Blog – gina m poirier

10 Bible Verses for the Grumpy Mama

July 14, 2021 by Gina Poirier 17 Comments

Feeling like a grumpy mama? I’ve created lists of Bible verses for FAST access when I need them most—whether I’m feeling grumpy, anxious, exhausted, overwhelmed, and a lot more. Sign up below for access to the whole collection.

You know what my favorite sound in the world is?

Three little voices talking—no, screeching—at the same time, arguing over whose turn it is to pick out a cartoon.

I also love the sounds of “uh oh” coming from the bathroom, of glasses of milk spilling onto my laptop, of Legos being dumped all over the floor, which I know will eventually implant themselves into the bottom of my bare foot.

You know, the sounds of my life. Grating music to my ears.

Do you ever feel like you want to just hide and disappear under 59 layers of blankets in the morning? Or maybe just go for a run…indefinitely? Or invent the 100 percent effective earplug? Maybe that’s just me…

I suppose it’s not my kids’ fault that I’m human, that I can only take so much chaos before I start to bark like a wounded animal. Some days I can keep my cool, but on other days I literally go into my room and start growling until I can get enough of it out of my system to compose myself again. This is a natural human response, correct?

I have issues.

This post was inspired by a grumpy mama day. Well, actually many grumpy mama days. I decided it would be a good idea to put a bunch of helpful scriptures into one place so that when I’m starting to lose it, I can find my ground again.

Can you relate? Then these are for you.

10 Bible Verses For the Grumpy Mama

Bible Verses for Grumpy Moms | Christian Encouragement for Women

On choosing joy and gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

This is one of my favorites—my kids and I memorized it together. It reminds us that while we can’t control our circumstances, we can nonetheless choose to give thanks, to pray and to find joy.

Philippians 4:4–7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Again, in every situation we can choose to pray, be thankful and rejoice. This is so powerful when put into practice.

Galatians 5:22–23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This helps remind me that I have a choice: I can give into my natural state of being, or I can rely on God’s Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

God wants me to be at peace; I want to be joyful and to strive for love and peace within my home.

On praising God

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.

I just do so much better when I get the focus off myself and onto HIM.

Psalm 104:33–34

I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.

By keeping my eyes on him, by literally singing to him, it’s hard to stay self-absorbed.

Isaiah 49:13

Shout for joy, you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;
    burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

God is there for me always; he knows how I feel.

On overcoming trials, big and small

James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Wait, so working through all my issues makes me more “mature and complete”? That’s encouraging.

Psalm 126:5

Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.

I’ll remind myself of this the next time I’m throwing a mommy fit.

Habakkuk 3:17–18

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

If this starving prophet can choose to rejoice, so can I, no matter how hard my day has been.

I hope you find these as uplifting as I have. Having read through them several times as I’ve prepared this post has made me feel more light-hearted. I recommend writing them down as you go through them, which can help you internalize what they’re saying. You can also pray through them.

Want to keep these verses handy? You can now download them in a printable form! Just click below:

If you enjoyed this study, you may also like other posts in my Mama Verses series.

What are your go-to scriptures when you’re feeling like a grumpy mama?

11 Bible Verses to Banish Mommy Guilt

June 20, 2021 by Gina Poirier 2 Comments

Do you wrestle with mommy guilt—that nagging feeling that you’re not doing enough or that you’re screwing up? Then you’re in the right place! Be sure to grab the printable download of these Bible verses below:

I screwed up again. My son’s eyes spilled over in tears and he turned away, a little embarrassed. “We just did what you wanted to do, not what I wanted,” he confessed. “It wasn’t fun.”

Mixed feelings of guilt, shame and anger heated my face. I had taken him to the mall on a special outing with just the two of us to get him some new shoes and a special snack. It didn’t turn out as planned because or local mall is shutting down stores like crazy. The shoe choices and the snack options were very limited.

I was hurt that he wasn’t more thankful, yet at the same time I felt horrible that I had let him down. My efforts weren’t enough.

Mommy guilt.

It’s this condition I’ve battled with ever since I heard his first cry. This impossible question lingers constantly: Am I doing enough?

I know I’m not the only one with this issue, so I asked members of our Facebook group what made them feel guilty. The answers weren’t surprising, things like:

Not spending enough time with the kids
Not meeting their emotional needs
Taking time away from them for self-care
Not playing enough with them or doing what other moms do
Not feeding them enough healthy food

Do you see a pattern here?

Not enough.

Bible Verses Mommy Guilt | Mom Encouragement | Christian Motherhood

Banish Mommy Guilt with Scriptural Truth

“Not enough” is a pretty sneaky little lie that we mamas give undeserved brain space.

It’s sneaky because in one sense, it holds just a kernel of truth: we fall short of perfection. So in that sense, no we’re not “enough” and never will be. But on the other hand, because Christ does immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine, we are more than enough through all of our weaknesses.

So the next time you are wallowing in guilt, whether you legitimately screwed up or are worried that you did, meditate on these truths and put their teachings into practice.

On Confession

I’ll be honest: I did not plan on having this section when I started thinking about this topic! But the more I dug into the word “guilt” in the Bible, it was apparent that the first step to healing is confession.

So be honest with yourself, with God and with other believers about those things that are weighing on your heart.

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

On Being Enough

That feeling of “not enough”? It’s a lie because Christ is more than enough. His love for you and intervention on your behalf give you a brand new start each and every time you feel “less than,” with your parenting and so much more.

Colossians 2:13–14

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

1 John 2:1b

But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…

Hebrews 9:14

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

On Moving Forward

I think this is the hardest part for my guilty conscience to accept. I know that I am forgiven and cleansed through Christ, but the truth is I still fall ridiculously short when it comes to loving my kids.

These verses help me remember to live in faith instead of fear, anxiety and guilt. God’s grace is sufficient; he fills in the gaps where I fall short. And because of this, my heart can be at peace.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Hebrews 10:22

[L]et us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Philippians 4:6–7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Want to keep these Bible verses handy? You can access them and other Bible verses for moms! Just click below:

Your turn: how do you wrestle with mommy guilt and what are your favorite scriptures to combat it?

What Did Jesus Say About Prayer? 4 Surprising Lessons

April 7, 2021 by Gina Poirier Leave a Comment

For the longest time, I thought that I pretty much stunk at praying.

Don’t get me wrong, I would come to God regularly, maybe with a prayer list or journal in hand if I was really on top of things.

But too many times, daily prayer was just an item on my spiritual checklist, and as a result it felt rote, aimless, boring and powerless.

I quickly lost focus and my mind wandered to what it thought were more interesting pursuits.

That’s humbling to write.

I’ve wondered at times, What is wrong with me? Is there a “right” way to pray? Or a wrong way? What exactly does God expect us to say when he already knows our thoughts, anyway?

I think Jesus’ disciples wondered about some of these things too. I’m guessing this is why he offered them many lessons on prayer.

So what did Jesus say about prayer? He actually appeared to shock a few people.

Jesus’ message contrasted with those that were very…religious. (Hmm, sounds a little familiar.) Some of the Jewish leaders at the time loved marking all the right boxes, praying long and loud, making a show out of fasting and demonstrating to everyone how extremely godly they were (Matthew 6:5).

And then there were the regular Joes like the rest of us mortals who probably felt a little inadequate and lost when talking to the LORD of the universe.

What made Jesus’ approach to prayer different was that it was an ongoing conversation in an intimate relationship with his Father, rather than a religious act you could check off your daily list.

Along with Jesus’ other teachings, his words on prayer were tough pills to swallow.

And you know what? They’re still tough. But that’s what makes them so effective.

The secret to a powerful prayer life isn’t following some formula or method.

Rather, it’s about digging deep, asking yourself hard questions and humbly presenting your thoughts to your Creator. I mean, that just sounds life-changing, doesn’t it? And that’s the effect Jesus was after.

What if we could pray those kinds of prayers too? I believe we can. And these four surprising things Jesus said about prayer will help you do just that.

Want to go deeper with Jesus’s teachings? Sign up for 7 days of free prayer prompts.

What Did Jesus Say About Prayer?

4 surprising things Jesus taught about prayer

1. Pray for God’s Will (and Your Heart To Align with It)

…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…
Matthew 6:10

When Jesus’ disciples asked him how they should pray, he offered them the Lord’s Prayer. I find that this is a beautiful and powerful place to start when I’m completely drawing a blank about what to say.

While there are a lot of great points in this simple prayer, what has struck me is this short phrase: “your kingdom come, your will be done.” Why would you ask God for his kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth—so that he can have your permission? I think not.

Rather, prayer is an opportunity for us to get our own hearts in alignment with God’s plans for his kingdom. We see Jesus practicing this openly in the Garden of Gethsemane before he went to the cross (Matthew 26:36–46). Ummm, so if Jesus needed to get his heart in the right place, how much more do I??? This is tough. Time to get busy.

2. Pray on Behalf of Your Enemies

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Matthew 5:44

Speaking of getting our hearts in alignment with God’s will…this one is a real doozy.

How often do you pray in earnest for people with different beliefs than you? For people who have hurt you?

In recent events we’ve seen a lot of protests in the streets and opinionated rants online…but who’s praying on behalf of the people who are filled with hatred and violence?

Remember that Jesus prayed for the people who were killing him as it was happening. That’s the standard.

I think that, practically speaking, these are some of the most challenging passages in the whole Bible. Forgiveness given and received, especially when it’s undeserved, can make us cringe pretty hard. Add some of those heavy thoughts to your pretty prayer journal.

3. Pray for Big, Gutsy Requests (and Believe That God Will Answer)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24

Do you pray “safe” prayers because you’re afraid God will say no?

Honestly, I have a hard time wrapping my head around this one. If I believe it, it will come true? That sounds more like an interaction with a magic genie than with God.

But I think when you’re having an ongoing conversation with God and actively working on aligning your heart with his will (#1) and you’re genuinely engaging grace-centered prayer (#2), then you are probably going to be less selfish and more in tune with what God wants.

This is the natural next step: believing that his is going to answer in a big and powerful way.

That doesn’t mean that God is a genie waiting to grant all of our requests. But consider this: courageous prayer puts us in a very vulnerable position. I can’t think of anything more intimate than sharing your deepest desires. This tough concept really challenges me to push myself deeper in authentic conversations with my Father.

4. Pray with Persistence

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
Luke 18:7

This passage is about a widow who asked over and over again for justice until she got it (see full passage Luke 18:1–8). Okay…this is another head-scratcher. Why does God sometimes want us to ask more than once? Especially when he also said that he would answer if we ask in faith?

God isn’t hard of hearing. Just like we sometimes choose to make our kids wait, we need to wait as well.

Praying for something regularly proves how important it is to me—for my own benefit.

My kids ask me for lots of things, many of which they immediately forget in the next five minutes. But if there’s something my kid asks me about over and over and over again? It proves that the request is genuine—and I’m more than happy to respond.

It’s similar with God and us. While he doesn’t need proof of our genuineness, repetition forces us to examine and assess our own hearts each time we ask. It’s a pretty effective filter.

Go Deeper with Jesus’s Words About Prayer

To sum it up, what Jesus said about prayer is surprising, challenging and encouraging. His teachings are incredibly simple but powerful. While I believe God listens to us in whatever ways we try to reach out to him, he provided guidance for a reason—that we might connect with him at a deeper level, as Jesus did.

If you want to go deeper, don’t forget to grab your prayer prompts!

How do you like to pray? I’d love to hear some of your tips in the comments!

5 Promising Bible Verses for the Lonely Mama

March 3, 2021 by Gina Poirier 5 Comments

As a stay-at-home mom, I am never alone. Ever.

Even when the kids are sleeping, my “mommy radar” is constantly up, making sure that they’re breathing and safe. Even when I can leave the house without them, those little beings consume my thoughts.

And yet, motherhood is one of the loneliest jobs around. The constant noise sometimes makes me want to retreat into a little cave, while at the same time I crave connection with another human taller closer to my height.

Fellow comrades, mamas (whether you work outside the home or are with the kids all day), I KNOW you get lonely too—especially since 2020.

Even if you’re on the introverted side like I am, no one can really do it solo. In fact, that’s not how God designed us. This whole construct of a “stay-at-home mom” being isolated all day with kids is the opposite of what mamas past had. We were created to be relational, to be in small communities with extended relatives and friends, raising kids together and giving each other the support we need.

Nonetheless here we are.

Fortunately we’re never truly alone. I believe that while God designed us for community, he knew that some of us would be going solo sometimes. And that’s why he’s there for us, no matter what season we’re in.

5 Promising Bible Verses for the Lonely Mama

1. Joshua 1:6–9

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
emphasis added

Joshua was a man who knew loneliness: standing up for what was right when nearly everyone else turned their back on him. Later in his life, God gave him this battle call before Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. And likewise, we are going into battle every day for our families. Take courage, mamas, because God will be with you wherever you go. Stay in his Word and follow his lead.

2. 1 Kings 19:11–13

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
emphasis added

For an encouraging study, read the whole saga of Elijah from 1 Kings 17 to 1 Kings 19. One of the most powerful prophets of the Old Testament, he had fled everything he knew. He was completely alone and prayed that he would die. So God came and whispered to him gently. And then God invited Elijah to speak more to him. I’ll leave it up to you to draw your own conclusions from the story, but if you read on, you’ll see that in the end, God brought Elijah a new best friend: Elisha. He was never alone again, up until his last day. If you’re in the depths, cry out to God (even if it sounds ugly). See what happens.

3. Psalm 22:19–21

But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

This is one of my favorite Psalms, and I encourage you to read the whole passage. It is the voice of King David expressing his own emotions, but it is simultaneously a prophecy about Jesus dying on the cross. The Psalm starts with, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is also what Jesus uttered as he died (Matthew 27:46). But look how the Psalm ends.

In the case of David, in the case of Elijah, and even in the case of Jesus, all had to hit rock bottom—alone—before God lifted them up in victory. You might be alone right now mama, but TRUST that God is working in your life to bring you back up. Don’t hesitate in asking him to rescue you—although maybe not from lions and wild oxen (wild toddlers can be scary too).

4. Matthew 28:18–19

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
emphasis added

Is this passage just for the first disciples, or just for missionaries or church leaders? Who is doing a lot of the grunt work when it comes to “making disciples” (besides God himself of course)? Parents. Mamas, this passage is for you. You are doing holy work, day in and day out, and Jesus is with you. He promised.

5. 1 John 4:16–19

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
emphasis added

I add this one last, mamas, because sometimes we need a little push. Perhaps need to put yourself out there and express your needs for friendship, as well as offer your own love to others. This is especially difficult because most of us have experienced hurt and loss in our relationships. But don’t let fear be your master; act in love. This verse has helped me time and again.

Take heart, mamas. You will get through your lonely times.

Want to keep these verses handy? You can now download them in a printable form! Just click below:

If you liked this post you might also like my other verses for mamas.

Do you have any favorite verses that get you through loneliness? Please share them in the comments!

What Are Spiritual Disciplines? Plus 10 Ideas to Get Started

February 24, 2021 by Gina Poirier Leave a Comment

When I first started learning in earnest about the Bible as a young college student, one of the questions I pondered and discussed was how to have a relationship with God.

My study group at the time compared it to what we knew best: human relationships. For human relationships to be healthy, they require some basic practices, like spending time together and communication.

Thus, I began a daily ritual that I’ve tried my best to be faithful to ever since: the quiet time.

In my mind, it involved reading my Bible and praying in some capacity.

After nearly two decades of this daily practice, I’ve come to expand my understanding of what a “quiet time” can be, as I’ve sought to deepen my relationship with this mysterious Creator figure and his Son in human likeness, Jesus.

One term I came across more recently is “spiritual disciplines.” More or less, these are habits that are meant to help you grow and deepen the Christian spiritual life. In the same way that certain physical disciplines can help you train your body, spiritual disciplines can help you train your soul.

And just to be clear, spiritual disciplines are NOT about self-help or self-improvement. Their purpose is to help you focus your life around God, not the other way around.

What are spiritual disciplines? Plus 10 ideas to get started

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Why Do We Need Spiritual Disciplines?

Personally, I love the concept of spiritual disciplines. I know the power of daily habits, and how they can radically alter your lifestyle when it comes to your health or relationships. It just makes sense that they can help you spiritually too.

Spiritual disciplines go beyond the vague practice of a “daily quiet time.” I know I’m not alone when I confess that there have been many days when I’ve opened my Bible and stared at it blankly, or tried to pray and then proceeded to think about the errands I needed to run.

Spiritual disciplines are powerful because they give you focus in your relationship with God. In 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, the apostle Paul writes:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Without spiritual disciplines, we risk running aimlessly.

