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Why should God let you into Heaven?

Do you know the answer? Are you confident in your salvation?

Bible Verses About Journey

What does the bible say about journey.

Have you recently trusted in Christ alone for salvation? Now it’s time to start your journey. Your Christian journey will not be easy, but God will give you strength to press on daily and overcome any situation. God promises to work in your life until the end to make you more like Christ. The Christian life is like a huge adventure with Christ.

You might have to take a few pit stops, you might get a flat tire here and there, you might go through a few thunderstorms , but though all your experiences, fruit is being built. You are becoming stronger, and your faith and reliance in Christ is growing.

God will take out bad habits and sin from our life. God has given us various things to help us on our journey such as prayer. We must spend time with the Lord daily . We are to have an intimate relationship with God. We are given the Bible to help us walk uprightly.

Scripture will help us connect and focus on the Lord. It will protect us from many different situations in life and give us daily wisdom. God has given believers the Holy Spirit to help us on our walk of faith. He will guide us in the right direction.

He will show us what to do. He will convict us when we’re going the wrong way. He will show us things in our lives that are holding us back and more.

We can also pray to the Spirit for help, peace, and comfort in times of trouble. We might be in the world, but we are not to follow the worlds desires. Allow your journey to glorify God.

Christian quotes about journey

“ My life is my journey with God . It may be hard sometimes but I am assured it would be all worth it.”

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”

Trust in the Lord on your long journey.

1. Proverbs 3:5– 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart , and do not rely on your own understanding.  Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

2. Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord , and whose hope the Lord is.

Journey of life with God

God will work in your life to conform you into the image of Christ. The little things that you might go through are to help change you.

3. Romans 8:29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son , so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers .

4. Philippians 1:6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

5. 2 Peter 3:18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

6. Colossians 2:6-7 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

You will have to go through many trials and different obstacles.

7. James 1:2-4 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance . But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

8. Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

9. John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

10. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Press on with your journey of faith

11. Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Keep your eyes on your captain or you will get lost and distracted.

12. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

You will not get through your walk of faith without prayer.

13. Luke 18:1 Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up.

14. Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit , and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints .

God gave you a helper. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life and guide your life.

15. John 14:16 I will ask the Father to give you another Helper , to be with you always.

16. Romans 8:26 At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness , because we don’t know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words.

Meditate on the Word: Allow God to guide you through His Word.

17. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

18. Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Imitate Christ and do the will of God.

19. Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do , and he will establish your plan.

20. John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “ My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

On our journey we must continually avoid Satan, confess our sins, and forsake them.

21. Ephesians 6:11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to s tand firm against all strategies of the devil.

22. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

23. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Examples of journey in the Bible

24. Jonah 3:2-4 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.  Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

25. Judges 18:5-6 Then they said, “Ask God whether or not our journey will be successful.” “ Go in peace,” the priest replied. “For the LORD is watching over your journey.”

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God . I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

Related Topics:

• Bible Verses About Adventure
• Bearing Fruit
• Bible Verses About Travel
• “I’m Bored” How to Overcome Complacency in Your Faith
• Talents For The Kingdom
• How To Know God Is With You?
• Bible Verses About Breakups
• Bible Verses About Distractions
• Pray Until Something Happens
• Seeking Wisdom From God
• How Long Did Jesus Fast For?
• Bible Verses About walking With God

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7 Steps to a Closer Walk With God

When you think about climbing a mountain, what comes to mind? Do you envision breathtaking vistas from the mountaintop or breathless wheezing along the way? As different as they are, both perspectives capture aspects of the same journey. Reaching the summit requires grit and determination. Spiritual growth is no different. It demands perseverance, but the view from the top is out of this world.

No one has helped us think of the spiritual life as a journey more than a seventeenth-century English repairman named John Bunyan . Drawing only on the Bible and his own spiritual journey, Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress while imprisoned for his non-conformist preaching in 1675. Published in 1678, this allegory of the Christian’s journey to heaven remains one of the most popular religious works among English readers.

In Pilgrim’s Progress , Christian makes his way from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. The story represents a journal of his starts and stops, his ups and downs, his victories and defeats. If you have not read this classic of Christian literature, you must! Not only will you see the Christian life as a journey, but you will discover how to make it a holy and intimate one as well.

Beginning the Journey

Borrowing John Bunyan’s metaphor, let’s consider the Christian life as a walking journey—growing closer to God while journeying toward God. He is both the destination and the way at the same time (John 14:6). There are stepping stones we must use if we are going to have a closer walk with God, steps we must take to enjoy spiritual intimacy with Him. To picture those steps, consider one of America’s most beautiful settings— Grandfather Mountain near Linville, North Carolina . I’ve been privileged to speak at an annual Gospel festival held at the base of Grandfather Mountain, and it is almost as near to heaven-on-earth as one can get. The beauty is heavenly, as is the altitude—over 4,600 feet. While not as high as many mountains, Grandfather towers over the neighboring Blue Ridge peaks in that part of western North Carolina.

To get from the meadows to the top of Grandfather Mountain where the ferocious winds howl day and night through the swinging bridge, you can drive or hike a switchback trail. We’re going to hike the trail because it’s such a perfect metaphor for the steps we must take to achieve intimacy with God while journeying toward Bunyan’s Celestial City, our heavenly home.

Step One: Choose a Heavenly Destination

First, we need a DESTINATION . That’s simple—we’re at the bottom of Grandfather Mountain, and we want to reach the top. There’s no easy way to do it. It’s one step at a time over tree roots, fog-slick rocks, and time-worn footholds.

But what about the spiritual journey? John Bunyan had it right: Every person alive is born into the City of Destruction and will stay there unless he changes destinations (Romans 3:23). You can make that change by asking Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and give you the gift of eternal life , which He has promised to do (John 3:16). Intimacy with God, both now and for eternity, can be found in no other way.

Step Two: Follow God’s Map

Once we start up the mountain, we need a MAP to avoid wandering off the trail. Fortunately, on the Grandfather Mountain trail, there aren’t many ways to get lost. Your only concern is to continue climbing up. Just as there is only one way to the peak, there is only one way to heaven. And the Bible is the map that points the way.

The psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105), and Paul said God’s Word would thoroughly equip anyone who would study it diligently (2 Timothy 3:17). God has so many blessings for those who will seek Him, blessings discovered only in His Word. You would be more likely to succeed climbing Grandfather Mountain with blinders on than journeying toward God without studying the Bible.

Step Three: Seek Direction

Because the trail to the top of Grandfather Mountain doesn’t intersect with other trails, DIRECTIONS are rarely necessary. Even so, you’ll have questions: Is there water along the way? How much further is it to the top? Is it worth it? What will we see when we get there? Experienced hikers, and especially those on their way down from the top, can provide the assurance we need.

Unlike the Grandfather Mountain trail, there are many ways to wander off course in your spiritual journey. First, your enemy, the devil, is out to make things as confusing and difficult as possible. He switches the directional signs, tells you lies, and sends you down rabbit trails at every opportunity. In addition, there are things that only your personal journey may entail—and you need guidance. Prayer is God’s ever-present means by which to seek direction and comfort when you find yourself ready to give up (Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6-7) . He knows when you need help and is ready to provide it as soon as you ask.

Step Four: Find Supportive People

On the Grandfather Mountain trail, ASSISTANCE is never far away. On an average day in tourist season, and usually in the off-season as well, the trail is filled with hikers. Should you sprain an ankle or scrape a shin, help will be at hand.

On your journey with God, you’ll find helping hands in the Church (Romans 12:3- 8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Where you are weak or lack knowledge, someone else is strong and able to help. When you find someone slumped in discouragement by the side of the trail, God will empower you to help them. But the assumption is … you’re active in the body! Are you? If you’re not on the trail, you can’t help or be helped.

Step Five: Contemplate Beauty

SCENIC VIEWS . Now that’s what Grandfather Mountain is all about. At regular intervals on the trail, you’ll catch a break in the trees and spot a glimpse of what awaits you at the top—a 360-degree panorama that takes your breath away. The beauty of God’s creation in the mountains never disappoints.

The same is true in the spiritual journey. God’s scenic views come into view when we stop and meditate on who God is and what He has done for us. The psalmist contemplated God throughout the night (Psalm 63:6) and considered often the works of His hands (Psalm 77:12). More than anything, he meditated on the words of God, never tiring of discovering new insights into the ways of God. When was the last time you pulled off the spiritual trail, found a quiet spot, and meditated on God’s Word?

Step Six: Bring Companions

At times, hiking alone has its benefits, but you need good friends and family with you on the Grandfather Mountain trail. There are just too many things to share together: “Look at those vultures floating on the updrafts!” “Can you believe the beauty of those rhododendrons?” “Hurry! Grab the camera and capture that sunset before it’s gone!” COMPANIONSHIP is often a key ingredient in a successful trip.

Are you journeying toward heaven with a special group of friends? I hope your family is journeying with you—your spouse and children. Those are the first people you’ll want to spend eternity with, are they not? But are there others? Is there someone you could invite on the journey? The companionship found in a small group of Christian friends is the most effective way to stay on the road should you ever get bogged down (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Step Seven: Record Your Progress in a Journal

Finally, hiking the Grandfather Mountain trail will result in a million memories and mental snapshots. You need a JOURNAL to make them last—a place to put your thoughts, paste your pictures, and press those wildflowers and leaves you collected. No trip is finished until it has been recorded.

Are you keeping track of what God is revealing to you on your way to heaven? A journal will capture the mountain peaks you cross, the raging rivers you ford, and the dark valleys you tremble through. Your children and grandchildren will thank you someday if you’ll record every step of your travels with God.

I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for visiting one of my favorite parts of the country. But more than that, I hope I’ve encouraged you in your progress toward heaven. Intimacy with God, while journeying toward God, is the trip of a lifetime. Using these stepping stones will set you on the path toward making every moment as fulfilling as God intends it to be (John 10:10).

Application—Preparing for the Journey

Destination:.

Have you secured your destination through faith in Christ? If not, ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and to give you the gift of eternal life, which He has promised to do (John 3:16).

What blessings does God promise to those who will seek Him? What blessings have you discovered in His Word?

Directions:

In what areas of your life do you need to seek direction and comfort? Take time now to ask God for His provision and guidance.

Assistance:

In what areas are you weak or lacking knowledge? Who in the body of Christ could offer assistance? How are you using your spiritual gifts to help others?

Scenic Views:

What new insights about God have you discovered? What will you praise Him for today?

When was the last time you meditated on God’s Word? How will you incorporate that stepping stone into your walk with God?

Companionship:

What special friends are journeying toward heaven with you? Who could you invite on the journey?

How are you keeping track of what God is revealing to you on your way to heaven? Take a moment now to record any new observations God is bringing to light.

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Creation Care

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

Marine litter is a huge ecological problem. Many countries’ coastlines are littered with plastic and debris, and there is an “island” of plastic more than the twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean where currents have accumulated the debris. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed.

Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. Though mankind was given the mandate to “have dominion over” (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. When God’s mandates go unfulfilled on earth, God’s glory is diminished. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well. Paul writes that we belong to God and we are to glorify Him with our care and use of our body.

When you see opportunities to care for creation—nature or your own body—do so as a way of glorifying the Creator.

The creation is both a monument of God’s power, and a looking-glass in which we may see his wisdom. Thomas Watson

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Paul’s letter to the people at Corinth was an exhortation to remain steadfast. The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure. It is true for us today also. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? By devoting time each day to the study of God’s Word.

As we read the Bible and immerse ourselves in God’s truth and character, our lives are changed—we become more like Him. God’s Word is a powerful litmus test for our souls and actions. As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith.

Joshua had the confidence and courage to lead God’s people into the Promised Land because He believed in God’s promise and presence. We serve the same God who said: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

You can place your steadfast trust in Him.

When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. Dwight L. Moody

Ready and Willing

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

A leper approached Jesus and said, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus touched the man, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed”—and he was healed (Mark 1:40-42).

That event is a beautiful example of the willingness of God. In fact, there are no instances of Jesus being asked to help or heal and Him answering, “I am not willing.” There is a place where the Bible says God is “not willing,” and that is 2 Peter 3:9. In writing about the timing of the Day of the Lord (the end of the age), Peter says God is waiting for all who will be saved to come to Him. He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Said another way, God is willing for any who want to be saved to come to Him (John 6:37; 7:37). The question is never whether God is willing but whether man is willing.

Have you responded to God’s willing invitation to come to Him?

God is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved. J. C. Ryle

I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. Psalm 119:162

Earlier this year, a volunteer for a charity in Arizona was going through books donated for a sale. One was an old copy of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The volunteer decided the dilapidated volume wasn’t worth saving and was about to throw it away when she thumbed through it and found a hidden chamber. Someone had used a knife to cut a hole in the middle of the book. Inside was $4,000!

That’s nothing compared to the treasure you’ll find when opening the covers of the Bible. Perhaps it would help to think of it in those terms. Use your imagination to see every word of Scripture turning to gold as you read it. Think of every promise as a precious stone. See the words about Jesus in the Gospels as sparkling like diamonds. Visualize your daily Bible study time like a miser running his hands through a chest of gold.

The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your path—but only if you read it and heed it. Start today!

