Faith and Soul Care | Grow Closer to God | How To Find Joy In Life Again | Spiritual Growth | Biblical Counseling | Christian Mindfulness

Part 1: How Prayer Journaling Strengthens and Transforms Spiritual Growth | Soul Care | Christian Counseling Biblical

Resources Mentioned:

Prayer Journal Designed by Sherry Elaine:   https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Reflection-Journal-Gospel-Learning/dp/B0DTSWNN53

Women's Connection Cohorts Notification:  https://sherryelaine.com/courses

 

The Importance of Writing Down Prayers

If we don’t write down our prayers, we often forget what we prayed for. And if we forget what we prayed for, we may not recognize when God answers.

For example, let’s say I prayed, Lord, please protect me from getting sick this month. Then life gets busy, and I forget I even prayed that. A month later, I look back and realize—wow, I didn’t get sick! That was an answered prayer. But without writing it down, I might have completely overlooked God’s faithfulness in that moment.

Prayer journaling helps us see patterns, too. You begin to notice:

• Some prayers are answered quickly.
• Some take time.
• Some are answered in ways you never expected.

And you also begin to see the truth of what the Bible tells us: If we pray according to His will, He hears us and answers us.

When God Says No

Of course, not every prayer gets a “yes.” In the past two months, I’ve had about three prayers where the answer was clearly no. One of them involved an important decision I had to make. And while I may not fully understand why yet, I trust that God’s no was for my good.

Looking at my journal, I can see how often God has been faithful, even in the times when the answer was different than what I hoped for. And this is why keeping track of your prayers can be so powerful—it strengthens your faith and gives you confidence in God’s timing and wisdom.

How to Find Joy and Purpose in God | Greek Word: Meno for Abide or Abiding | John 15:11 Teaching | Abide in Me Meaning

Focusing on another key word: meno, which is deeply connected to abiding in joy through Christ.

Jesus said in John 15:9-11:

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."

That word remain is also translated as abide—the Greek word meno.

The Greek word meno means to stay, dwell, or continue. It is an active and ongoing process. However, it’s not about striving harder to be with Christ or trying to accomplish more for Him. Instead, it’s about resting in His love and staying connected to Him in our daily lives.

Notice that Jesus connects abiding with joy. He doesn’t say, “Try harder, do more, and you’ll eventually find joy.” Instead, He tells us that true joy is a natural outcome of abiding—of remaining—of staying close to Him.

 

Big Announcement:

Women's Online Connection Cohorts are beginning! This will be an unprecedented and transformative small group opportunity. Go to:

http://www.sherryelaine.com/cohorts and sign up for email notifications to get the information on the Women's Connection Cohorts. Additionally, then BE SURE to check your email and your spam/junk folder to CONFIRM your opt-in to this notification list. 

Sherry's Featured Books on Amazon: https://www.sherryelaine.com/books

Prayer Journal Designed by Sherry for Gospel Life Learning: Prayer and Reflection Journal

Main Site:  http://www.sherryelaine.com

Blog Site: http://www.gospellifelearning.com

 

How to Set Your Mind & Rewire Your Brain Weekly as a Christian | Spiritual Growth | Finding Purpose in God | Greek "set your mind" | phroneo | Colossians 3:2

Resources Mentioned:

Prayer Journal Mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Reflection-Journal-Gospel-Learning/dp/B0DTSWNN53

 

Women's Connection Cohorts:  http://www.sherryelaine.com/cohorts

Read all Faith and Soul Care podcast transcripts at  http://www.gospellifelearning.com

Book: Closer to God: Simple Method's Starting Today https://www.amazon.com/Closer-God-Simple-Methods-Starting-ebook/dp/B078S23DBZ

Book: Words of Jesus Bible Study: 10 Weeks on Christ's Teachings https://www.amazon.com/Words-Jesus-Bible-Study-Teachings-ebook/dp/B00HQ5NLYE

All Books on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans/author/B0073HVSD6

 

Let’s explore how the Greek words phroneó and ménō reveal the key to living intentionally with a heart anchored in God’s truth and joy.

The Greek Word Phroneó—Setting Your Mind with Focus

Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

That phrase, set your minds, comes from the Greek word phroneó, which means to have a mindset or to direct your thoughts intentionally. This isn't a passive practice. It’s an active, deliberate focusing of our mental and emotional energy on eternal truths rather than on the temporary distractions or upsets that occur throughout our day.

One way I implement this practice is through weekly reflection. I write down what I’m struggling with—whether it’s a difficult situation or a negative thought pattern. Then, I find a Scripture verse that directly speaks to that struggle, and I make it my verse of the week to meditate on and pray over.

In the prayer journal I recently designed, there’s a weekly page dedicated to this type of reflection.

