Bible Archives - Kristi Woods

Stand Strong This Year Praying Psalms + A New Podcast!

January 21, 2020 by Kristi 4 Comments

Have you ever prayed Psalms?

The combination of prayer and this beautiful book of the Bible creates a powerful resource to face those tumultuous trials we battle. It’s also helpful when we search but can’t find the words to pray, feel overwhelmed by discouragement, or face a chest-tightening battle with fear.

Pray Psalms during your faith journey this year, my friend. Keep eyes on Jesus and stand strong with a new Christian podcast too! (There’s more about it later in the post.) Both are ready-tools for the hungry Christian. Let’s go!

How Do You Use Psalms in Prayer?

The book of Psalms contains 150 chapters. Each of these 150 created a melody for life. Call them champions of poetic assurance and encouragement for generations–including folks like you and me.

Some are written as prayers or grab a verse or passage and offer them as well. Speak them “as is.” Insert your name or the names of others. Offer them silently or out loud. It’s easy to use Psalms in prayer in a multitude of ways.

Below are three useful verses for a solid start.

Psalm 3:7
Psalm 5:1-3
Psalm 17:1-3

Praying the Psalms PDF

We’re diving into Psalms for 30 days this year. Read it, pray it, find your praise. It’s all there…in Psalms. Find the free reading calendar pdf in the Subscriber Library or find out more about this challenge here. As you read along, pray the Psalms, too.

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Psalm Prayer for Help

The Book of Psalms is littered with prayers for help. Several of the earlier-listed passages display this. Here are a few others to grab in times of need.

Psalm 16:1
Psalm 19:12-13
Psalm 19:14 (This is one of my favorites. I pray it before every speaking event.)

Praying the Psalms for Spiritual Warfare

Where do we run when times get tough? Our Strong Tower, the Lord, is safe. His presence remains the best place to be. Read the chapters below to find prayers you’ll be able to use when times of spiritual warfare hit to stay right where He is.

Psalm 20
Psalm 21:8
Psalm 22:24

Related Posts You Might Dig

A Psalms Prayer for Strength

When we’re discouraged, we need strength. Fear? There, too. Weary? Yep. Grab these Pslams and pray them for strength during life’s tough or tiresome days. God hears. And don’t be afraid to repeat the prayers. That’s okay.

Psalm 23
Psalm 25 (This is another favorite of mine.)
Psalm 27

New Christian Podcast

There’s a new, not-to-miss Christian podcast on the airwaves, friends. It’s for you and me–and all about the power of being intentional.

Being intentional with Our Bible is one of the topics covered in a new podcast called Intentionally Living with Kristi Woods. Together, iBelieve.com and I have created this podcast for believers and even non-believers who are ready to live life intentionally with God. It’s a new year? Why not?

Five of the six titles in the series are available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and online at Life Audio. Here a quick look:

Being Intentional with Our Bible
Being Intentional in Our Churches
Being Intentional in Our Relationships
Being Intentional in Prayer
Being Intentional with Our Words

Whether you’re washing dishes, working out, folding laundry, or driving from place to place, take this podcast with you. And guess what? It’s even available on your desktop. Click here for more.

Praying and Psalms

However you approach the Bible and life, my friend, stand strong this year through prayer and Psalms. Look for a helpful and related post on praise and Psalms coming soon, too. It’s going to be a good, good year. Take courage!

Ready to Take this 30-Day Bible Reading Challenge?

January 7, 2020 by Kristi 10 Comments

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Have you ever considered joining a Bible reading challenge? It’s the new year and many of us are focused with fresh eyes on the Bible. Now’s the time. God and His Word impact us in life-changing ways.

Keep reading for more of my life-changing encounter one night with God’s Word.

Thirty Day Bible Challenge

How about reading the Bible daily for thirty days? Can you imagine how immersing ourselves in God-inspired words will impact our faith? How it’ll deepen our intimacy with the Lord? How we’ll find encouragement and strength for those battles we’re facing–or the ones yet to come?

Reading God’s Word is important however we approach it. As Christians, we’re unwise to rely on others when it comes to knowledge of what’s in the Bible. Think of what we’re missing when we don’t know first-hand. But there’s time now to dig in. Experience a one-on-one encounter with the living God while scouring the pages of the Holy Bible.

