This conversation I have with my friend Michael Neely goes somewhere I wasn't expecting. We start talking about hearing God's voice, and it turns into one of the most honest conversations I've had about what's actually in the way of receiving the Father's love... and why most of us don't even realize it's there.Michael Neely is an ordained Presbyterian pastor, spiritual director, and author of Hearing the Heartbeat of God and A Longing for More. He spent 13 years as a jail chaplain and now mentors young men in Bellingham, Washington through inner healing and freedom prayer.Expect to learn what "heart theology" is and why it shapes how you relate to God more than your actual beliefs do, what happened when Michael's dad disowned him at 25 and how it rewired his view of the Father, why forgiveness from your head and forgiveness from your heart are two very different things, what a 7-year-old boy and a gang taught Michael about community, how fear and unforgiveness quietly block us from hearing God, the four different ways we receive from God (and why most people only recognize one), and what it looks like to live from a place of being loved instead of performing for approval.Chapters:00:00 Intro04:10 The Simplicity of Hearing God and Why I Still Wrestle With It10:17 What's Actually Blocking Us From Receiving the Father's Love20:54 When Michael's Dad Disowned Him at 2527:46 Forgiveness From the Heart, Not Just the Head35:08 The Question That Changes How You See God and Yourself39:43 Permission to Fail and Why Jesus Wants You to Risk More47:52 The Four Ways We Receive From God53:55 What 13 Years in Prison Ministry Taught Michael About HealingIf something in this conversation stirred something in you, just sit with it for a moment. And if you want a place where you can practice listening with other people who are on this same journey, I'd love for you to join us.📚 Michael's Books:Hearing The Heartbeat of God - https://amzn.to/4sooUtLA Longing For More - https://amzn.to/4uoTgOP📚 Mentioned in This Episode:Soul Care by Rob Reimer - https://amzn.to/4sfvK4G🔗 Join The Receive Academy - https://receiveacademy.com/🔗 Sign up for the next Hearing God Challenge - https://hearinggodchallenge.com/🔗 Experience our daily listening prayer on The Receive Experience - https://receiveacademy.com/receive_experience

Most Christians believe God used to speak through dreams. John Thomas believes He never stopped and that we've been trained since childhood to ignore it.John spent years dissecting every dream experience in Scripture, and what he found challenges how most of us were raised to think about this. Dreams aren't just random noise from your subconscious. They're one of God's primary languages and once you understand the patterns, you'll start to recognize what He's been saying all along.In this conversation, we cover:0:00 – The moment that changed how John reads Scripture1:56 – Why God speaks from your own life (the cup bearer, the baker, Gideon)5:22 – How we accidentally train our kids to ignore God's voice7:40 – Numbers 12: God's "default" communication method (most people miss this)11:29 – How Joseph's dream saved Jesus' life and what that means for yours15:48 – The difference between God dreams, soul dreams, and enemy dreams16:39 – Why light and color in your dream actually matter29:30 – Why you should never use AI to interpret your dreams30:16 – Common dream symbols decoded: flying, falling, nakedness, houses, cars36:26 – John's nightly practice for intentionally receiving dreams from God42:15 – For those tormented by nightmares: what John wants you to hearWhether you've never had a meaningful dream or you're drowning in them and don't know what they mean — this conversation is for you.Connect with John Thomas: Streams Ministries#HearingGod #ChristianDreams #DreamInterpretation #ReceiveAcademy

