

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” —1 Corinthians 13:13

“Do everything in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” — Ephesians 4:2

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:18-19

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” —Proverbs 10:12

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” —1 John 4:8

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” — Romans 12:9

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” —Proverbs 17:17

“For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16

Send Your Loved Ones Some Encouraging Christmas Cards with These Verses

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Send Your Loved Ones Some Encouraging Christmas Cards with These Verses

Now is a better time than ever to send your family and friends CHRISTmas cards with beautiful, encouraging Bible verses woven into the messages. Share a verse that is special to you or maybe one that reminds you of them. Also, you might try some of these below!

 

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.

 

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

 

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

 

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

 

7 Bible Verses about Gratitude

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7 Bible Verses about Gratitude

With Thanksgiving nearly upon us, now is a wonderful time to read some verses about gratitude to help us better express to God how good He is and how grateful we are for His grace and guidance. Use these verses as you meditate on all God has done and is doing for you. When you’re done, share this with a friend or family member who can use it, too!

 

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

— Psalm 118:24

 

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

— Colossians 3:15

 

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

— Psalm 107:1

 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

— Matthew 6:21

 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

— Psalm 103:2-5

What Philippians 4:13 Means for Your Life

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What Philippians 4:13 Means for Your Life

If you’ve been in any Christian circle, you have likely heard the verse Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” What you may not know, though, is the context behind this verse and how in it, Paul teaches us how we get through hard times.

So, Paul wrote Philippians as a letter to the Church at Philippi while imprisoned. In verse twelve, he reminds the Church that he knows persecution and struggle but act he remains content through it all. And in verse thirteen, he explains why that is.

“I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

The “I” in this subject is Paul. When he says “things,” he is referring to the persecution and struggle he’s being going through. When he says “through,” this means because of. He is able to get through everything because of Jesus Christ. Christ strengthened Paul to help him stay content and solid while hard times came, and He can do the same for us.

Whether you’re going through a particularly bad bout of anxiety, a long cloud is having over you, or you’re having a bad week or something bad has happened to someone you love, you can always pray to God. Ask Him to strengthen you and help you to lean on Him to get through things.

Tell God what you’re worried about, what you need help with, why you’re sad. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “Cast all your anxieties on Him, for he cares for You.” And remember that God hears those prayers, as 1 John 5:15 says: “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

God is always with you, and with His grace comes more than salvation— He also comes with an arm reaching out to us, a gift of a relationship with Him. God wants to listen to you and guide you and be who you depend on when times get tough, but He can only do that if you let Him.

So let go of whatever the tips of your fingers are on in the world and hold on to God and His peace just as Paul did here.

10 Upbeat Praise & Worship Songs to Lift Your Spirit

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10 Upbeat Praise & Worship Songs to Lift Your Spirit

#1 – “Echo” by Elevation Worship ft. Tauren Wells

 

#2 – “King of Glory” by Passion ft. Kristian Stanfill

 

#3 – “See A Victory” by Elevation Worship

 

#4 – “Graves Into Gardens” by Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake

 

 

 

#5 – “Drops in the Ocean” by Hawk Nelson

#6 – “You Lead” by Jamie Grace

 

 

 

#7 – “Look Up Child” by Lauren Daigle

 

 

 

#8 – “Struck by Grace” by Elevation Youth

 

#9 – “Let Go” by Hillsong Young & Free

 

 

 

#10 – “Promises” by Maverick City Worship

10 Great Bible Verses about Rest

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10 Great Bible Verses about Rest

Rest, a word we like to talk about a lot. Yet how many of us can genuinely say that we are restful?  When was the last time you rested?

 

Now, we need to understand that biblical rest is different from what the world calls rest. Yes, going for vacations, watching movies and sleeping are great ways of getting rest, but the truth is you can do all that but still not be restful.

 

What is Biblical Rest?

There are two kinds of biblical rests.  The first type of rest involves physical rest where you cease doing work just like God did. He rested on the seventh day, and we also need to rest because our bodies are the temple of God. Another form of rest is the one where we put our trust and confidence in God by focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus.  It is where we cast all our cares upon the Lord and choose to trust him instead of self.

 

Want to know to find biblical rest? Here are 10 bible verses that will help you:

 

Run to Jesus

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

 

There are times when we try to do everything so that we can be restful, but all those things don’t work.  Instead of running around, go to Jesus.  He is calling upon every weary and burdened person to go him. Surrender all your burdens to him, and he will take care of you and not just that, but he will give you rest.

 

Let your Soul Find Rest in God

 

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

Psalm 62:1(NIV)

 

The world encourages us to find rest in so many things but God.  Maybe you have been running around trying to find rest the world’s way.  You have tried anything and everything that experts have said, but it is just not working.

 

It feels like you are losing it.

 

Well, how about you turn to God.  Like the Psalmist, let your soul find rest in God alone.  Go to him with all your burdens and let him take care of your soul.

Make God your Dwelling Place

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8(NIV)

The issues of life can leave you anxious.  But here is the thing worrying and staying awake will not take your problems away.  God gives sleep to those he loves so when night comes, lie down, and sleep, knowing that God is taking care of you.

