Spiritually Fit Today

Spiritually Fit Today

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Spiritually Fit Today episodes

  • The Hidden Story Controlling Your Life (And How to Change It) - SFT

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. Today Arnie talks with Bruce about the stories we unconsciously tell ourselves, how those narratives shape identity, and how Scripture rewrites false internal scripts. Proverbs 23:7 — "For as he thinks in his heart, so he is" — anchors the conversation. They identify common false stories (victim mindset; needing to earn God's approval) and give a practical assignment to catch and reauthor your narrator.


    4 Rs — practical next steps:
    Read — Read Proverbs 23:7 and surrounding passages to see how Scripture defines who you are in God.
    Reflect — Notice your recurring thoughts, feelings, and actions for the sentence your mind repeats about you; pick the one you’d never say aloud but say to yourself daily.
    Respond — For the next 24 hours write down that loudest sentence, then choose a Scripture truth to speak over it, pray, and practice replacing the false narrative.
    Reveal — Share the sentence and your chosen biblical counter-truth with a trusted friend, mentor, or small group; ask them to pray with you and hold you accountable as you reauthor your story.

    Email feedback or questions to [email protected]

    Keywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Bruce, Proverbs 23:7, inner narrative, identity in Christ, renewal of mind, Christian podcast, Back to the Bible, spiritual growth, soul pump, catch your narrator, victim mindset, Bible study

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft.

    8 min
  • The Surprising Way God Heals Broken People - SFT
    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Rick Small. In this episode Arnie and Rick explore how serving others can bring healing, how God redeems wreckage, and why showing up — even when you’re worn out — leads to a harvest of hope. A study of over 2,000 churchgoers found that helping others heals us more deeply than being helped; Rick’s story illustrates that truth in everyday places: hospitals, barns, and family care.

    4 R Action Steps
    - Read: Galatians 6:9 — "Let us not become weary in doing good..." Read it slowly out loud this week.
    - Reflect: Where in your life are you resisting "doing good" because you feel depleted? Journal one moment this week when serving eased your pain.
    - Respond: Pick one small way to serve next week (church greeter, neighbor visit, nursing home, or a caregiver task). Put it on your calendar and commit to showing up.
    - Reveal: Invite one person to join you or tell someone how this passage has shaped your choice to serve; use your story to encourage them.

    Need to connect? Email Arnie Cole: [email protected]

    If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs hope.

    Keywords: spiritual fitness, serving others, Galatians 6:9, Christian living, caregiving, grief recovery, volunteer, ministry, faith and healing, redemption, community service, mental health.

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
    13 min
  • What Caregivers Need to Hear Today - SFT
    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie is joined by Rick Small for a candid conversation honoring the hidden volunteers—the caregivers whose quiet acts of love often go unseen. Using Galatians 6:9 as our memory verse (“Let us not become weary in doing good…”) we explore dementia care, meeting loved ones “where they are,” the practical burdens of paperwork and benefits, the importance of family teamwork, prayer, patience, and avoiding resentment while serving those who once served us.

    4 R Action Steps
    Read — Read Galatians 6:9 (and the surrounding verses) slowly. Let the promise of a harvest settle in.
    Reflect — Ask: Where do I feel weary? Who in my life is serving without notice? How does this promise change my view of service?
    Respond — Do one concrete thing this week: send a note of recognition, pray for a caregiver, offer a specific task (errands, a meal, paperwork help), or set a small boundary to protect your own strength.
    Reveal — Demonstrate the truth by publicly or privately honoring a hidden volunteer: share their story with permission, bring a small gift, or simply say, “I see you and it matters.”


