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10 Practical Ways To Put Your Trust In The Lord

by Sarah Crockett
written by Sarah Crockett

A very important question we must ask ourselves is, “Do you put your trust in the Lord?” Do we, in each area of our lives, trust God above everything else? Or have we put our trust in someone or something other than Him? The answer to this question is very telling of the condition of our hearts.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) provides the command we are given, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t put your trust in the Lord fully. Romans 3:23 brings comfort, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” No one is exempt from missing the mark, but there is hope!  

Our hope is found in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus made a way! He fills in the gaps where we’ve missed the mark!

10 Practical Ways To Put Your Trust In The Lord

In response to what Jesus has done, we can aim to love Him by learning to put our full trust in Him.  He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) and it only makes sense that you choose to put your trust in the Lord. Jesus will show you the way in any circumstance. He can reveal the truth in any situation and He wants to give you abundant life. As believing believers, it’s time to truly, one hundred percent, put your trust in the Lord.

If you’re not sure where to start here are some practical ways to exercise and grow your trust muscle, regardless of the area of your life you need to surrender.

#1 – Choose Faith

Hebrews 11:6 ESV – “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

Faith is the key to accessing all the Jesus purchased on the cross. It is how we choose to believe that what God says is more true than any other voice we might be hearing…and that includes our own voice. Jesus calls us to have faith like a child and childlike faith doesn’t analyze or overthink. Instead, childlike faith says, “Yes Lord” or as Mary said, “may it be as you have said” (Luke 1:38). Chooses faith

#2 – Be Holy

1 Peter 1:14-16 ESV – “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

We are called to be holy or set apart. This is accomplished by obeying God’s Word. If you’re not sure how to live according to God’s Word in some area of your life get into the Word and find out what He says and begin living according to His commands. Remember, He is FOR you and not against you!

#3 – Choose Strength

Nehemiah 8:10 NIV – “Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ ”

Do you feel weak? That’s ok because the Lord wants to provide you with His strength. It’s not something you have to muster up. Instead, it’s something you receive from Him through joy.  He wants His joy to be your strength. Joy is not a feeling or emotion, its a substance that we can receive from the Lord!

#4 – Choose Truth

John 8:31-32 NIV – “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ ”

When we feel stuck and are trusting ourselves more than we are trusting God, choosing to believe truth will set us free. It is a promise Jesus gave to us in John 8:32, “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” In order to get free, in order to put your trust in the Lord, you need to spend time with the Word Himself (John 1:14). Getting the truth inside your heart will set you free to trust Him!

#5 – Trust In The Mystery

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.“

Isn’t that comforting?! The Word of God, here in Proverbs, is telling us not to lean on our understanding. We don’t have to understand! That should set some of us free. When you put your trust in the Lord, you don’t have to worry because He’s got your back. He has your best interest in mind. The Lord Himself has plans to prosper you (Jeremiah 29:11). Choose to step into the freedom of trusting in the mystery and let go of trusting your own understanding!

#6 – Choose Hope

Romans 15:13 NIV – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

When you choose to put your trust in the Lord, He steps in and fills you with hope, joy, and peace. Isn’t it amazing what choosing to put our hope and trust in Him results in? It’s not just a good idea, but a promise from the Word of God!

#7 – Choose Obedience

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Another way to put your trust in the Lord is to obey His commands.  We’ve been given the Word of God, the recorded commands of the Lord, to live our lives. But the Bible is MORE than a book. John 1:14 reminds us that “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” We’re not following good information! When we obey the Word of God we are following the truths given to us directly from Jesus Himself, for He is the Word!

#8 – Be Filled

Ephesians 5:15-19 NIV – “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord”

We are not on our own and we don’t have to do life trying to connect with a far away Father. He has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and can fill us with His power and presence every day!

Will you choose to put your trust in the Lord?  You can! Put these eight practical and biblical truths into practice to grow your trust in the Lord today.

