Page 78 – Guideposts Articles

5 Bible Verses for Gazing at the Moon

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 50 years since Apollo 11 landed and the world watched in wonder as Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. Reflecting on these Scriptures can remind us of the awe of God’s lunar creation.

1) “And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; He made the stars also.” (Genesis 1:16)

Sunlight is constant but moonlight changes with the days. When a cloud covers the sun, we can still know the sun’s illumination. We can see by it. But when the moon shrinks from the sky, it is gone. Indeed a lesser light.

2) “Like the moon it shall be established for ever; it shall stand firm while the skies endure.” (Psalm 89:37)

The moon here is a metaphor for something that is everlasting. What is especially lovely about our moon is that it is permanent and yet changing. When I look to the sky and see a new sliver of a moon on a cloudless night, I’m thrilled by the discovery. As though I were seeing it for the first time.

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3) “Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord binds up the hurt of His people, and heals the wounds inflicted by His blow.”(Isaiah 30:26)

These are the words of a prophet and no prophecy is complete without acknowledging the daily power of what we see in the sky.

4) “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations…”(Luke 21:25)

Jesus, too, made His prophecies, warning His followers of the troubles to come, trying to tell them about His own horrible death and the destruction of Jerusalem. Such things are never easy to hear. And yet we are always to look to the heaven for signs. Perhaps the mere act of looking up is the key sign of our willingness to trust what we can never fully know.

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5) “When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established; what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him?” (Psalm 8:3)

In the end, gazing at the moon can only remind us of the magnificent smallness of humanity and the overwhelming magnificence of God. And to marvel how we are prized by the divine.

5 Bible Verses for Difficult Days

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Michelle Cox

Have you ever had a week where it seemed like every time you turned around someone you love was hurting? My email and Facebook page have been filled with requests for prayer. Most of them have been for huge, life-changing situations, from serious and sometimes life-threatening illness to wrecked relationships.

Frankly, I have felt overwhelmed, helpless to do anything but say, “I love you, I’m praying for you, and I’m here if I can help in any way.”

I suspect we’ve all faced times like this. Or times when we’re the ones going through the fire. So I thought this would be a good time to share some of God’s sweet promises that we can cling to during difficult days:

1) “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2) “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18)

3) “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

4) “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:7-8)

5) “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:9-10)

I’m so grateful that His grace is sufficient. I’m thankful that I can look back at the hard times that I’ve encountered in my life and tell you that He’s a faithful God. I’m blessed that I can say that He’s never once failed me. Not once.

And even though I’d like to think that I’m His favorite child, I know that you are just as loved and that He’ll do the same for you.

Tried and proven.

5 Bible Verses About Angels

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Sabra Ciancanelli

Angels are mentioned over 100 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament. Here are some favorite angelic Scriptures about God’s messengers.

50 Best Bible Verses About Love and Devotion

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Kaylin Kaupish

What Does the Bible Say About Love?

Did you know that the word “love” appears in the Bible over 300 times? Some translated versions depict it over 361 times. That’s almost one for every day of the year! Because Bible verses about love appear throughout Scripture, we can get a clear idea of how God views the idea of love. We can see the different kinds of love God wants us to find and give—love for Him, love for our family, love for each other, and love for ourselves.

One of the most popular Bible verses about love is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This verse can be found throughout literature and is a common reading at weddings. By studying it, we can see the attributes that God wants our love to have.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. —1 Corinthians 13:4-7

What can this piece of Scripture tell us about the nature of love? Some important qualities we can pull from it include patience, kindness, trust and the power of hope. Do we have this kind of love in our lives? Do we give this kind of love freely, whether to a friend, family member, partner, or spouse?

Reading Bible verses about love can help us understand it on a deeper level. We might be surprised to find that this complicated emotion actually isn’t that complicated. Here are fifty Bible verses on the subject of love.

