Podcasts about faith in god

The author of the Book of Hebrews makes the case that we simply can't stay with the basic, elementary teachings about faith and spiritual growth. We must move forward to a deeper and more mature understanding of our life in Christ. This makes sense, doesn't it?Main Points:1. Here's an important truth: God wants you to grow spiritually. He wants you to mature and develop a strong faith. He wants your understanding of his Word to grow so that you can move past the elementary stages and move on to deeper doctrines.2. We grow by being diligent in our pursuit of knowing God. We read and study His Word. We develop a consistent prayer life. We grow as we regularly gather with other believers and we share our faith together.3. If you want to grow in your faith, begin to take small steps of obedience to Jesus. With every step, you move away from the basic, elementary teaching and advance to maturity.Today's Scripture Verses:Hebrews 6:1 New Living Translation - “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.”2 Timothy 2:15 - “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”James 1:22 - “But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

The conversation with Brandon McDaniel continues as Tracy and Chris move deeper into his reflections—lessons learned, people who influenced him, his obedience to God's call into ministry, the adjustments he's had to make, and the rhythms he's discovered for leading well. Brandon's words are honest, practical, and encouraging. If Part 1 stirred your curiosity, Part 2 will speak even more clearly to where you live today. We need more young leaders like Brandon—caring for people, walking by true faith in God, and taking time to live with integrity.https://www.mytc.org/our-team

You Can't See Him, But God's Right There—Closer Than Your Next Breath | Blessed Daily Morning PrayerSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

All eyes were on Carrie Prejean Boller during the 2009 Miss USA pageant when she was asked a pivotal question by one of the judges: “Should same-sex marriage be legalized throughout the country?” Her response shocked the audience, set off a storm of controversy, and ultimately cost her the crown. Carrie joins us today to share the story from her perspective. She explains what it was like to stand firm in her beliefs and become one of the earliest victims of cancel culture. What should have been the worst day of her life instead became the beginning of something greater. Through her commitment to her values and her faith in God, Carrie turned a public loss into a new mission.Over the past fifteen years she has built a career as a speaker and advocate for religious liberty, embraced a joyful marriage and motherhood, and ultimately converted to the Catholic Church. In this episode, Carrie opens up about her journey, the lessons she has learned, and why protecting religious liberty, especially in our schools, matters now more than ever. Join us for this unforgettable and important conversation.NEW: Join our exclusive Rose Report community! https://rosereport.supercast.com - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, monthly AMA, and early access to our upcoming guests.Religious discrimination website: https://www.justice.gov/religious-liberty-commissionCarrie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrieprejeanboller/A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-ProLife Providers: Discover doctors who share and respect your values at https://www.prolifeproviders.com/-Hallow: https://www.hallow.com/lila Enter into prayer more deeply this season with the Hallow App, get 3 months free by using this link to sign up! -EveryLife: https://www.everylife.com Buy diapers from an amazing pro-life diaper company and use code LILA to get 10% off!

Welcome to Media Club Plus: a podcast about diving into the media that interests us and the stories that excite us. This season we're watching a selection of M Night Shyamalan movies. This episode we watched Signs and next time we'll be back with The Village. Signs is a movie about ex-preacher Graham Hess and his faith in god, which is put to the test when his wife is killed as a pedestrian in a car accident. He loses his faith, leaves the Church, and retreats emotionally inside the self-soothing comfort of atheism, or perhaps fledgling nihilism. Unfortunately for him, in M Night's world, God is real, losing faith is wrong, and raising your kid while atheist is toxic. When the earth is suddenly subject to a widespread alien invasion threat, Graham's lack of faith is shattered by God's Grace, and the true extent of His meticulously planned fate is undeniable. In this movie written in 2000-2001, starting production in September 2001, and released in summer of 2002, we find an almost supernaturally early example of the post 9/11 movie. A movie about media, a Christian God, securing borders against foreign threats, pulled from the percolating subconscious of America. Featuring Keith Carberry (@KeithJCarberry, @KeithJCarberry), Sylvi Bullet (@SYLVIBULLET), Ali Acampora (@Ali-online) and Arthur Martinez-Tebbel (@amtebbel) Produced by Keith Carberry Music by Jack de Quidt (available at notquitereal.bandcamp.com) Cover Art by by Annie Johnston-Glick (@dancynrew) anniejg.com To find the screenshots for this episode, check out this post on our patreon, friendsatthetable.cash This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to http://friendsatthetable.cash ...Or find our merch here http://friendsatthetable.shop To find transcripts of the episodes, go to http://TranscriptsattheTable.com

Read OnlineJesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. Luke 7:11–12Try to imagine this mother. She had been married, she and her husband had a child, they raised their child, she and her son watched her husband die, and then she watched her son die and was participating in his funeral. Since he was her only son, she was now alone.When we think about this woman, it is easy to feel compassion for her. Her heart would have been filled with a sorrow that is tangible to anyone with empathy. Her heart might also have been filled with fear. At that time, a widow would have had a very difficult time taking care of herself in a rural village. With her husband gone, she would have had to rely upon her son to provide for her as she aged. But now that he was gone, her heart would have not only felt the pain of his loss, but also fear for her future. What would become of her? Who would provide food for her year after year? Would she be reduced to begging and poverty?It is in the context of this very real sorrow and fear that Jesus enters her life. We do not know if she knew anything about Jesus. It appears she was not one of His followers and might not have even heard about Jesus since He had not been ministering publicly for very long. Jesus' encounter with her and her dead son appears to be unplanned and unexpected. What is it that moves Jesus to raise this man from the dead? It does not appear to be a response to anyone's faith within the village. It is not even done at anyone's request. Instead, it appears to be done purely out of Jesus' compassion for this mother. At least that's how it seems at first read. And though Jesus clearly acted out of compassion for her, if we consider the entire context, there might also be a secondary motive.Jesus, his disciples and a large crowd were all walking together through this village. Since Jesus' miracles were normally performed in response to people's faith, it is most likely that faith was a contributing factor to this miracle. The faith that called forth this miracle, however, could only have come from the crowds of people who were walking with Jesus from Capernaum. The day prior, these same crowds witnessed Jesus heal the servant of a centurion. They clearly believed in Jesus. As they walked with Him and encountered this funeral procession, it was not only Jesus' heart that was moved with compassion, it was also the hearts of His followers. Therefore, as Jesus' followers witnessed this mother's sorrow and then witnessed Jesus' own human sorrow and compassion for her, they would have had hope that He would do something. Their hope would have been supernatural in origin, which means that it was also united with faith. By faith, they knew Jesus would act. Thus, in a very real way, the compassion, hope and faith of the people traveling with Jesus would have called forth His almighty power to heal, and Jesus responded.There are many ways to act as mediators of God's grace. One way to do so is by growing in compassion for others and hope in God. When we witness the sufferings of others, allow ourselves to feel compassion for them, manifest hope in the power of God to heal, and then stand there, in faith, waiting for God to act, God will be compelled to act. Our holy compassion, hope and faith act as a prayer to which God always responds. The crowds accompanying Jesus through the Village of Nain appear to have acted in this manner and, inspired by their witness, we, too, must act as intercessors for others in the same way.Reflect, today, upon anyone in your life who resembles this widow of Nain. Who is it that God wants you to notice and to feel compassion for? As your empathetic heart notices those who need your compassion, open yourself, also, to the supernatural gift of hope. Have divine hope that God will heal them. As you do, allow that hope to manifest faith in God and offer that compassion, hope and faith to God as your prayer for those who are in need.Most compassionate Lord, You are always attentive to our needs and our sorrows. Your Heart is filled with compassion for all. Please give me a truly empathetic heart so that I will see those in need. As I do, fill me with hope and faith that You will pour forth Your mercy upon them so that I will become an intercessor for all. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Dave and Bethlie continue their  multi-part series on the book Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. Part 4 5.  The rod defined - p. 104 “The rod is a parent, in faith toward God and faithfullness toward his or her children, undertaking the responsibility of careful, timely, measured, and controlled use of physical punishment to underscore the importance of obeying God, thus rescuing the child from continuing in his foolishness unto death.”  It is a parental exercise 2. It is an act of faith in God and His Word It is an act of faithfulness - an expression of love and comitment It is an act of responsibility - not a parent determining to punish, but a parent determining to obey It is an act of physical punishment Not venting or parental anger Not frustration Not based on a feeling of my child is bothering me It is always measured and controlled It is a rescue mission Rescues the child from continuing in foolishness To ignore your child's rebellion against God's authority is to ultimately brings God's greater chastisement into their lives. 6.  The Rod clarified Not unbridled temper Not the right to hit my child Not venting or frustration Not retribution Not payment but restoration Not vindictive 7.  The Rod objected I love my child too much too spank You love yourself too much to spank them I am afraid I will hurt them “Biblically-balanced discipline never physically endangers a child” I am afraid it will make him rebellious and angry Proverbs 29:17 teaches the exact opposite I am afraid it will teach them to hit Only if you spank in anger It doesn't work It doesn't when you spank in anger or out-of-control It doesn't when you are inconsistent It doesn't when you fail to be persistent It doesn't when you aren't effective I could be arrested for child abuse Only spank in the privacy of your home and do it right

Right When You Need It—God Delivers Every Time | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

