Podcasts about trust in god

Fr. Mike reflects on the story of Susanna's righteousness in the book of Daniel. While celebrating Susanna's virtue, Daniel's wisdom, and God's faithfulness, Fr. Mike also warns us that, like the corrupt elders in the story, we too can allow our hearts to become perverted by the things we fix our eyes on. The readings are Jeremiah 30, Daniel 12-13, and Proverbs 16:17-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Selections from Job 22–24 The unfair criticism continues . . . so how does Job respond? With grace, even under immense pressure. Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores Job's unwavering trust in God during a season of deep pain (Job 22–24). Even though Job couldn't locate the presence of God, understand His plan, or justify God's permissions, he wholeheartedly trusted in Him. Believe God is still in control!

Revelation / August 31 - September 2, 2026 Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores Job's unwavering trust in God during a season of deep pain (Job 22–24). From the Series: Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance read more

Selections from Job 22–24 The unfair criticism continues . . . so how does Job respond? With grace, even under immense pressure. Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores Job's unwavering trust in God during a season of deep pain (Job 22–24). Even though Job couldn't locate the presence of God, understand His plan, or justify God's permissions, he wholeheartedly trusted in Him. Believe God is still in control!

What if you could approach each day with greater courage, deeper faith, and a growing trust in God’s Word? This September, Your Daily Bible Verse invites you to journey through the Book of Joshua with Courage for the Journey: Trusting God One Step at a Time, a 22-episode series designed to help you discover what it means to follow God through uncertainty, challenges, victories, and every step in between. Courage for the Journey begins September 1 and continues throughout the month. Every weekday, you’ll hear a daily Bible verse from Joshua and a message of encouragement to help you connect Scripture to your everyday life. As Joshua and God’s people learn to trust God’s presence and promises, we’ll discover how His Word can guide, strengthen, and encourage us on our own journeys of faith. The Book of Joshua emphasizes God's presence, faithfulness, courage, and the importance of trusting His Word. Take the next step with us and discover how you can trust God’s Word one step at a time. Follow Your Daily Bible Verse and follow along throughout September. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the battle you're facing isn't meant to break you, but to build something stronger within you?In this episode of the My Morning Devotional Podcast, Richelle Alessi begins a new journey through the book of James with James 1:1–8. These verses challenge us to look at trials differently, recognizing that the testing of our faith can produce perseverance, maturity, and a deeper trust in God.Richelle encourages us to shift our focus from the difficulty of the trial to what God may be developing through it. Instead of only asking, “Why is this happening?” we can begin asking, “God, what are You building in me?”In this daily devotional, you'll be encouraged to:See trials as opportunities for spiritual growth.Ask God for wisdom when you don't know what to do.Allow perseverance to strengthen your faith.Trust that God is working in you through difficult seasons.The battle may be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be wasted. With God, the challenges you face can increase your capacity, strengthen your faith, and develop the maturity you'll need for what comes next.Whatever you're facing today, remember: the trial isn't only about what you're going through. It may also be about who God is building you to become.What is God developing in you through the battle you're facing today?Tap HERE to send us a text! Our podcast family is growing - introducing Men's Morning Devotional! Our dad, Steve Alessi, and all of our husbands are now hosting their own 5 minute devotionals every weekday - for men who want to become better husbands, fathers, and leaders! Listen, follow and subscribe here - MensMorningDevotional.comSupport the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can now watch our video episodes on YouTube, Apple Podcasts AND Spotify! NEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? Welcome! We're four sisters - Stephanie, Lauren, Gaby, and Richelle - and our family works together at Metro Life Church in Miami, FL. We're so blessed to produce this daily devotional podcast for you and continue the great work done by the show's founder, Alison Delamota.We pray these devotions will help you to grow in your faith, and that you'll join us every weekday for a morning prayer and some time in God's Word! JOIN THE MMD COMMUNITYSubscribe to the showShare with a friendJoin our newsletter Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Leave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYEnjoy more podcasts from Metro Life Studios, including:The Family Business with The AlessisMen's Morning DevotionalThe Mary and Martha Show Available on our Metro Life Studios app!Get The Metro Life Studios app 

Infertility has a way of slowly taking over your thoughts, routines, relationships, and even your sense of who you are. In this episode, we're walking through five practical, biblical ways to start living fully again—not by giving up your desire for a baby, but by learning how to steward your life and faith faithfully in the middle of the wait. And if you're ready to go deeper, enrollment for the next round of The Waiting Well Framework is officially OPEN! This 8-week biblical discipleship experience will help you process the pain, strengthen your faith, surrender what you can't control, and rediscover purpose in this season—so infertility can be part of your story without becoming your whole life.   NEXT WWF COHORT- begins 9/13/26 - enroll now!!  The Waiting Well Framework™ is an 8-week, Christ-centered discipleship experience for women navigating infertility who want to carry the wait with faith, peace, and purpose — not panic or despair. This Scripture-anchored journey helps women respond to disappointment without spiraling, rebuild trust in God's goodness, and live fully before motherhood comes. You don't have to walk this season alone.

Revelation / August 31 - September 2, 2026 Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores Job's unwavering trust in God during a season of deep pain (Job 22–24). From the Series: Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance read more

Revelation / August 31 - September 2, 2026 Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores Job's unwavering trust in God during a season of deep pain (Job 22–24). From the Series: Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance read more

Quaker preacher John Woolman once experienced a vision of slaves producing the very goods he used in his daily life, and the weight of that revelation changed the way he lived. Reading his words prompts the same uncomfortable pause: where does the food we buy come from? The clothes we wear? The furniture in our homes? When that question is pursued honestly, what emerges is often fury, because much of what is available to us cheaply has been produced through inhumane conditions, forced labor, and the exploitation of children. The anger that rises in response to that reality is not wrong. It is appropriate. It is a sign that something in us still recognizes that the world should not be this way. David experienced that same kind of anger in Psalm 52, written in response to the murder of the priests at Nob. Saul ordered their execution because one of them had helped David, and Doeg the Edomite carried out the massacre. David's grief and fury were real and raw. And yet Psalm 52 does not end with a call for revenge. It ends with David entrusting justice to God, trusting in His unfailing love, and anchoring himself in the character of the One who judges righteously. That is the movement this episode invites us into. Anger at injustice — racism, forced labor, exploitation, displacement, hunger — is not something to suppress or spiritualize away. It is something to bring honestly to God, who is the righteous Judge and whose own anger at evil dwarfs our own. He will make all things right. Until that day, we are called to walk in justice and mercy, holding our anger before Him and trusting His perfect timing. Today's Bible Verse "But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God's unfailing love."— Psalm 52:8, NLT Ponder Today Anger at injustice is not a sin — it is a sign that we still know things should not be this way. The appropriate response to human rights violations, exploitation, and oppression is grief and fury. God does not ask us to suppress those feelings. He invites us to bring them to Him. David expressed anger to God without taking personal vengeance. Psalm 52 is a powerful example of bringing raw emotion before the Lord while still entrusting justice to Him. Honest expression and faith in God's judgment are not opposites — they belong together. Injustice is not a distant issue — it touches our everyday lives. The clothes we wear, the food we buy, the products we use cheaply may carry a hidden cost paid by exploited workers and children. Awareness is the beginning of responsible, faithful stewardship. Vengeance belongs to God — and His justice is perfect. We can rest in the knowledge that the righteous Judge sees every act of wickedness and will avenge it in His timing and according to His perfect judgment. That is not a passive response. It is a profoundly trusting one. Until the day He returns to make all things right, we are called to walk in justice and mercy. Anger offered to God should produce action, advocacy, and changed habits — not bitterness or despair. Let it fuel a more intentional pursuit of justice in the spaces where we actually have influence. A Prayer for You Today O God of all justice, I bring to You today my intense anger and grief over the wrongs in the world — children forced into slave labor, individuals deceived into inhumane working conditions, and the painful reality that many items available for me to purchase were produced through exploitation. Lord, there are so many other acts of injustice in the world: racism, people displaced from their homes, individuals going without food, girls and women exploited because of who they are. These realities fill me with a restlessness that echoes what I know to be true: it should not be this way. But I trust in You, for You are just and good. Vengeance belongs to You, and You will avenge in Your timing and according to Your perfect judgment. Help me to walk in justice and mercy until the day You return to make all things right. In Jesus' name, Amen. Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

