The Living by Design Blog
The Bible is packed with the spiritual nourishment your soul craves. Our aim is to provide resources to help you break it down into bite-sized pieces that are easy to digest. Articles on the Living by Design Blog are packed with heart-focused content, practical solutions for real life, and Bible-based training. Since launching this blog in 2014, we’ve featured more than 100 guest contributors. If you’d like to submit an article for consideration, please review our submission guidelines.
Article by: Sarah Koontz The Psalms are filled with spontaneous joy, personal adoration, and anticipation of the fullness of God’s salvation (Ps 16:8-9). The gospel accounts are laden with professions of joy as the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared (Lk 2:10). Christ, himself, declares that
Article by: Kristine Bolt Forty-five percent. Almost half. That’s how much of my life I wasted. I calculated it. Half of my one and only life. Time I’ll never get back. Wasted through impatience, passivity, and cowardice. First, I kicked God to the curb because I wanted answers from Him,
Article by: Nikki White Sin. Repent. Repeat. It was exhausting. Sin. Repent. Repeat. I was stuck in an endless cycle of failures before my Lord with the same playlist of offenses. After each transgression, I would cry. I would berate myself. I would analyze. I would pray. I would furiously
Sadness. Fear. Uncertainty. Boredom. Exhaustion. Anger. These are just a few of the emotions I’ve experienced in 2020. I know that I am not alone.I know that you feel it too. Strange, new emotions rise up in our souls as we come to the painful realization that the future may
Article by: Erika Rachelle Anderson I vividly remember what it feels like. The constant heaviness. The tasks that piled up because it was all I could do to feed, clothe, and try to be nurturing for my children. The lack of joy.The constant overwhelm.The dread. I retreated into social isolation
Article by: Laura E. Sumpter “Wait, Mrs. Sumpter! I have something to show you!” The little girl jumped from her seat and ran to her front door. Through my zoom lens, I could see her open the door and run back inside with a giant pot. My curiosity got the
One of my favorite authors on the subject of prayer is a Civil War-era preacher named Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913). Receiving his law degree at age nineteen, Edward became the youngest practicing lawyer in the state of Missouri. Bounds felt a call to Christian ministry in his early twenties, and
Article by: Sue Donaldson I went out the front door the other day, and our girls called out: “Mom! Where are you going?” I laughed and replied, “I’m only picking some rosemary for the roast.” With our older children sheltering-at-home, the tables are definitely turned. It’s endearing they don’t let
Article by: Eleisha O’Farrell Silence is one of the most uncomfortable things we experience as humans. Why is that? Possibly, it is because we have music and video streaming services right at our fingertips. Maybe, it is because we are mothers and teachers who are surrounded by noise for long
Article by: Erin Myers Do you struggle to find time in your day to dig into God’s Word? There’s a saying that goes: Something that can be done at any time is often done at no time. I think that Bible Study can easily fit into this category. We all
This 6-Week Hymn-Inspired Bible Study Is Now Available On-Demand! Are you longing for more peace and joy in your daily life? Do you crave a deep, sustaining relationship with your Creator? Sarah Koontz invites you to join us for “It Is Well,” a free online Bible study inspired by beloved
Article By: Jazmin Frank “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) Hebrews 4:12 is a familiar passage,
By: Kristine Bolt I stared at my friend in shock for a few seconds, then my face crumpled. A sob escaped my lips, and I doubled over on her living room floor. My body heaved as I struggled to get myself under control. My friend hadn’t sucker-punched me, and she
Article by: Jessica Jenkins Do you ever get angry? I sure do. Daily something happens which results in my pulse increasing, and that familiar energy rising in my chest. Usually, my angry feelings are focused on my children. Maybe your anger focuses elsewhere—on your husband, your co-worker, your boss, neighbor,
I need thee every hourMost gracious LordNo tender voice like thineCan peace afford I am overcome by my own smallness. My lack. My need. I need thee, O I need thee;every hour I need thee;O bless me now, my Savior,I come to thee. My eyes drift upward in search of
Article by: Danita Jenae I’ll never forget the first time I heard the foreign concept of having a prayer partner. We were a new military family in town, and my husband was deployed overseas. I was struggling with isolation, postpartum depression, and desperately searching for any semblance of confidence in
This fundraiser has ended. Thanks to all who participated! If you’d like to learn more about our ministry or make a donation, please visit LivingbyDesign.org/Donate. Have you ever showed up at a coffee shop, placed your order for a drink, grabbed your wallet to pay, only to discover that someone else
Article by: Ginger Harrington Are you a worrier or a self-doubter when it comes to your own life? Do you ever feel weary under the weight of an emotional struggle? If so, maybe you can relate to questions I asked God one morning as I burrowed deeper into the covers
Article by: Cassie Lynn Douglas As we await the restart of our normal life, it’s a great time to re-evaluate our 2020 goals, as a few things might have changed since January 1. While this time during the COVID-19 pandemic is hard, it is also temporary. I believe this virus will become
Article By: Jennifer Bryant The nurse rolled her over to me on a cart with squeaky wheels, and her wrinkled face squinted to open two hazy blue eyes. Worn and disheveled from way too many hours of labor and the inevitable surgery, I received her brand new little body like
Annual Impact Report 2019 – 2020 Download the Printable Report A Letter from Our Founders Our Annual Impact Report contains an overview of the many ways our free Bible study resources are equipping Christian women to explore the beauty of God’s design for their lives. The Bible illuminates the way
Article by: Bethany McIlrath Is there anything I can do? I texted this to a friend after she relayed the news of an acquaintances’ grim diagnosis. She affirmed what I already knew: all anyone could do was pray. I asked the same question as someone I love sobbed through sharing
Article by: Cara Ray For years, I struggled to enjoy exercise. I knew it was something I should do several times a week, so I reluctantly went to the gym. Despite my initial resistance, I always felt better after working out. Similarly, I’ve often made excuses for why I
Raise your hand if you love to study the Word of God with other believers? What a joy it is to learn and grow alongside one another as we dip our toes into the springs of living water together (Jer 17:13). I’d like you to take a moment to think
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