Circle Time for The Soul Daily Devotional | Bible Study, Bible Verses, Biblical Encouragement, Journal Prompts, Morning Prayer

Hey Sis 💛

Have you ever been praying for someone you love and wondered if they were just too far gone?

Today we’re closing out our journey through the book of James with James 5—a powerful chapter about patience, endurance, prayer, and what to do when someone we love wanders from the truth.

James begins by warning us about wealth and the danger of allowing money and selfish desire to take the place that belongs to God. He then encourages believers to remain patient and take courage while waiting on the Lord.

Through the prophets and the story of Job, we’re reminded that suffering does not mean God has abandoned us.

Our hope remains in Jesus.

We’ll also spend time in one of the most encouraging parts of James: the power of prayer.

James reminds us to pray in hardship, praise God in seasons of joy, pray for the sick, confess our sins, and believe that earnest prayer has great power.

We don’t control the outcome—but we can pray in faith knowing that God is able.

And then, as James closes his letter, he gives us one final reminder:

Don’t give up on the person who has wandered.

Sis, someone can drift from the truth without their story being over.

We don’t have to argue them back, force them back, or try to save them ourselves. But we can continue praying, loving them, standing firmly in God’s truth, and obeying when the Holy Spirit nudges us to reach out.

Sometimes God chooses to work through the obedience of one of His daughters who was willing to make the phone call, send the text, have the conversation, or simply keep praying when everyone else had given up.

Never underestimate what God can do through your prayers, your obedience, and a heart that refuses to give up on someone He still loves.

Grab your Bible, grab your journal, and let’s study together. 💛

🔴 Study James with the Bible Study Companion Guide
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

📖 Studying James with us?
Join the Bible Study Companion Guide Subscription to follow along with our current studies + get access to all previously released subscription guides while you’re a member. (John + Acts are sold separately.)

https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

🎁 SEPTEMBER BONUS: Subscribe to the Bible Study Companion Guides this month and receive the completed Gospel of John Guide FREE!

💛 Grab the Complete Acts & John Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/completeguides

⭐️ Get weekly encouragement delivered to your inbox
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🙏 Accept Jesus Into Your Heart
https://peacewithgod.net/steps/

🤍 Support the Ministry
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XEP4CUT65R2H6

📖 Bible Study Resources

Circle Time for the Soul Bible Study Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

Bible Study Fellowship — Study the Book of John
https://www.bsfinternational.org

Blue Letter Bible
https://www.blueletterbible.org

BibleRef
https://www.bibleref.com

My Bible — Spiritual Growth Bible (NLT)
https://amzn.to/4urjU8R

🎬 Continue the James Bible Study Series
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAFhBdqOmI1Q&si=F6fhCYzlXUNyJHF

⚡️ Study deeper with the Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

⚡️ Join the email list for encouragement + weekly love notes
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🎵 Music: “Buenos Dias” by Matt Large via Epidemic Sound

My heart here at Circle Time for the Soul is to create a space where we can encounter God through studying His Word, build a deeper relationship with Him, and live like Jesus together—one day at a time.

Xo,
Diana Marie 💛

Disclaimer: Circle Time for the Soul is intended to provide biblical encouragement, spiritual growth, and educational content. It is not meant to replace professional therapy, counseling, medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek support from a qualified professional when needed.

Scripture quotations and study resources belong to their respective copyright holders. Some links in these show notes may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Hey Sis 💛

Have you ever prayed, “Lord, Your will be done,” while already having the entire plan mapped out in your head?

Today we’re studying James 4:1–17 and getting to the heart of what it really means to surrender our lives, desires, decisions, and plans to God.

James challenges us to examine what’s happening within our hearts, why conflict can arise, how our motives affect our prayers, and what it truly looks like to draw close to God.

We’ll talk about what James means when he tells us to humble ourselves before God, resist the devil, and draw close to the Lord. We’ll also look at his warning about judging others and his powerful reminder that our lives are like a morning fog—here for a little while and then gone.

And Sis, this episode asks us to consider something deeper:

Are we trusting God, or are we asking Him to approve the plans we’ve already made?

There’s nothing wrong with planning, dreaming, setting goals, or moving forward. But James reminds us that even our plans belong in God’s hands.

Surrender means being able to say, “Lord, if You want to change the plan, I trust You.”

It means trusting His heart toward us when His timing looks different, when a door stays closed, or when His direction isn’t what we expected.

Because surrendering our plans to God doesn’t mean we don’t care what happens.

It means we trust Him more than we trust ourselves.

