Have you ever felt totally great about life and then after watching a few reels felt inadequate about yourself? Do you wrestle with comparison online -- even when you're trying not to?

In today's episode, we are back in Matthew 6 for Part 2 of this unofficial Matthew 6 series, and today we are talking all about comparison and how it can sneak in and disrupt our relationship with God. Matthew 6 is a well known section of Scripture, but I pray that this beautiful piece of Holy Spirit revelation will bless you today. 

If comparison has been affecting your discernment of God's voice, made it hard to sit and enjoy God's Presence, or made it awkward to talk to Jesus in your daily prayer life, this episode is for you. Let's tune out the world, and tune into the Holy Spirit.

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Are you controlling your mind or is something else claiming power over you? 

In today's episode, I share Biblical encouragement from Matthew 6 on how you can take back the authority over your eyes and heart. There is so much good from social media, but it can also numb our discernment, dull our sensitivity to God's Presence, and distract us from spending quiet time with the Holy Spirit. This episode will help you take authority over how you spend your time so you can be better led by the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you.

If you're craving spiritual growth and you want the Holy Spirit's conviction -- not religion's condemnation -- this episode is for you. Let's get practical. 

Get Connected:

Get Weekly Practical Abiding devotions: https://subscribepage.io/igC8nL 

Resources:

43 | How to Build an Intimate Relationship with the Holy Spirit - Joyce Miller https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/43-how-to-build-an-intimate-relationship-with-the/id1816381080?i=1000738650425 

21 | Finding Confidence in God's Love and Trusting God in Hard Seasons - Esther Chen Bowell https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/21-finding-confidence-in-gods-love-and-trusting-god/id1816381080?i=1000724365182 

6 | I Disobeyed the Holy Spirit and Didn't Listen to God's Voice: Here's What Happened https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-i-disobeyed-the-holy-spirit-and-didnt-listen-to/id1816381080?i=1000716658530 

Another LOADED episode! Girl, if you want super, super practical tips and insight into how to go deep with the LORD, this is the episode for you.

Joyce Miller is a dear friend and mentor of mine and, as I often say, she is a fountain of wisdom. As someone who got saved in her 20s, Joyce has a real heart for young adults, and her tenderness really reflects the gentleness and kindness of the Holy Spirit.

Joyce walked through many extremely difficult seasons where trusting God was a choice, staying in communication with the Holy Spirit was choice... choosing to tune into God's voice was a choice... So, she has such a depth of knowledge to share, and it is incredibly encouraging! I can't wait for you to list.

If you want to grow in discernment of God's voice, develop more depth in your relationship with God in your quiet time, or want a deeper daily prayer life, this episode is for you. Let's get practical.

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Join the Practical Abiding Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/igC8nL 

Sick of feeling gross after hours of doom scrolling? Tired of all the distractions that keep you from connecting with the Holy Spirit like you long for? Girl, I've been there! Soo not a fun place to be.

Years ago, I wrestled with multiple different device addictions -- I couldn't turn off Netflix even to cook myself dinner, I was that glued to my laptop. I longed to hear God's voice and have meaningful, sweet quiet time in God's Presence, but I was constantly numbing my emotions with social media and television and I didn't know the way out. So, girl, trust me, I get you.

Today, I share a very simple two part formula for breaking an addiction to your phone. Instead of trying to earn freedom by angrily forcing ourselves to abstain, I present another option, one that is gentle and opens the door for communication with the Holy Spirit. If you are looking to grow deeper in your relationship with God this is the episode for you. Let's get practical.

Get Connected:

Join the Practical Abiding Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/igC8nL 

Busyness, notifications, fights with roommates, insecurities... all of these things can keep us from tuning into the Holy Spirit in our quiet time.

"Get behind me, Satan" is common spiritual warfare declaration to make, but what if while we are rebuking the enemy, we are actually missing what God is doing in our lives at the very same time?

In today's episode, I have my dear friend and mentor Carissa Hjellming back on the podcast to talk about, well, here are some highlights:

When it comes to discernment, growing in hearing God's voice, and building out a daily prayer life in our quiet time, the conversation we have today is so vastly important, and it really is the heartbeat of this podcast. I am so grateful to Carissa for taking the time to come onto the show to share her wisdom with us.

Resources from today's episode:

Connect with Carissa Hjellming

https://patchworkfaith.podia.com/ 

Join Relentless Hallelujah (Patchwork Faith Insider Community)

https://patchworkfaith.podia.com/relentless-hallelujah-community 

Use code: "20ABIDING" at checkout for 20% off!

