InstaEncouragements Building a worldwide online community of encouragers encouraging others in the faith of Jesus Christ. Join the movement!
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Etsy Shop
    • Library >
      • Bible Emergency Numbers
      • 16 Names of God
      • Bible Reading Plan
      • The ABCs Study Guide
      • The ABCS Bible Study
      • Disciple Me Program
      • Come and Gather
      • She Loves Truth Guide
      • She Loves Truth Study
      • The Red Sea Rules
      • Praying Proverbs
      • 12 Letters I Wrote
      • Christmas Songbook
      • LOVE Coupons
    • Christianity
  • Blog
    • Guest Bloggers
    • IE Link-up
    • Choosing Gratitude
    • Aging With Grace
    • Seeking Him
  • Bible Study
    • 52 Days in Psalms
    • 10 Weeks in the New Testament
    • 2 Months in The Pentateuch
    • 12 Minor Prophets
    • 3 Biblical Statements
    • 7 Books of Faith
    • 4 Major Prophets
    • She Loves Truth
    • Hey Mama! PRAY
    • The ABCs of God's Love Letter
  • The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals Media Package
    • Read Chapter 1 of The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals printable package
  • Sweeter Than Honey
    • Sweeter Than Honey Media Package
  • 16 Names of God
Gospel Collection banner

A Prayer for Those Who Are Grieving

5/12/2023

0 Comments

 
When overwhelmed by loss I long to lean on the arms of my Heavenly Father. He is my Comforter and knows what I need, even when I don't. Knowing how to express my feelings through #prayer helps my heart heal. Words are powerful and finding the right ones to tell #God about my sorrow helps. Recently, many I care about have entered different seasons of loss--relationship, child, health, job, loved one... Loss leaves us with #grief that stays long after others have forgotten, but God never forgets!
When I am emotionally overwhelmed by a loss, I long to lean into the everlasting arms of my Heavenly Father more than ever. He is the greatest Comforter, and He knows exactly what I’m feeling and what I need even when I can’t express it myself.

Sometimes, though, figuring out how to express what I’m feeling through prayer helps my heart to heal. Words are powerful things, and finding the right ones to tell God about my sorrow can help me heal.
​
Recently, many people I care about have gone through seasons of loss. These losses come in many different forms.
  • Loss of a relationship
  • Loss of an unborn child
  • Loss of health
  • Loss of a job
  • Loss of a loved one

Read More
0 Comments

Cultivating Fruitful Habits of Grace: Meditation

4/28/2023

0 Comments

 
Spiritual disciplines are practices that allow us to grow our #faith, deepen our relationship with #God, and reach others with His #Gospel. They are the daily practices that, if done effectively and authentically, make up the process of God’s sanctifying work in our lives. Studying and #meditating on His Word, meaningful #prayer, and being an engaged member of a local body of #Christ are tools God uses to shape our thoughts and actions to a greater likeness of the One we follow -- #Jesus Christ.
Back in January of this year, my husband, daughter, and I packed all of our belongings into storage and moved to Hawaii as my husband oversees a project here for work for most of this year. While we miss our family, friends, and church on the mainland, we have loved being here and feel incredibly grateful for this adventure! It has been a wonderful opportunity to live in a such beautiful place. But, it has also been a time where we have been pushed out of our comfort zone and stretched, especially culturally and spiritually. 
 
We thank the Lord that we so quickly found a church family here in Hawaii that has warmly welcomed us and sought to love and serve us as we have transitioned to island life. Our pastor here recently finished a series on Godly habits that has really impacted the way I think about spiritual disciplines. ​

Read More
0 Comments

10 Encouraging Truths for Victorious Christian Living

4/21/2023

0 Comments

 
Have you ever watched the news or read the headlines and ended up just turning it all off because it is so #depressing? There's so much evil in our world today. The world, the flesh, and the devil make it very difficult to see avenues of #victory in our Christian lives amongst all the evil. Instead of focusing on the depressing nature of our world and the evil contained in it, may I share with you today some hope? Let's dive into these 10 encouraging truths for victorious #Christian living.
Have you ever sat down to watch the news or read the headlines and ended up just turning it all off because it is so depressing?

