From Nathaniel Baldwin's kitchen-table invention of headphones in 1910 to today's ubiquitous AirPods, our relationship with audio has transformed dramatically. We're constantly plugged in, listening to something—but are we tuning into what matters most?

The advancement of audio technology is a powerful metaphor for our prayer lives. While we've mastered the art of speaking to God—powering up, plugging in, calling out—many of us struggle with the essential step of listening for His response. As Jesus reminds us, "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow me" (John 10:27). This isn't just poetic language; it's an invitation to authentic relationship where we're not just doing all the talking.

God speaks in myriad ways—through creation's magnificent sounds, through spiritual leaders and worship, through His still small voice, and most consistently through Scripture. The challenge isn't whether God is speaking (He is), but whether we're creating space to hear Him. Through the practical "Seek Him, Speak Him" approach, we learn to ask three powerful questions: What is God saying through this passage? Why does this truth matter? How should I respond? Each question creates a natural pause for listening.

This practice isn't just for personal growth—it's something we're called to model for those we disciple. Whether in short car conversations, around the dinner table, or through family messages, we have daily opportunities to demonstrate what it looks like to not just talk at God but to engage in genuine two-way conversation with Him. When we listen together, we grow together, and we amplify God's voice to the next generation.

Ready to transform your prayer life? Download our Conversation Guide and discover how to put on your spiritual headphones, block out distractions, and truly hear what God is saying to you today.

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

Have you ever tried calling someone repeatedly only to get voicemail? Or wondered if your number was blocked? Unlike our often-frustrating human communications, God offers an always-open line.

The invention of the telephone in 1876 revolutionized how people connected, eliminating distance as a barrier to conversation. Similarly, prayer eliminates the distance between us and God, offering instant access without wires, Wi-Fi, or physical proximity. Throughout Scripture, God gives us His "phone numbers" – Jeremiah 33:3 says "Call to me and I will answer you," Isaiah 65:24 promises "Before they call, I will answer," and Psalm 91:15 assures that "When he calls to me, I will answer him." These aren't just poetic words but promises from our God who actively invites connection.

This episode explores the third concept in our Plugged In Prayer Life series: after powering up (recognizing God as our source) and plugging in (turning our hearts toward Him), we're now invited to call on Him through prayer. Our theme verse, Jeremiah 29:12, proclaims this promise: "Call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen."

What makes this concept especially powerful for discipleship is how it speaks the language of today's tech-savvy generation. Children who instinctively understand phones and expect instant digital access can easily grasp the concept of calling on God. Every time we reach for our phones can become a reminder to whisper a quick prayer – a thank you, a simple request, or just acknowledging God's presence with "Lord, I'm here" or "Lord, I need you."

Join us in this conversation about maintaining an open line with God, and discover how to use everyday technology as a spiritual prompt for yourself and the next generation. Check out our coordinating conversation guide at familydiscipleme.org to deepen your understanding and application of this transformative truth.

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

Have you ever panicked when your phone battery reaches that critical red zone? That moment of desperation for a charger perfectly mirrors our spiritual lives. Without connection to God's power, we might look fine on the outside while internally running on empty.

This episode explores the revolutionary concept of prayer as our spiritual "outlet" – the connection point between God's ever-present power and our daily lives. Just as Harvey Hubble's electrical outlet invention in 1904 finally gave ordinary people access to the power grid that was already flowing, prayer gives us personal access to God's divine presence that surrounds us constantly.

At the heart of this message is James 4:8 – "Come near to God and he will come near to you." This Scripture reveals both an invitation and a promise that transforms how we approach prayer. God isn't distant or difficult to reach; He's waiting for us to connect. When we turn toward Him, He immediately turns toward us. Prayer isn't about perfection or performance; it's about plugging into God's presence throughout our day – in traffic, during chores, in moments of worry, or sleepless nights.

The most beautiful part? When we stay connected to God's power, others notice. Like a house illuminated during a blackout, our lives stand out. Though we can't create someone else's connection with God, we can certainly show them where and how to plug in themselves. Your prayer life doesn't just transform you; it becomes a beacon that draws others to the same divine power source.

Ready to move beyond just living near the power to actually connecting with it? Join us as we discover what it means to stay spiritually charged through a lifestyle of prayer. Your soul was never meant to run on empty.

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

Have you ever wondered why some prayers seem electrified with divine power while others feel like words disappearing into thin air? The answer might be simpler than you think.