He read the entire New Testament in a weekend. Fasted for 40 days. Got a Bible college degree. Got ordained. Pastored a church.And after all of that — 10 years of trying — he still couldn't hear God's voice.Mark Virkler wasn't casual about his faith. He was desperate for it to work. But every method he tried led to the same result: silence. No one could explain what God's voice actually sounded like. One teacher called it "subterranean rumblings of the spiritual mind." Another said "you just know that you know." None of it helped.Then one morning, God woke him up with a voice he couldn't ignore and pointed him to Habakkuk 2:1-2 — where he found 4 simple steps that changed everything:Stillness — quiet yourself and get beyond your own thoughtsVision — fix the eyes of your heart on JesusFlow — tune to spontaneous, flowing thoughtsJournaling — write down what you receiveWhat surprised Mark most? He realized he'd been hearing God his whole life — he just didn't know what to listen for. Those "brilliant thoughts" that seemed to come out of nowhere? That creative solution? That nudge to call someone? That was God. He'd just been attributing it to his own mind.In this conversation, Mark shares the full story — the 10 years of frustration, the wrong definitions that kept him stuck, the moment it broke open, and how an 8-year-old granddaughter now uses these same steps every single day.If you've ever thought "Why can't I hear God?" — this might be the reason.🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED📖 Book: "4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice" by Mark Virkler🔑 Free 4 Keys teaching & resources: www.CWGministries.org/4keys🎓 School of the Spirit: www.cluschoolofthespirit.com🎓 Christian Leadership University: www.cluonline.com🎧 Free guided journaling walk: cwgministries.org (Sea of Galilee download on homepage)🔗 JOIN THE RECEIVE EXPERIENCE💻 Receive Academy: https://receiveacademy.com/📖 SCRIPTURES REFERENCEDHabakkuk 2:1-2 — The four keysJohn 7:37-39 — Rivers of living waterHebrews 12:1-2 — Fixing your eyes on JesusPsalm 16:8 — I behold the Lord at my right handEphesians 1:17-18 — Eyes of the heart enlightenedJohn 5-14 — "I do nothing on my own initiative"Joshua 1:8 — Meditate on my word day and night⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 — Mark's 10-year search to hear God's voice8:00 — Everything he tried that didn't work14:00 — The morning God woke him up19:00 — Habakkuk 2:1-2 and the 4 steps20:30 — Step 1: Stillness21:30 — Step 2: Vision — the eyes of your heart31:30 — Step 3: Tuning to flow34:50 — Step 4: Journaling and why it unlocks everything37:00 — How hearing God transformed his marriage42:50 — "I never hear God" — what Mark says to that46:30 — The danger of praying with an idol in your heart58:00 — Where to learn more and next steps#hearinggodsvoice #MarkVirkler #4Keys #HearGodsVoice #ChristianPodcast #Prayer #Journaling #SpiritualGrowth #ReceiveExperience #HolySpirit

"I'm still stuck."You know what God made you for. You might even be starting to see momentum. But there's something blocking you from actually stepping into it.Barry discovered why—and it's not what you think.It's not about trying harder. It's not about more faith. And it's definitely not about holding on tighter.

In this conversation, Barry unpacks what he learned from Jacob's wrestling match that completely changed how he understood breakthrough. Because sometimes the very thing we think will get us there is actually what's keeping us grounded.He explains:▪️Why Jacob's wrestling match wasn't about fighting God▪️The "finisher mentality" that prolongs your wilderness season▪️Why you can't receive breakthrough while holding on to your own strength▪️The GPS vs Compass problem (and why clarity isn't the answer)▪️The 3 reasons people never experience breakthrough▪️How community unlocks your identity in ways isolation never can00:00 Intro03:44 "I Know I Was Born for This—So Why Do I Feel Stuck?"05:46 What Jacob Was Really Wrestling (It Wasn't God)09:00 How We Try to Step Into God's Promises With Our Own Power10:23 Why the Limp Wasn't Punishment—It Was the Goodness of God22:35 The "Finisher Mentality" That Keeps You in the Wilderness Longer25:07 The Shocking Truth: You Can't Receive Until You Stop Holding On28:09 What Happens When You Finally Let Go of Your Own Strength30:11 The One Thing to Pass On to Your Kids: God Is Good (Not Just Powerful)43:05 Why Trying to Find Your Identity Alone Always Fails46:21 The Truth About Community: It's Where Identity Gets Validated49:32 The 3 Reasons You'll Never Experience Breakthrough52:52 Identity Unlocks Meaning—And Meaning Unlocks Everything Else55:30 The GPS vs Compass Problem (And Why You're Asking for the Wrong Thing)56:34 Why We Made Desperation the High Watermark of Faith (And Why That's Tragic)57:53 How Hearing God Opens the Door to Identity1:00:00 "Give Me My Life Plan So I Don't Need You"—The Scary Truth We Won't Say1:02:22 Do You Actually Trust That God Is Good? Here's the Real Test1:04:31 Even If You Don't Believe Me Yet, Try It—Life Is Worth It1:08:13 The Real ID You Need to Get Where You're Going1:09:05 Stop Chasing Clarity—Let Union Be the Anchor InsteadWant to hear God's voice and step into your identity?Join the Receive Academy community: https://receiveacademy.com/#HearingGod #ChristianIdentity #Breakthrough #SpiritualGrowth #FindingYourCalling #FaithJourney #JacobWrestling #ChristianCommunity #LetGo #TrustGod