    Keywords: caregiving, caregivers, hidden volunteers, dementia care, Alzheimer’s care, family caregivers, elder care, caregiver burnout, Galatians 6:9, Christian podcast, spiritual encouragement, volunteer appreciation

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
    13 min
  • God Uses Your Past for Purpose - SFT
    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Rick Small. Rick shares how a childhood dream of being a cowboy, a 40-year career in financial services, and family experiences led him to volunteer at Stillwaters Equestrian Academy, Arnie's therapeutic riding ministry for kids and adults with disabilities. Hear how God can weave childhood dreams and life wounds into service that blesses others and brings joy. Memory verse: Galatians 6:9 — "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

    4 R action steps
    - Read: Read Galatians 6:9 and meditate on perseverance in service.
    - Reflect: Ask: What childhood passions are tucked away? How does the "invisible backpack" of my past shape my willingness to serve? Who around me is hurting in a way I can understand?
    - Respond: Do the three-column inventory: (1) What I loved as a kid, (2) What I’m hurting over right now, (3) Who in my world is hurting in a way I’d understand and could help. Where columns intersect, try one concrete volunteer step this week.
    - Reveal: Share your inventory and your next step with a friend or mentor, invite someone to serve with you, or demonstrate love through consistent acts of service.


    Keywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Rick Small, Galatians 6:9, volunteer, equestrian therapy, disability ministry, serving others, Christian podcast, spiritual growth, childhood dreams, stewardship, faith in action

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
    13 min
  • Don't Underestimate One Conversation - SFT
    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie speaks with Rick Small, a financial advisor turned volunteer, about how two ordinary believers showed up when Rick’s marriage fell apart. We explore how God uses ordinary people to rescue broken lives. Memory verse: Galatians 6:9 — "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

    4 R Action Steps
    - Read: Read Galatians 6:9 slowly and Ecclesiastes 4:10. Sit with the phrases “do not become weary” and “one can help the other up.”
    - Reflect: Ask: Who has steadied me in hard times? Where do I need to keep doing good even when it’s tiring? Spend 5–10 minutes journaling one specific person who needs stability now.
    - Respond: Send a simple, non-judgmental text to that person — “I’m thinking of you. I’m praying for you. How can I help?” — or invite them to coffee or a short Bible study.
    - Reveal: Look for gentle ways to share the gospel: ask loving questions about eternity, offer to pray, share your story, and be patient and consistent.

    Connect: Email Arnie Cole at [email protected] for questions or resources. Keywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Rick Small, testimony, Christian podcast, Galatians 6:9, Ecclesiastes 4:10, discipleship, evangelism, Bible study, encouragement, pastoral care, outreach, volunteer service. Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
    11 min
  • When My Marriage Ended, God Changed Everything - SFT

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie interviews Rick Small about being brought to his knees after his marriage fell apart, how God met him in the wreckage, and how the people who served him in that season helped lift him back up. We explore what it means to find new life and an unexpected harvest when life breaks the plans we made. Memory verse: Galatians 6:9 — “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”


    4 R Action Steps
    - Read: Read Galatians 6:9 and Psalm 34:18 this week.
    - Reflect: Ask yourself, Where in my life am I tempted to give up? When have I seen God work through brokenness?
    - Respond: Practice the “Name the Wreckage” exercise — before bed, spend 60 seconds finishing the sentence: “God, the place I’m most broken right now is...” Don’t fix it; simply name it and bring it to God in prayer.
    - Reveal: Share one honest thing from that exercise with a trusted friend, small group, or mentor. Let your vulnerability invite someone else into hope and service.

    Prayer : Father, thank you that you meet us in the broken places. Be close to those who feel like the bottom has dropped out. Amen.

    Contact: Arnie Cole — [email protected]

    Keywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Rick Small, Galatians 6:9, Psalm 34:18, finding God in the wreckage, Christian podcast, faith after divorce, spiritual recovery, brokenness, Christian encouragement, prayer, spiritual growth

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    12 min
  • One Day at a Time: God's Plan for Change - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie talks with Bruce about why lasting change rarely runs on willpower and how change really runs on two rails: grace and accountability. Drawing on Philippians 1:6, they explore habits as guardrails, the power of Christian community, daily practices (Scripture, prayer, gratitude), and practical steps to move from white-knuckling to relying on God one day at a time.


    4 R action steps
    Read — Read Philippians 1:6 aloud. Write one short phrase that stands out to you.
    Reflect — Ask: Where am I trying to finish what God began? Spend 5 minutes journaling your answer.
    Respond — Take one concrete step today: divide your life into 24-hour chunks; choose one daily habit (read Scripture, 5 minutes of prayer, list three things you’re grateful for); invite one believer to pray for you or hold you accountable. Name one area you’ll stop striving and start asking God to work.
    Reveal — Share this episode or the verse with one person and tell them your soul-pump assignment; ask them to pray or to be your accountability partner.

