7 Bible Verses to Start Your Week

Need a quick pick me up? Grab a highlighter and mark these verses in your Bible to get you focused on God this week.

Rest in the Lord today.
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)

Faith Friday: 10 Encouraging Bible Verses for Your Week

Need some end-of-the-week encouragement to get you through the weekend? Here are some inspirational Bible verses to reset your focus on God.

5 New Ways to Connect with God

Having trouble focusing on spending time with God? Here are some ideas to renew your spirit and revamp your daily quiet time.

Why Should I Read the Bible?

Why is it important to read your Bible every day? Our minds are focused on so many things throughout the day that reading the Bible can seem like more of a chore than a desire. How can you make time for reading the Bible? What more can you learn from it? If it was written so long ago, how can it still be worth anything to you today? How are you supposed to focus on God's word if it's so...boring? Those are all valid questions, and I want to help you find the answers you need.

10 Tips for Journaling with Jesus

Did you know journaling can help you connect with God? Renee Johnson, the Devotional Diva, has been journaling for a long time and wants to share her tips with you!

1. Pick A Secluded Spot. (“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door…Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." - Matthew 6:6).

2. Grab Your Favorite Bible, Devotional, Journal & Pen/Pencil.

3. Pick A Date/Time (Morning, Afternoon Evening, Bed Time).

4. Ask God To Be Your Friend. Replace Dear “Diary” with God. (See: Romans 5:8-11).

5. Discover Your Prayer [Journal] Language (See: Matthew 6:5-15).

6. Use What You’ve Got To Find Something New (Start with writing down a Bible verse from your daily quiet time, then finish by journaling your own personal thoughts).

7. Start With Praise.

8. DO NOT GIVE UP! (See: Galatians 6:9-10 & “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” - Matthew 7:7-8, NLT).

9. Warning: No Guilt. Pick Up Where you Left Off. (Refuse to worry if you missed a day or three).

10. God Will Do What He Promised You! (See: Psalm 37:5 & Matthew 25:23. If you find yourself needing an accountability partner to keep you in check to stay in the Word daily, don’t hesitate to ask a best friend, myself, a mentor or pastor).

Renee Johnson is a spirted speaker and writer to 20-somethings. She is known as the "Devotional Diva" to all her blog readers. Her ministry goal is to challenge you to dig deeper and move forward in your faith. She is the author of Faithbook of Jesus: Connecting with Jesus Daily, a book that will help you connect and chat with God in a relevant way. You can grab a copy here.

My New Favorite Book!

Beauty books are so fun. But I -- along with millions of people all over the world -- have discovered the one must-have book that everyone is trying to get their hands on. In fact, it's sold more copies than any other book in the world. Yep, that's more copies than Twilight.
The book I'm talking about is filled with ancient wisdom and timeless tried-and-true secrets on all the things that are important to you:

• beauty
• fashion
• family
• guys
• friends
• more!

This book answers all your questions, like:

• What should I wear tomorrow?
• How do I find the perfect guy?
• How can I help a hurting friend?
• Why should I listen to my parents?

So, let's not keep it a secret any longer! Go ahead and get the ultimate fashion/beauty/relationship/life book now!

That's right. The Holy Bible. It's the greatest book ever written. All the above facts are 100% true. Whatever you're struggling with right now, God has answers for you in His Word. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a gel pen and your Bible and open your heart to what God is saying!

Prayer Point: my aunt

Prayer Point:

Please pray for my aunt. She's got a really bad type of cancer, and the doctors can't do anything about it. They say she has weeks to live. It's been really hard on her and her family (of course) and...I dunno...it's just really sad. She's really nice, and isn't that old.

Also, if you know anyone who has cancer, pray for them, too. You may just be surprised at how much prayer can lift a person up.