Grab your Bible, grab your journal, and let’s study together. 💛

🔴 Study James with the Bible Study Companion Guide
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

📖 Studying James with us?
Join the Bible Study Companion Guide Subscription to follow along with our current studies + get access to all previously released subscription guides while you’re a member. (John + Acts are sold separately.)

https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

🎁 SEPTEMBER BONUS: Subscribe to the Bible Study Companion Guides this month and receive the completed Gospel of John Guide FREE!

💛 Grab the Complete Acts & John Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/completeguides

⭐️ Get weekly encouragement delivered to your inbox
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🙏 Accept Jesus Into Your Heart
https://peacewithgod.net/steps/

🤍 Support the Ministry
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XEP4CUT65R2H6

 

 

📖 Bible Study Resources

Circle Time for the Soul Bible Study Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

Bible Study Fellowship — Study the Book of John
https://www.bsfinternational.org

Blue Letter Bible
https://www.blueletterbible.org

BibleRef
https://www.bibleref.com

My Bible — Spiritual Growth Bible (NLT)
https://amzn.to/4urjU8R

🎬 Continue the James Bible Study Series
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAFhBdqOmI1Q&si=F6fhCYzlXUNyJHF

⚡️ Study deeper with the Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

⚡️ Join the email list for encouragement + weekly love notes
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🎵 Music: “Buenos Dias” by Matt Large via Epidemic Sound

My heart here at Circle Time for the Soul is to create a space where we can encounter God through studying His Word, build a deeper relationship with Him, and live like Jesus together—one day at a time.

Xo,
Diana Marie 💛

Disclaimer: Circle Time for the Soul is intended to provide biblical encouragement, spiritual growth, and educational content. It is not meant to replace professional therapy, counseling, medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek support from a qualified professional when needed.

Scripture quotations and study resources belong to their respective copyright holders. Some links in these show notes may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Hey Sis 💛

Have you ever received advice that sounded good, made sense, and even felt right in the moment—only to realize later that it probably wasn’t wisdom from God?

Today we’re studying James 3:13–18 and learning how to recognize the difference between godly wisdom and worldly wisdom.

James gives us a powerful way to discern the wisdom we’re following: look at the fruit it produces.

Worldly wisdom can be rooted in jealousy, selfish ambition, confusion, and disorder. But wisdom from God looks completely different. Scripture tells us that godly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good deeds, without favoritism, and always sincere.

And Sis, this gives us an important question to carry with us:

What kind of fruit is the wisdom I’m following producing?

Is it leading toward peace, humility, mercy, sincerity, and righteousness?

Or is it producing jealousy, selfish ambition, confusion, and disorder?

We’ll also talk about why knowing God’s Word helps strengthen our discernment so we can recognize when something sounds wise but doesn’t actually line up with His truth.

Grab your Bible, grab your journal, and let’s study together. 💛

🔴 Study James with the Bible Study Companion Guide
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

📖 Studying James with us?
Join the Bible Study Companion Guide Subscription to follow along with our current studies + get access to all previously released subscription guides while you’re a member. (John + Acts are sold separately.)

https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

🎁 SEPTEMBER BONUS: Subscribe to the Bible Study Companion Guides this month and receive the completed Gospel of John Guide FREE!

💛 Grab the Complete Acts & John Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/completeguides

⭐️ Get weekly encouragement delivered to your inbox
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🙏 Accept Jesus Into Your Heart
https://peacewithgod.net/steps/

🤍 Support the Ministry
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XEP4CUT65R2H6

📖 Bible Study Resources

Circle Time for the Soul Bible Study Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

Bible Study Fellowship — Study the Book of John
https://www.bsfinternational.org

Blue Letter Bible
https://www.blueletterbible.org

BibleRef
https://www.bibleref.com

My Bible — Spiritual Growth Bible (NLT)
https://amzn.to/4urjU8R

🎬 Continue the James Bible Study Series
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAFhBdqOmI1Q&si=F6fhCYzlXUNyJHF

⚡️ Study deeper with the Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

⚡️ Join the email list for encouragement + weekly love notes
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🎵 Music: “Buenos Dias” by Matt Large via Epidemic Sound

My heart here at Circle Time for the Soul is to create a space where we can encounter God through studying His Word, build a deeper relationship with Him, and live like Jesus together—one day at a time.

Xo,
Diana Marie 💛

Disclaimer: Circle Time for the Soul is intended to provide biblical encouragement, spiritual growth, and educational content. It is not meant to replace professional therapy, counseling, medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek support from a qualified professional when needed.

Scripture quotations and study resources belong to their respective copyright holders. Some links in these show notes may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Hey Sis 💛

What do the words coming out of your mouth reveal about what’s happening in your heart?

Today we’re studying James 3:1–12, where James gets very real about the power of our words and the importance of learning to control our tongue.

