Dive into a good ebook this holiday season.

We have 100-plus titles marked down right now at Vyrso.com, including an exclusive digital edition of John Piper’s Good News of Great Joy—free! And we’re giving away a Logos 5 Gold base package! You won’t find this offer anywhere else!

We’re also offering Kirkdale Press’ The Lotus Keeper for just $2.99. Here are some more top deals available all weekend:

- The Deliberate Church by Mark Dever: just $3.99
- Vertical Church by James MacDonald: just $4.99
- Called to Lead by John Crosby: just $2.99

What’s more, we’re offering some very-limited-time deals averaging 75% off:

- Finding Christmas by James Calvin Schaap: FREE!
- The Front Line by John Bornschein: just $3.99
- An Amish Christmas by Beth Wiseman: $6.62

These are just a few of our terrific Black Friday offers. Check back all weekend long for new deals every day, and start browsing now!

When pastor and blogger Jarrid Wilson asked fellow Christians what they were struggling with most in their walk with Christ, a startling majority responded, “spending time with God.” To help them, Wilson wrote 30 Words: A Devotional for the Rest of Us. A daily devotional, 30 Words gives readers a new word for 30 days, accompanied by Scripture, teachings, and a challenge to live out the Word.

Research suggests that it takes 30 days to form a habit, and Wilson wants us to make spending time with God our new habit.

Enjoy this excerpt from 30 Words: A Devotional for the Rest of Us:

Sacrifice

Regardless of your religious beliefs, attempting to kill your only son because someone told you to will always sound a little bit strange. It’s because of this that the story of Abraham and Isaac is one of the most controversial and discussed stories of all biblical text.

I’m not trying to bash this story. I believe it paints a powerful picture for us in regard to our faith, making us consider to what extremes we would go to prove our faith.

Here’s the back story: God has continually promised Abraham an heir through his wife, Sarah; He has also promised Abraham that his descendants would come through this son. When she is 90 years old, Sarah gives birth to Isaac. Then, not long after this, God calls Abraham to offer up his only son as a worthy sacrifice. Genesis 22:9–10 describes the experience:

When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.

The word “sacrifice” can be defined as giving up something for the sake of something or someone else. God requests that Abraham sacrifice the very thing he loves dearly to test whether Abraham fully trusts in Him and has placed his heart fully in Him. He is looking for Abraham to prove his faith.

From Abraham’s story, we see just how epic of a statement a sacrifice can make. We also get a picture of just how much God loves us: He spared Abraham from having to give up his son, but for us, God sacrificed His only son so that we could know Him.

How much would you sacrifice for someone you loved? What would you give up to prove your love for God?

Verse of the Day:

Romans 12:1: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (NLT)

Challenge:

Give up something you know is hindering your relationship with God. It may be something as simple as TV, or something as harmful as drugs. Regardless, anything hindering your relationship with God is something you can live without. Today is your day to make a change for the better and step into a new way of living.

* * *

You can radically improve the time you spend with God. For only $3.99, get your copy of 30 Words: A Devotional for The Rest of Us today!

Have you ever felt that life couldn’t get any worse? Or asked God why he allows suffering and struggle? If you have, you’ll appreciate Tullian Tchividjian’s Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free, in which Tchividjian eloquently approaches suffering’s reality and the Gospel’s comfort for all of us who seem to be broken.

This ebook is more about the hope that we find at the cross than it is about the whys and hows of alleviating suffering. Tchividjian offers you, the sufferer, the chance to live a life of glorious freedom.

Here’s an excerpt from Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free:

I heard something on the radio recently that made me pull my car over to the side of the road. A young woman named Sara was telling the story of her family’s very public fall from grace. She grew up in a privileged family—enormous house, beautiful clothes, expensive cars (and schools), and country club memberships. Everything in her life growing up was very prim and proper. But Sara claimed that despite the excess that could be seen from the outside, on the inside, her home environment was one of constraint:

Rules were very important. Etiquette, very important. And my dad’s insane temper could be set off by the slightest offense. When I heard the Porsche rumble up the driveway every day when he came home, I would run into my room and hide. Because maybe today would be the day he found the candy wrapper in the sofa cushion…. It was all just all about avoiding awakening the bee’s nest.

