The world can sometimes feel cold and dark. How quickly a day that began in sunshine and warmth can evaporate like mist in the wind. How can you rekindle the embers of your soul and keep your heart glowing?
During the darkest times of my life, it was the heart and words of Jesus that carried me through. In times of great desperation when I found I had no voice left to pray, God helped me use scriptures to express the cries of my heart through prayer. The voice of Jesus, found in the holy scriptures of the Bible, became my voice and my prayer. The more I sought Jesus in the pages of the Bible, the more I found Him to be near. If you are going through a difficult time or if you want to infuse more fire into your prayers, you can find out more about the process I used for praying fervent, passionate, Spirit-filled, Bible-based prayers in my book: In Dark of Night When Words Fail.
Follow me here on my website! Out of overwhelming gratitude to Christ, I share devotional writings, prayers and poems inspired by His Word and His Spirit.
My prayer is that every word I write will illuminate the truth, grace and beauty of Jesus and draw you near His heart, or if you are already close to Him will draw you closer still. Let your heart be warmed again with Bible-based, Spirit-led words of encouragement, refreshment and inspiration.
Join me in this journey as we run toward Christ! When our connections include Jesus, His Spirit and His Word, they go deeper, ripple farther and have true lasting power. Together we can help one another radiate the warmth of Jesus and stoke the fire of our devotion to Him!
Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. ~Proverbs 4:23
All photos by Melissa McLaughlin unless noted. All rights reserved.
“Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -Jesus (Matthew 28:20)
Join author and teacher, Melissa McLaughlin, and grow in Truthful Grace as we ignite the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in our hearts, minds, prayers and lives. Grow in Christ, grow in the knowledge of His Word, the Bible, grow the passion in your prayers.
You are God's Masterpiece
Melissa McLaughlin
3/23/2026
Let the Wind of God's Spirit Sweep Over You
Melissa McLaughlin
2/23/2026
How Does the Light of Christ Change Your Heart?
Melissa McLaughlin
2/9/2026
3 Ways to Set Your Affections on Things Above
Melissa McLaughlin
1/26/2026
3 Ways to Shine Christ's Light in the New Year
Melissa McLaughlin
1/12/2026
Half a Walk is Better Than No Walk
Melissa McLaughlin
11/10/2025
You May Be the One
Melissa McLaughlin
11/3/2025
How is God's Spirit Like the Wind?
Melissa McLaughlin
9/15/2025
Are You Stretching for More of God?
Melissa McLaughlin
9/8/2025
Turn On the Light of Christ
Melissa McLaughlin
9/1/2025
Where is God Planting You?
Melissa A. McLaughlin
8/20/2025
Are You Seeking the City That is to Come?
Melissa McLaughlin
7/23/2025
When God Calls You to Change Direction
Melissa McLaughlin
7/7/2025
3 Ways to Keep a High View of God
Melissa McLaughlin
6/30/2025
Are You Thirsty for God?
Melissa McLaughlin
6/23/2025
A Tiny Crack of Light
Melissa McLaughlin
6/16/2025
3 Ways Jesus Lights Our Lives
Melissa McLaughlin
6/2/2025
3 Ways Jesus Gives Us Clearer Vision
Melissa McLaughlin
5/25/2025
The Gift of Being Clean in Christ
Melissa McLaughlin
5/19/2025
Peace, Be Still
Melissa McLaughlin
5/12/2025
What We Leave Behind
Melissa McLaughlin
4/28/2025
Jesus Loved Them to the End
Melissa McLaughlin
4/7/2025
Don’t Give Up! Keep Walking With the Lord
Melissa McLaughlin
3/31/2025
How Dark Was the Night Jesus Endured
Melissa McLaughlin
3/24/2025
Hold on to the Hem of His Garment
Melissa McLaughlin
3/3/2025
How Does God Reach for Us?