In this part 1 of 2 episodes, Bryan and Layne pull back the curtain on Mormonism's temple recommend—walking through the 16 worthiness questions, why they emphasize loyalty and performance over Jesus' finished work, and what the Bible says about true access to God.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --What Is a Temple Recommend in Mormonism?In this episode, Bryan and Layne take listeners inside one of the most important—and least understood—practices in Mormonism: the temple recommend interview.For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), receiving a temple recommend is like getting a spiritual passport. Without it, you cannot enter Mormon temples, where sacred ordinances such as baptisms for the dead, eternal marriages, and endowments are performed. To get one, every member must answer the same 16 “worthiness questions” in interviews with both their local bishop and their stake president.Layne, who held temple recommends for decades before leaving Mormonism, explains what these questions are, what they test, and how they compare with the Bible's teaching about salvation, worthiness, and grace.What Is a Temple Recommend?A temple recommend is a physical card (now often digitized) that allows a Mormon to enter any LDS temple worldwide. It is valid for two years, after which the member must repeat the interview process to renew it.For many Mormons, obtaining a recommend is the pinnacle of religious devotion. From childhood classes to teenage priesthood offices, LDS culture builds anticipation for the temple. Preparation includes six weeks of temple prep classes and then the recommend interview.The interview itself consists of 16 standardized questions. These questions are designed to measure whether someone is “worthy” to enter the temple. But as Layne explains, they often test external performance more than internal faith.What the Questions Really TestThe first few questions sound straightforward:Do you have faith in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His role as Savior and Redeemer?At face value, many Christians could answer “yes.” But the problem arises in the definitions. A biblical Christian would describe God as one eternal Being in three persons—the Father, Son, and Spirit. Yet Mormonism defines them as three separate gods. Similarly, Mormons often emphasize Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane rather than His finished work on the cross.The result? The questions aren't just about belief in God or Christ—they're about belief in the LDS version of God and Christ.Other questions reveal more clearly the institutional loyalty expected:Do you have a testimony of the “restoration” of the gospel through Joseph Smith?Do you sustain the current prophet and apostles as seers and revelators?Do you support or promote any teachings contrary to those of the LDS...

In this part 1 of 2 episodes, Bryan and Layne pull back the curtain on Mormonism's temple recommend—walking through the 16 worthiness questions, why they emphasize loyalty and performance over Jesus' finished work, and what the Bible says about true access to God.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --What Is a Temple Recommend in Mormonism?In this episode, Bryan and Layne take listeners inside one of the most important—and least understood—practices in Mormonism: the temple recommend interview.For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), receiving a temple recommend is like getting a spiritual passport. Without it, you cannot enter Mormon temples, where sacred ordinances such as baptisms for the dead, eternal marriages, and endowments are performed. To get one, every member must answer the same 16 “worthiness questions” in interviews with both their local bishop and their stake president.Layne, who held temple recommends for decades before leaving Mormonism, explains what these questions are, what they test, and how they compare with the Bible's teaching about salvation, worthiness, and grace.What Is a Temple Recommend?A temple recommend is a physical card (now often digitized) that allows a Mormon to enter any LDS temple worldwide. It is valid for two years, after which the member must repeat the interview process to renew it.For many Mormons, obtaining a recommend is the pinnacle of religious devotion. From childhood classes to teenage priesthood offices, LDS culture builds anticipation for the temple. Preparation includes six weeks of temple prep classes and then the recommend interview.The interview itself consists of 16 standardized questions. These questions are designed to measure whether someone is “worthy” to enter the temple. But as Layne explains, they often test external performance more than internal faith.What the Questions Really TestThe first few questions sound straightforward:Do you have faith in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His role as Savior and Redeemer?At face value, many Christians could answer “yes.” But the problem arises in the definitions. A biblical Christian would describe God as one eternal Being in three persons—the Father, Son, and Spirit. Yet Mormonism defines them as three separate gods. Similarly, Mormons often emphasize Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane rather than His finished work on the cross.The result? The questions aren't just about belief in God or Christ—they're about belief in the LDS version of God and Christ.Other questions reveal more clearly the institutional loyalty expected:Do you have a testimony of the “restoration” of the gospel through Joseph Smith?Do you sustain the current prophet and apostles as seers and revelators?Do you support or promote any teachings contrary to those of the LDS...

2025, September 14Have you ever felt a little unsettled with faith in God?This message explores the very real doubts people face when life gets hard and everything starts to feel a little “off.” It asks the big question: Can we really trust what we believe?Specifically, it challenges us to ask:  Can we trust the Bible?Through powerful stories, historical evidence, archeological discoveries, and the unmatched accuracy of biblical prophecy, the message makes a compelling case that the Bible is not just another book—it is reliable, supernaturally consistent, and life-changing.Whether you've questioned your beliefs or simply need a reminder of their foundation, this message gives some real assurance for your faith.

Doc Fox is back in the studio to bring us another great message from the Bible. Let's Go To Church is a spin off series dedicated to growing closer to God and hopefully getting a better understanding of the Bible. Danny aims to have Preachers from all over in the studio to either Preach an actual Sermon, or have Bible study. We here at the WUW Podcast have a deep faith in God and all of his blessings and we want to bring this series to you in the hopes of reaching someone out there in possibly troubled times.   

If we live by faith in God's promise of future grace, it will be very hard for anxiety to survive.

Can empathy be a bad thing? This week, Alex and Scott sit down with Joe Rigney, Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrew's College and pastor, as they explore the challenges of Christian leadership, ministry, and missions, and the dangers of emotional sabotage and untethered empathy. Rigney explains that in times of turmoil, leaders must maintain mission clarity and resist being derailed by reactive or manipulative pressures within their organizations. Joe Rigney discusses that rather than being an unqualified good, empathy can be wielded as emotional blackmail, steering ministries away from their God-given purposes. They also focus on principles of mobilization and missions. Rigney stresses that appeals to missions should be rooted not in guilt but in gratitude, joy, and faith in God's future grace. Key Topics The concept of mission drift and how institutions get derailed in anxious times Difference between biblical compassion and untethered empathy The dangers of empathy as emotional blackmail and manipulation How appeals to missions should be based on truth and joy, not guilt Building sober-minded, resilient leaders who can withstand cultural and emotional pressures Being a godly husband and father isn't about one big heroic act, it's about showing up every day. Men need a simple, practical plan to stay faithful in the daily grind. How To Lead Your Family is a no-nonsense guide, from author Joel Beeke, that gives the biblical foundation, Christ-centered encouragement, practical advice for men to purse the high standards that God calls them too. Get 20% off your copy today when you use the promo code: LEADABWE. Additionally, new email subscribers can get 10% off a future order. We are thankful for Reformation Heritage Books for their sponsorship of this episode! Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber! Premium Subscribers get access to: Exclusive bonus content A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts Invite-only webinars A free gift! Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Are you facing a situation that feels impossible to fix on your own? This devotional reminds us that God can do what we can’t do and invites us to fully trust Him in circumstances beyond our control. When we reach the limits of our own abilities, God’s power begins where ours ends. Drawing from Luke 18:27, we’re reminded that “what is impossible with man is possible with God.” Whether it’s a strained relationship, financial hardship, health struggle, or an unanswered prayer, God invites us to surrender our worries and rely on His strength, timing, and plan. ✨ Highlights God can do the impossible — Our limitations don’t limit Him. Faith grows in the waiting — Trusting God deepens when we surrender control. Prayer comes first — Instead of forcing solutions, bring your needs to God first. Surrender releases peace — Handing our impossible situations to God allows us to rest in His power. God’s strength shines through weakness — Our struggles become opportunities for Him to display His glory.

Send us a textJoin us this week as we continue to discuss the trials of the early saints and how we apply the principles of faithfulness to our lives.  Jackson takes the opportunity to share a personal experience of exercising faith in following the prophet.  From Come Follow Me:          The Saints in Kirtland were heartbroken to hear that their brothers and sisters in Jackson County, Missouri, were being driven from their homes. It must have been encouraging, then, when the Lord declared that “the redemption of Zion” would “come by power” (Doctrine and Covenants 103:15). With that promise in their hearts, over 200 men, plus about 25 women and children, enlisted in what they called the Camp of Israel, later known as Zion's Camp. Its mission was to march to Missouri and redeem Zion.          To the members of the camp, redeeming Zion meant restoring the Saints to their land. But just before the camp arrived in Jackson County, the Lord told Joseph Smith to stop and disband Zion's Camp. Some members of the camp were confused and upset by this new instruction; to them, it meant the expedition failed and the Lord's promises were not fulfilled. Others, however, saw it differently. While the exiled Saints never returned to Jackson County, the experience did bring a degree of “redemption” to Zion, and it did “come by power.” Faithful members of Zion's Camp, many of whom later became leaders of the Church, testified that the experience deepened their faith in God's power, in Joseph Smith's divine call, and in Zion—not just Zion the place but Zion the people of God. Rather than questioning the value of this seemingly unsuccessful task, they learned that the real task is to follow the Savior, even when we don't understand everything. This is how Zion, ultimately, will be redeemed.          See Saints, 1:194–206; “The Acceptable Offering of Zion's Camp,” Revelations in Context, 213–18.Support the show... Become a "Patron Saint"!!

