You’re Not Falling Behind

Are you a fan of “new?” New things can be exciting and unsettling at the same time. Is there anything new in your life? New school, new job, new relationship, new responsibilities, new challenges? Everything new brings a certain… uncertainty. Sometimes the hardest thing about anything new is the fear of facing it alone.

In Exodus 33, God invited Moses to do something new and wildly outside of his comfort zone. Moses is unsure and anxious. He goes back and forth with God a couple times but each time, God assures Moses, “I will be with you.” (v.12) 

God may be sending you somewhere new but He’s not giving these instructions from a distance. He goes with you. 

So, if you’re stepping into something new today like a conversation or decision, God walks with you. Not standing behind you, pushing you forward or yelling from a distance. God goes with you. 

If you want to pray before stepping into something new, we have a guided prayer for you below:

Growth rarely feels comfortable. Growing pains are called growing pains for a reason! Either literally or figuratively, growth is stretching and sometimes slow or frustrating. When growth happens in a difficult season, you can wonder, “is anything good actually coming from this?” 

James, one of the authors in the Bible, tells us that followers of Jesus can have joy whenever you face trials because these tests can strengthen your faith and actually produce perseverance. God doesn’t waste a single moment in a difficult season. (James 1:2-4)

When we avoid difficult things in life, we might be avoiding something God is leading us towards. He uses these things to form you into who He’s calling you to become. When you go there with Him, be confident He’ll create in you resilience, character and faith. Take this one thought with you: God uses challenges to shape something good in you. 

If you’re feeling these growing pains with God, we’ve created a prayer for you below:

Holiness means set apart. Different. The angels know this, and it’s why they sing “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty,” in Isaiah 6:3. God is completely pure, completely good, and completely different from us. Where we fall short and sin, God remains perfect and sinless. 

Intimidating? Maybe a little. But here’s why holiness is good news: it’s the reason evil loses. It’s the reason justice prevails. It’s the reason a relationship with God is possible. 

A holy God means sin is real and a big deal. A holy God also loves us enough to do something about it. Take this one truth with you: God’s holiness is the guarantee that evil will not win. If you want a prayer to thank God for being holy, pray with us through the prayer below:

How would you define hope? It’s ok if you don’t have a definition. You probably use that word a lot, though. Hope can be hard to describe, but even harder to live without. Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say about Hope and where real, lasting hope can be found. Spoiler alert: it’s Jesus. 

Hebrews 6:19 says that hope is “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Imagine an anchor when you think about hope. Anchors do two things: they keep boats from drifting, and they keep them stable in storms. Isn’t that what we long for in the storms of life? A little more certainty and stability?

If you hope in anything or anyone other than Jesus, don’t be surprised if you feel a little seasick. Tossed back and forth by the waves of life. But if you tie your hope to Jesus, a firm and secure anchor for our souls, don’t be surprised if He gives you what your soul longs for: hope. Hope doesn’t deny your uncertainty. Hope reminds you that you can be stable with Jesus. Here’s your one thought today: hope anchors you when life is unstable. If you want a prayer to anchor you today, keep reading.

We tend to call something a blessing when it makes life easier. But what if that’s too small a definition? Be open to a blessing in the form of change, responsibility, or growth that you didn’t ask for but desperately need. God often blesses in ways that stretch us. And we can be thankful for this because when He does, our faith deepens and our character forms. Romans 5 says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”

So here’s your one takeaway: Some of God’s greatest blessings will stretch you before they settle you. If you want to pray about seeing God’s goodness even when life feels messy, we have a guided prayer for you below:

You don’t need a new year, new month, or new job to start over. Sometimes you just need a reminder: new isn’t as far away as it may feel. Lamentations 3:23 says that God’s mercies are “new every morning.” Think about where you’re struggling, where you’re longing for a fresh start, where you’re looking for forgiveness. Now think about how far away tomorrow morning it. 

Every sunrise is proof that God hasn’t given up on you. There’s forgiveness, God’s love, and mercy waiting for you every morning. 

So, no. You haven’t missed your chance. God hasn’t changed His mind about you. You can begin again, today, with God. 

If you want one takeaway here it is: God is known for new beginnings. When you’re ready to start fresh, we have a prayer waiting for you below: