Tending Your Soul

Mariel Davenport

An invitation to reflect on God's Word using the TEND method of Bible study. Join Mariel in the garden for these few minutes, as you allow the Gardener of your soul to tend the soil of your heart with the life-giving truths of His Word.

  1. 3d ago

    Staying Faithful When Life Feels Hard (James 1:9-13)

    Episode 112: Staying Faithful When Life Feels Hard In this episode, we continue tending through James 1, exploring James 1:9–13 and what it means to remain steadfast when life feels difficult. Discover how God uses trials to draw us closer to Himself, why true reward is found in Him rather than worldly pursuits, and how His power enables us to persevere through every challenge. In This Episode:  The contrast between worldly pursuits and eternal rewards  The biblical meaning of steadfastness and perseverance  How to lean on God's strength in everyday and life-changing trials Resources Mentioned:  Join the Tending Together Community Order James: Wisdom for a Vibrant Faith Download the free guide 5 Ways to Fall in Love with God's Word AgainScripture:  James 1:9–13  Hebrews 11:6 Connect with Mariel: Visit Mariel Davenport's Website for Bible studies, resources, and encouragement to help you keep tending your soul. Worn out from dry seasons and not sure where to start with God? Tending Your Soul helps you slow down, open your Bible, and grow deeper in faith—little by little. Hosted by Mariel Davenport, each episode guides you in simple, Scripture-centered rhythms so you can confidently meet with God. 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.com/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Want to practice this rhythm in community? Join Tending Together: marieldavenport.com/community

  2. Aug 3

    How God Uses Trials to Grow Our Faith

    What comes to mind when you think of a mature Christian woman? In this episode, we begin our journey through the book of James by examining James 1:1-4 using the TEND Bible Study Method.  We'll discover how God uses trials to produce steadfastness, deepen our faith, and grow us into spiritually mature followers of Christ. If you're walking through a difficult season, this episode offers biblical encouragement and hope that God is at work even in the midst of your trials. James 1:1-4Matthew 13:55-56John 7:5Galatians 1:191 Peter 5:7 Study James With Me My newest Bible study, James: Wisdom for a Vibrant Faith, releases August 18th through Our Daily Bread Publishing! This five-week TEND Bible study will help you slow down, engage deeply with Scripture, and discover practical wisdom for everyday life through the book of James. Preorder your copy wherever books are sold. Want to study James alongside other women who are learning to cultivate intimacy with God through His Word? Join us inside Tending Together, my online Bible study community, where we'll begin our study of James: Wisdom for a Vibrant Faith on August 25th. As a member, you'll receive: Access to all TEND Bible studiesWeekly live Bible study gatheringsDownloadable TEND journals and resourcesSpiritual practice retreatsEncouragement and community with women seeking to grow in God's WordLearn more and join us at marieldavenport.com/community If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend? Your support helps more women learn to tend their souls through the life-giving truth of God's Word. Until next time, keep tending your soul. 🌿 marieldavenport.com Worn out from dry seasons and not sure where to start with God? Tending Your Soul helps you slow down, open your Bible, and grow deeper in faith—little by little. Hosted by Mariel Davenport, each episode guides you in simple, Scripture-centered rhythms so you can confidently meet with God. 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.com/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Want to practice this rhythm in community? Join Tending Together: marieldavenport.com/community

