Have you ever been scared to ask God for something, not knowing how He will respond? We can be assured that the Lord always provides good things for His children. He gives us only what we need, when we need it. That way we remain dependent on God instead of growing self-sufficient. May we boldly ask the Lord to meet our needs and then share the abundance of what He gives us with hungry hearts.
As we enter the Lenten season, we have an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting, and giving. As we confess our sins, our prayer and fasting becomes more effective. Also, knowing everything we have is a gift from God frees us to give generously to others in need.
We find our joy and hope when we look up to Jesus for our needs. When we don't have the strength ourselves to seek the Lord, asking friends for prayer raises our perspective back to God.
Jesus tells His disciples to be the salt and light of the world, but what does that look like? In today's episode, Joanna is joined by guest Vera Williams where they discuss the distinctive taste that salt brings and bold light that we believers share with those around us. They also go into the roles that prayer, fasting, reading God's word, meditating on truth, and Scripture memory play in equipping Christians to be the salt and light.
If you've ever wanted to share the gospel, but didn't know a good place to start, the Romans Road provides a good launch point. Listen to key verses from Romans that highlight our depravity and how God made a way to reconcile us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
As believers, we most likely have had concerns about sharing the gospel. However, with God's strength, we can overcome our fears and point people to Christ. Learn about common issues people have about sharing the good news of Christ, and how to share anyway.
Do you ever struggle with overloading yourself and basing your self worth on your productivity like I do? May the Holy Spirit renew us daily as we abide in the Scriptures until they “brain wash” our minds into purity before God both in thought and deed.
Instead of using my freedom in Christ to justify obedience to God and obligation to no one else, I discover that loving God means loving people. I am to use my freedom to serve one another in love instead of serving just my own interests.
Because God loves me, He is scouring my spirit so that I can reflect His priorities to the world. He won't let pride or sin get in the way of the work He wants to do in and through me, so He cleanses my soul.
I am who I am by the grace of God alone. Paul reminds us that no matter how tainted our past, God can use anyone. God has turned my biggest struggles into ministry opportunities later in life. God won’t waste our pain if we let Him transform it into glory for His name.
As Americans, we enjoy freedom of religion, press, speech, and the right to assemble. Those rights were paid for by our founding fathers and the lives of those who fought to preserve our freedom. As Christians, we are free from the law of sin and death, because our debt was paid in full by the precious blood of Jesus. May we use our freedoms wisely because freedom is not free.
Have you ever felt afraid to share the love of God? Ever worry about what someone will think if you don't have all the right words to say? When we remember who we are in Christ, we are not ashamed of the gospel. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what we think is impossible and makes our efforts effective.
Do you ever feel dry, like you aren't getting the nourishment you need to survive? Maybe you aren't connected to the the source of life. Jesus said, "I am the Vine." He provides all that we need to thrive and apart from Him we can do nothing. May we abide in Him and bear much fruit for His kingdom.
Wondering where to find truth? Truth is not only a conceivable concept, but a knowable person with whom we can have a relationship. Jesus said, "I am the Truth." Because Jesus is the truth, we can be free from sin and shame and share the good news with others.
Are you feeling a little lost? Are you trying to find the right way to go for your life? Jesus said, "I am the Way." He is the only way to salvation and wants you to know Him today.
If you have ever grieved before, you know the pain of losing someone you love. Martha longed for her brother Lazarus, but thought she'd never see him again. Jesus explained to her that He is the resurrection and the life. Then He brought her brother back to life. I am so thankful that Jesus paved the way for me to escape the death my sins deserved and gain eternal life through His resurrection.
Ever wonder how the shepherds felt as they gazed on the baby Jesus? Little did they know they were greeting the one who would one day call Himself "The Good Shepherd." This is the fourth in the series of "I Am" statements of Jesus in the book of John where we discover that Jesus knows His sheep and lays down His life for them. May we adore this Good Shepherd and worship Him with our lives.
Ever looking for which door is the right one to go through? Jesus said, I am the door. He is the only door to our salvation and protects and provides for His children.
Ever felt like you are walking in darkness? That's scary! We need the light of Jesus to overcome the darkness, provide fellowship with the Father, and direct our decisions. This is the second in a series of seven podcasts covering the I Am statements of Jesus in the book of John. Discover how we can walk in the light and live an abundant life.
Hungry for food that satisfies not just your stomach but your soul? In the first of seven I am statements, Jesus declared: I am the bread of life. After Jesus fed the 5,000 with the five loaves and two fish, He offered the people something even better to feast on. Himself. His broken body on the cross produced spiritual food that gave life to all who would believe. May we feast on Christ through fair winds and high storms.
Have you ever tried to control your life, only to have things go differently than you planned? Learn how to rest in the Lord by trusting His character. Float freely on the waves of God's grace.
This podcast covers Lesson Eight of Fully Dressed for Spiritual Battle: The Whole Armor of God on prayer. I discuss three ways to improve your prayer life. I also talk about the acronym ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) as a way to guide your prayers and explain how to pray the long version of the Lord's Prayer.
This podcast covers Lesson Seven of the Whole Armor of God Bible study on the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. God's Word is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword and cuts through the enemy's lies. His Word is powerful—it created the universe—and accomplishes what He desires for it to do. Prepare a stockpile of verses in your spiritual arsenal so you can use the truth whenever the enemy attacks. To do God’s Word, you need to know it. Read the Bible and memorize verses so yo...
This podcast covers Lesson Six of The Whole Armor of God Bible study on the helmet of salvation. Discover the importance of the helmet of salvation as you learn to guard your mind. Let the assurance of your salvation in Christ be the filter for how you feed your mind on good things so your thoughts will honor God.
This podcast covers Lesson Five of The Whole Armor of God Bible study on the shield of faith. It covers how God uses our faith as a shield to protect us. The bigger our faith, the bigger our shield. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV) Our faith in God is solid because He keeps His promises. We grow our faith by finding verses to remember and apply in our struggles.
This podcast covers Lesson Four of The Whole Armor of God study on the preparation of the gospel of peace. It discusses how we can have beautiful feet by sharing the gospel. It defines the good news of the gospel as being Jesus' completed work of reconciling us back to God through His death, burial, and resurrection. We need to know what we believe and why, and always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in us.
This podcast covers Lesson Three of the Whole Armor of God Bible study on the breastplate of righteousness. It discusses how a breastplate guards our hearts and chests cavities, which contain our vital organs. We need God's righteousness to protect us because it keeps the core of our identities clean and pure.
This podcast covers Lesson Two of the Whole Armor of God Bible study on the belt of truth. It discusses how God's truth holds everything together because it never changes. The more we know the truths of God's Word, the better we can apply them in our lives with the help of the Holy Spirit.
This podcast discusses Lesson One of "The Whole Armor of God" Bible study on spiritual warfare. It provides an overview of spiritual warfare and covers some of our spiritual weapons and how to use them.
