Jessica Brodie

Some people wake up, grab their phone and start scrolling through news headlines or social media to start the day. Other people slink toward the coffeemaker or lace up their running shoes to hit the gym. 

But one of the most meaningful and important morning routines can begin even before we get out of bed: by taking a few moments in prayer with God. 

Why pray upon rising? By starting our day with the most important thing — and person — in our lives, God, we prioritize our faith. It’s an act of honor and respect, and it reminds us of our true purpose in life, which is to share the Gospel and glorify God.

Praying first thing in the morning also has other benefits, such as decreasing our anxiety, increasing our productivity, and helping us better connect with and hear the Holy Spirit. 

Here, then, are seven short daily prayers to start your day.

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God has a plan that He will fulfill despite our all-too-human orchestrations, manipulations, and petty jealousies. Despite Rachel and Leah’s sisterly squabbles and the addition of two more wives into their already crowded marriage, God produced God’s people through what looked like a mess.

Interested in learning more about the book of Luke? We've got your answers to authorship, context, purpose and top verses from this book.

While the Bible doesn’t specifically mention weed, marijuana, or other drugs, God’s word does have plenty to say about the importance of staying in one’s right and sober mind — particularly as the devil is on the prowl.

Mental health is something talked about a lot today. In general, mental health refers to our emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Just as physical health refers to the overall well-being of our body—from fitness to body composition to the absence of chronic illness or disease—mental health is when our minds are in good shape. Our minds encompass emotions, feelings, and cognition. When we’re healthy mentally, our thoughts and feelings are balanced and regular. Typically, being healthy mentally means we are able to cope with stress easily and productively and manage our emotions effectively, so we control them instead of our emotions controlling us.

The Bible prioritizes mental health. As Proverbs 4:23 proclaims, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV). The Hebrew word used here for “heart”, leb, translates to the inner self, the seat of thought and emotion.

Mental health problems occur when we are not healthy mentally, whether that’s from diagnosed mental illness (such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.) or from going through a short-term period of mental imbalance. Diagnosed, long-term, ongoing mental illness is sometimes a chemical disorder best treated by seeking the advice and guidance of a trained mental health doctor, counselor, or pastor—just as serious physical illness, such as cancer or diabetes— is best treated through the care of a physician. Mental illness might be caused by other things, such as genetics or trauma (such as war or abuse).

But sometimes, mental health problems are caused by the things we are doing on a regular basis that derail us from balanced, synchronized thoughts and feelings. 

These habits unsettle and overturn our efforts to achieve peace and serenity emotionally and mentally, and sometimes we don’t even realize we’re causing this to happen.

Here are five sneaky habits that cause serious mental health problems:

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Why does God compare our relationship with him to that of a bride and groom? In short, it’s a poignant and real-world way to exhibit the covenantal love and the selfless, everlasting stability God offers those of us who believe. 

Whether Jesus is speaking to an unbeliever, a believer grown cold over time, or a church that has lost its fire for Christ, the most important thing to know from this verse is that Jesus wants us—every one of us. He’s there, knocking and hoping, eager for an invitation and acceptance inside.

You might have heard the quote, “Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary.” It’s commonly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, though there is substantial claim that St. Francis didn’t actually say this. 

Whether he did or not, the idea of sharing the Gospel without words is appealing to many, especially those who are painfully shy or who have a disability that prevents them from speaking or otherwise communicating verbally. The Gospel—or, the “Good News” of the salvation we have in Christ Jesus—is a truth we typically do share verbally, but some people simply prefer non-verbal forms of communication. They are tired of words in what can feel like a society based on empty promises and false speech. 

We don’t need to speak or even write to be able to introduce the Gospel to people. There are a number of ways that we can share the love of Christ, and the notion of Christianity, without opening our mouths. 

As Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28:19, “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.” He also told them, when asked what is the greatest commandment, that they are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and, second, to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40).

Jesus also said, in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

When we show love in the name of Jesus, we are showing Jesus to the world. 

