Elevate Your Day with Andi and Brian Hale

Now, of course, a devotional plan on the study of God as a means to an end would not be an adequate way to spend this time together. The majesty of God isn’t only something to be studied and pondered on in order to make ourselves feel smarter, or so that we might know more. Our study of him is, of course, an opportunity to KNOW him more. “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and th...

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10 ESV

Jesus longs that we’ll live our lives to the full – He truly does. But that abundant life he speaks of is, of course, so much more than simply lip service on a Sunday or our well-rehearsed prayers. Instead, it’s about honesty and wholehearted surrender to him.

When we can get to this place, it means we truly u...

When met face to face with Jesus, Mary chose worship and Martha chose worry.

Luke 10:38-42 ESV Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve al...

There are countless books that remark on the characteristics of God, our understanding of God in relation to our lives, how to use our God-given gifts, etc. Something we mustn’t skip, though, or feel to be irrelevant or less important, is the simple seeking of our Savior.

I say ‘simple’, but sometimes that’s so far from the truth, though, isn’t it? Sometimes one of the hardest things to do is to sit at Jesus’ feet and be still – ...

You could have been born at any time, but God saw fit for you to be born in this day and age. He knew all the challenges that would come your way.

Our glorious Savior faced so many battles. He faced so many moments when He could have thrown in the towel. John 12:27–28 gives us a peek into one such moment, when Jesus said:

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reas...

Your desire to read the Bible, your hunger for the things of God, your longing to walk more closely with Him have been orchestrated by God because the Holy Spirit goes before you.

First Corinthians 12:3 says, “No one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” This verse teaches us that you can’t even be drawn to God, you can’t even find the gift of ...

You may never graduate from some struggles. They might always be closer than you want them to be. But some­times the struggle is the thing that keeps us humble. It helps us see ourselves rightly as we see ourselves surren­dered and dependent upon Almighty God.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul prays about a particularly stubborn challenge he’s struggling with:

2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV To keep me from becoming conceited because of the su...

God always interrupts our disappointments with a bigger agenda. Today God might be interrupting you.

Judges 6:11-24 ESV Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gide...

Our ultimate purpose is to make God’s name great and establish His love, His grace, His rule, His authority, and His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. But we fall short.

Judges 6:1-10 ESV The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that...

We have all heard this: “We were created to worship.”

There is a deep longing in our souls to connect with a greater being—from the atheist who tries to convince themselves that God doesn’t exist to the most pious person who has dedicated their entire life to living for God. We all desire that connection.

How can I prove this? Simply go to any sporting event, and you will see worship—worship of a game, a team, or a player. Crowds o...

I have always understood that prayer is simply talking to God, like a friend. I still believe this to be true, but I am coming to understand that it is much more. That assuring passage in Philippians 4:6–7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exce...

From Faith and Purpose, it is THE WORD OF GOD...

"It is the foundation of everything—the Word of God, which is inspired and breathed by the Holy Spirit."

---

Are you like me—someone who finds it challenging to follow through on those New Year’s resolutions?

We all begin with the best intentions, determined to grow and stay committed, but as the days get busier and more hectic, it becomes harder to finish what we started. I’m not h...