Coming Up Clean

“Don’t imagine yourself to be quite presentable when you haven’t bathed in weeks.” (Proverbs 30:12 MSG) This is one of many scriptures that makes more sense after our pilgrimage to Israel. As early as the second day, in the very first set of ruins, our…

Banishing Lies

“Banish lies from my lips and lies from my presence.” (Prov. 30:8 MSG) This morning, collector of wisdom hands us a solid gold prayer. ‘Banish lies from me and for me.’ It’s as though he had figured out just how hard we struggle with uncovering…

Failing Vs. Unfailing

“Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You.” (Psalm 143:8 NLT) If I’ve heard my husband say it once in the beginning of our marriage, I’ve heard him say it a hundred times since then. “Anna, we don’t trust…

Unedited Prayers

“Oh God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!” (Psalm 61:1 NLT) I prayed some emotionally unedited prayers yesterday, the kind where one scoops out the contents of their soul and lets the Lord sort through it when they’re done. It wasn’t pretty, but it…

Pushing Past Fear

“This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord you God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: NLT) Have you ever battled crippling fear while attempting to do something you are certain God has…

The Mental Lever

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but give us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV) As I read this scripture this morning, I pictured a large lever in the control tower of my mind, like a throttle on…