Sunday is for looking ahead with God. Before the week begins, we pause and place what's coming into His hands. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a steady way to enter the week grounded, attentive, and trusting God to lead you one day at a time. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠⁠ Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠⁠SpeakPipe⁠⁠ Sunday affirmations and Scripture I place this coming week in God's hands.Psalm 31:15 — "My times are in Your hands." I trust God to guide my steps.Psalm 37:23 — "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him." I enter this week with expectancy, not fear.Romans 15:13 — "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." I invite God into every moment ahead.Proverbs 16:3 — "Commit to the Lord whatever you do." I trust God to order my priorities.Matthew 6:33 — "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." I receive God's wisdom for the days ahead.James 1:5 — "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God." I walk into this week anchored in truth.Psalm 119:105 — "Your word is a lamp to my feet." I trust God with what I cannot foresee.Isaiah 46:10 — "I make known the end from the beginning." I choose faith over anticipation of stress.Psalm 56:3 — "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." I rely on God's grace for each day.2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you." I trust God's timing this week.Habakkuk 2:3 — "Though it linger, wait for it." I remain open to God's leading.Psalm 25:4 — "Show me Your ways, Lord." I step forward with humility and trust.Micah 6:8 — "What does the Lord require of you? To walk humbly with your God." I depend on God's strength, not my own.Psalm 68:35 — "God gives strength and power to His people." I trust God with every conversation and decision.Proverbs 20:24 — "A person's steps are directed by the Lord." I choose obedience over control.John 14:23 — "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching." I walk into this week aware of God's presence.Exodus 33:14 — "My Presence will go with you." I trust God to work through ordinary moments.Zechariah 4:10 — "Do not despise these small beginnings." I release anxiety about outcomes.Psalm 112:7 — "They will have no fear of bad news." I remain attentive to God's voice.John 10:27 — "My sheep listen to My voice." I trust God to meet my needs.Philippians 4:19 — "My God will meet all your needs." I step into this week with courage.Psalm 31:24 — "Be strong and take heart." I trust God to shape my character.Romans 8:29 — "To be conformed to the image of His Son." I begin this week grounded in hope.Hebrews 6:19 — "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul." I rest in God's faithfulness as I move forward.Psalm 33:4 — "The word of the Lord is right and true." Closing prayer God, as I step into this new week, I place everything ahead of me in Your care. Go before me, guide my steps, and help me stay attentive to You. I trust You with what's coming, one day at a time. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday is a good day to slow down and look back over your week with God. Not to replay everything or overthink it, but to notice where He met you, where He carried you, and where His grace showed up. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a gentle way to reflect with honesty and gratitude before the new week begins. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠⁠ Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠⁠SpeakPipe⁠⁠ Saturday affirmations and Scripture I thank God for walking with me through this week.Psalm 143:10 — "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." I recognize God's faithfulness in both the seen and unseen moments.Psalm 77:11 — "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago." I release regret and receive God's grace.Psalm 32:5 — "Then I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the guilt of my sin." I trust that God was at work even when I didn't notice.Ecclesiastes 3:11 — "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I give thanks for the strength God provided each day.Psalm 28:7 — "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." I acknowledge where I grew this week.2 Peter 3:18 — "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I notice where God invited me to trust Him more deeply.Psalm 37:5 — "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." I receive God's mercy for where I fell short.Micah 7:18 — "You delight in mercy." I choose gratitude over self-criticism.1 Thessalonians 5:18 — "Give thanks in all circumstances." I honor the work God has been doing in my heart.Philippians 1:6 — "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." I acknowledge God's presence in ordinary moments.Psalm 16:11 — "You make known to me the path of life." I release this week into God's care.Psalm 55:22 — "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." I trust God with what remains unfinished.Proverbs 16:9 — "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." I thank God for His patience with me.Psalm 103:8 — "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." I rest in the truth that God sees me fully.Hebrews 4:13 — "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." I choose to end this week with gratitude.Psalm 92:1 — "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." I release comparison and embrace contentment.Hebrews 13:5 — "Be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you.'" I acknowledge God's protection this week.Psalm 121:7 — "The Lord will keep you from all harm." I thank God for His provision.Matthew 6:31-32 — "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." I recognize God's quiet guidance.Isaiah 30:21 — "This is the way; walk in it." I let go of striving and receive rest.Psalm 23:2 — "He leads me beside quiet waters." I honor the limits God has given me.Psalm 127:2 — "He grants sleep to those He loves." I trust God with what I do not understand.Romans 11:33 — "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." I receive peace as I reflect with God.Psalm 4:7 — "You have filled my heart with greater joy." I end this week grounded in God's faithfulness.Lamentations 3:23 — "Great is Your faithfulness." Closing prayer God, thank You for walking with me through this week. Help me to see Your faithfulness clearly and to release what I need to let go of. I trust that You were present in ways I noticed and in ways I didn't. I place this week back into Your hands. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Is God Asking You to Lay Down? Hearing God in Listener Questions Start with the thing you feel like you couldn't possibly give up. That's usually the one. It's Friday, so we're catching up and working through questions that came in. Today we talk about using the color method with kids, whether spiritual gifts only operate through tongues, and a question I had to sit with: what has God actually asked me to surrender? I share the closed door that led to my first book, and the hardest thing I've ever had to lay down. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠ Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠SpeakPipe⁠ Questions we answer today Can kids do the color method, and where do I find the chart? Do the gifts of the Spirit only come through praying in tongues? Is speaking in tongues the only evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? What has God asked me personally to give up? How do I know what He's asking me to surrender? Timestamps 00:00 How Friday episodes work 01:50 Can children use the color method? 02:45 Adapting it for younger kids 03:10 Where to find the free Bible Study 101 download 04:10 A question about the gifts of the Spirit 05:00 Do gifts only operate through tongues? 06:40 Why I try never to say amen 08:10 Pushing back on some charismatic teaching 08:40 The evidence of a Spirit-filled heart is a Spirit-filled life 09:00 The prophetic artist on one of our trips 10:20 The painting that undid me 11:40 What we've seen so far in Luke 12:45 What has God asked me to give up? 14:30 The article, the contract, and the closed door 17:40 Surrendering it at my desk 18:00 The two emails that came that week 19:20 How one act of obedience opened everything after it 20:10 Daycare, children's ministry, missions, and now this 21:10 What God usually asks for 21:40 The two hardest things I've laid down 22:20 Laying your children before the throne 23:20 Watching them go where I couldn't follow 24:30 Start with what you can't imagine giving up 25:40 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