 

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gathering together
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Oh Come, Let Us Adore Him: The Simplicity Of Gathering Together This Christmas

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

Gathering together this Christmas might seem like another exhausting thing to schedule for.  For the most part, we live really isolated, egocentric lives. Many families today function on a 9-5 schedule: getting everyone up and out of the house before the morning has truly begun, traveling to work and school, hurrying to activities, and rushing through meals to get in bed in time to do it all again the next day. This is truly no way to live. I put together this week’s blog to encourage you to slow down this Christmas and simply share a meal with someone. Do it without games, phones, activities or distractions. Do it uncomfortable. Plan a simple meal, and gather with other believers this week.

“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,” (Acts 2:46)

The early church gathered, as described in Acts chapter 2. They were of one accord. Living vulnerably with one another. Sharing meals, stories, hopes, and struggles. I believe this is God’s design and hope for us as believers. But in our increasingly individualistic culture of the west, it’s up to us to make the effort.

Jesus sharing meals

“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ” (Mark 2:15)

I love the passages of scripture when Jesus is described eating with his followers. When reading these, I picture him so relaxed, at ease, and present. I’m sure He possessed an endless amount of things to think upon and worry about, but He chose to sit with others, breaking bread with them. This teaches us that there is something profoundly significant about this pause…this position of rest. One that makes room for others to show up. And one that serves.

Opening our vulnerabilities

“And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:14-15)

Like Jesus at the last super, sharing a meal together can open us up emotionally. Let this happen! There’s something vulnerable and wonderful about sharing a meal with others. Whether it’s because you prepared it, or simply in the act of eating, coming together over a dinner table softens us. You have permission to let your defenses and walls down. To connect with those in front of you, answer questions honestly, and truly enjoy the time spent. When we open our vulnerabilities, we choose to not go through the motions, but dig deeper. It is from this place that I believe joy and contentment are found with one another.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)

Gathering together this Christmas

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Choosing to come together might feel easy to you. Maybe you’re an extrovert, or simply really enjoy hosting people. Think about your most recent time with others. It could be your spouse, kids, or peers from work. When you spend time with one another, do you leave feeling more connected? I’ve personally struggled with feeling like the time I spend with my family isn’t fulfilling. A lack of connection usually stems from not truly feeling seen or known by others. Like our relationship with Jesus, if we aren’t sharing honestly, with genuine interest for one another…things become routine. They become boring.

So as you prepare for the holiday buzz, the numerous dinner parties, and family events. I want to leave you with a challenge: what would it look like to intentionally prepare for these gatherings? Prepare you heart to love, your mind to inquire, and your actions to love? Would it look like asking Holy Spirit for questions to ask those you’re with? Or maybe bringing a blessing with you to give to another? Not out of obligation, but out of love.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Gathering together to reconnect

Our transparency before the Lord is the most important thing. From this place, we encourage and edify those around us. Gathering together this Christmas might look extravagant, with a huge, beautiful party. Or, it might be really simple. With a few who come together, share their hearts sincerely, honoring God. Neither is superior; they both hold value. But if you make you core purpose to be focused on Him, adoration will stir up out of your spirit. When we allow God to fill all that we are, we have something to offer the people in our lives–His presence. Once of the most precious gifts we’ve ever been given. Suddenly, you will find your self supporting those around you. Offering strength where your peers might have weakness, and building the body in God’s design.

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Oh come, let us adore Him

Gathering together is choice we make. This season, let’s gather–not out of obligation, but from rest. From a place to give. Just as Jesus reclined with others, let the meals we share in our homes bring peace, hope, and light.

I am praying for you this week, as you plan and gather together: that your heart would be filled with God’s sweet presence, and that you would have supernatural connection and vulnerability with those you speak with each day.

I love the invitation in this song. And I love that it’s not a “me” but an “us”. Power lies in our gathering together. Our adoration not only invites heaven all around us, but shakes the pits of hell. Adoring is devotion. It’s a confession of oneness that we get to choose! What a gift. And how sweet it is to know that Jesus chose us first. So come, let us adore Him this Christmas season.

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17)

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Fill Your Home With The Peace And Transformation Of God’s Word

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

Are you aware of the power of your choice to invite the transformation of God’s word into your home? Whether you own a home, travel constantly, or rent with loud neighbors all around, the spaces you dwell in are meant to host God’s presence. As a believer in Jesus, He actually lives inside of you! How incredible is that? With this knowledge, you get to bring heaven into every area of your life–including our home! Filling your home with God’s word invites Jesus, the Word of God, to show up and make Himself known. Today’s article discusses the importance of this, check it out below.

