Soul Survival - the bible for real life

Anxious young woman biting her fingernails

08 May

“Could Anxiety Sometimes Be Spiritual?” May 8

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Anxiety. Stress. Fear. Suspicion. Even paranoia.
We often think of these as uniquely modern struggles caused by the pressures of today’s world. But the Bible reveals that these battles are as old as humanity itself.

In today’s reading, we’ll look at the tragic unraveling of King Saul—a man consumed by fear, insecurity, and suspicion, even though David had done nothing but honor and serve him. Saul’s torment wasn’t random, and Scripture points us to the deeper root beneath his emotional collapse.

Could some of the same spiritual dynamics still affect us today?

While not every emotional struggle is directly caused by personal sin, the Bible does teach that unresolved rebellion, guilt, bitterness, or disobedience can intensify anxiety, fear, and emotional turmoil. Saul’s life serves as a sobering warning—and David’s life offers a powerful contrast of peace, courage, and stability that comes from walking closely with God.

We’ll also explore one of the Bible’s beautiful word pictures: hearts burning with holy fire as Jesus opens the Scriptures to us. When God’s Word comes alive through the Holy Spirit, it doesn’t merely inform the mind—it transforms the heart.

Woman holding a cup of coffee and gazing out of the window with text that reads, Thoughts Are Words to God!

07 May

“What Are Your Thoughts Saying to God?” May 7

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

What do your thoughts reveal about your heart?

That’s a sobering question—especially when we remember that God not only sees our actions, but also knows every thought we entertain. Proverbs reminds us that even sinful thoughts are an abomination to Him because, in a sense, our thoughts are words spoken before God.

Of course, thoughts come into our minds all the time, even wrong ones. The real question is: What do we do with them?

Do we entertain them… replay them… justify them… or reject them and turn our minds back toward what honors God?

What we dwell on matters far more than we realize.

And that connects directly to another important issue we see in today’s reading from 1 Samuel: perspective.

When Samuel went to Jesse’s house to anoint Israel’s next king, he naturally focused on outward appearance. But God reminded him, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Then in the very next chapter, we see two completely different ways of looking at the same problem.

The Israelites saw Goliath and were overwhelmed with fear. David saw the same giant—but he viewed him in light of the greatness of God.

And that raises an important question for us:

How do we see the challenges in our own lives?

Do we look at our problems in relation to ourselves… or in relation to God?

Because one perspective leads to fear, anxiety, and doubt. The other leads to faith.

Let’s take a closer look.

young man sitting on a boulder thinking regretfully

06 May

“Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow” May 6

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Have you ever been sorry for something… but mostly because of what it cost you?

Maybe it led to a strained relationship.
An embarrassing moment.
A consequence you wish you could undo.

We all know what it feels like to regret the fallout of our choices. But here’s the harder question:

Is that the same as true repentance?

The Bible makes an important distinction between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow—and the difference between the two is more significant than we might think.

In 1 Samuel 14 and 15, we watch King Saul begin to unravel. Given another opportunity to obey God, he instead does what seems right in his own eyes. He partially obeys, justifies his actions, shifts blame, and even claims, “I have performed the commandment of the Lord.”

But when he’s confronted, something becomes clear.

Saul is sorry… but not in the way that leads to restoration.

His concern is not a broken heart before God—but a desire to manage appearances and avoid consequences.

And that raises a sobering question for us:

When we sin, are we truly repentant—or just regretful?

Let’s take a closer look.

Distressed woman with her hands up to her face

05 May

“Joy in Trials? Really?” May 5

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Most of us would say that finding joy in trials is next to impossible, and yet, the Bible commands us to do just that! How is that possible and how can we grow in that ability?

Also, today, do you find yourself praying about the same struggles day after day and week after week … sometimes year after year. Are you tempted to give up or do you feel like you have simply failed God?

Distraught woman with her hands over her face leaning against a white brick wall with text that reads, Do You Feel Like You Have Failed God?

04 May

“When You Feel Like You’ve Failed God” May 4

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Have you ever felt like you’ve failed God?

Maybe it’s something from your past—before you came to Christ. Or maybe it’s something more recent… something you said, did, or thought as a believer that you knew was wrong.

And now you wonder…

“Have I messed up too badly this time?”

If we’re honest, it can sometimes feel easier to believe God forgives our “before Christ” sins than the ones we commit after we know better.

But Scripture paints a different picture.

In Luke 22, as Jesus’ crucifixion draws near, His disciples—those closest to Him—still didn’t get it. While Jesus was preparing Himself for the reality of the cross, they were squabbling about their future positions in the kingdom, bragging about how they would never let Him down, and falling asleep when He asked them to pray.

It’s not exactly their finest hour.

I wonder how many times they looked back on those moments and believed they had failed God.

How about you?

Do you ever feel like you have failed Him? Maybe you promised yourself you’d never fall into that old pattern again… and then you did. Maybe impatience took over, words were spoken you wish you could take back, or discouragement led you to pull away instead of pressing in.

If so, you’re not alone.

And that leads to an important question:

What does God do with people who know they’ve failed Him?