Sara went on to describe the fateful day when her parents called a family meeting to tell the children that her father had done something very wrong and was going to have to pay. He embezzled much of their money, it turned out, from a trust fund of one of his disabled clients. In other words, he stole it. Her father, who was a prominent lawyer, wept on the couch as he confessed his wrongdoing to his children. The guilt-induced suffering became too much to bear. He couldn’t live with his wrongdoing any longer. “We’re going to have to start over. We are going to rebuild our lives.” Sara then shared how her father was disbarred from practicing law, how they had to sell their house and cars and move to the other side of town. Her mother went to work. The scandal made headlines. At school, kids teased Sara for being the daughter of a “bankrobber.” And yet in that death—of security, wealth, achievement, identity, etc.—we find out that new life is born.
The radio commentary described it this way:

But my dad was instantly better…. He was happy. He chewed gum, which didn’t happen before. And wasn’t such an … all the time.

Commenting on this story, Ethan Richardson wrote:

With less money, the family gave more. With less status, they imputed status upon those who had none. In becoming the judged, they relinquished their judgments. Downward mobility was now the name of the game: the formerly constrained household became a “free for all.”… In being freed from their bondage to the law of progress and upward mobility, Sara’s family was now able to live in the reality of downward-directed love.

Wow.

Sara’s story is a powerful testimony of how suffering can liberate us, a tangible echo of the theology of the cross. The suffering of Sara’s father was self-inflicted, as much suffering is, but there was nothing minimal about it. There is zero sense that he viewed his crisis as an avenue for personal growth. And yet real transformation did happen! The disaster actually freed him from himself: from his attachment to his possessions (and affections), from his obsession with appearances, from his judgments of others, from his need to remain upwardly mobile, and the list goes on.

Failure, it turns out, was his gateway to freedom.

If you didn’t catch the Logos Talk piece about the Glorious Ruin Tour, I encourage you to check it out here. You can learn more about the tour and enter to win an iPad from David C. Cook and Logos!

And if you enjoyed this excerpt, be sure to get your copy of Glorious Ruin today!

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit ministry dedicated to teaching the principles of God’s Word and assisting the church in ministering to the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled, and unsupported people around the world.  His ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions, and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity.

We were able to talk to Randy about Money, Possessions, and Eternity and how to have a biblically centered mindset regarding our treasures.  Because of Randy’s rich answers to each of our questions, we’ve broken this interview into a four-part miniseries on finances. This is the fourth and final piece in the series—enjoy!

Vyrso Voice: How would you describe the process of weaning yourself off your dependence to stuff? Are there withdrawals? A detox process?

Randy Alcorn: I think one of the most basic ways we can begin weaning ourselves from our dependence to stuff is by realizing that you can’t take it with you. You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U­Haul. If that point is clear in your mind, you’re ready to see the paradigm­shifting significance of what Jesus is saying in Matthew 6. He takes that profound truth “You can’t take it with you” and adds a stunning qualification. By telling us not to store up treasures on earth, but instead to store up treasures for ourselves in Heaven, Jesus is saying, “You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead.”

Matthew 6:19-24 shows us that we’re to avoid storing up treasures on earth not as an end in itself, but as part of a life strategy to lay up treasures in heaven. A person may give up all earthly treasures without ever investing in heavenly treasures. Jesus is not looking for ascetics or hermits, but eternity-wise investors. Jesus is not speculating, he’s speaking of sure things. When he warns us not to store up treasures on earth, it’s not just because wealth might be lost. It’s that wealth will definitely be lost. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die.

Whatever treasures we store up on Earth will be left behind when we die. Whatever treasures we store up in Heaven will be waiting for us when we arrive.

If your treasures are on earth, each day you are moving away from them. If your treasures are in heaven, each day you are moving toward them.

He who spends his life moving away from his treasures has reason to despair. He who spends his life moving toward his treasures has reason to rejoice.

It’s a revolutionary concept, this great adventure of giving. If you embrace it, I guarantee it will change your life.

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit ministry dedicated to teaching the principles of God’s Word and assisting the church in ministering to the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled, and unsupported people around the world.  His ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions, and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity.