We don’t have to read it in its entirety in thirty days or even a year. Simply set focus on one book or subject matter. I’ve often “found my way” into a Bible word study this way. And approaching the Bible simply seems more manageable.

Here’s a challenge to help build our faith as we start the new year. Just 30 days. That’s all. We can do it, right?

Oh, and remember my life-changing experience with the Bible? That story’s coming. Keep reading!

Read here about how praying Psalms can change a person. Click To Tweet

Simple Bible Reading Plan

It’s a simple Bible reading plan–a challenge called “30 Days in Psalms.” Dare we soak in the words of David and other authors for an entire month? How will the Lord speak to us during these days? How will He address those battles with fear, discouragement, or pain? How will we worship and praise? Consider the possibilities!

C’mon. Let’s take the challenge, allowing God to speak to us.

Bible Study Plans

A variety of study plans and reading schedules await us. Scripture often includes them, like the Fresh Start Bible I reviewed a few weeks ago. Below are other options available if you’d like to continue past our 30-day Bible reading challenge.

Why Psalms?

At first, I had difficulty understanding Psalms. I didn’t like to read it. But that changed one evening.

When we lived in Virginia Beach nearly twenty years ago, I began praying Psalms one night. Tony was gone–probably had duty on the ship. (Oh, how I DON’T miss those Navy duty days.) But I can still see the glow of the lamp bouncing off the cream-colored apartment walls.

Somewhere during those prayers, among the words of Psalms, the Lord swooped in and opened wide a new understanding of His love. Words really don’t do justice to this less-than-two-minute encounter. He pulled back a curtain and immersed me in His love.

You could have stood my worst enemy in front of me and I would have had nothing but love for them. I would have thought the best of and desired all things good for them. There was no animosity, no hatred. Not even a little twitch of discomfort, resentment, or bitterness. It was pure, holy love–unlike anything humans can muster. It was God.

And it was awesome. I look forward to heaven. I believe we’ll experience this awesomeness there. After all, it is the dwelling place of God–and God IS love, according to the Bible.

30-Day Bible Challenge PDF

I don’t know if we’ll have that same experience with this 30-Day Bible Challenge, but we’ll have a personal encounter with God that’s exactly what He has planned. If you’d like to join me and start the year in the beautiful books of Psalms, c’mon! We’ll dive into just 30 chapters. That’s one per day, enjoying His presence in each one. Simple yet powerful.

But don’t forget to grab your copy of “30 Days in Psalms” for this Bible Challenge. Find the free, downloadable pdf in the Subscriber Library. Read these Psalms. Pray them. Study and linger, too. God has something good in store.

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Enjoy the 30-day Bible reading challenge, this time in Psalms. Happy reading, friend!

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Other Christian Resources

“Taste and see” comes from Psalms. Read more about this verse and its meaning in ‘What Does ‘Taste and See that the Lord is Good‘ Mean? at Crosswalk.com.

A Christian Top 10 of the Year

December 30, 2019 by Kristi 4 Comments

We’re nearing the end of the year; do you make a list of your top 10 for the year? Here’s one–with podcasts, musicians, Bibles, books, posts, and more–compiled for Christians like you and me.

Sorry, but there’s nothing scientific about this post–mostly. A few of the top items made the list because you have read the posts, clicked the pins, or something similar. They’re your favorites. Those are scientific–or at least based on numbers. Others made the list simply because they’re loved. 🙂 Either way, I hope you find something new, encouraging, and faith-building. Comment with some of your favorites as well. After all, sharing is caring. 🙂

1. 2019’s Most Popular Post

Folks love this one. I have to admit, I do too because there’s such a wealth of maturity, focus, and desire combined in the podcasts in this blog post: Top Christian Podcasts to Encourage You.

2. Favorite Outreach this Year

In the past, children in India have received books about Jesus from us. We’ve sent hurricane goods to Puerto Rico. I’m sure you’ve served in many other ways, too, and have a favorite service organization or outreach this year.

Many organizations and people await, but this year’s favorite award goes to Finally Family Homes. This group helps fund housing for foster children who are aging out of the system. It offers a safe place for them to launch into adulthood–not into homelessness or the sex trade which are both far too common. Its ministry is laser-focused on the orphans God so dearly loves. And we can be part of that.

3. Top 10 of the Year: Podcast

How about a tie?

This specific podcast episode encourages Christian writers and possibly others as well. Recorded earlier but found in 2019, it features John Bevere on The Thrive Time Show.

