False idols do not always look like idols. Achievement, approval, money, comfort, control, security, and even ministry can begin to occupy a place in our lives that belongs to God. In this episode of Mind and Faith Matters, Dr. Cory Potter explores what Scripture teaches about idolatry, how misplaced trust can develop without us recognizing it, and how God may bring it to our attention. Drawing from Psalm 115, Romans 1, Ezekiel 14, Matthew 6, and other passages, Cory considers what happens when something begins competing for our trust, loyalty, and devotion to God. He also looks at the role of awareness, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and the biblical response of repentance and renewed trust in God. What has become especially important to your security, worth, or significance, and could it be occupying a place in your life that belongs to God?

What happens when your sense of worth becomes tied to achievement, approval, productivity, competence, or being needed by others?

In this episode, Dr. Cory Potter explores contingent self-worth and how it can shape the way we respond to mistakes, criticism, comparison, and disappointment. We’ll also look at practical ways to develop a healthier, more stable sense of self-worth through examining self-talk, learning from setbacks, practicing self-compassion, and focusing on the values that guide how we live.

Toward the end, we consider self-worth from a Christian perspective and what Genesis 1:26–27 tells us about the source of human worth. This conversation also sets the stage for the next episode on false idols and mental health.

What happens when you stop rushing through Scripture and simply stay with it?

In this episode, Dr. Cory Potter explores the wisdom of Psalm 69 and shares how lingering with a single passage over several days can reveal fresh insights about both God and ourselves. Together, we'll examine what this psalm teaches about feeling overwhelmed, searching for solid ground, practicing healthy boundaries, and trusting God through seasons that stretch us.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, engage Scripture more deeply, and discover how God's Word continues to speak into the realities of everyday life. If you've been carrying more than you feel equipped to handle or longing for a renewed sense of stability and hope, Psalm 69 offers timeless encouragement that God meets us in the middle of the journey and faithfully works restoration in our lives.

Scripture: Psalm 69

Setting healthy boundaries isn't always difficult because we don't know why they matter. More often, it's because we don't know what to say when the moment arrives.

In this episode, Dr. Cory Potter moves beyond the theory of boundaries and explores how to apply them in everyday life. You'll learn how to respond when a relationship suddenly feels different, when to prioritize safety over conversation, how to recognize the difference between boundaries and consequences, and why overexplaining often weakens the limits you're trying to set. Cory also shares practical examples of workplace boundaries, discusses internal and external boundaries, and explains how to recover when you realize you didn't communicate a boundary as clearly as you intended.

Whether you're learning to say no, protecting your emotional well-being, or working toward healthier relationships, this episode offers practical tools and language you can begin using today.

Boundaries help relationships stay steady, honest, and sustainable. This episode explores how limits support emotional and spiritual well‑being, how early experiences shape the way you show up with others, and why certain patterns make boundaries feel complicated. You’ll hear simple examples of moments when limits become necessary, along with guidance from Scripture on responsibility, capacity, and healthy love. This is a gentle invitation to notice where boundaries feel difficult and to take small, meaningful steps toward clarity and connection.

In this episode of Mind and Faith Matters, Dr. Cory Potter reads Psalm 37 (NASB) and offers a brief reflection on a personal struggle many of us face… trying to solve things on our own instead of waiting on the Lord. Before reading the passage,

Cory shares a few thoughts on how easy it is to move ahead of God. Psalm 37 speaks invites us to trust, rest, and wait with patience.

This episode is a quiet space to slow down, listen to Scripture, and reflect on what it means to place our confidence in God’s timing.

Stories pull us in without us even trying. A book, a movie, a conversation can suddenly bring us right in the middle of it mesmerized. In this episode, we talk about why that happens and why stories matter so much in our everyday lives.

I share a few examples from books and movies that surprised me, made me laugh, or reminded me of people I love. We’ll look at what’s happening in our brains when a story grabs our attention, and why certain moments stay with us long after the story ends.

We’ll also talk about the stories in Scripture and how imagining the scene can help us slow down and notice things we might have missed.

By the end, you might start paying attention to the stories you enjoy and what they’re quietly showing you about what matters to you.

In this episode of Mind and Faith Matters, we take a look at Psalm 119 and what happens when God’s Word becomes part of your daily life. If you’ve been feeling worn down, stuck, or unsure of what to do next, this conversation walks through how Scripture brings hope, comfort, and steady direction right in the middle of real life. Take a few minutes today and listen. You may be surprised by all that's in this one psalm in the Bible!

Grief touches every life, though many people struggle to understand what it is and how to process it. In this episode, Dr. Cory Potter explores the psychology of grief, the different forms loss can take, and how Scripture invites honest lament before God. Together we consider how grief reflects the depth of our love and how faith helps us carry it with honesty and hope.

Creativity is not reserved for artists or inventors. In this episode of Mind and Faith Matters, Dr. Cory Potter explores the psychology of creativity and why your best ideas often appear during moments like walking, resting, or letting your mind wander. You will also learn practical habits that strengthen creativity and why identity plays an important role in unlocking the creative capacity God placed within you.