Proverbs 31 Ministires

Do I have to get past all my weaknesses before God can use me?    At some point or another, we've all battled the negative narrative of I can't or I'm not worthy. But those lies we tell ourselves are not true. In each of us is a hidden potential that God is ready to use.  Today's guest, author Wendy Pope, teaches us about our own hidden potential using the story of Moses in the book of Exodus. Wendy shows us how to replace those lies with this truth: God will not allow our failures and past to exempt us from our potential. In fact, He'll use them! Related Resources: - Join us for the Hidden Potential Online Bible Study now for FREE!   - Purchase Wendy's book, Hidden Potential, from the Proverbs 31 Ministries Bookstore. Every purchase you make from us goes back to funding ministry initiatives, like this podcast!   - Connect with Wendy on Instagram and Facebook.  - We want to get to know you better! Will you take a few minutes to complete this short survey as one of our podcast listeners? Click here to dow

We all want to be happy. But what is true happiness? And how do we find it?  In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast we are joined by our friend, Derwin Gray, the lead pastor of Transformation Church and author of The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness. Using Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, Derwin helps us unpack three ways to find true happiness.  You'll learn that the happiness you long for is found in becoming the person you were created to be. This “happiness” is not found in what we accomplish; it comes through what God is accomplishing in us to make our hearts like His. Happiness can be found daily, by sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening and learning from Him.Related Resources: - Purchase Derwin's new book, The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness.   Here’s what our president, Lysa TerKeurst, said about Derwin’s book: "This book has the most solid teaching on happiness I've ever read. Not only is this message helpful but it's also refreshin

When life is hard and we see suffering all around, it's easy to wonder, does God really love me? And if God does love me, where exactly is He in all this? Is He really who He says He is, who I believed Him to be, who the Bible tells me about?  Today on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, our guest, Kia Stephens, uses the story of Hagar in Genesis to tackle these difficult questions. In this episode, she will unpack five truths that we can believe about the love of God in the midst of our difficult situations.  You’ll learn that in the midst of feeling lonely, desperate and doubtful, God meets you right where you are with exactly what you need. Because He loves you, He sees you. He hears you. And He will restore you. Related Resources:Receive daily, biblical encouragement from women who get you and what you’re going through delivered straight to your inbox when you sign up for our FREE Encouragement for Today devotions.Connect with Kia, find out more information on “The Father Swap,” and more on her website at

When we go through trials, it’s easy to wonder, is this from God or caused by God? Am I under attack?  Today on the Proverbs 31 Podcast, Wendy Blight, our Online Bible Studies Biblical Content Specialist, addresses these questions in her teaching on the armor of God from Ephesians 6. Wendy shares a five-step process for praying through the armor of God, using the letters A-R-M-O-R. You’ll discover what each piece of the armor of God means, why you need it, and the importance of guarding your heart and mind on a daily basis.   Whatever you’re facing today, friend, you can rejoice knowing God’s already equipped you with what you need to stand victoriously.Related Resources:  Purchase Wendy's book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner, to learn more about Wendy’s story and her relationship with the Lord. Our Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner Teaching Series includes teachings on fasting, spiritual discipline, studying and memorizing Scripture, and more! Click here to get access to the teachings. Click here to download Wend

Chances are, at some point or another, you’ve found yourself “in the middle of something” in life and you can’t help but ask the question: How long will this last? If you're reading this in 2020, maybe your “in the middle” is the COVID-19 pandemic, or maybe you find yourself in the middle of a battle with infertility or navigating a difficult family relationship.  No matter what "middle" we find ourselves in, it's hard to move forward when we don't know how long this season will last. In the midst of managing the tension, we can either spiral up or we can spiral down. On this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, our co-host, Kaley Olson, shares Truth that's helpful to you right now.    "3 Things to Consider When You're in the Middle" uses Scripture to remind you of who God is, how He is faithful, what that means for us and how to share that with others.Related Resources: Check out our FREE resource library! We've got tons of devotions, prayers and other tools you can download. If you would like to