So, what is the hymn “Come Thou Fount” referring to with this obscure and unfamiliar phrase about raising an Ebenezer?  When you hear the word Ebenezer, you probably think of Scrooge from Dicken's Christmas Carol. Not too many people name their sons Ebenezer these days. But in Scripture we find this word in 1 Samuel 7:12:  Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”  Literally the word Ebenezer means “Stone of Help.” Samuel set up—or raised—this stone as a memorial, a marker-stone, to commemorate the Israelite victory over the Philistines. This was not a stone to be worshiped; it was not to make a certain place holy, like a Mecca. But Samuel knew well that the Israelites were very prone to forget God's goodness and blessings. So, he raised this stone as an everlasting reminder of how God had helped them win this victory.  I'd like to talk about Ebenezer stones—or stones of remembrances—for our own lives, by looking at the life of Moses. There were some definite Ebenezer stones in his life—stones of remembrance, stones when God helped him. And these turning points in his life relate to ours as well. As we look at Moses' stones of remembrance, consider how your own life may have some similar ones.  The Stone of Salvation  You are no doubt familiar with the story of how Moses's life was saved as a baby by a very creative mother and sister. When Pharaoh's daughter saw baby Moses in the basket on the Nile, she took him into Pharaoh's home and raised him as one of her own. He was physically saved, so there would be a Stone of Salvation for Moses.  Do you have a Stone of Salvation? I'm talking about salvation from the penalty of your sins. Can you tell of a time when you were made aware of your sins, where you were convicted of your sinful condition, and you knew you could not save yourself?   If you have not yet set up your stone of salvation, here's all you have to do:   If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved (Romans 10:9-10).  The Stone of Shame  As Moses grew to manhood, he was educated as an Egyptian with all the privileges that came from being raised as Pharaoh's daughter. But he never forgot that he was one of God's chosen people, so he wanted to help his people. Pharaoh kept the Jewish people in bitter servitude, and they were sorely mistreated. One day when Moses saw an Egyptian beating one of his Hebrew brothers, he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. He thought he was doing the right thing to defend his countryman, but the next day, when he saw two Hebrews fighting each other and tried to stop them, they turned on him and said, Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian? (Exodus 2:14).  Well, this just blew Moses away. He thought his murderous act was a secret, but now he realized it wasn't, and when Pharaoh heard about it, he tried to kill Moses. So, Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he became a lowly, humble shepherd. For forty years Moses lived in exile in Midian.  Here Moses would need to raise a Stone of Shame.  Overnight Moses went from the prestigious position as Pharaoh's grandson to that of a fugitive. He had disgraced himself by killing a man, and now he had lost his honor and position, and he was reduced to being a shepherd in a foreign land—for 40 long years.  Have you ever had a Stone of Shame in your life? I have. My period of shame lasted for about ten years. Ten years when I decided I could run my life better than God, and I walked away from my commitment to him and did my own thing. I told myself a lie and believed it—and the lie was that life would be intolerable as a single woman. There could be no happiness or fulfillment if I didn't get married! Now, I know I'm not the only person in the world to ever think like that, but that's the truth!   So, my legitimate need for love and acceptance became an addiction, as I determined to do it my way instead of trusting God. During those ten years, doing my own thing led to a sinful lifestyle, one that was not pleasing to God and one of shame.   Maybe some of you are in that place now. You know something is not right in your life. You're living in disobedience to God's plan, and you know it. Or there is a big dark cloud hanging over you from your past, and you're stuck at the Stone of Shame. God wants to help you put this Stone of Shame behind you so you can move forward to the good things he has for you.  Stone of Assurance  Moses figured he had blown it so badly that God would never use him again. But he was wrong. After 40 years, as Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock at Horeb, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.   As God spoke to him from the burning bush, he commissioned Moses to rescue his people from the hand of the Egyptians. Moses is now a humbled man, and he insists he cannot do it. But God says to him, “I will be with you. I am who I am, and you will tell the Israelites that ‘I am has sent me to you.'” (Exodus 3:14). Moses feared they would not believe him, so God gave him some signs to assure him that as long as God was with him, he could do what God called him to do.  So, here Moses would raise a Stone of Assurance.  Do you need a Stone of Assurance today? You need to know that God isn't through with you yet, and he has a plan for you. Like Moses, you may need reassurance that he will be with you, but you have to give him control of your life.  What is keeping you from doing what God has planned for you to do? Is it fear? Is it that you have your own plan, and you just want God to bless your plan? Is it laziness? Is it lack of trust in God's ability to do through you what you cannot do yourself? Is it a relationship? Until you submit it to God, you cannot go forward to the good things God has for you, the good works he put you here to do.  Stone of Deliverance  After forty long years Moses was finally ready to do what God had called him to do. And now begins the battle between Moses and Pharaoh to let God's people go! You know how God took them across the Red Sea, escaping Pharaoh's last attempt to catch them and bring them back. They crossed on dry ground, and Pharaoh and his army were drowned as the waters came rushing back over them.  There Moses could raise a Stone of Deliverance.  Maybe you need to raise a stone of deliverance, a memorial to God's faithfulness in your life. A testimony of his goodness to you in spite of all you've done and all your failures. Has he been faithful to you? Then raise your Stone of Deliverance.  Stone of Commitment  Many years later as Moses was presenting to the children of Israel the tablets with the Ten Commandments, he said to them:  The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. (Deuteronomy 26:16-18).  He challenged the people to set up a Stone of Commitment.  They were to declare before God and his servant Moses and before all the people that they were committed to obey the Lord, to walk in his ways, to keep his commands, to glorify their God all the days of their lives.  Today you may need to set up a Stone of Commitment, where you say to God, “I'm not playing around any longer. I am serious about walking with you, obeying you, living for you, spending time getting to know you.”   Yes, there are landmark times when we need to set some stones of remembrance: a Salvation Stone, a Stone of Shame, a Stone of Assurance, one of Deliverance, and a Stone of Commitment. What stones—what Ebenezers—do you need to raise even today? Could you reflect and let God's Spirit speak to you. This could be a good time for you to raise some stones of remembrance; stones to help you to go forward to the new thing God wants to do for you and through you in this year.    

Welcome to Day 2937 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2937 – Wisdom Nuggets – Proverbs 3:9-20 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2937 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2937 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Priceless Tree of Life and the Cosmic Blueprint – Honoring God, Embracing Discipline, and Finding True Riches On our previous podcast, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Five, we stepped into the opening movements of Proverbs chapter three, uncovering that famous master compass for the human heart: trusting in Yahweh with all our heart, refusing to lean on our own limited human understanding, and allowing Him to smooth out every crooked path before us. We saw how writing covenant loyalty and truth deep upon our hearts brings physical healing to our bodies and marrow-deep strength to our bones. Today, as we step onto Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Seven of our ongoing trek, we advance directly into Proverbs chapter three, verses nine through twenty. In these twelve rich verses, Solomon takes the general principle of total trust in God and applies it directly to four vital arenas of our daily walk: our finances, our trials, our value system, and our understanding of the cosmos itself! Having spent over fifty years focusing on and studying Biblical wisdom, and having accumulated seventy years of life experiences—watching wealth come and go, seeing how discipline forms character, and witnessing the eternal value of a life rooted in God—I am eager to share these timeless truths with you today. Let us open our minds to the first practical manifestation of trust, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the deeply connected thoughts in Proverbs chapter three, verse nine, and verse ten. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then your barns will be filled with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. In these two powerful verses, Solomon addresses an area that touches every single human being on life's trail: our material resources! He commands us to "honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce." In the original Hebrew, "the best part" refers to the reshith—the firstfruits! In ancient Israelite worship, offering the firstfruits of the harvest was a profound act of faith. Before a farmer knew if the rest of the crop would survive the weather, locusts, or raiders, he brought the very first, finest portion to Yahweh's sanctuary as a holy offering of gratitude. To fully grasp the spiritual significance of this command, we must view it through the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, neighboring pagan cultures believed their localized territorial idols owned the land, demanding transactional sacrifices to grant agricultural fertility. But Israel knew a far greater, cosmic truth: Yahweh, the supreme Sovereign of the celestial host, is the sole Owner of the earth and everything in it! When we bring Him our firstfruits, we are not paying a divine tax; we are acknowledging His ultimate lordship over all creation. Look at the glorious result in verse ten: "Then your barns will be filled with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine!" Over my seventy years of living, and my fifty years of studying wisdom, I have seen this financial truth proven without fail. When you hoard your resources out of fear and self-reliance, your soul shrinks; but when you open your hands to honor God first, He opens the windows of heaven, filling your life with true spiritual and material abundance. The narrative now transitions from stewardship of wealth to the stewardship of our struggles, weaving together the contiguous thoughts in Proverbs chapter three, verse eleven, and verse twelve. My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Solomon issues a vital warning to every trekker on the path of wisdom: "My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you." The Hebrew word for discipline here is musar—a foundational word we first encountered in Proverbs chapter one, verse two! Musar encompasses training, moral correction, and character refinement. Human nature naturally recoils from pain, friction, and correction; we prefer smooth, uninterrupted, easy trails. However, Solomon pulls back the curtain to reveal the divine motivation behind every season of trial: "For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights!" When hard times come, or when God allows circumstances to expose our vulnerabilities, it is not evidence of His abandonment or cold anger; it is the ultimate proof of His fatherly affection! In the divine court, God treats us not as forgotten strangers, but as His cherished children, refining us so that we can bear His royal image with dignity. In my seven decades of life, I can tell you honestly that I have learned far more about wisdom, patience, and humility in the furnace of divine correction than I ever did on the sunny mountain peaks of easy success. Having shown us how to handle wealth and trial, Solomon launches into a radiant, poetic celebration of Lady Wisdom's matchless value, linking together the contiguous thoughts in Proverbs chapter three, verse thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen. Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is far more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. What an exquisite, soaring anthem of joy! Solomon declares that the person who finds wisdom—chokmah—and gains understanding is truly joyful. He compares her value to the highest commodities of the ancient and modern worlds: refined silver, fine gold, and radiant rubies. He proclaims with absolute certainty: "Nothing you desire can compare with her!" Look at how Lady Wisdom is pictured in verse sixteen and seventeen: she stands as a regal queen, holding long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left! She guides her followers down delightful, satisfying paths. But look at the breathtaking climax in verse eighteen: "Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly!" In biblical theology, the "Tree of Life"—Etz Chaim—transcends earthly metaphor! It points us directly back to the sacred cosmic sanctuary of Eden, where humanity once enjoyed unhindered fellowship with Yahweh in the presence of the heavenly council. When sin fractured that world, access to the Tree of Life was lost. But here, Solomon reveals a stunning secret: when you embrace divine wisdom and hold her tightly, you are granted a foretaste of Eden right now! You gain access to the eternal, life-giving fruit of God's presence on your daily trek. The narrative reaches its ultimate climax as Solomon reveals why wisdom possesses such infinite power and value, connecting the logical thoughts in Proverbs chapter three, verse nineteen, and verse twenty. By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles from the night sky. Solomon pulls back the cosmic veil to reveal that wisdom is not merely a clever human philosophy; wisdom is the very blueprint through which the entire universe was constructed! He proclaims, "By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens." In the Ancient Israelite worldview, creation was an act of sovereign master craftsmanship. When Yahweh laid the foundations of the earth, set the boundaries of the atmosphere, and commanded the celestial bodies, He did so through Chokmah! Look at verse twenty: "By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles from the night sky." Solomon highlights both the subterranean waters—the deep...