To get the best use out of [the Bible] for daily life,...Give it the best and freshest, not the most tired and dull, hour of the day. M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World , 1893

Hello Heaven!

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside. 2 Peter 1:13-14, NIV

Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. He wasn’t discouraged; he was looking forward to the future. He spoke of “looking forward to these things.” and “[looking] for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13-14).

Life is full of hardships and heaviness. We have the promises of God to help us in difficult days, and we have the Holy Spirit within us. We have a purpose for being here—to refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. But we’ll soon put aside the tent of our earthly body, and what a relief! Goodbye hardship and heaviness. Goodbye trials and troubles. Hello Jesus! Hello heaven! Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem!

During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. If you’re prone to worry yourself to sleep each night, turn your thoughts upward and close your eyes thinking of heaven and its eternal throne.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there. Harriet Buell, in her hymn “A Child of the King”

Overcoming Temptation

Temptation. Whether we realize it or not, it is part of our past, and it will be part of our future. The moment we resolve to stand strong and walk away is when temptation grows most intense. That is why Scripture is of paramount importance. God's Word contains the answer to resisting temptation before it's too late. Consider these verses:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death (James 1:13–15).

Some people wonder about the value of the Old Testament in a Christian's life. The apostle Paul addressed that question in 1 Corinthians 10:11—"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition." To what things was Paul referring? He listed them in verses 7–10. They are idolatry, immorality, infidelity, and disloyalty.

Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is.

With that background, Paul exhorted believers not to make the same choices the Israelites made—not to provoke God's discipline by willfully sinning. None of us is above God's discipline if we engage in sin. We must look for and take "the way of escape" God provides in every situation where temptation is found (verse 13). To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man" (verse 13). There are no "new" temptations in life.

The apostle James argued that if temptation becomes serious, it is because we have allowed it to do so. Our own "desires" entice us away from God and desire "gives birth to sin" (James 1:13–15). God doesn't tempt us, but He may allow temptation to enter our lives in order to give us opportunities to make obedient and mature choices.

Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and He took the same means of escape that is available to us—obedience to God's Word (Matthew 4:1–11; Hebrews 5:8). Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is. There is always a righteous choice to be made if we are willing to seek it.

Victory in Him

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

To first-century leaders in the Roman world, the imagery was familiar: A victorious Roman general returning from battle leading his soldiers and their captives into the city. Citizens lined the streets applauding while the aroma of celebratory incense filled the air. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).

The Christian’s victory is through Christ. The victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and sin was won by the Cross and the empty tomb. He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We have victory now and for eternity only because of the victory Christ won for us. Therefore, if we are to experience victory in this life, it will come only as we depend on Him. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him.

If you need a victory in your life, begin every day by renewing your faith in Christ in whom all our victories are to be realized.

The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world. Francis Schaeffer

Faithful Fathers: Abraham

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:23

We can imagine a child writing an appreciative and sentimental memoir about her “perfect father,” understanding that “perfect” was not intended to be taken literally. But how about a book titled  The Righteous Father ? The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham.

Righteous doesn’t mean sinless, of course. We know that Abraham wasn’t perfect. But he did manifest some qualities that every father should emulate. First, he believed the promises of God about the future God had planned for him (Hebrews 11:8-12). And when he believed God, “[God] accounted it to [Abraham] for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Again, not perfect or sinless, but in a right standing with God. Second, as a result of Abraham’s trust in God, he became a “friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8). Could any father set a more worthy example to his children or grandchildren than that of being friends with God? Living in right standing with God? That means communing with Him, walking with Him, living for Him, and above all, trusting Him and His promises.

Follow Abraham’s example as a faithful father by deepening your friendship with God.

Friendship is the marriage of affections. Thomas Watson

Modern Idolatry

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:1 tells us to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is.” In verse 5 we’re told to put to death the passions that come from below—"fornication, uncleanness, passion, and evil desire.” Then the Lord added the sin of greed or covetousness to the list, calling it idolatry.

That verse changes our view of idolatry. It’s not just bowing down to a small carved statue or a pagan worshiper offering incense at a shrine to Buddha. It’s the act of becoming too attached to the material things of the world—falling more in love with the things on earth than on things in heaven.

This has nothing to do with how much money you do or don’t have—a poverty-stricken person can covet just as much as a billionaire. It has everything to do with what’s at the center of our affections. Is it Christ? Is it things above? Or is it things below?

Make sure Christ is at the center of your life and that your love for Him eclipses everything else!

You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them…. Whatever you love more than God is your idol. D. L. Moody

New Beginnings: Ezekiel

In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. Ezekiel 1:1, NIV

We often need fresh starts after enduring bitter disappointments. As a young man, Ezekiel had dedicated himself to be a priest. He was from a priestly family, and he undoubtedly looked forward to serving God in Jerusalem’s temple. Priests began their temple duty at the age of thirty. But when he was about twenty-five, Ezekiel was seized and taken to Babylon, and he never saw the temple again. When his thirtieth birthday came, he must have struggled with questions of “why” and “if only.”

That’s just when God appeared to him as he was among the exiles by the Kebar River. Ezekiel looked up and saw remarkable visions of God—the throne of God surrounded by angelic beings. Amid the strange and apocalyptic vision described in Ezekiel 1, God called the thirty-year-old exile to be a powerful prophet.

Oh, to see the glory of the Lord while in the midst of the disappointments in life. When we think life has collapsed around us, the God of glory appears above us. God always has a plan, and our false starts become His fresh starts.

Ezekiel is the prophet of the glory of the Lord…. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of Christ to the glory that should follow. J. Vernon McGee

The Conspicuous Hand

The Lord your God cares. Deuteronomy 11:12

In a letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, George Washington marveled at how God’s hand had protected him and given success to the cause of liberty: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and… has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”

In the middle of life’s battles, we’re tempted to question God’s ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of God’s Providence. He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will.

Moses reminded the Israelites that God was taking them into a land of hills and valleys, of water and streams, “a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).

That’s the way He cares for us too—every day, all year long, always.

[The Lord] loves, and cares, and sympathizes, and understands, and seeks, and saves, and forgives, and helps, and encourages, and walks by our side… taking care of us in life when we can’t take care of ourselves. W. A. Criswell

God of Second Chances

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” Jonah 3:1-2

It was not uncommon in the Old Testament for “the word of the Lord” to come to God’s prophets again and again. It happened to Samuel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, and others. And it also happened to Jonah: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the first time (Jonah 1:1) and then the second time (Jonah 3:1). With the other prophets, the “second time” meant additional prophetic utterances they were to deliver. But with Jonah, the “second time” was because Jonah had failed to speak God’s word the first time. Jonah was a disobedient prophet.

God commissioned Jonah to go east to Assyria, to the capital of Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. But Jonah fled west toward Spain because he feared the Assyrians. You know the story—Jonah ended up in the sea where he was swallowed by a great fish. Jonah repented and called on the Lord and was delivered. God gave him a second chance.

Don’t let your past keep you from trusting God for a second (or third, or fourth) chance. The God of grace loves to forgive.

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins. G. Campbell Morgan

All You Need Is Love: Forgiveness

When Jesus saw [the friends’] faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Mark 2:5

The hardest part of forgiving another person is  acting like the offense never occurred . But that is what forgiving someone means—restoring relationships to the status they enjoyed before the offense took place. It’s one thing to say, “I forgive you,” but it’s another to act like all the effects of an offense are completely erased. After all, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, love is known by its actions more than its words.

Jesus faced this dilemma when He healed a paralytic man. When He told the man that his sins were forgiven (and by extension, he was healed), He was criticized. He was accused of blaspheming by saying He had the authority to forgive sins—something only God can do. So, Jesus proved He had the authority to say, “I forgive you,” by doing something harder. He healed the man’s paralysis. After all, as Jesus explained, actions speak louder than words (Mark 2:8-11).

We cannot go through life without being hurt by others, so we should learn to forgive. Even more, we should practice demonstrating our forgiveness by our acts of lovingkindness. Look for opportunities to do both.

A Whole Person

In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. Titus 2:7

In mathematics two of the basic kinds of numbers are integers and fractions: 2, 100, and 56 are integers, while ½, ¼, and 2.5 are fractions. Integers , from a Latin root meaning “whole” or “entire.” The word integrity comes from the same root; a person with integrity cannot be divided in beliefs or morality based on varying circumstances.

When the apostle Paul wrote to his young pastoral protégé, Timothy, he told him to show “integrity” in doctrine, to be incorruptible in belief and in actions. Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. A person of integrity obeys the whole counsel of God every day, in every circumstance. Daniel’s three friends in Babylon demonstrated integrity when they were threatened with being burned alive (Daniel 3:16-18). They told the king they would not divide their allegiance, that they would maintain their faith in God and His promises. That is integrity.

Are you a whole person or a fractioned person today? If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word.

Integrity of heart is indispensable. John Calvin

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Revelation 21:1

A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. The word heaven itself implies that our eternal destiny is somewhere “up there” in the heavens. But the Bible says our eternal destiny is earthly, not heavenly. As Peter wrote, we look for a “new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

In his vision of the future, the apostle John saw that “new heaven and a new earth,” our new domain being pictured as the New Jerusalem “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:1-2). Somehow, at the end of the age, when Christ has returned to reign and inaugurate the eternal state, this earth will be renovated and a new earth will be the result—a new earth full of righteousness in which pain and sorrow will be absent. The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout.

Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for you if you belong to Him (John 14:1-4). The New Jerusalem, on the new earth, is that place.

Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death. William Gurnall

The Need for Prayer

Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12

Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. The first, the First Council of Nicaea, met to agree on the nature of Jesus of Nazareth as both Son of God and Son of Man, as both fully divine and fully human.

The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge (Mark 13:32). One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus’ humanity was His prayer life. We might think that, if Jesus was truly divine, He would have had no need to pray for knowledge, guidance, or help. Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:16-18). Jesus repeatedly said that He only did what the Father showed Him to do (John 5:19), and prayer was His means.

If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to go to His Father in prayer for strengthening and guidance, how much more do we (Psalm 32:6)?

Prayer and a holy life are one. E. M. Bounds

What Is Humility?

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5, NIV

What is humility? Is it the opposite of pride? If pride expands one’s importance, does humility deflate one’s importance? That’s the view given by most English dictionaries—a deemphasis on one’s own importance. But what is the biblical view of humility

If someone compliments you on a job well done, do you refuse to take credit or receive their compliment? Or do you graciously say, “Thank you,” in a spirit of genuine appreciation and humility? In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves “soberly”—that is, realistically or accurately. Paul’s topic is the grace given by God to each Christian to serve in the Body of Christ. We should neither overestimate the gift of God’s grace or underestimate it. Rather, we should think of it soberly and realistically—humbly—and minister accordingly. To think less of God’s gift would be to devalue it; to think realistically about it allows one to serve humbly.

How do you view yourself? With pride? With false humility? Or soberly and realistically according to the grace of God in your life?

A really humble man…will not be thinking about humility, he will not be thinking about himself at all. C. S. Lewis

The Power of Confession

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Psalm 32:4

California is a dry state that needs water to be transported over many miles to population and agricultural centers. Snowfall in the winter and melting snow in the spring are critical factors in replenishing shrinking reservoirs. In periods of modern droughts, aerial photographs document the receding water levels in reservoirs around the state—shorelines growing wider and drier as water levels fall.

Such is the picture David paints with his words in Psalm 32—a drought of spiritual vitality brought on by his own sin. When he failed to confess his sin to God, his “bones grew old” and he groaned “all the day long” (verse 3). It was like his soul was being evaporated by the heat of his own guilt and shame. But then the rains of grace came and David confessed his sin and God forgave him (verse 5). And he encouraged his readers not to make the same mistake he had made (verses 9-10).

Confession and repentance reveal the access to restoration. Hiding sin does not remove it from God’s sight; but when we seek God’s forgiveness, the refreshing living water from the Father is poured out on us and we are restored—that is the power of confession.

The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession. Richard Sibbes

At The Crossroads

Carla Gasser

You Can Begin Your Faith Journey Today!

Here AT THE CROSSROADS , I seek to connect FAITH + LIFE in authentic and meaningful ways. I recognize that no matter where anyone is on the path, we are all on a spiritual journey.

• Some of us are just beginning the journey to know and follow God.
• Many may have wandered off the road and are trying to find their way back.
• And still, others are committed followers who are seeking to grow deeper in their faith.

Asking for directions, setting spiritual goals, and following God’s path are steps God tells us to take to discover the right route for our souls:

Go stand at the crossroads and look around. Ask for directions to the old road, The tried-and-true road. Then take it. Discover the right route for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 (The Message)

READY TO GET STARTED?

So, if you are ready to determine where you are, let me help you take the next right step to grow spiritually no matter where you are in your faith journey.

6 Steps to Improve Your Faith Journey

• Step 1: Connect with God
• Step 2: Conquer Fear with Faith
• Step 3 : Commit to Daily Practice
• Step 4: Cultivate Accountability
• Step 5 : Continue Despite Setbacks
• Step 6: Celebrate Growth

STEP 1: CONNECT WITH GOD

Stuck and struggling with where to begin? The first and most important step in any spiritual growth plan is to connect to the source. Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches and that the only way we can produce healthy fruit is to abide in Him (John 15:4-5). We cannot achieve spiritual growth on our own; we must allow God to work in and through us to transform and renew our souls. Stuck at a Crossroads? Learn How to Connect with God

STEP 2: CONQUER FEAR WITH FAITH

Uncertain of the next step and afraid of failing? Any time we begin a new journey, it is the obstacles, roadblocks, and detours that can bring doubt and discouragement. One of the obstacles we must overcome when we set out to achieve any goal is the fear of failure. Choosing to place our faith in God and not ourselves provides the freedom to pursue our spiritual goals without fear (Philippians 4:13).

