LifeAudio

A Prayer Because Jesus Came by Nicolet Bell

As the excitement of Christmas fades and the in-between days begin, we are reminded that the story of Jesus is only just beginning. Because He came, everything changed—and everything continues to change.In today's episode, we look at 2 Chronicles and read about Solomon and the building of the temple. A striking truth emerges: even the most magnificent structure could never contain the greatness of God.

Reference: 2 Chronicles 2:5-6

Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus. Thank you that in all of your majesty and splendor, supreme of the finest of Temples, would choose to make your home in the humblest of stables and in our humble hearts. Help us not to take your presence with us for granted. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

LINKS:

Read the first five days of Everyday Prayers for Christmas 

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

This guided Scripture meditation, from Isaiah 43, utilizes the Lectio Divina meditation method.

God is always doing something new. Yes, he remains the same – but we are always changing and therefore he is always up to something new in our lives.

As you enter this new year – are you ready for the new work God wants to do in your life?

Listen in to this guided meditation and allow the Holy Spirit to direct you to what he has for you.

Here are some helpful links I discussed in the podcast:

The guided retreat to help you move into this new year with intention is here.  

You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/

Instagram @jodieniznik

Facebook @JodieGNiznik

Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Scripture Meditation Journal here.

And if you’re ready to make Scripture Meditation a part of your new year, I encourage you to join my Monday email newsletter here. I’ll send out link to the newest meditation every Monday morning.

Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here.

The passages we meditated on is as follows:

Isaiah 43:16–19, NIV

16 This is what the Lord says—

he who made a way through the sea,

a path through the mighty waters,

17 who drew out the chariots and horses,

the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

18 “Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

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Looking back with gratitude and looking ahead with hope isn’t about pretending life is easy—it’s about trusting God in the middle of the hard parts. This devotional reframes familiar promises by reminding us that God often speaks hope into uncomfortable, uncertain seasons. Real faith isn’t polished or pain-free; it’s forged when we choose trust, gratitude, and hope even when circumstances feel unresolved.

Highlights

• A comfortable life isn’t the norm for God’s people—Scripture consistently shows faith growing through hardship.

• We often celebrate biblical victories while overlooking the suffering that shaped them.

• God’s promises are frequently given in seasons of waiting, captivity, or uncertainty—not ease.

• Hope and faith are spiritual disciplines that require intentional choice, not feelings.

• Gratitude helps us recognize God’s faithfulness in the present, even when the future feels unclear.

• Trusting God’s character allows us to move forward with confidence, not fear.

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Full Transcript Below:

Looking Back with Gratitude, Looking Ahead with Hope
By: Peyton Garland

Bible Reading:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Christianity is always easier when it’s comfortable, right? When there’s no church drama, your marriage isn’t bumpy, or the children aren’t in a rebellious season. When everyone’s health is clear, the savings account is full, and the boss is flexible. But when are all of these life avenues simultaneously smooth? When is life ever not life—the chaos, the calamity, the confusion? When we read Scripture, did any of God’s people have it easy? Moses didn’t, Esther didn’t, David didn’t, and Jesus certainly didn’t. 

I believe that our pursuit of a comfortable life is the reason we gravitate towards certain Bible verses and willingly cut out the remaining context. We don’t mind discussing when Moses parted the waters, when Esther was crowned Queen, when David defeated Goliath, and when Jesus resurrected. But we too easily neglect when Moses died in the wilderness, when Esther risked her life for her people, when David’s sin caught up with him, and when Jesus was nailed to a cross to carry the sins of an ungrateful world. 

Jeremiah 29:11 is another perfect example of our desperate pursuit to polish the Christian experience. Glancing at this isolated verse, y

Why don’t people trust the church anymore—and how can that change?

In this episode, Alan talks with Dr. Eric Mason, founder and lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and author of Rebranding the Church: Restoring the Image of God’s People in the World (Multnomah, 2025). Eric believes that rebranding the church isn’t about polishing its image—it’s about rediscovering its soul.

Drawing on more than three decades of pastoral experience, Eric calls the church to return to the heart of Jesus’ message: loving God, loving people, and embodying the gospel in everyday life. Together, Alan and Eric talk about the church’s credibility crisis, the difference between reputation and reality, and why authentic discipleship is the truest form of rebranding.

They also explore how believers can rebuild trust with their communities, discern truth in an age of false teaching, and create spaces of healing for those wounded by the church. Eric’s message is both prophetic and hopeful—a reminder that God still delights in renewing His people from the inside out.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged by what the church has become, this conversation will rekindle your hope for what the church can be: a people who live the good news they proclaim.

