Mary JahnkeHope. It’s a word most of us overuse: “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” “I hope there’s a good parking spot open.” And, of course, “Hope you’re well!” as a pleasant (admittedly unoriginal) email intro. The Bible uses hope this way sometimes...
“Repentance is a change of mind.” That was the first definition of repentance I heard early in my Christian life. It was important to me that I knew what it meant to repent because the Bible calls us to do it, as you’ll see in the Scriptures...
Lauren HunterWhen anxiety hits, among the places we go for advice and comfort—e.g., family, friends, pastors, spiritual directors, or perhaps even to a counselor or therapist—we must not forget to go to God’s Word to calm our anxious hearts. The Bible...
Tobin PerrySoon it will be Valentine’s Day, a day on the greeting card calendar for celebrating romantic (or what the Greeks called eros) love. We’d like to twist this day a bit (though there’s nothing wrong with hearts, flowers, and chocolate) and turn our...
Jessica ClarkIf spiritual disciplines are those practices which form us spiritually, there can be none so important as prayer—our conversation with God, our Lord and Creator. Yet this most simple and most important of the disciplines can sometimes be the hardest...
I was staring at the back of The Man Sitting in Front of Me, the one who killed my little brother. First my sister, then my niece, stood and told the man what his act had taken from us. The murder had been vicious. My not quite thirty-eight-year-old...
Jennifer GrishamWhat’s the first part of your church’s worship services? Chances are, it’s a call to worship—even if your church doesn’t actually refer to it as a call to worship. What is a call to worship? Simply put, a call to worship is the beginning of a...
Many of us read Luke 2 at Christmastime, but what Scriptures can we read at Thanksgiving? Here are 54 Bible verses about thanksgiving and gratitude to meditate on during the holiday season or take turns reading around the table on Thanksgiving Day...
Logos Staffanger [ ang-ger ] Also called: Bitterness, Contempt, Hate, Hatred, Resentment A strong feeling of displeasure aroused by a wrong, whether real or perceived. Top Bible Verses about Anger 1. Genesis 4:4–5 and Abel also brought an...
Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn words of my good mother.” Countless people could say the same thing, and Mother’s Day is set aside to express extra gratitude. Reflect on honoring mothers, the...
As Easter approaches, there’s no better time to reflect on the power and glory of the resurrection through Scripture. To start, Charles Spurgeon gives five Easter Bible verses when explaining the importance of the resurrection. (Hover over...
God calls all Christians to become more like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:18), and this transformation happens in the innermost part of a person: their heart. This progression is called spiritual formation, which involves...
assurance [ uh–shoor–uhns, –shur– ] Also called: Confidence, Security A sense of confidence, security or certainty, especially concerning one’s salvation. Top Bible Verses about Assurance John 3:16 For in this...
1. 2 Samuel 14:25 As far as Absalom, there was not a more handsome man in all of Israel to admire so much; from the sole of his foot up to his crown, there was no physical defect on him. Read 2 Samuel 14:25 2. Esther 2:2–3 And the king’s servants...
angel [ eyn-juhl ] Also called: Angel of the Lord, Cherubim, Seraphim Messenger of God or supernatural being with superhuman powers. Top Bible Verses about Angels Numbers 22:21–35 So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his...
Karen EngleAt times, the God-given task of family discipleship can seem too heavy to bear—yet it’s a parent’s highest priority. And fortunately, we are not alone in the task. Jesus promised never to leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5), and if he has tasked us with...
Today is Valentine’s Day, a day on the greeting card calendar for celebrating romantic (or what the Greeks called eros) love. We’d like to twist this day a bit (though there’s nothing wrong with hearts, flowers, and chocolate) and turn our eyes...
Paul David Tripp says justice “is close to the heart of our Savior-King.” The concept permeates the Bible, verses about justice appearing as early as Genesis and culminating with God’s “true and just judgments” in Revelation that lead to the wedding...
God’s view of injustice is clear: he hates and renounces it because injustice perverts his world. Yet injustice—the unjustified ill-treatment of others through false accusations or unnecessarily inflicting pain or punishment—can be found in almost...
1. Isaiah 9:6–7 For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His dominion will grow continually...
apostasy [ uh–pos-tuh-see ] Also called: Backsliding, Falling Away Denial of faith by those who once held it or professed to hold it. Top Bible Verses about Apostasy Exodus 32:1–6 And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down...
1. Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “I am here! Send me!” Read Isaiah 6:8 2. Matthew 11:28–30 Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest...
1. Ezekiel 36:25–26 And I will sprinkle on you pure water, and you will be clean from all of your uncleanness, and I will cleanse you from all of your idols. And I will give a new heart to you, and a new spirit I will give into your inner parts, and...
The world can be a scary place. From wars to epidemics to natural disasters, we often have good reasons to be afraid. But Scripture reminds us that we have even better reasons to trust God. These 14 Bible verses about fear help us remember that God...
Poems and songs. History and narrative. Wars and celebrations. Romance and grief. The Bible is an eclectic book. But it’s more than a book to be studied. It’s a compilation of sacred writings God gave us to know and love him better—it is the word of...
Addiction Also called: Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, ObsessionBeing enslaved to a habit, practice or substance such that withdrawal causes trauma. Top Bible Verses about Addiction John 8:34 Jesus replied to them, “Truly, truly I say to you...
Understanding the Trinity—one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Spirit)—takes us into deep theological waters, where the simplest math fails us: 1 + 1 + 1 = 1. Even though the word “Trinity” never appears in the Bible, God reveals himself...
1. Deuteronomy 15:6–11 When Yahweh your God has blessed you, just as he promised to you, then you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow from them, and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. If there is a poor...
Even though believers may approach generosity from different theological viewpoints, we can all agree that generosity is close to the heart of God. The Bible contains thousands of verses about money, stewardship, and generosity. The beautiful...
The Bible is full of verses that describe Jesus: who he is, what he’s like, and the love he has for each of us. There are also many names for Jesus: Son of Man, Son of God, Emmanuel, Messiah, Prince of Peace, Alpha and Omega, The Way, and many more...