Popular Bible Verses About Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16
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. —Romans 8:28
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. —Psalm 23:6
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. —Ephesians 4:2
If you love me, keep my commands. —John 14:15

Bible Verses About Devotion

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. —Proverbs 21:21
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. —Mark 12:30
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. —Psalm 116:1-2
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. —Proverbs 3:3-4

Bible Verses About Relationships

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. —Matthew 7:12
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. —1 Thessalonians 5:11
A friend loves at all times.—Proverbs 17:17
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. —1 Corinthians 13:2
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! —Psalms 133:1

Bible Verses for Marriage

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. —Song of Solomon 6:3
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. —Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
I found the one my heart loves. —Song of Solomon 3:4
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. —Colossians 3:14
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. —Romans 12:10

Bible Verses for Valentine’s Day

Do everything in love. —1 Corinthians 16:14
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. —Hebrews 10:24
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. —1 Thessalonians 3:12
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. —Romans 5:5
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. —Corinthians 13:13

Bible Verses About Family Love

So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. —Romans 12:5
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. —Proverbs 17:6
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. —Galatians 6:2
May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! —Proverbs 23:25
May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. —Genesis 31:49

Bible Verses About Loving One Another

Love your neighbor as yourself. —Matthew 22:39
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. —1 John 4:21
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. —1 Peter 4:8
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. —1 John 4:12
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. —John 15:13

Bible Verses About Loving Yourself

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. —Song of Solomon 4:7
Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. —Proverbs 19:8
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. —Psalm 139:14
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. —1 Timothy 4:12
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. —1 Samuel 16:7

Bible Verses About the Love of God

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. —Psalm 103:8
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. —2 Thessalonians 3:5
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. —1 John 4:16
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8:38-39

Short Bible Verses About Love

There is no fear in love. —1 John 4:18
We love because He first loved us. —1 John 4:19
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. —Jude 1:2
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. —John 15:12
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. —Proverbs 10:12

A Prayer for Love

Jesus, guide my life and my work. Words cannot express what I owe You; help me to express this debt in how I live, love, work. Protect and save the ones I love. Let those who are far away know that I care for them. Let those who are close see my love in my words and actions. Let my love be but a tiny reflection of Yours. Amen. —Marci Alborghetti, Contributing Editor

READ MORE ABOUT LOVE AND FAITH:

4 Ways to Receive God’s Guidance

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by sciancanellis

How does God speak to us? His voice is seldom audible, a booming direction or affirmation blasted down from above. But if we actively listen, he does speak—in a variety of ways.

1. God speaks through nature.
The glory of God is revealed in the universe with its billions of galaxies and the intelligent order revealed in every creature, every flower, every atom and sub-atom. Psalm 19, verses 1-4, tell us:

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

2. God speaks in our hearts.
Everyone in the world knows that it is wrong to steal, to lie, to kill, to harm others. God’s law is written on our hearts, as the Apostle Paul says in Romans 2:14-15: “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” As you make moral decisions and life choices, listen closely to that still small voice within you.

3. God speaks through Scripture.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness… (2 Timothy 3:16). As we read the Bible faithfully, God’s will for us becomes more and more clear.

4. God speaks to us through Jesus Christ, the Living Word.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:1, 14). Jesus is the Living Word. He doesn’t just give good advice; he has experienced every trial we have. He knows how hard life can be—but he also knows the way out. Therefore, through him we can find “grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

How will God speak to you today?

4 Ways to Find God’s Guidance

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Sabra Ciancanelli

The entire Bible is a record of God’s guidance of His people, both as a whole and as individuals. He directed Abraham into the Promised Land and led Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Isaiah, Paul and countless others. He wants to lead you, too.

But how, exactly, are you supposed to find God’s guidance? Be alert for these ways:

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1. God guides through the principles and examples of the Bible.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16). Read your Bible faithfully!

2. God often guides through the wise counsel of friends, peers or your pastor.
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15). Talking with a Christian friend may lead to a new perspective on a situation.

