Becky Harling

We’ve all been there. Those intense moments when we’ve poured our hearts out to God and heaven seems … well, silent! We know God promises to answer prayer, and there are many verses throughout Scripture inviting us to bring our requests before Him. But when the answers don’t come quite as quickly as we expect,…

Recently, I was thinking about a person I admire who is steady, secure and solid as a rock. It’s not that Carol doesn’t have emotions—she does. It’s that no matter what life throws at her, her faith remains solid and her soul exudes peace. What a gift! As I’ve been mulling security over in my…

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said something stupid and then felt foolish after. How about you? In Proverbs 10, there are at least 12 references to our tongues and the words we speak. Honestly, I might have missed a few. When I see 12 references to the tongue in one chapter, I…

Psalm 144 is one of my favorites to use in my personal time of worship. It’s loaded with good stuff! As I’ve been studying this psalm, I’ve been delighted to see how the psalmist makes his praise so personal. I want to echo that in my own time with God. In your time of praising…

While traveling around the world, Steve and I have met some extraordinary followers of Jesus. These people have been beaten, kidnapped and raped—in addition to a host of other trials—because of their faith. As I’ve had the privilege of meeting and talking with these brave souls, I’ve asked myself, What inspires them to keep clinging…

Steve and I have had a delightful time traveling over the past several weeks. We’ve been in England and then in Kenya, speaking at a conference run by one of our partners for missionaries. What a joy! Everywhere you travel in the U.K., before you get on the tube (subway) or an airplane, there’s a…

As I write this, Steve and I are in Bradford, England. Bradford is a multiethnic urban area alive with many ministry opportunities. As you walk to Starbucks in the town square, you see many women in full burkas, and you hear many different languages spoken. Our Reach Beyond office here in England hosts the Millside…

I’ve been thinking about peace quite a bit lately. I’m probably so obsessed with peace because my life is so wild. As I write this, we are traveling. First Nebraska, then England and then Kenya, Africa! Wow! What a whirlwind. As I enjoy my very full life, I’ve been pausing and asking myself, “Am I…

I have always wanted to be a prayer warrior, but because I am a highly energetic, sometimes ADD-type of person, it was a bit challenging. I used to read books by great heroes of the faith who spent hours on their knees and wonder, Why can’t I be like that? Then I realized: God only…

Each week, I write this devotional post based on whatever God is speaking to me personally. He speaks to me in my “Facetime” with Him, and I simply pass it along to you. This morning, I was reading and mediating on Psalm 118, which begins, “Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,…

Steve and I have just spent the last week and a half in Naples, Florida. It’s been a gift to rest, write, pray and reflect for extended periods of time—all to simply enjoy God’s presence. Each night, we took a walk to the beach to watch the sun go down. We weren’t alone. Couples sat…

Have you ever noticed that people who are content with life have a contagious positivity? They seem to have a deep well of joy and an undercurrent of peace running through their souls. What’s their secret? I believe contentment begins with a few good choices. Even though life is challenging, contentment is an attitude that…

Recently, Steve and I were able to spend a day with his parents in South Carolina. They’ve been incredible about collecting photographs and creating photo albums for each of their four sons and families. As we spent the day together browsing through pictures, Dad and Mom Harling shared stories. They told of crossing the ocean…

In our lives, we bristle against loneliness. We avoid it at all costs. Yet many of us are experiencing soul weariness. In Psalm 84:2, the sons of Korah link our soul weariness to our ache for God: “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my body cry…

I am a firm believer in praying Scripture. I learned the practice years ago as a college student, and I have continued to use Scripture in my prayers through my adult life. The Lord’s Prayer is one of my favorites to use in my personal prayer time. It provides a pattern for my prayers that…