Tag: prayer and scripture

Christian Kindness: How to Lift Someone’s Spirit

Posted on by thechristiantechnerd

Today I felt God tugging at my heart, whispering, “Daughter, pay attention. I’m teaching you something.” Sometimes I feel like I’m stumbling around trying to understand what it really means to walk out this faith that I love—this faith that feels like the most important truth in my life. But today, I was reminded again of the brokenness all around me and the small, powerful ways God invites us to make a difference.

Not long ago, I found myself confronted again by the pain and heartache in the world. It’s not that I’d forgotten; it’s just that sometimes the world throws it right in your face. Some weeks it seems like the struggle behind people’s smiles is more visible than usual. I can almost read the heartache tucked between their words or hear the tremble in someone’s voice long before the tears come. And in those moments, I feel this ache—frustration at my own helplessness, compassion for what others are going through, and this deep yearning to somehow be light in the middle of someone’s darkness.

Family members struggling.
Loved ones hurting.
Friends grieving.

Strained and broken relationships.
Physical and emotional pain.
Financial hardships that keep people awake at night.

Everyone has something. And while our struggles differ, pain doesn’t have a ranking system with God. Everything we carry matters to Him. I know this, but sometimes I wonder if other people know it too—if they realize how deeply seen they are by Him. Maybe that’s part of why my heart gets so stirred up. I want people to feel loved. I want them to feel cared for. I want them to somehow catch a glimpse of God’s compassion through the small things I do. But honestly… sometimes I’m so drained myself that I don’t know what difference I can even make.

Still, God keeps reminding me that sometimes the only thing we can do for someone is to simply be there. To sit with them in the silence. To listen without rushing to fix. To offer compassion even when we don’t fully understand.

But what else can I do? What else should I do?

I’ve been sitting with this question all week: How can I make a difference in someone else’s day? Not in giant, world-saving ways—but in small, faithful, meaningful ones. And maybe—just maybe—those little moments matter more than we realize.

So today I tried to unpack that question, and these three things kept coming to mind.

1) Smile

It feels silly writing it out, but I can’t help thinking about how powerful a simple smile can be. I wonder how often one person’s smile ends up being the best thing someone else sees all day. Something so small, but big in impact. So easy… yet so easy to forget.

Sometimes when I’m rushing, or stressed, or lost in my own world, I forget to look up. I forget to be present. I forget that my face might be the one reminder someone needs that there’s still kindness in the world.

I caught myself today at the grocery store, checking out with that little automatic frown I wear when I’m tired. Then the Holy Spirit nudged me. I raised my eyes and smiled at the cashier. She looked startled for a second—then she smiled back. And maybe it meant nothing. Or maybe, just maybe, she needed someone to look at her like she mattered.

Lord, teach me to choose joy even when my heart feels heavy. Help me remember that my countenance can carry Your light. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Let my smile be strength for someone else.

2) Reach Out

This one is harder for me, if I’m honest. When someone is on my heart, I often intend to reach out… later. I’ll text them later. I’ll check in later. I’ll send that email later. And then? I forget. Not because I don’t care—God knows I care—but because I get distracted, or tired, or overwhelmed.

But I can’t help thinking about all the times I have received a message right when I needed it. Those moments when a friend says, “You were on my mind today,” and suddenly the whole world feels a little less dark. How many times have I whispered, “Lord, I needed that”?

I want to be that for others. I want to act when God nudges my heart.

Today as I was driving, someone came to mind, someone I hadn’t talked to in months. And I felt that familiar inner pull. So I reached out—just a simple message, nothing fancy. She replied within minutes, telling me she’d been having a really hard week and had prayed for encouragement just this morning.

Moments like that remind me: God uses us. Our words matter.

Lord, help me be obedient when You place someone on my heart. Let me not be so distracted that I miss the chance to love someone well. “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Let me be a builder, not a bystander.

3) Pray

Prayer changes things. I know this. I believe this deeply. But sometimes praying feels like pouring water into dry soil that never seems to soften. Sometimes I pray and pray and pray… and nothing seems to shift. And I’ll be honest—those are the moments that frustrate me. Those are the moments I wonder if anything I’m doing is even helping.

But then God reminds me: Prayer isn’t just about outcomes. It’s about connection. It’s about surrender. It’s about trusting that when I bring someone’s name before God, He hears me. And not only does He work in their life—He works in mine too.

I think of the verse: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). I don’t always feel righteous, or powerful, or effective. But God never asked for perfection—just faithfulness. Just willingness.

So today, I prayed. I prayed for the hurting people around me. For healing. For peace. For restoration. For God’s comfort to meet them like warm sunlight after a long night. And maybe I’ll never know what those prayers accomplished—but God knows. And that’s enough.

Lord, teach me to pray boldly, faithfully, and consistently. Let my prayers be a lifeline for those who feel like they’re drowning. Let me trust in Your unseen work.

