Tag: prayer

Practicing Gratitude

Posted on by Staci Mauney

This blog post was originally published on November 11, 2018.

“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.” (Ps 95:2-3)

Being grateful isn’t something that comes naturally. We’re inherently selfish and focused on ourselves. We don’t always feel thankful. There are a lot of bad things happening in this world, and it’s sometimes hard to figure out how to be thankful in the midst of them.

Learning to be grateful takes practice. When faced with a trial or an unexpected bump in the road, my first thought is never how thankful I am for the difficulty or inconvenience. How I wish it were! Turning my mind from my struggles and onto the things for which I’m thankful allows me to grow closer to God and to receive physical and psychological benefits. Continue reading “Practicing Gratitude” →

Praying the Psalms for Encouragement

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” (Ps 39:7)

My spiritual discipline for 2020 is prayer, and what a year of prayer it has been! From global issues like COVID-19 to national issues such as racial disparities and the election to personal issues like community, I’m learning to “pray continually” (1 Thess 5:17). But sometimes, situations are overwhelming, and words are hard to find. When that happens, I use prayer prompts I find online or in a Bible study plan. Often those prompts are from the Psalms. Continue reading “Praying the Psalms for Encouragement” →

Developing Unity Among Believers

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (1 Peter 3:8 ESV)

This year has brought challenges none of us ever imagined. I wrote recently about how the year started with promise but quickly devolved into a year of chaos. As I mentioned in that blog post, I don’t have any answers. At the same time, I will continue to seek answers for the problems I see around me.

I recently heard the term “virus fatigue,” and I think it encapsulates how many people feel about the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopes were high for the second half of the year to be “normal.” But with the COVID-19 numbers spiking, and in many cases higher than ever, fears surrounding the coronavirus still abound. Continue reading “Developing Unity Among Believers” →

All the Small Things

Posted on by Staci Mauney

All the Small Things

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt 6:33).

When my car needs repaired, I turn to my dad for help. He’s an excellent mechanic and enjoys tinkering on vehicles. I’m thankful because I rarely have major car repair expenses. Recently, he changed the brake pads and rotors and then the oil in my car. When he lowered the car back to the ground, he cranked the ignition, and…it wouldn’t start. Continue reading “All the Small Things” →

Why I’m Focusing on the Spiritual Discipline of Prayer

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“…train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim 4:7 NIV).

The word “discipline” often gets a bad rap. When we think of discipline, we think of punishment. While it can mean this, it also has a positive meaning: training to help us grow and mold our character.

A few years ago, I learned my pastor focuses on one spiritual discipline a year. While I practice many spiritual disciplines such as reading and studying my Bible, praying, and community, I had never thought about focusing on a single discipline for the year until I heard him mention it. Continue reading “Why I’m Focusing on the Spiritual Discipline of Prayer” →