Here, then, are some ways we can show Jesus to others without words:

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As summer brings warm weather, sunshine, and rest from work, many of us will slip away to the coast to enjoy time at the beach. If that's the case for you, consider these five prayers as you stick your toes in the sand.

When trials comes, it’s hard to escape the pain and suffering that usually follows, whether it’s physical pain or emotional and spiritual. Tears may course down our cheeks, while loneliness, anguish, and desperation seem to fill our very bones.

Yet the Bible promises us that even in our pain, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

How can we be sure of this, that the Lord is near when our hearts are shattered, seemingly beyond repair? The answer lies throughout Scripture, for not only does the Bible make this promise repeatedly, but we know we can rest on the promises of the Lord, knowing God is only and always good, righteous, and perfect.

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The Bible is indeed a well-organized collection of writings penned by more than two dozen authors spanning thousands of years. Instead of being organized chronologically, it is organized by literary genre. For example, books from the prophets are all together in one section, while books of history are in another.

The concept of mental illness can be troubling to many Christians who don’t understand the physical, emotional, spiritual, and physiological effects. Because the symptoms are not readily apparent through bloodwork, ultrasound, or other concrete method of measuring the problem, some dismiss mental illness as something from which we can pray our way free.

God does make miracles happen, and if God chooses to cure someone of mental illness, He can certainly do so, just as He can choose to cure someone of cancer, diabetes, or other physical ailment. Prayer does work.

But does that mean it’s wrong or unbiblical to seek medical solutions for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other emotional or mental disorders? Is it OK for Christians to take medication for mental illness?

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It can be incredibly painful when someone we love decides to leave Christianity. According to the Pew Research Center, while more than 85 percent of American adults were raised in the Christian faith, nearly a quarter of those raised Christian no longer identify as such. Nineteen percent of American adults consider themselves “former Christians.”

Many of these people are our family members — spouses, children, and others we love deeply.

As Christians, it’s extremely difficult to watch loved ones turn away from or even outright reject the faith. We grieve for these people and genuinely worry for their salvation as well as the general course of their lives. Perhaps we blame ourselves, thinking we did something wrong or didn’t do enough to help them. 

Sometimes a family member called themselves a Christian at one time; they attended church, got baptized, want to Bible study, and prayed with us. But as they learned more about authentic faith, they decided real Christianity was not something they agreed with after all. They rejected God’s word or God’s way when they discovered the truth. 

Much like the parable of the four soils found in Matthew 13:1-23, these people were like the first three soils — they had no root. Perhaps they converted to another religion or left religion entirely, choosing the world and its ways. Or perhaps they were somehow swayed by false teaching.

Sometimes a family member has left the faith because they are running from God. Much like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, this person is rebelling against God, choosing the temporary pleasures of the flesh or other worldly concerns instead of the Jesus way.

Whatever the reason, we know that we can and should always go to the Lord in prayer when this happens, knowing that God hears our prayers.

Here, then, are six prayers for a family member who leaves the faith.

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We’ve known for years that church attendance is declining. Gallup polls show church attendance was roughly 73 percent in 1937 and remained around 70 percent until the 2000s, when numbers took a sharp dip and currently stand at about 47 percent.

Even among those who claim a religious affiliation, church attendance dropped from 73 percent around the turn of the 21st century to 60 percent today.  

Between the number of people who have to work on their day of service to soccer games and other activities taking priority in our communities, going to church is not as important to all people as it once was. It used to be that being a churchgoer and being a Christian were synonymous. But many Christians today do not set foot in a physical church, nor do they worship online on television or via radio. Sometimes they mark the Sabbath with worship in alternative ways, such as a longer version of their regular morning prayer time, or spending time outdoors in nature marveling at God’s splendor while worshiping through song in isolation. 

There is no one correct way to worship God. All ways we worship, as long as they are heartfelt and meaningful, are worthy and valuable to God because they glorify God. 

Still, as many people increasingly choose to forgo church, it begs the question: Do we have to go to church to be a Christian? The short answer is no—but we probably should.

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