A @Christadelphians Video: SummaryIn this study, the focus is on King Hezekiah's severe illness during the Assyrian invasion. Despite his faith in God's promise of protection, Hezekiah faces a life-threatening sickness, leading to a crisis of faith. The prophet Isaiah informs him that he must prepare for death, prompting Hezekiah to pray earnestly for remembrance and healing. God responds to Hezekiah's sincere prayer by extending his life by 15 years and providing a miraculous sign through the reversal of a shadow, symbolising both time and divine favour.Highlights

Faith for the Coming Wilderness (4) (audio) David Eells – 9/14/25 I want to back up a little from what I shared last time, when we knew we were to move to Florida and share how we got a little ahead of the Lord. Sometimes the Lord will wait before He answers because He wants to see if we are going to get out there in the flesh and that's what we did. We came over a little early and started looking around Pensacola, but we didn't see anything, and we went back home. We started crying out to the Lord, “Okay, Lord, we know this is the time; we know it's coming,” and so on. And the next time, we waited until the Lord sent us. We even had a Christian realtor in Pensacola looking around for us, and we described the house to him because we had already seen it in dreams and visions. He was looking all over Pensacola, trying to find the house, until, finally, one day, in a little frustration after having sought the Lord, I stopped the man. I said, “Look, let's get your map.” So he got his map and we stretched it out on the hood of his car, and I said, “Listen, this is where the house is, right here!” I wasn't even looking where I was pointing, but I stuck my finger down on the map and he said, “Okay, we'll go there and look.” As we were looking, I told the man just exactly how much we were going to pay for the house. I could tell he wasn't used to that, but he said, “Okay.” He drove us through the area where my finger came down and we passed by the house we had seen in our dreams and visions. The lady who owned it had just stuck a “For Sale By Owner” sign in the ground. And since this was a realtor and it was a For Sale By Owner sign, he was just driving right on by, but I had my pad and pencil out. I wrote down the phone number and called her later. So after we looked at the house, I felt led to offer her $1000 less than I knew I was going to pay because some people like to haggle. She said, “Well, I don't know.” And I said, “Well, I tell you what, leave the curtains,” which I knew she was planning on doing anyway, “and I'll give you this much,” which was the amount the Lord told me. And she said, “Okay.” Praise the Lord! I do want to tell you that the realtor was a good Christian man who had done a good job looking for the house, and we actually gave him his commission. He had worked for his due, and we figured we'd give it to him anyway. He told us, “Man, I could never have found you a deal like this!” Now this lady was a Baptist, but one of her relatives was the pastor of a large, full-Gospel church in Pensacola. He and other people had been witnessing to her. And at the time when we came to Pensacola, she was having a problem with her eyes, so we asked her, “Would you let us pray for you? Will you let us lay hands on you for those eyes, so God will heal them?” I pointed out some verses to her and so on. She said, “Well, I don't know so much of that laying on of hands stuff, but I would like you to pray for me.” I answered, “Okay, we will pray for you without the laying on of hands.” That's what we did; we prayed for her, and God healed her. She was so jubilant to come to find out that God would do this for her because her doctrine didn't permit that kind of miraculous healing. She didn't really believe in those kinds of miraculous healings, but she received a miraculous healing, and her eyes were suddenly opened to the true Gospel. Then, when the time came for us to move in, she still wasn't ready to move out for another week, so she lived with us for a week, and we were able to witness to her even more. We had our stuff all piled up on one end of the house, and we were kind of living together like that until, finally, we had the house to ourselves. You see, God did a miracle. And it was through our weakness that we got this miracle. God paid for it; we didn't pay for anything. The money He gave us was enough to buy the house and a new car because our small car was a Toyota, which was good for doing small jobs, but we had five kids. So we bought a large, brand new station wagon, and God also did many miracles on that station wagon for us over the years. But the miracle was that God paid for both of these. We didn't have any money or save any money, and we just continued to give to any need that came our way. Whenever we saw a need, we gave to it. We didn't believe in storing up our treasures on earth, so we put no money in the bank. We did what Jesus says. (Luk.12:33) Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. “Faileth not.” I want to remind you that no credit goes to us. Eph 2:8  for by grace (unmerited favor) have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9  not of works, that no man should glory.  When you store up your treasures in Heaven by meeting the needs of the brethren, you can always get it back because as the Lord said, it “faileth not.” For many years, I made a very good living, and I met the needs of the brethren around me. Whenever I saw a need, it wasn't a burden to me to take care of it by the grace of God, Who put it in my heart to do that. When you read the Word of God and you love the Word of God, and you love to act and live on the Word of God, the Word gets into your heart. The Word in you is Jesus in you. So we just gave where we saw to give; we didn't save up money and we didn't borrow money. Borrowing was out of the question for us because we were walking by faith, and even up to today, I haven't for 55 years. But because I give, the money is always there when I need it. As I've shared with you, the Lord taught me never to borrow, never to tell my needs, never to go into the business of buying and selling. Another was, never to take any government help. Recently the Lord had me sighn up for Social Security at 76 which didn't belong to the government but me, but I have given it away ever since. One of the things the young man said happened in his dream was that when he walked up to me, I told him, “I'm never going to work for man again,” and it was true. After I retired from Exxon, I never worked for man again. Now, everybody has to work, as the Bible says: (2Th.3:10) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat. So I've worked diligently for the Lord and still do, but I've never been a burden on people. I made sure of that, and I never made my needs known. I haven't received any income from UBM. God put it in people's hearts to meet our needs separately. I don't believe in being a freeloader or “mooching.” It's wrong and it's evil. If you're truly walking by faith, God's going to support you. (Luk.10:7) And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. (Mat.10:10) Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; (10) no wallet for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. God supports those who work for Him. Apostle Paul is our example. At the beginning of his ministry, he worked for a living. (1Co.9:11) If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? (12) If others partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. But later on (2 Corinthians 9; Philippians 2), it seems very clear that Paul was receiving freewill offerings from brethren so that he could continue on with his ministering and not be distracted by any work. It was that way for the first part of my ministry, too. I worked for many years while I ministered. I learned to walk by faith and, in that weakness, God was miraculous. Most people don't get to see the miracles of God because they are not willing to be weak. They're always strong and do for themselves; it's salvation by works. Remember that the Greek word for “salvation,” which is the noun soteria or the verb sozo, is translated in many different ways to cover every kind of salvation. For instance, when Jesus healed someone, (Mat.9:22) But Jesus turning and seeing her said, Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith hath made thee whole (sozo). And the woman was made whole (sozo) from that hour. When He delivered people from demons, (Luk.8:36) And they that saw it told them how he that was possessed with demons was made whole (sozo). When the disciples were in the sinking boat, (Mat.8:25) And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save (sozo), Lord; we perish. Salvation is very, very big! Jesus saved us from sin and its curse. (2Co.5:21) Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Did you know, in the Scriptures, poverty is a curse? (Deu.28:47) Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things; (48) therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies that Jehovah shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. Unless it is a sacrificial self-imposed poverty for the sake of others, it's a curse. How many of you know that Jesus wasn't poverty-stricken? He had His needs met everywhere He went. Now, He didn't have riches, according to the way the world likes riches. The world likes the material kind of riches in which they can trust. Jesus didn't have that, but His needs were met wherever He went, and so were His disciples. They weren't poor, but they were poor to the world. (Jas.2:5) Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? People who are poor to the world are in a position of weakness, where they have to trust in God. You have to come out from under the principles of the world and the teachings of the worldly, Babylonish Church. You learn to obey the principles that Jesus gave us in the New Testament. Make sure your brother's needs are met sacrificially out of what you have, and God will make sure you don't ever have a need that isn't met by God's faith in us. Paul said, (Php.4:19) And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. He said that because his needs were being met by the brethren and He made that promise to the Philippians. Well, we lost a car, had been injured, and didn't have any money, but in our weakness, God was made strong. We didn't have to sell or borrow or beg or do anything of the sort; all we did was give. I want you to walk in the same blessings, and God will do that for you if you start living according to His principles. By the way, because the second part of the money that came in from the wreck was delayed and delayed, God made an opportunity for me to give away my first station wagon that I had when I was in Baton Rouge. I gave it away to a mission in town where I had preached quite a few times because they needed transportation for the people in the mission. God blessed me with that car, and I never had any problems with it that Father didn't fix. When we prayed for a car, my youngest daughter had a vision of that car being in New Orleans. She even saw the color of the car. Sure enough, I couldn't find anything in Baton Rouge that I liked, so I went to New Orleans, and I saw the car and bought it. That was the car I gave to the mission. And I'd never put any spares in that car because I was trusting God to keep my tires, but the day I put the keys in the preacher's hand in my living room and we walked outside, it was sitting on a flat. I never had a flat as long as I had that car because I never carried a spare, but as soon as it got out of my hand and into his, it had a flat. And since I mentioned New Orleans, think about what happened there, folks. God brought a Category 5 hurricane (Hurricane Katrina: August 29, 2005) to that big sin city and, just as it was about to hit land, He sent in a wave of dry air from the northwest that suddenly knocked that hurricane down to a Category 3. That same gust of dry air pushed the hurricane to the east. A Category 5 hurricane that was about to hit that area would have driven the waters of Lake Pontchartrain over into the city and drowned 40,000 to 50,000 people because the water would have come in there so fast. Think about man's efforts to save himself with the levees and those great big monster pumps that they have in that city. They thought they could keep that city dry. Had a Category 5 hit that city head-on, or even a Category 3, it would have pushed the water in there faster than the pumps could handle. Most of New Orleans is 20 feet below sea level and some of it is more than 20 feet below sea level. What chance did man have to save himself from just one of God's judgments? As it was, He didn't let the city escape, even after moving the hurricane over a little bit. The levees gave out when they became saturated and the city started filling up with water, but it was slow enough to give people a little time to move out of the way. It was astounding how the mercy of God saved those people. The meteorologists pointed out on radar how this gust of dry air came in and moved the hurricane; they were totally amazed by it. They had never seen anything like it. That was purely an act of God that spared them when they couldn't have saved themselves, even with all of their efforts. They knew if a major hurricane hit them, the city would drown. God didn't completely spare the city, but He spared an untold number of people, including many brethren. I'm sure some people in New Orleans with faith were praying until God, at the last moment, suddenly dropped the strength of that hurricane and moved it over. Hurricane Dennis did exactly the same thing as it was coming toward Pensacola. I was praying the whole time and I was asking, “Lord, do you want me to command that hurricane to back off and go the other way?” The Lord said, “No. Just wait,” so I didn't do anything. All of a sudden, when it hit the land, I felt in my heart that the Lord wanted me to command it to be broken up, and that's exactly when it started breaking up. The strength dropped down, and it veered a little bit to the right of Pensacola. I know that there were some people over there in New Orleans doing the exact same thing and God answered the exact same way. You see, God has it all planned out. He just uses His faith in us to bring it to pass. We can put our trust in the living God. Nothing that man can do will save you from the judgments that are coming. The wilderness is where you learn to walk by faith in the Lord. You learn to put your faith in Him and you give up your efforts and your power; you give up your ability to do anything. The promises of God are past tense. He became a curse for you, He bore your curse, and He healed your body. He already did all of this, and since all of these promises are past tense, what can you do to bring it to pass? Jesus taught us, (Mar.11:24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. If you believe you have received, there's nothing for you to do to bring them to pass. Believing the promises brings us into a position of weakness where we can't save ourselves. You've probably heard the old saying, “God helps those who help themselves.” Well, that's a lie. The Bible says just the opposite: (Jer.17:5) Thus saith the Lord: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. The power of God is made perfect in weakness; that's what He told Paul: (2Co.12:9) And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Paul couldn't save himself in those situations that he got into, but he said, (2Ti.4:18) The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. In his weakness, and faith, God's power was made perfect. Keep the Sabbath, and don't bring a burden into God's Holy City on this Sabbath. Cease from your own works or, in other words, cease from the works of man. As God told Moses and the children of Israel, (Exo.14:13) And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. (14) The Lord will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. He said, “Stand still.” They were trying to figure out what to do. Here was Pharaoh's army coming up behind them and they would have never thought about parting the Red Sea. (Exo.14:15) And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. (16) And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground. You see, God has ways far beyond our ways. (Isa.55:8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. That's why He had to tell them, “stand still.” It's the same for us. Sometimes we're just so busy running around, trying to figure out a way out of this or a way out of that. We've been trained from our youth to solve our problems for ourselves, when God just wants us to be believers in His promises. Get your Bible and diligently read it. Underline those promises and start acting on them. (Jas.2:17) Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. Faith without works is dead. Remember that Jesus told us, (Mar.11:24) … All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. How would you act if you believed you had received what you prayed for? You would stop trying to bring it to pass for yourself. You would cease from your own