We were able to talk to Randy about Money, Possessions, and Eternity and how to have a biblically centered mindset regarding our treasures. Because of Randy’s rich answers to each of our questions, we’ve broken this interview into a four-part miniseries on finances. Be sure to check back tomorrow for part 4.

Vyrso Voice: When judging your relationship to money and stuff, where is a good place to start? How do you make an honest assessment of your relationship to your possessions?

Randy Alcorn: Many of us have never known what it is not to be materialistic. This is why we need so desperately to read the Scriptures, grapple with these issues, bring them to God in prayer, discuss them with our brothers and sisters, and look for and learn from those rare models of generous living in our Christian communities.

In the parable of the great banquet, Jesus describes invitations that went out to three men (Luke 14:16-24). All three declined. One said he had to go look at his newly bought field. Another had just gotten married and didn’t have the time. The third man had just purchased five yoke of oxen and was anxious to try them out. The master is angered by these excuses, and he orders his servants to “go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” Speaking of those originally invited, who were preoccupied with other concerns, Jesus said, “I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet” (Luke 14:24).

There was nothing wrong with what any of the three men were involved in. They didn’t stay away from the banquet because they were stealing or committing adultery. They stayed away because they had more pressing concerns—a new field, a new wife, a new herd. But regardless of their reasons—good or bad—the bottom line was the same: They were so preoccupied with their new treasures that they said no to the banquet giver and missed the banquet. Significantly, those without material resources were available to accept the invitation.

I think we need to ask ourselves tough questions. Including, for what seemingly good, legitimate, and compelling reasons am I saying no to God? Are my possessions and other pressing concerns causing me to miss the banquet? How would my family and I benefit, and how would God’s kingdom be furthered, if we gave away those possessions?

The only way to break free of materialism is through giving. God hasn’t entrusted us with so much to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving. So why not liquidate some assets and cut expenditures, and give increasingly more to God’s kingdom? Why not draw a line and say “this much and no more—we can live comfortably on this level of income, Lord; if you provide more than that we’re going to invest the excess in your kingdom.” If you do that, you will experience great joy and you’ll sense God saying to you “Well done.” And your children will grow up in a home that’s really about God’s kingdom.

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit ministry dedicated to teaching the principles of God’s Word and assisting the church in ministering to the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled, and unsupported people around the world.  His ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions, and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity.

We were able to talk to Randy about Money, Possessions, and Eternity and how to have a biblically centered mindset regarding our treasures. Because of Randy’s rich answers to each of our questions, we’ve broken this interview into a four-part miniseries on finances. Be sure to check back tomorrow for part 3.

Vyrso Voice: It is hard for churches to address issues of money because the church has developed the reputation for being money-hungry. This definitely wasn’t how people viewed the early church. How do you think the church developed this reputation? And how do we begin to change it?

Randy Alcorn: People were amazed that the apostles were plain, ordinary men, with no great education or social status (Acts 4:13). Peter said to the crippled man, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6).

Although the leaders of the early Church and many of its first members were uneducated and poor, some of them middle class, over time some churches became wealthy, and their pastors became educated and moved to the socioeconomic status once reserved for the Pharisees. There’s nothing wrong with education or money, but certain temptations accompany the status that goes with both. The higher our social standing and the more silver and gold we have, the harder it is for others (and sometimes for us) to believe our message that Christ is our greatest asset and the center of our lives. It becomes harder to trust Christ when you have other assets you can trust.

One thing churches can do is give away large amounts of the money they collect. Our hearts go where we put our treasures, and by giving to missions and the poor and needy our hearts go to those things. That way instead of building our own little kingdom, which is a big temptation for churches, we focus on building God’s kingdom.

We’ve rationalized and justified our lust for money and possessions. Worse, we have baptized our materialism, couched it in religious terms and affirmed it as God’s plan for our lives. That’s prosperity theology, health and wealth gospel, and it’s from the pit of hell. It obscures the true gospel.

We need to ask ourselves whether a materialistic world can ever be won to Christ by a materialistic Church. I don’t think it can.

