Wherever you are today, this biblical meditation, narrated by Chloë Elmore, offers a quiet space to pause and reconnect with God.

In rest, it is God who keeps us safe and at peace. Meditate on Psalm 4:8.

Abide is a Christian meditation app that helps you experience peace and grow in your relationship with Christ through Scripture, prayer, and reflection.

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Hot take: gentle parenting isn't the problem. Permissiveness is. In this special interview episode, Nicolet Bell & Christie Thomas talk about how Gentleness is strength under control.

Not weakness. Not letting everything slide. Not just endlessly empathizing with no follow-through.

LINKS:
Read with us in April! 
Download Growing in Gentleness
Connect with Christie Thomas
Follow Everyday Prayers @MillionPrayingMoms

Gentle Parenting vs. Parenting with Christ-like Gentleness

It's the same gentleness Jesus showed to the woman at the well and to Zacchaeus — he met them with kindness AND pointed them toward life change.

That's the kind of gentle parenting we actually want. The kind that comes from God's power, not our own exhausted efforts.

And the good news? When we ask God to help us grow in it — that's exactly the kind of prayer he loves to answer. 

Reference: Ephesians 6:4

Prayer: Father, help me not to exempt gentleness from my parenting because of a trendy parenting philosophy. Help me to seek your word to understand what biblical gentleness is and how to bring Christ-like gentleness into the way I parent. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Spiritual sensitivity often comes down to one simple question: are we truly paying attention to what God is doing around us? Acts 3:2–4 shows Peter and John pausing long enough to see a person in need—and that moment of attention became an opportunity for God’s power to move. When we tune into the Holy Spirit, ordinary moments can turn into divine appointments.

In daily life, distractions, routines, and personal agendas can easily drown out God’s promptings. But Scripture consistently shows that God often works through interruptions, not just planned moments. Learning to slow down, notice people, and respond with obedience can open the door for encouragement, healing, and spiritual growth—both for others and for us.

Highlights

• God often speaks through interruptions and unexpected moments
• Spiritual distraction can cause us to miss meaningful opportunities
• Peter and John noticed the man and responded with presence and compassion
• God uses ordinary obedience to create extraordinary impact
• Discernment requires slowing down and staying spiritually attentive
• Faith is not just routine—it’s responsive to the Spirit’s leading
• Small moments of obedience can have lasting spiritual influence

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Full Transcript Below:

Tune Into His Spirit
By: Michelle Lazurek

Bible Reading:
“Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  Peter looked straight at him, as did John.” - Acts 3:2-4

As a writer, I have the privilege of working from home. But sometimes the TV screen or other distractions can keep me from getting my work done. Sometimes I go to a coffee shop to get it done. Once I get there, I settle into a booth, put in my AirPods, and focus on my work. Most of the time, I'm super productive and get my tasks done for the day.

A few years ago, however, I bumped into a friend. It was a woman who had been attending our church for a little while. Although she'd been raised in the faith, she was hesitant about God. I saw her from across the room, unsure what I should do. Should I stop what I was doing, take out my AirPods, and have a conversation centered on God, or should I stay focused, knowing I could get my work done? 

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In this episode of the Out of Zion podcast, Dr. Susan Michael sits down with Doron Keidar, a member of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) – Special Forces mobility unit, to discuss the reality of the war on the ground versus the narrative in the media. Keidar, an Israeli born to American Christian parents, shares his unique perspective on the “spirit of the IDF,” the strict moral codes of “gun purity,” and the sophisticated psychological warfare known as “Dawah.” From debunking viral accusations to discussing his new film I Am Israel, Keidar offers a rare look at the ethical and physical challenges faced by those defending Israel.

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content that informs, inspires, and empowers.

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There is a particular kind of weariness that comes from feeling stuck — when you have tried every solution you can think of, waited longer than feels reasonable, and still find yourself in the same place, wondering if anything will ever change. In those moments, it is tempting to conclude that you have simply reached the end of what is possible. But what if the end of your possibilities is precisely where God's begin?

