Pursuing God with Dave and Gene

Today, we see what happens when God finally answers and it’s bigger than Nehemiah could have imagined. The king doesn’t just say yes; he goes above and beyond, sending officers and cavalry for protection.

That’s what God does. He doesn’t just answer prayers, He exceeds them! When we pray with expectation, God delights in doing immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

As Nehemiah identifies his burden, he waits patiently in prayer for God to move. Today, we see what happens when the waiting ends and God finally opens the door - just not in the way Nehemiah expected. After four months of prayer, the king suddenly asks him, “What is it you want?” and in that moment, Nehemiah prays again and steps forward with boldness and a plan.

Faith is no substitute for careful planning. Nehemiah didn’t just pray- he prepared. As you pray through your own impossible person or situation today, ask God: “What do I need to be ready for when You open the door? What steps do I need to take?”

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Yesterday, we identified the burdens we’re carrying—the people or situations we can’t fix on our own. Today’s focus is on what to do with that burden once you’ve named it. Nehemiah’s story reminds us that real prayer often includes something we struggle with most: waiting. He prayed for four months before seeing any movement from God or a change in his circumstances, but he didn’t stop trusting.

If it feels like your prayers are going unanswered, remember that part of praying is letting go and letting God. Today’s prayer prompt:  “God, I confess that I want things to change on my timeline, not Yours. But today I’m choosing to wait on You. Help me stay faithful in prayer even when I don’t see results. Give me patience to trust that You’re working behind the scenes.”

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Welcome to Day 1 of 21 Days of Prayer! Over the next three weeks, we’ll walk through the book of Nehemiah together - learning how prayer, faith, and trust can move even the hardest hearts and change impossible situations. Today’s focus is on what to do when someone in authority over you just won’t budge. Maybe it’s a boss, a parent, or someone close to you who doesn’t seem open to spiritual things. Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.”

As you begin this prayer journey, take a few quiet moments to identify the burden you’re carrying. Who is that person you’ve been trying to reach or change? Write their name down and pray:  “God, I’m carrying a burden for [name]. I can’t change their heart, but You can. I’m giving this burden to You today.”

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Ever feel like you’re running on empty, like life keeps tripping you up and you’re not sure if you’ve got another round in you? This is a reminder that winning isn’t the point, finishing is. When Paul said, “We do not lose heart,” he was talking about the kind of strength that keeps you moving even when everything in you wants to give up. Maybe you’re searching for faith, or maybe you’ve already found it, but you’ve stopped showing up in ways that matter. Either way, this is about getting back up, remembering what God has done for you, and not quitting on what really matters. Because resilience isn’t about avoiding the fall, it’s about standing up again when you do.

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Ever feel like you’ve got cracks showing — like you’re too flawed for God to use or too worn out to make a difference? What if those cracks are exactly where the light gets through? This is a timely reminder how our imperfections don’t disqualify us, they make us relatable. We’re not called to be impressive jars; we’re just meant to carry something valuable inside. Real people, real stories, real hope.

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Ever feel like you’re hustling hard but still hanging on to all the wrong things? Maybe it’s your job, a relationship, or just the pressure to keep up. In this episode, Gene talks about what really matters when life hits hard — and how to let go of the stuff that’s slowing you down.

We all carry extra weight. The challenge is knowing what to drop and what’s actually worth holding onto. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4, this five-minute reflection will help you reset your focus, lighten your load, and get honest about what matters most.

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Life has a way of hitting hard — layoffs, breakups, health scares, or just the daily grind that wears you down. The real question isn’t whether you’ll get knocked down; it’s whether you’ll get back up. In this episode, Gene shares how the Apostle Paul developed unstoppable resilience through setbacks that would break most of us. You’ll hear stories of grit, humor, and perspective — from Michael Jordan’s high school failure to how a drought in California led to the invention of raisins. If you’ve been hit lately, this one’s a reminder that being down isn’t the same as being out.

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Ever had one of those days where you just want to walk away from it all — the stress, the noise, the endless grind? You’re not alone. In this episode, Gene shares a true story about a guy who actually did it — and what it teaches us about resilience, purpose, and finding strength when life wears you down. If you’ve been tempted to give up, this one’s for you.

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

You’re not fighting for victory—you’re fighting from it. God’s already equipped you with everything you need to stand firm: truth, faith, righteousness, salvation, and the power of His Word. The sword of the Spirit—the Bible—is your most powerful weapon against the enemy, and prayer is what unites us in strength. The struggle is real, but so is your victory through Jesus.

Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.