Life and death in the power of your tongue

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21)

God has given us an incredible gift–free will. And what we choose to do with it sets the scene for every other area of our life. One of these facets is what we choose to speak–to ourselves, to others, and even our environments. Have you ever entered a grocery store or even a friend or family member’s home and just felt…uneasy? Maybe anxious, angry, or irritable? For me, there are several places that come to mind. Holy Spirit taught me how to combat these feelings from a place of rest–His rest–through the word. So instead of going into a place and succumbing to what everyone else around me was feeling, I could enter strong and spiritually “armored”.

The armor of God

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-17)

When we allow the transformation of God’s word to penetrate our hearts, it will ripple into every place we go. One of the most important places this happens is in our home.

How are we filling our home with God’s word?

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

God’s word is living and active. It’s been with Him from the beginning. In fact, the bible tells us that Jesus is the the Word of God, that came to earth to dwell among us. Knowing this, what are some ways you can steward Jesus’s presence in your home? Here are some simple ideas:

  • choose a weekly scripture to display in the kitchen or living space, that everyone can read
  • put sticky notes with scripture on your children or roommate’s bedroom doors
  • keep your bible open and near your bed

By doing simple things like this, you can ensure God’s word isn’t sitting on a shelf collecting dust, but it’s being applied to your day to day life. None of these things replace the daily time spent in meditating on the bible, but they add more deposits of Jesus to your day.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

An invitation for our participation

Knowing our heavenly authority to engage with God’s presence, inviting His word into our homes lays the foundation for ourselves and our families. When we pray God’s word, we are filling our mouths and bodies with His truth for our lives. And the more we do this in our home, we actually access the transforming power of His truth in our home, neighborhood, and community. Perhaps more importantly, we engage with His truth in the depths of our hearts. As a spouse, this centers our marriage. As parents, this influences our children. We get to choose to engage with the transformation of God’s word, filling our hearts and homes with more of Him.

Cultivating atmospheres of heavenly presence

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Remind your heart of God’s truth for your life. Incredibly, the hope that we possess in Him can touch every part of our lives. The idea of cultivating atmospheres of God’s heavenly presence might sound…peculiar. But all throughout the bible are instances of Jesus making himself known to us (in our homes, with other believers, even with Paul while He was imprisoned!) When we invite the transformation of God’s word into our homes, we are really inviting Jesus. He brings miracles, healing, and transformation!

When Jesus appears to us

I love the song When You Walk Into The Room. It captures the beauty, wonder, and fresh breath of being in the presence of God. As you listen, read the excerpts I placed below. Consider how every time Jesus encounters someone in scripture, they were impacted. He touches our physical bodies, our hearts, minds, and entire lives! I pray that as engage with your family, you don’t just talk about the Lord. I pray you encounter His tangible, healing presence, in your home.

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.” (Matthew 9:35)

Jesus heals a servant

“When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.

I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.” (Matthew 8:5-13)

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The Secret To Showing Up, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

Showing up to the life around us is becoming increasingly more difficult. We have the opportunity to be distracted by technology, endless scrolling on social media, and more information that we could ever need or have the capacity to review. If we do not choose to be present, life will simply happen to us. Nonetheless, it seems that more and more people are weary of their lives. Because of exhaustion and an abundance of information that has the potential to bombard us, it’s become easy to disregard our need for authentic community. Even more, we have ever excuse to not prioritize showing up for the  community around us.

Choosing to be present in our lives must become a priority for us, for we know that as believers, there is strength in our togetherness. We build each other up through our presence in one another’s lives. There is no secret to showing up; it simply must become a priority in our minds. Through habit, we can create lives that are presence-filled, despite where our feelings land.

Read on to learn some of the ways to develop mindsets that ensure you show up, despite how you might feel.

Avoid being led by your feelings

While our feelings are great indicators of what’s happening in our hearts, they are not meant to be our leaders. Not only are our feelings a terrible guide to our lives, but they’ll take us only to what feels “good” instead of where we have been called to be. In order to do this, you must plan your days, instead of simply letting them happen to you. Commit to yourself and your family the things that are most important for you…and stick to them! By having commitments in place for community and being present with those in your life, you’ll keep yourself accountable, despite how you feel. When doing this, it’s important to still consider how your heart is doing and what you are feeling (it does matter!)