Money is never just about money, and work is never just about a paycheck. Scripture teaches that God owns everything, gives us the ability to earn, and calls us to work with integrity because ultimately, we serve Christ. Howard Dayton, Founder of Compass Financial Ministry and author of Business God's Way, says those truths should shape not only how Christians manage money, but how we earn it in the first place. Remember Who You're Really Working For The foundation of biblical earning begins with recognizing that God owns everything and that He is ultimately the One we serve. Colossians 3:23-24 says: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men… You are serving the Lord Christ.” That applies whether you own a business, work for a large company, serve in ministry, or earn a paycheck somewhere in between. Your employer may sign the check, but your work is ultimately an act of service to Christ. Even the ability to earn is a gift from God. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us: “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.” That perspective guards against pride when things go well. Our abilities, opportunities, creativity, and strength are all resources God has entrusted to us. Let Integrity Define Your Work If we represent Christ in the workplace, honesty should characterize everything we do. For business owners, that means treating customers, employees, vendors, and even competitors with integrity. For employees, it means giving an honest day's work, using company resources responsibly, and refusing to take what does not belong to us—even when no one would notice. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Our conduct at work can either reinforce or undermine the faith we profess. Biblical integrity means doing what is right because we belong to Christ, not simply because honesty is good for business. Plan Wisely Without Presuming on Tomorrow Running a business or managing a career requires planning. Scripture affirms the value of order and thoughtful preparation. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says, “All things should be done decently and in order.” While the immediate context concerns worship in the church, the broader principle reminds us that order and intentionality have value. At the same time, good planning should never become confidence that we control the future. James 4:13-14 warns those who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit,” reminding them, “You do not know what tomorrow will bring.” Christians should plan carefully while holding those plans with open hands. We prepare responsibly, but we remain dependent on God. Make Generosity Part of the Business Plan Many biblical principles such as honesty, diligence, and planning are also recognized as sound business practices. Generosity, however, can run against the world's instinct to accumulate and protect as much as possible. Proverbs 11:24-25 says: “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” This is not a promise that generous people will always become materially wealthy. Scripture does not teach us to give in order to get more. Instead, generosity reflects trust in God and loosens money's grip on our hearts. For a business owner, generosity might mean giving a portion of profits, caring intentionally for employees, supporting ministry, or finding creative ways to use the company's resources to serve others. Some Christian business leaders have gone even further. Entrepreneurs such as Alan Barnhart and Stanley Tam structured their businesses around extraordinary generosity, viewing their companies not simply as vehicles for personal wealth but as resources entrusted to them for God's purposes. The form generosity takes will look different for every person and every business. The important question is whether we are willing to ask God how the resources He has entrusted to us can bless others. Work as a Steward Earning money God's way begins with a different definition of success. The goal is not merely to maximize income or grow a business. It is to faithfully steward the abilities, opportunities, relationships, and resources God provides. We work diligently because we serve Christ. We act honestly because we represent Him. We plan wisely while remembering that tomorrow belongs to God. And we hold what we earn with open hands so that generosity can become a natural expression of faithful stewardship. When we understand that God is both the Owner and our ultimate Employer, work becomes more than a way to make a living. It becomes another opportunity to honor Him with what He has entrusted to us. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I'd like to help my daughter buy a home by financing part of the purchase myself. Can we structure a private family mortgage using the applicable federal rate, and how should we handle the interest, paperwork, and tax reporting? I'm behind on filing my taxes and have been quoted more than $600 for preparation. I also run a nonprofit ministry and would like to keep costs down. Where can I find affordable or free tax-preparation help, and could a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®) assist? I received a Schedule K-1 from an investment held inside my IRA. How should I handle that for tax purposes? My husband and I are dairy farmers with operating and capital lines of credit around 8.5%. We're considering using money from his Roth IRA to pay down the debt. At age 60, would there be taxes or penalties, and is that a wise move? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Business God's Way by Howard Dayton IRS Free File | AARP Foundation Tax-Aide | IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough?  Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if one act of generosity could activate God's law of increase in your life?On Believer's Voice of Victory, John Copeland and Jonathan Shuttlesworth reveal that biblical prosperity is built on God's unchanging law of sowing and reaping. Discover how generous giving reflects trust in God, allows His provision to flow through your life, and produces lasting Kingdom fruit.Learn why God blesses His people so they can continually advance His kingdom by becoming a blessing to others.Mentioned in this episode:BVOV Podcast Link HubBVOV Podcast Link HubBVOV Podcast Link HubBVOV Podcast Link Hub

What if one act of generosity could activate God's law of increase in your life? On Believer's Voice of Victory, John Copeland and Jonathan Shuttlesworth reveal that biblical prosperity is built on God's unchanging law of sowing and reaping. Discover how generous giving reflects trust in God, allows His provision to flow through your life, and produces lasting Kingdom fruit. Learn why God blesses His people so they can continually advance His kingdom by becoming a blessing to others.

Could humility before God be the key to unlocking His best for your future?Today on Believer's Voice of Victory, John Copeland and Jonathan Shuttlesworth teach how biblical prosperity flourishes when believers choose righteous living and unwavering trust in God's covenant.Discover how humility opens the door to God's plan for biblical prosperity. As you reject pride, stand on His promises, and build a legacy of faith for future generations, you position yourself to receive His provision for an abundant life.Mentioned in this episode:BVOV Podcast Link HubBVOV Podcast Link HubBVOV Podcast Link HubBVOV Podcast Link Hub

Could humility before God be the key to unlocking His best for your future? Today on Believer's Voice of Victory, John Copeland and Jonathan Shuttlesworth teach how biblical prosperity flourishes when believers choose righteous living and unwavering trust in God's covenant. Discover how humility opens the door to God's plan for biblical prosperity. As you reject pride, stand on His promises, and build a legacy of faith for future generations, you position yourself to receive His provision for an abundant life.

This week we'll be studying Numbers 11:1-23 under the theme “The Danger of Grumbling.” We discover how grumbling, complaining, and negativity can weaken our faith and relationships, and learn how biblical gratitude and trust in God can transform the way we respond to life's challengesSeries Summary: The wilderness exposes what is in the human heart. But it also reveals the unwavering faithfulness of God. Through Israel's fear, grumbling, failures, and blessings, this series will call us to trust God's promises, receive his gracious provision, love him wholeheartedly, and choose the life found in Christ.Fill out our online connection cardHow can we pray for you? If you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here.