A testimony-based podcast that I’ve grown to love is the By His Grace podcast with host Misty Phillips. When I drive nearly 2 hours to Oklahoma City for Christian fiction writer meetings, I listen to this podcast. So many stories. Such beautiful encouragement.

***Stay tuned for my podcast on iBelieve.com. Coming in 2020.***

4. Top Christian Non-Fiction Book

Seated with Christ blew me away. It’s one of those books that will sit on my shelf for years to come. I’ve already purchased and given away several copies. Have you grabbed your copy yet? (Yes, it’s that good!)

413437: Seated with Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparision

Seated with Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparision
By Heather Holleman

Many of us live half alive. We compare, compete, self-analyze, and self-promote in our endless, busy pursuit of perfection. Seated with Christ heralds a new kind of living. If it’s true what Scripture says, the we are treasured by God and given a place at his table, then all we need to do is to take our seats. Heather Holleman shows us how. Take your seat and live–simply, freely, fully–because of Jesus, for Jesus, and in the love of Jesus. Quit trying: be free.

5. Top Christian Novel of the Year

Soooo…there might be another tie for my favorite Christian novel of 2019. You won’t find any church potlucks in these two, but what you will find is a closer look at relationships through storytelling.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan, a historical fiction piece about the wife of C.S. Lewis, mesmerized me. It contains some tough subject-matter and a rough word or two, but this author kept me reading like a parched soul sucks down a tall glass of cold water on a humid, sun-scorched, hundred-degree day.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis
By Patti Callahan

Call Charles Martin a prolific writer and an award-winner. For good reason, goodness! He submerges deep into relationships and social topics–all while weaving the beautiful thread of Christ’s love and redemption within stories. It’s amazing, really. Deep with description, reading past the first chapter sometimes requires extra gumption, but carry on. You’ll be glad you did!

Long Way Gone is my all-time favorite (so far) novel of Charles Martin’s. And it makes our list for the top 10 of the year.

Long Way Gone
By Charles Martin

Announcing the Faith Library - light green with gold

6. Top Christian Musician/Group

It’s Lauren Daigle and for King and Country for the tie. (I just couldn’t choose. Really.) Both albums were published in 2018, but gained popularity in 2019.

Tony and I swayed, clapped, and jumped around at a for King and Country concert last year, and the creativity BLEW ME AWAY! Well worth the time.

Burn the Ships
By For King & Country

We missed Lauren Daigle’s concert this year due to Caleb’s football game, but her music…pure worship. How about you? Who’s your top Christian musician?

Look Up, Child
By Lauren Daigle

7. Favorite Bible of 2019

Two Bible reviews hit the blog this year. Which one was my favorite Bible? I’m choosing the Fresh Start Bible. It included extras that most other Bibles don’t have, and was exceptionally functional for both new and seasoned Christians.

8. Top 10 of the Year: Pin

Being a visual girl, I love Pinterest. So do other folks. And the top pin (one that folks clicked through to the blog) at KristiWoods.net this year is this one for 5 Ways to Grow Your Faith Today.

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9. Top Message for the Year

When God delivers a message straight to your heart…goodness! 2019’s was strong. It came on the heels of the message “believe” which resulted in these two Bible studies. 2019’s message centered on perseverance. When God births a desire in us, when we run the race so beautifully, but then we grow weary due to opposition…then what?

A friend named Robin (check out her fiction works) encouraged me with Nehemiah 6:9. She felt impressed by God to share it. I soaked up every bit.

"Strengthen these hands, Lord." Joining me in praying Neh. 6:9 this new year. Listen to the message at #9 in the link, too. 🙂 Click To Tweet

Will you ask that of Him today, too, that He’ll strengthen your hands for the ministry journey ahead–however that might look? Scroll to the video at the bottom of this page to soak up the encouragement I shared with others. The Holy Spirit felt incredibly strong in and through me this night. And it all started with Robin sharing Neh. 6:9 at the breakfast table at a fiction writer’s retreat. Praise God! Enjoy the message, a definite top 10 for the year.

10. Favorite Scripture of the Year and Beyond

“I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 WEB)

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of a Christian’s Top 10 of the year. Subscribers, don’t forget to stop by the Subscriber Library to gather your free faith-building downloads. Use these tools generously in your faith journey. Run the race well this year! (Not a subscriber, join us here.)

Happy New Year, friend!