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3 Notable Wives of the Bible

Content Provided by B&H Publishing Group, excerpted from The Study Bible for Women.

1. The Wife of Ezekiel: A Beloved Wife

Her Background
Her identity is unknown (Ezekiel 24:15-27).

Her Story
• She died as a sign to God’s people, illustrating the grief they would experience upon the future destruction of Jerusalem (24:15-27).
• Ezekiel was commanded not to mourn outwardly (24:17).
• She was loved by her husband (24:15).
• No one mourned her death (24:17-18).

Life Lessons
• The prophets were often required to deliver very difficult messages, sometimes sacrificing their own well-being.
• By establishing the parallel between Ezekiel’s unexpressed bereavement and the people’s imminent sorrows, God implicitly affirmed the depth of affection He intends for a husband to have for his wife.


2. Zipporah: A Wife with Attitude

Her Background
• One of seven daughters of Jethro, who lived in Midian (Exodus 2:15-16)
• The wife of Moses (2:21)
• The mother of Gershom and Eliezer (2:22; 4:20; 18:2-4)

Her Story
• She and her sisters, when threatened at their father’s well, were defended by Moses (2:16-17).
• She was given to Moses in marriage (2:21).
• She circumcised her own son (4:25-26).
• She returned to her father with her sons while Moses was in Egypt (18:2).

Life Lessons
• Zipporah feared the Lord enough to obey Him even when her husband apparently failed to take seriously God’s command (4:24-26).
• Perceiving the danger to Moses’ life, she determined to put him and her sons before her own interests and risked all to save her husband


3. Jehoshabeath: A Courageous Wife

Her Background
• The sister of King Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 22:11)
• The daughter of King Jehoram and Athaliah (22:11; 2 Kings 11:2)
• The wife of Jehoiada the priest (2 Chronicles 22:11)

Her Story
• She rescued Joash from being murdered by his grandmother (22:11).
• She hid Joash for six years (22:12).

Life Lessons
• Jehoshabeath’s courage protected the Davidic line of rulers, through whom the Messiah would come.
• One never knows the extent of blessing and influence that will come through simple obedience to the Lord.

3 Bible Verses to Help You Live Joyfully

Life is a great gift—the greatest gift. You should awaken every morning with a thrill in your heart, looking forward to the day. The Bible is clear that we are to cast off unhappiness and live joyfully. These three verses can help you do just that.

1. “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
Every morning, as soon as you awake, say these dynamic words aloud. God has given you a new day crammed with opportunity to build a better life, to learn something new, to spend time with those you love, to do something worthwhile for the world. As you begin your daily business, repeat this verse. And, if you begin to run down in spirit during the day, say it again. No method is more effective in driving off unhappiness than to saturate your mind and soul with this great passage.

2. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4
We make ourselves unhappy by habitually thinking unhappy thoughts. The simple cure: Start thinking joyfully. Think of every wonderful thing the Lord has done for you. Celebrate the fact that He is always with you. When you consider the implications of that fact, there is every reason to rejoice and be happy, for it means that nothing can ever defeat you.

3. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.” Psalm 89:15-16
Real dedicated Christians are happy people. That does not mean that they are unaware of the pain and suffering all around them. Indeed, they are not true Christians unless they are deeply concerned and are doing something about it. But Christians are filled with rejoicing because they have entered into a personal relationship with Christ—and that relationship gives them victory over all misery. To be happy, be truly Christian in experience, faith and service.

3 Bible Verses to Assure Us of God’s Faithfulness

“Granddaddy, do you have anything for me?” Our three-year-old grandson’s earnest little face looked up at my husband last Wednesday night right before church started.

Paul replied, “I’m sorry, buddy, I don’t have anything.” Nolan looked up at him and said, “Granddaddy, you’re ‘posed to bring me things like pretzels and marshmallows and stuff.”

I hadn’t felt well that night so I hadn’t gone to church that evening, but I sure did laugh when Paul got home from church and relayed the story to me. I knew immediately what Nolan was talking about.

Whenever I know I’m going to be with any of our grandchildren, I always stock my purse with snacks. Yes, things like pretzels, crackers, miniature marshmallows and other treats. I loved that Nolan just expected them to be there—and if I wasn’t around, that Granddaddy should pick up the slack.

He expected it because it was always there.

That sweet boy’s faith should be a lesson for all of us. Time after time, God’s grace has been there for us. Whenever we’ve needed it, He’s been there to comfort our hearts when we’re hurting.

On countless occasions, He’s provided for our needs, faithfully giving us what we needed—even when all we could see was a hopeless situation.

So why is it that the next time we find ourselves in a difficult situation, we immediately go to doom and doubt instead of saying, “Do you have anything for me?” and expecting that the God who’d been faithful in the past would do the same in the future?