"I knew the Bible like the back of my hand, but I still felt completely disconnected from God."Jenny Fein gave up everything—her career, her home, her entire life—to pursue God at Bible college. She followed every rule, checked every box, served tirelessly... and yet she couldn't hear God the way others could.After years of frustration, she finally discovered what was blocking her connection: hidden anger toward God that she didn't even know existed.In this powerful conversation, you'll discover:→ Why doing "all the right things" can actually keep you from intimacy with God→ The subtle lie that makes you believe God is disappointed in you→ How unknown anger creates an invisible wall between you and God's voice→ Why emotional honesty (not perfection) is the key to breakthrough→ The difference between religion and relationship that changes everything→ How Jenny went from 10+ failed healing sessions to a life-changing vision with GodThis isn't another "try harder" message. This is about uncovering the hidden beliefs that sabotage your connection with God—beliefs you may not even know you have.Jenny's story reveals a pattern I've seen with hundreds of clients: we're mad at God for not showing up the way we expected, but we've been taught that anger at God is unacceptable—so we bury it, and it blocks everything.🎯 FEATURED GUEST:Jenny Fein is an inner healing minister, YouTuber, and mother of five who helps people break free from religious performance and experience genuine intimacy with God. After spending years serving God while feeling disconnected, she discovered the power of emotional healing prayer and has since helped hundreds find breakthrough in their relationship with Christ.📺 Subscribe to Jenny's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritFilledHome💡 READY TO EXPERIENCE BREAKTHROUGH?If you're tired of feeling like you're doing everything right but still can't hear God clearly, you're not alone—and you're not broken.Join the Receive Academy where we practice hearing God's voice daily in a shame-free community that accepts you exactly where you are.Inside the community:✅ Daily live calls where we experience God together (not just talk about Him)✅ Safe space to bring your real emotions—anger, disappointment, confusion—without judgment✅ Proven framework for identifying and removing the hidden blocks to intimacy with God✅ A community that mirrors God's unconditional love while you heal👉 Join the Receive Academy: https://receiveacademy.com/⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:00:35 - Introduction: Meet Jenny Fein03:38 - The Checklist Christianity That Blocks Intimacy09:30 - "You're Mad at God" - The Denial & Breakthrough10:12 - The Vision: God Conducting the Orchestra of Your Life18:15 - "God Can't Be Disappointed" - The Revelation That Set Her Free30:50 - God's Final Message: "I Deeply Love You"#HearingGod #AngerAtGod #EmotionalHealing #ChristianCommunity #InnerHealing #ReligiousTrauma #IntimacyWithGod #HearGodsVoice #ChristianBreakthrough #PerformanceChristianity #SpiritualHealing #ChristianFaith #GodsLove #HealingPrayer #AuthenticFaith #ChristianTransformation👥 CONNECT WITH US:If Jenny's story resonated with you, you're likely carrying hidden beliefs or unprocessed emotions that are blocking your connection with God. You don't have to figure this out alone.The Receive Academy is a daily practice community where we help each other identify these blocks and experience breakthrough together.Join us: https://receiveacademy.com/----------If this conversation helped you see something you've been missing, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who's doing all the "right things" but still feels disconnected from God.