• How to Choose Faith Over Fear: Do it Afraid!

STEP 3: COMMIT TO DAILY PRACTICE

Looking for tools to help you develop healthy habits? As with any goal-setting plan, daily and repeated practice is necessary to make progress. The outcome of spiritual growth is to become more and more like Christ, which develops as we move from thought to action to habit. Learn How to Have a Daily Quiet Time with God .

STEP 4: CULTIVATE COMMUNITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

Feeling disconnected and looking for support? God created us for connection and community. Find fellow believers who can not only support and encourage you but who can keep you accountable and offer wisdom, guidance, and prayer. As you grow and mature, you can offer this to others as well (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Learn the 3 Ways to Find Women of Connection .

You can also connect with me and find other kindred spirits by following me on social media.

STEP 5: CONTINUE DESPITE SETBACKS

Going through a dry season of doubt and discouragement? Perseverance and progress are the goals…not perfection! There will be setbacks: times you feel disconnected from God, dry seasons where you feel apathetic, or persistent battles with sin that leave you broken and bruised. We need to press on, knowing that God is faithful and will continue to carry us as we pursue Him (Philippians 3:13-14). See how the Wilderness Wisdom Cards can encourage you!

STEP 6: CELEBRATE GROWTH

Wanting to share your story of God’s faithfulness? It is so important to take the time to look back and see what God has done in your life. Go back to those initial reasons for why you desired to go deeper with God and grow spiritually. Celebrate what you have learned about God through His Word, how you have experienced more love, joy, and peace, and ways you have seen God move in your relationships.

Contact me to ask a question, share your story, or just connect!

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10 Stages In A Faith Journey: Plus Examples

Inside: Faith Journey Plus Examples

Have you ever thought about how our faith is like a journey?

It’s a road with ups and downs, questions, and amazing moments where everything just clicks.

Whether you’re just starting out or have been on this road for a while, there’s always something new to see and learn.

In this article, we’ll dive into the different parts of this faith adventure using the Bible and some easy-to-follow tips.

So, come on in, and let’s chat about this faith journey we’re all on!

10 Stages In A Faith Journey

Here’s a detailed breakdown of 10 stages in a faith journey, complete with Scripture and practical advice for each stage:

• Scripture : “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7
• Advice : Stay open-minded. Attend faith-based events, join discussion groups, and ask questions to understand more deeply.
• Scripture : “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10
• Advice : Embrace this new awareness. Surround yourself with individuals who can guide and nurture your budding faith.
• Scripture : “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” – 1 Peter 2:2
• Advice : Dive into Scripture. Attend Bible studies, engage in prayer, and seek mentorship from seasoned believers.
• Scripture : “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1
• Advice : Make a conscious decision to commit to your faith . This might mean being baptized or taking another step of public commitment.
• Scripture : “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
• Advice : Seek support through community and prayer. Remember, every believer faces challenges. They can strengthen and refine your faith.
• Scripture : “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18
• Advice : Regularly partake in spiritual disciplines like fasting , deep prayer, and meditative reading of the Scriptures.
• Scripture : “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10
• Advice : Find ways to serve in your community or church. Share your testimony and faith journey with others.
• Scripture : “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
• Advice : Journal or reflect on the ways you’ve seen God’s hand in your life, celebrating His faithfulness in big and small ways.
• Scripture : “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” – 1 John 5:11
• Advice : Foster a heavenly perspective, knowing that this earthly life is temporary and a glorious eternity awaits.
• Continuous Renewal and Transformation :
• Scripture : “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16
• Advice : Continually seek personal revival. Attend retreats, engage in spiritual self-assessments, study God’s word daily and always aim to draw closer to God.

I hope this list provides a helpful framework for understanding the stages in a faith journey from a Biblical perspective!

May it inspire and guide many on their personal journeys with the Lord.

Examples Of A Faith Journey

Here are some examples of faith journeys:

• The parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 is a poignant example of a faith journey. A young man leaves home, squanders his inheritance, and hits rock bottom. However, he comes to a realization of his mistakes and decides to return to his father. His father, representing God’s unending mercy, welcomes him with open arms. This journey from rebellion to redemption underscores the grace and forgiveness that await those who turn back to God.
• Moses’ life is filled with twists and turns. Born a Hebrew but raised as an Egyptian prince, he flees Egypt after killing a man. In exile, God appears to him in a burning bush and tasks him with leading the Israelites to freedom. Through challenges like confronting Pharaoh and parting the Red Sea, Moses grows in his faith and dependence on God.
• Mary Magdalene, mentioned in the Gospels, is a shining example of a transformative faith journey. Once plagued by seven demons, Jesus heals her. From that moment, she becomes one of His most devoted followers, even being the first to witness and proclaim His resurrection.
• Saul, later known as Paul, starts as a fierce persecutor of early Christians . However, on the road to Damascus, he has a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. This results in a complete turnaround, and he becomes one of Christianity’s most influential apostles, spreading the Gospel far and wide.
• Imagine someone today who grew up in a Christian household but drifted away during their teenage years, influenced by peers or personal doubts. Later in life, a significant event or realization brings them to a Christian counselor. Through counseling sessions, reading Scripture, and joining a supportive community, they rekindle their relationship with God and commit their life to serving Him.
• Consider a person with no prior knowledge of Christianity. Perhaps a friend invites them to church, or they stumble upon a Bible in a hotel room. Curious, they begin exploring, attending Bible studies, and asking questions. Over time, the teachings resonate with them, leading to a deep, personal relationship with Jesus .

Each of these journeys highlights the diverse paths people can take in their relationship with God.

From Biblical figures to everyday individuals, the common thread is God’s unwavering love and grace, guiding each person closer to Him.

I hope these Faith Journey examples inspire and provide insight into the varied landscapes of faith journeys!

How To Write A Faith Journey

Writing about your faith journey is a deeply personal endeavor, but it can be incredibly rewarding.

Sharing your experiences can inspire others and offer insights into the unique ways God works in individual lives.

Let’s break down how to approach this:

• Before you even pick up a pen, spend some time in prayer. Ask God for clarity, wisdom, and discernment as you recount your journey.
• Think about key moments in your life that have shaped your faith. This could be childhood memories, a challenging period, or an unexpected blessing.
• Start by describing your upbringing. Were you raised in a faith-based home? Or did you encounter God later in life?
• Highlight moments that deeply impacted your relationship with God. This could be positive experiences, like a retreat or a mission trip, or more challenging times when your faith was tested.
• It’s okay to share periods of doubt or times when you had questions about your faith. This makes your journey relatable and authentic.
• Talk about instances where you felt God’s presence or intervention in your life . These personal stories can be powerful testimonies of faith.
• Who has played a pivotal role in your faith journey? Maybe it’s a parent, a pastor, a friend, or even a Christian counselor. Share how they’ve guided or influenced you.
• Weave in relevant Bible verses that have been significant to you. This gives readers a biblical context and shows the foundation of your beliefs.
• Where are you now in your faith journey? Discuss your current practices, beliefs, and hopes for the future.
• End with Reflection and Anticipation :
• Reflect on your growth and the lessons you’ve learned. Share your hopes and aspirations for your continuing journey with God.
• Edit and Review :
• Once you’ve penned down your journey, take some time to review and refine it. Consider sharing it with a trusted friend or Christian counselor for feedback.

Remember, your faith journey is uniquely yours. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

It’s the genuine reflection of your relationship with God that will resonate with readers.

Bible Verses About Faith Being A Journey

The Bible is rich with verses that describe faith as a journey or process, emphasizing growth, perseverance, and God’s guidance.

Here are some verses that beautifully convey this theme:

• “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
• “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
• “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
• “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
• “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
• “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
• “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
• “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
• “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

These verses emphasize the continuous journey of faith, marked by trust, perseverance, and guidance from the Lord.

As you reflect on these verses, may you be encouraged and strengthened in your own faith journey!

No two faith journeys are alike, and that’s the beauty of it – each is a unique dance of trust between the soul and its Creator.

Faith Goals Examples

Let’s explore some faith goals and how you can achieve them.

• Goal : Dedicate 10 minutes each morning to Bible reading.
• Advice : Start with Psalms or Proverbs for daily wisdom and encouragement.
• Scripture : “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” – Psalm 119:105
• Goal : Create a nightly prayer routine.
• Advice : Have a dedicated space at home for prayer to build a habit.
• Scripture : “The LORD is near to all who call on him.” – Psalm 145:18
• Goal : Participate in a women’s Bible study or fellowship group.
• Advice : It’s a great way to build deep, faith-centered relationships.
• Scripture : “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:20
• Goal : Memorize a Bible verse each month .
• Advice : Pick verses that speak to challenges you’re currently facing.
• Scripture : “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11
• Goal : Volunteer at least once a month.
• Advice : Local churches often have outreach programs in need of helping hands.
• Scripture : “Do not forget to do good and to share with others.” – Hebrews 13:16
• Goal : Share your faith story with someone new.
• Advice : Your journey can inspire and uplift others in their walk.
• Scripture : “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story.” – Psalm 107:2
• Goal : Choose one day a week to disconnect from electronics and reconnect with God.
• Advice : Use this time for reflection, reading, or nature walks.
• Scripture : “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
• Goal : Fast from something specific (like social media) for clarity or focus in prayer.
• Advice : Remember to consult with a doctor before any major dietary changes.
• Scripture : “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.” – Matthew 6:17
• Goal : Each evening, jot down things you’re grateful for.
• Advice : Over time, you’ll see how much God is working in your life.
• Scripture : “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” – James 1:17
• Build Faithful Friendships :
• Goal : Seek out godly women for friendship and mutual encouragement.
• Advice : Participate in church events or join Christian women’s groups.
• Scripture : “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

I’ve included scriptures for each to give a biblical foundation.

I hope these faith goals inspire and guide you in your walk with God. Remember, it’s about progress, not perfection!

Lord, guide and protect me on my faith journey. Strengthen my trust, renew my hope, and let Your love light my path. In every challenge and joy, may I always feel Your presence. Amen.

Prayer For Your Faith Journey

Heavenly Father, the Author and Perfecter of our faith,

We come before You, acknowledging You as the guiding light on our faith journey.

Every step we take, every challenge we face, we know You are beside us, leading us with Your unfailing love.

Lord, as we navigate the winding paths of our spiritual journey, grant us the grace to trust in You wholeheartedly.

When doubts arise or the road seems uncertain, remind us of Your promises and Your steadfast presence.

Empower us, O God, with the strength to persevere, especially during times of trials and testing.

Let us remember the testimonies of the saints and prophets who have gone before us, drawing inspiration from their unwavering faith.

Provide us with wisdom, Lord, to discern Your will in every circumstance.

May we seek guidance from Your Word, from trusted counselors, and from the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit within.

We pray that our faith journey be marked by growth, transformation, and a deepening relationship with You.

Let our lives be a testament to Your grace, reflecting Your love and compassion to those we encounter.

Above all, Father, we ask for an ever-burning desire to draw closer to You, to know You more intimately, and to serve You faithfully.

Keep our hearts anchored in the truth of the Gospel, and let our steps be firmly rooted in Your ways.

Thank you, Lord, for being our constant companion, our refuge, and our hope.

Guide us, sustain us, and nurture our faith as we journey onward, always seeking Your face.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Join my online women’s Bible study and cultivate meaningful Christian friendships while growing in your faith. Our study resources are designed to guide you in your spiritual renewal and help you deepen your relationship with God. Participate from the comfort of your own home at a time that works for you. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to connect with other women and experience spiritual growth!

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6 Primary Stages in Our Spiritual Journey

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5 Spiritual Disciplines to Help Grow Your Walk With God

When it comes to your relationship with God, it can be overwhelming knowing what to do or how to navigate the next step. Here are five spiritual disciplines to help grow your walk with God.

Read Your Bible.

The Bible is compelling, isn’t it? It’s hard to determine where to start, what to read next, how much you should read at one time, whether to read the Old Testament or the New — the list can go on. There is an acronym that could help you when it comes to opening up your Bible: O.I.A. This stands for observation, interpretation and application .

Another important thing when it comes to reading your Bible is to memorize Scripture. When we memorize Scripture, it becomes permanently lodged in our brain. God can remind us of scriptures in the Bible as we process things or talk with someone, and He can prompt us to share those scriptures with them. Some good next steps could be to set a reminder in your phone of a specific scripture and read it daily or post notes around your house. Anything that you will see and read every day could be helpful in memorizing Scripture.

Pray. Always.

God wants us to talk to Him, and He wants us to talk to Him about everything. There isn’t anything that is hidden from God. There isn’t anything that surprises Him. 

Participating in a prayer walk can be a great way to connect to God and pray for someone around you, whether that’s in your neighborhood or on your campus.

Wanting more resources for prayer? Check out some of our prayer tips to heighten your walk in spiritual disciplines.

