7 Bible Verses to Help Fight Fear!

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Is watching the news and reading the papers leaving you feeling fearful? Are you scared because you just got a troubling doctor’s report or afraid of your upcoming job review?

There’s no shortage of things that can strike fear in our hearts. We all battle fear at different points in our lives.

What do you do with your fear?

I hope you take time to talk to the Lord about your fears, cares, and worries. He can handle them!

Life can get scary sometimes, but we don’t have to be paralyzed by fear. When I’m feeling afraid, I find comfort in remembering how mighty God is and that He is in control! Nothing surprises Him!

I also read and re-read certain Bible verses. I’ve listed a few of my favorite verses to combat fear below to help fill you with courage. I pray that you will mediate on these verses and will believe and receive them for yourself:

  • “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
  • “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
  • “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
  • “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
  • “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)
  • “‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17)
  • “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” (Psalm 91:1-6)
If these Bible verses have helped to bring you peace, I’d love to know. I’d also love to know what some of your go-to verses are to combat fear. Please feel free to leave a comment on Abounding Faith’s Facebook page. Blessings to you as you continue trusting God and walking by faith.

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Want to know what’s happening at Abounding Faith? Join the mailing list and get updates about Abounding Faith’s books, events, podcast and more. You’ll also get access to the “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Fuel Your Faith” PDF.

For more encouragement on your faith journey, read By Faith, Abounding Faith, Crossing Your Jordan River and Waiting on God Well  (on Amazon) and visit AboundingFaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

5 Bible Verses to Boost Your Faith!

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As Christians, we’re called to walk by faith and not by sight. God loves it when His children trust Him!

In Hebrews 11:6 we read, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

But walking by faith isn’t always easy. If you find yourself struggling with your faith today, I pray the following verses will encourage you. I hope you will pray over, mediate, and memorize these verses and find more in the Bible:

  1. “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
  2. “‘If you can’?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.'” (Mark 9:23)
  3. Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)
  4. “And ‘But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.’ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” (Hebrews 10:38-39).
  5. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

For more Bible verses that will stir up your faith and to read about some of the men and women in the Old and New Testament who walked out their faith, check out my devotional Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! (Available on Amazon)

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Many blessings to you as follow God one faith step at a time!

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Want to know what’s happening at Abounding Faith? Join the mailing list and get updates about Abounding Faith’s books, events, podcast and more. You’ll also get access to the “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Fuel Your Faith” PDF.

For more encouragement on your faith journey, read By Faith, Abounding Faith, Crossing Your Jordan River and Waiting on God Well  (on Amazon) and visit AboundingFaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (Part 5)

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I pray you’re having a wonderful August! This week I thought I’d let these images do the talking! I pray they encourage you! To find more images like this, follow Abounding Faith on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Blessings!

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To view “If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” Parts 1-4, click here.
 
Did this encourage you? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts emailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement, read my books Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cover Reveal for My Second Book!

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I’m excited to share the cover of my second book Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! Glory to God! I hope you like it! If so, please let me know in the comments below.

Please pray for all those who will be reading this second book. It will be available on Amazon and the end of March. I’ll have much more to share with you as the date gets closer.

In the meantime, please also pray as I put the finishing touches on the book, plan the launch event, and line up different speaking opportunities. I am open to speaking to different groups and at different events about this book and other topics such as Waiting on God Well, so please keep me in mind for future events.

I’m delighted that after such a long season of waiting, the Lord is opening doors that no man can shut!

I pray that God will also open doors for you in different areas of your life. God is alive! He is on the throne! He wants to rule and reign in your life!

Thank you for being on this journey with me! Many blessings to you!

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45)

Did this encourage you? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts emailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement, read my book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Waiting on God Well’s 1st Anniversary!

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What a year it’s been since the release of the printed version of my first book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough!

I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported my book! I’m touched to hear how Waiting on God Well has blessed you! Thank you to everyone who has bought the book for themselves, written reviews about it, and bought copies of the book to share with friends.

Writing can be a solitary experience, so it’s great when I can celebrate with others. I love that this book has touched people of different backgrounds, ages, and both women and men.

We’re all waiting on God for something, right? I’ve heard stories of folks waiting for a new job, for their spouse to come to the Lord, to meet their significant other, and others waiting for healing in their bodies, etc… Some have said they couldn’t put the book down once they started reading it. Others have thanked me for including the Power Verses and the Action Steps at the end of each chapter.

I love what the Lord is doing in and through people as they read Waiting on God Well! Here’s just a sample:

  • Waiting on God Well was quite insightful and encouraging. It gave some very practical tools that can help us continue waiting on the Lord and not give up!” – Pastor Lillian Gutierrez, Love Gospel Assembly
  • Waiting on God Well is a good and simple read with excellent scriptural references/meditation and (my favorite), the action steps. They’re so HELPFUL! I feel that women, men or anyone who’s willing to seek God’s guidance can benefit from you book.” – Manni Lee, Associate Executive Director, Women of Wonder (WOW)
  • Waiting on God Well is an encouraging book that reminds us that we don’t have to put our life on hold while we wait upon God. The book reminds us that God has a purpose for us even in our season of waiting and is a sweet reminder that He is taking care of us and growing us even in difficult times. This book has been a huge blessing to me!” – Christina Phan, Connect Group Leader, Every Nation Church New York City

You can read and view more testimonies here. You can read past blog posts about the book here and watch a video greeting I did for readers here.

