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"And He said to them, 'Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?'" (Luke 24:38) Indonesian teenager Aldi Adilang knows what hopelessness feels like. While aboard his floating fish trap this summer, strong winds snapped his anchor lines and he drifted out to sea without so much ...

"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You..." (Psalm 63:1) We’re all creatures of habit. Whether you’re making breakfast, hanging laundry, or driving to work, certain parts of your day are so routine they require little thought or attention. That’s why you sometimes can’t remember ...

  "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things..." (1 Corinthians 9:25) In 2008, the world watched in amazement as Michael Phelps made Olympic history. One of the most talented swimmers of all time, Phelps won 8 medals just like he'd done 4 years earlier. But this ...

Every person you meet fights a hard battle. The smiling friend with whom you just had lunch faces fiery trials that would break your heart if you knew them all. But God’s Word enables us to come through the fire. A heart nourished on words of truth acquires an asbestos-like quality, which fire ...

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12 What is the measure of a life well-lived? If you browse your local library for books on professional success, financial success, marital success, or academic success, you’ll find no shortage of ...

"I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts." (Psalm 119:94) Years ago, a hobbyist chicken farmer in Missouri was asked, "If I start raising chickens, when can I expect to start making some money?” The chicken farmer simply smiled and said, "You don't raise chickens to make money. ...

“Eternal.” “Pure.” “Good life.” “Redemption.” “Pure Life.” “A future full of possibilities.” These theological-sounding phrases came to my attention, not from the Bible or a devotional book, but from water bottles in our office! Nestlé “Pure Life” water invites us to ...

“Should I memorize individual verses or whole chapters?” This is a question we frequently encounter at SMF, and our short answer is simply “yes.” Whether you’re memorizing a collection of verses on the topic of prayer or all 111 verses of the Sermon on the Mount, you’ll reap the vast ...

If you memorize Scripture, then you've probably experienced getting stuck. It's that cycle where you practice a verse, can't recite it correctly, practice more, and still can’t get it right. The discouragement may freeze your overall progress for weeks or forever. So, take a word of advice. Move ...

In the classic Christmas movie, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Linus is assigned a prominent role in the group's upcoming drama production. Charlie Brown contributes much-needed leadership to their efforts, but Linus is daunted by the thought of memorizing his lines. After reviewing his part, ...