Grace Over Perfection with Alison Simmons

Every morning in the car on the way to school, the kids and I pray for the day, for each other, and for events happening in our world. And sometimes this leads to a great conversation about God and what the Bible teaches about Him. Sometimes, it doesn't. This morning, the tiny voice of my 7-year-old piped up from the backseat and asked, “Mommy, how does a kid know if they are a Christian?” Now, isn't that the million-dollar question?! How does ANYONE know if they (or someone else) are a Chrisitan? In this episode, I share how I explained it to her as well as the things parents should and shouldn't use to gauge their child's salvation.    

It was an ordinary Thursday night. Pizza for dinner, family time, and before the 7 kids headed to bed. Lisa cleaned up and kissed her husband goodnight. "I'll be there in a few minutes," he said. A few hours later, Lisa woke up to his heavy breathing and that was the moment when her world would be forever changed. In today's episode, Lisa shares her and her children's story of grief and how God was still at work in the middle of the pain. You can learn more about her new book Life Can Be Good Again, which releases on April 19, 2002, HERE.  *Get the BONUS VIDEO SERIES: Braving the Broken Starter Kit when you pre-order today! Website: https://lisaappelo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaappelo/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisaappeloauthor  

Jamie grew up in a dysfunctional, abusive family. She found herself pregnant at a very young age and ended up in an abusive marriage just like her parents had.  Unloved. Unworthy. These are words that Jamie uses to describe the way she felt for so many painful years. And yet, when she looks back now, she can see how God was at work in the middle of it all. In today's interview, Jamie shares the story of how God "interrupted" her life of dysfunction and how He called her to be the person she needed all those years - someone to point others to Jesus. Jamie Bailey is a Professional Christian Counselor and Marriage Coach. Together, with her husband, they help couples overcome marriage struggles and learn all that it takes to create a God-centered marriage. They are the founders of Expedition Marriage and together host the Expedition Marriage podcast. ----------   Learn more about the Grace > Perfection Formula: Your Guide to Cultivating Stronger Faith Habits

“I don't understand, Lord. I've already dealt with this sin. Remember? You and I had it out over my need to be in control, already. You convicted me of my refusal to submit to authority in my life in general because I wanted to be my own authority.” “And I changed! The Holy Spirit worked on my heart and I began to understand that receiving grace meant that I could then give it to others. And as I changed, so did the way I interacted with those around me.” That was my conversation with God just a few months ago. How do you reconcile fighting and overcoming sin with the help of the Holy Spirit and then still cycling back through that sin later, maybe again and again? Does that seem the opposite of how spiritual growth works? Isn't that a sign of weak faith? In today's episode, we are talking about what perfect spiritual growth looks like and it may not be what you are thinking at all. Learn more about The Grace > Perfection Formula: Your Guide to Cultivating Stronger Faith Habits HERE Download your FREE copy of the 45-day devotional through the Old Testament HERE

 Jael wasn't anyone special, technically speaking. And she wasn't planning on doing anything other than taking care of her household that day Sisera ended up on her doorstep. She was just going about her daily tasks when she was suddenly faced with a situation that she had no choice but to deal with right then and there. And isn't that the way God often works? On a typical, run-of-mill day when you are just crossing things off your To-Do list,  have you ever suddenly found yourself in the middle of a God-ordained moment and you feel completely unprepared to handle it? It is unlikely that you've been folding laundry when a terrorist shows up in your front yard but there are plenty of scenarios that pop up when you least expect it and you think... “But I'm just a mom, just a wife, just a volunteer.""I'm just too young, too young, too middle-aged.""Ugh - I'm just too busy, just too tired, just too overwhelmed." "I just don't know enough scripture. I just don't have a strong enough faith. I am just struggling through life myself.” Fill in the blank, friend. What do you tell yourself you are “just too much” of that you feel like you can't be used by God to further His kingdom in some way? Friend, pay attention - You are just right. -------------------------- Learn more about The Grace > Perfection Formula: Your Guide to Growing Stronger Faith Habits HERE Click HERE for a transcript of this episode.

