Proverbs 31 Ministires

Have life's circumstances landed you in a place where you just don't know how you're going to get through it all?   Maybe if you've been a Christian for years, you feel an added layer of shame and guilt because you know what God's Word says about getting through hard times. So, why can't you seem to press on? Wouldn't it be easier to give up?  Today our friend Wendy Blight shares her journey of getting through a difficult season in life. You’ll be equipped with the Scriptures and takeaways from the book of Exodus to use when you're facing something that makes you want to turn back, give up or walk away.Related Resources:-Grab a friend, and study the book of Exodus with us in the First 5 app for free, starting April 5, 2021! Find out how to download the free mobile app here. -Take your study of the book of Exodus deeper with our newest study guide, "How Do I Get Through This? Pressing On When You Want To Turn Back, Give Up or Walk Away." -Did you know we have Facebook groups created just for you? Find communit

Have you ever wished you could change the details of your story?  While there’s no denying: There are definitely painful parts of our story we’d love to edit out if we could. What if those same circumstances are the unlikely ingredients God is using to weave together a greater good we’d never want to miss out on? You see, with God, there’s always more than we currently see being worked out behind the scenes.  In this short Q&A with Shae Tate and Lysa TerKeurst, you will be equipped to: Uncover the secret to really seeing and experiencing God even in the pain you didn't cause, the change you didn't want, or the reality you didn't know was coming. Disempower the lie that how you feel about your life is the full story by remembering with God there's always something more true, lovely, and good right now. Show up for a friend who's walking through a heartbreaking season with practical and personal ideas and to love and care for her well.Related Resources - Join Lysa TerKeurst in the pages of her new devotiona

How are the thoughts you think impacting who you are?  Maybe you've built up a scenario in your mind that you were convinced was absolutely true. Or have you ever been nervous to have that honest conversation with a friend because you've convinced yourself that she will respond a certain way?  Or ... perhaps you're struggling to see God as faithful because it doesn't seem like He's being faithful to you right now.  If you've ever been there, we want you to know you're not alone! On this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you'll be encouraged by our friend, Encouragement for Today devotions writer Anitha Abraham. She'll share Scriptural truths and powerful insights about guarding our minds against negative thoughts that can easily take over.   Related Resources: - Has the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast helped you grow in your faith or gain fresh, biblical perspective? Tell us about it by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. When you review and rate the podcast, it helps us reach even more people wit

If the pandemic has proved anything to be true, it's this: No matter what season of life you're in, you've faced loneliness. This is true whether you're single or married, a parent or an empty-nester, a loner or someone who's the life of the party.  So, when those feelings of loneliness come knocking on our door, how do we wrestle with them in a healthy way?  On this episode of the podcast, you'll hear a teaching from our friend Annie F. Downs and discover what she's learned from dealing with her own loneliness. She'll share five practical things to do when we are lonely, and — of course — she'll show us the fun we can find in the midst of it. Related Resources: -Annie's new book, That Sounds Fun: The Joys of Being an Amateur, the Power of Falling in Love, and Why You Need a Hobby, is now available! Order your copy today. - Want access to a bonus interview with Annie F. Downs? Become a Podcast Insider! It's free, and each month, you'll get exclusive journal prompts, insider updates, and more! Sign up here.

What does the book of Philippians have to do with our relationship issues today?  This week on the podcast, we'll hear from Joel Muddamalle, our director of theology and research at Proverbs 31 Ministries. He'll pull back the curtain on who the Philippians were, the four major relational issues the church faced back then, and how our citizenship in heaven should define the way we relate to others. Related Resources: -Grab a friend and study the book of Philippians with us in the First 5 app for free, starting February 22! Find out how to download the free mobile app here. -Take your study of the book of Philippians deeper with our newest study guide, How Then Can We Be Friends: Overcoming the Issues that Hinder Your Relationships. - Did you know we have free downloadable resources you can find on our website? Check out our guide called “Now What?” A Guide to Process & Apply Biblical Messages to use as you unpack what you're learning on your own, or download "15 Prayers For Your Son or Daughter" from L