Dr. Eric Mason is founder and lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and president of Thriving, an urban ministry training leaders locally and globally. He’s the author of Woke Church, Manhood Restored, and Urban Apologetics. As well as his latest book, Rebranding the Church.

Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. 

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

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I have always enjoyed the pace and the feel of Christmas Eve. I enjoyed it as a child and I still enjoy it as an adult. The evening has a way of slowing us down, at least for a moment. The lights are a little softer. The songs feel heavier with meaning. Even people who rarely think about spiritual things tend to pause and reflect. There’s something about this night that invites us to consider the reality that God might actually be nearer than we think.

That’s why John 1:14–18 is such a powerful passage to sit with on Christmas Eve. It doesn’t begin with shepherds or angels or a manger. It walks us through some of the deeper aspects of Christ’s divine mission to rescue lost humanity. In a way, it pulls back the curtain and shows us what was really happening behind the scenes when Jesus was born.

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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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As a new year approaches, it’s easy to feel weighed down by doubt, fear, and uncertainty about what lies ahead. Yet Scripture calls believers to live differently—to walk by faith, not by sight. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul reminds us that faith means trusting God beyond what we can see or understand. While circumstances may feel overwhelming, God is present, faithful, and actively working in our lives. This new year invites us to shift our focus from fear to faith, holding firmly to God’s promises and trusting Him to guide every step forward.

Main Takeaways

• You’ll learn what it truly means to walk by faith rather than by sight.

• Discover how focusing on the unseen strengthens trust in God during uncertain seasons.

• Understand why faith grows as we obey God and step forward despite doubt.

• Reflect on how God’s promises bring hope and direction for the new year.

• Be encouraged to face the future with confidence, knowing God is for you and with you.

Bible Verse References

• 2 Corinthians 5:7 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/2-corinthians/5-7.html

• Hebrews 11:1 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/11-1.html

• Jeremiah 29:11 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/jeremiah/29-11.html

• Ephesians 3:20–21 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/ephesians/passage/?q=ephesians+3:20-21

• Romans 8:31 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/romans/8-31.html

Your Daily Prayer

Dear God, help me walk by faith and not by sight as I step into this new year. Forgive me for the times I have focused more on fear than on Your promises. Teach me to trust You even when the path ahead is unclear. Strengthen my faith, guide my steps, and help me grow more into the likeness of Your Son. I place my hope in You, knowing You are good, faithful, and always with me.
Amen.

Want More?

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.

.

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.

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.

.

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.

Waiting—it’s one of life’s hardest tests. Whether you’re waiting for a dream job, healing, or direction, those in-between moments can feel unbearable. But as followers of Christ, we’re reminded that waiting isn’t wasted—it’s sacred. In this episode, we explore how God uses seasons of waiting to strengthen our faith and shape our hearts.

Romans 8:25 tells us, “If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” That patience isn’t passive—it’s trust in motion. God isn’t silent or distant; He’s preparing you for what’s ahead.

Takeaways from this episode:

• Waiting is not punishment—it’s preparation.

• God works deeply in moments of silence.

• Trust in His timing builds endurance and faith.

• Hope in Christ anchors us when life feels uncertain.

If you’re in a season of waiting, remember: the One you’re waiting on is never late.

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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Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today!

This week’s guest on the Praying Christian Women podcast is living proof that prayer has the power to completely change the trajectory of a family’s legacy.

Monica Schmelter, host of the Hope for the Journey podcast, invites us into her incredible testimony of how God saved her as a rebellious teenager and how that moment began a lifelong journey of rewriting her family’s history through prayer.

In our conversation, Monica highlights the reality of perseverance, sharing how she prayed for 25 years before seeing her family members—including her Muslim grandfather and atheist father—come to Christ. She also shares a stunning story about a specific prayer she wrote in her youth regarding her father joining the church orchestra, and how God faithfully answered it nearly four decades later.

You won’t want to miss Monica’s wisdom on how to battle discouragement when waiting on the Lord, the importance of sitting in silence in your "promise room," and the powerful reminder that God is always working in the details to redeem your loved ones.

Visit monicaschmelter.com to connect with Monica today!

Discover More:

Explore additional episodes of Praying Christian Women, Mindful Christian Prayers, and other Christian podcasts at Lifeaudio.com

Check out our new podcast, Christian True-Crime Junkies!, on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Connect with Us:

Stay updated and engage with our community:

On Substack @PrayingChristianWomen

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