    Need prayer or want to connect? Email Arnie Cole at [email protected]

    Keywords: grace, accountability, lasting change, Philippians 1:6, spiritual growth, prayer, gratitude, Christian community, habits, willpower, spiritual fitness, soul pump, Spiritually Fit Today

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    10 min
  • What You Hide Controls You - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to the podcast Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Bruce. In this episode they explore why secrecy blocks change, how confession opens the door to mercy and transformation (Proverbs 28:13), and why honesty—before God, ourselves, and at least one trusted person—is a key predictor of lasting spiritual growth. Bruce and Arnie draw on recovery practices, the power of community, and biblical wisdom to show practical steps toward healing.


    4 R Action Plan
    Read — Read Proverbs 28:13 (and reflect on Galatians 6 about bearing one another’s burdens).
    Reflect — Ask: What am I hiding? How has secrecy kept me stuck? Journal 5–10 minutes on one specific area where you need truth and light.
    Respond — Tell God the whole truth out loud, no editing. Then tell one trusted person this week and ask them to pray. Consider a rigorous inventory or a small accountability circle to help carry the burden.
    Reveal — Demonstrate the truth by sharing your progress with one safe person, offering to help another bear a burden, or giving a brief, honest testimony of how confession led to mercy and growth.

    Resources and contact
    Have thoughts or feedback? Email Arnie Cole at [email protected]

    Keywords: honesty, confession, transformation, Proverbs 28:13, Christian podcast, spiritual growth, accountability, recovery, community, small group, prayer

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    9 min
  • Why Your Daily Habits Matter More Than Big Moments - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and his guest Bruce. In this episode we unpack 1 Timothy 4:7-8 and explore how small, repeated spiritual habits—“reps”—build godliness over time. Bruce and Arnie discuss practical habits (scripture reading, brief prayer, gratitude, Scripture memory) and the 24-hour “win the day” approach to reshape identity and steady the soul through pain and hardship.


    Four R action plan:
    - Read: Read 1 Timothy 4:7-8 slowly. Notice the word “train.”
    - Reflect: Ask: What one tiny habit would shape my next 24 hours? Which inner story resists it?
    - Respond: Choose one daily rep (2–10 minutes)—read a verse, pray, memorize a line, or name three things you’re grateful for—and do it every morning.
    - Reveal: Tell one person what habit you’re starting, invite them to join or ask them to check in, and let your consistent practice show the change.

    Want to follow up or share feedback? Email Arnie: [email protected]

    Keywords: spiritual fitness, spiritual habits, 1 Timothy 4:7-8, train yourself, daily devotion, spiritual formation, Bruce, Arnie Cole, Christian habits, prayer, scripture memorization, gratitude, soul pump

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    10 min
  • The Hidden Purpose of Your Suffering - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Bruce. In this episode we explore why painful seasons often produce spiritual growth when comfort cannot. Drawing on Romans 5:3–4 and Bruce’s personal testimony, Arnie and Bruce discuss how suffering can reveal unbelief, refine character, and draw us closer to God when we refuse to waste the pain.


    4 R Action Plan
    Read — Read Romans 5:3–4 slowly and aloud. Let the phrases “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” sit with you.
    Reflect — On paper answer three questions: (1) What is this teaching me about myself? (2) What is this teaching me about God? (3) What one change is it inviting me to make?
    Respond — Pray over your written answers, journal daily, choose one concrete change to practice this week, and invite God to form perseverance, character, and hope in you.
    Reveal — Share your reflections with a trusted friend, small group, or mentor; tell one person how God is using this season in your life and ask them to pray with you.

    Connect: Email Arnie Cole at [email protected] for feedback or prayer requests.

    Keywords: suffering, pain, spiritual growth, Romans 5:3-4, perseverance, character, hope, Bruce, Arnie Cole, Christian podcast, faith, Scripture, spiritual formation, suffering theology

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    9 min

About Spiritually Fit Today

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today, where every day is a workout for your soul—one step, one choice, one spiritual rep at a time. Join Arnie Cole and guests as we talk about how to improve how we behave as a Christ followers. Because how we act tomorrow depends on getting spiritually fit today.