Fasting puts us in the place of trusting God to fulfill our lives, and yes, that includes the physical feeling of hunger. It can be a challenge to fast away from food, but it doesn’t have to be just food. You can fast from other things in your life as well. Maybe you need to take a break from social media or your favorite streaming service. No matter what it is, this spiritual discipline encourages spending time with God, either in the Bible, in prayer or in worship. Check out our Fasting Starter Kit to help jump-start your fasting journey. Don’t fully understand what biblical fasting is? That’s okay! Check out what it is and how it works .

Worship can be more than singing or playing an instrument, although that is a great way to worship God. Everyone has different ways they feel connected to God . For some, it could be a music playlist, for others it could be a hike in nature. This is a time to show love and adoration to God.

Another way to worship is by giving faithfully and sacrificially. This can mean money, time or energy, for example. Have you thought about helping the community or a local non-profit in volunteering your time? Giving sacrificially is honoring to God and to those you are sacrificing for.

If you are on the artsy side or process your thoughts through writing things down, journaling could be the perfect spiritual discipline opportunity. Take a moment to write a journal prayer, or jot down things you are grateful for . Being able to look back on the ways God has worked in your life can be a great reminder of His love and care.

These five spiritual disciplines can be a good way to grow your walk with God. Choose one of the suggestions above and share with someone who can help keep you accountable. Disciplines can be hard to do alone, and working with others can encourage consistency and build a closer connection with God.

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25 Bible Verses About Starting A New Journey (With Commentary)

Embarking on a new journey can be both exhilarating and intimidating. In this blog post, we’ll discover Bible verses that provide guidance and encouragement for those taking their first steps into uncharted territory. These verses will inspire confidence and faith in new beginnings.

Also Read: Bible Verses About The Kingdom Of God

Bible Verses About Starting A New Journey

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

This verse reminds us that when we embark on a new journey, we should not be afraid or discouraged because God is always with us. He commands us to be strong and courageous because He knows that stepping into the unknown can be daunting. With the assurance of God’s presence, we can face any challenges that come our way.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Starting a new journey requires us to trust in the Lord completely. We must resist the temptation to rely on our own understanding or human wisdom. Instead, we should submit our plans and desires to God and allow Him to guide our paths. When we put our trust in Him, He will lead us in the right direction and make our paths straight.

Isaiah 43:19

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

In this verse, God assures us that He is always doing new things in our lives. As we embark on a new journey, we can trust that He is already at work, making a way where there seems to be no way. Even in the most challenging and barren situations, God can bring forth streams of blessings and opportunities.

Philippians 3:13-14

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Starting a new journey requires us to let go of the past and focus on what lies ahead. Just as the Apostle Paul emphasizes, we should not dwell on our past mistakes, setbacks, or achievements. Instead, we should press on towards the goal that God has set for us. Our eyes should be fixed on Jesus, and we should strive to fulfill the calling He has placed on our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When starting a new journey, it is reassuring to know that God has plans for our lives. He desires to bring prosperity, hope, and a bright future. Even when we are uncertain about what lies ahead, we can trust that God’s plans are good, and He will guide us every step of the way.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

In every new journey, God promises to instruct and teach us in the right way to go. He offers His divine counsel with a loving watchful eye upon us. When we seek His guidance and rely on Him, He will lead us along the path He has prepared for us, protecting us from harm and leading us towards success.

Psalm 37:23

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.”

As we delight in the Lord and commit our ways to Him, He takes delight in guiding our steps. When we trust in Him wholeheartedly, He ensures that our steps are firm and secure. He will never let us stumble or fall if we continue to seek Him and follow His leading on our new journey.

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

In the midst of a new journey, God’s word serves as a lamp to guide our steps and a light to illuminate our path. His teachings and principles act as a compass, showing us the right way to go. When we meditate on His word and allow it to shape our decisions, we can walk confidently in His divine guidance.

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Starting a new journey often requires a change in mindset. Instead of conforming to worldly standards and expectations, we are called to be transformed by renewing our minds according to God’s truth. When our minds are aligned with His will, we can discern His good, pleasing, and perfect plans for our lives.

Deuteronomy 31:8

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

As we embark on a new journey, we can find solace in knowing that the Lord goes before us. He promises to be our constant companion, never leaving us or forsaking us. In times of uncertainty or fear, we can take courage and trust that God is with us, guiding and protecting us every step of the way.

Jeremiah 33:3

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

In our new journey, we are invited to call upon the Lord, seeking His wisdom and guidance. He promises to answer us and reveal things beyond our understanding. Through prayer and communion with God, we can tap into His vast knowledge and receive insights that will lead us towards success and fulfillment.

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

When starting a new journey, our ultimate priority should be seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness. When we prioritize His will and align our desires with His, He promises to provide for our needs. Instead of striving solely for worldly accomplishments, we should strive to live in obedience to God, and He will take care of everything else.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

In our new journey, we can find comfort in knowing that the Lord is our shepherd. He will guide us, protect us, and provide us with everything we need. As long as we remain under His shepherding care, we can rest assured that we will lack nothing and have all that we require to fulfill our purpose.

Galatians 6:9

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Starting a new journey may come with challenges and obstacles. However, we are reminded not to grow weary in doing good. It is essential to persevere and remain steadfast in our commitment to follow God’s path. When we continue to press on, we can be confident that in due time, we will reap a harvest of blessings and fulfilled promises.

Psalm 121:1-2

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

When embarking on a new journey, we may encounter daunting challenges ahead. In those moments, we can lift our eyes to the Lord, recognizing that our help comes from Him alone. As the creator of heaven and earth, He is more than capable of guiding us and providing all the assistance we need on our journey.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Starting a new journey often requires wisdom, and God encourages us to ask Him for it. He promises to give generously and without finding fault when we seek His wisdom. By acknowledging our dependence on God’s guidance and seeking His wisdom, we can navigate our new journey with confidence and make wise decisions along the way.

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

As we embark on a new journey, anxiety and worry may try to creep into our minds. However, we are reminded to cast all our burdens and worries on the Lord because He cares for us deeply. Letting go of anxiety and entrusting our concerns to Him allows us to move forward with peace and confidence in His loving care.

Psalm 16:11

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

In our new journey, we can trust that God will make known to us the path of life. He will guide us towards the fulfillment of our purpose, and in His presence, we will experience true joy and eternal pleasures. As we seek and follow Him, we can rest assured that our journey will be filled with meaningful experiences and divine blessings.

Matthew 28:20

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

When stepping into a new journey, Jesus promises us His constant presence. He affirms that He will be with us always, even until the end of the age. We can take comfort and draw strength from the assurance that we are never alone. With Jesus by our side, we can face anything that this new journey holds.

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

When we surrender our lives to Christ, we become new creations. Starting a new journey allows us to leave behind the old and embrace the new. The old habits, sin, and burdens no longer define us. Instead, we can walk in the freedom and grace of being made new in Christ, ready to embark on an exciting journey of growth and transformation.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

As we begin a new journey, it is vital to find joy and delight in the Lord above all else. When our hearts are aligned with His, He promises to grant us the desires of our hearts. However, this does not mean we will receive everything we want, but rather, our desires will be in alignment with His will, bringing us true joy and fulfillment.

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When starting a new journey, we may feel weary and burdened by the weight of the unknown. Jesus invites us to come to Him and find rest for our souls. He calls us to take His yoke upon us, to learn from Him and embrace His gentle and humble nature. In surrendering to Him, we can find true rest and peace, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Proverbs 16:9

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Humans often make plans for their journey, but ultimately, it is the Lord who establishes our steps. As we trust in Him and acknowledge His sovereignty, He redirects our paths and leads us on a journey that aligns with His divine plan. Letting go of our own plans and surrendering to His guidance brings us peace and assurance.

Psalm 119:133

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.”

In our new journey, we ought to surrender our footsteps to God and ask Him to direct us according to His word. We desire to walk in obedience and alignment with His will. By seeking His guidance and relying on His strength, we can avoid being ruled by sin and walk in paths of righteousness.

Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Amidst the changes and uncertainties that come with a new journey, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ remains the same. He is unchanging in His character, love, and faithfulness. Regardless of what we face on our journey, we can trust that He will never leave us, and His promises remain steadfast.

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Our Journey with God

How do I know God is really with me on my journey to find a home with him?

Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:24).

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10).

• In the story of Jesus — Jesus is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23).
• In authentic relationship with other believers — Jesus, as Immanuel, joins us in our gathering together (Matthew 18:20).
• In compassionate care of those in need — Jesus is Immanuel that we see in those to whom we give loving care (Matthew 25:40).
• In leaving the comfort of our culture to walk along beside others to help them learn to journey with God, and to live the way of Jesus — Jesus, as Immanuel, goes with us always (Matthew 28:18-20).

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It All Starts With God

For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible … everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. Colossians 1:16 MSG

It’s Not About You

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.

The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point – ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like What do I want to be What should I do with my life What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future But focusing on yourself will never reveal your life’s purpose. The Bible says, “It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone’s life is in his power” (Job 12:10 GNT).

You Can’t Find it Alone

I once got lost in the mountains. When I stopped to ask for directions to the campsite I was told, You can’t get there from here. You must start from the other side of the mountain! In the same way, you cannot arrive at your life’s purpose by starting with a focus on yourself. You must begin with God, your Creator. You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and for God – and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.

So many people try to use God for their own self-actualization, but that is a reversal of nature, and is doomed to failure. You were made for God, not vice-versa, and life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not you using him for your own purpose. The Bible says, “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life” (Romans 8:6 MSG).

I’ve read many books that suggested ways to discover the purpose of my life. All of them could be classified as self-help books because they approached the subject from a self-centered viewpoint. Self-help books, even Christian ones, usually offer the same predictable steps to finding your life’s purpose Consider your dreams. Clarify your values. Set some goals. Figure out what you are good at. Aim high. Go for it. Be disciplined. Believe you can achieve your goals. Involve others. Never give up.

Of course, these recommendations often lead to great success. You can usually succeed in reaching a goal if you put your mind to it. But being successful and fulfilling your life’s purpose are not at all the same issue! You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you. You need more than self-help suggestion. The Bible says, “Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self” (Luke 9:24 MSG).

What Were You Created For

How then do you discover the purpose you were created for You only have two options. Your first option is speculation. This is what most people do. They conjecture, they guess, they theorize. When people say, I’ve always thought life is…they mean This is the best guess I can come up with.

Discussing the purpose of life is a favorite pastime of philosophy professors and students. They sit around drinking coffee and debating Why am I here Where am I going What is the purpose of life It may sound impressive but they’re just guessing, and speculation can be wrong – dead wrong.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to speculation about the meaning and purpose of life. It’s revelation. We can turn to what God has revealed about life in his Word. The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose ask God.

We can turn to what God has revealed.

God has not left us in the dark to wonder and guess. He has clearly revealed his five purposes for our lives through the Bible. It’s our owner’s manual, explaining why we are alive, how life works, what to avoid, and what to expect in the future. It explains what no self-help or philosophy book could know. The Bible says, “God’s wisdom…goes deep into the interior of his purposes… It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest–what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us…” (1 Corinthians 2:7 MSG).

God is the Source

God is not just the starting point of your life; he is source of it. To discover your purpose in life you must turn to God’s Word, not the world’s wisdom. You must build your life on eternal truths, not pop-psychology, success-motivation, or inspirational stories. The Bible says, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone” (Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG). This verse gives us three insights into your purpose.

You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input! You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don’t get to choose your purpose. God has already made that decision.

The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity. Andrei Bitov, a Russian novelist, grew up under an atheistic Communist regime. But God got his attention one dreary day. He recalls In my twenty-seventh year, while riding the metro in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) I was overcome with a despair so great that life seemed to stop at once, preempting the future entirely, let alone any meaning.

Suddenly, all by itself, a phrase appeared Without God life makes no sense. Repeating it in astonishment, I rode the phrase up like a moving staircase, got out of the metro and walked into God’s light.

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What is the Christian Journey?

The christian journey to a meaningful christian life.

It is often said that the Christian life is a journey, not a destination.

The journey to a meaningful Christian life involves a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, learning and growing in faith, and actively living out one’s beliefs.

The Christian journey is often a term used to describe the spiritual growth and development as we follow Jesus Christ and seek to live according to his teachings.

The Christian Journey is . . .

• a journey of growing faith in God.
• a process of coming to know ourselves honestly and our Creator intimately.
• a journey of cultivating awareness, sensitivity, and response to God’s loving initiatives in our lives.
• a pilgrimage of deepening our relationship with God and His love for us that brings us into maturity.
• a process of receiving healing for emotional pain and harmful ways of thinking.
• a dynamic process of growing toward wholeness emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
• a process of being conformed to the image of Christ.
• a spiritual journey where we continually confront twists, turns, and stages.
• The process is a quest for intimate relationship with God Himself.

This process has been known through the ages by a variety of names including spiritual growth, discipleship, spiritual formation/transformation, and sanctification.

