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In this powerful episode, we dive into the heart of marriage communication—intentional listening. Drawing from James 1:19, we learn how being quick to listen and slow to speak can transform conflict from division into deeper connection. When tension rises, pausing to pray together and inviting the Holy Spirit into your conversations can calm hearts and open doors to understanding. Marriage isn’t a battlefield—it’s a partnership where love, forgiveness, and listening reflect Christ’s love to the world. If you’ve ever wished for better communication with your spouse, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways:

• Arguments often start from not truly listening.

• Listening means valuing your spouse’s heart above winning.

• Pray together during conflict to invite peace and understanding.

• See your spouse as a teammate, not an opponent.

• Your marriage is a reflection of Christ’s love and grace.

Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits.

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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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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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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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Few things feel as heartbreaking as seeing a child face injury, illness, or a frightening diagnosis. This devotional begins from a place of personal vulnerability—the author shares her own fear and anxiety while facing serious medical uncertainty, and that experience opens her eyes even more to the heavy burden children and their families carry. If it’s difficult for an adult to process testing, procedures, and “what if” thoughts, it’s almost unimaginable to consider what it’s like for a child who may not fully understand what’s happening or why.

In moments like these, fear can take over quickly. Questions swirl, worst-case scenarios creep in, and daily life becomes hard to focus on. Yet the devotional reminds us that God meets us right in that fear. Isaiah 41:10 is offered as an anchor—God does not leave His people to face hard things alone. He strengthens, helps, and upholds. And while the original words were spoken in a specific context, the heart of the promise reflects God’s unchanging character: He is present with His children in suffering.

This devotional also highlights something practical and powerful: prayer. Whether you’re a parent walking through a child’s illness, a loved one supporting a family, or someone who simply feels burdened for children who are suffering, prayer is a meaningful response. Scripture encourages believers to bring sickness and pain before the Lord and to pray as a community. Even when we can’t fix the situation, we can entrust children and their families to the God who can comfort, protect, and provide peace beyond understanding.

Today’s prayer is an invitation to ask God to surround hurting children with His peace, strengthen their families, and bring healing and hope. And it’s a reminder that God is good—able to do far more than we can imagine—especially in the hardest places.

Main Takeaways

• Children facing injury or illness carry heavy fears, and their families carry deep burdens too.

• Medical uncertainty can stir anxiety and “what if” thinking, but God meets us in that fear.

• God promises His presence, strength, and help—He does not abandon us in suffering.

• Prayer is a powerful way to support hurting children and families, even from a distance.

• God can bring comfort, peace, and healing in ways beyond what we can imagine.

Today’s Bible Verse

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10

Your Daily Prayer

Here is a brief excerpt from today’s prayer:

“Please help every child who is going through various treatments and surround them with the peace that only You can provide.”

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

.

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.

“It wasn’t about how much I drank—it was about how much mental and heart space it occupied. I loved it more than I wanted to admit.”

That realization for Ali Kennedy didn’t come during a dramatic rock bottom. Instead, it came after years of managing, moderating, and justifying a relationship with alcohol that looked fine on the outside but was slowly crowding out joy, clarity, and intimacy with God.

In this episode, I sit down with Ali—a pastor’s wife, missionary, former Ivy League athlete, and writer—who shares her honest story of giving up alcohol not once, but twice. Ali’s journey challenges the idea that addiction has to look a certain way and invites us to ask deeper questions about disordered loves, shame, and the subtle ways we settle for breadcrumbs when God is offering a feast.

Ali opens up about growing up around alcohol, finding early freedom after a radical encounter with Christ, and then slowly welcoming alcohol back into her life in socially acceptable, highly-regulated ways. Over time, what never crossed obvious lines began to quietly take up more space than she wanted to admit—especially during seasons of grief, motherhood, and ministry pressure.

And I think a lot of us can relate to that.

This conversation isn’t about labels. It’s about obedience, discernment, and the courage to listen when the Holy Spirit keeps tapping your shoulder. If you’ve ever felt foggy, restless, or spiritually distracted—even while doing “nothing wrong”—Ali’s story may give you permission to take that prompting seriously and ask what God might be inviting you to lay down.

We explore:

— Why addiction isn’t defined only by quantity or frequency
— How shame keeps Christians silent and stuck
— The difference between moderation and freedom
— Alcohol as a “disordered love” rather than a visible vice
— Grief, motherhood, and the quiet return of coping behaviors
— Why obedience sometimes matters more than labels
— The role of confession and community in lasting change
— What it means to stop settling for breadcrumbs and pursue the feast

Work with Ali: https://www.alikennedy.com
Ali's writing: Homes of Glory
Ali's Instagram: @alikennedylive
Follow me: @jonseidl
Order my new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/

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Today’s Bible Verse: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.” — Psalm 37:5

Psalm 37:5 invites us into a posture of surrender and trust. To commit our way to the Lord means placing our plans, decisions, and desires fully into His hands. This verse reminds us that when we trust God with our direction, He faithfully works on our behalf.