I know I’ve been guilty of that on numerous occasions, so here are a few of His promises for the next time we need a reminder that He’s a faithful God:

1) Deuteronomy 7:9
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”

2) 2 Thessalonians 3:3
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

3) Psalm 86:5
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

I want to remember those promises, and I want to be more like little Nolan—waiting without doubt because God’s grace and provision are always available.

3 Bible Truths to Conquer Doubt

If you’re like most people, at one time or another you’ve struggled with doubt or insecurity in your faith. Maybe you’re in a doubting time right now. And doubting can be a very uncomfortable position to be in! The Bible tells us, “One who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).

Remember these three truths when you’re feeling doubtful.

1. Not understanding is different from not believing.
Doubt is normal. Yes, even the apostles, the ones hand-picked by Jesus to lead his church on earth, had moments of uncertainty. They had heard Christ speak the words that we know through the Bible and witnessed the “many other things” we are told were not written down (John 21:25). But when Christ appeared after the resurrection, “They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself!’” (Luke 24:37-39).

Why did doubts rise in their minds? I think it’s because even though they’d known Jesus personally for years, God’s plan was bigger than they could grasp. They were certain of Jesus’ love, certain He was the Messiah, certain of His teachings—and yet the cross seemed to contradict everything!

There are times we become troubled because we aren’t expecting the cross God puts in our path. If we were the apostles, we could touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and feet and put our doubts to rest. Instead, we can simply pray: Father, You said, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). There are things I do not understand, but I love You anyway.

2. You don’t need to be afraid.
A lot of feelings fall under the category of doubt. There is uncertainty, like that of Peter, who wondered if his release from prison was really the hand of God at work or simply a dream (Acts 12:9-11). There is confusion, like what Mary and Joseph felt when their son inexplicably stayed behind in Jerusalem without telling them (Luke 2:48). And then there is fear, which sometimes arises because we forget that it’s healthy to wonder and question what we know.

My father, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, was a man of utmost confidence who was very comfortable with doubt. When I was a young girl he told me, “When you read Scripture you’ll start asking questions. You’ll notice things that don’t seem to make sense and stories you don’t understand. And as soon as you start to realize that the Bible doesn’t fit the shape of your faith, your faith can grow to fit the truth that’s in the Bible.” My dad knew God is big enough not to be threatened by our questions. He loved the prayer of the father of the mute boy, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24.) It’s a prayer Dad encouraged me to make my own.

3. Remember what you already know.
John jumped in recognition of Jesus as his Lord while they were both still in the womb (Luke 1:41). He baptized Jesus and heard the voice from heaven say, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Yet as this deeply faithful prophet sat in prison listening to reports of Jesus, he wondered if Jesus was really the right person after all.

Calling two of his disciples “he sent them to the Lord to ask, ’Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” (Luke 7:19). Jesus didn’t answer John directly. He told the emissaries to, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Luke 7:22). And this rather odd response gives us a clue to how to deal with some kinds of doubt: We must return to what we already know.

So when the storms of doubt come, lean into the wind and believe. And remember, no matter what you’re feeling, Jesus is still in charge. “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’” (Mark 4:39).

31 Days of Bible Prayers

One of my favorite ways to pray is to follow a 31-day plan that gives my prayers more purpose and focus. For example, I’ve long prayed 31 biblical virtues for my children (and now my grandchildren) that developed into a prayer resource and even an iPhone/iPad app called “31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids.”

Another favorite way to pray is to use prayers from the Bible, repeating God’s Word back to Him in praise, petition and thanks.

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So, here’s a fairly new list that combines both of those approaches with 31 days of Bible prayers:

  1. God, have mercy on me, a sinner (Luke 8:13 NIV).
  1. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV).
  1. Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise (Jeremiah 17:14, NIV).
  1. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life (Psalm 51:10, The Message).
  1. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalm 21:5, NIV).
  1. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8, NIV).
  1. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:14, NIV).
  1. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13, ESV).
  1. Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain (1 Chronicles 4:10, NIV).
  1. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I (Psalm 61:2, NIV).
  1. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations (Psalm 67:1-2, NIV).
  1. You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high (Psalm 3:3, NIV).
  1. Keep me safe, my God, for in You I take refuge (Psalm 16:1, NIV).
  1. Let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor (Exodus 33:13, NLT).
  1. Not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42, NIV).
  1. I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds (Psalm 9:1, NIV).
  1. You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7, NIV).
  1. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me (Psalm 19:13, NIV).
  1. May the God of hope fill [me] with all joy and peace as [I] trust in him, so that [I] may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13, NIV).
  1. You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 63:7, CEV).
  1. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you (Psalm 51:12, NLT).
  1. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:30, NLT).
  1. May your blessing be on your people (Psalm 3:8, NIV).
  1. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation (Psalm 118:21, NIV).
  1. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you (Psalm 25:21, NIV).
  1. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14, NKJV).
  1. O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! (Daniel 9:19, NLT).
  1. Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble (Psalm 119:165, NIV).
  1. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches (Psalm 104:24, KJV).
  1. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4, NIV).
  1. We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign (Revelation 11:17, NIV).