In this episode, Steph continues the discipleship series by exploring one of the strongest predictors of lasting faith: regular prayer. We know prayer is important, but many parents feel unsure where to begin or worry they aren't "good enough" at praying out loud.In this episode, Steph sits down with author Erica Renaud to talk about how prayer becomes the foundation of a child's relationship with God. Together they discuss practical ways families can incorporate prayer into everyday life, how to move beyond memorized prayers without abandoning them, and how to help children navigate unanswered prayer with trust in God's character.Whether your children are preschoolers, teenagers, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers simple encouragement to help your family grow closer to God through prayer.Resources MentionedWebsitePray With Me bookRaising Prayerful Kids bookThe Creation of UsHands on BibleThe Secret Life of ChristiansPrefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube!Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today! You can also listen to Pardon the Mess podcast each Monday to listen to guided prayer and reflection that follows the journal beginning September 14th!The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sometimes God calls us to surrender something precious. Other times He asks us to step beyond what feels comfortable to share the Gospel, serve His Kingdom, or obey a command we do not fully understand. Whatever the assignment, genuine faith eventually comes to the same conclusion: God must be obeyed. In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef turns to the story of Noah in Genesis 6 and 7. God gave Noah an extraordinary command—to build an ark in preparation for a flood that had not yet come. The task was enormous and perplexing, yet Scripture records Noah's remarkable response: “Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” Noah did more than build. He trusted God's Word, persevered in obedience, and proclaimed righteousness to those around him. His life became both an act of faith and a warning to others. In the same way, believers today are called to build their lives on Christ while inviting others to receive the salvation He offers. Noah was not perfect, but his faith produced action. That is the mark of authentic trust in God. Anyone can claim to believe, but living faith obeys—even when the road is difficult, the assignment feels overwhelming, or the outcome remains unseen. Where is God calling you to step out in faith today? Trust His Word, obey His voice, and leave the results in His hands. Prayer: God, help me to have the kind of faith that Noah had—faith that leads to obedience no matter how overwhelming the task. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith” (Hebrews 11:7). Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon They Were Just like Us, The Work of Faith: LISTEN NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

Body obsession can hide behind "health" and "discipline" - and for many women, it becomes a quiet idol that steals peace, joy, and even faith. Dr. Brooke Sheehan and Allie unpack the difference between honoring your body and trying to control it, revealing the subtle way toxic wellness culture pulls believers into overwhelm. Brooke shares how she went from completely ignoring her body to obsessing over every metric, every supplement, and every detail in her search for a health utopia. Together, she and Allie show why this isn't just a mindset issue - it's a spiritual one. When wellness becomes a way to manage fear, image, or control, it can slowly replace trust in God with trust in performance. You'll discover: Why "idol" can mean far more than statues or obvious false gods The biblical difference between the flesh and the body, including the Greek words sarx and soma How self-objectification shows up in mirrors, selfies, social media, and body shame Why excessive tracking, optimization, and constant wellness advice can actually increase anxiety Practical next steps for breaking free, including repentance, gratitude, and listening for what your body is trying to tell you Allie also vulnerably shares her own story of body shame, disordered eating, and the freedom that came through prayer, repentance, and renewing her mind. She reads from Romans 1 to show how easily a culture can exchange worship of the Creator for obsession with the created, and Dr. Brooke connects that warning directly to the way we treat our bodies today. Dr. Brooke Sheehan is a health and body image educator known for helping women untangle the relationships among wellness, faith, and body stewardship. She is the creator of Talk to Me Body, the voice of your body anchored in scripture, a 63-card set designed to help listeners approach their bodies with curiosity, gratitude, and biblical wisdom. If you've felt trapped by body thoughts, food guilt, endless self-improvement, or the pressure to optimize every part of your health, this conversation offers a clear path back to peace. Essential listening for anyone ready to quiet the noise, stop worshiping appearance, and step into freedom. Dr. Brook Sheehan Connect with Us Free guide: "5 Keys to Walking In Your Worth." wonderfullymade.org Allie's Books Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your JoyWonderfully Made: Discover the Identity, Love, and Worth You Were Created For Social Media @wonderfullymade_org @alliemariesmithTikTok Resources Life Coaching for Teen GirlsSocial Media Reset CourseWonderfully Made Young Women's Course  

When it feels like everyone is getting pregnant except you, how do you handle the jealousy, grief, and comparison without pretending you're okay? In this episode, we're talking about how to process pregnancy announcements biblically, uncover what jealousy may be revealing about your heart, and choose faithfulness when infertility makes trusting God feel especially hard.   NEXT WWF COHORT- begins after Labor Day - enroll now!!  The Waiting Well Framework™ is an 8-week, Christ-centered discipleship experience for women navigating infertility who want to carry the wait with faith, peace, and purpose — not panic or despair. This Scripture-anchored journey helps women respond to disappointment without spiraling, rebuild trust in God's goodness, and live fully before motherhood comes. You don't have to walk this season alone.

What does it mean to keep going when life takes an unexpected and painful turn? We reflect on Hebrews 11:1 and the importance of cultivating faith, hope, and confidence in God—even when we cannot see what lies ahead. Through the story of Otto Frank and the legacy he carried forward after unimaginable loss, we are reminded that pain does not have to be the end of our story. While we may face seasons of doubt, grief, uncertainty, or struggle, faith invites us to continue trusting God when the path ahead is unclear. The Bible reminds us that faith is more than simply believing when life is easy. It is confidence in God when we cannot yet see the outcome. Through prayer, Scripture, and an active relationship with Him, we can strengthen our trust and keep moving forward—one faithful step at a time. Highlights Discover what Hebrews 11:1 teaches about faith, hope, and trusting God. Learn how faith can help us keep going through difficult and uncertain seasons. Reflect on the difference between seeing the outcome and trusting God without seeing it. Find encouragement for moments when doubt and unbelief begin to take hold. Explore how prayer and Bible reading can help cultivate stronger faith. Remember the prayer from Mark 9:24: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter. Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Cultivating the Faith to Keep GoingBy Vivian Bricker Bible Reading:“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Otto Frank, the sole survivor of the eight Jews in hiding within the Secret Annex, would have felt intense loss upon his return to Amsterdam after the Allies' defeat of Nazi Germany. He was already notified by previous prisoners about the death of his wife, Edith. She had died in Auschwitz due to starvation. However, he had hope that his two daughters, Margot and Anne, were still alive. This was the hope that ultimately kept him alive. Through the Red Cross, sisters Janny and Lien Brilleslijper, contacted Otto and notified him of the death of his two daughters. They had both died of typhus in Bergen-Belsen. Unable to stand the pain, he confided in the helpers of the Secret Annex: Miep Gies, Jan Gies, Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman, Bep Voskuijl, and Johan Voskuijl. Although several of them had been taken by the Nazis after their hiding place was discovered, they were able to escape or be released based on medical reasons. Once Miep was notified that Anne had passed away in Bergen-Belsen, she handed Anne’s beloved diary to Otto. At first, Otto could not bring himself to read it, yet with time, he became absorbed in his daughter’s writing. He would later reflect that it was only through Anne’s diary that he truly knew her. In Anne’s Diary, Anne disclosed how there were two versions of herself: the outgoing, bubbly version and the quiet, reserved, and thoughtful version. Otto said he never knew his daughter held such expressive views and thoughts. He encouraged every parent to truly get to know their child, support them, and be the parent you wanted your parents to be to you. For the rest of his life, Otto dedicated his time and energy to bringing awareness to Anne’s diary, advocating for acceptance over hate, and the need to end anti-semitism. To prevent the past from repeating, we must learn from it. Although Otto had been through unspeakable pain, he used what resources he had to keep the memory of his daughter alive. Through Otto, the Anne Frank Fonds was founded in January 1963. He also founded the Anne Frank House, which attracts over 1.3 million people every year. Intersecting Faith & Life: The Bible tells us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Although Otto’s hope was dashed to pieces after hearing the news of his daughters’ deaths, he kept pushing forward in life. He had a purpose: to make his daughter’s memory known to the world and to fulfill her wish to become a writer. In our own lives, we must advance with this same confidence. If we have faith in God, nothing can hinder our lives. Cultivating faith in God can be challenging, especially if we have experienced a troubling time, but we are never without help. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can foster a steadfast hope within us. This hope is like an everlasting candle; a candle that can never burn out. What is currently bringing doubts into your heart? Perhaps you are doubtful that God will bring you out of this difficult season, or if you will overcome a certain sin you are struggling with. Rather than doubting God, believe. As the father of the sick child said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Overcoming doubts and unbelief can be realized by spending time with God in prayer and Bible reading. By actively participating in your relationship with God, your faith in Him will grow. There may be difficult times ahead, but if your faith in God is strong, you can overcome even the toughest of situations. As the writer of Hebrews says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Foster hope in God; He will never fail you. Do you doubt God in your daily life? What are some ways you can cultivate hope, confidence, and trust in God? Further Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:7 Romans 15:13 Isaiah 43:2 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

SummaryThis episode explores the profound love of Jesus Christ, emphasizing its biblical foundation, its impact on believers, and how understanding this love can strengthen faith and assurance. It encourages Christians to trust in God's love, rely on His Word, and deepen their relationship with Christ.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Love of Jesus and Its Significance02:21 The Biblical Foundation of God's Love in Romans and John04:37 How the Cross Demonstrates God's Love for Us07:20 The Assurance We Have in God's Love and Salvation09:12 Knowing the Truth About Jesus Through Scripture12:01 Growing in Love and Confidence in God's Promises13:26 Confession, Sin, and the Confidence of Forgiveness14:56 The Bible as the Reliable Source of God's Love18:14 Evidence of Jesus' Life and Love from the Apostles21:46 Overcoming Doubts About God's Love Through Scripture23:34 Living with Confidence in God's Unfailing Love27:26 Our Identity in Christ and Belonging to Him30:42 Relying on Christ's Strength in Weakness32:20 Revisiting 'Jesus Loves Me' as Adults for Spiritual Renewal33:06 Invitation to Accept and Trust in God's LoveConnect with Me! Newsletter and Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icandopodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blogs: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://benjaminlee.blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://benjaminlee.blog/books-2/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apparel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://benjaminlee.blog/resources/#!/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@icandopodcast?si=h9-JkT27jwynZZ-X

The sermon explores the character of God through the book of Nahum, emphasizing that He knows every individual's identity and purpose while demonstrating patience, power, and protection. The speaker shares personal anecdotes about missionary work in Albania to illustrate the urgency of evangelism and the need for believers to remain focused amidst spiritual opposition. Key themes include resisting the distractions of the world, fighting the good fight of faith, and finishing one's Christian journey with integrity. The message encourages the audience to trust in God's promises during times of trouble and to actively participate in global missions. Ultimately, it calls for a steadfast commitment to Christ, urging listeners to stay focused on Jesus and complete their spiritual race faithfully.