In times of uncertainty, our tendency is to hold tightly to everything we have. We want to feel safe and in control of the things we can control. But what if instead, we choose to let go, open our hands and pray prayers of surrender? What if God is calling us to trust Him more with everything?  In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, author and pastor Craig Groeschel sits down with Kendra Schwarz and discusses a two-word prayer that can change everything: Send me. You'll find that praying "send me" might not mean you'll be sent to another physical location, but it always means you'll be nudged out of your comfort zone. You'll learn why when you pray dangerously, you can't live life the same. And that's a good thing. Click the links below to check out the resources we mention in this episode of the podcast: Sign up for the FREE Dangerous Prayers Online Bible Study. Grab a copy of Dangerous Prayers by Craig Groeschel here. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

We all want to know what God’s will is for our life, right? And wouldn't it be so much easier if there were a formula we could follow to know exactly what to do next?    In this episode of the podcast, Shae Tate offers a new approach to think about the term "calling" by beginning with our call to a daily relationship with the Lord. You'll learn that no matter what your mission field is — your school, home, career or ministry — God is calling you to use your story to bring others to Himself.    If this teaching was helpful for you, we’ve got a resource that we’d love to tell you about: “Thy Will Be Done.” This six-week devotional will help you trust God more as you process your “what’s next” questions with Him. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.  

When we face fear, it’s hard to know how to pray for God’s covering and protection in the moment. What passage of Scripture speaks to what I’m facing? Where can we find what we need in the Bible?   In this episode, author and speaker Nicki Koziarz teaches us practical ways to pray God’s principles and promises over our situations using Psalm 91 as a guide. You'll learn to take one small step of faith in the midst of your fears, instead of doubting God will come through.   Click the links below to check out the resources we mention in this episode of the podcast:  Connect with Nicki on her blog and on her Instagram Subscribe to our Encouragement for Today Devotions Read Nicki’s devotion “When Our Feet Face Fear" Register for She Speaks 2020 Visit the Proverbs 31 Ministries Prayer Wall Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

The older we get, the easier it is to recognize that life is a combination of suffering and joy. While we look forward to the joyful times, our suffering has the potential to draw us closer to the Lord … if we choose to steward that season well.   So, how do we do that?  Today on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, First 5 writer Lyli Dunbar draws from her own life experiences and the book of Daniel to show us four ways to steward our season of suffering well. And guess what? They all start with the letter “P” to make note-taking easy.   With this episode, you will… Learn the importance of establishing a routine of getting into God’s Word daily in order to build a strong foundation to stand on when your world gets shaky. Discover scriptures in the Psalms you can run to that will help you practice trading the tendency to panic with the power of prayer. Understand how worshipping during hard times helps you trust that God is working even when you can’t see it. Related Resources: Establish a consistent, weekd

Have you ever opened your Bible to the books of 1 & 2 Kings and wondered how you could possibly have anything in common with a bunch of men who ruled hundreds of years ago? For starters, they were real kings with crowns that fought in battles and ruled nations, and we’re just normal people trying to get through the day. No wonder we have a hard time applying their stories and struggles to what we’re facing today.  But you know what? We don’t want those thoughts to stop you from diving into the Old Testament because we believe that all of God’s Word is living, active and applicable to what we face today. The books of 1 & 2 Kings are exciting and give us an account of how much God wants us to trust in Him —not in ourselves or others. Lysa TerKeurst recently released a brand-new Bible study based on 1 & 2 Kings called Trustworthy: Overcoming Our Greatest Struggles to Trust God. In this week’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you’ll get an inside peek into a conversation we had with Ly