Using wisdom to know when to stick to your commitments and when to say no, for example, is an invaluable tool that is learned over time. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in this area!

Find the right people

The ones who you can be totally yourself with. The friends who love honestly and biblically. When showing up feels the most challenging, having people in your corner who encourage, inspire, and pour into you makes all the difference! These are the friends who become family; the ones who let you come exactly as you are. They are the friends that we look forward to seeing, not because we have it all together, but because they want us just as we are. Having the right people in your corner to call you higher is one of the most life-giving experiences.

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)

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

Sowing seeds for tomorrow

The bible makes it clear that when we live for our eternal purpose, we will reap reward. It can be so natural to only keep vision on merely the days we are in. To get stuck in a sort of survival mode. I want to challenge you: ask the Holy Spirit for guidance for the days in front of you! Jesus has vision for your life far beyond what you could ever ask, think, or imagine. When we set our eyes on what’s to come, we begin to live much more intentionally. The mundane woes of our days that could distract begin to fall behind the real purpose of our lives. Sow of your spirit, not your flesh, and begin to see God move in the midst of you. The sowing is more than worth it!

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:7-10)

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Remember eternal purpose

As you sow, stay set on your eternal purpose. Showing up today isn’t about just today–it’s about the things of the Spirit that you get to take part in. Your true life is hidden in Jesus, the author and perfector of your faith. Keeping our eyes on where He’s guiding us and what He’s saying to us helps us remember our purpose. Stay delighted on the Lord’s nearness to you and experience fulfillment in the deepest places of your heart!

“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)

Showing up for today

So what does showing up for today look like? After you’ve found the community you need, commit to the weekly or monthly gatherings…how do you ensure you actually follow through?

Practically, we plan and schedule. We get around the people who reach out, and we reach out to them. If you’re wanting to get in the habit of regularly attending church, a bible study, or home group, set and asses your priorities. Decide what’s more important to you, and live accordingly. Sometimes, we have to cut things out of our lives that are no longer serving us. With limited capacities, showing up for your day must be intentional. If you need help in this area, ask Jesus to lead and guide you. He promises that He is the way! Following Him will never lead Him astray. Learning to grow in His voice will always lead you closer to your purpose in Him.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5-11)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

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cultivate a thriving community
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5 Ways To Cultivate A Thriving Community: The Transforming Power Of Vulnerability

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

The power of vulnerability within community is found in our choosing to make intentional decisions to connect.

Brené Brown’s definition of vulnerability captures the concept well for the purpose of today’s topic. According to Brown, vulnerability is “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. But vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our most accurate measure of courage.” The space that opens inside our hearts when we choose to be vulnerable is one that cannot be accessed any other way. Because of this, many people choose to not be vulnerable with one another out of fear. But as followers of Jesus, we know we have not been given a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Like anything with risk, the greater risk and emotional exposure we choose to engage in, the greater the reward. This is where courage comes in. Deciding to be courageous doesn’t necessarily mean going skydiving or public speaking in front of thousands of people. In the context of community, courage looks like being vulnerable, open, and honest. It looks like choosing to show up, commit yourself to connection, and loving those around you like Jesus would.

As believers, I believe the power of vulnerability can transform the world around us. Coming into authentic relationships where we are fully seen and known mimics the heart of Father God’s desire for relationship with us.

