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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 James Seawood, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. Feeling insecure or inadequate for what’s ahead of you today? Hear the words of Paul in Colossians 2:10. 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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A Prayer for Help with Hard Decisions

As parents, mentors, and believers, we’re challenged to nurture children’s spiritual growth with the same passion we give to academics or sports, trusting that God desires them to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with Him and with others.

In today's prayer by Nicolet Bell we take a look at the story of Jesus at the temple as a child and how this teaches us about the spiritual capacity of children and how we can encourage their faith.

Reference: Luke 2:41-52

Prayer: Lord, thank You for guiding me each day with Your Protection and Love. Help me with the hard decisions and when I’m not sure what to do next. I pray for Your Wisdom to live the best life I possibly can. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

LINKS:

How to Pray God's Word For Your Children Guide

Connect with Nicolet Bell

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

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

God’s provision and faithfulness are unshakable, even in life’s hardest seasons. Isaiah 46:4 reminds us that the Lord carries us, sustains us, and rescues us from beginning to end. In this devotional, Michelle Lazurek shares her story of church planting, financial struggles, and moments of doubt—only to discover God’s sustaining hand through every sacrifice, setback, and unexpected blessing.

Highlights

• Isaiah 46:4: God promises to sustain us through every stage of life

• How financial struggles and sacrifice can test our faith

• Stories of unexpected provision through God’s people

• Why gratitude and reflection reveal God’s faithfulness in hindsight

• A reminder that God never forgets us and always has a plan

Join the Conversation

How has God sustained you during a season when you felt abandoned or overwhelmed? Share your story with the LifeAudio community and encourage others to trust God’s provision. Tag @LifeAudio and use #FaithfulGod #ChristianLiving #GodProvides to join the conversation.

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Full Transcript Below:

God Sustains Us

By: Michelle Lazurek

Bible Reading:

“Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah. 46:4

Many years ago, my husband and I planted a church. We planted it from a mother church where he originally pastored as an associate pastor. It became challenging to find people to be sent out to join us in our endeavor. We recruited 12 people from various backgrounds and areas of our lives, as well as a few from the church we were currently attending. From day one, it was a challenging experience. 

We moved several times, had to take several pay cuts, and experienced frequent turnover among our congregation members. Many people who came to us had previously experienced hurt in a church and were seeking a new kind of church. However, that emotional baggage that they brought with them, they dropped right at the church's doorstep. Because of all the financial, emotional, and mental issues involved in it, it was tough for us to deal with all the issues surrounding it. 

After the first pay cut, there were times when we couldn't always pay our bills. There were moments when my husband didn't eat dinner that night because there wasn't enough food. 

In those moments, it felt as if God had abandoned us. We were making all these sacrifices; why did we have to make those sacrifices when everyone else got to live their lives how they wanted? The church plant had a profound impact on my spiritual life. I became angry at God for the things I thought I was entitled to or deserved. 

God had called me to sacrifice, but it was clear he wasn't calling anyone else to make those same sacrifices. Because of thi

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Few things test our faith more deeply than unanswered prayer. As our daily prayer and devotional remind us, when we pray with earnest hearts but don’t see change, it’s easy to feel forgotten by God. Discouragement, frustration, or even anger can creep in. Yet Isaiah 65:24 assures us that God not only hears us—He is already at work before we finish asking.

Lynette Kittle reminds us that when answers feel delayed, we’re invited to draw closer to God rather than pull away. Scripture encourages us to pause and ask searching questions: Are we harboring unconfessed sin? Are we engaged in habits or influences that grieve the Holy Spirit? Or, as in Daniel’s experience, could spiritual opposition be hindering the delivery of God’s answer?

Unanswered prayers are not proof that God is distant. Sometimes they are a call to repentance, an invitation to deeper trust, or part of a battle being waged in unseen realms. Even when silence feels deafening, we can cling to His promise: “No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11).

Today's Bible Reading:

"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." – Isaiah 65:24 (NIV)

Key Takeaways

• God hears and responds—even before we pray (Isaiah 65:24).

• Sin and spiritual compromise can create barriers to prayer (1 John 1:9, Ephesians 4:30).

