Lord, I’m choosing to believe that You can and will redeem the years I have spent in my pit. In our Christian subculture, we think a pit of sin is the only kind of pit there is. But we have to think much more broadly. For starters, I see in God’s Word three ways we…
Family Pain: The One Who Died on the Cross Understands
Lord, You are the God of infinite strength and knowledge, mercy and love! Pileups happen. Especially in families. That’s what happened to mine. That’s what happened to Keith’s. That’s the nature of family. The ties are so close that the same cord that hangs one, tangles all. They say alcoholism is a family disease, but…
Getting Out of the Pit of Enemy Lies
Editor’s note: Today is National Day of Encouragement — a perfect time to lift up a friend or neighbor with words of hope or a visit. Maybe you need some encouragement as well… Enjoy this excerpt from Beth Moore. We hope it encourages you! * Lord, help me put down the shovel. We tend to…
Get Out of That Pit: Our Pit-Less Future
God left a lot of questions unanswered — primarily, I imagine, because “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). I think He also happens to like surprises. However, what this world is coming to is not unanswered. According to Revelation 21, earth as we know it will come to an end, and…
Stop Blaming!
Lord, I’m so glad that You are with me always! Of all the ways to get into a pit, getting thrown in — by something but especially by someone — can be the most complicated to deal with emotionally and spiritually. For starters, when someone throws us in, we’ve obviously got someone to blame: It’s…
10 Favorite Devotionals of 2015
Devotional books are terrific for so many reasons (let me count the ways!), but if you’re like me, the main reason I love devos is because, even though I’d love to have a leisurely hour by a cozy fire with my dog Maisy, Bible, devotional, journal, a doppio cappuccino, and a pecan roll (Hello, Instagram!), my morning…
God’s Strength in the Face of Temptation
All praise to You, Lord, for Your victory over sin and death . . . and for keeping us strong while we wait for Jesus’ triumphant return. It’s always a good strategy to know one’s enemy. We’ve seen, for instance, that Satan is quite a wise, scheming, and skilled marksman. The Deceiver is also very…
Sharper than a Double-Edged Sword
The Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit. — Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) Lord, thank You that nothing can separate me from Your redeeming love. Since pit-dwelling is primarily a state of mind, effective deliverance also takes the ability to read people’s minds,…