A Different Kind of Hunger: Fasting to Increase Our Faith→

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A Different Kind of Hunger: Fasting to Increase Our Faith

I’m honored to be a guest at Living By Design. You can read an excerpt below and follow the link to read the full article.

It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done––but I did it. I completed a 21-day Daniel Fast for the first time. 

Choosing to abstain from meat, dairy, and sugar was difficult, but it increased my faith in ways I never expected.

After a season of grief and unending trials, I felt disjointed and stagnant in my soul. My health was suffering from bad food choices and a lack of discipline. 

Along with that, I was praying some big prayers––for the healing of a loved one, direction in my writing ministry, and salvation for lost family members. 

One day, kneeling with my forehead resting on my Bible, the Spirit …

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Anchored in the Names of God || Part 4

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Anchored in the Names of God || Part 4

Today, we are wrapping up the series on the names of God. I pray that your heart, like mine, is securely anchored to our Lord and Savior as we become more intimately acquainted with Him.

Although we have not exhausted the list of names for God found in Scripture, this series has reminded me that no matter the circumstance or need that I have, our Father is in it, working through it, and supplying it. I pray that discovering His names does the same for you.

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How Turning to Jesus Banishes Fear

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How Turning to Jesus Banishes Fear

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Fear is a constant battle for me.

I heard someone say, “What you stare at becomes bigger.” I nodded in agreement. It’s hard not to feed fear when all I see are the ways a situation can go wrong. That’s when I resort to planning and manipulating in an effort to control the situation. I convince myself that it’s up to me to avoid disaster. And sometimes I will take myself out of the scenario completely. I sit on the sidelines and watch others do life, and I ultimately miss out.

When I was in grammar school, my classmates and I would regularly gather on the playground for a game of softball. I was careful to never take a position that required expertise because to say I was a terrible player is an understatement. Sauntering to the outfield, I would get out as far as possible hoping to avoid participation. But inevitably, the ball miraculously found its way straight to me.

“Catch it! Catch it!” my teammates yelled. And just when I reached for the ball, all I could focus on was how it became more and more massive upon its approach. It’s going to hit me. Land on the top of my head. Knock me out. And leave a mountain-sized lump. Thoughts swirled in my mind. And as fear overtook me, I shut my eyes and ducked out of the ball's path.

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