There is so much evil in our world today. The world, the flesh, and the devil make it very difficult to see avenues of victory in our Christian lives amongst all the evil.

Instead of focusing on the depressing nature of our world and the evil contained in it, may I share with you today some hope?

John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue share the following ten encouraging truths in their book 
Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth. These truths are meant to aid believers in their life to seek victory over evil instead of giving in to despair and defeat. Let’s look at these truths and draw some applications for our lives today!

Read More
0 Comments

Does God Want Me to Be Busy?

4/14/2023

4 Comments

 
We celebrate Easter--when our hearts are tuned to the amazing Gospel story. For a while, everything that is truly important comes into focus as we picture the empty tomb. ​ Then we dive back into our week where we juggle housework, grocery shopping, meal prep, a messy family, work projects, relationships, volunteer work, business meetings, church ministries, and a never-ending to-do list... In our culture, being busy is a bit of a bragging right. Busyness is what it takes to be an adult, right?
We recently celebrated Easter—a time when our hearts are turned back to the amazing Gospel story of Jesus.

For a little while, everything that is truly important comes into focus as we picture the cross and the empty tomb.
​

And then we dive back into our week where we juggle…
  • Housework
  • Grocery shopping
  • Meal prep
  • A messy family
  • Work projects
  • Relationships
  • Volunteer work
  • Business meetings
  • Church ministries
  • And a never-ending to-do list

Read More
4 Comments

How the Resurrection Impacts Mamas Who’ve Lost

4/4/2023

16 Comments

 
I recall standing over my #baby’s fresh grave. #Tears streamed down my face. Waves of #grief welled up inside. I laid carefully-picked blue and white flowers down and looked up to the same colored sky. This #pain is too great! #Jesus, come quickly! So often, our reaction to pain is for Jesus to take us out of it. But what if He doesn’t? Where is #hope if not found in relief? Hope is in Jesus. He is the One who endured unimaginable pain and conquered #death so we could have life and hope. #grief
I remember standing over my baby boy’s fresh grave. Tears streamed down my face as waves of grief welled up inside me, about to explode through my chest as great sobs.

I laid the carefully-picked blue and white flowers down and looked up through the trees to the same colored sky. 

This pain is too great! Jesus, come quickly!

So often my reaction to pain is for Jesus to take me out of it. But what if He doesn’t? (which is typically the case) Where is hope if not found in relief?

My hope is in Jesus. He is the One who endured unimaginable pain and then conquered death so we could have life and hope no matter the pain or death we experience.

Read More
16 Comments

What is Biblical Fasting?

3/31/2023

0 Comments

 
Fasting is arguably the most ignored of the #spiritual disciplines we see in #God’s Word. As believers, we more readily apply ourselves to #prayer, #Biblestudy, and even meditation. However, #fasting is often viewed with hesitation or apprehension. It can seem daunting, unattainable, and even impractical to some. While we find no direct commandment to fast in #Scripture, we do see plenty of evidence that fasting is a discipline that is meant for all believers for our good and the glory of God.
In my post last month, “Thoughts on Lent,” I shared how I learned the origins of Lent and how to view it through the lens of Scripture. In the process of my research on Lent, I discovered what is true biblical fasting for the first time.

Fasting is arguably the most ignored of the spiritual disciplines we see in God’s Word. As believers, we more readily apply ourselves to prayer, the study of the Bible, and even meditation on it. However, fasting is often viewed with hesitation or apprehension. It can seem daunting, unattainable, and even impractical to some.

While we find no direct commandment to fast in Scripture, we do see plenty of evidence that fasting is a discipline that is meant for all believers for our good and the glory of God.

Read More
0 Comments

​Truths to Cling to During Turmoil

3/24/2023

0 Comments

 
Have you watched the news? It's sad to see the turmoil our world is in. If it’s not a natural disaster, it some kind of man-made disaster infusing turmoil into every fiber of society worldwide. When I read the #Bible, I find this is what it predicts will happen as time speeds along to the any-moment-return of our Lord and Savior #Jesus #Christ. But until then, how do we find stability and help in these tumultuous times? Let's look at truths from #Psalm 46 that will help us navigate these days.
Have you watched the news lately? It is really depressing to see all the turmoil in our world today. If it’s not a natural disaster affecting people adversely, it seems there is some other man-made disaster that infuses turmoil into every fiber of our society around the world.
 