3. God guides through providential circumstances.
When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and soon afterward put into prison in Egypt, he may have felt abandoned by God, but later, when his position saved his family from starvation, he realized the important truth that God is in control. He told his brothers, “It was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:8). Look for God’s hand in the circumstances that come your way.

4. God guides in answer to prayer.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

God wants to point you in the right direction—every day!

4 Ways God Speaks to Us

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by sciancanellis

It is breathtaking to think that mere humans can have conversations with the one who created the heavens and the earth. Yet the Bible assures us we can, that the creator of everything is also our loving Father.

When you were young, didn’t you ask your father or mother for whatever you needed, then trust your parent to provide it? Jesus promises us, in effect, “If you, imperfect as all humans are, give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good things to all who ask him for them” (Matthew 7:11).

In God’s wonderful creation, He has provided food and shelter for everything from oysters and earthworms to sparrows and eagles, deer and elephants. The God who takes good care of birds and flowers will look after us “much more” if we give him his rightful place in our lives (Matthew 6:26-33).

God longs to talk with you even more than you want to speak to Him. Here are four ways He speaks to us:

4. God speaks to us through Jesus Christ, the Living Word.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1,14). Jesus has experienced every trial we have. He knows how hard life can be–but he also knows the way out. Therefore, through him we can find “grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

As you come into God’s presence, your prayers need not be long or fancy. Martin Luther said, “The fewer words, the better prayer.”

Your Father knows your needs better than you do–and is waiting to help you. “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

So make your prayers–and your life–a conversation with your Almighty Father.

4 Tips to Make Your Dreams Come True

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by sciancanellis

The Bible is filled with stories of people who knew how to get things done. If Noah had never finished building the ark, if Moses had not rescued his people from oppression, if Joseph and Samuel and David and Solomon and Isaiah and Paul and all the other heroes of the Bible and of history had not been true to their visions, where would you and I be?

Now is the day to begin moving in the direction of your dreams! Here are four ways to accomplish your goals.

Start each day with encouragement for your soul. Order Mornings with Jesus 2019

1. Prepare
To learn how to do what you most want to do, begin by looking at one of the first stories Jesus told, in Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23. This parable about the seed-sower contrasts hard, stony or weed-filled soil with “good ground,” tilled and ready for good results.

As every gardener knows, the best seed cannot do well unless the soil is prepared. Prepare for accomplishment by focusing on exactly what you want to do, asking God for His help, and developing a positive attitude.

Each one of us has unique abilities. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,” as Romans 12:6 tells us, “let us use them.” Identify your gifts, set goals for them, and use them.

2. Clear Away the Obstacles
Just as a farmer has to clear away stones and weeds before he can plant, so we, too, need to remove the obstructions that keep us from reaching our objectives.

Whether it’s lack of priorities, perfectionism, trying to do too much, messy surroundings, inability to say no, fatigue and lack of exercise, interruptions—whatever! Pray about how to eliminate (or spend less time on) whatever keeps you from achieving your goals.

3. Plant the Seed Deep
Picture exactly what you want to do. Write out your objective and how you plan to reach it. Say aloud to yourself every morning, “With the help of God, I will _____________.”

4. Nourish Your Dream
Preparation and planting, in gardening and in life, are futile without cultivation and nourishment. Once you have settled on a new plan of accomplishment, put it into practice immediately. Then, continue it every day for at least 30 days without interruption.

Your dream will become a blessed reality when you put it in the hands of God, let Him work through you, and allow His presence to nourish your soul. “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

4 Tips to Help You Let Go of Resentment

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by sciancanellis

Resentment can be a very real part of life. Yet the Bible warns, “Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple” (Job 5:2). Paul admonishes that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful“ (2 Timothy 2:24). It’s far easier said than done! Our first step toward being people filled with grace and peace (1 Peter 1:2) is to train our hearts to see the warning signs that resentment is building within us.