End your week anchored in peace and presence. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to set down what you've been carrying and find rest in God's care. Today's affirmations are about releasing your burdens, letting go of striving, and remembering that God's strength, love, and renewal are available right where you are. It's time to stop striving and start resting in His goodness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠⁠ Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠⁠SpeakPipe⁠⁠ Before we begin The week is ending, and as we step into the weekend, let's take a moment to breathe. Release your burdens and rest in God's presence. We're not meant to carry everything ourselves. God calls us to lay our worries at His feet and find renewal in Him. Friday affirmations and Scripture I release my worries and trust God to handle what I cannot. 1 Peter 5:7 God's peace fills my heart and I rest in His presence. Matthew 11:28 I am not defined by my mistakes. God's grace is greater than my failures. Lamentations 3:22-23 I let go of the need to control everything and surrender to God's perfect plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 I am deeply loved by God and nothing can separate me from His love. Romans 8:38-39 God refreshes my soul and renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will be fully present today, trusting that God holds tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 My body, mind, and spirit find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 I let go of striving and choose to rest in God's love. Zephaniah 3:17 I step into the weekend with joy, knowing that God is in control. Psalm 118:24 God's presence is my safe place. Psalm 91:1 I am fully known and fully loved by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I will not let stress steal my peace today. Philippians 4:6-7 God is my refuge and I am safe in His hands. Psalm 46:1 I do not need to have all the answers. I trust God. Romans 11:33 God is fighting my battles and I can rest in His victory. Exodus 14:14 I will not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:13 I am held together by God's love even when life feels overwhelming. Colossians 1:17 God's goodness and mercy follow me every day. Psalm 23:6 I will not carry burdens that God has already taken from me. Matthew 11:29-30 I am at peace because God is in control. Isaiah 26:3 I trust in God's timing even when I don't understand. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will lay down my burdens and take on God's. Psalm 4:8 I am never alone for God is always with me. Deuteronomy 31:6 No matter what happens today, God is still good. Nahum 1:7 Closing prayer Father, as this week comes to an end, I lay my burdens at Your feet. Help me to release my worries, rest in Your peace, and trust You with everything I cannot control. Refresh my heart and renew my spirit so I can step into the weekend with joy. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What If Your Past Is Too Far Gone to Fix? Hearing God’s Voice in Luke 5:27-39 By the rules of his own religion, Levi's sin was unforgivable. Repentance required restitution, and he could never find the people he had overcharged. Today in our daily Bible study we finish Luke 5 at a dinner party. Jesus calls a tax collector, and the first thing Levi does is throw a banquet and fill the room with the only people who would still eat with him. We'll look at why that meal was scandalous, what the Pharisees were really grumbling about, and why Jesus reversed the order everyone assumed: seated first, changed second. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Ad-free episodes and the full library of past series: Patreon Questions we answer today How did the Roman tax system work, and why were collectors hated? Why was repentance considered impossible for a man like Levi? What did Levi give up that the fishermen didn't? What did sharing a meal actually mean in that culture? What word does Luke use for grumbling, and where else does it show up? Timestamps 00:00 Finishing Luke 5 01:24 Reading Luke 5:27-39 03:04 Prayer 04:02 The man who had been taxing Peter's catch 04:58 How the tax system actually worked 07:20 Traitor, thief, and ritually unclean 08:17 A story from New York City 09:14 Why repentance required restitution 09:43 Mathematically unforgivable 10:37 Why Levi burned the bridge behind him 13:12 The banquet, and who was on the guest list 14:34 The only people who would still eat with him 15:22 He brought Jesus into the room he already had 16:39 What a shared meal meant in that culture 18:32 Why that table failed every purity test 19:28 Honor, shame, and who you ate with 20:29 The same people who were amazed yesterday 20:58 Gongyzo, and the sound of grumbling 21:27 The same word Israel used in the wilderness 22:37 They grumbled at the disciples, not Jesus 23:11 The order they expected, and the order Jesus used 24:37 Catch them before you clean them 26:07 The table thread running through Luke 28:21 You have a seat 28:54 And so does the person you're excluding 29:54 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday Daily Affirmations: I Am a Light in This World, Shining for Christ (Matthew 5:14) You were created on purpose, for a purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to walk into your day with intention, clarity, and wisdom. Whether you're questioning your calling or finding your footing in a new season, today's affirmations will help you trust God's plan, listen for His guidance, and move forward with boldness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it's based on. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠⁠ Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠⁠SpeakPipe⁠⁠ Before we begin God created you for a reason. Your life is not an accident, and your steps are not random. He has a plan for you, a purpose that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to your heart. As you listen to these affirmations, let them remind you that God is leading, guiding, and equipping you for everything He has called you to do. Thursday affirmations and Scripture God has a purpose for my life and I walk in His plan. Jeremiah 29:11 I trust in the Lord to guide my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 I seek wisdom, and God gives it freely. James 1:5 God is directing my steps and I do not walk alone. Psalm 37:23 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 God has prepared good works for me to do today. Ephesians 2:10 I am equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will walk in faith, not in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 God's Word lights my path. Psalm 119:105 I choose obedience, knowing God's ways are best. Deuteronomy 5:33 I live with purpose and do not waste my time. Ephesians 5:15-16 I am called to make an impact for God's Kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20 I have the mind of Christ and seek His wisdom daily. 1 Corinthians 2:16 I am a vessel for God's work. 2 Corinthians 4:7 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's purpose for me cannot be stopped. Job 42:2 I do everything for the glory of God. Colossians 3:23 God is using my life to accomplish His plan. Romans 8:28 I am bold in sharing the gospel. Romans 1:16 I walk in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 I remain steadfast in my calling. 1 Corinthians 15:58 God will finish the work He started in me. Philippians 1:6 I live with an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 I press forward in my faith, knowing my reward is in Heaven. Philippians 3:13-14 Closing prayer Father, thank You for calling me to a life of purpose. Help me to walk in wisdom today, seeking You in all I do. Give me clarity where I need direction, courage where I need boldness, and a heart that is always ready to serve You. Let my life bring You glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Should You Say No to Good Things? Hearing God's Voice in Luke 5:12-26 The crowds were growing and people were still sick, and Jesus kept slipping away to pray anyway. Today in our daily Bible study we're in the middle of Luke 5, looking at two men who were locked out and the way Jesus dealt with the barrier before He dealt with the symptom. Then we come to one quiet sentence that I can't get past: as the need increased, Jesus withdrew more, not less. If you are serving yourself into the ground because the need is right in front of you, this one is for you. Links We visit Luke's house in Rome on our Bible Study Live trip. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Questions we answer today What did leprosy actually mean in that culture, and why did a priest decide it? Why did the man ask to be made clean instead of healed? Why did Jesus touch him before He said a word? Why did Jesus keep withdrawing to pray while people still needed Him? What do the friends who tore open a roof teach us about intercession? Timestamps 00:00 Where we are in Luke 5 01:47 Reading Luke 5:12-26 03:38 Prayer 04:03 Two men, two barriers 05:30 What leprosy meant, and what it didn't 06:52 A ritual category, decided by a priest 07:42 Dressed for his own funeral 10:13 Why people believed it was judgment 11:36 Only two cures in the entire Old Testament 12:20 Full of leprosy, written by a physician 12:58 He broke the law to get to Jesus 13:20 Not a question of power, a question of will 13:45 He asked to be made clean, not healed 14:32 Jesus touched him first 15:14 The direction of the contamination reverses 16:52 Received first, changed second 17:29 The crowds grow 17:56 But He kept slipping away to pray 19:16 When the need scaled, so did the withdrawal 19:36 What I had to let go of 21:35 Everything public came out of what happened in private 22:24 When a ministry stops being God's ministry 23:50 The friends who tore open a roof 25:14 Gideon, Peter, and a boat in Kenya 27:55 Who was in the room, and why it matters tomorrow 29:00 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm speaking God's peace over the worries that pile up in the middle of the week. We repeat Scripture-based affirmations together and land on Jesus' words in Matthew 6:34, that tomorrow is in God's hands. Midweek is when the noise gets loudest. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to trade anxiety for peace and remember that God is still in control of what you can't see yet. Today's affirmations are about surrendering worry, resting in His presence, and trusting His timing even when the picture isn't clear. God's peace isn't just a feeling. It's a promise. I'll say each statement, then pause so you can repeat it after me, and then I'll share the Scripture it comes from. Before we begin Breathe in God's peace, and exhale your worries. This day is a gift, and no matter what's ahead, you can trust that God is in control. His love is steady. His plans for you are good. His presence goes before you. Let these affirmations remind you to trust Him today. Wednesday affirmations and Scripture I am ruled by God's peace today. Isaiah 26:3 I cast all my worries onto Jesus. He carries them for me. 1 Peter 5:7 I will not be anxious. I will pray and trust God. Philippians 4:6-7 God's plans for me are good, and I trust Him. Jeremiah 29:11 I do not need to worry about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 I will rest in God's presence today. Exodus 33:14 God is my refuge and strength. Psalm 46:1 I will not let my heart be troubled. I trust in God. John 14:27 The Lord directs my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 Even when I don't understand, I trust in God's wisdom. Romans 11:33 I do not have to be afraid because God is with me. Deuteronomy 31:8 God is fighting for me. Exodus 14:14 I am not alone. God walks with me. Isaiah 41:13 God is my rock and salvation. I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6 I find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 God's love never fails me. Lamentations 3:22-23 I have peace because I am in Christ. John 16:33 I wait on the Lord and He renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will trust in God, even when I don't see the whole picture. 2 Corinthians 5:7 God is working all things for my good. Romans 8:28 God's peace rules in my heart today. Colossians 3:15 I give my burdens to the Lord and He sustains me. Psalm 55:22 I will be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10 I trust God's timing and His ways. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians 4:4 Closing prayer Father, I surrender my worries to You. I choose to rest in Your peace today, trusting that You are in control. Fill my heart with faith instead of fear, and let Your peace guard my mind. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links If you long for a slower pace to practice this kind of trust, our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui is a contemplative time in Scripture with a small group of women. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can You Obey God When You Think He’s Wrong? Hearing God’s Voice in Luke 5:1-11 Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. Then Jesus told him to go back out at the worst possible time of day. Today in our daily Bible study we’re starting Luke 5, where Jesus begins calling His disciples. What strikes me about Peter is that he doesn’t believe it’s going to work, he says so out loud, and he lets the nets down anyway. If you’re waiting to feel sure before you obey, this one is for you, because trusting God rarely starts with certainty. Links We visit Luke's house in Rome on our Bible Study Live trip. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Questions we answer today Why did Jesus teach from a boat instead of the shore? What kind of exhaustion was Peter actually in? Why was everything about this instruction wrong by fishing standards? What does the title Peter uses for Jesus tell us about his heart? Why didn’t they just abandon the boats and follow Him? Timestamps 00:00 Moving into Luke 5 and the active ministry years 03:30 Reading Luke 5:1-11 05:40 The lake, and why storms came up so fast 07:47 Why the boat was a pulpit, not a barrier 10:00 Jesus asked permission 11:16 Kopiao, the work that empties you 12:20 Why they fished at night 13:58 Wrong hour, wrong depth, wrong net 15:23 He doesn’t believe it, and obeys anyway 17:01 Epistates, and what that title reveals 19:34 You don’t have to feel confident to be obedient 21:17 All night in their own strength 22:29 They offered an empty vessel and He filled it 23:41 Depart from me, I am a sinful man 24:47 Zogreo, and what catching men really means 27:44 Why they didn’t abandon the boats 29:49 What being a disciple actually meant 33:46 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we trade our own strength for God's as we speak Scripture over the week ahead. These affirmations center on Ephesians 3:20 and the truth that God's power is at work within you. Step into your week with boldness, peace, and purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to trade your own strength for God's before the day gets away from you. As the world demands more, God invites you to lean on Him. Today's affirmations are a reminder that you are never alone, never powerless, and never without purpose. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Before we begin Today's affirmations are for strength and confidence for the week ahead. Whatever this week holds, you are not facing it alone. God is with you, strengthening you, guiding you, and fighting for you. No matter what challenges you encounter, you can walk in faith knowing that God has already prepared the way for you. Tuesday affirmations and Scripture I am strong and courageous in Christ. Joshua 1:9 I do not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:10 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I am victorious through Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57 I have the power of God working within me. Ephesians 3:20 I will not be shaken because God is my refuge. Psalm 62:6 I walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17 God fights my battles and I need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 I am not afraid because God has overcome the world. John 16:33 I have authority in Christ over every attack of the enemy. Luke 10:19 I am rooted and established in God's love. Ephesians 3:17 I have divine wisdom and strength for today. James 1:5 I am resilient and I will persevere through trials. Romans 5:3-4 I am filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's grace is sufficient for me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 I have peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:7 I am never alone. God is always near. Deuteronomy 31:8 I am protected under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 God's Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 I stand firm in faith and do not waver. James 1:6 I am free from fear because God's perfect love casts it out. 1 John 4:18 I have a spirit of power, love, and sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 God is working all things for my good today. Romans 8:28 Closing prayer Lord, I surrender my fear to You. Fill me with boldness, courage, and confidence in You. No matter what today holds, I trust in Your strength. In Jesus' name, Amen. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links Paul wrote about God's power at work in us, and on our Bible Study Live trip to Rome we walk the Appian Way, the same road Paul traveled into the city. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hearing God in Luke: Jesus said be quiet and come out, and it left. Today we finish Luke 4 in Capernaum, where Jesus starts proving line by line everything He claimed back in Nazareth. A man held by a demon walks out free. A woman burning with fever gets up and makes dinner. A whole town brings its sick and He touches them one at a time. We'll look at what first-century exorcism actually looked like, why Jesus refused to let the demon talk, and one correction worth hearing if you've ever been told your illness was spiritual. Links We visit Luke's house in Rome on our Bible Study Live trip. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Questions we answer today Why does Luke call it an "unclean" demon when all demons are unclean? How was Jesus' method different from exorcism in that world? Why did He silence a demon that was telling the truth? Does rebuking a fever mean the fever was a demon? Who actually asked Jesus to heal Peter's mother-in-law? Timestamps 00:00 Finishing Luke 4 00:50 Reading Luke 4:31-44 02:40 Prayer 03:50 Proving the Nazareth claim line by line 05:00 Capernaum becomes home base 06:10 The first time Jesus names the kingdom of God 08:00 Why "unclean demon" is unusual 09:30 What a Greek reader would have assumed 11:20 Something unclean sitting in the holiest gathering of the week 12:20 Why nothing drew it out until Jesus walked in 13:10 The demon knew exactly who He was 14:00 Be quiet and come out 14:20 What that word actually means 15:00 What exorcism looked like in that world 16:10 Jesus just used His voice 17:00 Why He silenced something that was telling the truth 18:00 Why spectacle isn't the model 19:00 We don't study demons, we study Jesus 23:20 What rebuke actually means 24:00 The same verb for demons, fever, and the sea 25:20 Not every sickness is demonic 27:30 Why Luke specifies a high fever 28:00 She never asked 28:40 The first of many intercessions in Luke 29:20 Praying for someone who can't pray 30:00 The man healed in a hotel room in Italy 31:10 Your homework today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's affirmations are all about identity and who God says you are. We speak Scripture together, including Genesis 1:27, so your sense of worth rests on His Word and not on your past or other people's opinions. Start your Monday with confidence, peace, and purpose. These daily Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to realign your heart and mind with biblical truth before the week begins. Today's affirmations are all about identity: who God says you are, and what changes when you believe it. Speak life over your day, renew your faith, and step into God's promises with Scripture straight from His Word. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Before we begin Take a deep breath. This is a new day filled with God's grace and purpose. You are not defined by your past, or your mistakes, or the opinions of others. You are defined by the truth of God's Word. Let these affirmations fill your heart as you step into today. Monday affirmations and Scripture I am a child of God, chosen and loved. 1 John 3:1 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I am fully known and loved fully by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I have been chosen before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 I am created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 I am redeemed and made new in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I am set apart for God's purpose. 1 Peter 2:9 I am God's masterpiece, created for good works. Ephesians 2:10 I am loved with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 I am called by name and belong to God. Isaiah 43:1 I am not my past. I am a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:20 I'm seated in heavenly places with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 I am co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 I am not rejected. I am accepted in Christ. Ephesians 1:6 I am never alone. God is always with me. Hebrews 13:5 I am valuable and precious in God's sight. Isaiah 43:4 I have been set free by the truth of Jesus. John 8:36 I am more than a conqueror through Christ. Romans 8:37 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 I am God's dwelling place. His Spirit lives within me. 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am forgiven and free from condemnation. Romans 8:1 I have a divine purpose and calling from God. Jeremiah 29:11 I am dearly loved and nothing can separate me from God's love. Romans 8:38-39 Closing prayer Father, thank You for reminding me who I am in You. Help me to walk in confidence today, knowing that I am chosen, loved, and called by You. No matter what comes my way, let my identity be rooted in Your truth. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links We have studied the Genesis creation story together at our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui, a quiet, contemplative place to remember who God made you to be. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday is for looking ahead with God. Before the week begins, we pause and place what's coming into His hands. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a steady way to enter the week grounded, attentive, and trusting God to lead you one day at a time. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Sunday affirmations and Scripture I place this coming week in God's hands.Psalm 31:15: "My times are in Your hands." I trust God to guide my steps.Psalm 37:23: "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him." I enter this week with expectancy, not fear.Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." I invite God into every moment ahead.Proverbs 16:3: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do." I trust God to order my priorities.Matthew 6:33: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." I receive God's wisdom for the days ahead.James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God." I walk into this week anchored in truth.Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet." I trust God with what I cannot foresee.Isaiah 46:10: "I make known the end from the beginning." I choose faith over anticipation of stress.Psalm 56:3: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." I rely on God's grace for each day.2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you." I trust God's timing this week.Habakkuk 2:3: "Though it linger, wait for it." I remain open to God's leading.Psalm 25:4: "Show me Your ways, Lord." I step forward with humility and trust.Micah 6:8: "What does the Lord require of you? To walk humbly with your God." I depend on God's strength, not my own.Psalm 68:35: "God gives strength and power to His people." I trust God with every conversation and decision.Proverbs 20:24: "A person's steps are directed by the Lord." I choose obedience over control.John 14:23: "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching." I walk into this week aware of God's presence.Exodus 33:14: "My Presence will go with you." I trust God to work through ordinary moments.Zechariah 4:10: "Do not despise these small beginnings." I release anxiety about outcomes.Psalm 112:7: "They will have no fear of bad news." I remain attentive to God's voice.John 10:27: "My sheep listen to My voice." I trust God to meet my needs.Philippians 4:19: "My God will meet all your needs." I step into this week with courage.Psalm 31:24: "Be strong and take heart." I trust God to shape my character.Romans 8:29: "To be conformed to the image of His Son." I begin this week grounded in hope.Hebrews 6:19: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul." I rest in God's faithfulness as I move forward.Psalm 33:4: "The word of the Lord is right and true." Closing prayer God, as I step into this new week, I place everything ahead of me in Your care. Go before me, guide my steps, and help me stay attentive to You. I trust You with what's coming, one day at a time. Amen. Links Paul wrote Romans to the believers in Rome, and on our Bible Study Live trip each November we study his words in the city where that early church lived. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday is a good day to slow down and look back over your week with God. Not to replay everything or overthink it, but to notice where He met you, where He carried you, and where His grace showed up. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a gentle way to reflect with honesty and gratitude before the new week begins. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Saturday affirmations and Scripture I thank God for walking with me through this week.Psalm 143:10: "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." I recognize God's faithfulness in both the seen and unseen moments.Psalm 77:11: "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago." I release regret and receive God's grace.Psalm 32:5: "Then I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the guilt of my sin." I trust that God was at work even when I didn't notice.Ecclesiastes 3:11: "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I give thanks for the strength God provided each day.Psalm 28:7: "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." I acknowledge where I grew this week.2 Peter 3:18: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I notice where God invited me to trust Him more deeply.Psalm 37:5: "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." I receive God's mercy for where I fell short.Micah 7:18: "You delight in mercy." I choose gratitude over self-criticism.1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances." I honor the work God has been doing in my heart.Philippians 1:6: "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." I acknowledge God's presence in ordinary moments.Psalm 16:11: "You make known to me the path of life." I release this week into God's care.Psalm 55:22: "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." I trust God with what remains unfinished.Proverbs 16:9: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." I thank God for His patience with me.Psalm 103:8: "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." I rest in the truth that God sees me fully.Hebrews 4:13: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." I choose to end this week with gratitude.Psalm 92:1: "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." I release comparison and embrace contentment.Hebrews 13:5: "Be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you.'" I acknowledge God's protection this week.Psalm 121:7: "The Lord will keep you from all harm." I thank God for His provision.Matthew 6:31-32: "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." I recognize God's quiet guidance.Isaiah 30:21: "This is the way; walk in it." I let go of striving and receive rest.Psalm 23:2: "He leads me beside quiet waters." I honor the limits God has given me.Psalm 127:2: "He grants sleep to those He loves." I trust God with what I do not understand.Romans 11:33: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." I receive peace as I reflect with God.Psalm 4:7: "You have filled my heart with greater joy." I end this week grounded in God's faithfulness.Lamentations 3:23: "Great is Your faithfulness." Closing prayer God, thank You for walking with me through this week. Help me to see Your faithfulness clearly and to release what I need to let go of. I trust that You were present in ways I noticed and in ways I didn't. I place this week back into Your hands. Amen. Links Slowing down to notice God's quiet work is at the heart of our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui, a contemplative time in Scripture with a small group of women. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Confidence in Hearing God: Something can be accurate and still not be from God. That's the hardest part of discernment, and it's what we're working through today. This week we've been talking about prophecy, and a question came in about something I said on Monday: that accuracy is not the test. Today I explain what I meant, using the slave girl in Acts 16 who said something completely true while serving something demonic. I also share what happened in Maui with a tarot card reader, and something the Lord did at church on Sunday that I haven't talked about yet. Links Paul's story in Acts ends in Rome, and our Bible Study Live group walks the places where it happened. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Questions we answer today What's the difference between something being true and something being truth? Why does Paul cast a spirit out of a girl who was telling people the truth? Why are tarot cards, psychics, and horoscopes a counterfeit rather than harmless? What does it mean that the enemy disguises himself as an angel of light? What's the difference between a private prayer language and a public message in tongues? Timestamps 00:00 Why Fridays are a catch-up and question day 01:30 The question that came in about accuracy 02:30 Why prophecy is still living and active 03:20 True versus truth 04:40 Reading Acts 16:16-18 06:00 She was saying something accurate 06:30 Even demons recognize God 07:00 The real test: closer to God or further away 07:30 A tarot card reader in Maui 10:20 What the Lord gave me to say to him 11:00 He already knew the truth, he just wanted hope 12:50 Why there's a counterfeit for everything 13:20 The three named angels, and what Lucifer's name means 16:50 Why this season of teaching has felt different 17:50 A prayer request I haven't shared yet 19:30 What happened at the altar on Sunday 21:10 The sword, and the principalities that have been permitted 24:00 Public tongues, private prayer language, and interpretation 25:20 Letting God examine your heart 25:40 The subtler distractions 26:20 Prayer for freedom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the week ends, we lay down what we've been carrying and stop trying to hold it all together. These affirmations center on Proverbs 3:5-6, trusting the Lord with all your heart instead of leaning on your own understanding. End your week anchored in peace and presence. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to set down what you've been carrying and find rest in God's care. Today's affirmations are about releasing your burdens, letting go of striving, and remembering that God's strength, love, and renewal are available right where you are. It's time to stop striving and start resting in His goodness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it comes from. Before we begin The week is ending, and as we step into the weekend, let's take a moment to breathe. Release your burdens and rest in God's presence. We're not meant to carry everything ourselves. God calls us to lay our worries at His feet and find renewal in Him. Friday affirmations and Scripture I release my worries and trust God to handle what I cannot. 1 Peter 5:7 God's peace fills my heart and I rest in His presence. Matthew 11:28 I am not defined by my mistakes. God's grace is greater than my failures. Lamentations 3:22-23 I let go of the need to control everything and surrender to God's perfect plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 I am deeply loved by God and nothing can separate me from His love. Romans 8:38-39 God refreshes my soul and renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will be fully present today, trusting that God holds tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 My body, mind, and spirit find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 I let go of striving and choose to rest in God's love. Zephaniah 3:17 I step into the weekend with joy, knowing that God is in control. Psalm 118:24 God's presence is my safe place. Psalm 91:1 I am fully known and fully loved by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I will not let stress steal my peace today. Philippians 4:6-7 God is my refuge and I am safe in His hands. Psalm 46:1 I do not need to have all the answers. I trust God. Romans 11:33 God is fighting my battles and I can rest in His victory. Exodus 14:14 I will not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:13 I am held together by God's love even when life feels overwhelming. Colossians 1:17 God's goodness and mercy follow me every day. Psalm 23:6 I will not carry burdens that God has already taken from me. Matthew 11:29-30 I am at peace because God is in control. Isaiah 26:3 I trust in God's timing even when I don't understand. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will lay down my burdens and take on God's. Psalm 4:8 I am never alone for God is always with me. Deuteronomy 31:6 No matter what happens today, God is still good. Nahum 1:7 Closing prayer Father, as this week comes to an end, I lay my burdens at Your feet. Help me to release my worries, rest in Your peace, and trust You with everything I cannot control. Refresh my heart and renew my spirit so I can step into the weekend with joy. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links If you need real rest after a long season of striving, our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui is a slower, contemplative time with God and His Word. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hearing God in Luke: Within six verses of saying Scripture had been fulfilled in their hearing, Jesus' hometown was dragging Him toward a cliff. What set them off is worth understanding. Today we're in Luke 4:16-30. Jesus announces the year of the Lord's favor, which was Jubilee, and then He stops reading Isaiah mid-sentence. He leaves out the part about vengeance, which is the part they had been waiting generations for. Then He tells two stories about God's mercy landing on outsiders, and the room turns on Him. Underneath all of it is a question worth sitting with in our own Bible study: do we want the miracle more than the miracle worker? Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Questions we answer today What was the year of the Lord's favor, and what did Jubilee actually mean? Why did Jesus stop reading Isaiah 61 halfway through the sentence? Why does Luke keep using the word "today"? What were they really saying with "physician, heal yourself"? Why did the stories of the widow and Naaman enrage them? Can we fall into the same entitlement they did? Timestamps 00:00 Where we are in Luke 4 00:30 Reading Luke 4:16-30 02:20 Prayer 03:10 The year of the Lord's favor, and what Jubilee was 04:40 Why Israel rarely kept it 05:10 The line Jesus didn't read 06:00 They were waiting for vengeance 07:20 Why "today" is one of Luke's signature words 08:40 Freedom now, not someday 09:30 Why He's still holding off 11:10 A statistic about unreached people 12:40 How a hometown turns into a mob in six verses 13:30 Honor and shame in a village culture 14:20 What "isn't this Joseph's son" really meant 16:00 Physician, heal yourself, and the bill coming due 17:30 Why Jesus refused their claim on Him 19:10 Elijah and the widow in Baal's territory 22:40 Elisha, Naaman, and a kidnapped slave girl 27:30 Why those two stories enraged them 28:30 You're not the widow, you're the generation being passed over 29:10 Wanting the miracle more than the miracle worker 30:50 Power moves toward need and faith 31:30 Where we do the same thing 34:00 He never went back to Nazareth 34:30 Why I'm never invited to speak near home 35:50 Grace landing on people we'd rather it didn't 36:30 Entitlement after years of service 37:20 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's affirmations are for anyone questioning their calling or finding their footing in a new season. We speak Psalm 37:23 and other Scriptures that remind you God is guiding your steps and you are not walking alone. You were created on purpose, for a purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to walk into your day with intention, clarity, and wisdom. Whether you're questioning your calling or finding your footing in a new season, today's