Here are some steps of the Christian journey process:

• Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior . This is the foundation of a meaningful Christian life, as it involves making a commitment to follow Jesus as His disciple and allowing Him to guide your life.
• Study the Bible . Reading and studying the Bible will deepen your understanding of God’s character, teachings, and plans for your life.
• Pray regularly . Talking to God in prayer helps to build a strong relationship with Him and allows Him to guide and direct your life.
• Serve others. Living a meaningful Christian life involves serving others and showing love and compassion to those around you.
• Be in Community . Being part of a Christian community can provide support, encouragement, and opportunities to serve others.
• Seek accountability and mentorship . Building relationships with mature Christians can offer guidance and support and can be incredibly helpful in growing.

The Christian journey also includes challenges and obstacles, but through prayer and reliance on God, we can overcome them and continue to grow in our faith.

Growing often involves changes in lifestyle, values, and behavior. It also means growing in love for others and a growing in a desire to serve and make a positive impact in the world.

The ultimate goal of the Christian journey is to deepen one’s relationship with God. It involves becoming more like Jesus, so that we can live a life that brings glory to God and helps others.

The Christian journey is a lifelong process of growing in relationship with God and others. Each person’s journey is unique, yet similar.

What If I Get Stuck On The Christian Journey

Getting “stuck” on the Christian journey is a common experience for many people.

There are various reasons why this might happen, such as feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges, facing temptations or sin, experiencing a crisis of faith, or simply feeling uninspired or disconnected from God.

If you find yourself in this situation, there are several steps you can take to get back on track:

• Confess and repent . If you’ve sinned or strayed from God, confessing your mistakes and repenting can help to restore your relationship with Him.
• Pray. Talking to God through prayer can help you to feel connected to Him and receive His guidance and comfort.
• Seek support and prayer from other Christians. Join a small group or talk to a trusted friend or mentor. This can provide encouragement and help you to stay accountable.
• Study the Bible. Spending time in God’s word can help to deepen your understanding of Him and renew your mind and spirit.
• Serve others . Volunteering and serving others can help you to shift your focus from yourself to God and His kingdom.

Remember, the Christian journey is a lifelong process, and it’s okay to have ups and downs.

With God’s help and the support of other believers, you can overcome obstacles and continue growing in your faith.

Going Deeper: The Christian Journey is a Quest For a Deeper Relationship With God

The Christian journey is ultimately a quest to find a deeper relationship with God.

As we grow in our faith, we seek to deepen our understanding how God speaks. We grow in our love for God and learn to experience His presence in our lives more deeply.

This deeper relationship with God also leads to transformation of our character , and we become more like Jesus and adopt His attitudes and behaviors .

This transformation is a lifelong process!

As we grow in relationship with God, we become more attuned to His will and more equipped to fulfill our divine purpose in life.

Throughout he Christian journey we learn to experience the fullness of God’s love . We become more like Him, so that we can bring glory to God and make a positive impact in the world.

The Christian journey is a journey of faith, growth, and spiritual transformation that leads to a deeper, more meaningful, relevant, and intimate relationship with God.

Characteristics of Spiritual Growth on the Christian Journey

• The Christian Journey is a process of learning and growing.
• Growing on the Christian Journey means discovering God’s unique purpose and call for your life.
• It is a process of receiving healing for emotional pain and harmful ways of thinking.
• We learn to hear God’s voice more clearly.
• We learn to recognize and practice the presence of God.
• It is a dynamic process of growing toward wholeness emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
• Through this growth process, we grow into who God created us to be in His original design.
• The process helps us to get to know ourselves honestly and Creator intimately.
• We learn to avoid things that hinder our spiritual growth.

[1] Exod 3:1; Isa 2:3; Ezek 28:13-14,16 ;  Ezek 28:13-14.

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This topic is part of the Spiritual Calling stage of the Spiritual Wanderer's Journey

How to Start Your Spiritual Journey (7 Illuminating Steps)

by Mateo · Updated: Jun 15, 2024 · 217 Comments

There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled. There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled. You feel it, don’t you? – Rumi

Welcome, dear spiritual wanderer.

You’ve come to this page seeking guidance, and that’s what we intend to give you wholeheartedly.

Before you begin, we want to honor your self-sovereignty and inner instincts , so:

Please remember to not accept anything as being “true” that I write or anything that anyone on the spiritual journey says/writes/teaches without first checking in with your own inner knowing.

No one is infallible, no matter what degree of awakening they have embodied, so I strongly encourage you to think for yourself, find out for yourself, and always, always trust your intuition. (This advice can save you a lot of pain on your journey!)

With that said:

If you’re short on time, scroll down to see the Table of Contents . Otherwise, I guarantee that this article is worth reading from start to finish (that’s why it’s the ‘Start Here’ page!).

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Want to go deeper and reflect, integrate, and gain a greater perspective of your journey of awakening?

Let’s begin with the uncomfortable truth:

Most of us in the modern world have resigned ourselves to a cliched existence, indulging in endless distractions.

We go through life with minimal or pseudo-faith and avoid comprehending the emptiness of our lives. We are endlessly haunted by the shallowness of our relationships, neurotic issues, and  inescapable loneliness.

And yet there’s so much more to us as a species than what we really know.

You and I carry the most mysterious and magnificent qualities within us imaginable. Yet, we unknowingly guard and protect the greatest gift that is our  Souls from the world.

It’s so easy for us to feel meaningless when we perceive ourselves as mere cogs in society’s machine.

The truth is that we are much more than slaves of 9 to 5 jobs. We are capable of creating deeply meaningful, mystical, and fulfilling lives. We are capable of finding our true calling and personal destiny.

For centuries, indigenous people throughout the world have known that to fully explore the depths of the Soul and reunite with Spirit, we must go on a spiritual journey into the unknown lands within ourselves.

Many ancient cultures had Elders and Shamans to encourage and oversee these journeys toward a deeper spiritual existence.

Sadly, these days in our own culture, we have lost such sacred rites and rituals. Instead, orthodox religion has replaced living  spirituality with a theoretical god , dismissing, and outlawing personal experimentation and union with the Divine.

On this page, my aim is to help you start navigating your spiritual journey, be a lone wolf, and listen to your soul’s calling to reunite with Spirit.

(If you need extra in-depth support after reading this article, I highly recommend checking out our All-in-One Bundle and Shadow & Light Membership – these offerings can offer tremendous illumination and empowerment on your journey.)

Table of contents

What is the spiritual journey, 12 signs you’re called to the spiritual journey (the ancient hero/ine’s path), the 3 worlds of the spiritual journey (which are you inhabiting), inner work vs. soul work, 5 phases of the spiritual wanderer’s journey, how to start your spiritual journey (7 steps).

The spiritual journey is a personal quest we undertake to reconnect with our Souls, release attachment to the ego, and rediscover our True Nature .

In a nutshell, the spiritual journey is about returning to the Centre of our being : it’s a path traditionally undertaken by saints, shamans, mystics , and sages.

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But in this day and age where times have changed, and we’re suffering from collective soul loss , the spiritual journey is open and accessible to all people (and no longer just ascetics, monks, and other holy people).

Indeed, listening to our Soul’s calling of reuniting with Spirit is our deepest longing and highest calling as a species.

People have felt a pull toward something greater than themselves since the beginning of time.

Ancient cultures had many stories that illustrated the journey to fulfilling one’s destiny and experiencing Wholeness or Enlightenment . These journeys are what mythologist Joseph Campbell described as the “ Calls to Adventure. “

A call to adventure is something we all experience at least once in life. When we embark on this adventure, we begin the process of gaining self-understanding, reclaiming our precious Soul gifts, and dissolving the blockages that obscure our Inner Light.

The archetype of the hero/heroine discovering their true spiritual nature goes back thousands of years.

The Greeks told the story of Orpheus , who descended into the underworld to rescue his bride, Eurydice, from Hades. The Nordic people had their hero-warrior Beowulf , and the Sumerians wrote of Inanna , who battled her sister in the dark world.

Throughout history, there have been so many stories of individuals who have struggled through hardship to find themselves. But of what importance are they to our path?

Essentially, these hero/ines symbolize our spiritual journeys , that is, leaving everything familiar behind, entering the unknown, encountering numerous unconscious monsters, and finally returning back home with a sense of renewed fulfillment and wisdom.

Here are 12 signs you’re being called to walk the spiritual journey of awakening:

• You feel lost in life
• You long for a place that feels like your ‘true home’
• You keep wondering what your meaning or purpose is
• You feel like you have a big destiny to fulfill (which is yet to be revealed)
• You sense that there’s much more to life than meets the eye
• You’re experiencing strange synchronicities, signs, and omens
• You’re shedding your old self and you’re transforming, but you don’t know who you truly are yet
• There’s a sense of nostalgia and nagging longing for something you can’t pinpoint
• You experience bouts of melancholy, depression, and existential crisis
• You feel extra sensitive and fragile
• A lot of what you once valued seems meaningless and empty
• It feels like the rug has been pulled out from underneath you, and you’re falling into a void

Can you relate to any of the above signs? If you can, you’re most certainly being called to embark on the spiritual journey.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want. Don’t go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don’t go back to sleep. – Rumi 

At some point in life, we all experience the “call to adventure.”

Often, our journeys start when we experience a sudden  spiritual awakening , kundalini awakening , or dark night of the soul . Often, without wanting to, we are cast onto the path of inner exploration.

Like you, I have wandered these paths and have, at times, wound up lost and confused. For this reason, I find it useful to map out the spiritual journey in a way that helps the human mind know where it is and where it will go next.

My Andean ancestry speaks of three worlds that we can experience in life: the Upper World (Hanaq Pacha), the Middle World (Kay Pacha), and the Lower World (Ukhu Pacha).

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In many traditions and mythologies, these three worlds correspond to the different realms of Self.

The Upper World is the home of Spirit, the Underworld the home of Souls, and the Middle World is the home of the physical body and human ego .

Different practices and techniques are used in each of the three realms to help us spiritually mature and rediscover joy, peace, and nondual wholeness .

Below, I’ll explore each of these three realms with you:

Middle World

Purpose: Personality development

In our everyday lives, we function within the middle world. The middle world is responsible for our ego development, and yet many people on the spiritual path ignore this vital element of inner growth.

Without developing a healthy personality, our spiritual growth reaches a dead end because we are more prone to falling into many spiritual traps and pitfalls down the line (such as spiritual narcissism , spiritual materialism, and more).

In life, we all begin within the middle world or physical realm. As children and teenagers, we go through various years of personality change and growth.

Finally, as adults, we have all developed unique personalities. Yet many of us fail to continue our self-development, getting lost in corporate jobs and the pursuit of money, status, and fame.

The goal of the middle world path is to develop a healthy personality or ego. Tasks involved in this process include the exploration of core emotional wounds, self-love , and the cultivation of authenticity.

A healthy adult ego will be able to love freely, be vulnerable, express creativity, and display empathy towards others – which are vital in every area of life.

We cannot develop a healthy personality by using techniques from the Upper or Under World, such as meditation or shadow work.

Instead, we must use inner work techniques that pertain to ego development and healing, such as assertiveness training, non-violent communication techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, NLP, and other psychological avenues of self-development.

Under World

Purpose: Soul discovery

Our Soul is the vital, mysterious, and wild core of our individual selves. It is the unique essence within each of us that goes deeper than our personalities.

Think of your Soul as a stream that is connected to the ocean of Spirit. Our Souls contain our destiny, purpose, gifts, and the ultimate significance of our individual lives. To access these deep layers and qualities, we must descend into the Under World of our unconscious minds.

Unfortunately, for thousands of years, our culture has “protected” us from the hardships and dangers of the descent into the Soul. This has been done through the establishment of comfortable, predictable, and clockwork lives that revolve around material pleasures and shallow values.

In fact, thanks to religious thought, the descent into our Under Worlds has been condemned as “evil” and wayward.  Only Shamanic cultures and a few Western mystical schools like Hermeticism and Alchemy have dedicated themselves to exploring the Under World.

The descent into the Under World has been so feared and avoided because it is a perilous journey. There is a reason why Christianity referred to this place as “hell.”

Within our Under Worlds lie our repressed thoughts, feelings, desires, traumas, and denied gifts. Often when we descend, or inscend, into ourselves, we come across many demons, ghastly creatures, and other parts of our Shadow Selves that we’ve been unconsciously hiding from.

Yet despite the fact that the Under World journey can be such a harrowing and haunting experience, it is ultimately a powerful odyssey. Only by descending into our personal Under Worlds can we truly embrace our true life calling, talents, gifts, and deepest values.

Under World, or deeper inner work techniques, include practices that allow us to access altered states of consciousness . These may include practices such as  lucid dreaming , drumming, shadow work , shamanic trances, breathwork , vision quests, etc.

Upper World

Purpose: Uniting with Spirit

The Upper World journey, or that of the ascent, is what we often refer to as Self-Realization .

There comes a moment in our journey between the middle world and the underworld in which an equilibrium or inner spaciousness forms , allowing us to move up into the Upper World.

For example, it’s much harder to spiritually awaken to the Upper World when our unconscious minds are plagued with deep childhood traumas (that stem from the underworld), trust issues (under world problem), and poor self-esteem (middle world problem).

The practice of inner work is what allows this inner space to emerge because it dissolves the contractions of the ego that hide our True Nature as Divine Consciousness.

We enter the path of ascent up into the Upper World when we learn to surrender our ego identification (known as ego death ) and Soul identification.