One problem is that when churches do address the subject of stewardship and giving, a fundamental mistake they often make is tying the teaching to a specific project or need. We preach on giving because the offering is down or to kick off a building fund drive. The result is that people view the instruction on giving merely as a fundraising tool, a means to the end of accomplishing our personal or institutional goals. (Indeed, often that’s just what it is.)

I recommend scheduling messages on giving when there are no special pleas to give. In a society preoccupied with money and possessions, Christians will continually be exposed to wrong thinking and living. Certainly, we cannot expect the Christian community to take Scripture seriously unless pastors clearly teach and apply it.

Fellow Christians ought to disciple each other in financial stewardship. Young believers need to see biblical lifestyle principles embodied. Those who’ve learned about the bondage of debt the hard way need to warn others. Young couples need to hear their elders tell of their joy in giving, and how God has used it in their family. Husbands and wives need to be encouraged to discuss and act on these truths.

Churches can also build credibility by actively and generously supporting Christ’s work around the world. Church budgets often designate less than 10 percent of their income to missions. And what’s called “missions” often includes ministries directed at reaching our own country or community. More than 90 percent of an average local church budget never leaves the country, it remains as part of America’s wealth. All of us should be giving regularly to our local churches, and we should encourage our leaders in turn to invest an even larger share of their church budgets in world missions.

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit ministry dedicated to teaching the principles of God’s Word and assisting the church in ministering to the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled, and unsupported people around the world.  His ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions, and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity.

We were able to talk to Randy about Money, Possessions, and Eternity and how to have a biblically centered mindset regarding our treasures. Because of Randy’s rich answers to each of our questions, we’ve broken this interview into a four-part miniseries on finances. Be sure to check back tomorrow for part 2.

Vyrso Voice: Why do you think people find it so easy to compartmentalize their relationship to stuff apart from their spirituality?

Randy Alcorn: We find it easy because materialism is the air we breathe. It’s just normal. We become blind to it, and it has blinded us to our own spiritual poverty. Jesus rebuked the Laodicean Christians because although they were materially wealthy, they were desperately poor in the things of God (Revelation 3:17-18). Puritan Richard Baxter said, “When men prosper in the world, their minds are lifted up with their estates, and they can hardly believe that they are so ill, while they feel themselves so well.”

I think one of the most basic things we need to do in order to break the bonds of materialism is to always think in terms of God’s ownership. From beginning to end, Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God’s ownership of everything. Stewardship is living in the light of that overriding truth. It’s living with the awareness that we are managers, not owners; that we are caretakers of God’s assets, which he has entrusted to us for this brief season here on earth. How we handle money and possessions demonstrates who we really believe is their true owner—God or us.

Some of us have heard that before, but the fact that it doesn’t sink in is demonstrated by how we go about spending our money. In the financial world, a good investment manager is very careful, and never takes unnecessary risks. He doesn’t do with his client’s holdings whatever he feels like. Why? Because he knows those assets don’t belong to him; they belong to his client. Good stewards always act in the owners’ best interests, consulting and listening carefully to the owner in order to understand and implement their investment priorities.

If we really believe God is the owner of all that has been entrusted to us, we should be regularly asking him, “What do you want me to do with your money and your possessions?” When we fail to do that, we demonstrate that we don’t get Stewardship 101–it all belongs to God. That has tremendous implications for our relationship to stuff, as well as our view of debt, our spending habits, and our philosophy of giving and investing in eternity.

Ever have moments in life when you wish God would speak directly to you? Moments when you’re talking with him and all you want is for him to talk back? Kirkdale Press’ newest release, The Church Sign, is about exactly that feeling. Alicia Zimmerman trusts the wrong man; seeking refuge, she escapes Canada and flees to Prescott, Arizona. She starts to rebuild her life and finds that maybe she can move on and forget the past. But before she knows it, her past starts to catch up with her, and she realizes that her secrets are more dangerous than she originally thought. The story revolves around church signs that Alicia sees at pivotal points in the story—signs that seem to be more than just coincidence, but rather answers from God himself.

The Church Sign was written by Dr. Anne Robey-Graham, a wonderful woman who worked in higher education for over 20 years and had over 30 years of experience in ministry. We’re sad to say that Anne passed away last December, leaving behind her husband, five children, and five grandchildren. But we’re grateful to have been able to publish her novel and ensure that readers hear her message—“I’d like them to see God’s goodness in everyone, not just in certain leaders.”