Now before you start feeling guilty or overwhelmed at this idea (why do we do that, anyway?), consider that you may practice some form of spiritual disciplines already without even thinking about it. Chances are, if you’re reading this far, you’ve at least tried to pray or read the Bible and participate in Christian worship on some level. That’s exciting!

By being more intentional about spiritual disciplines, we can take our walk with God that much deeper.

My friend and podcaster Marty Solomon talks about God’s call to “create space” for worshiping Him in the biblical text, starting in Genesis 1. Setting aside time and effort for spiritual disciplines is a way to do that. And what’s super exciting is that when we create that space, God is the one who fills it.

As a busy, tired, distracted mama of four (almost five!), that thought is refreshing. I don’t have to follow my chosen disciplines flawlessly. God shows time and again that if I make some effort to just show up, He in turn shows up in a bigger way than I could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20–21).

Spiritual Disciplines: 10 Practical Examples

So where do we start with spiritual disciplines? It’s not like God gave us a must-do list in the Scriptures.

However, there is a ton of precedent when it comes to spiritual disciplines. (I’m seriously not just making this up.) If you don’t believe me, start in the biblical text itself and observe how God’s people worshiped. They prayed. They wrote poetry. They observed temple rituals. They practiced a weekly Sabbath. Jesus and his disciples memorized and recited Scripture. Just to name a few.

What’s more, people have continued practicing spiritual disciplines in the centuries following Christ. They’ve fasted and lived in solitude. They’ve memorized the canonical texts and transcribed them. They’ve created music and art.

Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline is a modern classic that summarizes the many ways we can walk a path of spiritual growth, so if you want to dig deep into more practicals, I suggest you pick it up.

And if you want a basic list of practical examples, I’ve got that for you right here. Be sure to also check out the printable list and habit tracker I’ve made, which you can find in my resource collection for subscribers.

Scripture writing: You’ve probably read the Bible, but have you ever transcribed it? I recently wrote out the entire Gospel of Matthew, and I love how it helped me slow down and savor the text. I noticed a lot of details I wouldn’t have otherwise, and it prompted me to dig deeper into passages I wanted to learn more about.
Scripture memorization: There are many ways to do this, like writing out short passages on notecards or reciting longer passages. Don’t worry too much about remembering the verses forever; just store them in your mind and heart somewhere, and you may be surprised when they turn up.
Bible study: This one seems obvious, but there are so many ways to approach it. You can do straight reading (like reading through the Bible in a year), or studying to historical context, biblical words and themes, and commentary from trusted sources. Right now I’m doing a deep dive on the prophets.
Christian meditation: Spend quiet time not in active prayer, but rather in silent reflection. I find it helpful if I think about a particular passage so my mind doesn’t wander. Breathe deeply but naturally.
Fasting: The traditional way to fast is to deny yourself of food or drink for a time, but if you’re unable to do that, you can take a break from just about anything you can think of. I like to think of fasting as an extension of my prayer life.
Praying the Scriptures: If you ever have difficulty focusing in prayer, try praying through different Scriptures like the Psalms or Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). You can also through a biblical theme like the promises of God.
Practicing gratitude: This is one of my favorite disciplines because it is so easy to do yet so powerful. Write down or verbalize at least one small thing you’re thankful for each day and watch it transform the way you look at your life. I do this personally and with my kids.
Sabbath rest: I’ve spent much effort digging into the importance of Sabbath and choosing rest, especially in a never-stop culture. It is both a practice and a posture.
Solitude and/or silence: While I don’t get a whole lot of opportunity to do this, I always marvel at how refreshed my soul is whenever I can get away and just be with Jesus.
Creative expression: Use your gifts in music, visual art or other artistic expression as an act of worship.

Additional Ideas

Hopefully it’s clear that these ideas are just a starting point! I focused on individual disciplines, but there are plenty more that you can do in community, including:

Service
Generosity
Communion
Worship
Confession
Submission
Celebration
Encouragement

You can also practice any of the individual disciplines in partnership with others.

If you’re looking for a list of spiritual disciplines and other tools to help you grow in your faith, be sure to sign up for my collection of free Christian resources below:

Do you have any favorite spiritual disciplines or resources? Leave a comment and let us know!