When life is uncertain and doubts are swirling around, we long for an answer or solution that brings peace and reassurance. As believers, we know we should look to God first, but our minds and hearts are easily swayed by looking to Google for answers instead.  Today, First 5 writer and Bible teacher Katy McCown joins us on the podcast to share what she's learned: Where she looks will either lead her to peace or to greater uncertainty. With practical suggestions, this episode will help you look for the answers by fixing your eyes on Jesus.Related Resources: -Discover how to find security in God’s plans and confidence in His control in Katy's new Bible study, She Smiles Without Fear: Proverbs 31 for Every Woman. Order your copy today! -In a world where noise is loud, we need a place to quietly learn God’s Word so we can apply and share the Truth. Download our free First 5 app and start the first five minutes of your day with biblically based teachings that help you understand Scripture on your own! - Want to

Entering a fresh, new year after the one we just finished has left us feeling isolated, restless and bored. We're carrying over routines and patterns we adjusted to in 2020 that we thought were only temporary. And in the midst of all that changed, we might've lost a bit of who we are.   Friend, if this describes how you're feeling, you're not alone! Can we share something hopeful with you? God can restore and revive your heart, even when your circumstances don't change.  In this practical and helpful episode, Rebekah Lyons walks us through four rhythms to renew our minds: rest, restore, connect and create. These rhythms are meant to help us sustain emotional, relational and spiritual health and live in the abundance of life God has for us.Related Resources: - Connect with Rebekah at https://rebekahlyons.com. - Make sure you grab a copy of Rebekah's book, Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose, and the Rhythms for Life Planner and Journal: 90 Days to Peace and Purpose. -

"Forgiveness is possible, but it won't always feel possible. It's a double-edged word, isn't it? It's hard to give. It's amazing to get. But when we receive freely from the Lord and refuse to give it, something heavy starts to form in our souls." - Lysa TerKeurst, Forgiving What You Can't Forget This month on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, listen to Chapter One of Lysa TerKeurst's new book, Forgiving What You Can't Forget. Related Resources: - Want to listen to Chapter Two of Forgiving What You Can't Forget? Sign up to be a Podcast Insider! Our free, monthly Insider email includes a bonus video from our hosts, journal prompts to dig deeper, a sneak peek at what's coming up, and more! - Take the next step by signing up for our free, online Bible study of Forgiving What You Can't Forget! The study starts January 19, 2021. Click here to sign up and order a copy of the book. - Do you have a dream to write? COMPEL Writers Training will help you get started on your writing goals this year with tools and res

What's your role when your friend is going through a hard season? When she gets the cancer diagnosis, suffers a miscarriage or loses a family member?   On this episode of the podcast, Marissa Henley shares how her friends loved her well while she was battling cancer. She breaks down the different levels of friendship, helps you identify your role based on your level of friendship, and gives practical tips on how to practically — and appropriately — love your friend through suffering. Related Resources: - Get access to an exclusive conversation with Marissa and the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast co-hosts by becoming a Podcast Insider! It's free, and each month you'll get insider updates on the podcast you can't get anywhere else. Sign up here. - If you have a friend or loved one walking through a cancer diagnosis, grab a copy of Marissa's book, Loving Your Friend Through Cancer. - Maybe you're the one walking through a season of your world being turned upside down. In Lysa TerKeurst's book, It's Not Supposed t

Do you struggle to find a reason to worship these days? We get it ... this year has been tough. So how do we worship when there's so much to be worried about?  Today on the show, our friend Lara Casey from Cultivate What Matters shows us how writing out Scripture is a pathway to praise. When we write the Word, we retain the Word. And being able to recall the Truths in God's Word and rejoice in who He is in the middle of any circumstance is what worship is all about. We hope this episode leaves you equipped and encouraged to cultivate a life of worship, starting with a simple habit.Related Resources: - Our next Online Bible Study, Write the Word: Cultivate Worship starts November 30! Click here to sign up. And purchase your copy of the Write the Word: Cultivate Worship Journal, only available at Proverbs 31 Ministries! - We want to connect with our podcast listeners each month! Sign up to be a Podcast Insider, and each month you'll receive bonus content, journal prompts and more. - Connect with Lara on her web