How much money is enough? It's easy to believe that the more money we make, the more we can do for God. But what if God isn't nearly as concerned with how much we have as He is with how much we trust Him? In this episode of the Gen Z Series, Lina talks about the lie that God needs our money and why contentment is about far more than settling for less. She unpacks what it looks like to trust God to meet our needs, find contentment in every season, and surrender our finances to Him one day at a time. If you've ever wondered how much money you really need—or struggled with the pressure to always have more—this conversation will help you rethink money through the lens of faith, contentment, and trust in God.   Helpful resources:   

"Don't try to be an on the spot exorcist". In a new interview of Vault questions, Father Martins shines some light on the role of spiritual authority, how to trust in God with our finances, and whether entire locations could experience genrational cursing.Thank you to our sponsors for today's episodeExodus90- Men, if you want to grow closer to God, then sign up for their St. Michael's Lent Challenge today. It's not too late! https://exodus90.com/exfilesCowboy Colostrum- Get 25% Off Cowboy Colostrum with code EXFILES at https://www.cowboycolostrum.com/EXFILES.Magnesium, multiplied. 10 forms for total support. Go to https://qualialife.com/EXFILES to get 50% off and save an extra 15% with the code EXFILES.Forkful- Head to https://forkfulmeals.com/exfiles for 50% off your first order today!Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Demons Are Liars00:58 A Video Episode from San Diego01:29 When the Mother Is the Spiritual Head03:41 Retirement, Grain Bins, and Trust06:02 Do Souls Choose Their Parents?07:49 Can a Parish or a Diocese Be Cursed?09:55 Fr. Martins' Book Club14:25 Sponsor16:58 Shackleton's Scotch, Continued17:17 If Someone Manifests in Front of You21:56 Correcting the Record on Authority24:21 The Relic of Mary Magdalene26:56 Sponsor31:02 The Family Spiritualist32:13 Obsession, Vexation, and Evangelization35:48 Why He Won't Catalog Demons39:04 Free Will in Heaven, and the Seven Levels42:28 Three Places Where Heaven Touched Down46:14 Do the Saints Hear Silent Prayers?47:53 Immediate Judgment52:04 The Compulsion and the Rosary54:50 CloseSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every new challenge has a way of looking like a mountain — too steep, too large, too dangerous to imagine actually reaching the top of. A broken relationship, a health crisis, a stressful work situation: whatever form the mountain takes in your life right now, the instinct to stand at the base and feel overwhelmed is entirely human. The Israelites felt it when they stood at the edge of the Promised Land. Most of the spies looked at the same land Caleb looked at and came back convinced they could not do it. Caleb saw the same obstacles. He did not pretend the giants were small. But he chose to believe that God was bigger than the mountain, and that wholehearted trust in God was the only reasonable response to what they were facing. Numbers 14:24 records God's response to that kind of faith: He called Caleb a man with a different spirit, and He promised that Caleb would enter and inherit the land. That same invitation is extended to every believer facing a mountain today. Following God wholeheartedly means stopping focusing on the size of the challenge and starting to focus on the unlimited power of the God who is leading the climb. It means taking the first step even when afraid. And it means understanding that your faith in the face of giant obstacles is never just for you — it leaves a legacy for everyone watching, building their courage to face their own mountains when the time comes. Today's Bible Verse "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it."— Numbers 14:24, NIV Ponder Today A different spirit sees the same obstacles through the eyes of faith. Caleb did not deny the giants were real. He simply chose to believe God was bigger. That choice — not the absence of fear, but the presence of trust — is what set him apart. Wholehearted following means going all in, not giving God half your trust while keeping the other half in your own strength. Caleb did not hedge. He committed completely. That kind of faith is what God honors and what opens the door to the inheritance He has prepared. Remember how God has helped you before. The same God who met your needs in past challenges is the God climbing this mountain with you now. His track record of faithfulness is the foundation for trust in the present moment. You do not need to know how you will reach the summit — you only need to trust the Guide. Taking the first step in faith, without a clear view of what comes next, is often the most important step in the entire climb. Your faith in the face of giant obstacles leaves a legacy for others. The people watching you climb your mountain with confidence in God are having their own faith built. Your obedience is never just about you. A Prayer for You Today Dear God, I am facing a challenge right now that makes me feel like I am standing at the base of a mountain. The path ahead seems steep and the challenge feels enormous. But I do not want to live with a spirit of fear or doubt. I want to have a different spirit, just like Caleb did. So I choose to follow You wholeheartedly. Fight anxiety for me and guide me up this mountain with faith. Remind me of Your past faithfulness whenever I start to give in to fear or doubt. You are the Creator of the mountains, and nothing I face is too hard for You to help me overcome. Give me the courage to look past the mountain of my challenge and fix my eyes on Your unlimited strength. I believe You are walking with me through every single step of this climb. Use this season to grow my faith and let it inspire the people around me. In Jesus' name, Amen. Want More?

Join us for the final part of Saint André Bessette's journey. Discover how his devotion, kindness, and trust in God sparked miracles—and let his story inspire your own Lenten faith.Today's episode is a special public release from the Hallow exclusive Lenten series for families: The Miracle Hunters! Access the full challenge on Hallow!Saints Alive is brought to you by the #1 Catholic Prayer App, Hallow! Sign up today with a 30-day free trial!Please rate, review and share with friends and family!Find out more about Saints Alive at our website: https://www.saintsalivepodcast.com/