When I read God’s Word, I find that this is what He predicted would happen as time speeds along to the any-moment-return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But until that Glorious Appearing, how do we find stability and help in these tumultuous times? May I share some truths from Psalm 46 that I believe can help us navigate these days of turmoil?
 
Psalm 46:10 is probably one of the more famous verses in the Psalms. Maybe you have it on a sign in your home. I have a magnet on my fridge in England with these words – “Be still, and know that I am God.” But what is its context?

Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Patsy
    Hi friend, welcome to InstaEncouragements. I am so glad you are here. You’re among friends. You belong here. 

    How would you like access to our online library of helpful eBooks, devotionals, printables, lock screens, and more? You’re going to love this library, there is all kinds of exclusive content, just for you!

    Join the movement by signing up below and I'll send you the link today. And no worries, We don’t spam. Promise! We don’t like spam either.

    After you've joined the movement, hop on over to our about page to learn more about us and then to our contact form and introduce yourself so we can be on a first-name basis. I'd like that!
    Patsy signature

    Join the movement!

    * indicates required
    ARTZA banner
    Use our exclusive code INSTA25 for 25% OFF your subscription box!

    Top Posts

    16 Names of God & What They Mean
    12 Things the Bible Says God Knows About Us
    From a Proverbs 31 Woman to a Titus 2 Woman
    6 Things We Can Learn From Habakkuk 
    18 Characteristics of True Christianity
    A Lesson From King Jehoshaphat
    8 Ways God Spoke to People in the Past and How He Speaks to Us Today
    10 Favorite Bible Verses On Adoption

    Featured

    Welcome Heart
    LaurenSparks.net
    beLydia.org
    Brave Women Series
    Grace & Truth
    Messy Marriage
    Money Wise Steward
    Wield The Word
    Woman of Noble Character
    The Best Bible Study Books For Women

    Categories

    All
    7 Things God Is Not
    ABCs Of The Bible
    Amanda
    Bible Emergency Numbers
    Bible Study
    Books We Love
    Cami
    Cancer
    Christine
    Come And Gather
    Debbie
    Elisabeth
    Family Life
    Guest Post
    Journey To The Cross
    Julie
    Kathy
    Link Ups
    Our Words Matter
    Prayer
    Printables
    Stephanie
    Summer Book Club
    Sweeter Than Honey

    Archives

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018

InstaEncouragements participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program 
designed to provide a means for this site to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 
This site also contains affiliate links for The Daily Grace Company, Faithbox, Minted.com,
​
Canvas Vows, Digital Grab Bag, Grove Collaborative, Faithful Life Planner, Not Consumed, and Tailwind.
InstaEncouragements will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links or a link from one of our posts.
​​Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms & Conditions
InstaEncouragements logo
© InstaEncouragements |2023|  all rights reserved
IE blog footer image
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Etsy Shop
    • Library >
      • Bible Emergency Numbers
      • 16 Names of God
      • Bible Reading Plan
      • The ABCs Study Guide
      • The ABCS Bible Study
      • Disciple Me Program
      • Come and Gather
      • She Loves Truth Guide
      • She Loves Truth Study
      • The Red Sea Rules
      • Praying Proverbs
      • 12 Letters I Wrote
      • Christmas Songbook
      • LOVE Coupons
    • Christianity
  • Blog
    • Guest Bloggers
    • IE Link-up
    • Choosing Gratitude
    • Aging With Grace
    • Seeking Him
  • Bible Study
    • 52 Days in Psalms
    • 10 Weeks in the New Testament
    • 2 Months in The Pentateuch
    • 12 Minor Prophets
    • 3 Biblical Statements
    • 7 Books of Faith
    • 4 Major Prophets
    • She Loves Truth
    • Hey Mama! PRAY
    • The ABCs of God's Love Letter
  • The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals Media Package
    • Read Chapter 1 of The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals printable package
  • Sweeter Than Honey
    • Sweeter Than Honey Media Package
  • 16 Names of God