Blog

(Not) Feeling God’s Presence

There are some questions I wrestle with about the presence of God. I’d like to ask you to join me in grappling with them. Ready? Do you believe you’ve felt ...

Kingdom Foundations: Healing

We see the consistent, unchanging will and provision of God for healing through the covenants, both old and new. Exodus 23:25–26 In the Old Testament, God identified His will within ...

You Are One Prayer Away from a New Life

It sounds unbelievable until it happens. You pray the impossible prayer. Because you are at the edge of what your heart can handle. You are at the edge of what ...

It’s Going to Turn Out All Right

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” — Matthew 14:27 NLT God’s call to courage is not a call to naïveté or ignorance. We aren’t to be ...

When Everything Feels Out of Control

Morning My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher ...

How Is God Preparing You to Thrive?

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. —  Philippians 1:6 NIV When ...

False Guilt, True Guilt, and "If Only"

There is unspeakable joy… for the person who knows release from guilt and the release of forgiveness. ~ Stuart Briscoe Guilt says, “You failed.” Shame says, “You’re a failure.” Grace ...

Stay Connected to God: Jesus Needed Rest and So Do You

Our lives have gotten so cluttered up with things we think we “should” do, we can’t figure out what we were meant to do. Setting boundaries in our lives is ...

Grace for Friendship Mistakes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. — Ephesians 4:32 I could tell you stories about friendship mistakes. Like when I’ve not ...

Prayers for Teachers, Students, and Schools: FREE Downloads

In this article, you will learn: 3 ways to to pray for teachers, students, and schools consistently, including how to have a prayer walk in your child’s school and pray ...

“AT LAST!”

GENESIS 2:4–25 When we first read Genesis 2:4, it’s tempting to do a double take. Wait a second, didn’t we just cover this! Sort of, but not exactly. Think of ...

You Can Trust God When You Don’t Understand

Breathe Deep and Know:   The way of God may not always make sense to you, but you can trust Him without fear. At the root of my fear is ...

Praying and Dreaming for Our Children

Editor’s note: Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful mothers, grandmas, aunties, step-moms, stand-in mothers, and mother figures. We are thankful for you and we pray you know how much ...

People to Know: Jude

Editor’s note: Zondervan’s new NIV Application Bible is filled with study notes, original meaning notes, applications, Character of God, and Questions for Growth, maps, and so much more. (Check out ...

Walk Away from Worry

Imagine your whole life untouched by worry. What if faith, not fear, were your default reactions to threats? Envision a day, just one, absent the dread of failure, rejection, and ...

Am I Gaslighting Myself?

Editor’s note: Dr. Allison Cook (you may remember her from her book The Best of You) is a therapist and the host of The Best of You podcast. Her forte ...

Free Resources

Free Bible Study through the Gospel of John with Megan Fate Marshman!

Free Bible Study through the Gospel of John with Megan Fate Marshman!

What if Jesus' words-I Am-are exactly the answers your heart is craving?

Join the OBS and get access to 8 study videos and other Bible study resources - all free when you sign up! Study starts 6/2