Jeremiah 32:17 is a declaration that refuses to be contained by our circumstances: the God who made the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm is the same God who is present in your stuck place right now. Nothing — not your complicated relationship, your unanswered question, your closed door, your exhausted imagination — is too hard for Him. The obstacles that loom so large in our vision are remarkably small compared to the power of the One who spoke galaxies into existence. He is not intimidated by what you are facing. And He is not finished. New possibilities do not always arrive as dramatic breakthroughs — sometimes they come as a quiet nudge, a fresh perspective, a creative idea that hadn't occurred to you before. But they come. Keep your eyes open, keep bringing your questions to God, and keep trusting the One who can do what you cannot. Something new may be closer than you think.

Today's Bible Verse

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." — Jeremiah 32:17, NIV

Ponder Today

1. Feeling stuck is not the same as being without hope — the God who created the heavens and the earth is never limited by the circumstances that feel impossible to us.
2. When we focus first on God's greatness rather than our problems, our perspective shifts — the obstacles are still real, but they are suddenly much smaller than the power available to us.
3. New possibilities don't always arrive dramatically — sometimes God moves through a fresh idea, a subtle nudge, or a creative solution that opens a door we hadn't noticed before.
4. God doesn't expect us to figure everything out on our own — He invites us to bring every question and uncertainty to Him, and to ask for guidance at every step of the way.
5. God's timing may look different from ours, but He is always at work — even when we cannot yet see results, new possibilities are forming beneath the surface of what is visible to us.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, You are the Creator of heaven and earth, and Your love and power are unlimited. You see exactly where I feel stuck, and I confess that I sometimes focus more on the size of my problems than on the greatness of You. Help me trust You to bring new possibilities into my life. Open my eyes to solutions, ideas, and opportunities I might be missing. When I don't know what to do next, guide me step by step. Remind me that nothing is too hard for You, and give me patience when Your answers don't come right away. I trust that You are at work, creating something new. Thank You for walking with me. Amen.

Enjoy Today's Prayer?

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

John makes sermon illustrations about soda and hosts a Santa convention at the church. Meanwhile, Jonnie tells the story of Elmo testifying before Congress and wonders if police dogs know that they're cops.

Plus, a conversation about mercy and sin—and why our perspective of how God sees us is so important.

Today's episode is NOT sponsored by Rainbows: "We just escaped from prism."

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This episode is part 4 in a study of the book of Exodus. Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go for 3 days into the wilderness to worships God. Pharaoh says not a chance.

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Episode Summary:

Are you weary from constantly striving, juggling endless responsibilities, and living at a pace that leaves you burned out and exhausted? You’re not alone. In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I’m joined by Dr. Portia Preston, a public health expert, two-time TEDx speaker, and author of Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go? Her compassionate, shame-free approach to wellness helps us release hustle culture and create sustainable wellness so we can live with greater balance, peace, and joy.

 

Quotables from the episode:

• This chronic stress is when I lose connection with myself. That's really the best way I know. Where am I in relation to myself and the things that I value most? If I am being irritable in my relationships, something's off. Because these are people that I love.
• If you had asked me a decade ago about my experience with burnout, I would have pointed directly to my career. And always feeling like it was on me to provide because who else would do it? But it's only been in recent years when I've found that burnout extends to all facets of my life.
• Surrender isn't about what you can do.
• The to-do list narrows our perspective. It's asking us to show up as the person who does these things. So immediately we are taken out of connection with our reality and our capacity. And we've been conditioned to say, well, that's the way that it should be. So, if what I have today doesn't measure up to that, then I'm the problem. And I'm not saying the list is bad.
• There is a saying that says that we are human beings, not human doings.
• You were born with worth. That it was a part of you. And it's not something that can be taken away from you.
• God never designed us to go full speed all the time. And recognizing the rhythm of the seasons frees us to honor time of work and time of rest.

Scripture References:

• Isaiah 30:15 (NLT) “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.’”
• Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NRSV) “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

 

Recommended Resources:

• Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go? A Guide to Shame-Free Wellness That Honors Your Reality and Gives You Life by Portia Preston, DrPH
• Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
• Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win
• Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Free Webinar: