Soul Survival - the bible for real life

Model of a home with hands hovering over it and text that reads, Are You Inside God’s Circle of Blessings?

23 Jun

“Are You Inside God’s Circle of Blessings?” June 23

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to keep making the same painful mistakes over and over again?

Why do some believers experience unnecessary heartache, consequences, and spiritual struggles while others seem to enjoy God’s peace and guidance even during difficult seasons?

Could it be that one group is living inside God’s circle of blessings while the other has stepped outside it?

Today’s reading in Proverbs reminded me of a simple illustration we often use with children called the “Circle of Blessings.” It’s based on God’s promise that when children honor and obey their parents, things tend to go well for them. But the principle doesn’t stop with children. It applies to all of us.

We’ll also look at the life of King Saul. God blessed Saul with opportunities most people only dream about. He gave him a kingdom, military victories, loyal friends, and every reason to trust Him. Yet Saul repeatedly chose his own way over God’s way and eventually lost everything.

What happened? And could Saul’s story reveal something about the struggles we face in our own lives?

Let’s take a look.

Happy couple with text that reads: The Marriage Secret Most Couples Overlook

22 Jun

“The Marriage Secret Most Couples Overlook” June 22

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day, Marriage

Have you ever wished someone could hand you a step-by-step plan for changing your husband—or your wife?

Most of us have tried. We’ve explained, reminded, pointed out problems, offered advice, and perhaps even repeated ourselves a few times. Yet somehow the results are often disappointing.

But what if the very thing we think will produce change is actually making it harder?

In today’s reading, Proverbs paints a vivid picture of one kind of spouse and then contrasts it with another. The difference isn’t personality, intelligence, or even spiritual maturity. It’s something far more practical—and surprisingly powerful.

Could the best way to influence your spouse be the exact opposite of what comes naturally to most of us?

Power strip with various cords plugged in with text that reads, Why Is There So Little Power in the Church?

21 Jun

“Could This Be Why There’s So Little Power in the Church Today?” June 21

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Have you ever wondered why we don’t see the kinds of powerful moves of God that we read about in the book of Acts?

Was God simply working differently then? Or could there be another reason?

In today’s reading, we encounter one of the most shocking events in the New Testament. A husband and wife tell what many people would call a “little white lie,” and both lose their lives. At first glance, God’s response can seem severe. But what if this account reveals something important about holiness, hypocrisy, and the fear of God?

Could it be that one of the reasons there is so little spiritual power in many churches today is not that God has changed—but that we have?

Let’s take a closer look at Acts 5 and what it teaches us about truth, obedience, and the kind of faith God blesses.

Woman looking up at the sky with a Bible under her arm and text that reads: What Happens When God's People Refuse to Be Afraid?

20 Jun

“What Happens When God’s People Refuse to Be Afraid?” June 20

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

What would you do if someone threatened you for talking about Jesus?

Would you become more cautious? More silent? More fearful?

Most of us probably would.

But in today’s reading, Peter and John do something completely unexpected. After being threatened by powerful religious leaders and ordered to stop preaching about Christ, they don’t pray for safety. They don’t ask God to remove the opposition. And they don’t retreat.

Instead, they ask for something surprising.

Why would persecution make them bolder rather than more fearful? What did they understand about God that allowed them to see threats differently than most of us do?

And what if opposition, criticism, and even persecution are opportunities for God to do something greater than we ever imagined?

Today’s readings challenge us to think differently about hardship, courage, and the sovereignty of God.

Blond woman biting her lip and thinking deeply with text that reads: When Does Obeying God Mean Disobeying Authority?

19 Jun

“When Does Obeying God Mean Disobeying Authority?” June 19

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Most Christians know we’re supposed to respect authority.

The Bible tells us to honor government leaders, submit to those in authority, respect our employers, support church leadership, and honor God’s design within the family.

But what happens when those authorities ask us to do something God forbids—or forbid something God commands?

Where is the line?

Would you know what to do if obeying God put your job at risk? If following Christ created tension in your family? If speaking the truth cost you friendships, opportunities, or even your reputation?

In today’s reading, Peter and John find themselves facing that very dilemma. Their response reveals a principle every believer needs to understand, especially as our culture becomes increasingly hostile to biblical truth.

The answer may be more challenging—and more encouraging—than you expect.