Join the Practical Abiding Insider Community https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y

Carissa lived for years with chronic pain, when a friend urged her to seek out the Lord for healing. She was skeptic, but she took a step of faith and her health and life changed forever.

In today's episode, my mentor, friend, and favorite counselor-prayer-minister Carissa Hjellming from Patchwork Faith Ministries is going the pod. Carissa covers:

1. How the Lord saved her life after giving birth to her second daughter

2. How the Lord healed her of fibromyalgia

3. Why some people don't get healed

4. How to stay in relationship with God in the face of disappointment 

If you are struggling to talk to the Holy Spirit in daily prayer... if discernment of God's voice feels elusive because chronic pain or sickness is getting in the way... this is for you. Trusting God can be a battle! Carissa's testimony brings much needed encouragement! Let's get practical.

Resources from today's episode:

Connect with Carissa Hjellming

https://patchworkfaith.podia.com/ 

Join Relentless Hallelujah (Patchwork Faith Insider Community)

https://patchworkfaith.podia.com/relentless-hallelujah-community 

Use code: "20ABIDING" at checkout for 20% off!

Join the Practical Abiding Insider Community https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y

Waiting upon the Lord, sitting in God's Presence, listening for the God's voice... These things are so beautiful and life-giving, but can be practically challenging. Sitting quietly can feel awkward, intimidating, maybe a little frustrating... So let's get a framework in place to set the table!

Whether you are looking to make time in silence part of your daily prayer time or just want to try it for the first time, this episode has a practical framework to get you started. When it comes to building trust in God, there is nothing quite like sitting in quiet time and hearing God's voice! It takes you to a whole other level with the Lord and in your spiritual growth! It's great for building discernment, practicing hearing God's voice, and just learning to sense the Presence of God. So, how do we do it?

In today's episode, I share practical tips for building out your silent time with the Holy Spirit from before the time even begins, to your physical space, and to what you can actually do during that time. If you want to grow in tolerance of silence and enjoy God's Presence more, without being distracted, let's get practical.

Resources from today's episode:

19 | How Asking for Signs Destroyed My Discernment and How the Holy Spirit Helped Me with My Confusion https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/19-how-asking-for-signs-destroyed-my-discernment-and/id1816381080?i=1000723419976 

20 | "I Thought I Was Hearing God" What to Do When You Hear the Holy Spirit Completely Wrong https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/20-i-thought-i-was-hearing-god-what-to-do-when-you/id1816381080?i=1000723860605 

Soaking in His Presence (Instrumental Worship) https://spotify.link/K66uACOZMXb 

Join the Practical Abiding Online Community https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y 

I've been wanting to share my heart behind building this online community for some time, and here it finally is. I really want this podcast to be a resource to y'all who have a burning desire to live a radical life of connection and intimacy with the Lord, especially through tuning into the Holy Spirit.

Growing in discernment of God's voice can be difficult, especially in this day and age when there is so much noise and so many distractions. Daily prayer is often on our list of things we want to do, but in the busyness of life, it can get pushed to the side.

So, I created this group. Here's just a couple reasons why:

- I want to connect with you all and get to know you better so I can better support you

- I didn't want to create something on IG, because I know we are all trying to spend LESS time there

- A safe community is so encouraging for going deeper with the Holy Spirit

Hear more of my heart in this bonus episode.

I would love for you to join the free online community hosted by Discord.

Join here:

https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y 

How do you find out what God's voice sounds like? If you've never heard the Holy Spirit speak before, how do you know it's Him? Is there a way to do a Bible study in your quiet time that also sharpen your discernment of God's voice?

Girl, I got you! In today's episode, I walk through how to study the character of God in your personal Bible study time. This is one of the first steps -- along with daily prayer -- that can help you grow in discernment of God's voice. My method includes simple questions to ask yourself as you read Scripture to get you digging deeper in your understanding of who God is and what He sounds like, so that you ultimately grow deeper in hearing the Holy Spirit.

If you want to grow in discernment of God's voice, let's get practical.

Join our free online Practical Abiding Community: https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y 

Subscribe to the Practical Abiding Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/igC8nL 

Related episodes:

2 | 3 Simple Questions That Will Take You Deeper in Your Quiet Time (Bible Study Tools) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2-3-simple-questions-that-will-take-you-deeper-in-your/id1816381080?i=1000712575259 

16 | Want More from Your Quiet Time? Simple Bible Study Tools to Go Deeper in Your Relationship with God https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/16-want-more-from-your-quiet-time-simple-bible-study/id1816381080?i=1000721931220