1. Cultivate a thriving community of believers

Living authentically with those in our churches and families is crucial for a fruitful life. Our inner circles, the people we choose to spend the most time with, are who sharpen and refine us. If you’ve found yourself in a place where community feels stagnant, difficult, or not worth it: I want to encourage you. You get to be the friend that you desire to have. If there isn’t consistency in your friendships in the way that you’d like, chose to change that! It doesn’t have to be complicated; simply see who is right in front of you, and choose to pour into them with encouragement and time. These two things are the recipe for community. Host them, read the word together, and do life with one another. Break bread and connect through intentional conversations. Put Jesus in the center of it all, choosing to give where you might be lacking.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

2. Make a commitment to go deep

This is a commitment that many of us must learn to do, and that’s okay! Going deep taps into the power of vulnerability because it doesn’t allow us to stay superficial. At some point, we will run out of talking about the weather, one another, or our jobs. And we then get to decide if we will ask connecting questions, and in return, provide authentic answers. A commitment to go deep doesn’t mean you have to tell your entire life story the first, or even second time you hang out with someone. But it does mean that you will allow your heart to go there eventually. And that you will choose to not stay hidden among friends or family. But instead, let yourself be seen and known. Just as we connect with Father God, the vulnerability of our relationship is a deep as we choose to make it. If this feels scary for you, a great place to start is with our heavenly Father. He knows everything about us, even promising to meet with us in the depths of hell. And even still, He’s eager to connect

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

3. Become intentional with your time

What we do with our time reveals what we value. Living intentional days frees us to cultivate our communities. There are a few ways to simplify what makes community feel so difficult. Identity friends who live nearby and try to schedule monthly dinners or game-nights. Put them on the calendar and make it a priority to attend your commitments. Take turns hosting, cooking, or planning the times you spend with friends. Dividing the efforts makes space to both give and receive hospitality, making spending time with one another practical for your family.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace…” (1 Peter 4:8-10)

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

4. Choose to stay, despite differences

Our commitment to one another goes so much further than shared interests. When we have differences or disagreements with those we love, we have a choice. We can choose to leave, or we can do the hard thing. Staying can be hard. In fact, it can be easier at times to simply pull away, slowly leaving the relationship instead of pressing through conflict to the other side. The truth is that the other side of conflict possesses an even deeper connection.  As a culture, we are used to quick and easy. But as humans, our design is for longevity with one another. Even when examining the covenant of marriage, we know that God honors and values love that chooses to stay. Instead of evading hard conversations or conflict, learn to connect despite differences. It is in this connection we develop rich and fulfilling friendships.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

5. Accept that the power of vulnerability will take time

Close friendships and healthy, functioning bodies of believers do not happen overnight. They require hours and years of time spent with one another. Choosing who you want to cultivate community with is not an overnight decision. Anticipating that cultivating a thriving community will take time and prevent disappointment in the growing seasons. Remember that the daily seeds you sow into being in community will pay off in the end. Choosing to develop a community is an act of vulnerability and courage. If you have been hurt from the process of friendship with others, putting yourself out there can be a faith walk. God can lead you into developing relationships each step of the way.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Jesus at the center of it all

Jesus is in the midst of our gathering. He wants to become the center of our communities and entire lives. Here are a few simple prayers to pray as you invite Jesus to reign in your relationships through the power of vulnerability:

  • Holy Spirit, guide the conversations I have with my friends today
  • Holy Spirit, teach me to be authentic with you and those you’ve placed in my life
  • God, how can I love my community or family well today?
  • Jesus, show up in our gatherings this month in tangible ways.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20)

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rest in what God speaks
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How To Rest In What God Speaks To You

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

When we rest in what God speaks, we teach our hearts how to live in complete peace. At its core, rest is trust. It is a knowing. It’s trusting completely in who God says He is and what He says is true. Oxford dictionary defines trust as “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” We know that God’s word is the foundation for our lives. Have you ever had moments where God speaks to you, but it feels too…unreal? Or impossible? Maybe you’ve been waiting to see His word to you come to pass for years. Friend, I want to encourage you to rest in what God speaks. Not because of the reward on the other side of your rest, but because He is a good Father. Check out this week’s article for 5 practical ways to rest deeper in His promises to you. Whether they are huge milestone promises for your life, or the simple “mundane” promises of this season, they are important to Him!

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

What is rest?

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Rest isn’t just lying on the couch for the afternoon or taking a vacation. It’s a position of our hearts. When we rest our spirits in Yeshua’s life-giving presence, we experience rest in our everyday. To achieve this rest, we must shift our mindsets out of “doing” things for God into just “being” with Him.

Remind yourself often

Living in a state of remembrance renews hope. In places where you may have forgotten or become doubtful, reminding yourself of what God speaks is true. Perhaps more importantly, bringing your heart back to the very moment He spoke it. Training your spirit to continue to access the moment of your promise keeps you settled. It ensures the foundation of your life is steadied on the Lord.

Place your promises in heavy traffic areas of your home, in your car, backpack or purse. Choose to become familiar with the promise of God’s word to you!

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 3:3)

Share it with those you love

It can be scary to share. Sometimes telling others is a step of faith in and of itself. This telling–this confession–helps us to rest in what God speaks. When we choose to share, we open our hearts to our spouse, friends, and family. They have the opportunity to partner their faith with ours. And from a place of rest, we can demonstrate for others what it looks like to have true, lasting peace in Jesus. Once you share with those in your life, God’s word for you will become more real and tangible. Even more, you now have accountability and other’s to remind you of it.

“3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,” (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Fall into His word, not your circumstance

Chose to continue to fall back on His word, despite what’s happening around you. Acknowledge what is hard and difficult, but don’t stay there. Stay on His word. There will always be reasons, roadblocks, and places where doubt will try to seep in. Our faith, joy, and assurance is not in these outward circumstances, but His word.

“And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-24)

Remember His promises to others

“ But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you.” (Genesis 6:18-19)

One of my favorite biblical figures is Noah. His obedience to God and radical faith inspires me. Before a flood ever occurred, He faithfully built an ark to house his family and the creatures meant to survive God washing the land anew. From rest, he believed what God said would come to pass. God fulfilled his word to him, but Noah still played a crucial, active role in seeing it come to pass. He wasn’t passive in resting in what God spoke to Him. He took action. And in doing this, involved His entire family.

Similar to Noah, Moses too trusted God from a place of rest. At each command and direction the Lord spoke to Moses, he choose to press forward. There was hesitation and anxiety at times, but He stayed with the word of the Lord. There is so much power to staying. To continuing to say “yes” even when it doesn’t make sense.

“And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”” (Exodus 33:14)

A prayer for you

Father, thank you for this reader and your beloved child. Would you come near to them this week, as the Prince of Peace? Show them what true rest alongside you looks like. Reveal to their hearts the treasure of resting in your word no matter what. Amen!

Consider these 5 scriptures this week

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7)

“Do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 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 40:28-30)

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3 Ways To Take Risks And See Fruit This New Year

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

When we take risks, we tell God we trust Him. Having fear when we decide to follow God’s voice in our life can be common. But that doesn’t mean that it has to be normal or expected. Sometimes it’s easier to let the noise of the world, other’s opinions, and even our own insecurities lead us. But as believers, we know Jesus calls us to follow Him alone. So those “normal” feelings don’t have to be what leads us…God’s spirit can!

“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6)

Jonah’s call

Consider Jonah’s story. When God’s word reached him, instructing that he go to Nineveh, he fled. He tried to run from God. Maybe you relate to Jonah. Maybe you’ve avoided what God has whispered to you for your life. Friend, be encouraged. God is faithful to finish what He has started in you! No running, storms, or roadblocks along the way can prevent God’s will from happening for your life.

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:1-2)

Even after being inside to belly of a fish, Jonah made it to Nineveh to proclaim what God instructed Him to. There is a gift in our obedience–not just staying in alignment with God’s word, but seeing the Holy Spirit move. Rest assured, the Holy Spirit inside of you will lead you where you are meant to be. Take risks with your faith this year and see where God takes you! In this week’s article, I break down several ways we can stay faithful (through our risks) and see supernatural fruit grow inside our lives. For this year, and all that are ahead for us…let’s learn to see fruit through our risk taking!

1. Abide in Jesus

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:1-8)

We can do nothing apart from Him

I love Jesus’s word here in the book of John. It provides beautiful imagery of what it looks like to bear and sustain fruit. Abiding in Jesus is a guarenteed way we will see His fruit in our lives. Consider the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Do any stand out to you? Choose a few that you know you’d like to develop this year. Begin to asses your life: where are the areas you experience frustration? Perhaps there is a fruit the Holy Spirit wants to bear inside of you as you remain with Jesus. This isn’t something to be ashamed about–we are on an ever-evolving journey of growth with our Good Father. He desires to grow himself inside of us in richer ways day by day and week by week.