African-American woman against an orange sky, looking up and wondering: Is God Still Working When Everything Falls Apart?

18 Jun

“Is God Still Working When Everything Falls Apart?” June 18

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

What do you do when it seems evil is winning?

When wicked people prosper, lies go unpunished, and the world appears to be moving farther and farther from God, it’s easy to wonder if He is really paying attention.

The psalmist Asaph wrestled with those very questions. In fact, he nearly lost his footing because of them.

But in today’s reading, he reaches a very different conclusion.

We’ll discover why God’s patience should never be mistaken for indifference, why His judgment always arrives at exactly the right time, and why one of the darkest chapters in Israel’s history ends with an unexpected reminder of God’s mercy.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether God is still working when everything around you seems to be falling apart, today’s readings offer a powerful answer.

17 Jun

“The Habit That Keeps Us from Growing” June 17

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

What if one of the biggest obstacles to spiritual growth isn’t what happened to us—but how we respond to it?

Most of us can point to difficult people, painful experiences, unfair circumstances, or missed opportunities that have shaped our lives. And while those things certainly matter, Scripture challenges us with a deeper question:

What are we doing with what we’ve been given?

In today’s reading, we’ll meet a young king who had every excuse to fail spiritually. His family history was a mess. His role models were terrible. Yet somehow he became one of the godliest kings in Judah’s history.

What made the difference?

And what does his story teach us about excuses, responsibility, and the surprising freedom that comes when we stop blaming others and start pursuing God?

Young couple holding hands in prayer with text that reads, Is Prayer Your Last Resort?

16 Jun

“Is Prayer Your Last Resort?” June 16

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

What is the very first thing you do when trouble comes?

Do you pray? Or do you immediately begin making phone calls, researching solutions, worrying, planning, and trying to fix the problem yourself?

Most of us believe in prayer. But too often, prayer becomes our last resort instead of our first response.

In today’s reading, King Hezekiah faces a crisis so overwhelming that there is no human solution. Yet instead of panicking or relying on his own wisdom, he takes the problem straight to God.

And in the process, he demonstrates something many of us need to learn: prayer isn’t just about getting God to solve our problems. It’s about seeking His glory above all else.

Woman holding a theater mask to her face with text that reads, Is Your Christianity Just a Veneer?

15 Jun

“Is Your Christianity Just a Veneer?” June 15

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Most people would never bow down to a golden calf. We would never think of ourselves as idol worshipers.

But what if idolatry is far more subtle than that?

What if it shows up in our relationships, our fears, our ambitions, our parenting, our marriages, or our desire for approval?

In today’s reading, God’s patience with the Northern Kingdom finally comes to an end after generations of idolatry and compromise. But perhaps the most sobering part of the story comes after the judgment. The people who replaced Israel didn’t reject God completely—they simply added Him to everything else they were already worshiping.

Sound familiar?

Today we’ll consider one of the most important questions a believer can ask: Is Jesus truly Lord of my life, or have I simply added a little Christianity to a heart that is still controlled by other loves?

14 Jun

“Why Criticism Can Be a Gift from God” June 14

Posted by Donna Reidland God's Word Day by Day

Nobody enjoys being criticized.

Whether it’s fair or unfair, criticism has a way of getting under our skin. It can make us defensive, angry, discouraged, or determined to prove the other person wrong.

But what if criticism is about more than the person speaking?

What if God is using even unfair criticism to reveal something in our own hearts?

In today’s readings, we’ll meet a king whose life changed dramatically because of how he responded to correction. We’ll also consider why God’s discipline is actually a sign of His love and how learning to respond humbly to criticism can be one of God’s most important tools for spiritual growth.

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“Are You Inside God’s Circle of Blessings?” June 23

“The Marriage Secret Most Couples Overlook” June 22

“Could This Be Why There’s So Little Power in the Church Today?” June 21

“What Happens When God’s People Refuse to Be Afraid?” June 20

“When Does Obeying God Mean Disobeying Authority?” June 19

“Is God Still Working When Everything Falls Apart?” June 18

“The Habit That Keeps Us from Growing” June 17

“Is Prayer Your Last Resort?” June 16

“Is Your Christianity Just a Veneer?” June 15

“Why Criticism Can Be a Gift from God” June 14

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