Have you ever tried biblical counseling? What is it anyway? Why would it be helpful?

Biblical counseling helps all people, but especially those who are low on hope. It can help identify the things in your life you wish would change, but you just can’t figure out how to change.

The Bible is our source of wisdom. It shows us what to do to feel more connected to God and other people.

Join me for a brief discussion of the benefits of biblical counseling. We will see that Romans 5:1-5 offers us a picture of that hope that we need. Transformation happens when we walk with God and other people in loving relationships.

Pick up a copy of Paul Tripp’s Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands for a great start on your own journey of being a biblical counselor for yourself and others.

Would you like to book your first session with me? You can find my calendar here.

This week was the one-year anniversary of the publication of Drink from the River of Delight: Welcome to God’s Healing Space in His Word. Celebrate by giving a copy to someone you love!

It’s the holiday season! I love celebrations with friends and family, and I anticipate a lot of good conversations. Let’s pray for wisdom—that we can spread life, light, and freedom with our words.

See Psalm 141:3, Proverbs 8, Proverbs 10:11, Proverbs 11:12-13.

As we behold Jesus, we will speak with wisdom, and our words will be more like His words! I am cheering for you, and praying for God’s glory to be revealed in your words.

“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

#50daysofbeholdingJesus

Are you in a tough season of waiting? Does God seem distant or silent? Do you drag yourself out of bed every day with little hope or joy?

Today’s podcast is for you! Tammy Kennington interviewed me for her podcast, From Hardship to Hope. She interviewed me about my life, my book, and the hope I have in Jesus. We talked about seasons of waiting, uncertainty, and despair, but how God has put us in these places for good reasons. “For such a time as this,” God chose to put us here to bring His light into the dark places we live.

Many thanks to Tammy Kennington for a Holy-Spirit-filled interview.

We refer to the story of Esther in the Bible, as well as Psalm 34, 36, and 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.

Do you ever feel like God has abandoned you? Do you wonder about His plan for your life? Are you in a season of waiting right now?

This podcast with Eric Mattie and Chris Russo was filled with Holy Spirit wisdom and encouragement for weary souls. We’ve had different journeys, but our stories of faith will inspire you to dig deeper in your walk with God, to see more fruit in your life.

No matter what stage of life you are in, I know God will speak to you through this episode. We don’t have to rush through our lives, but savor these moments with the Lord, where His presence is our most precious thought. Jesus knows what waiting feels like, as He is waiting for His Bride, and for His kingdom to be fully revealed.

We reference Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 8:28, Joshua 5:13-15,1 Corinthians 13:12, and Psalm 46:10. Psalm 40:1-8 sums up the discussion well: we can wait patiently for the LORD and He will set our feet on a Rock. He delights in our surrender, obedience, and faith, especially in our wilderness season.

Today’s podcast will give you delight, practical ways to behold Jesus, and receive God’s full attention and presence. We can lean into God’s presence, knowing that He is delighting in us.

I had the pleasure of welcoming Asheritah Ciuciu, author of the book, Delighting in Jesus.

Robbers of delight include burdens, brokenness, and burnout. We mistake busy activities for discipleship, but Jesus is inviting us to sit with Him and savor His grace, love, and compassion without rushing. May we be so in tune with Jesus that we follow His pace, His methods, and His priorities (Matthew 11:28-30). He is the Vine (John 15:1-5), and He will prune us, sometimes moving us to different ministries and opportunities. Busyness can lead to burnout. He might want us to step down and let someone else receive the blessing of doing His work. Discipline is good for us, and it has nothing to do with punishment. The discipline of Hebrews 12:5-11 comes out of the love and delight of God for us.

The themes of Hebrews 12 were woven into our conversation: from delight to discipline, knowing that He delights in His children, and gives us Himself. We can receive with thanksgiving. He deserves our exclusive worship, loyalty, and love.

Receive those glimmers of joy, those little gifts from God, and God’s delight in His children. The blood of Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Let’s put ourselves under Jesus’ yoke, and follow Him so closely each day.

