I received an email several months back from an editor asking if I’d consider contributing to the new devotional Bible by Zondervan called NIV Bible for Women: Fresh Insights for Thriving in Today’s World. There were apparently a few contributors who dropped out at the last minute, and this poor editor had only a few days to pull the whole thing together. It was Saturday. The project was going to print on Monday. And God had brought her to me (and I’m sure a few others).

“I can do it!” I told her with excitement, as I thought about how God had done it again. He’d provided yet another opportunity to get my message out there, and I was thankful––even though this project had effectively hijacked my weekend.

I was asked to write a devotion on Revelation 4:8, focusing on the fact that God is still on His throne despite all the pain we see in this world. A topic near to my heart. Revelations 4:8 is an incredible text that depicts the holiness and majesty and glory of our incredible God. It says, “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'” This is worship. Pure, unadulterated worship! And rightfully so. Our God is worthy of all praise and honor.

Yes, there is pain in this world. Yes, terrible things happen. Things that quite literally turn my stomach every time I think of them. But even so, our God reigns. He is on His throne. He is in control. No, I do not believe all these terrible things are the will of God. Scripture is clear––God never wills evil to be done. But in His sovereignty, He does sometimes allow it. I cannot pretend to know all the reasons why God allows bad to happen, but I do know one thing. Greater good can sometimes come in the face of great evil. Think about it––light shines most bright in the darkest darkness. And so, if God allows it, He has a great purpose for it.

Okay, so my passion just got the best of me! Quite honestly, I did not intend to write all that, but I just couldn’t help it. And now that my tangent is over, I’ll get back to the point of this post––to introduce you to this incredible new Bible. The NIV Bible for Women is phenomenal. It’s a devotional Bible, which means it’s the Bible in its entirety with devotions interspersed throughout written by some of today’s most amazing women of God, including Christine Caine, Margaret Feinberg, Katie Davis, Shauna Niequist, Lysa TerKeurst, Michele Cushatt, Rachel Held Evans, and many more. I highly recommend it for all women. And for all those men out there, it would be a great gift for the women in your life!

The NIV Bible for Women: Fresh Insights for Thriving in Today’s World is available in e-book or hardcover formats just about everywhere books are sold.

I pray this devotional Bible blesses many and brings glory to God!

Note: If you haven’t yet noticed, I’ve been taking a little hiatus over the last couple weeks to refresh and renew my soul. It is my commitment to you that I don’t simply write for the sake of writing, but that I publish things that actually matter. Things that make a difference. I’ve just stepped out of a super busy season and have needed some time to get my bearings once again and to pray about where God would have me take my writing. I’d like to be intentional about my ministry, and so it’s been important to take a moment to do this thing right. It’s an honor and privilege to speak into your lives. Thank you for inviting me in. I should be back next week with fresh, new content. Until then, I pray you’re filled with the fullness of God’s blessings!!!

Love and hugs,

Laurie