Let’s take a closer look.

03 May

“Are We Blending In?” May 3

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Why is it so hard to be different?

God has always called His people to stand apart—to be holy, distinct, and a light in a world that doesn’t know Him. And yet, if we’re honest, there’s something in us that just wants to fit in.

We don’t want to stand out.
We don’t want to feel out of step.
We don’t want to be seen as different.

That struggle isn’t new.

In 1 Samuel 8, as the prophet Samuel grew old, the people of Israel faced a moment of decision. Instead of trusting God to lead them, they asked for something else—something that would make them feel more secure, more normal, more like the nations around them.

They asked for a king.

But their request revealed something deeper. God told Samuel, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me.”

It’s easy to see how the world today rejects God’s authority. But what’s more challenging is this:

In what ways might we be doing the same—subtly, quietly, even unintentionally?

Where are we tempted to blend in rather than stand apart?

Let’s take a closer look.

Man in a blue shirt with his head bowed in humble prayer

02 May

“True Repentance: More Than ‘I’m Sorry'” May 2

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

What would it look like if your sin had to be put on public display?

Not hidden.
Not quietly confessed.
But announced—seen by everyone.

It’s an uncomfortable thought… but in 1 Samuel 6 and 7, we see something surprisingly close to that.

After capturing the ark of God, the Philistines quickly realized their victory came at a cost. Their false god Dagon was humiliated, their people were struck with disease, and fear spread throughout the land. They knew they had offended the true God—and they knew something had to be done.

So they did something unusual.

They created physical representations of their guilt—golden tumors and golden rats—and sent them back with the ark as a kind of offering for their sin.

It’s a strange and striking picture… but it raises an important question for us:

How do we deal with our sin?

Thankfully, God hasn’t required us to display our failures for the world to see. Instead, He has made a way for us to come to Him humbly, confess our sin, and be forgiven.

But that doesn’t mean confession is casual—or that repentance is optional.

So what does true repentance actually look like?

And in today’s New Testament reading, Jesus reminds us that we need to be ready and watching for His return. So, how can we know if we are ready?

Let’s take a closer look at both subjects.

Woman in a blue dress with long dark hair weeping.

01 May

“When Persecution Comes… What Then?” May 1

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

“Can anything good come from persecution?”

It’s not a question most of us are eager to answer.

We don’t usually think of persecution as something beneficial. We think of it as painful… unfair… something to avoid if at all possible.

And while it’s true that not all persecution is extreme or life-threatening, it still cuts deep. Sometimes it comes quietly—in the form of rejection, misunderstanding, or subtle opposition. And sometimes it comes from the people closest to us, which can make it even harder to bear.

So what do we do with it?

More importantly, what does God do with it?

Scripture shows us that God doesn’t waste even these painful experiences. He can use persecution in ways we might not expect—for our growth and for His glory.

But that leads to a deeper question:

How will we respond when it comes?

Will we respond in ways that allow God to work in us and through us… or will we miss what He intends to do?

Let’s take a closer look.

A woman holds up her phone and does not realize the attached snake.

30 Apr

“The Sin You Think You Can Control” April 30

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Have you ever found your thoughts drifting toward something you know isn’t right?

Maybe it seems small. Manageable. Easy to control.

But sin is never as harmless as it appears.

We often convince ourselves we can handle it—that we can entertain it without consequence. But sin has a way of quietly taking hold, pulling us further than we ever intended to go.

And it never affects just us.

What begins in the heart eventually spills over, impacting the people closest to us—often in ways we don’t immediately see.

In today’s passage, we’ll see what happens when sin is tolerated rather than confronted—through the effects of polygamy and a failure of both parental and spiritual leadership.

But that’s not the whole story.

In the middle of it all, we’ll also see the steady faithfulness of one godly woman—and the even greater faithfulness of God.

Let’s take a closer look.

Man clasping a Bible tightly with text that reads, The Battle for Truth

29 Apr

“The Battle for Truth” April 29

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

It’s hard to ignore the growing tension around truth.

In many places today, truth is no longer seen as fixed—but something to be defined, shaped, or even rejected. And for those who look to God’s Word as their authority, that shift can make everyday life more complicated.

Some Christians find it increasingly difficult to live and work without feeling pressure to compromise their convictions. In certain settings, simply standing for what Scripture calls right can bring criticism, misunderstanding, or even opposition.

So where do we place our hope?

It’s tempting to look to cultural shifts or political solutions for protection. And while those may influence things for a time, they can’t ultimately solve a spiritual problem.

Which leads to a more important question:

How do we prepare ourselves to stand firm in a world where truth is continually being challenged?

Let’s take a closer look.

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“Could Anxiety Sometimes Be Spiritual?” May 8

“What Are Your Thoughts Saying to God?” May 7

“Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow” May 6

“Joy in Trials? Really?” May 5

“When You Feel Like You’ve Failed God” May 4

“Are We Blending In?” May 3

“True Repentance: More Than ‘I’m Sorry'” May 2

“When Persecution Comes… What Then?” May 1

“The Sin You Think You Can Control” April 30

“The Battle for Truth” April 29

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