Here’s an excerpt from The Church Sign:

Alicia bowed her head and prayed that she would not cry, not here in front of these strangers. She didn’t know them. She didn’t know how they would respond if she did what she craved—if she fell to her knees sobbing, beat her fists on the floor, and begged God to forgive her, again. If only she could pray enough that He could forgive her foolishness.

Even in the quiet of her efficiency apartment, she could not bring herself to let go like that. She was not sure how you were supposed to pray to a God you had disappointed. Would He even listen to her anymore?

She looked around at all the other heads bowed so quietly. Some people had folded their hands politely in their laps, as if prayer required a proper pose; or perhaps their consciences were so clear that they were comfortable with God, like they were chatting with an old friend. Others sat stiffly with their heads titled slightly to one side, not completely bowing to God, but at least giving Him a nod. Others were bent over, their heads almost touching the pew in front of them.

Alicia wondered what all these prayers sounded like to God. Who was pouring out his heart? Who was desperately begging for something she wanted, believing that if only she had it, she would finally be happy? Who was trying to negotiate a favor from God? Who was crying over the sin that weighed him down as if it were strapped to his back? Who touched a lump or a sore spot as she begged for better test results? Who begged for a love to return, or grow, or cease to fade?

What did this cacophony of prayers sound like to God, who listened to every heart and heard every prayer? As Christians all over the world gathered to worship on Sundays, there must be millions, or perhaps billions, of prayers and hearts just like these rising to God.

Just then, a young boy peeked around his mother’s shoulder, stared at Alicia, and stuck out his tongue. She quickly pulled back in her seat and closed her eyes, just in time to hear the pastor say, “And we thank you for your goodness, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Soft murmurs and rustles signaled the shift from prayer time to another song. She had missed her opportunity.

As Alicia stood with the congregation, she reached for a tissue from her purse. As she moved, a sunbeam shining through the stained glass window glinted off her purse. It was just like she had hoped when she drove by the church last week. She smiled as she watched the dust motes dance in the light, and she reached out to touch them. Maybe God really did hear her prayers—at least those about dust motes and sunbeams.

Download your copy of The Church Sign today from Vyrso.com!

Charles Stanley, First Baptist Church Atlanta senior pastor, In Touch Ministries founder and president, and New York Times bestselling author, turned 80 this week. We’ve been celebrating Dr. Stanley’s ministry all week long with a huge sale on all of Charles Stanley’s ebooks on Vyrso.com (no coupon code necessary).

What’s more, we’ve discounted the brand-new 46-volume Charles Stanley Collection on Logos.com, which you can get now for only $80 with coupon code CSCOLLECTION. And we’ve taken 15% off all of Dr. Stanley’s ebooks on Logos with the coupon code CSBDAY80!

Here are just a few of the Stanley gems currently on sale:

• I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God: Retail $19.99 Now only $8.99
• Living in His Sufficiency: Learn How Christ is Sufficient for Your Every Need: Retail $9.99 Now only $4.99
• A Gift of Love: Reflections for the Tender Heart: Retail $16.99 Now only $7.99

Whether you’re getting the new Logos.com 46-volume Charles Stanley Collection for 91% off, taking 15% off any combination of Stanley’s titles on Logos.com, or saving 50% on your favorite Stanley ebooks on Vyrso.com, you need to act fast. These deals are available only through September 30!

Today’s guest post is by Valorie Burton, author of Successful Women Think Differently.

Today, scientific research is proving what the ancient wisdom of Scripture has known all along: Successful women think differently than the average woman. They make decisions differently, set goals differently, and bounce back from failure and adversity differently. They have a thought process that empowers them to produce the results they want—in their relationships, finances, work, health and even spiritually. I’ve been so intrigued by this topic that I interviewed successful women from all walks of life, just like you—from women in ministry to women CEOs—for my latest book, Successful Women Think Differently. This truth couldn’t be more evident than when a woman is faced with a major challenge.