  3. Jul 27

    A Missing Ingredient in Spiritual Growth

    Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to stay encouraged in your faith when you're surrounded by other believers? In this episode of Tending Your Soul, we're continuing our conversation about falling back in love with God's Word and the God of the Word. After exploring practices like praying Scripture, engaging our senses, and creating rhythms of grace, we turn to another God-given means of spiritual growth: community.  Looking at Exodus 17, we discover a powerful picture of how God often accomplishes His work through His people. When Israel faced attack from the Amalekites, victory came not through Moses alone but through the support of Aaron and Hur, who helped hold up his weary arms. Their story reminds us that we were never meant to follow God in isolation.  Just as companion plants in a garden grow stronger together, believers flourish when they are rooted in biblical community—encouraging, praying for, and strengthening one another in Christ.  In This Episode  Why spiritual growth was never meant to happen in isolation  God's heart for relationship and fellowship   Practical ways believers help one another bear spiritual fruit  Why community is especially important in seasons of discouragement and weariness Key Scripture  Exodus 17:8–13  "Victorious fruit-bearing in our relationship with God is often spurred on through community."  Tending Together Community If you're longing for a place to study Scripture, practice spiritual disciplines, pray with other women, and grow deeper in your walk with Christ, consider joining the Tending Together Community. Use coupon code PODCAST5 to receive your first month for just $5.  Connect with Mariel Visit marieldavenport.com/community to learn more and join us as we continue tending our souls together.  If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who could use the reminder that they don't have to walk alone. Worn out from dry seasons and not sure where to start with God? Tending Your Soul helps you slow down, open your Bible, and grow deeper in faith—little by little. Hosted by Mariel Davenport, each episode guides you in simple, Scripture-centered rhythms so you can confidently meet with God. 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.com/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Want to practice this rhythm in community? Join Tending Together: marieldavenport.com/community

  4. Jul 20

    Stop Striving and Start Abiding

    Do you ever feel like you're failing at spending time with God? Maybe you've missed a few days in your Bible. Maybe your prayer life feels dry. Or perhaps you've convinced yourself that if you can't do it perfectly, it isn't worth doing at all. But what if spiritual growth isn't about perfection? What if it's about consistently staying connected to Jesus? In this episode of Tending Your Soul, we explore Jesus' invitation in John 15 to remain in Him and discover why lasting spiritual fruit grows through faithful consistency, not flawless performance.  In this episode we'll:  🌱 Learn why fruitfulness is the result of connection, not striving  🌱 Let go of the pressure to perform in our spiritual lives  🌱 Identify simple daily rhythms that help us remain close to Jesus If you've been discouraged by your spiritual growth, struggling with an all-or-nothing mindset, or feeling like you're not doing enough, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that God isn't asking for perfection—He's inviting you to abide. The real fruit of the Christian life doesn't come from trying harder. It comes from staying close to Jesus, one consistent step at a time. Scripture Referenced 📖 John 15:4–5  📖 Acts 3:19 For More on Tending Your Soul Get the newest Bible study release from God Hears Her & Our Daily Bread Publishers, 1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope. Want to practice this rhythm in community? 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.org/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Worn out from dry seasons and not sure where to start with God? Tending Your Soul helps you slow down, open your Bible, and grow deeper in faith—little by little. Hosted by Mariel Davenport, each episode guides you in simple, Scripture-centered rhythms so you can confidently meet with God. 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.com/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Want to practice this rhythm in community? Join Tending Together: marieldavenport.com/community

  5. Jul 13

    What if Prayer is Simpler Than You Think?

    Have you ever wished prayer felt more natural? Many of us long for a deeper prayer life, but we aren't always sure what to say—or even where to begin. The good news is that prayer doesn't have to be complicated. It begins with recognizing that God is already speaking to us through His Word and simply responding to Him. In this episode of Tending Your Soul, we continue exploring practical ways to cultivate intimacy with God. Together, we'll discover how prayer can become a natural response to what God reveals as we open our Bibles and tend our souls in His presence.  Together, we'll:  🌱 Learn why prayer is a conversation rather than a performance  🌱 Find encouragement for seasons when words are difficult to find  🌱 Discover how praying Scripture can guide and deepen our prayers  🌱 Walk through a simple prayer framework you can begin using today If you've ever felt unsure how to pray, struggled to find the right words, or longed for a closer relationship with God, this episode will remind you that He is already speaking—and inviting you to respond. Conversation develops relationship. God is speaking through His Word, friend, so let's respond back with prayer. Scripture Referenced 📖 2 Timothy 3:16  📖 Romans 8:26–27  📖 1 John 1:9  📖 Psalm 23 For More on Tending Your Soul Get the newest Bible study release from God Hears Her & Our Daily Bread Publishers, 1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope. Want to practice this rhythm in community? 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.org/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Worn out from dry seasons and not sure where to start with God? Tending Your Soul helps you slow down, open your Bible, and grow deeper in faith—little by little. Hosted by Mariel Davenport, each episode guides you in simple, Scripture-centered rhythms so you can confidently meet with God. 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.com/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Want to practice this rhythm in community? Join Tending Together: marieldavenport.com/community