In Mattew 5:31-37, Jesus addresses the issue of divorce and actually gives "permission" to break the marital covenant in the case of sexual immorality. Does that mean that adultery is your "free ticket" out of marriage? (Ha! I can tell you from personal experience that divorce is not free!) In this episode, I interview Brad and Lisa Valencia, a couple that did not cash in that ticket. They share openly and honestly about their story of infidelity and the long road to redemption. They pray that their honesty can offer a beacon of hope into whatever your marriage may be going through, and a roadmap for others to learn from. Check out their ministry, Unrelenting Pursuit, where they desire to see all marriages in an unrelenting pursuit of love, joy, and forgiveness.  Instagram - @unrelentingpursuit_ Facebook - Unrelenting Pursuit Learn more about the Grace > Perfection Formula: Your Guide to Cultivating Stronger Faith Habits HERE

I had posted a request, asking for women to let me interview them in order to help me better understand what kind of content I should be creating to offer the most value to my podcast listeners, email subscribers, and social media followers. Full transparency, my goal was to gather information, not to hold any of them accountable for anything they were or were not doing in their relationship with the Lord.  Funny how God works, though. It was incredible! In every single case, what was supposed to be a 20 min interview became 45min to hour-long conversations where these women just opened up and shared their hearts.  Each question I asked seemed to dig a little deeper and uncover something that had been buried, either on purpose or accidentally, for years. This was not my intention. I was just hoping to gather insights into what the women that follow me needed and wanted. And you know what I discovered? They need and want accountability. Hold up - accountability? That's when someone makes you feel like crap about not reading your Bible or praying as often as you should, or going to church regularly.  No friend, no one wants that. And that is not real accountability. In this episode, I share what real accountability is and what it can do for you...and what it can't. Click here to learn more about The Grace > Perfection Formula: Your Guide to Cultivating Stronger Faith Habits and to enroll so you can: Experience freedom from the guilt caused by what you can't do. Enjoy flexibility that allows you to do what you can. Get the encouragement you need to keep moving forward.

Naomi was a woman of great faith and yet now, she is broken and cannot see past her suffering.  Have you ever felt like this? Like God has dealt bitterly with you? Suffering in this life is real. Sometimes it is due to our own bad decisions, sometimes we suffer because of someone else's bad decisions, and then there are the times life just happens and we suffer because of things that are completely out of anyone's control…but God's. God is sovereign which means He is in control of all things. And that includes whatever you are suffering through or have suffered through or will suffer through. Why would He allow that? In today's episode, we find the answer in the life of Naomi and how this woman of great faith suffered for a purpose. Sign up here for the FREE Workshop: How to Connect with God - 3 things you can do today and how to actually make it happen Get the transcript for today's episode here.

Before Sara and her husband got engaged, they had a very practical and important talk about what they both expected their future would look like. At the time, she was certain that she wanted to be a SHAM...until she decided she didn't want to after starting her business and having a baby. In today's episode, Sara tells the story of how she became the sole breadwinner for her family, the struggles she and her husband faced during the transition, and the transformation God took them both through as they dealt with the sin that surfaced in this new, nontraditional environment. --------------- Sara Motes is an enneagram 3, saved-by-grace girl who teaches passion-led business owners how to use Pinterest to grow their businesses. She has been married to her husband, Jacob, for 7 years and has been blessed with two beautiful sons.  Sign up for the FREE Workshop: How to Connect with God - 3 things you can do today and how to actually make them happen Click HERE for a full transcript of this episode.

Who is Elisabeth Elliot? She is a woman of great faith, not because her parents taught her the Bible, not because she attended church and SS and prayer meetings, not because she went to a Christian college and became a foreign missionary... Yes, all of these things laid a strong foundation, but she became a woman of great faith because she walked through fiery trials and learned to trust God no matter her circumstances. In today's episode, we will learn the answer that God gave Elisabeth when she continually asked Him, "Why God? Why?" It is the same answer He give you and me today.  Sign up for the FREE Workshop: How to Connect with God - 3 things you can do today and how to actually make them happen Click HERE for a full transcript of this episode.

