Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 18

Are You Struggling to Believe the Bible? Here’s One More Reason You Can

When I first became a Christian, I believed the Bible by faith, but not everyone does. Many struggle to believe the Bible. In the 35+ years since I became a Christian, I’ve discovered there are other very strong reasons to believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. I stumbled upon one of them recently in my quest to read through the Bible in a year:

Historical Accuracy 

One of the strongest proofs for the Bible’s origin is its historical accuracy. Take, for example, Ezekiel 29, a prophecy recorded in approximately 597 BC against the nation of Egypt:

“It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations.”

Ezekiel 29:15

You may remember Egypt as one of the world’s first civilizations. It reached its zenith of power during the days of the Pharaohs. This mighty country led the world in military strength, architectural advancements, science, and medicine. We get a glimpse of its power in the biblical account of the exodus of the Israelites in the book of Exodus.

The beginning of the end came, however, when God drowned the Egyptian army as they pursued the Israelites to enslave them. It was downhill from there. Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC, then Cleopatra’s death ended its nominal independence. It became just one of the many provinces of the Roman Empire. When the modern Republic of Egypt was founded in 1953, it marked the first time in 2,300 years that Egypt was fully independent.

Now, after more than 2,500 years, Ezekiel’s prophecy still holds true. Egypt is still “the lowliest of kingdoms,” has never “exalted itself above other nations,” and “will never again rule over the nations.”

This example is one of thousands that shows the Bible’s historical accuracy. It gives us one more reason to believe. I’m convinced God will never remove all our doubts, because it’s faith that pleases him. He has, however, provided ample evidence to strengthen and encourage us to believe.

If you’d like more straight answers to honest questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity, I encourage you to check out Chip Ingram’s new book, “Why I Believe.”

Now it’s your turn. What extra-biblical evidence has strengthened your faith? Leave a comment in the box below and share your thoughts.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Are You Struggling to Believe the Bible? Here’s One More Reason You Can appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

               
CommentsAre You Struggling to Believe the Bible? Here’s One More Reason You Can by LoriAHatcherIs Life Really Meaningless, or Do We Owe King Solomon an Apology? by LoriAHatcherWhen You Can’t Pray Any More — 10 Reasons to Keep Praying by LoriAHatcherAre You Experiencing These Surprising Symptoms of Sin Sickness? by LoriAHatcherLet’s Get Personal — An Exciting Update by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesWhen You Can’t Pray Any More — 10 Reasons to Keep PrayingLet’s Get Personal — An Exciting UpdateWalking in the Shoes of a Sinful Woman 

Is Life Really Meaningless, or Do We Owe King Solomon an Apology?

Apparently I owe King Solomon an apology.

 He’s never been my favorite historical figure, for good reason. God gave him so much—money, opportunity, wisdom—and he wasted it. I often ponder what he could have accomplished if he’d used his gifts to advance God’s kingdom instead of his own. Just thinking about it makes me grumpy. And sad. So much potential and so little to show for it.

Because of this, I’ve always viewed Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s end-of-life commentary, as the cynical, jaded reflections of a man who had it all and wasted it. Many Bible commentators agree, calling the book “fatalistic” and “existential.”

A recent deep dive into the book, however, has changed my perspective. This is why I owe King Solomon an apology.

Let me explain.

Thirty-eight times Solomon uses the term “vanity of vanities” to describe just about everything in life: work, relationships, pleasure, food, drink, music, building projects, gardens, farming, friends, and popularity. He even describes the world-renowned wisdom God gave him as “vanity.”

Sounds cynical to me.

Until you dig deeper. And discover that the word translated “vanity” in our English Bibles comes from the Hebrew word hebel, which means “breath.” Not a strong exhalation, but a gentle vapor. 

A puff. The softest whoosh from our lips. The air needed to extinguish a tiny candle.

Solomon says that everything in life—the good and the bad—is a single breath among millions in our world today. It’s quick. It’s fleeting. It’s gone.

Life Apart from God

Many casual readers interpret Solomon’s book as a reminder that life apart from God is empty and purposeless, but the NKJV Study Bible reveals a different twist: “The book itself does not say (life without God is utter emptiness), for there is no qualifying phrase such as ‘except when one is related to God.’ Instead, the book clearly says that life itself is ‘vanity of vanities.’