Complaining and contentment are both contagious.   And these days, it's easy to get caught up in complaining. But how do we choose contentment over complaining? On this episode of the podcast, Melissa Spoelstra walks us through the book of Numbers, where we see the Israelites wrestle with this same problem. She'll show us the secret to contentment in the Word of God, and how it renews our mind and transforms us from the inside out. Related Resources: More than ever, we need a place to quietly learn God’s Word so we can apply and share the Truth. Download our FREE First 5 app and start the first five minutes of your day with biblically based teachings that help you understand Scripture on your own! Join Melissa Spoelstra for a week of intentional contentment with her FREE 7-Day Contentment Project. If our podcast has made a difference in your life, would you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts.Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

A note from Proverbs 31 Ministries: Some content in this episode is not appropriate for children, and may serve as a trigger due to circumstances in your past. Please use discretion before listening.  When the unimaginable happens ... the deep heartache, the parenting hardship, the bills that keep coming and your finances aren't enough ... where is Jesus?  On this episode of the podcast, Max Lucado gives us proof that Jesus never leaves us and is more present than ever in the stormiest seasons of our lives. As we look at the miracles of Christ as recorded in the Gospel of John, Max reminds us God is nearer than we know.Related Resources: Have you had a hard time focusing on your writing this year? Now more than ever, the world needs the hope-filled message God has given you to write. It's not too late to refocus and pursue your next step as a writer before this year ends. COMPEL Writers Training provides the tools and resources to help you in the process, as well as opportunities to get your work published. R

When we wake up, we're most likely not going to say, "I'd like to be uncomfortable today." We crave comfort, but growth will never come from it.  What if instead of looking at discomfort as an inconvenience, we chose a new perspective: a mindset that God will use discomfort to shape us and make us more like Him? On this episode of the podcast, our friend Alexandra Hoover shares why God allows discomfort. You'll learn that by remembering who God is, we can see our discomfort as something to lean into instead of run away from. Related Resources:Sign up for our Encouragement for Today devotions for daily, biblical encouragement to help your filter your everyday life through the Truth of God’s Word.Check out our FREE resource library! We've got tons of topical study resources you can download to use for whatever you're going through right now.Connect with Alex on Instagram at @alexandravhoover, or on her website here.  Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

Do you ever find yourself replaying and reliving the details of the deep hurt in your life?   Whether you’ve experienced pain through an event or a collection of hurt that built over time because someone wasn’t who they were supposed to be, didn’t do what they were supposed to do, or didn’t protect you like they should have protected you, your heartbreak deserves a safe place to be processed. In this episode, Lysa TerKeurst unpacks three crucial perspective shifts that will empower you to start changing the way you see the most painful parts of your situation. Related Resources: If you enjoyed this episode, take it a step further with "5 Healing Perspectives for your Hurt or Heartbreak," a free resource from Lysa TerKeurst. This resource will help you stop feeling held captive by the hurt by using specific scriptures and reflective questions to help you move forward today. You can click here to get your free download! When pain feels deeply personal, do you find it hard to keep your reactions biblical? You ar

When life's seasons change or we are walking through a time of transition, it's easy for our relationship with God to feel dry — or maybe just plain hard. But what if our time with God actually has less to do with quieting everything around us, and instead has everything to do with making an appointment to quiet things within us? On this episode of the podcast, Shae Tate, special projects content manager for Lysa TerKeurst, walks through scriptures throughout the Bible that show us what pursuing God looks like in different seasons. We hope this episode gives you a new perspective to help you walk through that dry place and meet with the Lord in a fresh, new way.Related Resources: Let's face it: This year has felt a little out of control. It seems impossible to keep anxiety, worry and stress from taking up permanent residence. Now more than ever, we need reminders that God really is in control. Worry might have defined much of your 2020, but let worship define the rest of your year. Written by members of our C