2. Hear and understand the word

“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)

Hiding God’s word in our hearts is crucial for our walk with Jesus–the living Word! It doesn’t matter if we are 5 months, 5 years, or 5 decades into our faith. The word of God is a limitless well where we can receive revelation, peace, and God’s living presence! As we engage with the word, we don’t have to just skim or memorize what it’s saying…we have the opportunity to meet with Jesus in the pages of our bibles! This is where understanding comes from.

A prayer to incorporate for your time in the word: “Holy Spirit, give me eyes to see the truth you are speaking. Reveal to my heart your power and correction over today’s scripture. Help me to hide your word deep in my heart.”

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

3. Plan to take risks by faith

At the end of your life, you will have the chance to reflect back upon your life and measure the faith that you chose to walk out. Our life on earth is just a vapor. Our faith is what propels us to seeing captives set free, lost sheep come home, and our bodies and families healed. So the question is…what do you want to believe for this year? What radical, supernatural miracle do you want to witness God do? Maybe, for you, a supernatural move of God looks like restoration in your marriage or family. Or maybe it’s a cancer diagnosis coming back completely healthy. Whether it’s a healed body or the miracle of living in communion with Jesus, day by day, I encourage you to write it down. Get specific and messy before Jesus as you plan. What are the risks you want to take with Jesus? If risks feels like a tricky word, remember that you aren’t running off to Ninevah alone. Jesus is with you.

A practical step

Set some goals this year. Get alone with God and ask that He show you where He’s preparing to prune you. Anticipate how those risks might look like for you, and most importantly, ask Holy Spirit to help you accomplish them.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)
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anticipating the birth of Jesus
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Anticipating The Birth Of Jesus: The Prophetic Significance Of His Life

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

Throughout scripture, passages and figures are anticipating the birth of Jesus. All of history waited for the birth of the King. I’ve put together just a few scriptures that connect the prophetic utterances of the coming King to the fruition of His birth. As you read through these, I pray for utter amazement at the anticipation that generations held for the birth of Christ. Let these passages remind you of the significance of the life of Jesus, the greatest gift God has ever given us.

Through Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, the Magi, Zechariah, Simeon, the prophet Anna, let the passages from this post edify and encourage you this week. Jesus sits on the throne!

Anticipating the birth of Jesus

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

God’s promise to Mary

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,  to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:26-37)

Joseph obeying the Lord

I love how God confirms His word here through an angel and later through Elizabeth. Even more, it’s incredible that an angel both appeared to Mary and Joseph, ultimately releasing God’s word over them both. The stars confirmed God’s promise to distant Magi, who traveled to see the Prince of peace. God moved with complete clarity upon His people who were anticipating of the birth of Jesus.

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:18-21)

The visiting Magi

This Psalm and passage in the book of Matthew pair the psalmists declarations with what actually occurred–The Magi did come to visit the Messiah, bearing treasures to offer him:

“May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.” (Psalm 72:10)

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”…On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:1-2, 2:11)

Simeon and Anna

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34-35)

“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. ..And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36, 38)

Knowing God as sons and daughters

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

I want to encourage you to get together with your family this week. Pick one of these passages to read and talk through. There is wonderful power in remembering the stories of Christ. Because they aren’t just stories–they’re his life. The man we still have access to today. God created our hearts to connect to Him, like Mary, Joseph, and the prophets mentioned above. So much so that Jesus has made for himself a home in us!

Each Christmas, my husband and I read the Christmas story aloud. As we welcome our son into his first Christmas this year, we will continue this tradition. Being sure to point out the prophetic significance of anticipating the birth of Jesus. We share the same longing that the prophets and psalmists possessed. God created us to know Him deeply as His children.

A prayer for you

As we near Christmas Day, I hope your time with the Lord is sweet and cherished. I pray for the gatherings you share with peers and colleagues. May God’s presence thicken itself over you this December, urging you to remember: He is so close.

Scripture to meditate on this season

“He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” (1 Peter 1:20)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:25-26)

“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)

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3 Ways To Behold Jesus This Advent Season

by Lauren Koch
written by Lauren Koch

What does it mean to behold Jesus?