labors and, if you cease from your own labors on His Sabbath, you will find God's power is made perfect. Glory be to God! Now, I want to remind you that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart over and over before the Israelites were set free from Egypt to go into their wilderness. (Exo.7:1) And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. (2) Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. (3) And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. (4) But Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. (5) And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. Why did He do that? Why did the Lord harden Pharaoh's heart? (Exo.10:1) And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs in the midst of them, (2) and that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought upon Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know that I am the Lord. The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart because He wanted to judge Egypt and He wanted to prove His great power to deliver the Israelites. By the time the Israelites left Egypt, the land had been devastated, and the economy was in ruins. (Exo.10:7) And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? You know, He's going to do that again in our day! (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. History is going to repeat. Judgments are coming upon the United States, but God is merciful, and He sends warnings to us so His people will pray. I'm totally convinced that the prayers of the saints have delayed a time of judgment. We have been receiving many revelations of judgments, some of them with actual dates that have since come and gone, and the Lord showed me that these were true revelations, yet they didn't come to pass. You see, the Lord gives you a warning of things to come for the purpose of having you seek Him for grace. (Jas.4:2) … ye have not, because ye ask not. God's people don't pray and they don't seek Him for His grace and mercy! It takes a threat for His people to seek Him for grace and mercy. When God wants to give us grace and mercy, He almost has to tell us what's going to happen if we don't seek Him. I know what the Lord did with those revelations that never came to pass: He put those warnings out there so His people would seek Him for grace and He gave it. By the way, if you don't believe God dates prophecies, you haven't read very much of the Bible because there are many of them in there (Daniel 7; 9; Jonah 3; Revelation 12; etc.) The brethren who share these warnings sometimes wonder if God just forgot about them or if He left them, or if they were deceived. The same thing happened with Jonah. (Jon.4:1) But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Jonah had prophesied Nineveh would be overthrown in 40 days, and yet, God had mercy when the people cried out to Him. God had mercy, and Jonah was angry because now he was going to look like a false prophet. (2) And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repentest thee of the evil. (3) Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Jonah didn't want to face the world. He felt as if the Lord had let him down. He had prophesied their destruction, but he also knew that God was merciful and would repent of the prophesied evil. However, God reminded Jonah there was something a lot more important than his pride. (Jon.4:11) And should not I have regard for Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? Can you imagine, He was even having mercy on the cattle! God was showing it wasn't important that Jonah might look like a false prophet, but it was important that God was going to have mercy on these people. That's the thing we have to keep in mind. Remember, we've been put here to be of no reputation anyway, according to the Scriptures. (Php.2:5) Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; (8) and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. We're supposed to have the same mind as Christ. We're here to lose our reputation in the eyes of the world. The wilderness is a place of hopelessness for the flesh because the flesh really can't help God. Just like the wilderness was a place of weakness for Israel, a place where the world couldn't supply the needs of God's people, so it is, and will be, for us in our day. What the Church has been teaching for so long is, “God helps those who help themselves.” That's their doctrine. Well, God doesn't like that and it's a stench in His nostrils. The Bible says (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. We are saved by His works, His efforts, and His wisdom. The Lord has already accomplished everything for us at the cross. (Php.4:19) And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. He supplied our needs at the cross, so God doesn't appreciate that the Church is preaching salvation by works. He said, (2Co.12:9) … My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness.... I'd like to share with you the difference between assurance and insurance because this is part of my wilderness. Many people have their trust in the “idol” of insurance. They think they've insulated themselves from anything bad that could come from this world, but it's going to fail. Every idol that you stand up to the Lord will fall over and be crushed like Dagon. (1Sa.5:3) And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. (4) And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands lay cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. God is going to judge all the idols of Egypt; they will all fail. Even insurance companies are not going to be able to save America. As a matter of fact, insurance companies have been leaving several states, including Florida, where judgments such as hurricanes are becoming more and more frequent. They've been leaving those states to avoid going bankrupt. And they get permission to not pay up if doing so would harm them. But God's going to continue hitting big sin cities all around the United States with one form of judgment or another, and there aren't enough insurance companies in the world to save America. If you're interested in my wilderness experiences and teachings from the Bible, I ask that you get our free e-book, Sovereign God For Us And Through Us, on our website: ubm1.org. He is sovereign for us and He wants to be sovereign through us. He wants to administer His authority in this earth through His people. I want to share some excerpts with you here from Chapter 18. It's titled “Assurance Versus Insurance,” and I hope it will give you a desire to read the rest of the book. We receive testimonies every day of people who are being empowered by God and helped and delivered by this book. (The excerpts are italicized, and my commentary is in parentheses.) (Psa.91:9) For thou, O Lord, art my refuge!.... This confession of faith and the deliverance that comes of it are merely acting on what the Word says. I received a revelation years ago in Louisiana, before it was a law to have any form of auto insurance. Even now there are are laws to have the minimum PIP/PD but that covers the other guy, not you. So I have had this to obey the law and have been rewarded greatly because the other guy was a fault and paid me. The Lord began spiritually to reason with me. It occurred to me that God is sovereign over what we call “accidents.” (We're always insulating ourselves with insurance, but there is really no such thing as an accident, is there?) (Joh.3:27) A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven. That doesn't sound like there are accidents (It sounds like there is a sovereign God!); therefore, an accident could not come without God sending it. Since He said that if we prayed believing we would receive, then I could ask Him to keep my vehicles, or let the other guy be at fault and pay me, which has profited me greatly. Why would I need insurance if I believed the assurance just given in His promises? (Psa.91:9) For thou, O Lord, art my refuge! (Notice the good confession and its resulting benefit. (Jas.2:26) For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. Faith without works is dead, but the good confession brings a benefit.) Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; (10) There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. (I know a lot of people don't believe or teach this nowadays, but it's the Word of the Lord. Who are we to say otherwise!) (11) For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. (12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Or, in other words, “lest you have an accident.”) Notice that when we abide in Christ by faith (and hold fast this good confession; that's the promise of God), angels keep us from what men call “accidents.” An exception to this can be an experience like Job's to show hidden faults (Job.32:1-2). As in his case, God strictly controls the chastening and later restores what is taken. God restored to Job twice as much as he had and without insurance. God desires to be our security. We don't need security in the world; we need our God to be our security. (Psa.119:122) Be surety (Hebrew: “to give or be security”) for thy servant for good.... (Heb.7:22) By so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant. God and His promises are the believers' assurance of provision and protection. After seeing what the Lord was saying to me, I dropped my auto insurance back before it was required. Then I called my life insurance man and he came over. I told him that I would not need insurance anymore because God would be my assurance. He was a good Lutheran man who sincerely tried to reason with this fanatic, but to no avail. The week after I did this, I drove to a Stop-N-Go mart and went in to get some food. While I was walking down an aisle, I heard a crash that shook the store windows. I looked up over the isle to see that my car had been in a wreck without me! I went out and found a heavy old Buick's front end wrapped around the back corner of my Datsun station wagon. The driver backed the car up a foot or so, and we both stood there speechless. We just couldn't really understand how this could happen. The hood, grill and bumper of his all steel car were notched back about six inches, as if it had hit a big oak tree. Here is the good part. Datsun station wagons were tin boxes and could be dented with an elbow. This tank hit my car on the left rear wrap-around, plastic tail lens! I reached out and with my thumbnail, scraped a piece of paint from his hood off the plastic tail lens, and we stood there for a moment looking at this miracle. There was not a scratch, dent or crack on my car anywhere. Awesome God! He made my wimpy car, which should have been totaled, invincible to this old tank of a car. The assurance of God saved me from any need of insurance. The man said, “I think my brakes went out,” and then he mumbled, “They sure make ‘em better than they used to.” As I was thinking about how ludicrous that statement was (and I knew he didn't believe it anyway), he got in his car and left. Suddenly, it hit me that I missed the best chance in the entire world to witness to someone. I jumped into my car and caught him at the next red light (where his brakes, obviously, had stopped him). I grabbed some tracts out of the glove box and hurried to his door. I said, “Sir, that was a miracle.” He said, “It had to be.” I said, “I didn't have any insurance on my car and I was trusting God to keep it and He did.” The light turned green and we parted company. Since then, I have never had any insurance that covers our family, vehicles or home, other than what the law demands. We now have to have liability, which covers the other guy but not you. However, when the Lord tells you that you do not need insurance He means it. That first wreck, or lack thereof, was an awesome testimony, but we did not plunder Egypt, as we did with later wrecks. Since then, God has not always protected our vehicles or bodies, but in every case, it was to our advantage, for He healed our bodies once and greatly blessed us financially. (When you trust in the Lord, He's working all things for your good, as Romans 8:28 says.) During this time, though we sued no one, the other guy's insurance blessed us with money for the following: to repair a motorcycle with money leftover in my pocket for a new one; to repair a Toyota pickup that needed painting anyway, and I ended up after fixing the pickup, painting it with a beautiful paint job with $1,500 left in my pocket; to buy two cars, one new; to buy our home; to enable us to buy and give cars to others; to enable us to give our home away; and to buy a travel trailer for a homeless woman and her son. Besides all that and more, we have not spent God's money on many years' worth of insurance. (If you obey God, you can't lose! If you obey God and walk by faith in Him and let His assurance be your insurance and not the world, then you'll see the miracles of God.) Now, I can hear someone say, “But David, what if ... ?” What if what? What if God Almighty fell off His throne? (God made these promises; we're just depending upon Him.) (Rom.10:11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame. (The devil tells you that you will be put to shame, but that's a lie.) (Jer.17:7) Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose trust the Lord is. By the grace of God, it has been many years since we have had a wreck. Praise God! (So God can keep you from wrecks, but when you do get into them, He can make them bless you.) One day, in that same Datsun station wagon, I was driving along rather frustrated because I had had three flats on relatively new tires. Most people would be complaining to the manufacturer, but I believed that God was in control, so I was complaining to the Lord. A little frustrated, I said, “Lord, can't You keep my tires?” He said to me very clearly, “Don't you believe that I can keep your tires?” I replied in my ignorance, “Yes, I believe You can keep them.” He replied, “Then why do you keep putting that spare back there?” To be honest, I put the spare in the trunk because it was traditional and I had not questioned it, but also, the underlying reason was in case God didn't keep my tires. (I'm not trying to make a new doctrine on spares, just share a lesson God gave to me.) Fear and unbelief cause us to try to insulate ourselves from any possibility of lack, loss or threat. Since we are trusting in insurance besides the Lord, we usually end up needing it. (That's what people don't understand. If you trust in something besides the Lord, you end up having to use it. Of course, some people say, “Aha! You see, I needed it!” But they have it all backwards. When you trust in any idol and not in the Lord, you're going to need it.) Jesus sent out His disciples in a way that would make them dependent on living by faith. He sent them without their own provision so that in their weakness His power would be proven. (Mat.10:9) Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; (10) no wallet for [your] journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. Later, Jesus wanted to see what they learned from this experience of depending upon God's supply. (Luk.22:35) And he said unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. (For those of you who believe that only applied to the disciples, remember Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples and teach them to observe everything that He commanded the first disciples to observe (Matthew 28:20). In other words, what He spoke to them, He spoke to us, but man came in there with religion and thwarted the whole mission that God sent us on.) In the wilderness of man's supply, God's provision was evident. (When Jesus sent out the disciples without their own supply, He basically made a wilderness wherever these men went because they didn't bring enough with them out of “Egypt” to supply their needs.) God starts His works when we finish ours. His power is made perfect in our weakness. That was my experience with those tires. I threw out my spare and I never had another flat on that car, and the neighbors who used to borrow it quit! (I would tell them, “Look, if you're going to drive this car, you have to drive it by faith because I don't have a spare back there.” Well, they quit borrowing my car, which I guess was another benefit.) The moral of that story is, if you prepare for a rainy day, it will come. With the next car, I had the same experience: no flats. When I decided after many years to give it to a mission, I put the keys and title into the hand of the pastor in my living room. We walked outside and the car was on a flat. (I was the one walking by faith and now that it was his car, now that the key was in his hand, it was sitting on a flat! Well, inside I just chuckled. I understood exactly what He was saying to me.) God made His point. As long as I owned the car, putting my trust in Him, there was never a flat. In other words, trusting in God takes away the need for insurance. (And, again, I'm not making any laws about this; I'm not condemning anybody for having spares. God was teaching me, and He'll teach you. He may use other methods, but He wants to teach you to walk in this wilderness, to walk in a lack of man's provision, but in your weakness, God will be made strong.) Men serve insurance companies, H.M.O.s, banks and store up their treasures on earth for the security they think it gives them. (Mat.6:19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal. Y2K revealed the paranoia and lack of trust in those who stored up their treasures on earth, contrary to the Lord's command. (It's fear that causes people to do such things, but God's power is made perfect in our weakness.) Quite a few I showed these principles to went home to give their store away and found it full of bugs, just as Jesus said, “thieves break through and steal.” Jesus told of a man who found peace in the insurance of storing up his goods in greater barns (Luke 12:18). He said to himself, (Luk.12:19) ...Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. (That's the thinking of man: “I have all I need; this will keep me for a long time.”) His misplaced trust brought judgment. (20) But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required (Greek: “they require thy soul”) of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? (21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Now, to be “rich toward God” is to be “rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom.” (Jas.2:5) Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? Why did He choose the “poor as to the world”? He chose them because they have to trust in God, they have to put their faith in God. That's what God did with the Israelites when He brought them into the wilderness. He made them poor to the world, and He expected them to put their faith in Him.) Notice that it was his stored-up treasures that required his soul. Jesus promised the unfailing Kingdom provisions to those who would store up their treasures in Heaven by giving. (32) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (33) Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old (not storing up), a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. As long as we are on this earth, we can draw on our Heavenly bank account if we have deposited by giving to the needs of others. “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” If we have stored up on earth instead, the promise is that it will be stolen by thieves of one kind or another. Our heart will be on our treasures, falsely thinking them to be our security. (Luk.12:34) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (And God cannot lie!) (I'm told that Psalm 118:8 is the center verse in the Bible and I'm sure that it is at least central to God's heart.) (Psa.118:8) It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Our trust in man is what brings the curse to pass. (Jer.17:5) Thus saith the Lord: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. (People are trusting in their insurance of many different kinds; they're trusting in their insurance companies, but they are all going to fail. Everything but God is going to fail in the days ahead!) As we can see, the insurances themselves bring the curse that they are thought to relieve. (The man who stored up “much goods” found that they brought the curse upon him. God is not offended with the world doing it; He's offended with His people doing these things.) God is offended with those who call themselves believers, yet trust in man's strength and insurances. This is a heart that departs from the Lord. In 2 Chronicles 16:1-6, Asa, king of Judah, put his trust in the worldly king of Syria for insurance against his enemies. This offended God, Who sent judgment. (2Ch.16:7) And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and hast not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand. (8) Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thy hand. (9) For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars. God is eager to show signs and wonders to those who trust in Him with a perfect heart. (Obviously, a “perfect heart” is not one that trusts in the world.) You would think that Asa would have learned this lesson, but his trust in man cost him his life, as it does for so many. (12) And in the thirty and ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians (13) And Asa slept with his fathers.... Christians justify their misplaced trust in man's insurances, not realizing that this brings the judgment in the first place. Let me share this experience with you. M.J. and I were about to go to work on a large crude oil pump for Exxon. The process department had blocked it out of line and drained it, or so we thought. What we did not know was that the pressure gauge read “0” because it was broken and the drain valve, though open, was stopped up, so there was a little pressure still in the pump. We took the bolts out of the head plate to remove it, but it was stuck. I stood up and took about four steps away to get something to break it loose when I heard a “pop” sound and turned around to see M.J. drenched with black crude from head to foot. As he opened his eyes, he sarcastically looked at me and said, “David, you did this to me.” Well, I could not contain myself and busted out laughing. The thought of me stepping away in the nick of time so that M.J. could get plastered was too much for me. Attempting to sound serious, he said, “Dave, you're never going to do this to me again.” I said, “M.J., you had better watch those self-confident statements. You know God is listening.” Then, he repeated his statement and said, “Bring me up to the shower house. I have a spare set of clothes up there.” I said, “Oh, now I know why you got it instead of me.” He asked, “Why?” I said, “Because I don't have a spare set of clothes and God knew it.” He looked at me kind of inquisitively. I explained that planning for a catastrophe is the same as having faith for it. It also proves that you do not believe that God will protect or provide. Later that day, we were working on another pump. M.J. was next to me as we used an impact gun to take off some bolts. Suddenly, slurry squirted down one of the open bolt holes and hit M.J. in the middle of his chest, leaving me untouched. (Slurry is a crude that will stain anything; you cannot get it out. If it gets on your clothes, you can just forget it because that's the color they are now. In fact, it's that way on skin; it's just terribly staining. So this slurry squirted down the bolt hole, down the side of the thread and hit him right in the chest.) He looked at me in disbelief. I playfully said, “M.J., I told you God doesn't like those self-confident statements,” but we both knew that God was speaking in this. We could not remember when this had happened to us before, much less twice in one day. (Truly, in the wilderness that's coming, we can put our trust only in the living God; nothing else is going to save us.) Now, back to that old Datsun station wagon; I want you to know the Lord used that vehicle to teach me many other lessons. When I was about to buy a new car, I really kind of favored the Toyota because I felt it was the better car, but I always left things up to the Lord. I asked, “Lord, which one do you want me to buy, the Toyota or the Datsun?” And I was surprised when the Lord said, “I want you to get the Datsun station wagon.” Now, a person would think that when the Lord tells you to do something, everything would be just fine since, obviously, the Lord is looking out for your good. Well, He was looking out for my good, but not in the way you would think sometimes. I told you the tire story, but other things went wrong with that car. Sometimes God wants you to have victory in trials. It wasn't all that long after I bought the car that the carburetor started acting erratically. And since I was a pretty good machinist and a pretty good mechanic, I knew the carburetor was plugged. I also knew that I didn't feel like tearing down the carburetor because the most precious thing in my life is my time. I used every spare moment I had to read the Bible, to study the Word. I was literally drawn, hungering and thirsting for the Word. Anyway, I just commanded that thing to be healed and kept on driving the Datsun. It went on like that, acting kind of erratically for a couple of weeks, but I just kept on holding fast to my confession. (Heb.10:23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised. The Lord will try you; just because you don't get the answer right away doesn't mean He hasn't heard you. After I held on like this for a couple of weeks, suddenly it started getting better and better until the problem was gone. In a few more weeks, I was faced with a different problem. The transmission started slipping and I thought it was just crazy for a relatively new car to be doing things like this, but I did all the normal things that a mechanic would do, like checking the fluid, for example, to make sure it was at the right level. And again, I knew that I didn't want to mess with that transmission by working on it myself, and I didn't want to take it to a shop. My time was valuable to me. In the wilderness, it will be a different story. You may not be able to find somebody to work on it, or you may not have the money to work on it, or the parts may not be available, etc. Even though in those days I had plenty of money, I just wouldn't spend it. I considered that what I made belonged to the Kingdom, and I wanted to use it to meet the Kingdom's needs, not spend it on vehicles and things like that. So instead, I just commanded that transmission to “Be healed in the name of Jesus,” but it still went on slipping for a while. Of course, your mind is telling you, “Hey, if you keep letting it slip like that, you're going to have to replace the clutch,” and all the other things that normally go bad when it starts slipping. I just ignored it and kept on going, and as I held fast my confession, my transmission gradually got better and better, until I never had any more problems with it. So, the Lord had me by that car so He could try me and show me He could fix anything. Some of the times when the Lord was teaching me these lessons, I got in the flesh to do things myself, and nothing worked out right. For instance, I told you how, when the insurance money came in, I bought a new Chevrolet station wagon. Well, I'd watched a lot of advertisements for a product called “Slick 50” that showed how you could put it in an engine, run it in there a while, and afterward actually dump out the oil and the engine would still run. I was impressed with that. I thought, “Wow! That will keep my engine. It will make it last a long, long time.” But, folks, I already had a God Who would keep my engine and make it last a long, long time. He's a jealous God. He really wanted me to put my trust in Him. Do you know what I did? I put that Slick 50 in there, even though they said not to use it unless you have 40,000 or 50,000 miles on the car. Well, I stuck it in there a little early and they warn you that you can break some rings doing that. At the time, I still lived in Florida, and I had to go on a teaching tour in Texas. So all of my family and I got in the car and we took off, and before I got very far down the road, the car started pouring smoke out of the tailpipe. I looked in the rear-view mirror, and it was just solid smoke back there. I said, “What in the world has happened to my new car?” I checked the PCV and things like that but couldn't find anything wrong. The only thing I determined was that I must have broken rings, as they said I might do if I put Slick 50 in an engine that didn't have extra clearance in it. I would go a few miles down the road and pour a quart of oil in it, go a few miles and pour another quart in it, so I decided I was going to pray over the engine. I said, “Lord, forgive me for getting in the flesh, and I'm going to trust You to keep this engine.” So I prayed over the engine and I commanded it to be healed in the name of Jesus. I don't know where I got into the terminology of calling it “healed.” I've prayed over vehicles, refrigerators, washing machines, and things like that, and I would always just call it “healing.” Anyway, I prayed over that engine and commanded it to “be healed in the name of Jesus,” because it's not the terminology that you use. Your theology might be a little bit wrong, but the Lord knows what you're meaning. Well, I got back into the car and we went on our way. We got a lot farther down the road, and I think I had to put one more quart in that car on the whole trip to Texas and back. God repaired those broken rings and we had no more problem with that. I didn't have much trouble with that car for many, many years, but I had the water pump stop working on it once when my wife and I were out driving. She cranked the car, and water started just pouring out on the ground. I asked her to get out of the car and come lay hands on the hood with me, which we did. We laid hands on the hood and commanded that water pump to “stop leaking in the name of Jesus.” And that water pump seal immediately sealed back up and we drove off. I've had many miracles like that, but most people never think about doing that. The first thing that comes to their mind is, “Well, I have a warranty on this car; or “I have enough money to hire a mechanic to fix it.” I wanted to stay in the wilderness because I wanted to learn those lessons that, one day, everybody is going to have to learn, so I took every opportunity to stay in the wilderness The Israelites wanted to run back to Egypt whenever they came into a place where God would try them, but God put it in my heart to want to stay out there. I wanted to learn; I wanted to see God do these miracles. Besides that, God told me, “I'm bringing you through a wilderness, so you can tell My people that I still supply there.” I treasured these experiences. Some people would call them terrible tribulation, but I treasured them and I enjoyed seeing God do these things. Let me tell you about my washing machine. One time, after we had moved to Florida, the washing machine started leaking. Mary came and told me, “The seal in the washer has gone out; the pump is leaking onto the ground.” I thought, “I'm going to go pray for it.” So I went and prayed for it and commanded it to be healed, then I sopped up the water and told her to go ahead and use it. Well, she did the rest of the laundry, and the machine didn't leak any more water. Then, just a few weeks later, she said, “That machine is leaking again,” so I went back in there and did the same thing. It went for a few more weeks, and for a third time she said to me, “David, that washer is leaking again.” I said, “No, it's not. It's not leaking; that thing is healed. It's okay, it's fine, just wash and don't worry about it.” You see, I didn't want to go back on what I had spoken. I wanted to keep my trust in the Lord and, sure enough, it sealed up. I told my wife, “If you see it leak, don't confess it, just thank God that it's not leaking and it's fixed.” And, you know, I kept that washing machine until somebody gave me another one that was a lot newer. I remember another time, back when we were in Louisiana, when my two young sons were playing in the living room and I was sitting there studying. My wife came in and she said, “That washing machine won't run. It won't even come on.” I said, “Well, Corban and Nathan, you two go back there and lay hands on that washing machine and just command it to run in the name of Jesus and it will run.” So they did that; they went back there and they laid hands on that thing and they commanded it to run and it took off. I taught all my children to lay hands on this and that, and they got to see the power of God in their simple, childlike faith. Children will always have awesome faith if you teach them about God and you show them the truths in the Bible. We had this lawnmower, and we pulled it out after the winter so we could cut the grass in the early spring. I pulled and pulled and pulled on this lawnmower, but it wouldn't start. My boys were really young at the time, and they were just standing around, looking at me. Well, I pulled the spark plug wire off, put it alongside the block, and pulled it. There was no spark. Now, by this time, I was sweating, tired and I wanted to get it over with. I called my boys to me and said to them, “Let's pray for this thing. Let's command it to run in the name of Jesus. I don't care if it has a spark or not; I just want it to run.” So my boys came over and we all laid hands on the lawnmower, and I commanded it to run in the name of Jesus. Then I cranked it up and mowed the lawn. I don't know if it ever had a spark or not. That didn't make any difference; it just had to run. (Mat.21:21) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done. (22) And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. The Lord told us, if you speak to a mountain and don't doubt, that what we say will come to pass, and I tell you, teach your children. They have more faith than you. When you tell a child something, the child just believes you, and that's the way we ought to be with God. (Mat.18:2) And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, (3) and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. We need to become like a child and, with childlike faith, just believe in our God, just believe that He will do it.

