Article by: Sarah Koontz
Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.“
Out of the good treasure of the heart—he brings forth good.
Out of the abundance of the heart—his mouth speaks.
Every summer, I set aside time to fill up my spiritual storehouses.
Because I must minister from a place of abundance.
God promised us in 2 Corinthians 9:1-11, ”Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.“
God is the source of our abundance!
God supplies everything that we need to live generously and abundantly—but we must take the time to sow the seeds and nurture the seedlings.
I’ll never have a fruitful ministry if I don’t take time to plant the seeds of God’s Word in my own heart.
God supplies everything that we need to live generously and abundantly—but we must take the time to sow the seeds and nurture the seedlings.
One of my primary goals in establishing this non-profit ministry was finding a way to make it sustainable and life-giving to all involved.
This past year has been full of “due and diligent labor” for me, and I’m ready to enter a season of “sweet and satisfying rest.
Therefore, I’ve decided not to publish any new blog posts or SOULfood e-mails for six weeks this summer.
Rest gives us space to fill our storehouses and serve God in a sustainable way.
Rest gives us space to fill our storehouses and serve God in a sustainable way.Before I sign off, I have three fantastic summer Bible study opportunities to share with you. Each of these free online Bible studies is six weeks long and will serve you well in my absence.
If you discover that you’ve already completed these particular studies, I encourage you to visit our Free Bible Study page and check out the other studies we have available on-demand.
Free Summer Bible Study Option 1:
I invite you to join me for this FREE 6-week video series and guided Scripture reading plan on Sabbath rest. Together we will learn why God established the Sabbath and the glorious blessings it holds for us when we choose to receive it as a gift. Let’s learn how to create space for sacred rest together!
THIS FREE BIBLE STUDY WILL HELP YOU…
- Embrace the weekly rhythm of work and rest established by God
- Establish healthy boundaries between the sacred and the secular
- Enjoy life’s accomplishments and celebrate God’s gifts
- Engage your whole being in rest and worship on a regular basis
- Experience the many blessings connected to Sabbath rest
When we stop pushing ourselves and learn how to create space for Sabbath rest, we discover the kind of life we were created to live.
Free Summer Bible Study Option 2:
Throughout our six-week study of David’s life and Psalms, you will receive weekly e-mails packed to the brim with free resources to help you immerse yourself in the prayerbook of the Bible.
Here are just a few of the powerful lessons we will learn about prayer from our study of David’s life and Psalms:
- When our prayers are full of wisdom and in-step with God’s commands, we begin to see God as the Source of peace and purpose in every circumstance.
- When we learn to trust God with our reputation, well-being, and destiny—we experience the confidence that comes from surrendering our will to His work in our life.
- Whether we are running, resting, or rejoicing—we serve a God who is ready to hear our requests.
- As we humbly lay our requests before our God, our pain will slowly subside as His peace pervades our souls.
I encourage you to allow the richness of God’s Word to permeate your prayer life and transform you over the next six weeks.
Free Summer Bible Study Option 3:
There has never been a better time to steep your soul in the sacred songs of the past.
This compelling Bible study includes the stories behind some of Christianity’s most beloved hymns. Each week, you will meet a new hymn writer and have the opportunity to study the theological truths woven into a familiar hymn.
This Hymn-Inspired Bible Study Will Help You:
- Fill your heart with songs of worship
- Fill your mind with biblical truth
- Meet the songwriters who shaped our faith
- Contemplate important theological concepts
- Establish a habit of daily Bible study
This e-mail based Bible Study consists of weekly lessons which include the story behind the song, a printable workbook with five days of hymn-inspired Bible study, and a devotional commentary to help enhance your personal study and application of the biblical text.
Rest is part of God’s design—our bodies depend on it, our souls crave it, and our spirits thrive on it.
When I started this ministry in 2014, I made a promise to my family that I would never allow my desire to serve God to overpower my commitment to walk in obedience to Him
This is why I take a break from public ministry every summer to recover and re-establish a pattern of rest in my life.
Rest is part of God’s design—our bodies depend on it, our souls crave it, and our spirits thrive on it.God gifted me with a strong spirit and a weak body for a reason; I will care for it with wisdom and diligence all the days of my life.
By the grace of God, I no longer view rest as punishment, failure, or weakness. It is simply the price I must pay to be able to sustain a fruitful life and ministry.
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.” 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
I am praying that you find rest in this season, too!