 

Know that God is your dwelling place.  Do not allow anything to intimidate you.

 

Walk in the Good Path

This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Jeremiah 6:16(NIV)

 The things of this world seem fun, easy, and cool.  But the truth is the fun that comes with worldly stuff doesn’t bring rest.  If anything, you will only become more anxious and fearful.  If you want to be restful, you need to walk in the good path, that’s the path God has laid out for you.  It is only in doing so that you will find rest.

Let Jesus be your Shepherd

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

Psalm 23:1-2(NIV)

Not knowing where your next provision will come from can leave you restless and frustrated. But child of God, the Lord is your shepherd. So stop depending on yourself and start looking at him.  You will never lack as long as you allow Jesus to shepherd you.

 

Dwell in God’s Secret Place

 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2(NIV)

What makes you secure? Is it your job, family, friends, business, position, or finances? See, the material things of this world will fade away one day.  But the Lord lives forever.  Today choose to dwell in his secret place and in doing so, you will find rest.

 

 

 

Allow God to Take Control

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

You will never know what resting in God means until the day you choose to taste and see.  It is only through experience that you will know how good God is.  Let your soul find rest in him.  Allow him to take control of your thoughts and heart by reading the word and spending time in his presence.

 

If you do that you will start to experience true rest.  This will not only impact you inwardly, but it will also impact you outwardly. People will see the great things God is doing through you and in you, and they will glorify God.

 

 

Find Rest by Taking the Yoke of Jesus

 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:29-30(NIV)

What kind of burden are you carrying around? What about surrendering that yoke to God and allowing Jesus to give you his yoke?

 

Yes, it often feels right to be in charge, but sometimes it is better to let go and let God. Surrender that thing that is leaving you restless to God and take up the yoke that Jesus is giving you.  He said his yoke is easy.

 

Rest from your Own Work

 

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

Hebrews 4:9-10(NIV)

To truly enter the rest of God, you need to quit doing things your way.  Rest from your own work and let God show you what to do with your life.

 

Maintain your confidence in God and not self. God will lift you up and take you to places you never imagined.

 

Strive to Enter his Rest

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14(NIV)

In the Old Testament, observing the Sabbath was very important while Jesus fulfilled the law, we can still choose to take a sabbatical rest so that we can find rest for our bodies.

 

Look, God did not make Sabbath day law for his own selfish reasons. God cared so much about his children, and he knew rest was necessary.  Today he tells us to strive to enter rest, that is the rest Jesus died so that we can have. Surrender everything that is stressing you to God. Do everything from the point of rest because Jesus has already paid it all at the cross.

 

God expects us to rest, and it is not for his own good but for our own good.  Jesus loves us so much, and we can only find rest by casting our burdens upon him and taking his yoke. Vacations and other forms of worldly rest are good, but they offer temporary rest. Real rest is found in Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.

How Being Involved in Church Can Be Good for Your Mental Health

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How Being Involved in Church Can Be Good for Your Mental Health

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

 

You already have a lot to deal with. Depression and anxiety are things you struggle with every day.  You just want to live in peace.  But what if serving or being involved in your Church community is an excellent way of dealing with mental health? What if God wants to use your story to help others in the church?

 

The truth is:

 

We are living in times when one can easily attend a church service at the comfort of their home.  This is great because we can continue to feed our souls with the word of God, especially in times when we cannot go to church. But this can also lead to neglect of the most important thing, and that is gathering together as believers. (Hebrews 10:25)

 

Now, living in separation, especially for those of us that are struggling with mental health issues, can be very tempting. After all, it seems most people don’t understand us, even those in the church community.

 

But here is the thing;

 

The enemy wants us to live in isolation so that he can continue to attack our minds with negative thoughts.

 

That’s why it is essential to belong to a church community.

 

How will being involved in your church community be good for your mental help?

 

Serving others Brings Joy and Peace

One of the ways that you can worship God is through serving.  Through it, you get to express gratitude to God for taking care of you, and this brings peace and joy in your heart.

 

Not just that, but when you surround yourself with other people, you get to see life from a different perspective. You get to hear other people’s testimonies, and this will help you to keep fighting the good fight of faith. (Proverbs 27:17)

 

Improves your Self Esteem

Being involved in a church community will help you to develop your spiritual gifts, and this will improve your self-esteem.  See, most times, we end up having thoughts of how we are not good enough and how we shall never amount to anything. But serving others and being involved in a church community will help you discover, nurture, and utilize your spiritual gifts in a way that glorifies God.

 

Helps us to Shift our Focus

One of the reasons why we struggle with depression is we focus on ourselves and not God.  We spend hours and hours thinking about how we are not good enough.  Serving and belonging to a community will help us shift our focus from self to God.  We will get to see the true nature of God and his grace towards us through others. This will leave us feeling confident. Serving also acts as a good distraction from our fears and anxieties.  (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12)

 

All in all

 

God has called us to serve others, not just for their own good but also for our own.  Belonging to a community will help you learn about other people’s experiences.  You will be able to meet other people who struggle with mental health issues and learn how they deal with them.  Being around others will also help you to shift your focus from self to God.  Serving God and others will bring joy and peace in your heart.