James compares the tongue to a tiny spark that can set an entire forest on fire. Our words may seem small in the moment, but they have the power to encourage, heal, tear down, hurt, and leave an impact long after they’ve been spoken.

And Sis, there’s one verse in this passage that gave me a serious heart check:

How can we use the same mouth to praise God and then turn around and speak poorly about someone who was made in His image?

Today we’re talking about gossip, frustration, hard conversations, the words we speak when someone gets on our nerves, and what it looks like to allow the Holy Spirit to change not only what comes out of our mouths—but the heart those words are coming from.

Grab your Bible, grab your journal, and let’s study together. 💛

🔴 Study James with the Bible Study Companion Guide
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

📖 Studying James with us?
Join the Bible Study Companion Guide Subscription to follow along with our current studies + get access to all previously released subscription guides while you’re a member. (John + Acts are sold separately.)

https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

🎁 SEPTEMBER BONUS: Subscribe to the Bible Study Companion Guides this month and receive the completed Gospel of John Guide FREE!

💛 Grab the Complete Acts & John Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/completeguides

⭐️ Get weekly encouragement delivered to your inbox
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🙏 Accept Jesus Into Your Heart
https://peacewithgod.net/steps/

🤍 Support the Ministry
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XEP4CUT65R2H6

📖 Bible Study Resources

Circle Time for the Soul Bible Study Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

Bible Study Fellowship — Study the Book of John
https://www.bsfinternational.org

Blue Letter Bible
https://www.blueletterbible.org

BibleRef
https://www.bibleref.com

My Bible — Spiritual Growth Bible (NLT)
https://amzn.to/4urjU8R

🎬 Continue the James Bible Study Series
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAFhBdqOmI1Q&si=F6fhCYzlXUNyJHF

⚡️ Study deeper with the Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

⚡️ Join the email list for encouragement + weekly love notes
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🎵 Music: “Buenos Dias” by Matt Large via Epidemic Sound

My heart here at Circle Time for the Soul is to create a space where we can encounter God through studying His Word, build a deeper relationship with Him, and live like Jesus together—one day at a time.

Xo,
Diana Marie 💛

Some links in these show notes may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Hey Sis 💛

Can your faith save anyone if nobody can see it?

Today we’re studying James 2:14–26 and unpacking one of the most well-known teachings in the book of James: “faith without works is dead.”

But what does that actually mean for us as women of God trying to live out our faith every day?

James reminds us that genuine faith isn’t meant to stay hidden in what we believe or what we say. Our faith should move us into action.

Together, we’ll look at Abraham and Rahab and how two very different people demonstrated their faith through what they did. We’ll also talk about the example Jesus gave us through serving others, the Good Samaritan, the Great Commission, and what it looks like for our faith to become visible in the way we love, serve, give, encourage, and obey.

And Sis, this is a heart check for all of us:

Where is our faith more spoken than shown?

Is there something God has been nudging you to do that you’ve been putting off?

Grab your Bible, grab your journal, and let’s study together. 💛

🔴 Study James with the Bible Study Companion Guide
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

📖 Studying James with us?
Join the Bible Study Companion Guide Subscription to follow along with our current studies + get access to all previously released subscription guides while you’re a member. (John + Acts are sold separately.)

https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

🎁 SEPTEMBER BONUS: Subscribe to the Bible Study Companion Guides this month and receive the completed Gospel of John Guide FREE!

💛 Grab the Complete Acts & John Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/completeguides

⭐️ Get weekly encouragement delivered to your inbox
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🙏 Accept Jesus Into Your Heart
https://peacewithgod.net/steps/

🤍 Support the Ministry
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XEP4CUT65R2H6

📖 Bible Study Resources

Circle Time for the Soul Bible Study Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

Bible Study Fellowship — Study the Book of John
https://www.bsfinternational.org

Blue Letter Bible
https://www.blueletterbible.org

BibleRef
https://www.bibleref.com

My Bible — Spiritual Growth Bible (NLT)
https://amzn.to/4urjU8R

🎬 Continue the James Bible Study Series
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAFhBdqOmI1Q&si=F6fhCYzlXUNyJHF

⚡️ Study deeper with the Bible Study Companion Guides
https://circletimeforthesoul.com/bibleguides

⚡️ Join the email list for encouragement + weekly love notes
https://lovenote.circletimeforthesoul.com/

🎵 Music: “Buenos Dias” by Matt Large via Epidemic Sound

My heart here at Circle Time for the Soul is to create a space where we can encounter God through studying His Word, build a deeper relationship with Him, and live like Jesus together—one day at a time.

Xo,
Diana Marie 💛

Some links in these show notes may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.