“Whenever we read the word vanity in Ecclesiastes, we should think not of what is “meaningless,” but of what is ‘quickly passing.’”

This perspective illuminates this oft-disparaged book and its author. Instead of being an ancient killjoy determined to steal our happiness from the pleasures of this world, Solomon is a great encourager.

Enjoy your work and your accomplishments, he tells us, but remember they are fleeting. The pleasure you gain from them is momentary. Hold it lightly. Keep it in its proper perspective. Don’t expect it to satisfy your soul.

Because God has placed eternity in our hearts (3:11), we crave significance and permanence. We long to make a difference. We thirst to know our lives matter and hunger to impact someone or something forever.

We ache to know this world is not all there is.

And it isn’t. Thank God, it isn’t.

We discover through the pages of Ecclesiastes that we’ll find lasting joy and satisfaction only in God.

Enjoy the gifts God gives you, Solomon urges, but don’t sell your soul for momentary pleasure. It will race away like a leaf driven by an autumn wind. Don’t neglect the eternal for the temporal. Don’t chase the next thing, and the next, and the next, for it will always be beyond your reach.

And if you catch it, it will dissolve in a second like cotton candy on your tongue and then be gone.

There will always be a next thing to grasp for, Solomon warns. Another promotion. Another relationship. Another possession. Another dollar. Another degree. Another center-stage moment.

But nothing you pursue will satisfy the ache inside your soul.

Only when we spend and be spent for God does mortality link hands with eternity to bring about lasting joy.

“Fear God and keep his commandments,” Solomon declares, “For this is man’s all.”

Amen. Well said, dear Solomon.

My apologies.

Now it’s your turn. What cotton candy have you tasted that just didn’t satisfy? How is this different from what a life dedicated to God offers? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Is Life Really Meaningless, or Do We Owe King Solomon an Apology? appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

               
CommentsIs Life Really Meaningless, or Do We Owe King Solomon an Apology? by LoriAHatcherWhen You Can’t Pray Any More — 10 Reasons to Keep Praying by LoriAHatcherAre You Experiencing These Surprising Symptoms of Sin Sickness? by LoriAHatcherLet’s Get Personal — An Exciting Update by LoriAHatcherWalking in the Shoes of a Sinful Woman by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesWhen You Can’t Pray Any More — 10 Reasons to Keep PrayingLet’s Get Personal — An Exciting UpdateWalking in the Shoes of a Sinful Woman 

When You Can’t Pray Any More — 10 Reasons to Keep Praying

When was the last time you grew weary in prayer and wanted to quit?

Maybe you’ve been praying for a prodigal who seems farther from God than ever. Or for a spouse whose heart seems to grow harder and colder. Perhaps you’re in a season of unemployment, infertility, or loneliness, and nothing seems to change. Your prayers go up (you think), but they seem to hover above your head, then disappear like the morning mist.

If you’re struggling with prayer fatigue and fighting discouragement, allow me to share ten powerful reasons to keep praying, even when you want to quit.

Today I’m blogging over at Revive Our Hearts, and they’ve graciously allowed me to share the blog with you. CLICK HERE to read the 10 reasons to keep praying when you want to quit.

Sometimes internal links are troublesome. If the above doesn’t work, try this:

https://www.reviveourhearts.com/blog/10-powerful-reasons-to-keep-praying-when-you-want/

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post When You Can’t Pray Any More — 10 Reasons to Keep Praying appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesThe Antidote to Cure Our Complaining Heart3 Reasons Why You Need QuietLet’s Get Personal — An Exciting Update 

Are You Experiencing These Surprising Symptoms of Sin Sickness?

“Being convicted by the Holy Spirit is like being nibbled to death by a duck.”

I’m not sure who penned this powerful quote, but it’s one example of how the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to deliver us from sin. Conviction of sin isn’t a popular topic for a blog post, but this spiritual phenomenon is oddly comforting. Feeling uncomfortable when we sin is evidence that the Holy Spirit lives inside us—and this is grounds for celebration.