It’s at this point of the path that soul work is needed – soul work, in this case, refers to doing the soul’s work of letting go, opening, and merging back into its original home of Spirit.

The experience and realization that the personal identity (or ego) is an illusory thought construct, and who we truly are is Infinite Consciousness, is what has been referred to as Self-Realization , Christ Consciousness , Buddha Nature, Nirvana, or Enlightenment.

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This shift of consciousness involves our Infinite, Divine, Eternal, and Absolute Nature awakening from the dream of the separate egoic self.

Techniques used to induce this inner shift of being are often found in the mystical schools of Zen, Kundalini, Taoism , Sufism, and disciplines such as meditation, self-inquiry , and yoga.

Note:  Unfortunately, many people in the spiritual community believe that spiritual ascension is all that is needed to experience peace and wholeness. As a result, the middle world and under world paths have been cast aside as if they don’t matter.

However, only focusing on your “higher chakras,” cultivating positivity and Oneness with Spirit , creates lopsided individuals. When the darker and more down-to-earth elements of self-growth are ignored, the result is imbalanced and unhealthy individuals .

As such, here on lonerwolf, we try to focus on exploring all three realms (the middle, under, and upper world) to create balance.

In the previous section, I mentioned inner work and soul work a few times. But what’s the difference? And how do both relate to the spiritual journey?

Within this website and the work of Aletheia and I, inner work refers to the active exploration, illumination, and dissolution of blockages within the psyche.

Inner work is a psychological process that helps us to heal and find inner harmony and wholeness on a human level.

Examples of inner work practices include the practice of self-love, inner child work, shadow work, body work, and anything that involves actively finding and releasing the contractions within the mind.

On the other hand, soul work is the more passive and receptive process of opening, surrendering, and resting within our True Nature (also known as Consciousness, Presence, Nondual Awareness, and Spirit).

Soul work is, quite literally, doing the soul’s work of remembering and returning back to Source as our Ultimate Home and True Nature.

Examples of soul work practices include self-inquiry, prayer, contemplation, meditation, mirror work, and anything that involves cultivating a sense of being .

Both inner work and soul work are needed on our spiritual journeys to help us both wake up on a spiritual level and grow up on a human level.

To avoid lopsided development and getting possessed by unresolved inner shadows (which can and do arise no matter what level of realization we’ve had), we need to explore both our human psychology and relax into our birthless, deathless True Nature.

Inner work makes the inner space for soul work to take place. Soul work helps to illuminate and sharpen our inner work.

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Both go hand-in-hand and are vital allies on our spiritual awakening journeys. As you get familiar with this website and our work, you’ll hear about both inner work and soul work.

Roughly speaking, there are about five phases of the spiritual journey (although, of course, there could be many more – but I’m just sharing the phases I’m presently aware of).

I refer to these as ‘ phases ‘ and not stages because the spiritual wanderer’s journey is not a linear process that has a start and end; it is cyclical. It’s like the moon. It’s a spiraling dance of energy that is ever-deepening and changing – there is no “end,” even after you’ve had an enlightened shift in awareness.

Here’s a visual diagram of the Wanderer’s Journey , which is the spiritual wheel of transformation that we base our work around on this website:

Below, you’ll find the five phases ruled by the Seeker, Apprentice, Warrior, Mystic, and Sage archetypes.

I’ve also linked each phase to the ten different parts of the journey that Aletheia and I have discovered, crystallized, and defined after many years on the path:

1. Soul-searching

(Ruled by the Seeker archetype.)

This phase is divided into the following two parts (also linked to on the Wanderer’s Journey page). Feel free to click on any for further guidance:

• The Spiritual Calling
• Resisting the Path

Summary: Phase one of the spiritual journey begins with a deep craving and longing for something more than mundane daily life.

There may be a sense that life has become a dry, desolate, meaningless, and barren wasteland without some kind of spiritual dimension.

This type of existential crisis can arise spontaneously due to a traumatic situation, mental or physical health issues, or simply due to one’s sensitive temperament.

The result is a search for meaning, purpose, and greater spiritual connection – or what is commonly known as soul searching .

2. Awakening & learning

(Ruled by the Apprentice archetype.)

• Finding Guidance
• Starting the Journey

Summary: Awakening and learning is the next phase of the spiritual journey. Once one has listened to the ‘call to adventure’ and has begun searching for answers, the sense of inner deadness and stagnation lifts. The veil is pulled from our eyes. We awaken to fresh possibilities, new horizons, and deep insights.

There is renewed hope, ecstatic zest for life, joyful anticipation, and a passion for learning, exploring, and growing. It’s as if the sun has finally emerged from its slumber, and we’re bathed in the dawning light of spiritual awakening .

3. Death & demons

(Ruled by the Warrior archetype.)

• Turning Inwards
• Facing the Darkness

Summary: As our spiritual journey matures, we eventually face a crossroads. To continue growing, we must enter through the gates of our personal Underworld and face our demons. We learn that the spiritual journey is beautiful, yes. But it’s also demanding.

If we’re sincere about authentic spiritual growth, we need to illuminate our inner darkness, explore our shadow selves, and heal our buried traumas. This death of the spiritual ‘high’ of the previous phase can lead to much fear and confusion.

The result is often an experience of the Dark Night of the Soul , a glimpse of ego death , or even a spiritual emergency where we step out of the ‘sunshine and rainbows’ world into the moonlit world of ghosts and ghouls.

4. Rebirth & reward

(Ruled by the Mystic archetype.)

• Illumination
• Traps & Pitfalls

Summary: Eventually, we emerge from the other side of the Dark Night of the Soul, existential crisis, or ego death glimpse. We have been to hell and back and we’ve had our hearts ripped open and our minds excavated. But we arise victorious with heart and Soul blazing bright with clarity.

This rebirth and reward phase often results in mystical experiences , moments of Satori (Enlightened awareness), and blissful heart openings.

We may go through a new level of awakening, this time at an energetic level, via an experience known as the Kundalini awakening .

However, this experience is not all love and light. There are many lurking shadows and spiritual traps to be wary of .

5. Illumination & sharing

(Ruled by the Sage archetype.)

• Integration

Summary: After the body, heart, and mind undergo this cleansing and purging journey, a deeper level of Illumination may begin to arise within us. We’ll begin to integrate all the lessons we’ve learned, bringing them into our daily lives.

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This is the moment where we truly start walking the talk, integrating both the human and Divine aspects of our lived experience. As such, there is a strong desire within us to share what we’ve realized through the grace of Divinity (our True Nature) with those who need support.

We may adopt the role of teacher, guide, creator, or mentor – or otherwise, embrace new ways of helping others through the power of creativity.

Perhaps the key defining quality of this phase is a strong connection to one’s True Nature and sometimes a non-dual shift in awareness. There’s an intimate, inner-lived experience of the Divine as one’s true face, authentic essence , and ultimate home.

Again, the above five phases are by no means linear or static – they are cyclical and ever-deepening. Gradually, we discover that we are Life itself and that what we have longed and searched for has always been right here, right now !

Everyone’s spiritual journey is unique, ever-changing, and ongoing.

There is no single point at which we stop this inner transformation. In fact, the whole mistaken idea of reaching a state of “perfection” really only equals death and stagnation.

And what happens when things stop growing and flowing? They become lethargic, break down, rot, and disintegrate.

While the demands for constant growth and evolution may be difficult to handle at times, they are necessary grit for the inner pearl to develop.

If you wish to find truth, peace, profound love, deep freedom, and your ultimate home, beginning your spiritual journey is not only important but crucial.

Understandably, you might feel a bit intimidated and lost, not knowing where to start. As someone who has been on the spiritual journey for a long time and who has devoted their entire life’s work to the inner call, here are my tips:

1. Be gentle and go at your own pace

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and a little inundated by the influx of information when first beginning your spiritual journey. My advice is to go slowly, be gentle, and go at your own pace. You don’t need to know every tiny detail of every field of wisdom ever created. (I know it’s tempting!)

Besides, everything that you’re learning about is already within you. Yes, you have all the answers you need at a Soul level because you are an expression of the Divine at your core. Everyone else is just a mirror of that.

So cut yourself some slack. The key is to go gently but deeply – that is how you will learn and grow the most.

2. Tune into the deepest yearning of your heart – your holy longing

What is it that you truly, deeply yearn for, above all else? What is the most ancient longing of your heart and Soul?

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There are a myriad of reasons why people enter the spiritual journey, many of them stories created by the mind to build a better-looking ego.

But beneath the desires of the mind, what does your heart want? Your heart is the doorway to your Soul, and your Soul is a unique expression of Spirit. So listen to your heart’s yearnings.

How do you listen to your heart? One of the best ways is to place a soft hand over your heart, let all thoughts go, and drop into a sense of stillness. Then ask yourself, “What is it that I truly, deeply yearn for, above all else?”

Do you long for peace, truth, freedom, love, happiness, healing, or something else? There are no right or wrong answers. The heart wants what it wants.

But be aware that the mind may jump in and try to concoct a bunch of ideas, artificial longings, and idealistic stories. What you need to do is listen for the still, small, quiet voice within that responds with gentle clarity (not the loud, anxious, and abrasive voice of the mind).

Finding your holy longing will provide you with the fuel and compass to direct your spiritual search.

Instead of being outwardly led by the egoic self, you’ll be inwardly led by the heart and Soul. You may even find that as you progress through your spiritual journey, your holy longing will evolve and mature. Let it!

3. Pay attention to philosophies, tools, or practices that intrigue you

Once you’ve figured out your holy longing, simply pay attention. Notice what spiritual fields, ideas, philosophies, and practices call to you that relate to your deepest calling.

The spiritual journey doesn’t have to be something dry, monotone, and repetitive (unless you want it to be). This is a quest that can be playful, joyful, and passionate.

In fact, you’ll likely get the most out of your spiritual path if you approach it from this heart-centered place.

Neuroscience has proven that we learn the most when we’re having fun – so find your bliss. Walk a path with heart. This is the path you’re meant to be on.

4. Go deep-diving

One of the main issues that often arises on the spiritual path is a certain kind of spiritual materialism or spiritual window-shopping .

Jumping from practice to practice can be useful at the beginning (to become familiar with the territory).

But if we get into the addictive habit of finding the “next and best” spiritual practice , tool, workshop, etc., we are doing ourselves a great disservice.

We are not only approaching spirituality with a materialistic mindset, but we’re also avoiding the fundamental purpose of the spiritual path: to discover our True Nature.

Once you’ve done some dabbling here and there (this might involve watching YouTube videos, reading books, attending workshops, etc.), it’s time to slow down and commit to something.

Don’t worry if you discover later down the road that the path you’re on is not for you – remember that you can always change routes.

What’s important is that you slow down and commit to something to begin with – this is the only way to extract the nutrients, deep essential truths, and embodied wisdom that contribute to your awakening.

So go deep-diving and commit to something all the way through to the end. What paths, practices, and teachings speak to you on a profound level? What has benefited you the most?

Begin to circle around that topic, practice, or path and dedicate your full attention to it. (And if there are a handful of paths, that’s okay too; stick with them, although it’s generally best to keep your focus simple.)

5. Be aware of sharks

You’ll meet many people on your spiritual path (whether online or in the flesh), and while some of these people will genuinely have your best interests in mind, others won’t.

Yes, there are many ‘spiritual sharks’ out there, aka., there are sleazy, snake-oil salesmen and women who are incentivized to use you for personal gain.

There are also some people – typically leaders of spiritual communities or certain gurus – who are totally unaware of their unconscious shadow motivations (but are equally as dangerous). So be discerning.

Learn to trust your intuition and gut instincts . Tap into your inner lone wolf : that primal wisdom you carry inside that drove you to begin this quest to begin with.

Even if you do fall into the jaws of a shark, know that you can get out. Not only that, but you can actually use the experience as a lesson and fuel to grow even stronger.

No one can take away your power from you unless you willingly give it to them. And even if you do, you can get it back.

6. Record what you’ve learned and experienced

We hear a lot of pretty-sounding words and mystical ideas on the spiritual path. But all of them mean little if we don’t actively find ways of absorbing them into our being.

One of the simplest ways of recording what you’ve learned and experienced is simply through the act of journaling .

Have a special journal or diary that you dedicate to writing down your thoughts, experiences, ideas, and discoveries. You don’t need to be a good writer (or even good at spelling/grammar) to do this – forget about that!

What matters is that you have a solid record that you can refer back to throughout your journey. (Learn more about how to journal .)

There are also other ways of recording what you’ve learned and experienced, such as creating pieces of art or composing music.

Find whatever creative outlet suits you the most – that might even include creating a vlog where you go into your daily experience (and you can keep this private or share it with others).

Here are a variety of inner work Journals that we’ve created that might help you get started. »

7. Integrate and embody your spirituality

It’s easy to go spiritual window shopping and jump onto whatever new and exciting bandwagon emerges. But it takes much more strength of character, sincerity, and courage to integrate and embody what you’ve learned actively.

To integrate means to absorb something into your being and to make it a living and breathing part of you.

To embody means to be an expression of what you have learned: to be the change you’re looking for, to infuse your life with the essence of what you’ve discovered.

There are numerous ways to integrate and embody your spirituality, but remember that this is an organic process that takes time. You cannot rush or force spiritual integration or embodiment – it is the natural product of spiritual ripening and maturation.