It is officially The Grace Over Perfection Podcast 1 year anniversary!! Cue the confetti!!

What happened during the 400 years in between these verses from Malachi and the time of Jesus's birth? God was silent when it comes to written scripture, but that doesn't mean His people were. So what were they doing?  This is not something I have never heard a sermon on or read about in a Bible study so I thought I would do a little digging and share it with you in case you were wondering too. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

When tragedy strikes or misfortune falls upon you, what is your first response? In times of confusion, where do you turn for answers? When you look at what is happening in the world around you, do you ever look up to heaven and wonder, “God, where are you?! Are you even paying attention?!” If so, you are in good company once again because that is the question Habakkuk asks of God, and won't believe His response! Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Are you a Jonah? No one ever wants to admit it but, at some point, we all are. But Jonah's opinion of the Ninevite's worthiness to be spared was not God's concern. And our opinion of someone's worthiness of salvation is not a concern of God's either. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

As a Christian woman... 1) You are called to stand apart from the world as you live for God and obey His commands. 2) He will use you to turn others towards Him when you honor Him with your words and actions and when you rely on His provision and protection while living in opposition with the world. Will it be easy? NOPE! In today's episode, we learn from Daniel's example. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The world we are living in may seem different to us because the vehicle with which Satan is working is different, but his strategy is always the same. Deception and hatred. Division and hostility.  Jeremiah was chosen by God, sent by God, and strengthened by God to do the will of God in times just like these. And so were you. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The Old Testament prophets were not regular teachers of the scriptures.  God raised up these specific men at specific times during Isreal's history to declare a specific message which they shared verbally and through symbolic actions. By the time Isaiah becomes one of God's chosen prophets, the people have long forgotten God's promises and have taken on the gods of the world around them. But Isaiah has a message for them. One of hope and grace and glory for this rebellious people. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The entire book of Proverbs is wisdom that is practical in application, teaches righteousness, justice and fairness from a Godly perspective, and promotes continued spiritual growth no matter your age or spiritual maturity.  You will continue to struggle with sin this side of heaven which means there will always be the opportunity to be sanctified and grow holier. Proverbs 1:7 is a powerful verse because it cuts straight through the fluff and gets directly to the point. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction." Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The Lord is your shepherd. He knows you by name. He cares about what you care about and He wants you to follow Him because He knows what is best for you. Are you struggling to know how to do that though? Do you want to trust His leading but it has been so long since you have experienced it that you don't even know where to look for it? Find comfort in King David's words today. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The book of Job makes Christians uncomfortable. It begs the question, "Is God good and just in His rule of the world?” Friend, loving God only when you are getting what you want from Him will end in disaster. The reality is you will suffer in this life. You will suffer because of sin. You will suffer because of natural circumstances. And you will suffer because God is testing and strengthening your faith. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

So what's the difference between influencing someone and manipulating them? I mean, both Hamon and Esther wanted to produce the desired outcome that would benefit them. Both go to the king and intend on convincing him to do what they think is best. So what makes what Hamon did “wrong” and what Esther did “right?” Motivation. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

There have been many times I have read the words on the page and wondered what they had to do with me. What does the life of Nehemiah, an exiled Jew who becomes the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, who takes on the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem after they have been destroyed, have to do with you while you are running errands, driving kids to and from after school activities and making sure the household budget is balanced? Well, let's find out, shall we? I learned to answer 3 very simple, very direct questions after reading a verse or passage in the Bible. What? So what? And now what?  In this episode, we practice answering these questions together. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

There are so many amazing takeaways from this passage of scripture where Elijah is used by God to demonstrate is incredible power! 1) God provides for your needs even when it doesn't seem remotely possible that He will be able to. He gives you just enough. 2) A divided heart is just as bad as one in full rebellion. You cannot worship God AND ___________ (fill in the blank). 3) Fear is Satan's most powerful weapon against you because it blinds you from what God has already done and what He promises He will do. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The God-given wisdom that I spoke about in Day 31's devotional had brought peace and prosperity to the kingdom, something that never happened during the reign of King David. And yet even the wisest king still makes bad choices! Solomon ended up with 700 foreign wives and 300 concubines and, to keep them happy, built alters so they can worship their gods. What is even worse is that he joins in!! And God is not happy about it! Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

If God offered to give you ANYthing you wanted, what would ask for? Would it be for wisdom on how to rule His people justly? Let's be honest, probably not. Not that you would seek riches and fame, but would more likely ask for health, safety, and salvation for your family. And while these things are good to ask God for, they are not as good as asking for wisdom. Why not? What exactly is wisdom and why should we want it? Listen to today's episode to find out! Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

While Day 29's devotional was all about David as a man of integrity and honor, today's episode shows a very different side of him. For starters, he wasn't where he belonged which made him an easy target for temptation. Then he used his authority to cause Bathsheba to commit adultry. Finally, he "sin-stacked" and killed her husband in hope that it would cover up what he had done. As a Christian woman, you might not think there is much about David's actions that apply to you today, but I challenge you to listen to this episode and ask God to reveal anything that needs to be dealt with in your heart. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Meet David. The most well-known man in the Bible short of Jesus, David is the youngest of the 8 sons of Jesse. He is small in stature and has spent his life thus far as a shepherd boy. And when he hears the Philistine giant insulting the God of the Israelites, he tells King Saul that he will fight him. David's source of confidence is not in his own abilities. He has full confidence that he will defeat Goliath because God is with him. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

So what kind of king did Israel get? He was taller and more handsome than any other man in Israel. Sounds like he has the stature of a king for sure, but what of his heart? Today's passage is a reminder that we ought to be careful to claim that what we are doing is in the name of the Lord when it is actually for our own comfort and benefit.  God knows your heart and your outward obedience is worthless without genuine inward devotion. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Samuel becomes Israel's prophet and he appointed his own son's as judges over Israel. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to fare any better with his sons than Eli did. The people go to him and demand that he appoint them a king to lead them. And, at first, we can't really blame them. I mean, the system that is in place hasn't been working out all that well for them. BUT...their hearts are exposed when, after Samuel warns them of what a king will do to them, they continue to push for a king so that they could be like the nations around them. Before you judge their rejection of the Lord, examine your own life and take an honest assessment of whether or not YOU are living more like culture than for Christ. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Have you ever been upset and someone, particularly a man, tries to comfort you and it just is no help at all?  Today, our devotional starts out with this very scenario. The book 1 Samuel opens up with a recipe for disaster in human terms, but God is always at work. In today's episode, we learn 2 very important Truths about living out our faith as Christian women from the adults in Samuel's life. First, pray unashamedly with the expectation that God will answer. Second, be more concerned about your children's souls than their comfort. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