• The enemy can interfere, but perseverance in prayer brings breakthrough (Daniel 10:12–13).

• Unanswered prayers are opportunities to draw near, examine our hearts, and trust God’s timing.

Let’s Pray Together

Dear Father, thank You for hearing my prayers even when answers seem delayed. Help me examine my heart and remove anything that creates distance between us. Strengthen me to persevere in prayer, trusting that You are faithful and good, and that You withhold no good thing from Your children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Resources

• When God Seems Silent: 3 Ways to Keep Praying – Crosswalk.com

• 5 Important Things God Teaches You through Unanswered Prayers – iBelieve.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.

The seasons of our lives are always changing—the schools we attend, jobs we hold, as well as relationships and personal chapters. As each one ends, it’s tempting to look back with regret, replaying our mistakes and missteps. But as our evening prayer and devotional remind us, regret quickly morphs into shame, and shame whispers that we’re unworthy and broken beyond repair.

That is not God’s heart for us. Jesus died to erase our guilt and lift the weight of condemnation. His resurrection brings new life, even from what feels dead and lost. While regret chains us to the past, reflection invites us to learn, reconcile, and grow forward in hope.

Reflection asks: What can God redeem from this? What have I learned? How can I grow? It’s not about ignoring mistakes, but about trusting the Spirit to transform them into wisdom and healing.

Through Christ, we are free to reject regret and embrace reflection—because shame is gone, grace has come, and hope is alive.

Tonight’s Scripture: Romans 8:1

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Read more on BibleStudyTools.com

Your Nightly Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for walking with me through every season of life. Tonight, I lay down regret and shame at the foot of the cross, where Jesus paid for all my sins and failures. Teach me to reflect with honesty and hope, not condemnation. Restore what was lost, bring new life where I feel broken, and guide me by Your Spirit into seasons of growth and grace.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Three Things to Meditate Upon

1. Recall a season where regret still lingers. How can you surrender that regret to God and allow Him to bring healing?

2. What truth from Scripture speaks directly to the shame you may feel? Write it down and declare it over your life.

3. Think of a past mistake that became a valuable lesson. How can you reflect with gratitude for what God taught you instead of living in regret?

Calls to Action

• This week, journal about a regret you’ve carried. Write a prayer inviting God to transform it into reflection and growth.

• Revisit Romans 8 and highlight every promise of freedom it declares.

• Sign up for our nightly devotional to receive Scripture, encouragement, and prayer straight to your inbox.

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Actor Giovanni Cairo—who plays Thaddeus in The Chosen—joins Michael to talk about Season 5 (dropping September 28 on The Chosen app), filming the crucifixion in Season 6, and how playing Thaddeus has reshaped his own faith and life.

Episode Highlights

• Why Giovanni originally thought Thaddeus wasn’t a real disciple

• How volunteering and surrendering to God led him to land The Chosen

• Portraying Thaddeus as the “peacemaker” of the disciples

• Behind-the-scenes of filming Season 6’s emotional crucifixion scenes in Italy

• What it was like being part of the early days of The Chosen when it was uncertain if the show would continue

• Why the global impact of The Chosen is unlike anything else Giovanni has experienced in acting

• Giovanni’s engagement story—and how his fiancée’s faith was reignited by the show

Guest Details

• Giovanni Cairo – Actor best known as Thaddeus in The Chosen (Seasons 1–6).

Resources & Links

• Watch The Chosen 

• Follow Giovanni Cairo on Instagram

• Explore more faith-based shows at LifeAudio.com

If you enjoyed today’s interview, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend. Your support helps more people discover faith-filled conversations like this one.

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This episode is part 29 in a study of the gospel of Luke. Jesus encounters a man who is thinking about money and tells a parable of a foolish rich man who learns that you can't take it with you.

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John wants a 3D printed liver and spends a week at home alone watching movies his wife would hate. Meanwhile, Jonnie ponders how adorable old political scandals are when compared with today's and celebrates the birthday of an author who sold a lot of books… and got his predictions wrong 100% of the time.

Plus, a conversation about submission and obedience, and what it means to be "free indeed.”

Todays episode is NOT sponsored by The Latest Smartphone: "Better Features? Not really. More expensive? Absolutely."

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