What Romans 8 says about who you REALLY are 🧬


What does it mean to be in Christ?

Reader,

Romans 8 tells us that when we belong to Jesus, the Spirit of God actually dwells in us. That truth changes our position before God, our identity, and our future hope. We call this glorious reality our union with Christ.

In this week’s post, I share a personal story from my mom’s leukemia battle that gave me a vivid picture of this reality—a life-saving bone marrow transplant that forever united donor and recipient.

It’s a beautiful reminder that when we are in Christ, a spiritual transplant has taken place, and we get new spiritual DNA as a result!

This is very good news, indeed!

Cara

NEW 20-VERSE ARTICLES

If you do a quick Google search for encouragement, you’ll find an array of affirming messages that will probably tell you things you want to hear. Like, “You are doing a good job!” “You’re beautiful just the way you are.” or “Just do it!” While those messages may contain elements of truth, the Bible offers a richer and more meaningful definition of encouragement. To encourage is to literally give courage. Encouragement is not simply to console, or compliment, or rally the troops, but an intentional effort to strengthen another person in God’s truth.

The Pursuit of Holy Leisure

Arriving April 14, 2026


ICYMI: I Finally Held My Book in Person!

There's nothing quite like holding your book for the first time! Last week, I received my author copies in the mail. It was the best birthday present ever! Head over to my reel and share in my joy!

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

Cara Ray | Writer

The secret to enjoying God's Word is looking at it as a means of holy leisure. Holy leisure is the modern-day answer to our soul's thirst to slow down and savor God and the Bible. Subscribe to receive weekly devotionals about life, leisure, and the pursuit of holiness.

Read more from Cara Ray | Writer
Freedom from the flesh

God set her free from addiction! Reader, If you've ever struggled with any kind of addiction, you know the feeling of being powerless to overcome it or fight back. Perhaps, you've made baby steps of progress, only to later fall back into the same sin that ensnares you. And since you fight so hard and then lose so big, perhaps you've concluded you might as well go 'all in' on your sin and stop fighting it altogether. That was my friend Rebekah's story. For most of her adult life, she struggled...

50 Years of Becoming and Beholding

I'm officially "vintage!" Reader, It's not always easy to celebrate getting older, especially when you have a big front-number change. But I'm more overwhelmed with God's grace for the last half-century than I'm upset or sad about aging. In this week's post, I look back on some of the lessons and themes the Lord's been weaving through my life. I hope that no matter what decade or season of life you're in, you'll recognize some similar patterns of God's patient dealings with you through my...

What you think about this changes everything Reader, We hear (and talk) a lot about the importance of mindset these days. Often, we're encouraged to think or speak in a certain way to produce a desired outcome. The life we want, we're told, is on the other side of changing our minds about it. "Be more positive. Think good thoughts. Don't be so negative." It's true that what we think influences how we behave. But what if, instead of being frustrated with the outcome of our thoughts, we became...