God sees Ruth's heart is to do what is honorable and He directs her steps to protect her. In 2:3 it says, "So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech." For anyone who may have missed the theme of every single devotional episode up to this point, let me put this simply - NOTHING JUST HAPPENS. PERIOD. Ruth's life is a picture of the redemption the Believers experience through Christ and that matters to you today.  Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Meet Samson. Israel's 12th and final judge. He was involuntarily devoted to be a Nazirite from birth. Developed unparalleled strength along with a bad temper as he grew. Violated the commands of the Lord throughout his life. Became tragically entangled with the culture he was meant to destroy and lived a life of continued unfaithfulness.  Samson is what we call a “hot mess” and yet...God used him. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Much of the account of Gideon in Judges shows him to be a man who lacked faith. But did God use him despite his lack of faith? Yes! His grace covers Gideon's foolishness. And while we should be thankful that God graces covers us in moments when we lack faith, let's not use Gideon's example as an excuse. It is okay to be afraid of what our future holds, particularly when God is leading us to do something dangerous. Fear is not sinful, but denying God's sovereign power and testing Him IS. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Now here are 2 women you don't want to mess with!! Whether you are a working woman who has to stop what she is doing to make sure someone does their job, like Deborah was OR a SAHM mom who is taking care of her home and family day in and day out, like Jael, you are in a position to do important things that have a major impact on the kingdom of God because you are exactly where God wants you to be. He can and will use you to fulfill His plans. Your job is simply to be a woman of faith. (There are arguments made about the Bible that accuse it of silencing women, suggesting that they are less than men and that it promotes their mistreatment and even abuse. Judges chapter 4, my friend, tuck that one in your back pocket the next time someone tries to pull that with you, okay?) Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

“And they said to Joshua, “ Truly, the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” Wow - that's a pretty bold statement and not one that should have been made lightly considering that last time the spies claimed the cities were fortified and the land had giants So what was it that gave them such assurance of success this time around? Her name was Rahab and she was a prostitute in the city of Jericho. In this episode we will be reminded that God uses whomever He chooses despite their many imperfections, their past mistakes, and their current fears Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The time has arrived for Isreal to finally cross the Jordan River into the Promised land BUT remember that God told Moses and Aaron that they wouldn't be allowed to enter.  So means Israel needs a new leader. Unlike his predecessor, Joshua does not shrink away from this honor. This could be a sign of total trust in the Lord or a sign that he is foolishly optimistic - leading this nation was not an easy job!  Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

As the Israelites slowly make their way closer and closer to the border of the Promised Land, king after king tries to defeat them. But God is with the people and they are unstoppable! So King Balak tries something different. He calls on Balaam, a pagan seer to curse the people in hope that it will give him the "spiritual edge" he needs. And it doesn't quite work out the way he is hoping it would! Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

40 years of wandering. 40 years of complaining. And this time, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Moses loses his cool and God doesn't take it lightly at all! Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The people have arrived on the edge of the Promised Land and God tells Moses to send spies into the land to check it out. Why? Well, remember, it's been a hot minute since Jacob moved his entire family from Canaan to Egypt. And while he and his family may have been living in peace with the people half a century ago, things have changed just a wee bit.  Not only do 10 of the 12 spies report back that it is too risky to try and take over the land, the people even talk about returning to Egypt to be slaves again. Guess how well THAT went over with God? Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

If you have ever read through the entire Bible, or attempted to but didn't quite make it, you may have found your eyes glossed over and your mind wandered as you read through the book of Leviticus. The entire book lays out the instructions from God regarding both the ritual and ethical commands He gives the Jews to follow and it can be a little hard to get through. But as Believers today, we don't follow the sacrificial system or dietary laws so why bother studying this book of the Bible at all? Because it gives us a deeper understanding of God's entire plan and helps us put together the pieces of the puzzle that show us the incredible picture of our salvation through Christ. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Have you ever dealt with a child that told you a blatant lie? I'm not the one that left the wet towel in heap in the bathroom. My teacher never told me about the test or the homework so it's not my fault I'm is failing the class. My friends wanted to worship a god so they gave me their gold jewelry. I threw it into the fire and a gold cow just jumped up out of the flames! (Seriously, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that one…) As ridiculous as it might seem to us, the fact is that what the Israelites did was REALLY sinful and God takes sin REALLY seriously! Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

The 10 Commandments were part of the "Old Covenant" so do they actually apply to Believers today? The thing about God's Word is that we don't get to pick and choose what we want to obey and what we don't. It's not a buffet! This is why it is important that we take the time to study: what the laws given by God were, what they meant, how they applied to the Israelites in biblical times and how they apply to Christians today. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