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Meet Today’s Host: Carol Ogle McCracken

️ Listen to more daily devotionals with Carol at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio

Carol Ogle McCracken is a dynamic Christian speaker, author, and Bible teacher known for her warmth, humor, and transparency. She brings biblical truths to life through real-world stories and relatable experiences—whether navigating alcohol recovery, parenting a child with special needs, or walking through divorce.

Today, she serves as Minister of Discipleship at her local church and shares God’s Word through women's retreats, conferences, and online devotionals. Her book, Wisdom: Where to Find It if You’ve Lost, Forgotten, or Never Had It, was released in 2020 and continues to encourage readers in their pursuit of godly wisdom.

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/ 

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

Maybe you feel like your relationship with God is slacking in some way because it doesn't look like your favorite Christian influencer's or pastor's "Christian Morning Routine." Perhaps you have felt disconnected from Him for a while and don't know how to get back to what you once had with God. Regardless of where you land on that spectrum, we all need to uncomplicate it. Hosanna Wong, my beloved friend and mentor, joins me in today's episode to encourage us on this very topic!

GET HOSANNA'S BOOK: https://a.co/d/hP8pVv3

ORDER MY BOOK HERE: https://a.co/d/0vE5Cji

PRINT OUT MY FREE "SHAME CYCLE WORKSHEET" HERE: https://kirbykelly.myflodesk.com/shamecycleworksheet

CHECK OUT MY FREE RESOURCES: https://kirbykelly.myflodesk.com/kirbykelly 

For 10% off of Faithful Counseling, and to start your healing journey today, go to: https://www.faithfulcounseling.com/kirbykelly

To sponsor a child in need alongside me with Compassion International, go to: https://www.compassion.com/kirbyisaboss  

Support the ministry!: https://kirby-kelly.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5d23856d41ec3a0001234376

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Do you still feel anxious even after praying about your fears? Many Christians struggle with anxiety that persists despite faithful prayer—and wonder if something is wrong with them or their faith.

In this episode, Rachel tackles one of the most common questions she receives: "Why do I still feel anxious after praying about my fears?" She shares why prayer doesn't always remove fear and what it does instead, along with a powerful story about her daughter Tris's journey of learning to rely on God day by day when healing hasn't come the way they prayed.

You'll discover:

• Why anxiety after prayer isn't a sign of weak faith
• Practical steps for praying when fear won't let go
• The difference between God removing our challenges versus giving us courage to walk through them
• How God's provision of daily strength can be the miracle

If you're in a season where anxiety feels overwhelming and your prayers feel ineffective, this episode will remind you that God doesn't ask for perfect courage—just honest hearts willing to bring their fears to Him.

Resources Mentioned:

• 31 Prayers for the Heart prayer cards
• 31 Prayers for a Mom's Heart prayer cards
• Shop at https://rachelwojo.com/shop

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When stress and pressure build up, our instinct is often to look for quick relief—something that helps us vent, escape, or feel momentarily better. But those temporary outlets rarely bring lasting peace. In this episode, we’re invited to trade pressure for something far greater: the steady, restoring peace that only Jesus provides. As we reflect on weariness, anger, and anxiety, we’re reminded that God does not shame us for our struggles. Instead, He meets us in them, offering comfort, perspective, and hope that lightens the weight we carry.

Main Takeaways

• Discover why temporary outlets for stress often leave us more drained and confused.

• Learn how pressure and suffering can shape endurance, character, and hope when surrendered to God.

• Be encouraged to bring anger, fear, and anxiety honestly before the Lord instead of letting them distort your perspective.

• Find reassurance that God replaces pressure with peace when we come to Him in prayer.

Bible Verse References

• Matthew 11:28

• Romans 5:3–5

• John 16:33

• 1 Peter 4:12

Your Evening Prayer

Father, You are our refuge and our strength. When the weight of the day presses in on us, remind us that we do not have to carry it alone. Forgive us for the moments when we try to control what only You can hold. Quiet our anxious thoughts and soften our hearts to trust You again. Fill the places of anger, fear, and weariness with Your peace. Help us rest tonight knowing that You see us, You care for us, and You have already overcome. Amen.

For more episodes and encouragement, visit
https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/

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Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Tyler Boss, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. You were not created to live life alone! Meditate on 1 Corinthians 12:26-27. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. 

For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace

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