Certain “red flags” indicate that we may be heading for trouble.

Do you have a desire to lash back, to retaliate?
But God doesn’t give us permission to harm anyone, either with words or actions. He commanded, “’Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself’” (Leviticus 19:18).

Do you need to prove you are right?
We mortals don’t like it at all when we sense that others think we’re wrong or foolish; often we resent others because they have wounded our pride. Beware! “Pride brings a person low” says Proverbs 29:23.

Do you find yourself “chewing” on a feeling as if it were a cud?
When we get so stuck thinking about our feelings that we can’t disengage, we are no longer able to follow Paul’s advice to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Letting go of resentment is something we need to do for our own peace of mind–and to improve our relationship with God. As people of faith we can’t afford to get stuck blaming others for our unhappiness. Even when others have done wrong, we’re called upon to examine our hearts and to respond to others in love.

So how do we get started? Try these four tips rooted in God’s word to help you let go of grudges and bitterness and find forgiveness.

1. When you’re hurt, allow yourself to feel hurt.
Say out loud, away from the hearing of others, what it is exactly that hurts. “I feel hurt that she looked down on me” or “I’m hurt that he didn’t care enough to listen.” Then offer the feeling to Christ, who knows oh-so-well what it is to feel pierced. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).

2. Take a brisk walk.
Burn off some of the emotion so that your head is clearer. Scripture tells us that, “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness” (1 John 2:11). We can frequently step out of that darkness with a bit of vigorous exercise. If you pray while you walk, all the better!

3. Focus on what kind of person you want to be.
Will you let resentment get in the way? Review the list of qualities of a Christian in 2 Peter 1:5-7, and see if your feelings are compatible with them. If not, ask the Lord to show you how to reconcile your hard feelings with your desire to serve Him.

4. Extend peace to the other person.
You don’t have to do this out loud, but you do have to do it in your heart. If that seems impossible, pray Psalm 29:11 with a twist, “Lord give strength to this person who hurt me; Lord bless this person with peace.” You can’t go wrong praying for the good of others!

4 Steps for a Spiritual Spring Cleaning

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Sabra Ciancanelli

This is the time of year when many people take on spring cleaning projects inside and outside their homes. But since we put so much time and effort into cleaning our worldly residence, shouldn’t we also do some spiritual spring cleaning?

What is a Spiritual Spring Cleaning?

A spiritual spring cleaning is when we take stock of our spiritual lives to clean out our hearts and souls. This can include our prayers, our relationship with God, our views on the world around us, how we treat others, our sense of purpose, or anything else that impacts your spiritual life.

If we desire clean hearts, we must start by asking for them. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me,” (Psalm 51:10). After we’ve prayed for guidance, we need to wade into the clutter and grime of our hearts—and let the cleaning begin!

Spiritual Spring Cleaning in 4 Steps

1. Scan for big problems you might have overlooked.
Take some time to think through the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2–17) in the Bible. Are there any you’re not living out fully? If you find you’re tripping over one of these, confess it—and ask God to sweep, or spiritually spring clean, your sin away.

2. Dust off your irritations.
Think of the things (or people) that annoy you regularly, and ask yourself if anything is going on in your own heart that contributes to the problem. To do your spiritual spring cleaning, let go of the negative things in your life and invite the positive ones in—like peace, hope, and love. And remember, “[love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5).

3. Consider the clutter of your days.
What could you fling from your life that’s cluttering your relationship with God? One TV show a day? A tidbit of gossip when you get together with friends? An indulgence that might be cultivating a spirit of selfishness? Look to the small things. The Bible warns us that it’s “the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” (Song of Solomon 2:15).

4. Contemplate what’s lacking.
What we fail to do often depletes our spiritual health as much as what we do wrong. We want to be among those to whom Christ says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me’” (Matthew 25:35-36). As you do your spiritual spring cleaning, think of what more you can do in your life to help others and live with spiritual wellbeing.