God uses the 10 plagues, not just so that God can show Pharoh whose boss, but He will use them to remind the Israelites who He is and what He can do. And this wasn't His "back-up plan" when Pharoh didn't agree to let the Israelites go right out of the gate. God actually hardened Pharoh's Himself! God intends for His power to be on display, not just for His enemies, but for His own people to see. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Moses is roughly 80 years old when God appears to him in the burning bush and tells him that he will be the one that God uses to liberate the Israelites from slavery. What an opportunity, right? Well, Moses doesn't seem to think so. But Moses's opinion of himself is not a concern of God's and neither is yours. God's plans for your life will never be accomplished because of what you think you can do based on who you think you are. His plans for you are achieved because of what He knows He can do based on who He knows He is. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

Joseph could not have survived all that he went through without relying daily on God's strength to get in him through it all. But what will he do now that his brothers are at his mercy?  Does he still need to rely on God to take care of him? Will he still act with integrity or will he take his revenge? This Bible account rivals the plot of any great drama! Grab your popcorn and a drink and find out what happens AND how you can apply Joseph's story to your life today. Sign up to get your copy of the FREE reading plan HERE. Sign up for the FREE 5 Day Email Series: How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day HERE.

I love this bible account and hate it! It's hard to trust God when things keep getting worse. When prayers seem to go unanswered. When living with integrity feels like a punishment. Joseph's life as a whole is an example to us of trusting God through the trials we experience when it looks like things just keep getting worse. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE. Sign up for the FREE 5 Day email series: How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day HERE.

Jacob agrees to serve his uncle for 7 years in return for Rachel's hand in marriage only to be tricked into marrying her sister, Leah. Do you know what the Bible says Jacob actually said to Laban?! "Why then have you deceived me?” BAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm sorry, is it wrong to laugh? It probably is but seriously Jacob - YOU of ALL people are upset about being deceived?!! Don't be surprised when God puts obstacles in your path that prevent you from enjoying things that draw you away from Him or puts you in situations that expose your sin so that you have to deal with it. This is how God sanctifies you and makes you more like Jesus. Listen to the special episode about Leah HERE. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE.

God is in control of everything and yet you still have free will to make your own choices. How do you reconcile that?! Can you be held responsible for unGodly choices if He is working out His plan? That's exactly what we are talking about in today's devotional on Jacob and Esau. God's sovereignty and your free will are 2 sides of the same coin. Both exist at the same time and though you can see them at work together, you will never truly understand how they work together. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! Sign up for the email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day HERE Learn more about the Faith Habits course & mentorship HERE

How could an old-fashioned tradition of arranged marriage possibly apply to your life as a modern, busy woman? Believe it or not, there are 3 huge ways this biblical account applies to you today... 1) Work heartily for the Lord 2) Pray before you take action and expect God to grant you success when you are following His plan 3) Look for small ways to serve those around you so that God can use you to answer their prayers Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! The email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day is now a VIDEO SERIES. Check it out HERE Learn more about The Busy Woman's Guide to Growing Your Faith course & mentorship HERE. Follow me on Instagram @alisonsimmons.bible

Destruction for a wicked city... Rescue for Lot and his family... Judgment for Lot's wife... Good news and a warning for Believers today... Believers are not just from destruction here on earth, but from the eternal fires of hell. But understand that your heart matters. Without it, your obedience doesn't. Listen to Ep 6 - What is a Real Relationship with Jesus HERE. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! Sign up for the email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day HERE Learn more about the Faith Habits course & mentorship HERE

Just another classic love story... Boy meets girl. Boy and girl get married. Girl tells boy to have a baby with another girl. Boy agrees. Girl gets SUPER MAD about it! Well, classic if you were watching a reality show on TV, right? Believe it or not, this is the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. Resources: Sign up to get the FREE reading plan & reflection questions for this devotional HERE. Which woman of the Bible describes your faith best? Take this quiz and find out! Sign up for the email series How to Grow Closer to God in Just 5 min a Day HERE Learn more about the Faith Habits course & mentorship HERE