Melissa McLaughlin
2/25/2025
A House Built by the Lord
Melissa McLaughlin
2/18/2025
Trees of Righteousness
Melissa McLaughlin
2/10/2025
A Garment of Praise
Melissa McLaughlin
2/5/2025
Beauty for Ashes
Melissa McLaughlin
2/2/2025
The Whole Bible Devotional
Melissa McLaughlin
1/28/2025
A Preview of My New Book!
Melissa McLaughlin
1/22/2025
The Oil of Joy for Mourning
Melissa McLaughlin
1/20/2025
Listening to God in the New Year
Melissa McLaughlin
1/6/2025
Overflowing Gratitude
Melissa McLaughlin
11/11/2024
Trusting God With Our Nation
Melissa McLaughlin
10/24/2024
Holding On To Jesus in the Storm
Melissa McLaughlin
10/8/2024
The Government Will Be Upon His Shoulder
Melissa McLaughlin
9/23/2024
How to Live for God With All Your Heart
Melissa McLaughlin
9/9/2024
God Cares About the Details
Melissa McLaughlin
8/19/2024
Pause and Take Time to Rejoice
Melissa McLaughlin
8/4/2024
How Can We Be In the World But Not of It?
Melissa McLaughlin
7/30/2024
God Sees Everything
Melissa McLaughlin
6/30/2024
God Brings New Life From Death
Melissa McLaughlin
6/3/2024
Finding Security in God Alone
Melissa McLaughlin
5/20/2024
Will God Give Me a New Name?
Melissa McLaughlin
4/28/2024
Jesus Isn’t Finished
Melissa McLaughlin
4/2/2024
The Gospel – Easter Story with Candy
Melissa McLaughlin
3/25/2024
Can You Hear the Train’s Call?
Melissa McLaughlin
2/19/2024
Doing the Small Things
Melissa McLaughlin
1/28/2024
Starting the Year with Scripture
Melissa McLaughlin
1/14/2024
What Kind of King?
Melissa McLaughlin
12/17/2023
Holding On to God’s Love Through the Pain
Melissa McLaughlin
11/26/2023
Unexpected Blessings
Melissa McLaughlin
11/13/2023
Suffering for Christ
Melissa McLaughlin
10/9/2023
How God Blesses us with Dew
Melissa McLaughlin
9/24/2023
Following God’s Call: Yvonne Morgan
Melissa McLaughlin
9/16/2023
Why Christians need to Endure
Melissa McLaughlin
9/10/2023
His Eye is on the Sparrow
Melissa McLaughlin
1/13/2022
When days are cold, Jesus is near
Melissa McLaughlin
12/29/2021
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Melissa McLaughlin
10/21/2021
Do not worry… Consider the Lilies
Melissa McLaughlin
6/25/2021
The Unseen Hand of God
Melissa McLaughlin
3/5/2021
Lifelong Pursuit of Christ: Melinda V. Inman
Melissa McLaughlin
2/26/2021
A Love Like No Other
Melissa McLaughlin
2/12/2021
Overcoming with Christ: Brunell Donald-Kyei
Melissa McLaughlin
1/28/2021
Standing on the Rock in the Storm
Melissa McLaughlin
1/14/2021
A Year Marked by God’s Love
Melissa McLaughlin
12/31/2020
The Psalm that Inspired Joy to the World
Melissa McLaughlin
12/17/2020
The Gifts We Bring at Christmas
Melissa McLaughlin
12/2/2020
Remember Those Who Blessed You
Melissa McLaughlin
11/20/2020
It is Well With My Soul: A Message for Today
Melissa McLaughlin
11/3/2020
Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant
Melissa McLaughlin
7/9/2020
The Power of a Kind Word
Melissa McLaughlin
6/26/2020
Springs of Living Water
Melissa McLaughlin
5/21/2020
This is My Father’s World
Melissa McLaughlin
5/15/2020
3 Ways to Find Truth in a World of Lies
Melissa McLaughlin
5/1/2020
The Last Apple Blossom
Melissa McLaughlin
4/23/2020
12 Christian Songs to Lift Your Spirit in Hard Times
Melissa McLaughlin
3/19/2020
Be Still My Soul – 3 Messages of Peace from Jesus
Melissa McLaughlin
3/12/2020
When the Spring of My Heart is Overdue
Melissa McLaughlin
3/5/2020
Is it Time for a Greater Awakening?