Sin before Christ

Before I was a Christian, I could sin and it didn’t bother me. I’d feel an occasional pang of regret, usually when I got caught, but for the most part, I enjoyed my sin. After all, if sin wasn’t fun, why would anyone do it? 

Sometimes I’d feel guilty. Other times I’d wish I hadn’t done it, usually when I experienced the negative consequences of my wrong choices. My conscience might sound a weak alarm when I stepped precariously close to a danger zone, but I could usually rationalize it away. 

Sin after Christ

When I surrendered my life to Christ, however, I gained a powerful ally—the Holy Spirit. In ways I can’t explain, this third person of the Godhead went to work in my life. Like Molly Maids the day before my in-laws came to visit, the Holy Spirit went to work cleaning my spiritual house. 

The first thing the Holy Spirit pointed out was the music I listened to. Those words glorify extra-marital sex, drugs, and drinking. Do you really want to fill your ears with that? Then He pointed out my skimpy bathing suit. And some of the books on my bedside table. And the TV show I loved to watch every Friday night. 

That first sweep through my spiritual house as a new believer was a deep clean. He got rid of a lot of the big uglies.

In the years since, he’s continued to point out areas of my life that are contrary to his best for me. 

Anger? Doesn’t accomplish God’s purposes. Fear? Cannot coexist with faith. Apathy? Lukewarm is nauseating. Selfishness? Consider others as better than yourself. 

What I find especially interesting is how, when I dig in my heels in rebellion and am unwilling to change, I only hurt myself. The very things I cling to are the same things that make my life miserable. 

11 Symptoms of Sin Sickness

King David experienced this as well, and describes how awful we feel when we are disobedient to the Lord. He lists 11 symptoms of sin sickness in Psalm 38:

1. The sharp conviction of sin. “Your arrows pierce me deeply” (v. 1). 

2. A feeling of profound heaviness. “Your hand presses me down” (v. 1). 

3. Physical weakness. “There is no soundness in my flesh” (v. 3, 7). “I am feeble and severely broken” (v. 8). 

4. Sickness. “. . . nor health in my bones” (v. 3). 

5. The feeling of carrying a heavy load. “My iniquities . . . like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me” (v. 4) 

6. Physical and spiritual injuries, possibly the consequences of sinful choices. “My wounds are foul and festering” (v. 5). 

7. A disturbed spirit. “I am troubled” (v. 6). 

8. A defeated heart. “I am bowed down greatly” (v. 6). 

9. Deep sorrow. “I go mourning all the day long” (v. 6). 

10. Gastric distress. “My loins are full of inflammation” (v. 7). 

11. Inner turmoil. “I groan because of the turmoil of my heart” (v. 8).

Rebellion Causes Consequences 

This list is a sobering wake up call to the fact that sinful rebellion carries more consequences than just the results of our actual sin. I’ve experienced many of these symptoms when I’ve chosen to ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit when He points out an area of sin in my life. 

When I stubbornly hang on to my pet vice, I’m miserable. I have difficulty praying, because I know my sin stands between me and God. I avoid reading my Bible, because God’s Word continues to call me to repentance. I feel anxious, fearful, and guilty. I’m less likely to talk about spiritual things with others, because I know it would be hypocritical. And my sleep is disturbed. 

Why, oh why, do we resist the Holy Spirit when all he’s trying to do is make us more like Christ? The more Christ-like we become, the more we’ll experience joy, peace, patience, satisfaction, and spiritual fruit. It’s a win/win scenario. He cleans the junk out of our lives and replaces it with treasures. 

Is It Time to Examine Yourself?

If you’re experiencing some of the symptoms I’ve listed above, maybe it’s time to examine yourself to see if there’s sin in your life. If there is, confess it quickly and accept God’s generous offer of forgiveness and restoration. 

The Cure

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

Then, once you’ve confessed and forsaken your sin, allow the same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead to transform your life (Rom. 8:11-13). 

Cleansing and Restoration are only a prayer away.

Have you ever experienced the symptoms of sin sickness? Have you experienced the cure that can only come from God? Leave a comment in the box below and share your thoughts.