Connect with Paul Young:https://wmpaulyoung.com/Connect with Tyson:If you want to hear God more in your life, check out The Receive Academy: https://receiveacademy.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

03:01 Hearing God in Everyday Life

11:01 Trust and Fear in Decision Making

14:24 Living in the Present Tense

22:51 The Wedding at Cana: An Example of Divine Timing

28:56 The Meeting Place Within

31:10 Mentoring and Spiritual Practices

32:55 Identity and the Court Jester

42:53 Living in Participation

53:44 The Sequel to The Shack

55:10 Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Receive Experience Podcast, we dive deep into heart healing and spiritual transformation with Michael and Marjorie of Elijah House Ministries. They share their insights on allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, the importance of sanctification before transformation, and how forgiveness and dealing with trauma are essential steps to healing. They emphasize building a conversational relationship with God, making room for the Holy Spirit, and speaking life and identity into individuals. The discussion also highlights the detrimental effects of legalistic practices and religious OCD, encouraging a more personal and loving approach to spirituality. Perfect for anyone interested in spiritual growth, heart healing, and developing a deeper relationship with God.

Connect with Elijah House: https://elijahhouse.org/

Join the Receive Academy: https://receiveacademy.com/

Or sign up for the next 5-Day Hearing God Challenge: https://hearinggodchallenge.com/Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Holy Spirit's Guidance

02:35 Understanding Prayer and Communication with God

05:52 The Concept of Scrupulosity and Religious OCD

11:42 The Importance of Forgiveness and Identity

37:00 The Impact of Parental Influence on Identity

41:20 Addressing Trauma and Shame in Heart Healing

46:28 The Power of the Holy Spirit

49:21 Hearing God's Voice

51:17 The Importance of Identity

59:07 The Elijah Task and Apostolic Fathering

01:14:54 Practical Ways to Show God's Love

01:23:24 The Journey of Healing and Growth

Connect with Nancy:Spiritual Warfare University - https://spiritualwarfareuniversity.com/

Learn how to build a transformational relationship with Jesus Christ and hear God in your life: https://receiveacademy.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

03:30 Nancy's Story of Struggle and Healing

06:18 The Power of Forgiveness and Prayer

13:41 Developing a Course on Healing

18:00 Generational and Ancestral Trauma

20:22 A Prayer for Guidance

21:28 The Vision of the Vault

23:56 Creating a Supportive Course

29:05 The Power of Paid Commitment

32:36 A Vision of Healing and Freedom

Connect with Nicole: https://www.emmanuelequineministry.org/

Learn how to hear God in the Receive Academy: https://receiveacademy.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:53 Nicole's Journey to Horse Ministry

03:44 The Role of Forgiveness and Holy Spirit

09:38 Experiencing the Holy Spirit

15:58 Teaching Kids to Listen to God

22:53 Embracing the Wild Journey of Faith

25:50 Integrating Faith with Horses

28:16 Overcoming Barriers and Idols

38:40 Walking in Authority and Abundant Life

Learn more about how to hear God by going to the Receive Academy: https://receiveacademy.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

04:51 Journey to Coaching and Ministry

11:27 The Shift to Identity-Based Coaching

15:32 Hearing God's Voice and Identity

29:58 Daily Practice and Relationship with God

41:07 Maintaining Humility Amidst Growth

43:41 Miracles and Relationships

49:28 The Power of Listening and Contemplation

59:00 The Role of Grace and Mercy

01:05:21 Self-Forgiveness and God's Love