Candidly Christian

Ditching the Comparison Game in My Prayer Life

Jaime Hampton · September 22, 2021 · Leave a Comment

My good friend Alana and I have been prayer partners for almost ten years now, and podcast partners for about half of that time. One of the funniest moments in our friendship came when we were discussing prayer styles on the Praying Christian Women podcast and both admitted we had envied each other for the way we prayed. Each of us had been secretly wishing our prayer style was more like the other for years!

Playing the Comparison Game

Alana is ultra-productive in everything she does. She is a prolific author, owner of a growing publishing company and homeschool mom to boot. In her prayer life she is organized and consistent. She has multiple prayer journals, loves lists and sticky notes, and can spend an hour in her “prayer closet” easily.

Then there’s me.

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When Trouble Comes…

Valerie Riese · September 20, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Cast your burden on the Lord, [release it] and he will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, or fail).
Psalm 55:22 AMP

A close friend once asked me how I can have peace over a hard situation because we share similar circumstances.

“I pray it away,” I told her, and then realized how trite that sounds to someone who is hurting.

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Is It Okay to Ask God Questions?

Sarah J Callen · September 15, 2021 · Leave a Comment

I had breakfast with a friend recently, and throughout our conversation, we questioned many things. We looked at some things we’ve been taught that don’t line up with the Word of God. We examined how toxic thinking has shaped our views of ourselves, others, and even God. We processed a lot over that one meal.

As we talked, the phrase that kept coming up, again and again, was, “It’s okay to ask questions.”

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Overcoming Low Self-esteem Through The Vista Of God’s Lens

Candid Guest · September 13, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Overcoming Low Self-esteem Through The Vista Of God’s Lens by Candid Guest, Happiness Hassan

I was one of those many women who used their weaknesses as an excuse to remain in their comfort zone. Unknowing to me, the more attention I gave to my weaknesses, the more it damaged my self-esteem.

Little was I aware that I had succeeded in making the soil of my life fertile for the lies of the adversary. “You are not good enough; you are a failure, and you don’t belong.” Those were the words that kept ringing in my mind each time I attempted to break forth from my past mistakes. I believed those lies, and this pattern continued for a long time until my entire self-esteem was shattered.

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Above the Noise: What Does the Bible Say About Listening?

Mariel Davenport · September 8, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Being human is hard. We often live from a storm-tossed place with noise that can feel deafening even when it isn’t audible.

Walking hospital corridors towards the ICU to see my husband; rushing through afternoon traffic to get my son to the urgent care as the hives took over his neck; and getting a frantic call from my firstborn, who had hit bumpers with someone when he fell asleep at the wheel, have rounded out my last couple months. Adding to that, construction in our home as we made improvements only compounded my stress most days.

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Take Refuge in The Rock

Jessica Schneider · September 6, 2021 · Leave a Comment

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2

Does your heart feel overwhelmed? Do you feel without strength and weak? Maybe like your heart just can’t take anymore?

Grief, sadness, fear, doubt, insecurities, the never-ending stream of bad news that never seems to end. All these can lead to our hearts feeling very overwhelmed. Our hearts can feel faint, and weak. And maybe like if “one more thing happens, you will drown.”

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3 Scriptures to Find Balance in an Unbalanced World

Sherry Chamblee · September 1, 2021 · 1 Comment

One of my daughters is learning how to drive. She’s in that stage where she still over-corrects sometimes. She’ll pull out into an intersection, steer too far into the lane she’s headed for, then jerk the wheel back to try to straighten herself out. We’re working on her driving smoothly and using small gentle corrections as she goes without needing to make harsh jerky moves in order to put her car back in the right spot. Her driving isn’t totally in balance yet.

That got me thinking.

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Dealing with Depression: 4 Things God Taught Me

Stephanie Carter · August 30, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Depression is not fun. But what debilitating disease is? Oh, and by the way depression is debilitating. I know too well of its pain and destruction. If I were to be honest, I can say I hate depression. I hate it in other people because the grip of it is so strong and causes a lot of destruction before you get out of it.

But depression is not too hard for God. He is the God that shatters depression and any other mind binding thoughts we have.

There are so many causes for depression which I don’t want to get into here. Instead, I want to share with you how you can push back against depression and live. Yes, you must try to fight back against depression, or it will win. You must have even the smallest desire to have your life back.

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Psalm 51: Broken Bones Rejoice

Sarah J Callen · August 25, 2021 · Leave a Comment

For the past few months, the Lord has been speaking to me about submission—everyone’s favorite word. I am a pretty stubborn and strong-willed person. If I want something, I’m going to make it happen. I have a determination and drive in me that is, sometimes, unstoppable. It’s no wonder why the Lord has been speaking to me about the topic of submission.

My prayer of late has been, “Lord, I submit (surrender, embrace, etc.) to your will, your way, on your timetable.” Some days, that’s been all I can pray, and I just repeat it over and over again. I have decided to daily lay down my hopes, my dreams, and my plans to pick up His. And it’s been hard. I have many good ideas that I would like to accomplish on my terms, but I have felt this call to lay all of that down.

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Life is Hard, But God is Still Good

Valerie Riese · August 23, 2021 · 4 Comments

“Both our van and our stove broke down this weekend, but God is still good.
My head hurts, but God is still good.
I spent the day in the emergency room, but God is still good.
I can’t breathe, but God is still good.“

As I write this on Sunday, Heather Hart has been in the hospital with covid for eighteen days. It’s been a rough time, full of joyful ups and terrifying downs, especially for Heather, but also for everyone who knows and loves her.

We thought she was getting better; we thought she’d be home in a few days, but Saturday night, the doctors said she has bacterial pneumonia. Breathing continues to be increasingly difficult and painful.

We don’t know what lies ahead, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Heather since I found Candidly Christian in 2017 it’s this:

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