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   Number 1: Bible Study 101: How to Prepare Your Heart to Read the Bible: Hearing Jesus, Devotional

   How to Prepare Your Heart to Read the Bible: Bible Study 101: Hearing Jesus Bible Study, Devotional In today's episode, Rachael talks about what happens before you ever open your Bible, scheduling the time, checking in honestly with your heart, and giving yourself permission to bring real emotion into that space instead of a sanitized version of it. Sign up for Rachael's newsletter here Send Rachael a voicemail with any questions at her SpeakPipe here Go on a trip with Rachael: Bible Study Live Get Ad-Free Episodes, Bonus Content, and more here: patreon.com/HearingJesus Chapters 0:01 Why we prepare for a Zoom call but not for Scripture 2:00 Scheduling time versus just fitting it in 3:26 There's no biblically required time of day 6:45 Why the phone belongs in another room 7:42 Reading Psalm 42 9:32 What Psalm 42 gives us permission to feel 12:49 Checking your heart before you read 14:58 It's okay to say you don't want to be there 15:36 A word about confession 17:57 Inviting the Holy Spirit to teach you 18:52 Why worship before reading changes your posture 25:15 Closing prayer What Does Psalm 42 Actually Mean? "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God" isn't a picture of quiet contentment. It's a picture of a person in a dry, desperate season, someone who feels forgotten and says so directly to God: "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?" Psalm 42 exists in Scripture on purpose, to give you permission to bring the real, unresolved version of what you're feeling into your time with God instead of a cleaned-up one. Is There a Right Time of Day to Read the Bible? No. There's no verse requiring a specific hour. Morning has real value, and Scripture shows people meeting God there, but it also shows people meeting Him at night and in the middle of the day. The actual goal is consistency, a set time you'll actually keep, not a specific clock hour. Is It Okay to Not Want to Read My Bible? Yes, and saying so honestly to God is more valuable than pretending otherwise. He already knows. Naming it, "God, I'm here out of obedience, but I don't want to be," is itself an act of honesty He can work with. FAQ How long should heart preparation take before Bible reading? A few minutes is enough, naming where you're at, a short confession if something specific comes to mind, and a simple invitation for the Holy Spirit to teach you. Does this replace the Color Method mentioned in the series? No, this is the preparation step that comes before it. The Color Method itself is covered in a later episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

   August 28, 2026·32min
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   Number 2: Bible Study 101: What’s The Difference Between Reading and Studying? Hearing Jesus, Bible Study, Daily Affirmations

   Bible Study 101: What’s The Difference Between Reading and Studying? Hearing Jesus, Bible Study, Daily Affirmations Summary Hey friend, welcome to the first episode of Bible Study 101. Before diving into the fall Luke and Acts series, Rachael is taking a few episodes to go back to basics. In this one, she unpacks just how biblically illiterate most Americans really are (backed by real research), walks through a real example of Scripture being twisted to manipulate people, and lays the groundwork for learning to recognize God's voice for yourself instead of taking anyone else's word for it. Join the email list at rachaelgroll.com/newsletter to be entered in the Bible Study 101 giveaway, starting August 28th. ☆Sign up for Rachael's newsletter here: RachaelGroll.com/Newsletter ☆Send Rachael a voicemail with any questions at her SpeakPipe here: SpeakPipe Voicemail ☆Go on a trip with Rachael: Bible Study Live ☆Get Ad-Free Episodes, Bonus Content, and more here: patreon.com/HearingJesus ☆Pick up a copy of my latest book: Bible Study and Devotional ☆If you would like to give to Hearing Jesus and financially support the podcast, you can do so here! ➤ Give Here ☆Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/SheHears.org/ ☆Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/rachael.d.groll/ ☆Website ➤ Hearing Jesus Rachael realized at a recent gathering that not everyone listening had the same foundation for reading Scripture, even longtime believers. So before this fall's Luke and Acts series, she's teaching a short refresher on how to actually study the Bible, not just read it. If you're new to Bible study, this is the perfect place to start. If you've read your Bible for years, she still thinks it's worth the time. Yes, and it's not a sign that you don't love God. Rachael describes the common experience of reading a chapter, underlining something that jumps out, and then being unable to explain what it meant by lunchtime. She compares it to handing someone a violin and telling them to play. Without the right tools, you'll make sound, but not music. More than most people assume. Rachael cites the American Bible Society's State of the Bible study, where only 17 percent of surveyed adults said they'd read the whole Bible. A separate study, State of Theology, found that 53 percent of American evangelicals agreed people are "basically good by nature," which contradicts what Scripture actually teaches, and 43 percent agreed that Jesus was a great teacher but not God. These weren't casual respondents either. Everyone surveyed had to affirm the Bible as their highest authority to be counted. Rachael walks through a real example: Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm (Psalm 105:15, NASB; the same line appears in 1 Samuel 24 and 26). This verse has been used for years to silence people who question a pastor, framing the pastor's authority as equal to God's. But read in context, the verse is about God protecting a vulnerable, powerless people, not shielding leaders from accountability. Rachael calls this pattern cherry picking: pulling one verse out of its paragraph and assigning it to an agenda it was never meant to carry. There's no licensing board for pastors the way there is for hairdressers or electricians. Requirements vary wildly by denomination, and some require none at all. Rachael is clear that a degree isn't the safeguard, some of the best teachers she's sat under never went to seminary, and some of the worst had doctorates. Since there's no one else checking what's said from the stage, the responsibility to verify it against Scripture falls to you. The same way you'd recognize a voice you love on the phone before they say their name: by spending time with it. Rachael compares reading the Bible to just plucking a violin's strings, while studying it, sitting with what God actually said and did, is what teaches you His character well enough to notice when something doesn't sound like Him. A physical Bible (Rachael recommends stepping away from an app for this study so notifications don't compete with the Holy Spirit) and something to write with, like Bible highlighters, colored pencils, or pens. She'll be teaching her color method step by step, together, rather than just describing it. The first few episodes cover the basics: who wrote a passage, who it was written to, and where it sits in the bigger story. From there, Rachael covers two of her favorite topics, looking for God in a passage instead of looking for ourselves, and why people in the Bible aren't meant to be our role models, before teaching her full color method. When does the Bible Study 101 giveaway start, and how do I enter? It starts August 28th and runs for three weeks, with three separate giveaways. Entry is automatic once you're on the email list at rachaelgroll.com/newsletter, no extra steps. What's included in the giveaway bundle? Two of Rachael's books (the Hearing Jesus 365-day devotional and Knowing God's Voice), a Hosanna Revival Bible, a set of Bible highlighters, and a few other extras. Where can I learn the color method if I don't want to wait for this series? It's outlined in Rachael's earlier book, She Hears, available on Amazon. This series will walk through it live, together, rather than just explaining it. 0:00 Welcome and why we're doing Bible Study 101 before Luke and Acts 1:12 Why a foundational series matters, even if you've read the Bible for years 2:36 The reality: most Americans are biblically illiterate 4:40 What the research says about how well people actually know Scripture 7:05 How Scripture gets weaponized to manipulate people 8:24 What "do not touch My anointed ones" really means 11:32 Why there's no licensing board for pastors 13:07 Why checking what you hear has to fall to you 14:54 How to actually learn to recognize God's voice 17:18 A personal story about learning to trust again 20:20 Why you already have direct access to God 21:48 How the Bible Study 101 series will work 23:12 What you'll need to get started 27:36 Closing thoughts and prayer 29:02 Before you go: bring a friend 30:01 The Bible Study 101 giveaway starts August 28th CTA Why start with Bible Study 101 instead of going straight into Luke and Acts?Is it normal to read a verse and forget what it said an hour later?How biblically illiterate is America, really?How does Scripture get used to manipulate people?Why isn't there more oversight for pastors and spiritual leaders?How do you actually learn to recognize God's voice?What do I need before this series starts?What's the format for the rest of this series?FAQ Learn more about your ad choices. 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   August 19, 2026·35min
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   Number 3: Psalms for the Soul: Psalm 150: Daily Bible Study, Daily Devotional, Bible Study

   Psalms for the Soul: Psalm 150: Daily Bible Study, Daily Devotional, Bible Study In today’s final episode of our Psalms series, we are celebrating Psalm 150 as a kind of grand finale of the Book of Psalms: it's all about praising and celebrating. Singing…. Dancing… Instruments… everyone and everything is called to praise the Lord. As we finish up this series, I pray that the message of the Psalms stays with you, and that you remember how incredibly much you are loved. Today’s Key Verse: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6 ☆Go on a trip with Rachael: Bible Study Live ☆Get Ad-Free Episodes, Bonus Content, and more here: ⁠ patreon.com/HearingJesus ☆Pick up a copy of my latest book: Bible Study and Devotional ☆If you would like to give to Hearing Jesus and financially support the podcast, you can do so here ! ➤ Give Here ☆Facebook ➤https://www.facebook.com/SheHears.org/ ☆Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/rachael.d.groll/ ☆Website ➤ Hearing Jesus Bible study, Christian affirmations, prayer, devotionals, hear God’s voice, grow spiritually, Scripture, biblical context, walk with God, hearing God, understanding the Bible, spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit, Christian living, emotional healing, identity in Christ, prayer, discipleship, apply Scripture, daily devotional, Christian encouragement, Bible teaching, faith-based, Bible teaching, Spirit-led, spirit-filled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

   August 17, 2026·17min
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   Number 4: Bible Study 101: Who Does God Say He Is? Hearing Jesus, Devotional