There are, however, numerous ways to begin the integration and embodiment part of your journey. Some of these inner work and soul work practices include:

• Mindfulness
• Contemplation
• Shadow Work
• Inner child work
• Self-Inquiry

Anything that helps you to slow down, be introspective, and go inwards while encouraging present-moment awareness will help you to integrate and embody what you experience.

Instead of being a magical-sounding idea, you will actively live and express qualities such as lovingkindness, presence, and wisdom. But first, you need to be sincere and dedicated to this path.

In my honest opinion, no spiritual journey is balanced (or healthy) without some level of psychological healing.

We need to focus not just on ascending to the Upper World but also on working with the Middle and Under World . See the following articles for more guidance:

• What is Inner Work? (& Why Most People Are Terrified By it)
• Spiritual Psychology: Why Meditation Isn’t Enough

The Spiritual Journey is a Valley, Not a Mountain

Wisdom tells me I am nothing, love tells me I am everything. Between the two, my life flows. ― Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Contrary to popular depiction, the spiritual journey isn’t like climbing a mountain.

We rarely start at the bottom and climb to the top. Instead, for most of us, the spiritual journey is like hiking through a series of beautiful but perilous range of valleys.

Our spiritual journeys alternate between periods of descending and ascending.

In one period of our lives, we may cultivate our connection with Spirit, while in other parts, we may descend to the Soul to heal core wounds or the middle world to develop self-care .

Finally, it is very possible and also quite common to get hung up in these valleys. Many of us become lost, distracted, and even forget why we were trying to get to the top of the mountain in the first place. (See our article on traps of spiritual growth for more guidance.)

However, with the appropriate guidance, sincerity, and persistence, we can make our way through.

In the end, you’ll find that the spiritual journey is like a mystical marriage between the ego, the Soul, and the Spirit. One cannot exist without the other. The whole experience is a nondual expression of Life living itself.

I truly hope this guide has given you a place to start. This whole website is based on giving free guidance for the spiritual awakening journey, so please feel welcome to poke around and learn some more.

It’s our calling in life to help you with this. And it’s an honor for the two of us to be your supporters on this journey.

To stay connected and get free weekly Soul-centered guidance, you’re welcome to subscribe to our LonerWolf Howl newsletter .

I also recommend checking out our collection of premium resources that can help you tremendously on your spiritual journey. You’ll find everything from books, journals, meditations, and more!

It’s a joy to continue this journey with you as guides and companions!

If you need more help, we offer 3 powerful ways to guide you on your inner journey:

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Bible Verses About Journey

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1 Kings 19:4

Deuteronomy 10:11, exodus 3:18, exodus 40:36, genesis 29:1, jeremiah 29:11.

Proverbs 22:6

Psalms 23:4

Psalms 91:11

Psalms 119:105.

Psalms 146:9

Romans 15:24, numbers 9:13, proverbs 3:5-6.

Judges 18:5-6

Genesis 12:1-2.

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God Goes with You in New Beginnings - The Crosswalk Devotional - August 25

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God Goes with You in New Beginnings By Whitney Hopler 

“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’” – Deuteronomy 31:7-8 , NIV 

September is a month of new beginnings. As summer fades into fall, many of us are considering taking on new projects and responsibilities at work, church, or community organizations. These transitions can bring a mix of excitement and apprehension, as we think about the important work God is leading us to start doing. 

In Deuteronomy 31:7-8 , an older leader – Moses – addresses a younger leader – Joshua – in front of all Israel. Joshua is about to take on the monumental task of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Moses encourages Joshua that God goes with him as he sets out to do what God is leading him to do. 

Just as Joshua faced the challenging task of leading a nation into uncharted territory, you too might be stepping into something new and unknown right now. Whether you’re starting a new job or new project at work, beginning a new volunteer role, or moving forward with another kind of new opportunity, uncertainty about the future can be stressful. However, the Bible’s assurance that God goes before you can bring you the encouragement you need. God is not only aware of your future, but he is actively involved in orchestrating every detail of it. God’s presence is not limited by time or space. God is already in your tomorrow, preparing the way and setting the stage for your success. By the time you get there, God will still be there, and   God will be with you every step of the way as you do your new work.

When you remember that God goes before you and with you, it relieves your stress and gives you courage. Your journey may have unexpected twists and turns, but none of them catch God by surprise. God has already mapped out your path and equipped you with everything you need to navigate it well. 

Moses’ encouragement to Joshua to “be strong and courageous” is a powerful reminder that your strength and courage come from your trust in God.   You don’t need to worry about having what you need yourself. All you have to do is simply trust God. If you just trust God, you can be both strong and courageous. Joshua was stepping into Moses’ important yet challenging role, leading people to a vital destination while enduring complaints and rebellion. The task ahead was formidable. But Moses reminded Joshua that his confidence should be in the fact that God was going with them. 

In your own life, you may face situations that seem beyond your capability. You might feel inadequate, unprepared, or afraid of failure. Yet, it’s precisely in those moments that God calls you to trust him more deeply. Your strength comes from recognizing that God is with you, empowering you to fulfill good purposes. Since God is with you, you can do whatever God is leading you to do – even if you feel afraid. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to move forward in faith despite fear, trusting that God will provide what you need every step of the way. 

As you step out in faith, remember that you are part of a larger story. The new beginnings you face are part of God’s larger plan for your life. Your journey may include some challenges, but God’s faithfulness ensures that   God’s purposes for you will prevail . God is with you with every step you take – guiding, protecting, and providing for you. 

When Joshua finally led the Israelites into the Promised Land, it was because of God’s powerful presence along the way. The new work you’re starting can also be successful when you trust God while you work. As you step out in faith, be encouraged that God is with you and will never leave nor forsake you. God’s presence is your strength, his promises are your hope, and his faithfulness is your assurance. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how God goes with you as you step out in faith to do what God is leading you to do, reflect on these questions: 

• What new beginnings are you facing right now?
• How can you remind yourself daily that God goes before you in your new journey?
• In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more deeply for courage and strength? 

Further Reading: Joshua 1:9 Isaiah 41:10 Matthew 28:20 Psalm 32:8 Proverbs 3:5-6

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Hydromet 

Check out fantastic resources on Faith , Family , and Fun at Crosswalk.com ! 

Related Resource: Bold Prayers: Asking God to Reveal the Roots of Our Anxiety

Sometimes, anxiety can hit without any recognizable provocation, or our anxiety can feel more intense than the situation warrants. When we find ourselves in that place, we can pray the prayer ancient Israel's second king, David, prayed at the end of Psalm 139, trusting that our God will and is leading us to increased freedom. Listen in to this episode of Faith Over Fear and have your mind and heart fixed on the truth you need for your day! If you like this episode, be sure to subscribe on   Apple or   Spotify so you never miss an episode!

The Crosswalk Devotional Archive

• Fighting Spiritual Strongholds - The Crosswalk Devotional - September 7 Sep 07, 2024
• God’s Comfort in His Songs - The Crosswalk Devotional - September 6 Sep 06, 2024
• What to Remember When Your Life Feels Small - The Crosswalk Devotional - September 5 Sep 05, 2024
• Finding the Bread of Life - The Crosswalk Devotional - September 4 Sep 04, 2024

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Beginning Your Journey With Jesus

I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was 12 years old and was attending a Christian youth camp in the small Scottish village of Aboyne. Coming from a strong Christian home, I knew about Jesus Christ but had never personally placed my faith in Him.

During that week of camp, I became convinced this was the time for me to trust in Christ. I believed that He died for my sins on the cross, was buried and, as the Son of God, rose on the third day. Acknowledging I needed my sins to be forgiven, I prayed and called on the Lord Jesus to save me. And He did!

One of the leaders of the camp spoke to me after I made that most important decision.  He read the words of Jesus: “I give my sheep eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:28-30).

What had happened? I had received the gift of eternal life . The theme chorus at camp that week was: “Things are different now; something happened to me when I gave my heart to Jesus. Things I loved before have passed away. Things I love far more have come to stay.”

I realized things would never be the same again. I had not simply said a prayer or had an emotional experience—something radical had happened. There was much I did not understand, but I did know that I was different. I had begun to follow Jesus and what an incredible adventure of faith it has been.

Here are a few basic things to know and to do once you begin to follow Jesus.

Things to Know

Know that your sins have all been forgiven. The Apostle Paul writes, “In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). All of your failures and sins are now forgiven. You have a totally new life. This transformation is so radical that it is described in the Bible as “being born again.” Just as you received physical life when you were physically born, so also you received spiritual life when you were spiritually born (John 3:1-16). God through His Spirit comes to indwell you. You are now a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus Christ now lives in you (Galatians 2:20).

The indwelling Spirit gives you new desires and appetites. Instead of wanting to live your own life, you want to live a life that pleases God and brings blessing to others. God created you for a purpose. By following Jesus, you will begin to fulfill God’s plan and purposes for your life. What an exciting way to live!

When I was in my last year of high school in Scotland, I felt that God was leading me into a legal career. My parents were rather skeptical, but it became clear that this is what God wanted me to do. So I went to Edinburgh University to study law. After graduating, I worked for a Christian attorney who taught me that whether I was drafting a will or presenting a case in court, everything I did was to be an act of worship to God. That transformed how I lived my life. After 11 years practicing law, God called me into full-time ministry. The important thing for every follower of Jesus to know is that you are to live each day by faith, trusting Jesus to lead you and use you in making a difference for the Kingdom of God. Your priorities should shift toward focusing on spiritual truths and eternal realities.

Things to Do

Praying to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord is only the beginning. Now your relationship with Jesus Christ has to grow and deepen. How is that going to happen?

Every day read the Bible, which is the Word of God. It is the only Book God has written. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

If you don’t have a Bible, buy one. If you are not familiar with the Bible, begin by reading the Gospel of John. It’s about the life of Jesus, and it will help you deepen your faith in Christ. Then read one of Paul’s letters, such as Philippians or Colossians. Next, you may wish to read some of the Psalms, which have been a blessing to the people of God for more than 3,000 years. Don’t be discouraged if you read something you don’t understand. Keep reading and ask God to help you apply what you read to your own life.

In addition to reading the Bible every day, begin praying to God. God speaks to us through the Bible, while we speak to Him through prayer. You don’t need to make a speech to your heavenly Father, but rather simply thank Him for your salvation and ask Him for wisdom, strength and guidance. When you sin, ask God to forgive you (1 John 1:9). Don’t only pray for yourself, but pray for others. In this way, your walk with Jesus will be strengthened.

Jesus taught that those who receive Him were given the right “to become children of God” (John 1:12). You are now part of the family of God and will have the joy of meeting your brothers and sisters in Christ. The church is a group of people who are also following Jesus. Like you they are not perfect, but the vast majority of them are trying to live authentic, Christ-centered lives. Choose a church where the Bible is believed, preached and taught and where you can praise God for who He is and for all He has done. Your new brothers and sisters in Christ will encourage you, pray for you, answer your questions and be there for you.

For my last two years of high school, I attended a school in Scotland where there were few other Christ followers. I bought a little badge that said Jesus Saves, and I wore it on my school blazer. It was my way of letting people know I was following Jesus Christ and giving me an opportunity to talk about my faith. You will be surprised how many people will be interested in your spiritual journey. I am not suggesting you wear a badge, but it is important that you tell others of the decision you have made to follow Jesus Christ.

All of us stumble and falter from time to time. Don’t let that discourage you. If you follow these basic steps and understand some of these truths you will “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). ©2013 John Munro

Dr. John Munro is senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, N.C. He is also the new Bible teacher for Back to the Bible. Munro will lead a seminar at The Cove Sept. 12-14 on “Life in the Spirit.”

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version.

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Begin Your Journey with God

It almost sounds like some kind of advertising slogan, but this little play on words really says it: “God will make a way” begins with God. It’s not your belief that makes a way; it’s God who makes a way. Your faith is the vital step you take to connect with God, the way-maker. But without God, all the faith you can possibly muster won’t get you anywhere. So our first principle for finding God’s way is to begin your journey with God. The story of Abraham in the Bible is a good example. When God called him to leave his homeland, Abraham had no idea where he was headed. But he believed God knew where he was headed, so he packed up and left. He did not believe in belief; he believed in a God who knew exactly where Abraham was going and who was able to lead him there. So when we talk about faith, trust, and belief to carry you through your trials and troubles, we mean it in a very specific way. We’re not talking about warm religious feelings or an exercise in positive thinking. Faith is grounded in a relationship with God, a real Person who knows the way for you and promises to lead you on it.

We Are Designed for Dependence

Some people argue that relying on God is a weakness, that God is a crutch for those who can’t make it on their own. The fact that you need God so desperately in your life is not a weakness any more than your need for air or for food is a weakness. God created us to reach outside ourselves to find the things we need. We were designed for dependence on Him. The term “self-made person” is a huge oxymoron. No one is self-made. The psalmist writes,

It is [God] who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. — Psalm 100:3

We did not create ourselves to begin with, nor were we designed to find our own way in life. Rather, God wired us to depend on Him. When you exercise faith in Him, you are doing the one thing you can do to accomplish superhuman feats: You are reaching beyond your own human strength and knowledge and tapping into God’s infinite strength and knowledge.