Faith in God is practical and doable.

(Genesis 15:6) Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? The result of having faith in God far exceeds the finest riches this world has to offer. Join us for today's edition of The Weekend Pulpit as we dig into a renowned verse that summarizes the entire Christian life. If you want to know more about salvation or if you have just trusted Christ, visit https://enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/ Keep Studying  Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. 

Let God Align Your Life—What Comes Next Will Amaze You | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start The DaySUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

How does a widow with eight minor children survive when she's suddenly all alone? And how will her faith in God shape the lives of future generations? You'll hear the answer in the classic true story of Jean Schneider on the next UNSHACKLED!

“I think it was important in my highest moment, to talk about my lowest moment because if it wasn't for God's work in my life, I wouldn't be who I am now…. Going into that season, my mind was so cloudy and cluttered, I didn't have the right focus and I knew I needed to get help.” -Jaylon Johnson In one of the most humbling and revealing episodes of The Pivot Podcast yet, Chicago Bears star cornerback Jaylon Johnson sits down with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder for a conversation that dives far deeper than football. With a new contract as one of the highest paid cornerbacks in the league, Jaylon is revitalized by the Bears culture under leadership of new head coach Ben Johnson and believes his accountability to players is helping Quarterback Caleb Williams lead the team better with emphasis on competition and execution. He breaks down the tough wide receiver match ups he faces, who his style of play is modeled after and the games he has circled on the 2025 schedule. But beyond Xs and Os—Jaylon dives deep into his personal growth, fatherhood, giving back through his foundation, and what it really means to stay true to yourself in a league that tries to mold you. Known on the field as one of the NFL's rising shutdown corners, Jaylon opens up about the battles he's fought off the field — including his deeply personal struggle with porn addiction and the role his faith in God played in his journey toward healing and freedom. With honesty and vulnerability, he shares how he reached a breaking point, leaned into scripture, and found strength through surrender. Jaylon also talks about growing up in Fresno, the loss of his close friend and how it fueled his mission, becoming a father at a young age, and why his purpose now goes beyond interceptions and contracts. Jaylon's life is guided by something bigger than football and this conversation is about redemption, resilience, and redefining manhood—as he opens up like never before, proving that true strength starts within. Thank you to Toyota and as you heard, we talked about Toyota's all in partnership with football and game day giveaways, Learn more at https://toyota.com/nfl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive deep into the subject of remaining in God's grace through the moments when our faith in God is tested. Rather than running from pain, we're called to lean into the grace God offers, allowing Him to refine and strengthen us. This is where true growth happens — where spiritual muscles are built, character is developed, and our walk with the Lord is deeply rooted. This is an honest conversation about perseverance, purpose, and the power of responding rightly to the refining seasons God allows. Because He doesn't just want us to scrape by — He wants us firmly established and living life to the fullest in Christ.