  6. Jul 6

    Returning to Your First Love through the Senses

    Have you ever felt like you're doing all the right things for God but still feel distant from Him? Sometimes we can faithfully serve, study, and work for Jesus while slowly losing the delight of simply being with Him. The church in Ephesus knew this struggle, and perhaps we do too. In this episode of Tending Your Soul, we continue our conversation about rekindling our love for God and His Word during seasons of busyness, grief, distraction, or spiritual weariness. Together, we'll explore a simple but powerful way to return our hearts to Him: engaging our senses to become more aware of His presence.  In this episode:  🌱 Consider how serving God can sometimes overshadow loving God  🌱 Discover how God uses our senses to awaken spiritual attentiveness  🌱 Learn practical ways to reconnect with Him through creation, stillness, candles, music, and gratitude If you've been feeling spiritually dry or disconnected, this episode offers a gentle invitation to slow down, notice God's presence, and rekindle your affection for the One who loves you completely. Maybe returning to your first love doesn't begin with striving harder for God, but with slowing down enough to notice Him again. Scripture Referenced 📖 Revelation 2:4  📖 Ephesians 1:15  📖 Psalm 19:1  📖 Romans 1:19–20 For More on Tending Your Soul Get the newest Bible study release from God Hears Her & Our Daily Bread Publishers, 1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope. Want to practice this rhythm in community? 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.org/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Worn out from dry seasons and not sure where to start with God? Tending Your Soul helps you slow down, open your Bible, and grow deeper in faith—little by little. Hosted by Mariel Davenport, each episode guides you in simple, Scripture-centered rhythms so you can confidently meet with God. 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.com/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Want to practice this rhythm in community? Join Tending Together: marieldavenport.com/community

  7. Jun 29

    How to Read God's Word for Relationship, Not Completion

    If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, spiritually under-confident, distracted, or discouraged in your Bible reading, this episode is a gentle invitation back into relationship with the God of the Word. In This Episode  Why Bible reading was never meant to be a performance  How distraction and “completion mentality” pull us away from God  Why you don’t have to “master” the Bible to sit with Jesus  How to approach Scripture with peace instead of pressure Scripture Referenced Luke 10:38–42 John 14:26 Reflection Question Instead of asking, “How much do I need to read today?” What would change if you asked, “How can I be with God in this today?” Mentioned in This Episode If you’re longing to slow down and tend your soul through Scripture in a grace-filled way, you’re invited to join the Tending Together Online Community where we gather to study God’s Word, encourage one another, and grow in relationship with Jesus together. You can also continue tending your soul through the TEND Your Soul Series Bible studies: Ruth: Finding Grace in the Unexpected — a study through the book of Ruth exploring God’s faithfulness in seasons of uncertainty, grief, and transition. 1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope — a study helping you anchor your identity and hope in Christ through difficult seasons.  Connect with Mariel Website: marieldavenport.com If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who may be feeling overwhelmed in her Bible reading journey, and be sure to subscribe and leave a review so more women can be encouraged to tend their souls through God’s Word. Worn out from dry seasons and not sure where to start with God? Tending Your Soul helps you slow down, open your Bible, and grow deeper in faith—little by little. Hosted by Mariel Davenport, each episode guides you in simple, Scripture-centered rhythms so you can confidently meet with God. 🌱 Join the community: marieldavenport.com/community Explore: godhearsher.com/shop/ Learn more: marieldavenport.com Want to practice this rhythm in community? Join Tending Together: marieldavenport.com/community

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About

An invitation to reflect on God's Word using the TEND method of Bible study. Join Mariel in the garden for these few minutes, as you allow the Gardener of your soul to tend the soil of your heart with the life-giving truths of His Word.

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