Dave is back from northern Michigan, and reality is terrible. The family cabin—built by a relative generations ago—delivered everything Tulsa could not: low-80s afternoons, cool nights, fires, golf, and a lake smooth enough for water skiing.Dave's three oldest girls all learned to ski, which meant it was time for their seasoned-skier father to show them how it's done. The only problem was the pontoon boat. It had enough power to pull the kids, but not quite enough to launch a grown man from a shallow-water slalom start. After several attempts and several falls in front of his daughters, Dave accepted the indignity of starting on two skis and kicking one off. His father's old rule—“In this family, we don't fall”—was not enforced.The pour is Celestial Hazy IPA from Chainsaw Brewing, an overtly Catholic brewery in Richland, Washington. Adam has the Dominions can; Dave has the Thrones. Same beer, different celestial artwork, 6.5% ABV, and Revelation-level labels covered in angels, eyes, and hops. If you want a good IPA from a Catholic brewer, support Chainsaw Brewing and help them #BeerEvangelize.Sponsor: Select International ToursWhen Adam and Dave decided to lead their first pilgrimage, the same recommendation kept coming back: Select International Tours. Having traveled with them, the guys can attest that they're excellent. Whether you want to lead a pilgrimage or join one, visit selectinternationaltours.com and see where they can take you.Sponsor: The Amen appSunday morning is not exactly easy like Sunday morning when you're trying to load a Catholic family into the van and beat Father down the aisle. The free Amen app helps the guys prepare their children for Mass by listening to the Sunday Gospel on the drive. It also includes Catholic classics like Divine Mercy in My Soul and True Devotion to Mary. No paywall, subscription, or upfront cost. Download the Amen app and help get it from 950,000 downloads to one million.The prayer request is Mary. She recently had surgery to place a G-tube, which should make feeding more comfortable and eliminate the constant gagging caused by the tube in her mouth. The immediate goals are to stabilize her, wean her from oxygen, and help her continue gaining weight so heart surgery can be considered in the coming months. A recent video caught her wide awake, smiling, and full of joy in the middle of a life that has involved more struggle than most. Keep Mary, Lady Haylee, and the whole family in your prayers.The Catholic Man Show Campout is also approaching. Registration should open near the end of August, with the campout taking place during the final weekend of September at Clear Creek Abbey. Brandon Sheard will return for a hands-on animal-butchering class, with foraging and woodworking also planned. Those experiences are valuable, but the heart of the weekend is the opportunity to pray with the Benedictine monks and step into the ordered rhythm of monastic life.Then the guys turn to the theological virtue of hope—the virtue a man in heaven no longer needs and a man in hell can no longer possess. Hope belongs to the man in the middle, the wayfarer who has not yet arrived. That means every one of us.Drawing from St. Thomas Aquinas, they explain the four marks of hope's object: it must be good, future, arduous, and possible. Theological hope is not the same as hoping for good weather or a Cowboys Super Bowl. Natural hope rests on circumstances, probabilities, and human ability. Supernatural hope rests on God's goodness, providence, and promises. Its ultimate object is not a better job, a healed body, or a trouble-free life. Its object is God Himself.That is why hope is “cashed in” when a soul reaches heaven. The good is no longer future; it is possessed. Souls in purgatory still have hope because the happiness they await remains future, arduous, and possible—even though their final destination is certain.Josef Pieper helps identify the two ways a man can abandon the road before reaching its end: despair and presumption. Despair decides the promise will not be fulfilled. Presumption decides the reward is already guaranteed without repentance, conversion, or cooperation with grace. Both seize the verdict before the journey is finished.Presumption is not too much trust in God. It is too little. It imagines a God too small to care about justice, transformation, and whether we become the men He created us to be. Despair makes a similar mistake by deciding that God's mercy may exist in general but cannot reach this sin, this failure, or this man.The deeper question is whether we actually trust God. Will He make us happy, or will surrendering to Him leave us regretting what we gave up? We repeatedly hang the weight of our hope on hooks that cannot bear it: a spouse, career, reputation, new client, new car, food, drink, or entertainment. Those things may be good, but none can carry the full weight of the human heart. Only Christ can do that.St. Francis de Sales brings the discussion into moments of panic, temptation, self-loathing, and spiritual dryness. Devotion is not a feeling of sweetness or consolation. It is a firm and active will to do what pleases God. When anxiety hits, do not make major decisions from agitation. A trapped bird only tightens the net by thrashing. Let the water settle, then move.Self-contempt is not humility either. Anger at yourself can be another form of pride because it still assumes you should have been able to save yourself. The better response to sin is quiet displeasure followed by courageous amendment: “Poor heart, rise up again bravely.” Hope allows a man to admit that he is nothing on his own while remembering the immense dignity God gave him through baptism.Spiritual dryness can also teach. If prayer tastes like nothing, examine what you have been eating. Screens, alcohol, entertainment, comfort, and constant stimulation can train the appetite to find spiritual goods tasteless. Keep praying without demanding an immediate emotional reward. Sometimes hope looks like doing the next faithful thing while feeling nothing at all.Dave shares a moment from adoration when he admitted that he was afraid God would ask him to leave a successful career and live in poverty through full-time ministry. His yes was reluctant, but it was still a yes. The answer he sensed was simple: “I just wanted your yes.” Years later, professional success has brought the same temptation back in a different form—the temptation to believe he can provide for himself and no longer needs to depend on God. Surrender is not something a man completes once. God keeps saying: do it again.The practical path is equally simple. Offer the trial already in front of you. Pray for an increase in hope. Pray the Rosary even when you do not feel like it. Make an act of gratitude when despair begins closing in. And stop demanding that this life provide what only the next life can give.We are on the Lord's team—the winning side. Raise your glass.

Instead of stressing or blaming, sometimes it is best to “be still,” become humble, and put your trust in God, believing that all is well. Click here to view the speech page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Read OnlineClothed in GraceBut when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:11–14Among the many layers in today's Gospel parable, perhaps the most sobering is the image of the guest without a wedding garment. He symbolizes a soul who has received the invitation to salvation but failed to prepare interiorly. Though present at the feast, he is not clothed with the “wedding garment,” which the Church Fathers commonly interpreted as sanctifying grace adorned with charity. Outwardly he may appear to belong, but inwardly he lacks the necessary disposition of soul.The wedding feast represents the Kingdom of Heaven—a life of grace in the present and, ultimately, eternal union with God in glory. The invitation went first to Israel and now extends to all nations through the Church. In His mercy, God desires to fill His banquet hall. He wills that all be saved, but His justice, which works in perfect harmony with His mercy, requires proper spiritual readiness.When the king encounters him, the guest without the garment is speechless. He cannot excuse himself; the invitation was free, the conditions clear—you must be clothed with grace and adorned with charity. As a result of his lack of preparedness, he is cast into the outer darkness. This moment reveals the fate of those who presume they are saved without genuine repentance, prayer, and a life grounded in grace.This parable stands as a powerful warning against the sin of presumption—the false assurance that one may enter Heaven without ongoing conversion or a sincere effort to live the Gospel. It is not enough to be counted among the invited: attending Mass, bearing the name Catholic, or fulfilling outward duties. One must be inwardly transformed, clothed with grace and charity, so that the life of Christ shines from within.Of all the sins referenced in the Gospel, none are more spiritually perilous than the sins against the Holy Spirit—presumption being counted among them (cf. CCC 1864; Mark 3:29). Presumption is grave because it twists trust in God's mercy into a license to sin, rejecting the urgency of conversion. Presumption assumes salvation without repentance or postpones it indefinitely, hardening the heart and dulling the conscience until it is too late.Saint Thomas Aquinas, who identifies six sins against the Holy Spirit, teaches that presumption is opposed to the theological virtue of hope (ST II-II, q. 14, a. 2). True hope rests on God's promises and grace; presumption mimics hope but lacks substance and action. It arises when one expects eternal life without having lived charitably toward others or believes forgiveness is assured without repentance, presuming that God will grant salvation even to those who have not obeyed His will. In doing so, one rejects the very means by which the Holy Spirit brings about salvation.Reflect today on the man cast out from the feast. Though he was invited, he failed to be properly clothed in grace. Jesus offers this parable not to condemn, but to awaken us to the need for ongoing purification of heart. In many ways, the wedding feast is an image of our parish churches, where the banquet of the Lamb is continually offered in the Holy Eucharist. All are invited—but only those properly disposed through humility, repentance, and faith can enter fully into the joy of the Eternal Feast, which begins here and now through the worthy reception of the Eucharist. Consider your own participation in the Holy Mass and strive to adorn your soul with the beauty of charity, for without this garment of grace, we will be cast out of the eternal Banquet of Heaven.Most merciful and just Lord, though You invite all to share in the Feast of Grace—both the Eucharist in this life and the Heavenly Banquet in the next—Your Divine Justice requires hearts properly disposed to receive Your grace. Grant me, I pray, the grace of continual repentance, that I may always remain open to the gift of sanctifying grace. May that grace transform me interiorly and bear fruit in the charity to which You call me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The Parable of the Wedding Feast, by Francisco de GoyaSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Why does trusting God feel so natural in some areas of life—and so difficult in others? Susie shares from her book, "More Than You Can Imagine: What God Does When You Trust Him." When you begin to see yourself as God sees you, trust becomes not only possible but powerful—even supernatural. Let's push back against the enemy's lies and reclaim our God-given identity! Listen to the Allen Jackson conversation here Check out Susie's podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here

Do you feel overwhelmed by everything you're already carrying and wonder how you could possibly add coaching to your plate?Hear this: Christian coaching isn't about adding more. It's about simplifying what you're already doing so you can focus on what actually matters most.In this episode, I unpack what coaching actually looks like and the common misconceptions prospective clients have before getting started.If you're an ambitious Christian female entrepreneur, leader, or mom who is tired of overthinking, striving, doing all the things, and wondering what God is actually asking you to focus on, this conversation is for you.Inside this episode, we'll talk about:• What Christian coaching actually is• Why coaching isn't simply another item on your to-do list• How faith-based coaching can help simplify your overwhelm in a faith first way• The difference between doing more and doing what matters• Why pausing can actually be productive• How to hear God's direction and turn insight into action• Moving from striving to Spirit-led strategy• The role of Biblical beliefs in sustainable growth• How coaching differs from therapy• Why clarity comes with action• How to stop playing "whack-a-mole" with everything that's urgent and fix your gaze on what actually mattersAt Grace Space Christian Coaching, we believe ambitious Christian women don't have to choose between meaningful growth and a peaceful, God-centered life.Through our signature Growth Without Burnout framework, we help women:Build on biblical beliefTransform their thoughtsShift from striving to Spirit-led strategyThe goal isn't to help you do everything.It's to help you discern what matters most, what God is calling you to, and how to move forward with confidence.As Galatians 5:16 reminds us, we're called to walk by the Spirit.So ask yourself:What's most important, God?What would You have me do about it?Then be willing to take the next faithful step.If you're ready to grow your life and business with greater clarity, confidence, and trust in God, let's talk.