When you think about what affects your own happiness, you might think about how your mood changes after you’ve spent too much time on social media or when someone says something rude to you.  Did you know that if you’re holding on to unforgiveness, it might be affecting you more than you realize?  Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, we’re joined by Max Lucado, a bestselling author of multiple books and pastor of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Through a lot of research, Max found that 1 in 3 Americans admits they’re unhappy which inspired him to write How Happiness Happens, where he tackles this issue from a biblical perspective. Today, he’s giving us a sneak peek into this really powerful message.   When you listen to today’s episode, you will… Discover the secret to being happy is to release forgiveness you’ve been holding back.  Learn how Jesus modeled what it looks like to be unoffendable by extending grace before your offender needs it. Understand that forgiveness does not mean you’re

 You’re happily scrolling through social media to see what’s going on for the day, and then all of a sudden, you come across a post that has hundreds of comments where people (maybe even some of your friends) are having a “not-so-gracious” discussion. Should you join the conversation or unfollow that person? Or maybe you’re about to head to a family dinner with people you love dearly, but there’s a sticky topic that’s bound to come up that makes you want to hide under the table. How do you approach that conversation while still honoring the relationships and loving those people? Whatever or wherever your sticky situation is — online, at the table or with a co-worker — we pray this episode gives you a biblical foundation to help you navigate difficult conversations as an image-bearer of Christ. In this episode, you will…  Understand the value and freedom gained by starting your day with an attitude of forgiveness, before you’re ever offended.  Be empowered to make a difference in your corner of the world by ch

What’s keeping you from really resting?Are you afraid of losing control or fear the job won’t get done without you? Or maybe you think you’re resting, but you fill your time with TV, reading or shopping and at the end of the day, you’re still tired? Take a second and think of your own reasons.  Whatever your answer, it’s easy to look at the word “rest” in our culture and think it’s never possible because we’re too busy, or that we don’t know how to truly unplug. In this week’s episode, Kristen White, Proverbs 31 staff member and wife of Pastor Kaleb White, will tackle the true reason why we should rest, and what God’s Word says about it.   In this episode, you will... Evaluate your priority of working versus resting by looking at the story of creation in Genesis and how it teaches us about how God prioritized rest. Understand the difference of working from rest instead of resting from work, and get a few ideas for how to creatively or mentally recharge when you need a break. Remember that the Sabbath isn’t

Depending on your church background, you might participate in Advent every year, or you might stay away from it because it seems like a mysterious, age-old tradition that’s reserved for only certain denominations. You might even associate Advent with a candy calendar you see displayed in stores close to the holiday season.  At Proverbs 31 Ministries, our goal is to help you know the Truth of God’s Word by shedding light on things that might be a little unclear … even things like the Advent season. While Advent is not a biblical command, it is an activity we can choose to participate in to turn our hearts from the hustle and bustle as we focus on biblical truths.   In this episode, you’ll hear from Proverbs 31 Ministries' director of theology, Joel Muddamalle. You will… Discover what Advent is, what it isn’t and how it can help align your heart with God’s Word as we celebrate Christmas and Jesus’ second coming. Stop rushing through the holiday season and refocus your mind on adoration for Jesus through patien

Do you ever find it hard to let God work on your behalf? Are you tempted to trust in your own strength rather than let God work things out for you?   As believers, we have the most incredible opportunity to put our full trust and confidence in our heavenly Father. But, so often, we get caught in the trap of thinking “Surely I’m not the right person to do this” or “There’s too much against me for this to actually work out.” Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Lynn Cowell will help us understand what it means to develop unshakable confidence built on Christ.   With today’s episode, you will… Grow your confidence in God as you hear references to stories in Scripture that show how He moved through others who trusted Him to do the impossible. Identify and address the fears that keep you stuck, and learn what practical steps to take to walk in your calling with confidence. Renew your passion to do what only you’ve been called to do, knowing it’s more important to please God than others. Related Resources