Tonight, as I write all this down, I keep thinking about the fruit of the Spirit:
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

This is who I want to be. This is the woman I want to grow into. Compassionate. Joyful. Kind. Soft-hearted but strong in faith. Isn’t that the kind of person who makes a difference in the world?

Sometimes I worry that my small offerings don’t matter. But maybe making a difference doesn’t always look like changing someone’s life—it might simply be changing their day. Giving them a moment of hope. A breath of peace. A reminder that they aren’t invisible and they aren’t alone.

And maybe that’s enough.

A Prayer for Today

Dear Lord,
Thank You for opening my eyes to the hidden burdens people carry. Thank You for stirring compassion in my heart even on the days when I feel tired and discouraged myself. Help me make a difference in someone’s day, even in ways that seem small to me. Teach me to smile with Your joy, reach out with Your prompting, and pray with Your strength.

Make my heart tender, my ears open, and my spirit willing. Let Your love flow through me, not because I’m strong, but because You are. Help me shine Your light in a world that feels so heavy with sorrow.
Amen.

So how can I make a difference in someone’s day?
By smiling.
By reaching out.
By praying.

Simple things. Small things. But maybe holy things too.

And tomorrow… I want to try again.

Trusting in God’s Delay: A Journey of Waiting

Posted on by thechristiantechnerd

I’ve said it out loud a few times already this week, and today especially, by whispering it in my head more times than I can count, but waiting on God can be hard.

It’s not just hard — it’s exhausting, confusing, and sometimes even painful. I think today it hit me more than usual because I’ve been trying to keep it all together, to not let the heaviness of waiting seep into everything else I’m doing. But it’s there. Quiet, lingering, heavy.

I read Galatians 5:5 again this morning, and something about it gripped my heart in a fresh way:
“For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.”

Through the Spirit. By faith. That’s it. That’s the key that I keep forgetting in all of this.

It’s not up to me to muster up the strength to wait with grace. It’s not about how “strong” I am or how long I can grit my teeth through stubborn family issues or unanswered prayers. The Holy Spirit enables me to wait. HE gives me the power to endure, to trust, and to stay grounded when everything in me just wants to fix things or run away from the tension.

Waiting is hard. But it’s also holy.

Today I thought a lot about my family — the situations that have been going on for years. The ones that never seem to budge. The same arguments. The same silence. The same hurt passed back and forth like it’s inherited. These are the places in my life where waiting feels the most unbearable. Not because I don’t believe God can move — I do — but because the wait has been so long, and I can’t see how it ends.

And yet…
Romans 8:25 says, “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

I’m trying, Lord. Truly. I want to wait patiently. But sometimes I feel like I’m barely hanging on.

It’s strange how waiting has become its own form of spiritual training. Like God has invited me to sit in this invisible classroom where the Holy Spirit is the quiet Teacher, whispering truth to me when I want to scream, “Is it time yet?”

I keep being reminded that waiting isn’t wasted. Waiting is an invitation to stillness — to lean into His presence rather than constantly asking for His provision. It’s like He’s saying, “Be still, daughter. I’m working, even when you can’t see it.”

Stillness.
That word has taken on new meaning lately.

Stillness isn’t passive. It’s not “doing nothing.” It’s active surrender. It’s choosing not to run ahead of God, not to manipulate outcomes, not to pick up what I’ve already laid down at the altar a hundred times.

I want to be a woman who waits well — not because I have the strength on my own, but because the Spirit of God in me is doing the deep, refining work of shaping my character in the waiting. That’s where the transformation happens. Not after the miracle, but before, in the soil of patience, trust, and surrender.

Lord,
I don’t want to waste this wait.
Help me not just to survive it, but to let it sanctify me.
Help me to see You in the silence.
Help me to remember that Your timeline is good, even when mine is screaming, “Now!”

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
I feel the Lord reminding me that “taking heart” is not ignoring how I feel — it’s choosing to trust Him through those feelings.

So tonight, here’s my honest prayer:

A Prayer While I Wait

Holy Spirit,
Thank You for dwelling within me — for being my Helper when I feel helpless. You see my heart, my struggles, my questions, and my tears. You know how deeply I long for restoration in my family, for peace that doesn’t feel forced, for healing that lasts. I lay all that before You again tonight. Not with clenched fists, but open hands. Because I’m learning that surrender doesn’t mean giving up — it means giving to You.

Jesus, be my strength in the wait. Teach me to lean on You, to grow in grace, and to draw near to You when everything around me feels stuck or silent. I don’t want to wait in bitterness. I want to wait in faith. Let this waiting not just shape my circumstances, but shape me into the woman You’ve called me to be — humble, patient, and full of Your Spirit.

Amen.

There’s something so comforting about the fact that Jesus waited too. He waited 30 years before He began His public ministry. He waited for God’s perfect timing. He didn’t rush ahead or try to impress people into believing who He was. He trusted.

And the more I reflect on that, the more I realize that waiting is deeply tied to trust.

If I say I trust God, then I also have to trust His timing — even when it feels unbearable. Even when it looks like nothing is changing. Even when people I love are stuck in cycles of dysfunction that I can’t rescue them from.