In this heartfelt episode, Amy sits down with Grace and Eric Morrison to explore the beauty of family life rooted in faith, intentionality, and trust in God's plan. They share their journey through marriage, raising six biological children, adopting their youngest daughter from Ukraine, and nurturing a home where prayer, service, and joy were woven into everyday life.They reflect on practical rhythms that kept their family united like family dinner and the rosary, celebrating feast days, welcoming priests into their home, and making faith feel natural and joyful rather than pressured. The conversation also dives into homeschooling, discerning vocations, and the delicate balance of supporting children while remaining open to the unique path God may call each one to follow.You can connect with Grace here https://www.gracemorrisoncoaching.com/

Catholic couples don't discern if they should have a child, they discern if they should postpone pregnancy. These are two different conversations.    Summary This re-release of a 2015 episode presents Natural Family Planning as more than a technique: it's a way of living that contrasts sharply with a culture focused on control and convenience. We explore how modern society tends to "engineer" outcomes, even in areas like fertility, while NFP invites couples to cooperate with the natural design of the body, integrating both faith and science. This approach requires intentional communication, shared decision-making, and a willingness to embrace sacrifice, particularly through periodic abstinence. Rather than seeing these challenges as burdens, we can view them as opportunities for growth in virtue, deeper unity, and trust in God. Key Takeaways Catholic teaching on marriage holds love and life together. Marriage is both unitive and procreative, meaning sex is meant to express love between spouses while remaining open to the possibility of new life. Humanae Vitae was not just a rule, but a prophetic warning. The Church warned that widespread acceptance of contraception would lead to moral decline, marital infidelity, loss of respect for women, abuse of power, and a distorted sense of control over the human body. Responsible parenthood requires prayerful discernment, not pressure or guilt. Couples are called to use reason, wisdom, Church teaching, and honest prayer to discern whether they are ready for another child, taking into account physical, emotional, psychological, economic, and family circumstances. Natural Family Planning can be hard, but it can also form couples in love and self-gift. NFP requires discipline, communication, patience, and sacrifice. It can bring struggles, especially around affection, desire, and misunderstanding, but it also invites spouses to love each other beyond physical intimacy alone. Children are a blessing, not a burden or a lifestyle accessory. While raising children is demanding, they are one of the greatest fruits of marriage. They change, challenge, and sanctify parents, and families should not measure children only by cost, convenience, or cultural expectations.   Couple Discussion Questions Do you feel like we communicate openly about family size, timing, and fertility decisions? How do you experience the "sacrifice" aspect of NFP? What kind of family culture do we want to build around life, children, and generosity? How can we better support each other during more difficult seasons?   Resources MFP 158: Oh Baby! How Many Babies Should We Have? Humanae Vitae USCCB on Natural Family Planning Dr. Janet Smith Couple to Couple League NaProTechnology (Creighton Model of NFP) Theology of the Body Institute  

Read OnlineThe Riches of PovertyJesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Matthew 19:23–25In light of today's Gospel, do you want to be rich? Most people do. The thought of buying a big, beautiful home (or several of them) can be enticing. Living the so-called good life, going on extravagant vacations and driving expensive cars, is a difficult desire to shed. Should you strive to shed that desire?Today's Gospel immediately follows Jesus' loving conversation with a rich young man who came to Him with the question: “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus could see the goodness in the man's heart, so He wisely drew the young man deeper. In response to Jesus telling him to keep the commandments, the young man confirmed that he had kept them since his youth. He then asked: “What do I still lack?” Jesus lovingly revealed to him the road to perfection: “Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” That was not what this rich young man wanted to hear, so he went away sad. The perfection to which Jesus invited this young man was more than he was ready to accept.Back to our original question: Do you want to be rich? In today's Gospel, within the context of the young man leaving, Jesus turns to those closest to Him and teaches them a lesson about the danger of material riches. This was so shocking to the disciples that they seemed disillusioned and asked, “Who then can be saved?”We should see ourselves in both the rich young man and the disciples who reacted with shock. Jesus wanted each of them to be richer than they could ever fathom—but not in the fleeting material things of this world. Though material wealth is not evil, as it is necessary for us to care for our needs and those of our families, money and possessions cannot in any way fulfill us. We might enjoy money and possessions because they temporarily satisfy our desires and offer sensory comforts, but the only lasting comfort and source of fulfillment is found in God and His holy will.When pondering the question—“Do I want to be rich?”—we should not hesitate to say, emphatically, “No!” Why would we want something Jesus so strongly warned against? Of course, while Jesus didn't say it is “impossible” for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, He did say that it is “hard.” Having riches, then, can be compared to playing with fire. There is a good chance of getting burned. So it is with money. Based on Jesus' direct teaching and the sadness of the rich young man, we should all step back and look at our attitudes toward money and possessions. The ideal interior disposition should be one of a desire for simplicity, and even poverty. Not a poverty of destitution, but one that is characterized by accumulating very little, living a simple and humble life, yet enjoying the necessities for self and family. Is this the lifestyle you desire? Do you understand the wisdom behind such a life and the dangers of a life of material wealth?Reflect today on your desires and attitudes toward material wealth and comfort. Ask yourself honestly whether you see riches as a path to happiness, or whether you are truly open to the freedom that comes with spiritual poverty. Consider the radical invitation Jesus offered the rich young man—not as a burden, but as a gift. Ponder what you may still cling to, and be courageous enough to let it go. Seek to cultivate a heart that finds joy in simplicity, generosity, and trust in God alone. In doing so, you will discover the incomparable riches of a life lived for the Kingdom of Heaven.Lord of true riches, In You alone do we find the eternal treasure that far surpasses the fleeting riches of this world. Grant me the wisdom and strength to recognize the dangers that come with money and possessions and to freely choose a life of simplicity and detachment. May You and Your holy will be the only treasure I seek, so that I may be drawn into the perfection to which I'm called. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Jesus teachesSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

When you've prayed for the same thing over and over and nothing seems to change, it's easy to wonder if God is even listening. In this episode, we're unpacking five biblical truths to fight the lie that God's silence means He's absent, uninterested, or ignoring your prayers.   NEXT WWF COHORT- begins after Labor Day - enroll now!!  The Waiting Well Framework™ is an 8-week, Christ-centered discipleship experience for women navigating infertility who want to carry the wait with faith, peace, and purpose — not panic or despair. This Scripture-anchored journey helps women respond to disappointment without spiraling, rebuild trust in God's goodness, and live fully before motherhood comes. You don't have to walk this season alone.

Instead of stressing or blaming, sometimes it is best to “be still,” become humble, and put your trust in God, believing that all is well. Click here to see the speech page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WOW!!!

In this message, Samuel Goulet challenges the church to measure spiritual health by faithfulness rather than comfort, success, or financial security. Looking at the churches of Smyrna and Laodicea, he contrasts a people who are materially poor yet spiritually rich with a people who appear prosperous but have grown lukewarm and complacent. Samuel encourages listeners to remain steadfast through suffering, allow trials to deepen trust in God, and remember that true richness comes from intimacy with Jesus, repentance, purity, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

We are very, very excited about the upcoming Isaiah workshop for only $39 (via Zoom) or $75 (for in person). We believe it will make a real difference in your ability to understand Isaiah. We will do hands on work together, focusing on helping you develop the skills to really get more out of Isaiah, both as we study it this year, and throughout your life. We will be holding the workshop right as we hit Isiah in the Come Follow Me reading assignments. Here is the key information you need to know: It will be via Zoom only on Thursday night, September 10th. That evening we will introduce a few things, and give you some homework to do in order to prepare you to get more out of the rest of the workshop. Then we will meet both in person and via Zoom on Friday, evening, Sept. 11th. Then we will meet on Saturday the 12thin the morning.We will meet on the edge of the Provo/Orem border.All proceeds go towards supporting The Scriptures Are Real podcast. I make absolutely no money off of this at all.The cost of the in-person meeting is $75, and of Zoom is $39. The cost for two people to use the same Zoom is $49.You can register by sending us your name, email address, and payment.Payment can be made toVenmo @julianne-muhlesteinZelle using the email address thescripturesarereal@gmail.comEmail us at that same email address if you would prefer to pay in other ways.Join us for fantastic content on our Patreon website. This week on Patreon we will delve more into depth on how to get more out of the Psalms and worship with them, and more into depth on some specific psalms.Join us for an incredible cruise with amazing spiritual momentum where you hear from Elaine Dalton, myself, Jasen Wade, Kirby Heyborne, Jenny Oaks Baker, Nathan Pacheco, and more. During July you can get $250 off for the second person, and $50 of for each person with the discount code KERRY. Click here and join right away!In this episode Kerry and Ryan Davis teach you about what the Psalms are and how to get more out of them. They explain some of the poetic background, and also ways to think about them and study them to gain better understanding and be touched more deeply. They talk about how they are about our relationship with God, and about temples, and explore other genres with in Psalms. Then Kerry and Kim Matheson dive into Psalm 1 together, looking at what it teaches about praise, worship, and cries for help. Then Kerry and Paul Hoskisson explore Psalm 22 and what it teaches about Jesus Christ, and how it connects with His time on the cross. They look at how it helps us understand Christ's suffering on the cross, and what that means for us. Then Kerry and Jenny Oaks Baker discuss Psalm 27 and how we can trust in God. She shares stories from her life about how she has turned to the Lord and been her salvation. She talks about how God has our back when we follow Him. Then Kerry and Rosalynde Welch go through Psalm 42. They use the beautiful imagery in the psalm to help us deepen our relationship with God. They explore how the Psalms will capture the feelings and needs you experience and help you understand them, express them, and turn them to God.We are grateful for our executive producers, P. Franzen, J. Parke, D. Watson, B. Van Blerkom, the Dawsons, M. Cannon, M. Rosema, B. Fisher, J. Beardall, D. Anderson, M. Zitar, J. Edwards, A. Dixon, T. Cottrell, and H. Umphlett, and for all our generous and loyal donors.