Living Intentionally and Finding Your Purpose in God | Greek word peripateo | Hebrew word simchah

Today, we are diving into the topic of living with intention—living with intention to find joy in life and to enjoy life day by day. This is a biblical perspective.

| Ephesians 5:15-17 | Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 Exegesis

Have you ever found yourself just going through the motions? Maybe days or even weeks just blur together—just routines and obligations—a rut but no sense of purpose or joy in your days. Today, we're going to explore what Scripture says about living intentionally. And I'm not talking about just being productive or just setting goals, but intentionally seeking and finding the joy in life that God wants for us.

Big Announcement:

Women's Online Connection Cohorts are beginning! This will be an unprecedented and transformative small group opportunity. Go to:

http://www.sherryelaine.com/cohorts and sign up for email notifications to get the information on the Women's Connection Cohorts. Additionally, then BE SURE to check your email and your spam/junk folder to CONFIRM your opt-in to this notification list. 

http://www.sherryelaine.com

http://www.gospellifelearning.com

Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherry-Elaine-Evans

What Is the Soul? What Is the Greek Word for Soul? How Do We Care For Our Soul Biblically?

This episodes answers these questions: What Is the Soul? What Is the Greek Word for Soul? How Do We Care For Our Soul Biblically? There are three main ways the Bible instructs us to care for our souls. 

Websites and Resources mentioned in this episode:

Go to sherryelaine.com and go to the Free Resources tab or the Cohorts tab to fill out the quick form get on our email notification list. You will then receive a free download of the new Prayer and Reflection Journal pages designed by Sherry to help you experience how using the journal can strengthen your prayer life and your faith, as well as generally give you a sense of purpose day to day.  You will also receive first notification for when the new Online Connection Cohorts for women become open for signing up! 

sherryelaine.com

gospellifelearning.com

 

What Is the Greek Word Logos in John 1? | The Word | New Testament

In Greek philosophy in the time of Jesus and his disciples, logos when used in this context with origins (like it is being used here – arche (origins) and logos –it was referring to a principle - whatever it was - that was the organizing principle of the universe. Think of it as the force and reasoning behind creation—that holds everything together. Logos was used in this manner going back at least to Heraclitus, 500 years BC, who used it to refer to the order and sustaining of the cosmos. Logos continued to be used in this way across the centuries and it was present in writings Philo – a Jewish philosopher – who lived at the same time of Jesus and his disciples. One of the definitions of logos in a more general sense meant the “expression of thought,” and it conveys purposeful, active, organizational thinking and reasoning, and planning.

What Is the Greek Word for Holy? Can We Actually Be Holy?

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The word Holy seems to be used everywhere in reference to people, places, or things related to the religion and faith. The Greek word for holy is hagios. Hagios means holy. But what does holy mean? I know when I first think of something being holy, I envision a picture or vision of something glowing and radiating out golden rays of light, pure and undefiled and sinless, or if in reference to a human,someone who you would be “shocked” to find out they had committed a major sin. You know – the holy people among us! But what does it mean when, in the New Testament, in 1st Peter 1, for example – where I was reading this week. When we are taught that we, as believers and as followers of Christ – that we are to be holy? And not just that one day we are going to be perfected and holy and pure in God’s kingdom, but that we are to be holy now? And not just when times are good, but when times are really bad. The letter from Peter was written to Christians who had been scattered and exiled and were under intense persecution. Can you imagine being beaten or imprisoned or suffering at the hands of Rome and Peter – of all the disciples – the very impulsive Peter - sends you a letter saying “Remember, Be Holy!”

What is the Faith that Jesus Requires? Greek Word for Faith In the Bible - Pistis, Pisteuo

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Faith is critical to understanding God, following Jesus, and living the Christian life. Furthermore, faith – we are told in the Bible – is what gives us assurance of salvation. So what is faith? Moreover, what is biblical faith; what is New Testament faith? Or what did Jesus mean… or specifically, what did the disciples and Paul mean when they wrote the pistis…the Greek word that is usually translated faith?

Have we actually been taught or do we truly know what biblical faith is? And do you know what – the word pistis, or the word usually translated faith in the New Testament – is in the New Testament over 240 times. And guess what – the word pistis in all its forms is translated three different ways. Sometimes it is translated as “faith,” sometimes it is translated as “belief,” and sometimes it is translated as “trust.” In actuality, biblical faith – pistis – is both belief with trust. See, most translations of the Bible are a word for word or thought for thought translation. This means that it is the goal of the translators to choose one word in English to best represent the underlying Greek word, or in thought to thought translation – to choose to translate the underlying Greek word with the corresponding English thought, using as short a phrase as needed. What this means is that when we read our English New Testaments, in some cases, we lose some of the richness and some of the preciseness of the original language, and in other cases – we cannot be sure whether the word was intended to be translated one way or another. At that point, translation scholars, look at the overall context and the tenses and forms of the words to determine what is most likely the most appropriate translation. It is clear though – that in the New Testament, the word pistis is best translationed “belief with trust.” I will show you some examples here in the Greek grammar books. Belief with trust, Belief assuming trust.