This episode discusses what it means to step with the Spirit.  We consider how God does all the work and yet we get to participate.  

Click here for a full transcript of the show. 

Journaling Questions:

·      Start by reading Galatians 5:22-26. 

·      Do you see fruit of the Spirit in your life?

·      Have you acknowledged and thanked God for working in you?

·      What are you trying to do that you need to trust God to do in you?

·      Are you willing to trust God to do the work?

·      How are you participating in stepping with the Spirit?

·      How are you resisting?

·      If you have questions regarding God doing all the work and your participation are you willing to seek out help to answer those questions? 

Want more journaling questions? Sign up here to receive your free, 5-day journaling tool to help explore your next step to trusting God more fully.

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Get your copy of True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer here.

 I want to hear from you!
 You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith. #stepstotrusting

Verses mentioned in the episode:

·      Galatians 5:13-14

·      Galatians 5:17-18

·      Galatians 5:16

·      Galatians 5:22-26

·      John 14:15-19

·      Romans 6:11

·      Romans 7:24-25

·      Romans 8:1-4

·      Ephesians 2:10

Special thanks to Jim Dougherty for creating the music for the show! Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

Notes and Quotes:

In this episode, we are exploring the temptation to perform in order to gain approval or status.  

“Are you striving for something you already have or something that is offered to you as a gift with no need to earn it? Friends, in Christ,  you are forgiven excepted. And righteous. Have you stepped into this relationship? Have you applied this truth to your life? Are you living in your own strength instead of living in God's strength that was given to you?” - Erin Michele
 

Click here for a full transcript of the show. 
 
Journaling Questions:
  ·      Are you trying to earn God’s love by your actions?

·      Do you expect too high a standard of yourself or others?

·      Are you looking at the actions or the heart?

·      What should be the goal of our actions?

·      What is the purpose of the law?

·      Are you striving for God’s kingdom?

·      What actions are you taking for the kingdom of God?

·      What actions are you taking for yourself?

·      Are you trying to earn something that is already given or offered?

·      How would you live differently if you applied this gift to your life?  

If you are interested in more journaling questions sign up here to receive a journaling tool to help explore your next step to trusting God more fully.

 You can find more of my story about performance here.

 I want to hear from you!
 You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith. #stepstotrusting

Verses mentioned in the episode:

·      Matthew 23:27-28 

·      Galatians 3:1-6 

·      Ephesians 2:8-10 

·      Galatians 3:10 

·      Exodus 20:16-17 

·      Galatians 5:4-6 

·      Galatians 5:13 

·      Colossians 1:27-29 

·      Matthew 6:9-13 

·      Romans 3:20 

·      2 Corinthians 5:18-21 

·      Ephesians 2:10

Notes and Quotes:

In this conversation with Shannon Bradbury, Shannon shared how God worked in her heart to help heal from many challenges in life.  

“God was closer to me and I was closer to him than any other time in my life .  He heard, he saw my tears and he comforted me and my pain and he was near me.  He doesn't change and he doesn't lie. Nothing can change his love for me.  I could trust him that he was good...  I have to participate with him and I have to accept what he says about me is true.” – Shannon Bradbury

“It’s ok to feel what you feel.” – Shannon Bradbury

Click here for a full transcript of the show. 

Journaling Questions:

What hard season are you walking through or have you walked?

Have you been honest with yourself and God about your feelings?

How does knowing God the truth about how God loves you change how you see these situations?

Do you let this truth affect and change you?

What Bible truth or verse helps support this truth? 

If you are interested in more journaling questions sign up here to receive a journaling tool to help explore your next step to trusting God more fully.

Verses from this episode:
Psalms 139: 16 -18 - We are known by God.

Psalms 34:5- God offers radiance not shame.  

Jeremiah 29:11- God has a plan for us.

Psalms 23-God leads us.  

Zephaniah 3:17-God sings over us.  

Mark 12:31-We are called to love others.

Ephesians 2:10

Special thanks to Jim Dougherty for creating the music for the show! Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

I want to hear from you!

You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith. #stepstotrusting

Connect with Shannon on Instagram @Shannon_Bradbury

On Facebook Shannon Bradbury

Notes and Quotes

“Having a willingness to follow God is a surrendering of my own will and a desiring to step into God's will.”

Click here for a full transcript of the show. 

Journaling Questions:

·      What is the between will and willingness?

·      Are you seeking something other than God’s will?

·      What is the position of your heart, seeking your will or seeking God’s will?

·      What motivates your heart to desire God’s will?

·      What is holding you back from willing actions?

·      What is the difference between willing actions and willful actions?

·      Would you be willing to ask God to work willingness in your heart?

If you are interested in more journaling questions sign up here to receive a tool to help explore your next step to trusting God more fully. 

Verses in this episode:

·      Psalm 51:10-12

·      Luke 13:35

·      Hebrews 13:20-21

·      1 Chronicles 28:9

·      1 Chronicles 29:5

·      1 Chronicles 29:18

·      1 Chronicles 28:2

·      2 Chronicles 6:2

·      Ephesians 2:10

 I want to hear from you!
 You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith. #stepstotrusting

Special thanks to Jim Dougherty for creating the music for the show! Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

Notes and Quotes:

“God cares so deeply and intimately for us.  All I have to do is remember what he thinks about me and who he's created me to be…I feel like I'm on this lifelong journey of discovering what all he's put inside of me.”

Journaling questions:

• •       What is a recent situation where you were willing to step out in obedience and faith? 
  •       How did you feel God’s strength helping you in taking the step of faith?
  •       What did it teach you about God?
  •       Are you currently feeling a tug on your heart to step out of your comfort zone to step out in faith to serve?
  •       What is God calling you to step into?
  •       Are you willing?
  •       What is holding you back from stepping out in faith?
  •       What could you miss if you choose not to step out?
  •       Sandi defined getting kicked out of one situation and into a larger “pot” as deeper surrender.  What is God prompting you to surrender?

If you are interested in more journaling questions sign up here to receive a tool to help explore your next step to trusting God more fully.

 I want to hear from you!
 You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith. #stepstotrusting

Want a tool to help figure out your next step?  Sign up here.  

Verses from Episode 6:

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:31

Ephesians 2:10

Philippians 3:12 

Psalm 139:5

Ephesians 2:10

Connect with SandiSadako
Blog: Sandisadako.com

Facebook @SandiSadakoblog

Sandi’s blog Kicked out

Click here for a full transcript of the show. 

Special thanks to Jim Dougherty for creating the music for the show! Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

Notes and Quotes:

“Elijah expected, a different response to his obedience. Elijah expected his actions to change things going around him, but Elijah did not have control.” 

“But God, in this passage invites us to look to him, not at the overwhelming circumstances, not to look at our sins or the sins of others, but to look at who He is. And to remember that God has a plan and a purpose for us. And He is in control.” 

Journaling questions:

What is the lie that you're believing about your circumstances?
What is the truth that you need to preach over your situation to remind yourself that God is in control, even when you are not?

Want a journaling tool to figure out your next step?  Sign up here.  

Click here for a full transcript of the show. 

Verses discussed in this episode:

• 1 Kings 19:9-18 
• Romans 8:28
• Ephesians 2:10

I want to hear from you!

You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith.#stepstotrusting

Special thanks to Jim Dougherty for creating the music for the show! Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

Notes and Quotes:

Want a tool to help figure out your next step?  Sign up here. 
Click here for a full transcript of the show. 

Conversation with Kristen VanRaden. Connect with Kristen @kristenreadsandwrites.

 I want to hear from you!
 You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith.#stepstotrusting

On this episode, Kristen shared how God used a situation that was outside of her control to help her learn to trust.  

 “So pushing down all of these emotions, it might've worked in the short term to get me through the day. Pushing them down, didn't push them away. They just started to sort of building up these fears,” 

 Affiliate links are used below.  If you choose to purchase from one of these links, Steps to Trusting may receive a small commission no additional cost to you.  Thank you for supporting Steps to Trusting. Please click here if you would like more information.  

Books mentioned in today's show:

• Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanAucken.  I love this book.  The message and title really encourage me to consider how hard things in life could be a mercy.  
• God on the Dock  is a collections of writings by C.S. Lewis.  Talking about first and second this is included in this collection.  

Verses mentioned in today's show"

• Philippians 4:6 -7
• Colossians 1:17

Kristen’s advice for those struggling with postpartum depression and feeling a lack of control. 

“Be patient, get help and your identity is not found in the things that you do, but your identity is found in Christ.”

If you want to read more about the identity struggle I found in motherhood, check out this story on my blog.  – Who am I?

Special thanks to Jim Dougherty for creating the music for the show! Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

 Ephesians 2:10

Notes and Quotes:

I want to hear from you!

You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Use #stepstotrusting to Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith.  

Click here for a full transcript of the show. 

Check out the last show with Faith Raider.

Want a tool to help figure out your next step?  Sign up here.  

In this episode, we start by looking at the pain that comes with having doubts.  We shift focus to see the healing and answers that can come when we search out the character of God. 

 "Doubt - a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction."- Google dictionary provided by Oxford Languages

“Doubt is questioning something you already believe. Whereas belief is the refusal to believe. Doubt is a struggle, not a lack of faith.  It's real, necessary to grow and has no shame."- Emma Woodcock @Emmawoodcockwrites

My doubts brought me to these questions:

Why do I need Jesus? Is God trustworthy? 

Want to hear more about the struggles with doubt that I went through? Check it out here on my blog.  

Verse used in today’s podcast:

• Romans 11:23
• John 1:12
• James 1:6
• 2 Timothy 2:13
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• Hebrews 12:2
• Nehemiah 9 
• 1 John 1:9
• Romans 10:13
• John 1:12

“My faith grew because my faith was not in the answer to the questions "can I believe enough? Can I have strong enough faith?" It instead was in the answer to the question "is God faithful?”- Erin

Journaling Prompts:

• Look for God’s faithfulness in your life.
• How can we know if God is faithful?
• What are his actions of faithfulness you look to in the Bible? ...in your life?
• What promises do you cling to?
• How do they affect you?

Ephesians 2:10

Music by Jim Dougherty. Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

Notes and Quotes:

This show is for anyone who has struggled through having questions in their faith or knows someone who is going through this hard time.  Faith Raider shares the challenge of going through a period where the faith she had was deconstructed.  She addresses how this process can be a very hard and lonely time.  However, she encourages listeners that questioning things about faith move us to growth. 

Click here for a full transcription of the show.

Want a tool to help figure out your next step?  Sign up here.  

Deconstruction of faith – taking apart and examining things of faith.  Asking questions of what you believe.

“I would say that what you're going through is really normal.  A lot of people right now are going through this shift and going through this questioning. And I really see this as a move of the Holy Spirit that God is disrupting comfortableness in our identities as Christians. But that doesn't make it less painful.”-Faith Raider

 Verses used in today's show

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 
• 1 Corinthians 10:13
• Hebrews 12:2 
• 2 Timothy 2:13 
• John 16:13 

 Connect with our guest

@FaithRaider

www.faithraider.com

 Affiliate links are used below.  If you choose to purchase from one of these links, Steps to Trusting may receive a small commission no additional cost to you.  Thank you for supporting Steps to Trusting. Please click here if you would like more information. 

Find Faith’s Books
Confessions of a Roadkill Christian
Brave Women of the Bible

Special thanks to Jim Dougherty for creating the music for the show! Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

Ephesians 2:10 

 I want to hear from you!
 You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith.#stepstotrusting

 Notes and Quotes

What does trusting God look like?

Trusting God more than a one-time decision.  

“If we say that we trust God and it doesn't change or affect us, are we truly trusting him? Trust is active. It's seeing who God is, seeing his character, how he loves us and choosing to walk in the way that he desires of us instead of the way that we desire.”

The  Steps to Trusting Podcast will be exploring how to be equipped and aware for the purpose of stepping out in active faith and obedience to God. 

We will explore this through:

                  Studying the character of God.

                  Listening to stories of His faithfulness.   

Click here for a full transcript of the show. 

Links from the show

Ephesians 2:10

Special thanks to Jim Dougherty for creating the music for the show! Check out his Album City of God on Spotify or Apple Music.

 I want to hear from you!
You can find me and join in the conversation on Facebook and Instagram @stepstotrusting.

Hashtag your story of God’s faithfulness and stepping out in faith.#stepstotrusting