How to Set Faith Goals

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How to Set Faith Goals

But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds, they stand.

Isaiah 32:8

Have you ever set faith goals?  Most people set goals for their careers, physical wellness, and personal growth.  Sadly very few believers set goals for their faith.

 

But here is the thing every other area in your life is linked to your spiritual life.  Your spiritual life has a major influence on your physical, mental, and emotional well being. So setting faith goals is something that every Christian should do.

 

What are Faith Goals?

Faith goals are targets or objectives believers set to help them get closer to God.  Faith or spiritual goals help us to become Christ-like. Goals give us a path or direction to follow so that we can grow spiritually.

 

Your faith goals can be something like:

 

  • Finding a Spirit-filled and word-based church.
  • Fasting one to three days per month.
  • Reading the Bible for 30minutes each day.

 

So how do you set spiritual goals? Here are ways to do that:

 

Pray

We all go through different seasons in life.  It is only God that knows what lies ahead.  So what about starting your goal setting project with prayers?  Ask God to give you direction so that you can understand what to include in your list of goals. (Psalm 37:4-5)

 

Inquiring from God will help you avoid setting vague goals. Remember to also pray over your goals after you have set them so that God can establish them.

 

Write down your Goals

It seems obvious, but most people do not write down their goals, and that is why most of them don’t achieve them. Writing down your goals will not only help you memorize what you have written down, but it will help you to keep track of them. (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

 

 

 

 

Be Specific

As you write down your goals, try your level best to be specific.  It is okay to write, “I will pray every day,” but you know what is better? “I will pray for fifteen minutes every day.”

 

Being specific helps you to be more focused and motivated to achieve your goal.

 

Set Relevant Goals

 

The goals you set should matter to you.  They should match your gifts, talents, and passion.  For example, if you have the gift of serving, there is no need to set a goal for prophecy when that is not your gift.  Instead, set a specific goal on the number of places you are going to serve others. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

 

Set Goals outside your Comfort Zone

God loves to stretch us; that is why he never asks us to do easy things.  While your goals should not be vague, they should encourage you to step outside your comfort zone. For example, you can set a faith goal of keeping off social media three days per month so that you can spend time with God.

 

If you love social media, then you will find this to be challenging, but it will help you to work on your faith and build intimacy with God.

 

All in all

 

Setting spiritual goals will help you build intimacy with God and become Christ-like. Make sure to set goals that are specific, measurable, and relevant. Good goals are those that enable you to get out of your comfort zone.  To ensure that you achieve your goals, put them in a visible place like your phone or vision board.

Dealing with Anxiety Biblically

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Dealing with Anxiety Biblically

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

The idea that “Christians have it all together” is not accurate. Many people in the church are struggling with anxiety and depression. We have seen preachers and ministers of the gospel committing suicide because of depression in recent times. Anxiety should not be taken lightly.

The truth is:

However spiritual you are, there are things you are going to face that will weigh you down.  Loved ones will disappoint you, people in the church may hurt you. You may lose your job or business, and your loved one may pass away. None of us can run away from difficult times.

Pretending that you are okay so that you can save face will not make everything okay.  Admitting that you are anxious and finding ways of dealing with anxiety will help you avoid depression and its effects.

But how should Christians deal with anxiety?

By Praying

The first and best way to deal with your anxious thoughts is to pray.  See,  only God can give you rest.  He is the only one who knows what you need and how you can get it.  Go to him in prayer and pour out your heart to him. (1Peter 5:7)

Some people believe that we should not tell God how we feel. But when you look at some of the prayers in Psalms, you see the Psalmist pouring his heart out to God when he was depressed. Don’t act fine or hold back,  tell God exactly how you feel.  He can handle all the troubles of your heart. (Psalm 42:4)

Read the Word

It is hard to read the word when you are depressed, but it is the best thing to do because it is only in knowing what God says about your situation that you are able to become strong in faith. If you do not stand firm in the word of God, you will become a victim of Satan’s lies.  Study the Word,  meditate on it and use it to fight against the lies of the enemy. (Proverbs 12:25)

Talk to someone

At times we are too anxious that we fail to listen to the voice of God.  A spiritual friend or leader will help you deal with anxiety.  They may be the channel through which God will use to reach you and heal your soul.

Praise God

Yes,  you may look at praise as part of prayer, but most of us only tell God our problems when we pray.  Praise means focusing on God irrespective of what is happening to you. David encouraged himself in the Lord through prayer. So stop looking at your situation. Do not allow thoughts of anxiety to flood your mind.  Take them captive and choose to praise God.  Focus on how big God is and not how big the problem is. (Psalm 118: 1-18)

Though we are believers, we struggle with wrong thoughts from time to time.  Anxiety is not something that should be taken lightly. Turn to God,  praise him,  talk to a friend, and encourage yourself in the Lord through scriptures and songs. God loves you even when you are anxious, turn your cares to him, and he will help you.