And the wild thing is… while I wait, He’s working.
Always.
Even in the silence.

Isaiah 64:4 says, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”

That’s who He is. He acts on behalf of His children. He doesn’t forget us in the waiting room. He sits with us there.

Tonight, as I stare out my window and look up at the night sky, I’m reminded that the stars don’t scream for attention. They just shine. Quietly. Faithfully. Like they know the One who placed them is still watching over them.

Maybe that’s what waiting looks like too — shining quietly in the dark, holding onto faith, trusting that morning will come.

So, if this season is long — and it has been — I want to believe that it’s also full. Full of His grace. Full of His Spirit. Full of His nearness, even if I can’t always feel it.

I’m going to keep waiting. Not with frustration (though I may have days where I wrestle), but with hope.

Because through the Spirit, I eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which I hope.
Not by my strength.
Not by my emotions.
But by Him.

And that… that is enough.

Still waiting,
Still trusting,
Still His!

Five Ways to Talk to God: A Simple Daily Prayer Routine

Posted on by thechristiantechnerd

Yesterday was a whirlwind — work was crazy, my phone wouldn’t stop notifying me of everything, and I somehow managed to burn rice (how does that even happen?). But even with the chaos, I found peace. Not because everything went smoothly, but because I carved out time to pray. Really pray. Not the rushed, half-thought “Lord, help me” before a meeting — but the kind where you slow down, breathe, and open your heart like a journal to God.

Lately, I’ve been learning that prayer isn’t just one thing. It’s not just asking God for stuff or saying thank you when things go right. It’s deeper than that — it’s a conversation with the Creator, and just like any healthy relationship, it involves different expressions: praise, confession, gratitude, intercession, and petition.

I’m writing it down tonight because I don’t want to forget. And maybe someday, when life gets even crazier, I’ll need to come back and remind myself that prayer isn’t a formula — it’s a rhythm. A relationship. A lifeline.

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Five Ways to Talk to God: A Simple Daily Prayer Routine

Here’s how I’ve been walking this out, one day at a time:

1. Praise – Start with who He is.

Every morning, before I reach for my phone, I try to say something — even just a whisper — that acknowledges God’s greatness. Not for what He’s done, but for who He is.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”
— Psalm 100:4

Some days, it’s as simple as, “God, You are good. You’re holy, and I love You.”
Other days, I’ll sing quietly while brushing my teeth. (Yes, even off-key worship counts.)
Praise reminds me that He’s still on the throne — no matter how unstable my life feels.

2. Confession – Clear the air.

This one used to intimidate me. I mean, God already knows everything, right? But there’s something powerful about owning your mistakes before Him. It keeps my heart soft and my spirit humble.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9

Sometimes I journal it. Sometimes I speak it aloud. Either way, I try to be honest:
“Lord, I gossiped today. I was impatient. I doubted. Forgive me. Change me.”

Confession isn’t about shame. It’s about freedom. It makes space for His grace.

3. Thanksgiving – Gratitude shifts everything.

I keep a gratitude journal, and even when I forget to write in it, I take a few minutes during lunch or before bed to name at least three things I’m thankful for — big or small.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Today, I thanked Him for:

  • A hot cup of tea on a stressful morning
  • A sweet message from my little sister
  • The way the sunset painted the sky like fire

When I say thank You, my heart stops complaining. Gratitude silences anxiety.

4. Intercession – Praying for others.

This one has stretched me the most. It’s easy to make prayer all about me, but lately I’ve been keeping a list — friends, family, coworkers, even strangers — and lifting them up intentionally.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”
— 1 Timothy 2:1

Tonight I prayed for:

  • My friend Sarah, who’s grieving
  • My coworker James, who’s battling anxiety
  • That girl I passed on the train — I don’t know her name, but God does

Intercession is how I partner with God’s heart. It’s how I love others, even from a distance.

5. Petition – Bring your needs to Him.

This one comes naturally — we all have needs. But I’ve been learning not to just dump my worries at His feet but to also trust that He hears and responds — even when it’s not how I expected.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
— Philippians 4:6

Today I asked Him for wisdom. For clarity on some decisions. For peace in my heart about things that feel uncertain.
And I reminded myself: He’s not annoyed by my voice. He delights in it.

It’s not perfect. I don’t always follow this in order or get it “right.” Some days, I only manage a sentence. Other days, I cry for an hour. But I’ve found that when I let all five parts of prayer shape my days, I don’t just talk to God — I grow closer to Him.

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
— Psalm 145:18

I don’t have to perform. I just have to show up.

Tonight’s Prayer:

Lord, thank You for teaching me how to pray — not just to ask, but to adore, confess, thank, and lift others up. Teach me to be faithful in the quiet moments and desperate in the loud ones. Let prayer be the air I breathe, not just the words I say. Draw me near, and remind me daily that You’re already close. I love You. Amen.

This is what I’ll come back to when life feels too much — this rhythm, this space with Him.
Five ways to talk to God.
One faithful God who listens to them all.