The post Are You Experiencing These Surprising Symptoms of Sin Sickness? appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesLet’s Get Personal — An Exciting UpdateWalking in the Shoes of a Sinful WomanThe Antidote to Cure Our Complaining Heart 

Let’s Get Personal — An Exciting Update

Greetings, friends,

Whoosh!

This is the best word to describe the last six months of my life. Yours too? Now that most covid restrictions have lifted, we’re back to full-steam ahead and life’s a bullet train on a fast track.

But today, let’s linger a bit. Pull up a chair, let me pour you a cool class of Passion tea, or, better yet, hand you a bowl of ice-cold watermelon, and let’s visit a bit.

May I share what the Lord’s been doing in my personal and writing life lately?

An Unexpected Invitation

In December my husband, David, and I were delightfully surprised (and terrified) by an invitation from my publisher, Our Daily Bread, to co-author a couple’s devotional.

My first reaction was, “NO WAY! We’re not perfect enough yet. We still fight about things. We’ve made so many mistakes. Why would anybody want to read what we have to say?”

But David, in his wisdom, remarked, “That’s why we need to write it. We’ve been married 38 years. God has taught us so much, and we’re still learning. If we share from our failures, maybe other couples won’t have to make the same mistakes we did. And we have learned a few things along the way. We can share those lessons, too.”

And that quick, 100 Moments with God for Couples was underway. David supplied half the content (oh my, this man has the craziest stories), and I supplied the other half. As we mined the gold (and the coal) from our lengthy marriage, we laughed, we cried, and we praised God for how He has faithfully led us all these years.

You’ll read about David’s encounter with a gang leader on the streets of LA, the time he met the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, and the lesson he learned from losing a lot of money.

I share stories about one of our biggest fights (it was over a can of Diet Coke), the cockroach war, and the day I knew he really loved me.

I suspect this book is our legacy book. And we pray God will use it to draw couples closer to God and each other. Please pray this project forward and stay tuned for more details in the spring.

Refresh Your Hope – 60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

More than ever, I sense a feeling of hopelessness, not just in the world, but in the church. Among Christians. I feel it too. This is why I wrote Refresh Your Hope – 60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart for Our Daily Bread Publishing.

This volume is in its final stages of production now. Release date is January 1. Can you think of a better way to start your new year than with a deep dive into the reasons we as believers can be filled with hope?

Every book is a spiritual exploration for me, and this book was no exception. As I dug deeply into Scripture to find biblical reasons for hope, I found the motherlode. I’ll share 60 spiritual gems to strengthen your heart in this lovely volume.

Here’s the cover. Isn’t it beautiful? My heart feels happy just looking at it 😊.

Teaching and Sharing

What a treat to teach writing and speaking at four writers conferences this spring! So many wise and kind writers have poured their knowledge into me. I love it when I get to pay it forward.

I’ve also had the opportunity to share the message of HOPE at women’s ministry events like the Community Bible Study leaders retreat and the Mt. Hebron United Methodist women’s gathering. I’d love to plan a program for your church or ladies group. Visit my Speaker page for more details.

Personal Revival

Our church has been exploring the concept of spiritual revival through a study by Nancy Wolgemuth called Seeking Him, Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival. Oh my!

Some day’s its like having open heart surgery with no anesthetic, but so, so good! God is cleaning out the debris that clog our souls, making us more like Jesus, and drawing us ever closer to Himself. If your spiritual life has grown lukewarm, I highly encourage you to explore this study. Better yet, grab a few friends and do it together. You won’t regret it.

Family News

The grands and I surprised Mom with a little birthday mischief when we interrupted her lunch with friends to deliver a handful of birthday balloons.

Lauren and Caroline (8 & 6) are churning up the pool waters this summer as they compete on a local swim team (with their mom as coach). They swim even faster when Papa and Gigi cheer from the sidelines. When we’re not cheering, we’re hanging out with Andrew (4) and Collin (2).

On Fun Fridays with Gigi, Lauren’s working on her fourth novel, and Caroline’s polishing her first. The boys hang out on the swing or dig for worms in the garden. Popsicles are a part of every Friday.

We snuck in a weekend visit to Alexandria, VA, to visit my oldest daughter, son-in-law, and Halsey, the French bulldog for my birthday. I love them so much!