Question to consider: Do I have to honor my parents when it seems impossible?  One of the Ten Commandments is “honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12). But sometimes, obeying that commandment feels exhausting and impossible. During this episode of the podcast, we learn from Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Muddamalle about the difference between obeying and honoring your parents. We’ll tackle expectations and boundaries during different seasons of parent/child relationships and how to navigate those seasons as they change. Whether you are the child or parent in the relationship (or both), this episode will help answer the question: How do I honor my parents when it feels impossible? Related Resources:- When we hear or read a teaching or sermon that challenges us, it's natural to ask, "Now what?" What do we do with the information we’re given? How should this affect us? How should it change or transform us? That’s why we created “Now What?” A Guide to Process & Apply Biblical Messages to help you take action w

Have you ever been asked to mentor someone, or maybe wanted someone to mentor you, but found it kind of awkward or wished someone told you what to do?  Join Lysa TerKeurst and her friend Shelley Giglio from Passion City Church as Shelley breaks down what mentorship is and what it isn’t. With wisdom from years of experience, she will show us the value of these relationships, and will equip us with tools to flourish in them. Our hosts, Kaley and Meredith, even get to ask her some questions directly related to mentorship in their different stages of life. We promise, you don’t want to miss this episode!Related Resources: Check out these resources by Shelley and her team at Passion City Church. You can visit flourishmentor.com to learn more about Flourish and how to purchase it. There are also free resources for beginning your mentoring journey! Follow Shelley and her team at The Grove @shelleygiglio and @pcc_thegrove on Instagram. Sign up for our Encouragement for Today devotions for daily, biblical encourage

What are you longing for?  Maybe you're a single woman, and you're longing to get married? Or you are longing to start a family? Maybe you’re longing for a new season, healing or something else in your life to change? That thing deep down inside that you want, that you wonder if you will ever get, can be painful. But how often do we ask ourselves if Jesus is really enough to fulfill that longing?   Join Hannah Schindler and Joel Muddamalle from our First 5 team as they discuss the longings we see throughout the entire Bible, and how those longings are meant to point us to Jesus.  Related Resources:We have BIG news! For the first time ever, Our Online Bible Studies program and the First 5 mobile app are teaming up to study the Bible TOGETHER! The Answers to Your Deepest Longings: 40 Days Through the Bible starts September 7. Click here to sign up! P.S. The study is free! All you need is your Study Guide. With it you'll also get access to our community group so you can join women from all over as we study God's

Question to consider: Does prayer change God’s mind?  We often think if God answers our prayers in the way we want Him to, it validates He heard us, values and loves us. But we can easily become attached to our idea of what the outcome to those prayers should be. But what if prayer is supposed to release us from carrying the weight of the outcomes of our prayers? What if, instead, prayer is supposed to be us trusting God will provide peace no matter the outcome? Join Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Muddamalle as we unpack three truths to bring into our prayer lives and tackle the question: Does prayer change God’s mind? You might be surprised by the answer.Related Resources:- When we hear or read a teaching or sermon that challenges us, it's natural to ask, "Now what?" What do we do with the information we’re given? How should this affect us? How should it change or transform us? That’s why we created, “Now What?” A Guide to Process & Apply Biblical Messages, to help you take action with the next practical step t

What could church history teach me that would be helpful to me today? Those authors and what they wrote feel out of date, out of time, and out of context for life here and now. But let's consider a quote from Winston Churchill, “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”   On this episode of the podcast, Joel Muddamalle shows us why it’s crucial to apply the good from history so we are able to prevent repeating mistakes. We will look at how people have responded heroically in the midst of tragedy and crisis that was outside of their control, just like any crisis we find ourselves in. More than that, this episode unpacks how we can respond with the hope of Christ in a desperate, hurting world.Related Resources: - Study Revelation: All Things New with us in our free First 5 app. And make sure to order the Experience Guide to go along with the study. You won’t want to miss this one! - We want to get to know you better! Will you take a few minutes to complete this short survey as one of ou