July 2026
Issue 244

Reclaiming your dignity

Thank God that's not the final verdict. I say thank God because he is the One who can restore a person's dignity. Not only does he have the power to do it, he desires to do it.

This month we look at that precious element God bestows on every human being—including you—dignity. It can be vandalized in a thousand different ways, and our cruel society seems to invent new ones every day.

But as Christian believers, you and I worship a God who can raise the dead. The sacred dignity he created within your soul he can make new again. And let's be clear: Only he can do this. You and I can't on our own.

Let's find out how the Holy Spirit wants to heal you by reclaiming your dignity.

Jesus died

Then one day a truth jumped out
with stunning clarity.
It hit me like a thunderbolt
that Jesus died for me.

I always knew he chose the cross
to save us from our sins.
But something surged inside my heart
where sacred change begins.

Now his gift was personal.
He did it out of love.
His Spirit touched me then and there
as gently as a dove.

My downcast days are over now,
for all eternity.
Jesus called me by my name.
Jesus died for me.

~ Jack Zavada, inspiration-for-singles.com, 2026 ~

A unique way to bring meaning to life

We can hardly blame Generation Z today for their disillusionment with the society in which they live. It seems as if their only career choice is to be an oppressor or the oppressed.

But someone laid down a path that lets us be neither. He set standards so high only he could reach them—yet he also gave us a brilliant way to follow his example. His name is Jesus of Nazareth, and he demonstrated a surefire method to bring meaning to your life by serving others.

Jesus can make such an absurd request of us because he, in fact, created us. Even so, he is gracious enough to give human beings a choice: Serve yourself and become a grabbing, inward-turned wretch, or serve others and become a God-beloved hero on a lifelong adventure.

It's true because Jesus cannot lie. Check this out if lately you feel life is meaningless.

What are you getting so far in 2026?

Are you experiencing more joy, confidence, and hope than you did in January or are you still struggling with the same old problems without any progress?

Here's a reminder of what I told you 6 months ago:

"If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got."

What could have happened by now if you had gotten a copy of Hope for Hurting Singles in January, read it, and started following its simple step-by-step strategies for a more fulfilling life?

Well, you can't get back those lost 6 months, but you can change the next 6 by ordering a copy of this surprising book today. I call it surprising because you'll learn things you never knew.

How can I say that? Because I put in 45+ years of trial-and-error in the single life, testing one solution after another until I found the ones that work. That's not in some ivory tower laboratory but in the real world. This is practical stuff that succeeds, and the surprise comes in the "why."

Hope for Hurting Singles points you to the Ultimate Problem Solver: God. Self-help books are self-centered. This book is God-centered. The Christian single life works, but only when you let Jesus Christ live his life through you.

Six months ago, you passed this book by, and what have you gotten? Let me ask you again: If you always do what you're doing now, what are you going to get?

Want to get something better? Order Hope for Hurting Singles today.

The paperback is $10.99 and the Kindle version is $3.99.

The heart-lifting joy of being appreciated

The fact is that Jesus appreciates you. He has his eye on you and he likes what he sees, even if you believe you're nothing special. To him you're a work of art—one of his masterpieces.

But you're like a painting or sculpture that's not finished yet; he's always working on you, adding a bit of compassion here, a touch of wisdom there.

Jesus appreciates you. His love is so gentle, so forgiving that he applies it with infinite care. He is creating something more wonderful in you every day.

Understand who you are in him. Take a few moments to learn why Jesus appreciates you.

July QOTM: Mandela speaks

Those should be watchwords for all of us. You and I may not face the level of injustice Mandela had to endure, but doesn't seem as if there's always someone trying to rob us of our dignity?

This month's feature article shows how we can prevent that from happening. The world is full of bullies who take devilish pleasure in trying to humiliate others, but Christians have an invincible dignity, provided to us through the power of God.

God declares you worthwhile by his steadfast love. When you grasp that truth, your dignity cannot be shaken, no matter what happens to you.

Gain a fresh appreciation for this divine truth. Hold your head high knowing you have the highest approval in the Universe. Grab onto your dignity as tightly as God has grabbed onto you and never let go.

"Is singleness a curse?"

Sometimes it feels that way. If you want to be married and you're not, you've probably asked 10,000 times: "Why not me?"

Then there are those unmarried folks who are happy as clams in the unwed state. Most of them are not too concerned about the sin problem. They "live it up" thinking there are no consequences. They get their morals from movies and TV and believe the purpose of life is to cram in as much fun as you can before you get old.

I don't think many readers of this newsletter feel that way. The ones who do either cancelled their subscription years ago or don't read it at all.

To answer the original question, I found three main reasons singleness is NOT a curse. I think you'll find they make sense. Check them out here.

Keeping dignity in perspective

But it's easy to go wrong defending your dignity. The extreme case is the gang member who murders a rival gang member because he believes he was "disrespected." The more common occurrence is a feud of insults on social media.

No one wants to be humiliated, but sometimes you're unable to fight back. You need your job. You can't lash out at a relative and "put them in their place." That's when it's necessary to remember your core worth comes from the love of God. No matter how miserable your situation, God's love never wavers. You are always important to him.

God values you so highly he sent his Holy Spirit to live within you. It's hard to grasp that God actually makes his home inside you, but the Bible says that's true for every baptized believer. Even if you can't feel it, it's a fact. He's there.

The Holy Spirit serves as both a guide and comforter. He gives you strength to live the Christian life, the incomprehensible ability for Jesus to live his life through you. That is a dignity that can never be shaken.

Please read this month's feature article on reclaiming your dignity. Think about it. If it doesn't make sense, wait a few days and read it again. Dignity is a vital attribute for every human being. God wants yours to be healthy.

See you later, Neville

Well, I needed to cry at the end of June when my dog Neville died, and I did. Neville was a rescue, the fourth dog I have owned, and he was an old boy when I got him. I had him about 5 years. Several months ago, he fell victim to Cushing's syndrome, a fatal disease in older animals, and after a brave struggle, he died in late June, during the night.

Neville loved affection, so I petted him many times during the day and told him what a good boy and loyal friend he was. Since I suspected he was neglected in some of his earlier homes, I spoiled him rotten. He had beds in the living room, my home office, and in my bedroom, and whatever room I was in, Neville was in his bed, peacefully snoozing away.

For us single folks, our pets become like our children. I often told Nev he was the son I never had. I believe his first owner named him after the character Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter novels, because he had a long, lean torso.

Of course I miss him terribly, but I have wonderful memories. After I cried, I felt a little better. Sometimes God graces our lives with extraordinary delights. Neville was one of mine.

It's a privilege, y'know

The singles on July's prayer list have needs. Please take a minute to read over their names then ask Jesus to grant their requests.

Much of prayer remains a mystery but two things are always certain: 1. We are welcome to come to the Throne boldly; and 2. God always listens.

Please pray for the women below:

Natalie: Freedom from pride, anger, despondency, shame and depression.

Dawn: Peace, calm, direction.

Lisa: Physical healing for her brother.

Jenny: Emotional healing.

Cherlyn: Physical and emotional healing.

If you'd like to be listed on the Inspire-O-Gram prayer list, send your request through our secure Contact Form..

That's the July Inspire-O-Gram, fellow singletarian. I hope you found something you can use in your life.

Thanks again for reading. I'll leave you with these words from Haddon Robinson: "What distinguishes us from one another are the choices we make. We make decisions and then those decisions turn around and make us."

Until August, may God bless you,

PS: Not a Christian yet? Find out how to become a Christian.