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In this episode of Out of Zion, Dr. Susan Michael explores how the narrative that began in Genesis remains active and unfolding today. She explains that God’s redemptive purpose through Jesus and the calling of the Jewish people are irrevocable, rooted in a plan established from eternity. By highlighting the return of the Jewish people to their homeland as a fulfillment of ancient prophecy, Dr. Michael demonstrates that we are living in a historic "final act" where biblical covenants are reaching their ultimate completion.

The Story of the Bible (3D Bible Part 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc3i1gNz9JA

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Feeling vulnerable, exposed, or weighed down by the words of others is a universal experience. This Christian devotional explores how God provides a shield of protection around us, guarding our hearts and lifting our heads when we feel isolated or criticized. Rooted in Psalm 3:3, this devotion reminds believers that God is our ultimate protector, ever-present and actively surrounding us with favor and strength.

Highlights

• God is our shield, lifting our heads high when we feel down

• His protective favor surrounds us in ways we often cannot see

• The Psalms describe God as a shield repeatedly, showing His faithful care

• We don’t need to shrink, retaliate, or be consumed by shame

• Leaning on God enables us to prevail, persevere, and press forward

• Confidence and strength come from God, not our circumstances

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Full Transcript Below:

Your Shield of Protection

By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:

But You, Lord, are a shield around me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head. (Psalm 3:3 NASB)

Have you ever received a comment, observation, or insinuation that left you feeling vulnerable or exposed? 

Don’t you wish at times you had a protective shield you could hide behind, or at least have in front of you to catch those piercing arrows or darts, even the unintentional ones, that leave you feeling sad or defeated? 

My daughter is an only child who has always been quite independent and never needy of a man in her life, and never feels alone until someone (who means well, of course) asks her if she’s “in a relationship yet.” And after they express their confidence that she’ll one day “find a husband and be happy,” she can tend to feel singled out as inadequate or incomplete, even though she’s very content with where God has her, and is not striving for a relationship. 

A friend of mine who is recently divorced and knows a closeness with God she hadn’t experienced while married, will suddenly feel awkward and unprotected when someone mentions her “struggle” and expresses their sympathy—or judgment—for her predicament. 

And a young mom I know feels isolated and alone when she faces a decision concerning her toddler that other moms might criticize or at least not agree with. When there doesn’t seem to be any right or wrong answer or anyone to walk her through the right a

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This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/ 

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It’s possible to believe in God and still try to keep distance from Him. Sometimes we don’t call it “running”—we call it independence, freedom, or needing space. But this devotional is honest about what running can look like: changing locations, changing environments, changing relationships, and hoping that if we get far enough away, we won’t feel the conviction, the questions, or the call of God. Yet the message is simple and comforting: God doesn’t stop pursuing His children.

The author shares a personal journey of trying to outrun God, convinced that submission to Him would mean losing pleasure and living under a suffocating list of rules. But the farther she ran, the more she found the opposite of freedom—loneliness, exhaustion, and despair. What looked like control eventually turned into emptiness. That’s often how running works: it offers temporary relief, but it can’t provide lasting peace.

Jonah’s story mirrors this reality. Jonah tried to escape God’s call, but the storm made it clear that disobedience doesn’t lead to calm waters. In Jonah 1:12, he acknowledges that the storm was tied to his choices, and the turning point came when he realized he could not save himself—he needed God’s mercy. The devotional connects that to our own “storms” and low places: moments when we realize we’re in the wrong direction, the wrong patterns, the wrong boat—and we don’t have the strength to fix it alone.

This prayer invites listeners to stop running and start returning. God’s pursuit isn’t harsh; it’s love. Surrender isn’t the end of life—it’s the beginning of healing and safety in the arms of a Father who doesn’t give up. Whether you’re the one running or you’re praying for someone who is, today is a reminder that God can reach hearts, restore what’s broken, and bring prodigals home.

Main Takeaways

• Running from God can look like chasing “freedom,” but it often leads to emptiness and isolation.

• God pursues His children with persistent love, even when we resist Him.

• Jonah’s story reminds us that disobedience brings storms, but surrender leads to mercy.

• True peace is found not in escape, but in returning to God and trusting His care.

• This prayer is also for those carrying burden for wayward loved ones—God can bring them back.

Today’s Bible Verse

“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” - Jonah 1:12 NIV

Your Daily Prayer

Here is a brief excerpt from today’s prayer:

“If anyone is running from You, … open their hearts and minds to receiving You.”

You can listen to the full prayer here or read the devotional at the links below.

Looking for more daily encouragement and faith-filled content?

