LifeAudio

Struggling to find the right words when life feels uncertain? Don't miss this episode where Rachel teaches you how to pray Scripture when your heart feels unsteady.

Following last week's interview with Dr. Nancy Meyer on the promises of God, Rachel gets practical—showing you exactly HOW to turn God's promises into powerful prayers. Using Isaiah 40:28-29 as your foundation, discover how to steady your shaking heart with God's unchanging Word.

In this episode, Rachel shares:

• Why God's promises are the prayer language of faith
• How to personalize Scripture and make it your own prayer
• Three unshakable truths about God's character from Isaiah 40:28-29
• A step-by-step example of praying God's promises over your circumstances

Then this podcast episode is FOR YOU!

RESOURCES

Praying the Promises of God Prayer Journal: Download a free sampler at promisesprayerjournal.com

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In today’s episode, I sit down with actress and filmmaker Masey McClain to talk all about her brand-new movie, SOUL ON FIRE, a powerful story that explores purpose, calling, and faith when life doesn’t go as planned. Whether you’re walking through a season of uncertainty or feeling stirred to reignite your passion for Christ, this conversation will remind you that God can use every trial to spark transformation!

SOUL ON FIRE MOVIE: https://soulonfiremovie.com

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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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. Sometimes grief is a gift. Meditate on Genesis 23:1-2. 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

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

Have you ever stopped to consider how self-control—or the lack of it—shapes your life?

In this episode, we take a practical, biblical look at self-control and why it matters for your relationships, health, and happiness. Together, we’ll explore how the Holy Spirit helps us cultivate this often-overlooked fruit and how it guides us away from impulsive choices that can lead to regret. I’ll share real-life examples and simple strategies to help you identify triggers, plan ahead, and replace unhelpful habits with more effective ones. 

Whether it’s with your words, emotions, or daily decisions, this conversation will help you grow in spiritual maturity, experience greater peace, and live with purpose and freedom in Christ.

Xo,

Donna

And remember, I'd love to connect more on Instagram, where you'll find me at @donnaajones. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode!

Listen in to learn more :
(00:17) Cultivating Self-Control in Daily Life

(11:19) How To Master  Self-Control

(23:30) Embracing Self-Control and Growth

Donna’s Resources:

Order a copy of my new book - 

Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret. 

It is available anywhere books are sold– here is the link on Amazon. 

If you need a helpful resource for someone exploring faith and Christianity or simply want to strengthen your own knowledge, you’ll want a copy of my book, Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God.

It’s a must for seekers, new believers, and those who want to be more confident in their faith!

Connect with Donna 

Instagram: @donnaajones    

Website: www.donnajones.org    

Donna’s speaking schedule: https://donnajones.org/events/    

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A Prayer to Be a Godly Empty Nest Mom

Parenthood often brings with it fears—fear of repeating unhealthy family patterns, fear of failure, and fear of wounding the ones we love most. But Scripture reminds us that we are not defined by our past or bound by old habits.In today's prayer, Gina Smith reminds us that through seasons of raising young children and then learning how to love and support adult children, the temptation to fall back into fear and old ways remains. Yet God’s Word offers freedom: we are new creations in Christ. His Spirit empowers us to parent, love, and live in a way that glorifies Him, no matter what stage of life we are in.

Reference: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Prayer: Father, help me to live by the Spirit and  to focus on the fact that I am a new creation and I don’t need to fear repeating patterns that are in my family. As I walk in this reality, please give me the opportunity to show my children what it means to be a new creation and be an example of what it means to live for you and be controlled by your Spirit. I want to leave the past behind and not be defined by what has happened to me or what I may have done. Please renew my mind, conform me into your image, and cause this transformation to be lived out in all that I do. My hope is in you alone. Amen

LINKS:

How to Pray God's Word For Your Children Guide

Connect with Gina Smith

Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use! 

Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon.

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

Grief and loss can feel like ashes, but God promises to bring beauty, strength, and hope out of our pain. In Become Like an Oak Tree, Whitney Hopler reflects on Isaiah 61:2-3, reminding us that God grows us into “oaks of righteousness”—deeply rooted in His love, resilient through life’s storms, and a living display of His splendor.

Highlights

• God transforms mourning into joy and despair into praise (Isaiah 61:2-3).

• Oak trees symbolize strength, endurance, and deep-rooted faith.

• Trials and grief become the soil where God plants new hope.

• Spiritual roots—through prayer, worship, and trust—anchor us in storms.

• Our testimony of faith gives others shade, comfort, and encouragement.

Join the Conversation

Where have you seen God bring beauty out of your ashes? Share your story and encourage others to stay rooted in faith. Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #OaksOfRighteousness #BeautyFromAshes #FaithThatEndures to join the conversation.

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Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Full Transcript Below:

Become Like An Oak Tree
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“… to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” – Isaiah 61:2-3, NIV 

Walking across the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland one day, I was struck by how beautiful the place was. The ugly reality was that it was the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, on September 17, 1862. Yet despite the fact that more than 22,000 men died there, the rolling hills and fields of bright green grass dotted with wildflowers made it look like I was just strolling through a gorgeous park. Beauty surrounded me everywhere. But the old trees – some of which were old enough to have witnessed the Civil War – were especially beautiful. Some of those old trees were oak trees, with branches stretching out wide and another year’s worth of new leaves growing from those strong and graceful branches. 

In Isaiah 61:2-3, God promises his people that he will bring beauty out of their painful grief, and that they will become “oaks of righteousness” – strong and beautiful people who display the power of God’s work in their lives. 

What kinds of grief are you going through in your life? Maybe you’re grieving the death of someone you loved. Maybe you’re carrying the weight of another important loss, like a job layoff, an illness, or a broken relationship.

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

How do we keep from envying the apparent success of the wicked when injustice seems to go unchecked? What does it mean to truly “trust in the Lord and do good” when evil prospers around us? In Psalm 37, David contrasts the temporary triumphs of the unrighteous with the steady, eternal security of those who place their hope in God.

Join us for this 13-minute meditation on Psalm 37, where we discover God’s call to patience, trust, and delight in Him. Instead of fretting over evildoers, we are invited to fix our eyes on His faithfulness, to dwell in peace, and to rest in the promise that the meek will inherit the earth. And because we have the teachings of Jesus, New Testament believers can benefit from Christ's call to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and trust in a God whose redemptive power means there truly are no lost causes.

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

On Facebook @PrayingChristianWomen

On Instagram @PrayingChristianWomen

On YouTube: @PrayingChristianWomen

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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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].

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

Spiritual growth isn’t a one-time event—it’s a daily process of surrender, humility, and learning to reflect Christ’s heart. In our daily prayer and devotional, Vivian Bricker shares how her early enthusiasm for sharing Jesus was marked by zeal, but not always by gentleness or grace. Over time, through both failure and faith, she learned that true growth comes by walking with Christ day by day.

Just as the Apostle Paul declared that “to live is Christ and to die is gain,” our lives find meaning only when centered on Him. To live is Christ means surrendering our will, allowing Him to shape our attitudes, actions, and relationships. And while the process of growth can be painful—marked by pruning, trials, and refining—it also deepens our roots in faith and equips us to help others.

God uses every circumstance—our mistakes, disappointments, and struggles—to grow us into the likeness of His Son. Even when we can’t see the progress, He’s working beneath the surface, producing maturity and steadfastness.

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t come through striving. It comes through abiding—listening, learning, and depending on Christ moment by moment. As we do, we echo Paul’s words and find joy in knowing that our lives belong fully to Jesus.

Today's Bible Reading: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." – Philippians 1:21

Key Takeaways

• Spiritual growth takes time, humility, and daily dependence on Christ.

• Struggles and failures are opportunities for God to refine and strengthen us.

• “To live is Christ” means making Jesus the center and purpose of every day.

• True growth leads to deeper compassion and a greater heart for others.

Let’s Pray Together

Dear Jesus, I want to grow in You, even when growth feels slow or painful. Help me to be patient and faithful, learning to walk with You one day at a time. Teach me to echo Paul’s words—to live for You and bring glory to Your name. Strengthen my heart, renew my mind, and help me see every moment as a chance to grow closer to You. In Your name I pray, amen.

Related Resources

• What Does It Mean to “Live is Christ, to Die is Gain”? – Crosswalk.com

• How God Uses Trials to Grow Our Faith – BibleStudyTools.com

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.

.

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.