When 33 miners were trapped 2,300 feet below ground in a gold and copper mine in Chile, a massive effort to save them was undertaken. Before their eventual rescue after 69 days, Camp Hope was established, witnessing to faith in God during extreme adversity, reminding us of the Camp Hope God has established for all of His children.

When 33 miners were trapped 2,300 feet below ground in a gold and copper mine in Chile, a massive effort to save them was undertaken. Before their eventual rescue after 69 days, Camp Hope was established, witnessing to faith in God during extreme adversity, reminding us of the Camp Hope God has established for all of His children.

Motherhood and career often feel like a juggling act with no pause button. But what if the key to juggling isn't doing more — it's anchoring yourself in faith?In this powerful episode of the Empowering the Working Mom Podcast, our guest, Esther Shittu, a working mom, remote work pioneer, and podcast host, shares how she walked through seasons of uncertainty, fear, and transition, all while keeping her faith at the center.Key Empowering Moments: Defining what it means to trust God when life feels chaotic How faith can anchor you in both your home and careerEncouragement for working moms who feel stretched thin and overwhelmed by career and motherhood.This isn't just about survival — it's about alignment. When you center your home, life, and career on faith, you'll find clarity, confidence, and peace even in chaotic seasons.Empowering Resources: ⁠⁠The Faith-Centered Equity Tracker ⁠⁠⁠⁠Empowered Working Mom Coaching Program ⁠⁠⁠⁠Prayer Request Form⁠⁠ About Esther: Esther is a fellow working mom, remote work warrior, and host of her own faith-filled podcast. Esther has walked through some real seasons of stretching — leaving her first job with no backup plan, navigating remote work through having multiple children, and even launching her podcast in the midst of real fear. And yet, through it all, she's remained anchored in one thing — her faith.Connect with Esther: ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ About Latika: Latika empowers working moms who have been hurt, rejected, or abandoned by religion to regain their faith in God, so they can experience true fulfillment, freedom, and forgiveness, so they can thrive in their life, career, and at home, through faith-centered equity coaching.Connect with Latika: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠|⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #worklifebalance #worklifebalancepodcast #faithpodcast #motherhood #season13 #podcast #EWM #empoweringtheworkingmom #empoweringtheworkingmompodcast #workingmom #mom #empoweringtheworkingmombreakfast #faithcenteredequity #worklifebalancepodcast #faithcentered #equity #balance

(Hebrews 11:29-30) Journeying With Israel: Israel started by faith and was stopped only by unbelief. The way to have a new start and move forward is by exercising faith in God right where you are. There are victories and blessings ahead...if we are willing to believe and obey God. (09220250911)  Keep Studying  Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. 

Don't Chase Blessings—Press Into God's Word and Blessings Chase You | Blessed Daily Effective PrayerSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

Join Dr. Kenneth Hill and Pastor Larry Spargiamino on 'Watchman on the Wall,' a broadcast by Southwest Radio Ministries, as they reflect on Patriots Day. This episode commemorates the events of September 11, 2001, honoring the victims and heroes while offering a message of hope and faith in God. The discussion highlights the importance of gratitude, patriotism, and the role of faith in navigating challenging times. Listeners are encouraged to support the ministry and engage in prayer and evangelism.

How Daniel and Christ Reveal God's Eternal PlanSummary:We studied the structure of the Book of Daniel and how it sets the stage for understanding God's prophetic plan throughout history. The discussion emphasized the supernatural nature of the Bible—divinely inspired, authoritative, and reliable. We reflected on how prophecy is history written in advance, fulfilled in precise detail through Christ, especially during His final week. The teaching warned against false interpretations, stressing the need to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance. We were reminded that faith in God's promises brings strength in trials, as we trust His eternal plan and the personal touch of His presence in our lives.Themes:Structure of Daniel: visions spanning 40 years (Daniel 1–12)The Bible as supernatural, inspired, and authoritative (2 Timothy 3:16)Prophecy as God's foreknowledge—predictive and descriptiveFulfillment of prophecy as evidence of God's reliabilityFaith as essential to pleasing God (Hebrews 11:6)Warning against false teaching and private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20–21)Christ as the light and guide in spiritual growthJesus' final week fulfilling prophecy: betrayal, false witnesses, crucifixion, burial in a rich man's tombGod's eternal plan: past, present, and future anchored in ChristScripture References:Daniel 1–12; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 11:6; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Genesis; Samuel; Jeremiah; Ezekiel; Revelation; Zechariah; Psalms; Matthew; Joshua

What makes a person truly rich? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Luke 12:13–21 to show why faith in God outlasts all the wealth we can build.

Randy has something to say. William is too angry to broadcast at this time. I'm posting below abridged comments from a friend along with my response:Anita: I listened to the podcast because I love you and wanted to hear your thoughts. Let me start by saying I think I know you well enough to say that Vous n'êtes pas Charlie Kirk (you are NOT Charlie Kirk), which is why I can easily say I love you. What happened yesterday was horrific. It was wrong. Violence against those with whom we disagree is never the answer. NEVER! ...You and I have different views on many things political. I neither love you any less nor disrespect you for your views, and I hope you would say the same of me.One thing I found disconcerting in your comments was the hinting at the idea he was murdered by someone who was a sore loser referring to Trump's re-election (my paraphrasing of your words). As of this moment, I am not aware of the shooter having been identified and therefore it is not possible to know the motive. This kind of speculation is not helpful and only serves to further stir the pot!...I am not a follower of Charlie Kirk, ...He seems like a very likable, thoughtful and charismatic person...But he also espoused some pretty horrible ideas about race, religion, etc....I'm deeply saddened by his killing....I'm deeply saddened by the lack of outrage/upset/empathy/action for the victims of school shootings and other mass shootings, the other victims of targeted political violence/murder etc.And like it or not, the president is at the top of the list of individuals who regularly fan the flames of hate. It has to stop! ALL of it. We have to learn to talk to each other and listen to each other and respect each other. ALL of us!!Love you, my friend. Be well, be safe, be at peace.Randy: Sorry it took me a minute to see your response and I'm glad its you who responded. I count you and some others who might be reading this as dear friends. I made this pod in anger so I re-listened to it in response to your thoughts and I stand by it with a few clarifications and caveats:1. When the french satire mag Charlie Hebdo was attacked, everyone lined up and and said "I am Charlie." Doing so was not an endorsement of their content but rather a rejection of the attackers. In this way, I am Charlie and by your comments, so are you.2. The losers I'm referring to are not explicitly partisans, and losing doesn't refer to an election per se. They are people who advanced really extreme culture changes without any pushback for decades and who are just now learning that we don't want their changes, and we don't accept their changes and they are losing tremendous cultural territory. They are unfamiliar with losing (or any resistance at all) and accordingly are sore losers. I wish that their numbers were so few that they were irrelevant, but for the purposes of simplicity, I'll just direct you to the horrific ghouls who are cheering the death of Charlie on the internet. It's soooo damning and so public. They still don't know that they've lost. That's what losing ugly looks like.3. I fully reject that today any blame or stink belongs on the right. Whenever the right's bad actors do something bad, they are forced to own it and that day is not today. Today, an evil person from the left did something horrible. It is the left's to own, and fix and repent for and correct, such that it never happens again.Finally, an olive branch. I believe in my good friends on the left. I need them to teach me, and lead me when I'm astray and frankly I want them as friends irrespective of politics. I think that you are such a friend. I don't think that any political ideology has a permanent cartel on truth, and I think that in the end faith in God is the only hope for a better world. I don't think that simply being on the left makes someone a loser and I look forward to the day when the left leads us triumphantly in restoring some lost good.

In this study in Matthew chapter 8 verses 18 thru 27, Jesus makes two trips by boat.First, Jesus deals with a scribe and a half hearted disciple who wanted to follow Him, in verse 18 thru 23. Dr. Mitchell discourses on the motivations of these two would-be disciples while Jesus' disciples continued to follow Jesus.So where does Jesus lead these disciples? He leads them into a storm and they became afraid. But who did they turn to? They turned to Jesus in the midst of their storm. Do you and I do this when the waves get rough in our life? The Lord Jesus is here when we turn to Him and call on Him in our present distress. Let's turn to Matthew 8:18 with Dr. Mitchell as he shares comforting passages from the Scriptures to encourage our faith in God here on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast.

When You Let God Reign, Everything Falls Into Place | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your DaySUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

Sarah and Angelina Grimke were unapologetically anti-slavery and pro-women's rights. Their convictions were driven by their faith in God, yet it got them booted from Quakerism, made their name a curse among their Southern peers, and even caused controversy among fellow abolitionists. The Grimke sisters made history, yet their names have largely been forgotten. Today, we introduce you to these unlikely abolitionists.-----Want to contribute to an upcoming episode?Leave us a voicemail and tell us what silent worship means to you and what tips you would give to someone who was trying it for the first time: Call us at 215-278-9411 or email a voice memo to producer@quakerpodcast.com  Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

The faith of Abel- What can we learn from the faith of Abel? There will be a cost for those who seek to live by faith. Abel lost his life at the hand of his own brother for his faith in God. The religion of works will always persecute the religion of faith.