Beholding Him means much more than merely looking. It means to gaze upon or keep, possess or obtain. When we behold Jesus, we keep Him close. We keep Him with us. Beholding requires that we pause, that we draw our attention towards something. This Advent, as you anticipate the holidays, and truly immerse yourself in the rest, life, and connection this season brings, focus your heart to behold Jesus. He longs for belonging with you.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

Read below for 3 practical ways to keep Jesus close this Christmas season.

1. Anticipate His birth

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

Consider Mary, who spent her entire pregnancy in anticipation for this child of hers. Immaculately conceiving the savior of the world, Mary possessed a profound experience of anticipation. Not only did she wait to see the God fulfill His promise sent to her (throughout her pregnancy), but spent the entirety of Jesus’s life waiting, in anticipation, for how the world might behold her son.

Maybe you identify with Mary in her waiting. With the holiday season, there comes an increased awareness of the “what-if’s” and things we consider lacking in our lives. Are you longing for a child, a miracle, or even an outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Maybe you’re longing for someone in your family to be saved. I want to encourage your heart today: behold Jesus. Trust that He is who He says He is. When we, like Mary, believe that God will fulfill what He speaks, we no longer have to worry about our timelines or agendas for our lives. We can trust Jesus.

“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” (Micah 7:7)

Communion

This December, as we approach Christmas Day, intentionally prepare your heart of the wonder Mary too experienced. Even a few intentional moments of taking communion remind us of the miracle of Him coming to earth. As we do this, we train our body to taste and experience Him in a way our spirits cannot. We teach ourselves to anticipate Him through our physical sense. We develop trust in our anticipation. When the promise has yet to be fulfilled, when the world mocks us, when nothing makes sense, we discover trust. We learn to behold Jesus–not because of what He has done, but because of who He is.

“Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26)

2. Engage with His voice

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Jesus coming into our present reality is the greatest gift we have been given. He put on our humanity to experience life alongside us–as one of us–both fully man and God. If you have felt misunderstood this year, Jesus gets you! Not only does He know everything about you, but He’s experienced the living reality we endure as people.

This season, choose to engage with the voice of truth, His voice. He longs to know you. To be in relationship with you, just where you’re at. His loves is waiting for you.

Some practical ways to behold Jesus through engaging with His voice:

  • Ask Him specific questions while driving, shopping, or working. Listen for His responses and write them down to reference later.
  • Make an effort to just share about your day and ask that He make clear any direction or thing you should know
  • Start a prayer journal and set a daily 5 minute timer to write your requests and anything your heart needs to let go of

“And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (John 12:44-45)

3. Recall who He’s been

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” (Psalm 77:11)

Advent is often about reflecting. Considering your life, relationships, and connection to God. A practical and beautiful way to reflect is to recall who Jesus has been to you. Behold Jesus through your remembrance. Not only will you stir your heart with fresh hope and joy of your history together, you will be led to consider how you might give to others as you’ve been given to. The beauty of recalling who Jesus has been to us personally empowers our ability to give. Wonderfully, when our hearts are aligned with His presence, we suddenly have everything we need. Instead of looking upon things and people, we see Him for who He is and who He has always been. We behold Jesus.

A great way to recall who He’s been is creating a running journal entry where you simply remember. Maybe start back to the beginning, when you first tasted His love. Recall where your heart and life were. What did your day-to-day life look like then? How did His love show up and transform you from the inside out? From this place, more and more awareness of His goodness will come to your mind. Psalm 22:3 tells us that Jesus inhabits the praises of His people. As you thank and praise Jesus, he will inhabit those very words and circumstances once again.

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

“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)

Set your intention

As you consider these three ways to behold Jesus this advent, steer your heart to set intention of the practices you want to incorporate, and the things you’d like to let go of. Though the calendar year may be ending, you always have the opportunity to start fresh. Let this advent be a breath of fresh air for you–where you aren’t looking at the past or the future, but simply beholding Jesus as Lord, and actively seeking His heart for your life.

I pray you are blessed this Christmas with hope–the kind that abounds and touches everything and everyone around. And I pray that the conversations you share with the Lord impact you richly. This season can be about slowing down. It can be about connection, intimacy, and vulnerability with the Lord.

“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)

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