Still punishing yourself for something God has already forgiven? In this episode, discover why accepting His forgiveness isn't optional, and why you don't have the authority to keep condemning yourself when God has declared you free.

Have you ever known in your head that God forgives you, but still felt unable to forgive yourself?

You've confessed. You've repented. But the guilt and shame keep circling back. You replay the failure, rehearse the regret, and quietly believe that what you did was too bad, too foolish, or too costly to ever really be forgiven. You offer grace to others but refuse to receive it for yourself.

In this episode, we look at the story of Craig Groeschel, founder of Life.Church, who preached "no condemnation" to thousands while privately drowning in self-accusation. He knew the right answers. He taught Romans 8:1 to everyone else. But when he looked in the mirror, all he saw was unworthiness. His breakthrough came when he chose to trust God's Word over his own feelings, and stopped rehearsing sins that God had already removed "as far as the east is from the west."

Through his story and the truth of Romans 8:1, you'll see that refusing to forgive yourself isn't humility, it's disagreement with God. If He no longer condemns you, you don't have the authority to keep condemning yourself. Accepting His forgiveness isn't arrogance. It's obedience.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. The difference between conviction that leads you toward God and condemnation that pushes you away
2. Why holding onto guilt after God has forgiven you is actually a form of unbelief
3. A simple declaration you can speak over yourself to retrain your heart to believe what God has already declared

God's verdict is final. The case is closed. It's time to stop holding court on a case He's already dismissed.

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Struggling to find joy when life is painful, disappointing, or just plain hard? In this episode, discover how biblical joy isn't tied to your circumstances; it's anchored in who God is, even when everything falls apart.

Have you ever felt like joy was impossible because of what you're going through?

When the diagnosis doesn't change, the relationship doesn't heal, or the loss doesn't lift, it's easy to believe that joy is something for other people, people whose lives are working. You wait for circumstances to improve before you allow yourself to feel any sense of gladness. But that day never seems to come, and bitterness slowly creeps in where joy was meant to live.

In this episode, we look at the remarkable story of Nick Vujicic, a man born without arms or legs who faced relentless bullying, deep loneliness, and an attempted suicide at age 10. He couldn't imagine a future or see any purpose in a body that seemed useless. But as a teenager, Nick encountered the love of Christ and made a life-changing decision: he would trust that God had a purpose, even if he couldn't see it yet. Today, he travels the world sharing the gospel with an unmistakable joy that has nothing to do with his body working.

Through Nick's story and the stunning declaration of Habakkuk 3:17–18, you'll see that biblical joy doesn't wait for circumstances to cooperate. It's rooted in the unchanging character of God. You can grieve and still have joy. You can hurt and still trust. You can weep and still worship.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. The difference between happiness that depends on what happens and joy that's anchored in who God is
2. How Habakkuk's "yet I will rejoice" becomes a model for holding onto joy when everything seems stripped away
3. A practical way to write your own declaration of trust and anchor your heart in difficult seasons

Joy isn't denial, it's defiance. It's choosing to anchor your heart in something deeper than your situation.

Need Prayer? Leave me a voicemail:

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Exhausted from trying to make everyone happy and afraid of their disapproval? In this episode, discover how living for an audience of One frees you from the endless trap of people-pleasing and anchors you in God's acceptance alone.

Have you ever found yourself saying yes when you wanted to say no, just to avoid disappointing someone?

People-pleasing can look like kindness on the outside, but underneath it's often driven by fear, fear of rejection, fear of conflict, fear of what others will think. Over time, that fear becomes exhausting. You twist yourself into knots trying to keep everyone happy, and it's never enough. One group wants you to be more. Another wants you to be less. You lose yourself trying to win approval that constantly shifts.

In this episode, we look at the story of Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae, who spent years trying to please both the mainstream hip-hop world and the evangelical Christian community at the same time. It was draining him. When he started speaking honestly about his struggles, he lost fans on both sides. But at his breaking point, he made a life-changing decision: stop playing the approval game and start living for an audience of One.

Through his story and Galatians 1:10, you'll see that you can't fully serve Christ and live for the approval of people at the same time. The freedom you're looking for isn't in finally getting everyone to like you; it's in letting go of that impossible goal and resting in God's acceptance alone.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. Why people-pleasing is an exhausting trap that can never be satisfied
2. How Galatians 1:10 draws a clear line between living for human approval and serving Christ
3. What it looks like to live for an audience of One and find freedom from the fear of disapproval

You'll never be able to please everyone, but you don't have to. God's approval is already yours in Christ.

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Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

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Feel like your life is too small or ordinary to matter for God's kingdom? In this episode, discover how God delights in small beginnings and quiet faithfulness, and how your ordinary obedience can echo for generations.

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, "This can't possibly matter to God"?

You're not on a platform. You're not leading anything significant. You're just showing up to your job, your family, your small group, doing the next right thing with no applause and very little recognition. Over time, that feeling of smallness can make you wonder if your faithfulness even counts.

In this episode, we look at the story of Edward Kimball, a nervous Sunday school teacher who walked into a shoe store in Boston to share the gospel with a teenager. The conversation was awkward and clumsy, but that young man, Dwight L. Moody, gave his life to Christ that day and went on to become one of the most influential evangelists in history. Kimball never became famous. His name isn't in most history books. But his ordinary obedience started something that echoed for generations.

Through his story and Zechariah 4:10, you'll see that God doesn't despise small beginnings; He rejoices in them. Your quiet prayer, your awkward conversation, your faithful act that no one notices, it all matters more than you know.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. Why God measures significance differently than the world does—and what that means for your "ordinary" life
2. How Zechariah 4:10 speaks directly to anyone feeling like their work is too small to matter
3. The surprising ripple effect that one nervous, faithful conversation in a shoe store had on history

You may never see the full impact of your faithfulness this side of heaven—but God sees, and He delights in every small beginning.