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].

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In today's episode, Becket Cook sits down with Tia Arshad for a deeply moving and powerful testimony of God's radical rescue. Born in Libya to a Christian family, abandoned as a young child in a Pakistani boarding school after her mother's sudden death, and later facing rejection and hardship in the UK, Tia spent eight years living as a lesbian—finding temporary belonging in gay clubs amid heavy drinking, chain-smoking, and profound emptiness. Yet through a series of divine interventions, terrifying dreams, and a life-altering supernatural moment, God dramatically broke through, leading her to encounter Jesus in Scripture and walk away from that life entirely.

This raw conversation uncovers the deep impact of trauma, the emptiness of alternative lifestyles, and the unmatched freedom and satisfaction found only in Christ—no going back to “Egypt.” A must-watch if you're wrestling with same-sex attraction, rejection, addiction, doubt in God's love, or wondering how the church can better welcome those leaving LGBTQ+ identities.

The Becket Cook Show Ep. 227

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John has extreme generator FOMO as the big winter storm approaches and hopes his robot bed doesn't become self aware. Meanwhile, Jonnie gets bougie in the movie theater and tells us about the time two nuclear bombs were accidentally dropped on North Carolina.

Plus, a conversation about life, death, and the legacy we hope to leave in between.
Today's episode is NOT sponsored by Snow Skiing: "The most thrilling and expensive way to break your leg.”

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This episode is part 45 in a study of the gospel of Luke. As Jesus is teaching in the temple, the religious leaders spar with him over authority and taxes.

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Episode Summary:

In a world where constant notifications, curated feeds, and digital pressure shape how we see ourselves, many are left feeling more anxious, isolated, and distracted than ever. We long for a life that is full of deep connection with God, ourselves, and others. And yet we’ve become programmed to seek peace, contentment, and happiness from our phones. Deep down, we know this isn’t how we were created to live. As endless scrolling leaves us feeling anxious, depressed, distracted, ad alone, we realize our true needs can’t be met by turning to social media in every slow, mundane moment. If you feel like your digital life could use a reset, this episode is for you.

 

Quotables from the episode:

• Social media can so easily steal our peace, distort our identity, and drain the joy God intends for us, especially when we are already struggling with anxiety, insecurity, or loneliness. That is why I am delighted to welcome Allie Marie Smith, author of Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your Joy. Allie has spent years helping women cultivate mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness, and her newest book offers a practical and faith-filled path to break free from digital overwhelm and rediscover God’s voice above the noise.
• In a world where constant notifications, curated feeds, and digital pressure shape how we see ourselves, many are left feeling anxious, isolated, and distracted than ever.  We long for a life that is full of deep connection with God, ourselves, and others.
• As endless scrolling leaves us feeling anxious, depressed, distracted, and alone, we realize our true needs can't be met by turning to digital media in every slow, mundane moment.  If you feel like your digital life could use a reset, this is the episode for you.
• Romans 12. 2 summarizes what we're talking about today: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
• It impacts each one of us on such a profound level, on a soul level, on a spiritual level, an emotional level, even in our brains and in our bodies.  

 

Scripture References:

• Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
• Isaiah 30:15 – “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…”

 

Recommended Resources: 

• Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your Joy by Allie Marie Smith

• 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, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories
• YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms
• Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award,

Director Richie Johns joins us to discuss his new film Still Hope and why he chose to confront the reality of human trafficking through storytelling. He explains how the movie draws from true events and focuses not only on the crime itself, but also on recovery, forgiveness and the long road toward healing.

Johns also talks about The Promised Land, his faith-based comedy series that brings the story of Moses and the Exodus to life for a new generation. He shares how faith shapes both projects, even though they differ greatly in tone and audience. The conversation explores how film can raise awareness, inspire compassion, and point people toward meaningful action and hope.

Highlights

• Why Richie took on Still Hope and what makes its recovery story unique

• How true survivor stories shaped the film’s narrative

• The theme of forgiveness as freedom

• The story’s setting and why it matters: trafficking can happen in everyday America

• Why Still Hope was designed as a tool for awareness and action

• Behind the scenes on The Promised Land, a faith-based comedy about Exodus

• How humor and scripture combine to reach new audiences

• Richie’s journey from assistant directing to filmmaking with a missional focus

Resources Mentioned

Richie Johns – Filmmaker, Director & Producer

• Instagram

Films & Series

• Still Hope – Feature film on human trafficking depicting rescue and restorative journey

  • Official Website:

• The Promised Land – Faith-based comedy series about Exodus 

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