Drawing on a fascinating historical parallel, this episode takes us back to the early 1900s when American homes first gained access to electricity. Just as families had to make a deliberate choice to connect to the power grid, we too must decide whether to truly "power up" our prayer lives by plugging into God's unlimited mighty power.

James 5:16 reveals the stunning truth that "the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." This isn't because our words themselves generate power, but because we're connecting directly to the Creator who spoke stars into existence and raised Jesus from the dead. Prayer isn't powerful because of what we say – it's powerful because of who we're talking to.

This episode marks the beginning of the "Plugged In Prayer Life" series, which uses pivotal moments in American history to illuminate spiritual truths about connecting with God. We explore how scripture repeatedly promises that God "gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." These aren't empty spiritual platitudes but invitations to stop relying on our limited human capabilities and instead tap into divine power.

Whether you're feeling spiritually drained, standing in darkness despite being near the grid, or simply wanting to experience more of God's transformative power, this conversation offers practical insights for making that vital connection. The same way electricity revolutionized daily life a century ago, prayer can revolutionize your life today – affecting not just your present circumstances but eternity itself.

Ready to move beyond merely speaking words and truly power up your prayer life? Listen now, then check out the coordinating "Power Up" conversation guide to "Seek Him Speak Him."

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

Life's seasons change, but purpose endures. As I (Tosha Williams) launch Season Six (!!!!) of the Family Disciple Me podcast, I'm also entering a new personal chapter—my youngest just turned 18, marking the end of almost three decades of active parenting. This transition feels monumental yet clarifying: though my daily routines will transform, my fundamental mission remains steadfast.

From childhood through parenthood and now approaching empty-nester status, my north star has been consistent: knowing Christ and making Him known. This simple yet profound purpose—what we at Family Disciple Me call "seek Him, speak Him"—transcends life stages and circumstances. Whether you're raising young children, launching adults, or entering grandparenthood, discipleship adapts while its essence remains unchanged.

May brings our eighth annual prayer-focused conversation series, "The Plugged In Prayer Life," and our ministry continues developing a discipleship app, hopefully launching by year's end. But remember—discipleship doesn't require advanced tools; it starts with simple conversation. Jesus walks with us, His power flowing through us, His presence guiding our way. Whatever your current life season, embrace the conversations that matter most. Because when every believer steps up to seek and speak Christ, the world changes one relationship at a time. Will you join this journey today?

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

Have you ever woken up thinking you knew what the day would hold, only to have everything change in an instant? That's exactly what happened on that first Easter morning. The disciples woke believing Jesus remained in the tomb, despite His repeated predictions of resurrection. Their journey from doubt to faith mirrors our own spiritual paths today.

Easter Sunday fundamentally changed everything, yet it began not with celebration but with wondering and questioning. The disciples had witnessed Jesus die. They'd watched His burial. But when reports came that the tomb was empty, most couldn't believe without seeing for themselves. Thomas, in particular, needed physical proof—to touch the scars in Jesus's hands and feet. Rather than shaming Thomas for his doubt, Jesus responded with profound compassion and spoke a blessing that extends through time to us: "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

This blessing forms the heart of our faith journey today. While we don't have the privilege of physically seeing Jesus, we experience Him through Scripture, prayer, answered petitions, and witnessing transformation in others' lives. The resurrection isn't just historical fact—it's living truth that changes how we approach each day. Parents have a special opportunity to discuss these profound realities with their children, sharing personal testimonies and explaining why we believe despite not seeing. Easter invites us to live resurrection-empowered lives, finding joy in relationship with the living Christ who continues His good work in us until completion.

Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement in their faith journey! And don't forget to download our conversation guide in the show notes to help facilitate meaningful Easter discussions with your family or small group.

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

When the palm branches of celebration give way to the cross of suffering, what happens to our faith? Good Friday confronts us with the most challenging spiritual question: Do we still believe in Jesus when things don't go as expected?

The contrast is stark. Just days after the crowds shouted "Hosanna!" Jesus was betrayed, beaten, and crucified. For His disciples who had witnessed his miracles and power, this devastating turn of events must have shaken their faith to the core. Their teacher and friend was suffering before their eyes, and everything they believed about Him seemed to be unraveling.