It wasn’t easy writing Waiting on God Well, but it was a necessary step in my journey. And if you’re following my faith journey, you’re getting to see some of the fruit and blessings that God is allowing in my life after this long season of waiting. All glory to God!

God is still writing my story. I look forward to sharing more with you as it unfolds!

I hope my story will encourage you that waiting on God is not in vain! God is working behind the scenes. Your breakthrough will come at its appointed time. God will not be one day too early or too late. He’ll be right on time!

If you’re free, I hope you’ll join me on Periscope this Wednesday at 12:30pm (EST) for Abounding Faith Today’s Midday Praise Break. Let’s celebrate this milestone! I’d love to hear how God is working in your life as well! If you can’t make it live, no worries. I’ll post the replay on Abounding Faith’s YouTube Channel.

Blessings to you and please keep the positive reviews coming on Amazon and please continue to tell others about Waiting on God Well. Help others as they go through their waiting seasons! Help them to see that waiting on God is worth it!

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45)

Did this encourage you? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts emailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement, read my book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Trust Without Borders

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I took this picture during my recent family vacation upstate. I think it does a perfect job of describing this new season I’m in. The beauty about Living Beyond the Fog is that you get to see glimpses of what’s up ahead.

As you follow after God One Step at a Time, He makes things more and more clear.

I love how this picture shows what it’s like to be on the edge. The water looks inviting enough to dive right in. The sky is clear enough to see where you’re going. It may not be super close, but it looks beautiful enough to continue Moving Forward.

Transition Times can be daunting, confusing, and scary. Sometimes fear can cause people to stay on the dock instead of taking the plunge. But when you know that God is calling you out, you can rest assured that He will catch you.

I am once again reminded of when the disciples were in the boat and they saw Jesus walking on the water. They were frightened but Jesus told them not to be afraid. Then Peter had the courage to speak.

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28)

Was Peter out of His mind? Why in the world would he want to step out of the comfort of the boat? That’s where all his friends were. Why would he want to walk out into the unknown?

I would imagine that Peter knew that it’s better to be where Jesus is than with the crowd. I think he also was ready for some adventure.

Remarkably, Jesus obliged. “Come,” he said. (Matthew 14:29)

The Bible records that Peter got out of the boat, walked on water, and moved towards Jesus!

Peter took a risk and stepped out in faith. As a result, he got to walk on water! As long as Peter kept his gaze on Jesus, he got to do something amazing that was completely impossible on his own.

I have much to share with you in the upcoming weeks about how the Lord is leading me.

For now, I’m curious to know what is Jesus asking you to do? In what area is He is stretching you and asking you to grow in your faith?

Will you trust God to lead you one faith step at a time?

I pray you will have the faith to trust Jesus without borders! Many blessings to you!

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” (Psalm 42:7)

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

button (24)For more encouragement, read my new book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

What are You Waiting on God for?

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I think we can all relate to having to wait on God for something. What are you waiting for? A breakthrough in your personal life, career, or ministry? Perhaps you’re waiting to reconcile with a wayward loved one.

It would be great if we could have instant breakthroughs all the time, right? That’s wishful thinking though.

Yes, God delights in giving us the desires of our heart but in His perfect timing. So it’s so important how we wait on God to deliver us or to unfold His plan for us each step of the way.

It takes courage and strength to wait on God instead of running ahead of Him or spending our time grumbling and complaining.

I’d like to help you make the most of your seasons of waiting. That’s why I wrote the book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! The book, which is available on Amazon, has tips, Bible verses, and action steps to help you get through your wilderness seasons.

I’m delighted to share this book with you. I’m even in the midst of gearing up to have a launch party and book signing. It all seems a bit surreal, but it’s also part of the promises that God has given to me. It’s taken longer than I thought, but it’s here. And so it’s time to celebrate!

I pray that you will have much to celebrate as well. God is Good and He has a Good plan for His children. I pray that you will be encouraged by my book and by my blog posts.

Walking by faith isn’t easy, but it is worth it!

Your life may not be making much sense right now, but take heart that God is Sovereign, He is in Control, and He’s working things out for your good. Blessings to you as you take faith step by faith step into your destiny.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:13-14)

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

button (24)For more encouragement, read my new book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Freedom in Facing Your Fears

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Lessons Learned From Daring to Finally Use my Flat Iron

Ladies, I’m pretty sure you’re going to be able to relate to this post. Fellas, hang in there. Just substitute the mentions of the flat iron with something you fear.

I bought a pretty pink flat iron about two years ago. For those two years, it just sat there in its box. I wanted to use it. I had looked at the instructions when I first got it. But I was afraid. I feared burning my hair or my skin, I worried that I might accidentally burn the house down, and I was convinced that it would take too much time to straighten my hair.