The last couple of years have tested our collective resilience—the economic downturn and layoffs have certainly taken their toll on a lot of individual lives. Many of the people you serve in ministry have suffered, churches have felt the effects, and perhaps you have been impacted as well. But even if you haven’t been a victim of the economic challenges, it’s a safe bet you still know what it means to have a setback, whether in a relationship, your health, or dealing with any unexpected challenges. I know I do. I know what it’s like to land in a ditch, and I’ve also learned what it truly means to lean on God and press on in the face of adversity. What is it that allows some people to bounce back after a setback while others languish? What will empower you to become better as a result of a setback or challenge, rather than bitter?

In a practical sense, it is a set of skills—sometimes learned, other times innate—allowing you to persevere, manage stress, and triumph in the face of challenges. Faith’s at the core of these skills. Whether you need these skills for a current challenge, need a reminder of what you already know, or are looking for ways to help those you serve to be more resilient and successful in life, consider this list of five of the things resilient women do. Then use the accompanying coaching questions as a tool to transform your thinking and stretch you in faith:

1. They are authentic.

Resilient people are at peace with their humanity. Perhaps it’s because their mistakes along the way have humbled them, or life experiences have helped them accept their own vulnerability, but resilient people don’t let imperfections hinder them. They don’t think failing means being a “failure.” They learn as they go, making course corrections that lead them to positive outcomes.

Coach Yourself: In what way(s) does God want to use your imperfections or challenges to exemplify His grace and mercy?

2. They are flexible thinkers.

Even if occasionally, they struggle with negative thoughts, resilient women are self-aware enough to notice when their thinking is counterproductive.  They don’t fall into thinking traps such as jumping to conclusions or making assumptions. Instead, they gather the facts they need to move around obstacles and face the challenge head on.  If something isn’t working, they make adjustments until it works. They focus on the elements within their control and they exercise that control. So when faced with a cancer diagnosis, for example, they change their eating habits to aid in the recovery. When they get passed over for promotion, they find the grain of truth in the boss’ negative review and start making improvements.

Coach Yourself: In what way is God calling you to be more flexible?

3. They are (mostly) optimistic.

It’s hard to bounce back from setbacks when you see every obstacle as the end of the world! Research shows that optimists live as much as nine years longer than pessimists. Seeing the bright side’s good for your health and longevity. But it isn’t about simplistic “positive thinking.” The essence of optimism is at the root of faith, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). We must believe something good is possible, even as we prepare ourselves to withstand a storm. Proverbs 22:3 says, “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Resilient women see risks and take precautions to prevent problems. But when faced with a challenge, resilient women are more likely to say, “I can get through this,” whether it’s a tough class at school, a relationship challenge, or the loss of a loved one.  The average woman does the opposite—she allows setbacks and disappointments to discourage her to the point that she stops hoping for something better. And when you stop hoping, you start settling.

Coach Yourself: In what way(s) have you stopped hoping for something more or better?  What is it time to muster the faith and boldness to hope for again?

 4. They reach out.

Resilient women don’t go it alone. They have close friends and aren’t too proud to ask for help when they need it, talk out problems, or help others in need.  When faced with a stressful situation, just knowing you have support can alleviate the pressure. Iron sharpens iron. Strengthen your relationships. They make you stronger.

Coach Yourself:  In what way(s) are you going it alone? Who do you sense God wants you to reach out to?

5. They use their strengths.

Everyone has innate talents and strengths. When faced with a challenge, there’s power in tapping into those strengths—the God-given gifts that come naturally to you. It takes less energy to use your strengths, in fact, you are energized by your strengths. Know what yours are and use them.

Coach Yourself: What strengths has God blessed you with and how could you use them more effectively in the opportunities and challenges you face?

Valorie Burton, a Harvest House bestselling author and speaker, helps people get “unstuck” and “be unstoppable” in every area of their lives. As a Certified Personal and Executive Coach, Burton has served hundreds of clients in over 40 states and nine countries, and is the founder of The Coaching and Positive Psychology (CAPP) Institute. For more than a decade, her books, speaking engagements and media appearances have inspired and equipped thousands using solid biblical principles.  For more information or to subscribe to her FREE inspiration e-newsletter visit www.valorieburton.com and visit her ministry site at www.valorieburton.org.