Journal
A page from my journal
Showing 30 articles.
- Knowing God · 4 min
Knowing about God or knowing God: what is the difference?
You can know a lot about God and still feel far from him. What the Bible says about knowing God for yourself, and simple ways to start.
Read more
- Knowing God · 3 min
What does “As the deer pants for the water” mean? Psalm 42 explained
Psalm 42 compares longing for God to a thirsty deer. What the psalm says about honest prayer, and how to pray it yourself.
Read more - Knowing God · 4 min
How to start reading the Bible when you don’t know where to begin
The Bible can feel too big to start. Here is a simple way in, from which book to read first to what to do when you get stuck.
Read more
- Knowing God · 4 min
What is fasting in the Bible, and how do Christians fast today?
What fasting meant in the Bible and how to start today, with advice on who should speak to a doctor before fasting.
Read more
- Knowing God · 3 min
“But who do you say that I am?” Jesus’s question at Caesarea Philippi
Jesus asked what others said about him, then asked his disciples what they believed. What Matthew 16 means, and why the question is still personal.
Read more
- Identity · 4 min
What does “identity in Christ” actually mean?
Identity in Christ is a phrase Christians use often. What the Bible means by it, and what it changes in everyday life.
Read more
- Identity · 4 min
“Who told you that you were naked?” What Genesis 3 says about shame
God’s question to Adam in Genesis 3 still speaks to shame today. What happened in the garden, and how to answer the voice of shame.
Read more
- Identity · 3 min
How to stop comparing yourself to other people
Comparison can quietly wear down how you see yourself. What Galatians 6:4 says about it, and practical steps that help online and off.
Read more
- Identity · 4 min
Jacob, Esau and the danger of a borrowed identity
Jacob dressed up as his brother to win a blessing. What Genesis 25 and 27 show about comparison and about trusting what God has said.
Read more
- Identity · 3 min
What are grave clothes? Lazarus and letting go
Lazarus walked out of the tomb still wrapped in grave clothes. What John 11 shows about new life, and about letting go of what belongs to the old one.
Read more - Healing · 3 min
What is emotional healing, and where do you start?
Emotional healing is slow and often needs other people. What the Bible says about it, and first steps to take, including free NHS support.
Read more
- Healing · 4 min
Can Christians go to therapy? Faith and counselling
Some Christians worry counselling shows a lack of faith. What the Bible says about getting help, and how to find a trained counsellor in the UK.
Read more - Healing · 4 min
When God feels silent: what to do in a dry season
What the Bible says about times when God feels far away, from Psalm 13 to Elijah in the wilderness, and what can help while you wait.
Read more
- Healing · 3 min
Covering is not healing: Genesis 3:21 and the things we hide behind
Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves. Then God made clothes for them. What Genesis 3:21 shows about hiding and healing.
Read more
- Healing · 4 min
How to keep a soft heart after you’ve been hurt
Hurt can leave you guarded or bitter. What the Bible says about guarding your heart, and how boundaries help without shutting people out.
Read more
- Purpose and calling · 4 min
How do I know what God is calling me to do?
Simple, Bible-based ways to work out what God is asking of you, from everyday faithfulness to testing a bigger sense of calling.
Read more
- Purpose and calling · 4 min
“Here am I! Send me”: what Isaiah 6 says about saying yes
Isaiah 6 in plain words: what Isaiah saw, why he felt unfit, and what his answer to God teaches us about saying yes.
Read more
- Purpose and calling · 4 min
For such a time as this: Esther 4:14 explained
What Mordecai meant when he told Esther she may have become queen “for such a time as this”, and what the verse asks of us today.
Read more - Purpose and calling · 4 min
Trusting God when you can’t see the full plan
What Proverbs 3:5-6 and Abraham’s story say about taking the next step with God before you can see where it leads.
Read more
- Purpose and calling · 4 min
Faith at work: following Jesus in a job you didn’t plan for
What Colossians 3:23 and the stories of Joseph and Daniel say about serving God in a job that was never part of your plan.
Read more - Relationships · 4 min
Christian dating: questions to ask before you commit
Honest questions about faith, character and the future to ask before you commit to someone, with wisdom from the Bible.
Read more
- Relationships · 4 min
Healthy boundaries as a Christian: is it OK to say no?
Many Christians feel guilty saying no. Here is what the Bible says about limits and rest, and how to set boundaries kindly.
Read more
- Relationships · 4 min
Signs of an unhealthy relationship and where to get help
Warning signs of an unhealthy or abusive relationship, what the Bible says love looks like, and free UK helplines you can call.
Read more - Relationships · 4 min
What makes a good Christian friend?
What Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the friendship of David and Jonathan teach about finding a good Christian friend, and being one.
Read more
- Relationships · 4 min
Forgiving someone who hurt you: what forgiveness is and isn’t
What the Bible means by forgiveness, how it differs from trust and reconciliation, and how to start forgiving someone who hurt you.
Read more - Creativity and storytelling · 4 min
What is spoken word poetry? A beginner’s guide
A simple guide to spoken word poetry: where it comes from, how it differs from page poetry, where to find it in the UK and how to start.
Read more - Creativity and storytelling · 4 min
How to write a spoken word poem about your faith
A practical, step-by-step guide to writing and performing a spoken word poem about your faith, with prompts and examples from the Psalms.
Read more
- Creativity and storytelling · 4 min
How to start a Christian podcast: a practical first guide
A practical first guide to starting a Christian podcast: purpose, format, cover art, publishing on Spotify and getting onto Apple Podcasts.
Read more
- Creativity and storytelling · 4 min
Christian creatives: using your gifts without hiding them
What Matthew 5, 1 Peter 4:10 and the story of Bezalel say to Christian creatives who are tempted to hide their gifts out of fear.
Read more
- Creativity and storytelling · 4 min
How to do a 30-day poem-a-day challenge
A simple plan for writing a poem every day for 30 days, with prompts from Scripture, tips for keeping going and ideas for sharing your work.
Read more