Click here to read the episode highlights.   The "Living with Heart" Podcast is brought to you by Chip Dodd Resources (www.chipdodd.com) and The Voice of the Heart Center (vothcenter.com). You can connect with Dr. Chip Dodd at chip@chipdodd.com. Contact Bryan Barley for coaching at bryan@vothcenter.com.    Keeping Heart, a book by Dr Chip Dodd, is written in short sections that are self-contained as specific pieces. Each section focuses on a dimension of living fully, loving deeply, and leading well a life that leaves a legacy of goodness.    Please visit chipdodd.com to download a free resource of the “Feelings/Needs Chart.” The chart integrates the essentials of The Voice of the Heart and Needs of the Heart that leads to experiencing the Gifts of the Heart.   The Equation for the Gifts of the Feelings By practicing the equation, we can live fully; we can love deeply; we can lead well.   By practicing the equation, we discover that core feelings lead to genuine relational needs, which move us to admitting the desire of our hearts, as well as our longings and hope.   Feelings > Needs > Desire > Longings > Hope, as explored in Episode #80 and Episode #81.   The equation requires courage, that is, bringing your heart to who and what matters to you.   WILLINGNESS + PATIENCE + WORK + TIME = GIFTS   Willingness: Willingness is the courageous energy of allowing your heart to be given over to hoping again. Hope has become dangerous to many of us because of past experiences that turned out very differently than what we had hoped. Taking the risk of hoping again is fearful. We need help in risking hope, but we must take the risk if we are to experience new, better, or improved outcomes. Running from hope makes us sick.    Patience: Patience is ability to persevere amidst the struggle that comes with your desire to live fully. Patience literally means, “burden of hope.” So often what we seek and what we desire requires the ability to wait—to delay gratification—as we continue to move towards fulfillment. Waiting means that we continue to hope even though it is painful. Waiting requires feeling and needing, and means that our hearts carry the “burden of hope,” as we persevere, with the encouragement of others and faith in God.   Click here to continue reading the episode highlights. 

Worship leader and songwriter Jamie Bollinger joins A Widow's Heart to share her story of faith, loss, and hope. After walking through her husband Freddy's kidney failure, transplant, and sudden passing, Jamie discovered God's peace and provision in the hardest valleys. She now encourages others through worship and her devotional booklet, Names of God: Who God Is in Our Time of Need. In this episode, Jamie opens up about: Facing grief with faith in God's presence How worship becomes a lifeline in suffering The powerful names of God that bring comfort and peace

Quote of The Day: “When we demonstrate our faith in God by our obedience, He not only promises to provide for us, He will provide.” — Benny Hinn Hosts: Kanyinsola Omojola, Goodness Ezeh

This week we welcome Rev. Dr. Mandy McDow, senior pastor of First UMC Los Angeles, for a fresh take on the Sermon on the Mount. Known for her humor, honesty, and fearless preaching, Mandy brings us into Jesus' challenging words: “Do not worry.”With stories that will make you laugh and truths that will make you think, she helps us discover how faith and courage can free us from anxiety — and open us to the Kingdom of God here and now.Reflection Questions:1. In what ways are you carrying worry right now?2. How can your faith in God provide you stability amid your worry?3. How has this church helped you live your life as God intends?Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

In this conversation, Dr. Ray Guarendi and Bear Woznick reflect on life, mortality, and faith. Dr. Ray recounts his recent triple bypass surgery and the humbling experience of recovery, realizing that even strength and fitness can't shield us from vulnerability. Together, they discuss how aging, suffering, and death invite deeper reflection on eternity and God. They emphasize that many people—even in old age—avoid thinking about eternal life, which Dr. Ray calls the greatest delusion. Instead, Christians should remember death (memento mori) as a source of wisdom, live with faith in God's reality, and anchor their families in truth. Evidence from science, miracles, and Scripture also points toward God, yet many ignore it. The conversation challenges men to live intentionally: to rise each day aware of mortality, strengthen family life, and stand in faith with courage.___________________________Catch every season of Long Ride Home - https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detai...Discover Bear Woznick Deep Adventure Ministries: http://bit.ly/BearWoznickNEWEST BOOK "12 Rules for Manliness | Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" on Amazon or Bear's Online Store https://my-site-100622-104377.square....DONATE TO THE CAUSE: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_...Bear's School of Manliness: https://bit.ly/BearsSchoolofManlinessiTunes: http://bit.ly/BWA-iTunes YouTube: http://bit.ly/BWA-YouTube BlogTalkRadio: http://bit.ly/BWA-BlogTalkRadio Stitcher: http://bit.ly/BWA-Stitcher

Stop Overthinking—Start Trusting in God's All-Sufficient Grace | Blessed Morning Prayer For TodaySUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

This morning, we explored the profound and often misunderstood concept of the “fear of the Lord.” While Scripture repeatedly tells us not to fear in the sense of dread or terror, it also calls us to a different kind of fear—a deep reverence and awe for God's majesty, power, and holiness. This isn't a fear that drives us away, but one that draws us near, bowing in humility before the One who holds oceans in His hand, spans the universe, and breathes out stars. At the same time, this God is the approachable Jesus, our comforter and friend, who walked among us and gave Himself for us. Holding both truths together—God's infinite greatness and His intimate nearness—transforms how we live. Understanding the fear of the Lord changes everything. It leads to radical obedience, as seen in Noah's willingness to build the ark without all the details, simply trusting the One who asked. It frees us from the need to control outcomes, reminding us that our job is obedience and God's job is results. This reverence also helps us accept correction, knowing that when God calls us to change, it's the voice of the all-knowing Creator, not just human opinion. It strengthens our faith in God's promises, because the One making those promises is the same One who created the stars and numbers the hairs on our heads. And it deepens our value for prayer, because we're not just speaking into the air—we're talking to the all-powerful, all-loving God who delights to hear and answer.

Pastor Marshall Ochs | September 7, 2025In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Zephaniah 1-3. Zephaniah prophesied during King Josiah's reign, calling out the evil rooted in Judah's past and warning of a coming global judgment — the “Day of the Lord” — which is a future event pointing to the return of Jesus. His message moves from universal destruction to personal repentance, urging humility and faith in God as the only proper response to the coming judgment. Zephaniah ends with a powerful hope: though judgment is real, so is restoration — the same God who punishes evil will gather His people, reward their faithfulness, and reign as both conquering King and loving Shepherd.

This meeting centered on the theme of justification, exploring the contrast between living under the law's framework and resting in Christ's finished work. We discussed the significance of faith in trials, the meaning of grace, and the role of humility in receiving God's love. Biblical insights highlighted justification, sanctification, and the ongoing presence of sin, while encouraging trust in God's timing for growth and understanding. Testimonies of faith and peace in difficult circumstances reinforced the importance of fellowship and gratitude.Themes:Justification apart from the law (Job; Romans 1:17)Faith in God during trials and chaotic circumstancesGrace as “gifts upon gifts” (John 1:16)Humility as the proper place of learning to receive God's loveLeaven and leprosy as pictures of corrupt influences (1 Corinthians 5; Leviticus 13)Sin's power broken, though its presence remainsPropitiation and Christ as our advocate (1 John 2:1–2)Sanctification and the Spirit's role in transformationResting in Christ as refuge and intimacy with GodTrusting God's timing for growth and understandingScripture References:Romans 1:17; Job; John 1:16; 1 Corinthians 5; Leviticus 13; 1 John 2:1–2

The Sovereignty of God, the Eternal Decrees of God, and the Purpose of God determine the outcome of Prayer. 

Begin Your Day Knowing This—YOU WILL WIN TODAY | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTubeX / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

We delve into the dramatic story of Absalom's plot against his father, King David. Explore the intricate web of family conflict, political intrigue, and divine judgment as Absalom's rebellion unfolds. From his cunning manipulation of the people to his audacious coup in Jerusalem, witness the fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy against David. Learn how David's past sins reverberate through his family, leading to betrayal and civil upheaval. This episode examines themes of power, loyalty, and the consequences of sin, while highlighting David's faith in God amidst adversity. Discover the roles of key figures like Ahithophel, Hushai, and Joab in this pivotal moment of Israel's history. Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

In this heart-wrenching yet hope-filled episode, hear the powerful testimony of standup comedian, author and writer Zach Rippey as he shares his journey through grief, loss, and spiritual transformation. Zach opens up about the tragic death of his best friend Armani during a river rafting trip in Tennessee, and how his faith in God carried him through the darkest times. Listen as Zach recounts how he discovered new purpose amidst the sorrow, started his podcast 'I Like Birds', and found deeper faith through sharing his story. Join us for an inspiring conversation about overcoming trauma with the strength of scripture and the support of a loving community. Don't miss this touching episode that highlights God's unexpected blessings even in the midst of grief.   00:00 A Sudden Tragedy 00:50 Introducing Zach and His Journey 02:14 Zach's Comedy Career and Faith Transformation 08:39 The Loss of Armani 17:14 Armani's Legacy and Miracles 26:05 Reflections on a Life Well-Lived 26:57 Scriptural Comfort in Dark Times 29:20 A Healing Journey to Tennessee 31:46 Divine Encounters and Symbolic Moments 40:32 Podcasting and Ministry Growth 46:38 Encouragement and Final Thoughts John 16:22 - So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.   Zach's website: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/   I Like Birds on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ilikebirdspodcast   About Zach Zach Rippey was pursuing a career in stand-up comedy when God led him to become a voice for Jesus instead. After going through the motions of Christianity for five years, Zach decided to read one of the Gospels during the chaos of 2020. The book of John changed everything and Zach was on fire for the Lord! After reading only a few books in the Bible, Zach felt led to start a podcast about Jesus. With doubts, low expectations, and fear of mockery from his peers, Zach decided to lean in and launch “I Like Birds” in May 2020. He's now an author, speaker, writer and podcast coach.