Melissa McLaughlin
2/21/2020
How I Became a Christian
Melissa McLaughlin
1/23/2020
New Year, New Life
Melissa McLaughlin
1/9/2020
The Sound of Joy at Christmas
Melissa McLaughlin
12/12/2019
Feeling Sad at Christmas? 4 Ways to Overcome
Melissa McLaughlin
12/4/2019
Will You Take the Paper Gratitude Challenge?
Melissa McLaughlin
11/14/2019
Believer or Follower – Which one are you?
Melissa McLaughlin
11/7/2019
He Restores My Soul ~ Psalm 23
Melissa McLaughlin
10/16/2019
It’s Time to Leave
Melissa McLaughlin
10/10/2019
When God Closes a Door
Melissa McLaughlin
10/3/2019
Let Jesus Love You
Melissa McLaughlin
9/19/2019
When it Doesn’t Make Sense
Melissa McLaughlin
9/11/2019
Be Seen
Melissa McLaughlin
8/28/2019
How Can I Get Rid of Bad Thoughts?
Melissa McLaughlin
8/21/2019
Can I Really Know God?
Melissa McLaughlin
8/14/2019
How Can I Experience the Peace of God?
Melissa McLaughlin
8/8/2019
How to Repent – 7 Elements of Repentance
Melissa McLaughlin
7/18/2019
When Everything Falls Apart: 7 Strategies to Get You Through
Melissa McLaughlin
7/10/2019
Reflections on Fathers, Spiders, Superheroes, and Jesus
Melissa McLaughlin
6/11/2019
Power Up – Interview with Author Jessie Mattis
Melissa McLaughlin
6/7/2019
When God Says Wait
Melissa McLaughlin
5/22/2019
The Touch of God Through a Mother’s Hand
Melissa McLaughlin
5/9/2019
Jesus is Victor! A Message of Hope from Corrie Ten Boom
Melissa McLaughlin
3/31/2019
From Clay to Heaven – Be Amazed by Your God!
Melissa McLaughlin
2/22/2019
“I Spy” – Where do you spy God?
Melissa McLaughlin
2/5/2019
What can I say? Seven Ways to Comfort the Grieving
Melissa McLaughlin
1/29/2019
Amazing Guest Post – Featuring Lori Cunningham!
Melissa McLaughlin
1/7/2019
Waiting Well
Melissa McLaughlin
1/3/2019
New Life, New Hope, New Birth at Christmas and Always
Melissa McLaughlin
12/14/2018
The First Christmas Tree – Guest Post
Melissa McLaughlin
12/10/2018
The Peace of Christ at Christmas
Melissa McLaughlin
12/3/2018
When Jesus Let Go of Heaven
Melissa McLaughlin
11/5/2018
Do you ever wonder if the world is coming to an end?
Melissa McLaughlin
10/29/2018
Fruits, Gifts and Talents – What’s the big deal?
Melissa McLaughlin
10/22/2018
Powerful Post Picks
Melissa McLaughlin
10/19/2018
The Best of Me
Melissa McLaughlin
10/15/2018
Whispers of Grace
Melissa McLaughlin
9/15/2018
The Search
Melissa McLaughlin
9/6/2018
When a Hungry Child Feeds You – Uncommon Love
Melissa McLaughlin
9/5/2018
Memories of Dad
Melissa McLaughlin
9/1/2018
Music: A Ministry of Hope
Melissa McLaughlin
9/1/2018
Here’s how I’m able to help you
Melissa McLaughlin
8/22/2018