Share your experience with Jesus with someone! What is He saying to you?

Who do you consider to be “your people” or the community where you are seen, known, loved, and accepted? Where do you spend your time and energy serving others?

Today’s podcast is essential if you consider yourself a follower of Jesus Christ. Leaders and non-leaders in the church need to know how to live in the Body of Christ.

Find true wisdom from Bill Faris MPC who has decades of experience in leadership in the church, and has a shepherd’s heart for others.

We talk about benefits of community, how to foster community, the role of leaders and non-leaders, navigating hurt with correct expectations, and feeling safe in community.

We mentioned Corrie Ten Boom, and her story, The Hiding Place, and the book, You’re Not Crazy, by Ray Ortlund Jr., and Sam Allberry about gospel culture. We referred to a TED talk by Johann Hari, called “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong,” emphasizing that connection to a community is essential for overcoming addiction.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Let’s join in prayer for the purity and unity of the Church, the Body of Christ. He walks among His people, and we can see our new identity as being His people, and call them “my people.”

Psalm 133 is so good about peaceful life in community, descending in humility, and enjoying the honor and glory of Jesus together. What a blessing to be a part of the Body of Christ! Don’t skip church, and don’t close off your heart to others. We can fight sin together. Please share this with others—it’s also available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. Comment below on what you love about the Body of Christ!

I just got back from the Revive Our Hearts True Woman 2025 conference in Indianapolis. It was a wonderful time, and I am so full of good Bible teaching, fellowship, and worship.

Today, I want to remind us to speak to ourselves and others with warmth, welcome, gentleness, and respect. Harshness is not a fruit of the Spirit.

Let’s continue to behold Jesus together, remembering John 1:14-18. We have received grace upon grace, and He is full of grace and truth. Let steadfast love and faithfulness abound, as we are transformed into His image, from one degree of glory to the next.

If you haven’t subscribed to the 50 day challenge of beholding Jesus, it’s not too late!

Janet S Abadir

Looking for some wisdom today?

Here’s a replay of my first podcast with Bill Faris MPC from a few months ago (unedited), now in its entirety for the first time.

There is so much wisdom and godliness in this conversation. It’s worth a re-listen, and worth sharing with someone struggling with unforgiveness, relationship difficulties, or boundary issues. May you grow in your humility and faith and delight.

Have you ever fixed something with tape? It may work for a short time, but it falls apart with too much stress.

Have you been choosing a quick-fix for your problems? Do your relationships need some help?

Here’s some help fighting unforgiveness, pride, and foolish unbelief.

Let’s ask God to help us believe His Word. The Holy Spirit can make it real to our hearts. Receive the forgiveness offered to you by the blood of Jesus. Receive the humility of Jesus. Receive meekness so you can believe these truths from the Bible.

Click here for another podcast episode on forgiveness.

In conclusion, the doctrine that God is incomparable is useful to God’s people by way of comfort. When we take the incomparable God as our God, we are incomparably blessed. People are as happy and miserable as the god whom they serve, for nothing can provide more happiness than it has in itself. Those who serve the flesh as their god are miserable (Romans 16:18; Philippians 3:18) because their god is vile, weak, deceitful, and transitory (Psalm 49:20, 73:25; Isaiah 31:3; Jeremiah 17:9). Similarly, those who prize the world as their god are miserable because their god is vain, troublesome, uncertain, and fleeting (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, 5:10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; I Timothy 6:9-10). But those who have an interest in this great God are happy: “Happy is that people whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 144:15).

George Swinnock (1627-1673) The Blessed and Boundless God

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:5-6

Only God can tell you what the meaning of life is, because God made you.

God is Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and so God is relational. He created us to enjoy relationship with Him. The meaning of life therefore must be deep relationships.

First, we need to have deep relationship with God. Only then will we have healthy relationships with others.

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinful people. Peace with God only comes through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

Are you struggling with unforgiveness? This video exercise will help, and you can use it as often as you need.

Tune in for more next week on belonging to God, and being “His people.”

2 Corinthians 5:17–21

[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [18] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)