Bible Verses about Spiritual Spring Cleaning

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)
For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup so that the outside of the cup will be clean too. (Matthew 23:26)
Who can say I have made my heart clean? I am pure from sin. (Proverbs 20:9)
There is nothing unclean of itself but to him that sees anything unclean, to him it is unclean. (Romans 14:14)

God longs to purify you from your sins, to wash you and make your heart “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7)…every season of the year. Take the steps to undergo a spiritual spring cleaning and it will benefit your life through the spring season and beyond.

4 Simple Steps to Help Your Faith Flourish

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by sciancanellis

Some things have been around since the beginning of time, part of God’s plan for mankind. One of those things is seedtime and harvest; sowing and reaping; planting and gathering. “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).

When we believe in God, He plants the seed of faith in our hearts. Like any seed, our faith must be cultivated and cared for. God wants us to produce a harvest of faithfulness! Here’s how:

1. To nourish it we must “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Psalm 105:4).

2. To water it we must follow Paul’s counsel: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

3. To fertilize it we must trust that “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

4. To make it fruitful we must declare with our mouths, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).

If we do these things, the seed of faith will grow and flourish. Guaranteed!

4 One-Word Prayers

Posted on March 11, 2026March 13, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Today’s guest blog on one-word prayers is by James C. Magruder, who blogs about the writing life at The Writer’s Refuge.

I recently tried something different, even unusual, in praying. In the past, I have tended to present my request to God and then tell Him more or less how He should answer it. Sound familiar?

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But recently I found new focus and power in praying one-word, open-ended prayers. For example, while traveling to a recent Christian writers’ conference, I focused my prayers on four words: learning, direction, blessing and surprise.

1) Learning

With a one-word prayer, “learning,” I asked God to help me learn new things to advance my writing career. In that way I could help advance the Kingdom of God in a hurting world. At the conference, I learned how a vast social media presence is as critical in publishing today as the quality of writing. Another bonus: tips on how to pitch to an editor, land an agent, sell what I write and more.

2) Direction

Fiction or non-fiction? I write both. So, where should I invest my talents to best serve Him? So another one-word prayer was “direction.” Five agents asked for fiction manuscripts. One agent suggested that my novel could be converted into a powerful nonfiction book since the premise was how God often reveals Himself to us in glimpses. Convert a novel to non-fiction? This idea took me down a road I never imagined—and provided a creative new direction.

3) Blessing

At the writers’ conference, I prayed that I’d be blessed as well as a blessing to others. The first day, I met Daniel, a young writer who wanted to publish and had never attended a conference. I befriended him, showed him around, answered his questions, prayed with him and attended the same classes. In return, he blessed me with his humility, teachable spirit and prayers for my writing ministry. On the second day, the co-director of the conference asked to have dinner together. She reviewed my articles and books, complimented my writing, offered guidance and encouraged me as to why I’m uniquely qualified to write my novels. My one-word prayer for “blessing” resulted in many!

4) Surprise

In a one-word prayer, “surprise,” I had asked God to surprise me , but I had no preconceived notions for how He should respond. (That would ruin the surprise, right?) So there was joy in waiting for His answer. On the third day of the conference, I had lunch with one of the keynote speakers. He suggested some writing tips to strengthen my weaknesses, offered to send me a template of a book proposal to help me pitch my books and invited me to contribute to this blog.

On the final day of the conference, I pitched an idea to write a men’s devotional tailored to executives. Then I shared the idea with another author who will soon have a similar devotional published for women in business. “Wouldn’t it be nice to market these books together?” she suggested. So she offered to introduce me to her publisher.” I never saw these surprises coming.

It’s amazing how God chose to answer my one-word, open-ended prayers with multiple, clear answers. Who knows? He may do something similar for you. Why not try a few one-word, open-ended prayers of your own?