James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with author Michael J. Cusick about his book, Sacred Attachment. Michael will be a plenary speaker at The Apprentice Gathering 2025, register here!

Michael John Cusick voices the questions and contradictions that are inherently part of living an authentic spiritual faith. With raw honesty and vulnerability, he shares his own zigzagging path to God and reveals how brokenness and pain can become the gateway to experiencing joyful divine attachment. Because God’s love has you, you can put aside fear and loneliness—and you can rest seen, soothed, safe, and secure in God’s presence. Cusick’s gentle, trauma-informed guidance lets you reimagine life with God in a way that repairs wounds and deeply satisfies your soul.

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In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “Jesus makes all things new.” To help explain his thought from above, James references the book “On the Incarnation” by Athanasius of Alexandria.

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In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “Do you know your name?” James’s thought from above comes from one of the unspoken sermons by George MacDonald.

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Matt Johnson returns for part two of the conversation with James Bryan Smith. In this episode, Smith and Johnson continue their conversation about the research on spiritual growth.

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James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with spiritual director and friend Matt Johnson. James and Matt have a conversation about the research they are conducting together about what happens to people who experience significant spiritual growth. In this episode, they talk about James’ triangle of transformation from The Good and Beautiful series.

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James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Take your gratitude to the next level.” In this episode, James gives us two practices we can do to give thanks to God. Smith explains both practices in detail and gives examples of how we can do them.

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James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Let nothing disturb you.” In this episode, Smith recites a prayer from St. Teresa of Avila. James goes through the prayer and explains what we can learn from the prayer in order to help us not be disturbed by difficult times in our lives.

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James Bryan Smith’s thought from above in this episode is, “God wants to talk with you.” Following up from his previous episode, Smith talks about how we can talk with God when we pray. Smith gives some examples from the Lord’s prayer and Psalm twenty-three to help explain his thought from above.

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James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “God wants you to talk to him.” In this episode, James discusses the Lord’s Prayer. Smith explains how he uses the prayer, goes through each verse, and discusses the importance of each verse. Listen here or anywhere you get your podcasts.

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James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Jesus is gentle and he is mighty, he is good, but he isn’t safe.” In this episode, Smith talks about how Jesus is the lamb of God and also the lion of Judah. James explains how Jesus is gentle and mighty, how he has seen it in his own life and in the scriptures.

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