Finally, we’re partnering with three other couples to revitalize a small church in Columbia, SC. Please pray for us as the work is challenging, but the rewards are eternal.

How About You?

I love you, my reader friends. Thank you for your faithful friendship and partnership in the gospel. Many of you leave comments, share prayer requests, and pray for me. How are you doing? How may I pray for you? Let me know in the comments below.

And if you need a new summer read or two, head on over to Amazon. Refresh Your Faith AND Refresh Your Prayers are on sale. Twenty-five percent off, no less!

Happy Summer!

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Let’s Get Personal — An Exciting Update appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesWalking in the Shoes of a Sinful WomanThe Antidote to Cure Our Complaining HeartOne Truth to Make Us Brave 

Walking in the Shoes of a Sinful Woman

Have you ever known someone who knew everything about 

you . . . but loved you anyway? 

That was Jesus. 

I’d heard him preach. Lots of times, from a distance. He talked about the kingdom of heaven, and oh, he made it sound so wonderful – like he’d been there, just the other day . . . “In my father’s house are many mansions. . .” 

But I knew I’d never see it. Too many sins. And too many demons, always at war within me. I followed him, but on the outskirts. He drew me in, in spite of myself. 

I watched him laugh with the children. I could tell he loved them. You can’t fake that. He’d gather them up in his arms and hold them close, then he’d whisper something in their ear. And they’d smile. Every time. 

I watched how he walked among the people – sick people, blind people, lepers even, and healed them. Why would he, a rabbi, touch them? They were unclean. Outcasts. The slum dogs of society. 

And then he cast the demon out of that little boy. That’s when I began to hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could help me. 

So I waited. Until he went to Simon’s house. 

 And I brought my most precious treasure – ointment for his head. But when I cracked it open, my heart cracked open too. Standing there, him so pure and holy, and me so unclean. How could I dare to stand in his presence? 

My knees gave way, and I crumpled to the ground, oil sloshing onto his feet. He was looking at me – everyone was looking at me – but I couldn’t raise my eyes. My sin stood hopelessly between us. 



But then I remembered the blind man, and the lame man, and the leper. And my heart cracked open more. I began to weep, my tears mingling with the dust on his feet. 

That dirt – I knew it was a picture of my sin. This God/Man had walked the world and allowed the sin of us all to cling to him, yet it never became part of him. It washed right off. 

The more I sobbed, the more my repentant tears flowed. I knew I was making a scene, but I couldn’t help it. The fragrance of the oil permeated the room as I rubbed it onto his feet. My tears made silver trails on his dark skin. “ 

“Leave her alone. . . . she’s anointing me for my burial.” 

I heard his words, but they sounded far away and otherworldly. 

These feet . . . feet that had walked a hundred miles to search for the lost sheep of Israel. I loved those feet – the the part of him that was most like me – dirty. And calloused. And . . . human. I kissed them over and over again as gratitude filled my heart to bursting. 

 “Simon.” His voice again – tender and tired. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 

Then Simon’s voice, squirmy and self-righteous. “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” 

My tears, and the oil, and the dirt had puddled around those sacred feet. I reached for a towel, only to find I had none. Desperate to clean the mess I’d made, I fumbled with the tie that held my hair back. Grabbing a handful of my hair, I wiped frantically at the fragrant mess, trying to remove the evidence of my bold indiscretion. 

“I came into your house,” I heard him say to Simon. “You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.” 

I felt his fingers, rough from work, touch my face. Tenderly he raised my chin. I wanted to run, but a force stronger than fear held me in place. I waited for the condemnation I knew would come. 

 “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 

I heard his words, but they made no sense. 

“Your sins are forgiven,” he repeated to my disbelieving ears. 

“Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” 

Sometimes it’s good to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. 

As we follow him to the cross, it’s appropriate to ask: Have you ever seen your sin for what it is? Not a mistake or an indiscretion, but the thing that stands between you and a holy God? 

Have you, like Mary Magdalene, come to Christ in humility and repentance, wanting only to be cleansed? 

Have you believed, by faith, that Jesus has the power to forgive your sin and transform your life? 

Have you accepted his gift of forgiveness? 