So it just sat there for weeks, months, and years.

That is until a few weeks ago when I became determined to stop making excuses and to conquer this fear. I wanted to stop avoiding this simple item that I saw others using with ease. Below are some of the steps I took to make this change. I pray that you will be able to apply even some of these lessons to overcome some lingering fears you may be battling:

I learned more about the item. I found videos online that showed step-by-step how to use a flat iron. Thank God for online tutorials! As I watched the videos, I relaxed and saw how easy it was to use this device. I now had a model to follow. The same could help you with whatever is keeping you frozen with fear. Ask people for guidance or help, read about people in similar situations, and learn more about what you’re afraid of. The more informed you are, the more confidence you’ll have to tackle that situation.

I actually used the item. Armed with all this new information, one morning I finally tried it out. This is so important. It’s easy to get stuck in the first stage, but we need to then take action. What good would all that knowledge have been if I didn’t then act on it? Guess what? It wasn’t so bad. I’m almost embarrassed to admit how long I avoided using this item, and I wonder how much longer I would have let the flat iron just sit there collecting dust instead of using it for what it was intended to do. In your case, after you’ve prayed and learned about your situation there comes a time when you will need to step out in faith and take the next step.

Practice really does make progress. The first time I used the flat iron it didn’t go as well as I would have liked, but I didn’t give up. I kept trying. And my results keep getting better and better. Don’t be discouraged if you step out and things don’t go as smoothly as you’d like. Keep trying, growing, and learning. It will hopefully become easier and feel more natural for you as you gain experience.

Rejoice in big and little victories. Ok, so taming my wavy hair isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I’m writing about this because it was a small victory for me. I faced my fear and tried something new. I stepped out of my comfort zone, and now I’m enjoying the rewards of that decision. It’s something I’m doing in several areas of my life. It’s empowering to know that you can push past your fears. I pray that you will have the courage, with God’s help, to face any fears that may be hindering you. Don’t stay stuck and let your flat iron stay in its box for another year.

May you have a fun, fearless year! Trust God and have the courage and boldness to step out in faith, to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and to live your God-given dreams! Blessings!

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1-7).

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

button (24)For more encouragement, read my new ebook Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

If You Could Chat with One Person from the Bible…

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I thought I’d take a stab at answering one of the questions from the “12 Journal Writing Prompts” that I made especially for those of you who have signed up to have my blog posts e-mailed to you weekly. I’d love to hear your answer in the comments below or on Facebook.

If I Could Chat with One Person from the Bible (other than Jesus) it would be.

Abraham!

He’s been on my mind lately since I’ve been studying part of his story. I’d love to know how he had the faith to Believe God and leave everything behind and go to an unknown place.

What did he do during all those years of waiting and wondering?

What did he really think every time the Lord promised him that he would be the father of many nations? It must have seemed so far-fetched to him. So much so that he went along with the plan that Sarah hatched to help speed along their long-awaited heir.

And yet deep down, he still believed and he still waited. Now that is faith!

I’m sure he’d have fascinating stories to tell. What an interview it would be to speak with the Father of the Faithful!

Abraham’s story reminds us:

  • God is Faithful.
  • God Keeps His Word.
  • We can trust God no matter what.
  • Faith requires action even when we don’t have all the details.

What a beautiful legacy Abraham has left us. (Not familiar with his story? You can read about him in Genesis 12-25).

Now it’s your turn. Who would you like to chat with? Feel free to leave a comment or to join the conversation on Facebook.

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 

“Moving Beyond the Fog” Special Video

As some of you may know, I recently won Our Daily Breads Facebook Contest for Readers. I’m so honored and delighted to have won. I have been reading them for many years. Their inspirational words have encouraged me many times and their writing style has influenced me as well. They recently asked me to film a short-video to share at a staff meeting. I hope you enjoy the video. I’ve also included the devotional below. Blessings to you!

Moving Beyond the Fog

Read: Psalm 119:105-107

“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Over the years, I’ve gotten accustomed to driving from New York City to Upstate New York to visit my sister and her family. Usually the ride over the Tappan Zee Bridge, which is the longest bridge in the state, is one of the most scenic parts of the trip. I love seeing the beautiful mountains and the Hudson River. But that wasn’t the case the day I got caught in a downpour and was blinded by fog. It was so thick that I couldn’t even see the cars beside me! All I could see were the taillights from the car directly in front of me, so I followed his lead until I safely crossed the bridge.

In our daily lives, how often do we get blinded by the fog of doubt, despair, discouragement, or disappointment? Something happens and we lose sight of God’s Word and His plan for our lives. We forget God’s promises and are tempted to give up in the middle of our journey. It’s in those moments that we need to cling to God and His Word. He will show us the way to go. His Word is “a light to [our] path” (Psalm 119:105), which helps lift the fog.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will guide, protect, and love us every step of the way.

Thank You, Lord, that even when we’re tempted to give up, You don’t give up on us! Help us to trust You and keep walking by faith and not by sight.

What seems foggy to us is crystal-clear to our all-knowing God.

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and be sure to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.