We face similar faith challenges today. Life often resembles railroad tracks with good and bad running side by side—answered prayers alongside ongoing struggles, miracles in one area while still waiting in another. The question becomes whether our faith can be like those railroad ties, connecting these parallel experiences without becoming a spiritual train wreck when difficulty arrives.

Jesus prepared His followers for this very test. The night before his crucifixion, he told them, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1). He knew what was coming and offered them—and us—a way through: choose to keep believing, even when understanding fails.

What makes Good Friday truly "good" is that suffering wasn't the end of the story. John, who witnessed these events firsthand, later wrote that he testified "so that you also may believe." His message echoes through centuries to remind us that our pain, like Christ's, is never the final chapter.

Join us as we explore how to maintain faith through life's darkest moments, knowing that Easter Sunday is coming. When we can say "Yes, I believe" even in our Good Fridays, we discover a faith that transcends circumstances—and a powerful testimony to share with the next generation.

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

"Do you believe this?" Jesus' profound question to Martha before raising her brother Lazarus reverberates throughout Palm Sunday's celebration and directly into our lives today. When faced with impossible situations, do we trust Jesus before seeing the miracle?

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, but the story actually begins with a pivotal miracle—Lazarus' resurrection from the dead. Martha's declaration of faith before seeing her brother alive again demonstrates genuine belief in Jesus' identity, not just His abilities. This same question confronts us: Do we believe Jesus is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do?

The Palm Sunday celebration itself reveals something fascinating about human nature. While crowds enthusiastically welcomed Jesus with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna," their motivations varied dramatically. Some had witnessed Lazarus' resurrection and believed wholeheartedly. Others followed political hopes or simply joined the excitement. Most telling was what happened afterward—when adults returned to their regular lives, the children continued worshiping Jesus in the temple. Their unwavering, childlike faith challenges us to examine our own belief. Do we praise Jesus only in celebratory moments or consistently through all seasons of life?

Personal stories of faith challenges, like Tosha’s experience with her desperately ill daughter, remind us that believing isn't always easy, but it's transformative. In those critical moments when circumstances seem impossible, Jesus still asks, "Do you believe this?" The answer shapes not only our relationship with him but our ability to pass authentic faith to the next generation. Join us for this Easter trilogy as we journey through Holy Week's most significant moments and discover how they transform our families today. What do you truly believe about Jesus?

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

Discover the extraordinary story of Margaret Wilson, the courageous 18-year-old in the 1600s who faced execution for her unyielding faith in Christ amidst Scotland's turbulent history. In this episode, Tosha Williams and Wendy Hickox share about the gripping events leading to Margaret and her sister Agnes's arrest and sentencing to death. As Margaret approached her execution, her actions even in suffering became a powerful testimony to faith in Jesus.

Join us as we reflect on Margaret Wilson's story, especially the Scripture she recited at her death:  Romans 8:18:  “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Then dive into the accompanying devotion-driven-discipleship conversation guide to hear what Jesus wants to say to YOU through His Word.

Margaret's legacy implores us to ponder how we navigate our own convictions in contemporary times. Are we prepared to stand firm in our faith when faced with challenges? Margaret's unwavering commitment serves as an empowering reminder to instill those values in future generations, urging them to live sacrificially for their beliefs.

Subscribe, share, and leave a review—become part of this conversation encouraging everyone to seek Him and speak Him boldly!

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life of Mary Slessor, a woman whose faith may have seemed like madness yet remains a powerful testament to selfless love and service. Born into hardship but driven by an unwavering faith, Mary left her homeland of Scotland in the 1800s to serve as a missionary in dangerous Nigeria. There she faced challenges many of us could only imagine. From her fierce opposition against the killing of twins to her leading during conflicts in Nigeria, Mary lived a life focused on eternal impact rather than temporary comfort.

Join the two of us - Wendy Hickox and Tosha Williams - in reflecting on Mary's incredible story of selflessness. As we share Mary’s experiences during our March MISSION Madness series, we invite you to consider how her legacy inspires you to embrace selflessness in Jesus' Name. 

Don’t miss out on this insightful conversation—then dive into the accompanying devotion-driven-discipleship conversation guide based on this theme verse for Mary's life: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:3-4 NIV 

May Mary's story ignite a passion in all of us to make a meaningful difference for the Kingdom of God in the lives of others. Subscribe to our podcast and join our mission to "Seek Him Speak Him" into the next generation!

______________________

The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.

Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org