If you have, then the words Christ spoke to Mary belong to you as well: 

“Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

If you’d like to share what God has done in your life, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Walking in the Shoes of a Sinful Woman appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesThe Antidote to Cure Our Complaining HeartOne Truth to Make Us Brave3 Reasons Why You Need Quiet 

The Antidote to Cure Our Complaining Heart

Oh, how we love to complain.

It’s our default setting whenever something doesn’t go our way. And we’re not alone.

I’ve been reading through the book of Exodus in my quest to read the Bible in a year. Almost without fail, every time the children of Israel had a need, they complained about it.

They fretted.

They whined.

They lamented that God had abandoned them and grumbled about how much better things were back in Egypt. 

Most of us probably aren’t wishing we were back in Egypt, but we often wish for “the good old days.” We complain, fret, and whine. 

Frightening circumstances and overwhelming odds? The Israelites complained against Moses. 

Bitter water to drink? The Israelites complained against Moses.

No food to eat? The Israelites complained against Moses. 

Absent in each of these wilderness crises, however, is what should have been their default response—prayer. It never occurred to the Israelites, with the exception of Moses, to take their needs to God. 

Oh, how I often walk in their fretful sandals.

I can learn a valuable lesson from my shortsighted compatriots and from their leader, Moses. He saw their complaining, fretting, and whining for what it was—not a statement against their circumstances, but a complaint against God. 

“The Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him,” he said. “And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord” (Ex. 16:8). 

Yikes. 



Every complaint I make isn’t really against my circumstances, but against the Lord. My grumbling goes straight from my mouth to God’s ears. 

In contrast, Moses had a different type of conversation with God. “So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him . . .” (Ex. 15:24). Every time Moses saw a need, he asked God to meet it. And God did. Gladly and generously. 

James 4:2 bluntly states the obvious: “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” 

Moses got it. So should we. 

What situation is making us whine and complain? What if we take it to the Lord and see what he will do?

Father, I confess the sins of grumbling and complaining. Please forgive me. Help me, instead, to bring everything to you in prayer, and then trust you to answer according to your wisdom and grace. Help me complain less and pray more. In Jesus’ name I ask, Amen.

What circumstance is most likely to cause you to complain? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post The Antidote to Cure Our Complaining Heart appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related Stories3 Reasons Why You Need QuietOne Truth to Make Us BraveThe Best Reason Not to Fear the Future 

One Truth to Make Us Brave

I’m not brave.

You won’t catch me parasailing off the back of a cruise ship, rappelling down a mountain, or jumping out of an airplane. When my girls were little, I wouldn’t even ride the kiddie roller coaster with them at the fair. “If you want to ride THAT ride,” I told them, “you’re on your own.”

This is why I had to chuckle when a patient of mine, hearing I had gone to Japan, remarked, “Wow, you’re BRAVE.” I’ve gotten similar responses about my two mission trips to Mexico. People also call me courageous when they hear I’m a women’s ministry speaker.

“I could NEVER stand up in front of people and speak,” they say. “You’re very brave.”

And when they hear that I asked a stranger if I could pray for her? Over-the-top brave according to most people’s estimation.

I smile when I think about these comments, because I know that a timid, cowardly heart beats inside my chest. Within my own strength, I am decidedly NOT brave.

So why do I do brave things? 

Because God tells me to. 

When we know God is calling us to do something, it’s no longer a matter of preference. It becomes a matter of obedience. And with the desire to obey God and do what He’s calling us to do comes a bold confidence that He’ll also enable us to accomplish it.

Remember when God called Moses to tell Pharaoh to free the Israelites? Moses almost stammered and stuttered his way toward disobedience. “I I I cccccan’t, Lord,” he said, “I st-st-sttttutter.”

“I’ll put the words in your mouth,” God said. “Now go!” And Moses went. We all know what came of that act of obedience.

Remember what God said to Joshua when he called him to lead the Israelites in battle to conquer the land of Canaan? “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them” (Jos 1:1-2).

God called Joshua, and then he promised to go with him: “I will give you every place where you set your foot . . . . No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (v. 3-5).

The same is true for us, because God does not change. Just as with Moses and Joshua, when He calls us, He’ll also equip, provide for, and enable us to do what He calls us to do.