We need to continually determine which kingdom we are going to pursue. Jesus tells us we cannot serve both God and wealth. Part of learning to live in the kingdom of God is learning to be generous out of our trust in God and our confidence in his provision.

In this message, Pastor Samuel Goodman challenges us to consider the question, “How Then Shall We Live?” Drawing from 2 Peter 1:12–15, he reminds us of the power of being continually grounded in truth and points us toward three essential foundations for living faithfully: faith, trusting God, and the Word of God. In a time when our world is constantly changing, we are called to live by faith, trust in God's faithfulness, and build our lives on His Word—the foundation and manual for how we live. ______________________________________________________________________________________ NEW HERE? We'd love to connect with you. Text "NEW" to 323-405-3232 SERMON NOTES: www.bible.com/organizations/f223…-a8fc-3297da42c26a - Or Text: "SERMON" To: 323-405-3232 CONNECT WITH US: Hopeland Website: www.hopelandla.com Hopeland Podcast: @steinbot-519314947 Hopeland YouTube: www.youtube.com/@hopelandchurch Hopeland Facebook: @hopelandla Hopeland Instagram: @hopeland.church To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people with the gospel click here: hopelandla.com/give or Text "Donate" to 323-405-3232. Or, choose a giving option here: - Venmo: @Hopeland-Church - CashApp: $HopelandChurch - Zelle: shawn@hopelandla.com - Tithely: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=93965a22-e50f-4069-977a-7804a3827e05

"What does a life rooted in God actually look like? Psalm 112 gives us a picture of a person who fears the Lord, delights in His commands, and lives with confidence even when the world around them feels uncertain. This isn't a picture of a perfect life—it's a picture of a faithful one. In this message, we explore what it means to live with courage, generosity, righteousness, and trust in God. When our security is found in Him, we don't have to be controlled by fear, success, or circumstances. We can stand firm, live generously, and reflect the character of Christ wherever God has placed us. Psalm 112 reminds us that the life God blesses isn't necessarily the easiest life—it's a life deeply rooted in Him. As we trust in Jesus, He shapes not only what we believe, but how we live."

How do we respond when we don't agree with the people in authority over us? Submission can be difficult—especially when we believe we know a better way. But Scripture teaches us that the way we respond to authority says something about our trust in God.In 1 Peter 2:11–13, Peter challenges believers to live differently from the world around them, maintain honorable conduct, and submit to human authority for the Lord's sake. Biblical submission doesn't mean blindly agreeing with everything—it means allowing our attitudes, words, and actions to reflect Christ even when submission is uncomfortable.This message, “Difficulty with Authority,” challenges us to examine how we respond to leadership, correction, rules, and decisions we don't understand. God can use authority not only to provide order, but also to develop humility, character, and maturity within us.

Read OnlineMarriage and Divine UnionSome Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” Matthew 19:3–6In Jesus' time, divorce was a controversial and divisive issue. Two prominent schools of thought offered opposing views: The followers of Rabbi Hillel permitted divorce for trivial reasons, while the followers of Rabbi Shammai allowed it only for serious offenses. In today's Gospel, Jesus does not side with either group. Instead, He elevates the conversation by pointing back to God's original design for marriage, revealed at the beginning of creation.Jesus reminds us that God's intention for marriage is the permanent and sacred union of man and woman—a covenant, not merely a contract. When the two become “one flesh,” it is not only a physical union but also a spiritual and ontological reality: A new creation comes into being through the marital bond.Today, many people misunderstand the sacredness of marriage. Many marriages falter for a variety of reasons. This is partly because the ideal of marriage is demanding and requires deep personal sacrifice. True love—caritas, or charity—goes far beyond emotion and affection. It calls for the complete gift of self, radical selflessness, and unwavering commitment. When lived according to God's design, such love yields rewards that far surpass the trials it entails. But when relationships are clouded by selfishness, resentment, unforgiveness, or sin, they often unravel, leaving behind pain and regret.Saint Paul refers to marriage as “a great mystery,” likening it to the union between “Christ and the Church” (Ephesians 5:32). This is more than a metaphor; it is a theological truth. Every baptized person is called to be part of the Body of Christ and to share in the eternal Wedding Feast of the Lamb. The saints and mystics refer to this as “spiritual marriage”—the soul's union with Christ in Divine Love.The path to such divine union is rigorous. It demands the total gift of oneself to God. Every sin and attachment to sin must be stripped away by grace—and by our cooperation with that grace. This purifying journey prepares the soul for Mystical Marriage, a lasting and unbreakable union with God.Just as the heights of sanctity are reached only through great effort, so too is the perfection of marriage—or any relationship. This can feel daunting, but it should not lead to discouragement. Rather, it should inspire us with hope and resolve. Whether in marriage, friendship, or our relationship with God, we must pursue the ideal with zeal. Sanctity does not happen overnight, and neither do holy relationships. All require perseverance, humility, and grace.Jesus' teaching on marriage challenges us, but it is full of promise. It offers hope because it affirms that the grace needed to live this vocation comes as a gift from God in the Sacrament of Matrimony. For those called to marriage, and who receive and cooperate with this grace, the reward is nothing less than divine communion and eternal joy. To reach this end, we must transcend our natural limitations and rise above self-interest, fear, and the desire for comfort. This vocation requires a lifelong commitment to sacrificial love, fidelity, and perseverance, even amid trials and suffering.Reflect today on your vocation and how well you live the depth of love to which you are called. Whether you are married or celibate, trust in God's providence and resolve to live not by the standards of the world, but by the wisdom of the Kingdom of Heaven. Such a calling can only be fulfilled by grace and by hearts courageous enough to say “Yes” to that grace, day after day. Resolve to say “Yes,” and your reward will be great.My loving Lord, the charity that flows from Your Sacred Heart is pure and holy, radiating throughout Your entire Church. Draw me ever deeper into that love, so that I may receive You into my life and radiate Your love to others. Help me and all Your children to love You with all our hearts and to love one another, so that we may be perfectly united in You. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Scribes and Pharisees in the church, Iulian RosuSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

In the episode of the Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith explore Luther's Reformation breakthrough and how it was rooted in the distinction between Law and Gospel. They discuss how Luther came to understand faith as trust in God's promise rather than a work or feeling produced within us. Through Psalm 51 and Luther's own struggle with a troubled conscience, they show how absolution comes from outside us through God's Word and gives the conscience certainty and freedom. The episode highlights how God's promise—not our works, contrition, or feelings—creates a joyful and free conscience. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook  

In this message from Joshua 1:1–9, David Platt exhorts us to trust in God's presence and cling to his Word in every circumstance.Explore more content from Radical.

Being more vulnerable than intended — sharing the big, hard, embarrassing details of a mental health struggle with someone outside the tight circle of family — and then spending the rest of the day with a stomach in knots, nauseated by the thought: she will never think of me the same again. I've damaged my reputation, possibly ruined this friendship. It is a feeling most of us know, even if the specific confession differs. The moment vulnerability escapes and lands somewhere uncertain, the instinct to take it back is immediate and overwhelming. But 2 Corinthians 4:7 reframes everything: we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. Cracked vessels, it turns out, overflow much quicker than perfectly whole ones. The more we are chipped and broken, the more room there is for God's goodness to spill out. Christian author Jackie Hill Perry, navigating her own reputation being publicly misrepresented, offered a principle that cuts straight to the heart of this episode: instead of defending your reputation, proclaim the gospel. Because our reputations are far too fragile to sustain. When we chase the goal of protecting our image, we become slaves to perception rather than to practice, and our faith subtly shifts from trust in God to trust in our own carefully managed narrative. The power to sustain a reputation was never ours to begin with. And neither is the ability to restore an impossible situation. That is not bad news. That is the most freeing news imaginable. Today's Bible Verse: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."— 2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV Ponder Today Cracked vessels overflow much quicker than perfectly whole ones. The very weaknesses and failures we work hardest to hide are often what God uses most powerfully to display His goodness and redemption to a watching world. Instead of defending your reputation, proclaim the gospel. Our vulnerability and the stage it provides are not about protecting our image. They are about allowing God to use whatever story He has written — plot twists and all — for His resurrection power to change lives. God uses us in our moments of weakness, not just despite them. He does not simply tolerate our cracked and broken places. He works through them, transforming our hearts and giving us testimonies of His love that polished perfection could never produce. The pressure to control everything is off — and that is freeing news. Jesus sustains all things, including your soul, not because of your performance but because He is goodness. He is sovereign over the situations that feel most out of our hands. A Prayer for You Today God, as humans it is only natural that we long to maintain our reputations and control everything. We long to appear as the very thing we cannot be — perfect. May we surrender this pride to You and trust that You are both sovereign and good. Grant us the courage to open our hands and allow our failures and weaknesses to play a redemptive part in the story You have written to heal mankind. Restore the world with our humility and witness, Lord God. Forever, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer released some of the pressure you have been carrying to protect your image, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to remind you that God's power shows up best in our most cracked and honest places. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.