Why is it so enticing to choose lesser things over lasting things?   Do you ever pick up your phone or watch a mindless show without thinking anything of it, but end up wondering where the day went when you lay down at night? Sometimes even the things that are entertaining and good can leave us feeling empty, lesser and lacking. So, how do we set healthy boundaries and train our minds to choose what’s best over what seems right in the moment?  Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, we’re tackling distractions head-on with our friends Amanda Bacon and Anne-Renee Gumley of The Masterpiece Mom. Amanda and Anne-Renee will give a teaching based on their latest book, Shiny Things: Mothering on Purpose in a World of Distractions (and we promise it isn’t just for moms).   In this episode of the podcast, you will… Identify the areas where you’re most distracted by “shiny things” and create a priority list that you’re determined to live out, not just write out.  Stop being distracted by comparing your life to so

“Can God be good even when life is not?” It’s a question we’ve been wrestling through together as a ministry since Lysa TerKeurst released her book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way.   Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, we’re continuing the conversation on what to do when life doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would by giving you a sneak peek of the It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Online Bible Study Teaching Series recorded earlier this year. You’ll hear a conversation between our Online Bible Studies team and Pastor Craig Groeschel from Life.Church. Pastor Craig has also been through his own season of hardship and wrote about it in his latest book, Hope in the Dark.  When you listen to this episode, you will... Find comfort in a season or moment of doubt by realizing that God won’t look down on you when you doubt, but will give you what you need to continue pressing on. Discover that breakthrough happens when you invite someone you trust into your struggle, even though opening up is often s

It’s easy to look back and think of all the things you’d do differently in your teenage years, isn’t it? Maybe there are some small things you’d change … you wouldn’t have worn so much makeup or pushed yourself to do better in math. Or perhaps the people you thought were your best friends led you to make decisions that now you’d do much differently.   As an adult, hindsight is 20/20. But what if we made the choice today to look back at the decisions we made and believe that although we can’t change them, God can use them?  In today’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, author and speaker Chrystal Evans Hurst shares a message titled, “3 Things I’d Tell My Teenage Self.” In this episode, you will… Realize that you are loved as you are, and you don’t have to clean up your mistakes to receive God’s love.  Find comfort in knowing the very struggle you face today is developing in you the strength you need for tomorrow’s battle. Stop believing the lie that at some point you will “arrive” and start believ

Today is a very special day on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast because … (drum roll please) we’re celebrating our first birthday!  Over the past year, we’ve released 31 episodes — how fitting for Proverbs 31, right? But there’s more to celebrate than just the number of episodes we released. With every episode, we reached hearts and homes around the globe (literally!) with biblical truth for any girl in any season. We’re so thankful for the way the Lord has used this podcast above and beyond what we could have imagined!  So to help us celebrate, we invited Proverbs 31 Ministries' President, Lysa TerKeurst, to the show because there’s just no one who can share God’s Word quite like Lysa. In today’s episode of the podcast, you’ll hear a teaching called “3 Things to Consider Before Making that Decision.” We’re so thankful for Lysa’s wisdom and expertise on decision-making.   In this episode, Lysa will teach you: The “daily-ness” of decisions can make them seem small, but over time, even small decisions add up

Do you ever find yourself fighting the temptation to focus on what you don’t have instead of what you’ve already been given? When we are actively pursuing God’s calling on our lives, I think we’ve all been tempted to focus on what someone else has or is experiencing, and feel disqualified because of what we lack. It’s so easy to think, I’m not as talented, bold, smart or outgoing as she is. I can’t write, speak or lead. I don’t know how to do _______. I just can’t.  Sweet friend, we don’t know what your calling looks like, but we do know that we serve a God who’s still in charge and doesn’t leave everything up to us! Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you’ll hear a special message from Suzie Eller that will inspire you and empower you to trust God with your calling.   In this episode, Suzie will teach you… Being called out of your comfort zone and called into a new assignment is never easy, but it’s also never about you, and that's a good thing!  Consistently coming before the Lord with what’s on y