This is why we can boldly go on mission trips to foreign countries. This is why we can share our faith without fear. This is why we can give and work and speak and minister in Jesus’ name with confidence—because “the everlasting God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27).

Is God is calling you to a task that seems too big and scary for you to accomplish by yourself? Guess what? You’re right where He wants you to be. And He has something to say to you:

Be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:8

What have you done that others have considered brave? I’d love for you to leave a comment and tell us about it. And if God is leading you to do something brave, please leave a comment below so we can pray for you.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post One Truth to Make Us Brave appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related Stories3 Reasons Why You Need QuietYour Words (and your attitude) Can Impact Someone’s LifeThe Best Reason Not to Fear the Future 

3 Reasons Why You Need Quiet

We live in a noisy world.

Devices ding, ping, jangle, and whistle. Media delivers a non-stop monologue. And then there are those blessed people whom God has placed in our lives—those who call us Mom, Dad, Husband, Wife, Grandma, Grandpa, Co-worker, Boss, Friend, Fellow-church member, and Passerby.

And if outside noise isn’t enough, there’s also a whole lot of noise in our heads. Sometimes it’s productive, because it reminds us of important stuff we need to do, but most of the time, it’s just environmental overflow from the hubbub around us. It elbows its way into the quiet spots in our heads like a 300-lb. man squeezing himself into the airplane seat beside us.

Today I’d like to share three reasons we need quiet in our lives:

1. Quiet allows us to hear God’s voice. As I study God’s Word, I see times when he thunders from the mountain top or shouts through a storm. Most often, however, he speaks to his children in the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit in our souls.

Think of Elijah on the mountaintop and David in the open fields, or Daniel in his prayer closet and Jesus during his early morning worship times. Sometimes he shouts over the din or our lives through an accident, illness, crisis, or family emergency, but often, even then, his voice is muffled by the chaos around us. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Be silent, that we may hear the whisper of God.”

2. Quiet allows us to hear our voice.

Quiet spaces in our minds are open fields where God can plant the seeds of creativity and inspiration. When we still ourselves, turn off our devices, and wait in quiet reflection, it’s amazing what we think.

On a recent early-morning walk in the woods, I cleared my mind of clutter and invited the Lord into my consciousness.  As my thoughts wandered, I began to connect Scripture with an idea for a blog post. Then I thought of a lovely gift idea for my daughter for Christmas. Before the walk had ended, I had the solution to a problem I’d been wrestling with, another blog post idea, and the basis for a women’s ministry presentation.

Peter Drucker, an American businessman, said, “Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” Building times of quiet thought into our days allows us to hear our own voices and leaves room for our creativity to blossom.

3. Quiet restores our souls. 

Psalm 23 reminds us that God the Good Shepherd invites us to lie down in green pastures, leads us beside still waters, and restores our souls. Listen to the words the psalmist chose to describe the place where God refreshes us: lie down (not race around), green pastures (not black asphalt), and still waters (not raging rivers). Peaceful, hushed places, whether they’re on the top of a mountain or the corner or your bedroom, are restorative and invigorating.

Keep in mind that the place is less important than the presence. When we carve out time to sit in stillness before the Lord, we gain a fresh perspective, spiritual energy for the day, and hope for the future.

I hope by now you’re convinced that intentional periods of quiet are healthy, productive, and necessary. But the same busy world that steals our quiet also often prevents it.

How can we build times of quiet into our lives? Here are three ideas: 

1. Make an early morning quiet time a priority.

You may not naturally be a morning person, but it’s worth retraining your biological clock. There’s a reason Jesus, probably the busiest soul on the planet, met with God early in the morning. I’ve found that if I wait until nighttime/bedtime to have my quiet time, I fall asleep in the middle of it. 

2. Look for moments of quiet during the day, and instead of pulling out your cell phone to check Facebook, open your Bible app, and meditate on one verse of Scripture.

Or think about what you read that morning in your quiet time. Ask God to speak to you. Then direct your mind to conscious listening. Jot down what you think you heard. (Hint: One way to know if it’s actually God speaking is that what you hear always agrees with Scripture.)