Share This Episode:

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Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

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Been misunderstood, criticized unfairly, or had your name dragged through the mud? In this episode, discover how to follow Jesus' example by entrusting your reputation to God and focusing on faithfulness instead of fighting back.

Have you ever been hurt by what someone said about you, something that wasn't true, wasn't fair, or twisted who you really are?

When your reputation is attacked, everything in you wants to defend yourself, correct the record, and make sure everyone knows the real story. But that instinct can consume you. You replay conversations, craft responses in your head, and lose sleep over what people think. Over time, the need to be understood by everyone can steal your peace and pull your focus away from what God has actually called you to do.

In this episode, we look at David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby, whose name became a national target when his company took a stand based on religious convictions. Media attacked. Social media piled on. Millions formed opinions about a man they'd never met. But instead of fighting every battle in the court of public opinion, Green chose quiet faithfulness, trusting that God saw the truth even when critics didn't. Through his story and 1 Peter 2:23, you'll see that Jesus Himself didn't retaliate when insulted or threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. And He invites you to do the same.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. Why the instinct to defend yourself at every turn can actually work against your peace and witness
2. How 1 Peter 2:23 shows us Jesus' response to unfair criticism, and what it means to leave your case in God's hands
3. The freedom that comes from focusing on faithfulness instead of fighting for everyone's approval

Sometimes the most Christ-like response to unfair criticism isn't a louder defense, it's quiet integrity and trust in the only Judge whose verdict really matters.

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Need Prayer? Send me a voicemail:

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Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

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Struggling to pray because your mind wanders or you don't have the right words? In this episode, discover how the Holy Spirit intercedes for you when words fail, and why just showing up to pray is enough.

Have you ever sat down to pray and realized you have no idea what to say?

Maybe your mind wanders before you even finish a sentence. Maybe you feel like your prayers are too scattered, too repetitive, or too ordinary to matter. Over time, that frustration can make you avoid prayer altogether, convinced that you're just not good at it or that God expects something you can't give.

In this episode, we look at the story of author Paul Miller, who spent years feeling like a prayer failure. With a special-needs daughter, ministry demands, and a constantly wandering mind, he often came to prayer exhausted and distracted. But instead of giving up, he learned to pray honestly, scattered thoughts, repeated requests, and all. Through his journey and the promise of Romans 8:26–27, you'll see that God isn't waiting for polished, eloquent prayers. He's waiting for honest hearts. And when your words fail, the Holy Spirit steps in and intercedes for you.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. Why feeling like a "prayer failure" doesn't disqualify you from powerful, meaningful prayer
2. How Romans 8:26–27 promises that the Holy Spirit prays for you when you don't know what to say
3. Simple, practical ways to show up to prayer even when your mind is distracted and your words feel clumsy

You don't have to fix your prayer life before you come to God; you just have to come.

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Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

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Stuck in a cycle of negativity and complaining? In this episode, discover how gratitude isn't a feeling you wait for; it's a daily discipline that rewires your heart toward joy and helps you see God's mercies hiding in plain sight.

Do you ever catch yourself noticing everything that's wrong before you notice anything that's right?

It's easy to become an expert at complaining without even realizing it. The traffic. The weather. The mess. The disappointment. Left unchecked, a critical spirit can color everything gray and quietly steal your joy. You may not feel negative, but your default thoughts tell a different story.

In this episode, we look at the story of Ann Voskamp, a busy farm wife and mother who was battling low-grade depression and a critical spirit that made life feel heavy. A friend challenged her to do something almost too simple: make a list of 1,000 things she was grateful for, not big, dramatic blessings, but small, ordinary gifts. Through her journey and the command of 1 Thessalonians 5:18, you'll see that gratitude isn't something you feel your way into. It's something you choose, practice, and build—and over time, it rewires your heart from complaint to worship.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. Why your brain defaults to noticing what's wrong, and how gratitude interrupts that pattern
2. How 1 Thessalonians 5:18 calls you to be thankful in all circumstances, not just for them
3. A simple daily practice to train your eyes to see God's presence and mercies hiding in plain sight
4. Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances, but it changes you in your circumstances, and that changes everything.

Share This Episode:

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Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

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Is your phone feeding your soul or quietly draining it? In this episode, discover how guarding your heart from comparison, outrage, and distraction online shapes who you become and determines the course of your life.

Have you ever opened your phone to relax and walked away feeling worse than when you started?

Most of us don't set out to feel anxious, envious, or angry. But we scroll ourselves right into those emotions without even noticing. Other people's highlight reels make our lives feel small. Outrage-filled comment sections hijack our peace. Algorithms designed to capture our attention quietly shape our hearts in ways we never intended.

In this episode, we look at the story of Amelia, a young woman who realized her phone wasn't helping her unwind; it was feeding insecurity and envy one scroll at a time. She made a counter-cultural choice: she deleted the app and walked away. Through her story and the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23, you'll see that what you let into your heart shapes who you become. Guarding your heart isn't about being anti-technology; it's about being pro-presence, choosing to fill your soul with what leads to life instead of what quietly poisons it.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. How the content you scroll is shaping your thoughts, emotions, and spiritual health more than you realize
2. Why Proverbs 4:23 calls you to guard your heart "above all else" and what that looks like in a digital age
3. Practical ways to set boundaries, replace unhealthy inputs, and fill your heart with what actually leads to life
4. Sometimes the most faith-filled thing you can do is remove an input that's quietly stealing your peace.

Share This Episode:

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Need Prayer? Leave me a voicemail:

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Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

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