God Provides What You need

What do you do in a difficult or painful situation when you don’t know what to do? The sad truth is that many people do one of two things. First, they repeat what didn’t work before. They try harder to make a relationship work, to succeed in a career, or to overcome a difficult personal problem, pattern, or habit. Chronic dieters, for example, convince themselves that “this time it will work.” The victim in an abusive relationship reconciles after another fight or separation, thinking this time the partner will change.

This approach reflects a popular definition of insanity: Doing the same thing again, but expecting different results. If you have done everything you know to do without success, trying again with your own limited knowledge and strength is not the answer. The second common response to a hopeless situation is to stop trying all together. These people just give up, believing the relationship will never work, they will never lose weight, they will never get over their depression, etc. Trying to get through life on your own limited strength, knowledge, and resources leads to futility and a loss of hope.

But in God’s economy, getting to the end of yourself is the beginning of hope. As Jesus said,

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him. — Matthew 5:3 NLT

When you realize that you are poor and helpless without God, you are ready to ask Him for help. And the moment you ask God for help, you transcend your own limitations in finding your way, and God’s resources are available to you.

No matter what limitation or circumstance you are struggling against, God can empower and equip you to go beyond what you thought possible. He can get you through a painful or tragic event, help you deal with a difficult relationship, and even make a long-held dream come true. Whatever it is, God will make a way for you, perhaps in very unexpected ways. And He does His best work when you are at the end of yourself — and you admit it.

Our “Yes” Is All God Needs

How does this miracle happen? What must we do to get past our own abilities and tap into the power, wisdom, and resources of God Himself? It seems too good to be true. Is it only for really special, really good, or really unique people? The Bible promises — and millions of people have discovered — that God’s power and resources are equally available to everyone. They cannot be earned; they can only be received as a gift when we, in humility, acknowledge our need of our Creator. Throughout the Bible, God says repeatedly, “Come to me and I will provide what you need.”

He’s ready to get totally involved in your life. All you have to do is say yes to Him. When you do, He will provide what you need to find the way. Once on your journey with God, however, sometimes His way will be truly miraculous and sometimes it will involve a lot of work, growth, and change on your part. Sometimes it won’t be the way you thought you needed, but a different and even better one. But when God makes a way, it is real, meaningful, and enduring.

Excerpted with permission from What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do by Henry Cloud and John Townsend, copyright Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Where do you turn? What’s the answer when you don’t know what God is doing or where He is leading? Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend say the beginning of that journey is with God. Come share with us on our blog. We want to hear from you about staying with God when we have no idea what to do!

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11 Bible Verses about Our Journey With God

Hebrews 11:6 esv / 3 helpful votes helpful not helpful.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Romans 5:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Acts 3:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Revelation 3:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 1:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 3:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

Luke 10:25-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ...

Numbers 13:1-33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the Lord , all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel. And these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur; from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori; ...

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Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles , a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.

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"god is talking to me".

August 31, 2024

Bible Readings

Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.

I Samuel 3:1-10

Memory Verse

I Samuel 3:10

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening. (CEV)

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Sebastian was excited to visit his friend’s church with his family. The songs were not too familiar to him, but he enjoyed some of the instruments he heard. The offering plates went by, and Sebastian got excited because that meant the children's message was next, and then he could go to the children's church. But then the plates passed by, and the pastor got up and began the sermon. Did the pastor forget? Sebastian sat there, confused about what was happening.

Perhaps you haven’t understood how things happen during a church service either. Maybe it was something you’d never seen before, or maybe going to church is new for you. It’s okay to have questions. The good news is that God’s happy when we all come together and worship him, whether we’ve been to that church a hundred times or are new for the first time.

While we might not hear from God just like Samuel did in the temple, picture a worship service as a conversation between God and his people:

God starts the worship service and says, "I'm glad to see you! It's been a long week. Come in and let’s talk."

The worshipers say, "Thank you for being with me through the week. You encourage me every day. I'm so thankful that you are so big and strong! I love you. Sorry for the times I hurt you."

When we read Scripture together, God says, "I forgive you. I have written down some things I want to tell you."

The worshipers say, "Thanks! Hearing from you helps me understand what is happening."

When worshipers eat the bread and drink from the cup, God says, "Here is some food for your journey."

Worshipers respond by saying, "Thanks! You have given me so much already. What can I do in return?"

God sends us out to the world, saying, "Use my gifts. Go with my blessing!"

Worshipers praise God, saying, "Thanks! You're awesome."

The next time you sit in church, ask yourself, “Who is talking right now—God or me?” Tell God what you need, and listen to what he says to you.

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Philip Vander Windt

Philip VanderWindt is the pastor at Champlain Valley Christian Reformed Church. In his free time he enjoys building “tall-tall towers” with his kids, analyzing worldviews of films and music with his wife, photographing the beauty of God’s creation, dabbling in leathercraft and woodwork, and writing.

more posts by Philip Vander Windt »

Your Journey With God Sample

Life’s Faith Journey

Have you ever met someone who you thought had great faith? You might think, “Wow, I wish I could be like them!” Well, you can be. And you will get there the same way they did: one step at a time . Everyone wrestles with living by faith at some point, but 1 Thessalonians 5:24 reminds us that it’s not about us - it’s about God. He is faithful and able to do what He has promised. Pastor Crawford Loritts gives us some great insight into the faith journey of Abraham*, a leader from the Old Testament.

Think of people you know with great faith and ask them to share a verse or two that helps them stay focused on God’s promises. Then read Hebrews 10:22-24. Take a moment to commit verse 23 to memory. The next time you are struggling to believe God and walk by faith, you’ll be able to recall it!

For more information about Making Your Life Count , visit MakingYourLifeCount.org/youversion

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Hebrews 10:22-24

About this Plan

Every journey has a starting point that leads toward a desired destination. Your WALK with God is the same. You learn about the role of faith, God’s grace, deepening your relationship with Him, setting aside worry and more. In this 5-day audio plan, you will hear ideas on how to be responsive to what God wants you to focus on and do.

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Finding my Voice: My Journey as a Writer

September 6, 2024, nicole tacconi.

I never viewed myself as a writer. In fact, I remember I was quite opposed to the idea growing up. At the age of 6, I gave myself a headstart by struggling to read. In elementary school, the pattern continued as English was consistently my worst subject. Grammar and spelling never quite clicked in my brain—the latter of the two still has not improved with time (thank god for spell check). Thus, in middle school, I finally waved the white flag. I remember thinking to myself, “I’m good at many things, and I acknowledge that writing will never be on that list.” I never once thought I was good at writing, or had any interest in writing for myself.

I believe part of this misconception about writing came with its elusive nature. Growing up, it frustrated me that there was never a formula to follow. Unlike the math problems I could easily solve, writing left me uneasy on how to approach it, and even worse, how do you know when a piece is done? How do you know if it's good?

I didn’t like these aspects of writing for a long time. The only writing I did throughout my life was in a journal. I’m not sure what drew me to it, but initially I journaled to process things around me and to remember my life. Either way, I’ve been doing it consistently for the past seven years.

When I got to Princeton, my conception of writing didn’t change immediately. I took the infamous freshman writing seminar and felt further convinced that writing was not for me—academic writing at least. Slowly though, my journal evolved. Here and there I would write an entry that sounded pretty enough to share out loud with my sister. Looking back, I think my journaling slowly morphed into a sort of expressive art form. I was journaling to process my emotions, but also to portray my life in a poetic way. 

Even as I grew to love journaling, I did not formalize my love for writing until I found myself here, blogging for Princeton’s Admission Office. This job has helped me formalize my journal-like rants into completed pieces that I can share. And through these blogs, I realized a new inkling for that elusive yet expressive process we call creative writing. 

All of this is to say that being fluent in an art form doesn’t come naturally for everyone. For me, I believe years of journaling evolved a weakness of mine into a strength. It has been an unexpected turn of events to say the least. I don’t know if I’ve earned myself the title of a writer, but I can admit that I now view myself as one. 

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Did Lala Share Audio of Her Baby's First Cries From the Moment She Was Born? "Oh My God"

It appears  Vanderpump Rules' Lala Kent captured the first sounds from her second daughter on audio during her birth earlier this week.

Lala Kent is finally a mother of two after giving birth to her second baby  on September 3. The  Vanderpump Rules   cast member took to her Instagram Story a day later, on September 4, where she shared the big news with her followers as well as what appeared to be audio from the moment her daughter was born.

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You see, Lala chose to not show the newborn baby's face, but instead, it looks like she posted the first sounds from the baby's birth. The  Give Them Lala  podcast host posted a simple black background with white script font written on top with just one simple sentence: "Welcome into the world, my love." Lala also added the baby's birth date in the corner, "9.3.24."

It seems Lala also captured a bit of the audio from the birth. In the Instagram Story, someone can be heard in the background leading the mom through the birth saying: "Times two, reduce, perfect," before delivering the baby. Several people can be heard saying "Oh my God" before the baby erupts into her first cry. The mom can also be heard sobbing, along with other people in the room.

Lala posts text to her Instagram Story welcoming her new baby.

Lala Kent explains her birth plan with baby number two

It's just a little unclear who was in the delivery room with her, but Lala told  The Bump   in early August that she wanted as many loved ones there with her as possible. Especially since she didn't get that opportunity when she gave birth  the first time to her oldest daughter, Ocean Kent Emmett , in March 2021.

"I plan on having a party in the delivery room," she said. "During Ocean's birth, we were limited due to the pandemic. This time, I'd love to have more visitors. If I could take my exact birth with Ocean and just redo it with this baby, it was flawless."

What everyone’s talking about on Bravo:

Lala Kent Gives Birth to Baby Number 2: "Welcome Into the World"

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Lala also revealed that the first  VPR  cast member she would be introducing to her baby: her BFF, Scheana Shay . "She was the first person I told in person," she explained. "She knew what day I was being inseminated. She's been there through all the ups and downs of this pregnancy. So yeah, she'll be the one that I call where I'm like, 'I'm on the way.'"

Inside Lala Kent's journey to having a second child

Lala kent is already considering another pregnancy: "yes, give me a third".

In VPR  Season 11, cameras documented Lala's decision to get pregnant on her "own." The mom of two decided to use intrauterine insemination (IUI) to conceive baby number two, using the help of a sperm donor, which Lala hand-picked (alongside her friends and cast members) during  VPR  Season 11 Episode 12.

"This is not how I pictured my life," she said during the episode. "I'm just beyond grateful that this is an option. If there's one thing that I feel like I'm good at in my life, [it's] that I'm a good mama."

You can hear more from Lala about her journey in the VPR After Show moment from earlier this year by pressing play on the video above.

Bravo Fan Fest and WWHL in Miami Tickets Are Selling Out — Get Yours Now!

Bravoholics are invited to take a trip to Miami for a party unlike any other!  Bravo Fan Fest hits Miami  on Saturday, November 23 for a one-day event featuring panels, activations, photo opps, and over 25 Bravolebs. Tickets are now on sale at  www.BravoFanFest.com .

Plus, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen is filming five shows from Miami on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22, so now's your chance to make your Clubhouse debut. Buy tickets for WWHL in Miami now .

• Scheana Shay

Vanderpump Rules

• Kids And Families
• Pregnancy And Fertility
• Ocean Kent Emmett

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The Starting Point: One Kupu member's journey to help save Guam's fadang

Mabuhay and Håfa Adai ! My name is Joshua Artuz, and I’m proud to say that I’m the first Kupu member at the Guam National Wildlife Refuge. Currently, I’m a student at the University of Guam, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Tropical Agriculture Production with a minor in Farm & Natural Resource Management.  

I am currently a Kupu member in a one-year program focused on the Cycas micronesica project . The fadang ( Cycas micronesica ) was once an abundant native tree in Guam’s forests and remains a culturally significant species to the people of Guam. However, due to the introduction of the cycad aulacaspis scale (CAS) in 2007, the once plentiful fadang population has declined and become federally-listed as a threatened species. Today, the fadang population faces many threats, including the non-native cycad blue butterfly ( Chilades pandava ), non-native cycad leafminer ( Erechthias  sp.), a native stem borer ( Dihammus marianarum ), ungulates (such as wild pigs), typhoons, and especially cycad scale (CAS), which significantly impacts the tree's health. 

This internship is an essential part of a broader research initiative to identify natural predators of CAS and to study changes over time in fadang , CAS, and their predators across Guam and Rota. I will conduct fadang health assessment surveys and CAS monitoring for this project.  Specifically, I will tag and measure 2,000 Fadang trees, document CAS infestation levels, and monitor fadang juvenile and seedling growth.  The systematic data collection on CAS infestation and predator populations will aid in developing effective conservation strategies to protect this species from further decline, thereby supporting the ecological balance of Guam's forests. 

This work is vital to the recovery of Guam’s fadang population. The project results will contribute data that will inform U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service management actions at the Guam National Wildlife Refuge. The findings from this research will also be shared with a collaborative working group across the region to save fadang populations. I am truly happy to continue working at the Guam National Wildlife Refuge with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Kupu Conservation Leadership Development Program. 

If you're interested in similar experiences, you can apply now for full-time positions with the Kupu Conservation Leadership Program at the Guam National Wildlife Refuge. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 to 29. Full-time year-long positions are available in Visitor Services (Community Outreach & Education) and Invasive Species. 

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