3. Turn off the noise. 

When you’re driving, walking, or working around the house, instead of turning on the TV or your Ipod, listen instead to the silence. You’ll find mental room to think and pray if your mind isn’t pulled in a thousand different directions based on what you’re hearing from an outside source. Don’t be afraid of silence.

“Make time for the quiet moments, as God whispers, and the world is loud.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to build quiet into your days. Do you have a suggestion on how to capture or create moments of silence? Have you experienced on of the benefits I’ve listed above, or maybe you’ve thought of one I haven’t? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Today, why not begin your day with a few moments of silence? And after you’ve stilled your soul and rested in God’s peace, allow Kari Jobe’s “Be Still My Soul” set the tone for the rest of your day.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post 3 Reasons Why You Need Quiet appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesThe Best Reason Not to Fear the FutureAre You Waiting for Scary Test Results?Your Words (and your attitude) Can Impact Someone’s Life 

Your Words (and your attitude) Can Impact Someone’s Life

I was reminded recently how profoundly our words (and our attitudes) can impact someone’s life.

“Isn’t the cool weather lovely this morning?” I asked my patient as I seated her in the dental chair.

“Yeah, but before you know it it’ll be cold,” she said, “and I hate cold.”

“True, but don’t you just love to curl up under a blanket on a cold winter night?”

“I guess, but cold weather means the holidays are coming, and I hate the holidays.”

“Whaaat? Don’t you like visiting with your family and eating all those delicious Christmas cookies?” I said.

“Yeah, I do, but as soon as they leave, I’ll have a mess to clean up. It’ll take days to get my house back in order. And Christmas cookies? Hmph. All that butter and sugar. My cholesterol will never recover.”

No matter what I did to steer the conversation to the positive, my patient was determined to reroute it. Like a magnet with a negative charge, this lady was headed in one direction and one direction only. Even the happy news that she had no cavities didn’t brighten her smile.

“I’ll probably have five next time,” she grumbled as she made her way out the door.

“Wow,” my boss said, “her glass was certainly half empty.”

“More like half empty with a bug at the bottom,” I said, shaking my head.

We encounter negative people every day. The grumpy barista at the coffee shop. The rude waiter at the restaurant. The Debbie Downer co-worker who loves to point out everything that’s wrong. Sometimes, horror of horror, we’re the Negative Nellie dragging down the happiness and licking the red off everyone’s candy. ‘



But while negativity is powerful, positivity is even more powerful. A smile, a kind word, or an encouraging “Atta-girl” has the ability to change someone’s day. It can raise the happiness meter in the room and make everyone within earshot smile.

Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age, said, “Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”

This has been true in my life. When I was in sixth grade, my substitute English teacher, Mrs. Silva, wrote a note at the bottom of my writing assignment. I like the interesting verbs you used. You’re going to be a great writer someday. 



Thirty years later, I’m still a long way from being a great writer, but her words set me on the path and gave me a gentle nudge.

A few summers ago, I returned to my home town. Although I had tried unsuccessfully several times before to find Mrs. Silva, a chance conversation with a relative provided the information I lacked.

With my heart beating excitedly, I called her, explained who I was, and arranged to meet. When we visited that evening, I reminded her of the writing assignment long ago and the kind words she had written at the bottom.

“Oh my,” she laughed, “I graded so many papers that semester. I don’t remember.” 

“Oh, but I do,” I assured her. “Thank you for taking the time to encourage me. And for your part in my writing journey.”

I handed her a copy of my devotional book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, inscribed with her name in the flyleaf. She sat quietly for a moment, flipping through the pages.

“I retired five years ago,” she said softly. “I’ve always wondered if I made a difference.”

Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Proverbs 16:24

Today, we have the chance to affect someone’s life, either positively or negatively. Will we be like my patient with her glass half full and something nasty in the bottom? Or will we be like my middle school teacher with her glass so full it runs over and splashes onto everyone nearby?

The choice is ours.

Now it’s your turn. Has anyone ever spoken words of affirmation that changed the course of your life? Leave a comment below and share your story.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Your Words (and your attitude) Can Impact Someone’s Life appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesAre You Waiting for Scary Test Results?10 Truths to Teach Your Children and Grandchildren about PrayerThe Best Reason Not to Fear the Future