Let these prayers guide and enrich your daily time with God; you may find the Holy Spirit bringing these to your mind often—sometimes at the most crucial moments.

20 Bible Verses that Show Us the Miraculous Works of God’s Hand

Did you know God’s hands are mentioned over one hundred times in the Bible? From creation to miracles to moments of comfort, He uses His hand to perform wonders for us all. These 20 verses of scripture show us how we can find reassurance and strength in the powerful hand of God.

14 Bible Verses for Anxiety

Get spiritual support for your problems in the new book, Spiritual Remedies

11 Bible Verses for Those Facing Natural Disasters

Whether you or a loved one is facing a natural disaster or coping with its aftermath, here are 11 of our favorite Bible verses offering comfort, hope and reminders of God’s loving care.

Let the power of God’s word surround you with strength and peace with the HelpFinder® Bible.

10 Steps to Real Success

We live in an age of self-help books, get-rich-quick schemes and television infomercials. Everybody wants to change for the better. To make a success of their lives. But how do we do that?

We do it by turning to the most reliable source of all: the Bible. The Bible has something to say on any topic you can imagine, and it’s all rock-solid, true advice!

So if you want your life to be thriving and meaningful, here are the “secrets” to success:

1. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

2. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

3. “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

4. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

5. “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).

6. “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).

7. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

8. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

9. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

10. “’Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Malachi 3:10).

Why not memorize these verses and carry their “success secrets” with you always?

Download your FREE ebook, Let These Bible Verses Help You: 12 Psalms and Bible Passages to Deepen Your Joy, Happiness, Hope and Faith.

10 Steps to Help You Make the Right Decisions

It is said that history turns on small hinges. The same could be said for your life–sometimes a seemingly small decision may turn out to be the big decision that shapes your life. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale compiled these 10 steps to help you make the right decisions.

10 Scriptures to Help You Pray Through Grief

God is close to those who grieve.

We may grieve for a friend or family member who has died or a loved one who has strayed. We may mourn the loss of a pet or a job or a prized possession. We may experience grief when our health wanes or a relationship sours. Whatever the source of our pain, the Bible assures us that the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

When we experience loss, it only hurts more to ignore it or deny it; healing comes when we acknowledge and express what we’re feeling. While it’s therapeutic to talk to friends and counselors, there’s no one better to hear our sorrows than our gracious, compassionate and loving Lord.

There’s also no better way to pray through our grief than with the words of Scripture, allowing God’s own words to flow through our minds and hearts. Here are 10 scriptures that anyone can pray through grief:

1) 2 Samuel 12:23
“I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23 NIV). Or turn it around to heighten the promise in the verse: “He (or she) will not return to me, but I will go to him (or her).”

2) Psalm 31:9
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief (Psalm 31:9 NIV).

3) Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18 NIV).

4) Psalm 73:21-26
When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever (Psalm 73:21-26 NIV).

5) Psalm 119:28
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word (Psalm 119:28 NIV).

6) Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

7) Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4 NIV).

8) John 16:22
“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22 NIV).

9) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV).

10) Revelation 21:4
“‘[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4 NIV).

These are a mere sample of the many Bible verses that will help a grieving person process and pray through a season of grief. Feel free to print them and pray them as often as necessary, and even add other verses as you encounter them in your Bible reading.

10 Remarkable Women of the Bible

From Eve to Esther to Mary of Nazareth, many women in the Bible have powerful stories.

However, you might be surprised just how little they actually speak. Reverend Lindsay Hardin Freeman from Excelsior, Minnesota, led a study that counted every single word spoken by a woman in the Bible. They discovered that of the 93 women in the Bible, only 49 have names. And in total women only speak 14,056 words. Yet, consider how powerful those words can be.

“I think they have a lot to share with us about what it means to believe, what it means to have faith,” Reverence Freeman told Huffington Post.

In the stories of women in the Bible, we can find courage, strength, and resilience—but also gentle kindness and humility. Perhaps it is the complexity of these women that draw us to them and makes us want to learn more.

“These are ordinary people,” says Ann Spangler, one of the authors of the devotional, Women of the Bible. “They are not that different, emotionally, from us. They respond to God. Sometimes with faith, sometimes with very little faith. For me, that makes scripture even more authentic.”

If you are looking for guidance during a difficult time, or learning to trust the Lord when things are uncertain, these women’s stories can provide you with hope. Discover the background and life lessons of these strong women in the Bible.