   Who Does God Say He Is? Bible Study 101: Hearing Jesus, Bible Study, Devotional In today's episode, Rachael walks through the moment God introduces Himself to Moses in His own words, right after Israel's worst betrayal, the golden calf. What God leads with, and what comes right after it, gives a fuller and more honest picture of His character than most of us were taught to hold onto. Sign up for Rachael's newsletter here Send Rachael a voicemail with any questions at her SpeakPipe here Go on a trip with Rachael: Bible Study Live Get Ad-Free Episodes, Bonus Content, and more here: patreon.com/HearingJesus Chapters 0:12 What are we actually looking for when we look for God in a passage? 3:19 The golden calf, and the worst timing possible 5:33 Moses asks to see God's glory 6:03 Exodus 34:6-7, God introduces Himself in His own words 7:32 Why God leads with compassion, not power 8:58 What "slow to anger" and "lovingkindness" actually mean in Hebrew 10:54 The justice side: the third and fourth generation 13:14 A personal story about generational sin 16:43 How this same passage gets quoted throughout Scripture 19:41 How to start building your own list of who God is 23:18 Closing prayer What Does Exodus 34:6-7 Actually Say About God? Right after Israel's worst betrayal, the golden calf, God passes in front of Moses and introduces Himself in His own words: "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin." He doesn't lead with power, even though He'd just parted the Red Sea. He leads with compassion, a Hebrew word tied to the tenderness of a mother for the child she carried. Does God Punish Children for Their Parents' Sins? The same passage continues: "Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." This isn't God assigning guilt to people who didn't sin. It's an honest description of how far the damage of unaddressed sin actually travels through a family line, generational patterns, addiction, broken relationships, until someone in that line chooses to stop it. Why Does This Passage Get Quoted So Often Elsewhere in Scripture? David uses it in the Psalms. Nehemiah uses it during Israel's confession of failure. Joel uses it as a call to return to God. Jonah even throws it back at God in complaint, because he didn't want God to be merciful to Nineveh. Different authors, different centuries, different circumstances, all returning to the same description, because it's the fixed reference point for who God actually is. FAQ Is this the same as the "God is the hero" teaching from earlier episodes? It builds on it. Once you're looking for God in a passage, this is the actual content you're looking for, His own self-description. What's a simple way to start applying this? Keep a running list titled "God is like" somewhere in your Bible or journal, and add one line every time you study a passage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

   August 27, 2026·28min
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   Number 5: Sunday: I Choose Obedience Over Control:  Daily Affirmations, Christian Affirmations, Biblical Affirmations

   Sunday: I Choose Obedience Over Control: Daily Affirmations, Christian Affirmations, Biblical Affirmations Today is about looking ahead with God. Before the week begins, we pause and place what’s coming into His hands. These affirmations are meant to help you enter the week grounded, attentive, and trusting God to lead you one day at a time. AD-FREE Daily Affirmations can be found on my Patreon at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/HearingJesus⁠ Repeat after me, then listen to the Bible verse. I place this coming week in God’s hands. Psalm 31:15 – “My times are in Your hands.” I trust God to guide my steps. Psalm 37:23 – “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him.” I enter this week with expectancy, not fear. Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” I invite God into every moment ahead. Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit to the Lord whatever you do.” I trust God to order my priorities. Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” I receive God’s wisdom for the days ahead. James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.” I walk into this week anchored in truth. Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet.” I trust God with what I cannot foresee. Isaiah 46:10 – “I make known the end from the beginning.” I choose faith over anticipation of stress. Psalm 56:3 – “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” I rely on God’s grace for each day. 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you.” I trust God’s timing this week. Habakkuk 2:3 – “Though it linger, wait for it.” I remain open to God’s leading. Psalm 25:4 – “Show me Your ways, Lord.” I step forward with humility and trust. Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you? To walk humbly with your God.” I depend on God’s strength, not my own. Psalm 68:35 – “God gives strength and power to His people.” I trust God with every conversation and decision. Proverbs 20:24 – “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.” I choose obedience over control. John 14:23 – “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching.” I walk into this week aware of God’s presence. Exodus 33:14 – “My Presence will go with you.” I trust God to work through ordinary moments. Zechariah 4:10 – “Do not despise these small beginnings.” I release anxiety about outcomes. Psalm 112:7 – “They will have no fear of bad news.” I remain attentive to God’s voice. John 10:27 – “My sheep listen to My voice.” I trust God to meet my needs. Philippians 4:19 – “My God will meet all your needs.” I step into this week with courage. Psalm 31:24 – “Be strong and take heart.” I trust God to shape my character. Romans 8:29 – “To be conformed to the image of His Son.” I begin this week grounded in hope. Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul.” I rest in God’s faithfulness as I move forward. Psalm 33:4 – “The word of the Lord is right and true.” Closing Prayer: God, as I step into this new week, I place everything ahead of me in Your care. Go before me, guide my steps, and help me stay attentive to You. I trust You with what’s coming, one day at a time. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

   August 30, 2026·10min
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