affirmations will help you trust God's plan, listen for His guidance, and move forward with boldness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it's based on. Before we begin God created you for a reason. Your life is not an accident, and your steps are not random. He has a plan for you, a purpose that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to your heart. As you listen to these affirmations, let them remind you that God is leading, guiding, and equipping you for everything He has called you to do. Thursday affirmations and Scripture God has a purpose for my life and I walk in His plan. Jeremiah 29:11 I trust in the Lord to guide my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 I seek wisdom, and God gives it freely. James 1:5 God is directing my steps and I do not walk alone. Psalm 37:23 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 God has prepared good works for me to do today. Ephesians 2:10 I am equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will walk in faith, not in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 God's Word lights my path. Psalm 119:105 I choose obedience, knowing God's ways are best. Deuteronomy 5:33 I live with purpose and do not waste my time. Ephesians 5:15-16 I am called to make an impact for God's Kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20 I have the mind of Christ and seek His wisdom daily. 1 Corinthians 2:16 I am a vessel for God's work. 2 Corinthians 4:7 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's purpose for me cannot be stopped. Job 42:2 I do everything for the glory of God. Colossians 3:23 God is using my life to accomplish His plan. Romans 8:28 I am bold in sharing the gospel. Romans 1:16 I walk in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 I remain steadfast in my calling. 1 Corinthians 15:58 God will finish the work He started in me. Philippians 1:6 I live with an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 I press forward in my faith, knowing my reward is in Heaven. Philippians 3:13-14 Closing prayer Father, thank You for calling me to a life of purpose. Help me to walk in wisdom today, seeking You in all I do. Give me clarity where I need direction, courage where I need boldness, and a heart that is always ready to serve You. Let my life bring You glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links Listening for God's direction is something we practice together at our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui, where we slow down and study Scripture as a small group. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hearing God in Luke: Jesus stood up in His hometown synagogue, read Isaiah out loud, and said it was about Him. Today we're in Luke 4:14-22, where Jesus announces His mission: good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, sight to the blind. The word for liberty is the same word Luke used earlier for the forgiveness of sins. It means release, pardon, a debt wiped off the books. I also share a story from a prison in Kenya that changed how I read this passage, including one woman who stayed in her cell after her freedom had already been paid for. Links We visit Luke's house in Rome on our Bible Study Live trip. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Questions we answer today What's the difference between being full of the Spirit and operating in His power? Why does power so often show up on the other side of testing? What does it mean that Nazareth was where Jesus was "brought up"? Why does it matter that Jesus read the word "anointed" out loud about Himself? What kind of proclamation is Jesus actually making? Are you living like someone who has been set free? Timestamps 00:00 Why this series has felt intense, and why I'm not softening it 02:10 Reading Luke 4:14-22 03:30 Prayer 04:30 Full of the Spirit going in, power coming out 05:40 Dunamis, and where we get the word dynamite 06:50 Power shows up on the other side of the test 08:00 What testing produced in me 11:00 The hardest season, and the question God asked 12:00 How that season shaped the ministry 13:30 The same power promised to us in Acts 1:8 14:10 Trepho, and what "brought up" really means 15:50 The place that fed Him 16:40 Thirty years of synagogue on the Sabbath 17:10 Why the Old Testament matters 18:10 Reading from the scroll of Isaiah 18:40 Chrio, the root of Christos 19:30 Priest, king, prophet, and Jesus as all three 20:40 Two different words for proclaim 22:20 A royal herald announcing the King's decree 23:50 Aphesis, and what liberty actually means 25:00 Inside a Kenyan prison 27:30 Why we are the captives 29:30 Are you walking like you're free? 30:30 The woman who wouldn't leave 31:20 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Midweek can get loud, so today we trade anxiety for peace. These Scripture-based affirmations lean on Jeremiah 29:11 and the promise that God's plans for you are good, even when you can't see the whole picture yet. Midweek is when the noise gets loudest. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to trade anxiety for peace and remember that God is still in control of what you can't see yet. Today's affirmations are about surrendering worry, resting in His presence, and trusting His timing even when the picture isn't clear. God's peace isn't just a feeling. It's a promise. I'll say each statement, then pause so you can repeat it after me, and then I'll share the Scripture it comes from. Before we begin Breathe in God's peace, and exhale your worries. This day is a gift, and no matter what's ahead, you can trust that God is in control. His love is steady. His plans for you are good. His presence goes before you. Let these affirmations remind you to trust Him today. Wednesday affirmations and Scripture I am ruled by God's peace today. Isaiah 26:3 I cast all my worries onto Jesus. He carries them for me. 1 Peter 5:7 I will not be anxious. I will pray and trust God. Philippians 4:6-7 God's plans for me are good, and I trust Him. Jeremiah 29:11 I do not need to worry about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 I will rest in God's presence today. Exodus 33:14 God is my refuge and strength. Psalm 46:1 I will not let my heart be troubled. I trust in God. John 14:27 The Lord directs my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 Even when I don't understand, I trust in God's wisdom. Romans 11:33 I do not have to be afraid because God is with me. Deuteronomy 31:8 God is fighting for me. Exodus 14:14 I am not alone. God walks with me. Isaiah 41:13 God is my rock and salvation. I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6 I find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 God's love never fails me. Lamentations 3:22-23 I have peace because I am in Christ. John 16:33 I wait on the Lord and He renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will trust in God, even when I don't see the whole picture. 2 Corinthians 5:7 God is working all things for my good. Romans 8:28 God's peace rules in my heart today. Colossians 3:15 I give my burdens to the Lord and He sustains me. Psalm 55:22 I will be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10 I trust God's timing and His ways. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians 4:4 Closing prayer Father, I surrender my worries to You. I choose to rest in Your peace today, trusting that You are in control. Fill my heart with faith instead of fear, and let Your peace guard my mind. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links Our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui is a quiet, contemplative place to bring your questions about the future to God alongside a small group of women. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The devil's first words to Jesus were "if you are the Son of God." God had just called Him exactly that. We're in Luke 4 today talking about the enemy. Who he is, how he actually operates, and why his opening move is almost always an attack on identity. He isn't trying to get you to doubt that God exists. He's trying to get you to prove something God already settled, because once you're busy proving, he can get you to do almost anything. This one is meant to give you a battle plan, not fear. Links We visit Luke's house in Rome on our Bible Study Live trip. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Questions we answer today What does the word devil actually mean, and why does his name describe his job? Is the enemy all-knowing the way God is? How do our words give him ammunition? Why does he attack identity first? What was the opportune time he was waiting for? What weapon did Jesus actually use, and why that one? Timestamps 00:00 Picking up in Luke 4 01:30 Reading Luke 4:1-14 03:00 Why we were never really taught about the enemy 05:00 Diabolos, Satan, and what the names tell us 06:30 The other names Scripture gives him 07:30 He is not a second God, and he is already defeated 09:30 He observes, he does not know 10:20 The blackout week, and the power of our words 13:00 Conviction versus condemnation 14:20 If you are the Son of God 15:10 The oldest move in the book 16:20 When sin shows up as the solution to doubt 17:10 Overworking and oversharing to prove something 18:30 Until an opportune time 19:20 Predictable resistance 20:40 The opportune time was Gethsemane 23:20 Anointing, testing, then ministry 25:00 What he actually wants, and why 27:00 Every offer is a shortcut 29:20 How he twists Scripture 31:00 Offering what was never his to give 35:30 It is written, not I feel 36:30 The only offensive piece of the armor 37:40 Submit first, then resist 39:20 Why we do the daily affirmations 40:20 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we step into the week with courage by speaking God's truth out loud. These affirmations build on 1 Corinthians 15:57, where Paul thanks God for giving us the victory through Jesus Christ. Step into your week with boldness, peace, and purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to trade your own strength for God's before the day gets away from you. As the world demands more, God invites you to lean on Him. Today's affirmations are a reminder that you are never alone, never powerless, and never without purpose. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Before we begin Today's affirmations are for strength and confidence for the week ahead. Whatever this week holds, you are not facing it alone. God is with you, strengthening you, guiding you, and fighting for you. No matter what challenges you encounter, you can walk in faith knowing that God has already prepared the way for you. Tuesday affirmations and Scripture I am strong and courageous in Christ. Joshua 1:9 I do not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:10 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I am victorious through Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57 I have the power of God working within me. Ephesians 3:20 I will not be shaken because God is my refuge. Psalm 62:6 I walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17 God fights my battles and I need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 I am not afraid because God has overcome the world. John 16:33 I have authority in Christ over every attack of the enemy. Luke 10:19 I am rooted and established in God's love. Ephesians 3:17 I have divine wisdom and strength for today. James 1:5 I am resilient and I will persevere through trials. Romans 5:3-4 I am filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's grace is sufficient for me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 I have peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:7 I am never alone. God is always near. Deuteronomy 31:8 I am protected under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 God's Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 I stand firm in faith and do not waver. James 1:6 I am free from fear because God's perfect love casts it out. 1 John 4:18 I have a spirit of power, love, and sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 God is working all things for my good today. Romans 8:28 Closing prayer Lord, I surrender my fear to You. Fill me with boldness, courage, and confidence in You. No matter what today holds, I trust in Your strength. In Jesus' name, Amen. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links On our Bible Study Live trip to Rome, we visit the catacombs, where early believers laid their loved ones to rest in the hope of the resurrection. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever said yes to God and then watched everything get harder? Luke 4 shows us why. We're starting Luke chapter 4 in our fall Bible study, and before we get to the three temptations, there's something in the first two verses most of us read right past. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is the one who led Him into the wilderness. The hard season wasn't a detour from the assignment. It was part of it. Today we look at the forty days, why that number matters, and how Jesus fought as a Spirit-empowered man rather than by pulling rank. Links We visit Luke's house in Rome on our Bible Study Live trip. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Questions we answer today Was Jesus not already full of the Holy Spirit before His baptism? Why does Scripture keep using the number forty? Why did Jesus answer the devil with verses from Deuteronomy? What does Israel's forty years have to do with Jesus' forty days? Is the wilderness a detour or an assignment? Timestamps 00:00 Starting Luke 4, and how this series works 01:00 Reading Luke 4:1-13 02:40 Prayer 04:00 Why the color method stopped me at "forty days" 05:00 Was Jesus always full of the Holy Spirit? 07:00 What Isaiah said about a Spirit-empowered Messiah 08:30 What actually happened at the Jordan 10:00 Fully God and fully human 11:30 Why His victory matters for us 14:20 A callback to Israel's forty years 15:30 Why all three answers come from Deuteronomy 17:30 God's son Israel failed, God's Son Jesus passed 18:50 Other forty-day seasons in Scripture 21:00 Predictable resistance after obedience 23:30 Tempted the whole time, not just at the end 24:30 The wilderness was the assignment 25:00 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's affirmations are about identity and the truth that you were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. We repeat Ephesians 1:4 and other Scriptures so your worth rests on what God says, not on your past. Start your Monday with confidence, peace, and purpose. These daily Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to realign your heart and mind with biblical truth before the week begins. Today's affirmations are all about identity: who God says you are, and what changes when you believe it. Speak life over your day, renew your faith, and step into God's promises with Scripture straight from His Word. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Before we begin Take a deep breath. This is a new day filled with God's grace and purpose. You are not defined by your past, or your mistakes, or the opinions of others. You are defined by the truth of God's Word. Let these affirmations fill your heart as you step into today. Monday affirmations and Scripture I am a child of God, chosen and loved. 1 John 3:1 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I am fully known and loved fully by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I have been chosen before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 I am created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 I am redeemed and made new in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I am set apart for God's purpose. 1 Peter 2:9 I am God's masterpiece, created for good works. Ephesians 2:10 I am loved with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 I am called by name and belong to God. Isaiah 43:1 I am not my past. I am a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:20 I'm seated in heavenly places with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 I am co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 I am not rejected. I am accepted in Christ. Ephesians 1:6 I am never alone. God is always with me. Hebrews 13:5 I am valuable and precious in God's sight. Isaiah 43:4 I have been set free by the truth of Jesus. John 8:36 I am more than a conqueror through Christ. Romans 8:37 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 I am God's dwelling place. His Spirit lives within me. 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am forgiven and free from condemnation. Romans 8:1 I have a divine purpose and calling from God. Jeremiah 29:11 I am dearly loved and nothing can separate me from God's love. Romans 8:38-39 Closing prayer Father, thank You for reminding me who I am in You. Help me to walk in confidence today, knowing that I am chosen, loved, and called by You. No matter what comes my way, let my identity be rooted in Your truth. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links Paul's letters taught the early church who they were in Christ, and on our Bible Study Live trip to Rome we study them together with a small group of women. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the week begins, I'm inviting you to trade dread for expectancy. These Scripture-based affirmations, anchored in Romans 15:13, help you walk into Monday grounded in hope and trusting God one day at a time. Sunday Daily Affirmations: I Enter This Week with Expectancy, Not Fear (Romans 15:13) Sunday is for looking ahead with God. Before the week begins, we pause and place what's coming into His hands. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a steady way to enter the week grounded, attentive, and trusting God to lead you one day at a time. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Sunday affirmations and Scripture I place this coming week in God's hands. Psalm 31:15: "My times are in Your hands." I trust God to guide my steps. Psalm 37:23: "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him." I enter this week with expectancy, not fear. Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." I invite God into every moment ahead. Proverbs 16:3: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do." I trust God to order my priorities. Matthew 6:33: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." I receive God's wisdom for the days ahead. James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God." I walk into this week anchored in truth. Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet." I trust God with what I cannot foresee. Isaiah 46:10: "I make known the end from the beginning." I choose faith over anticipation of stress. Psalm 56:3: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." I rely on God's grace for each day. 2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you." I trust God's timing this week. Habakkuk 2:3: "Though it linger, wait for it." I remain open to God's leading. Psalm 25:4: "Show me Your ways, Lord." I step forward with humility and trust. Micah 6:8: "What does the Lord require of you? To walk humbly with your God." I depend on God's strength, not my own. Psalm 68:35: "God gives strength and power to His people." I trust God with every conversation and decision. Proverbs 20:24: "A person's steps are directed by the Lord." I choose obedience over control. John 14:23: "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching." I walk into this week aware of God's presence. Exodus 33:14: "My Presence will go with you." I trust God to work through ordinary moments. Zechariah 4:10: "Do not despise these small beginnings." I release anxiety about outcomes. Psalm 112:7: "They will have no fear of bad news." I remain attentive to God's voice. John 10:27: "My sheep listen to My voice." I trust God to meet my needs. Philippians 4:19: "My God will meet all your needs." I step into this week with courage. Psalm 31:24: "Be strong and take heart." I trust God to shape my character. Romans 8:29: "To be conformed to the image of His Son." I begin this week grounded in hope. Hebrews 6:19: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul." I rest in God's faithfulness as I move forward. Psalm 33:4: "The word of the Lord is right and true." Closing prayer God, as I step into this new week, I place everything ahead of me in Your care. Go before me, guide my steps, and help me stay attentive to You. I trust You with what's coming, one day at a time. Amen. Links If Romans has shaped your faith, our Bible Study Live trip to Rome lets you study Paul's letter with a small group of women in the city he wrote it to. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we look back over the week with honesty and gratitude instead of replaying every mistake. These affirmations lean on Psalm 32:5, where David confesses his sin and finds that God forgives. Saturday Daily Affirmations: I Release Regret (Psalm 32:5) Saturday is a good day to slow down and look back over your week with God. Not to replay everything or overthink it, but to notice where He met you, where He carried you, and where His grace showed up. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a gentle way to reflect with honesty and gratitude before the new week begins. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Saturday affirmations and Scripture I thank God for walking with me through this week. Psalm 143:10: "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." I recognize God's faithfulness in both the seen and unseen moments. Psalm 77:11: "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago." I release regret and receive God's grace. Psalm 32:5: "Then I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the guilt of my sin." I trust that God was at work even when I didn't notice. Ecclesiastes 3:11: "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I give thanks for the strength God provided each day. Psalm 28:7: "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." I acknowledge where I grew this week. 2 Peter 3:18: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I notice where God invited me to trust Him more deeply. Psalm 37:5: "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." I receive God's mercy for where I fell short. Micah 7:18: "You delight in mercy." I choose gratitude over self-criticism. 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances." I honor the work God has been doing in my heart. Philippians 1:6: "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." I acknowledge God's presence in ordinary moments. Psalm 16:11: "You make known to me the path of life." I release this week into God's care. Psalm 55:22: "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." I trust God with what remains unfinished. Proverbs 16:9: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." I thank God for His patience with me. Psalm 103:8: "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." I rest in the truth that God sees me fully. Hebrews 4:13: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." I choose to end this week with gratitude. Psalm 92:1: "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." I release comparison and embrace contentment. Hebrews 13:5: "Be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you.'" I acknowledge God's protection this week. Psalm 121:7: "The Lord will keep you from all harm." I thank God for His provision. Matthew 6:31-32: "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." I recognize God's quiet guidance. Isaiah 30:21: "This is the way; walk in it." I let go of striving and receive rest. Psalm 23:2: "He leads me beside quiet waters." I honor the limits God has given me. Psalm 127:2: "He grants sleep to those He loves." I trust God with what I do not understand. Romans 11:33: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." I receive peace as I reflect with God. Psalm 4:7: "You have filled my heart with greater joy." I end this week grounded in God's faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23: "Great is Your faithfulness." Closing prayer God, thank You for walking with me through this week. Help me to see Your faithfulness clearly and to release what I need to let go of. I trust that You were present in ways I noticed and in ways I didn't. I place this week back into Your hands. Amen. Links Our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui makes room for this kind of honest reflection, with quiet time in Scripture alongside a small group of women. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year around this time I get the same question. What do we do about Halloween? You'll hear everything from it's a free-for-all with no spiritual implication, to turn the lights off and hide in the house. My answer lands somewhere in the middle, and it starts here: I don't want to live in a way that hands the devil my days. Today we take on Halloween, and then a harder question about free will and the passages where God hardens a heart. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe How should Christians handle Halloween? I'm answering this as both a parent and a former children's pastor. I grew up in a conservative Christian environment and later served in a charismatic one, so I've watched different churches handle this very differently. Here's my baseline. As Christians we're called to take light into the darkness, not run from it. Most Christians would agree. But for some reason we treat Halloween as the one exception. I don't want to give the devil any of my days. If I'm on this earth a hundred years and I hide every Halloween, that's a hundred days I handed over out of fear. That said, I won't pretend there's nothing there. There are real spiritual implications around Halloween. So my answer isn't either extreme. What does a good alternative look like? When I was a children's pastor, we did a trunk or treat. We played music from Jump Start 3, a ministry that set Scripture to music kids actually liked, and gave away their CDs. We served a lot of low income families whose kids didn't get CDs bought for them. We used that same music in Sunday school because it got God's Word into kids in a way they remembered. We had rules for the trunks. Nothing evil, nothing scary, nothing representing the occult. We had a Candyland trunk and an apple harvest trunk. We ran contests and giveaways and made it a genuinely fun night, so families had somewhere good to go. If your church does something like that, it's a great option. When does a church alternative go wrong? I've also seen the other side of it. We took our youngest daughter to a trunk or treat at a local church. They'd advertised a fall harvest party, so we weren't expecting anything unusual. It turned out to be inside the building, and to get in you had to walk through a black tunnel with skeletons on the walls, stinky smoke, and fire. I thought maybe it was one of those heaven-or-hell presentations, which I'm not a fan of, but you couldn't turn around and you couldn't get out. When we came through, the gymnasium was covered in scary, creepy Halloween decorations. My husband and I looked at each other and we were out. Then we met the pastor and he told us they wanted to make it even scarier next year. That's losing the plot entirely. There's no reason to invite families into a church building and hand them a haunted house. What else can we do on Halloween? We're called to live in the world and not of it, so this has looked like different things for our family over the years. Sometimes when we went house to house, we gave something instead of taking something. Sometimes we'd make it an exchange and ask people if they needed prayer. Here's what I keep coming back to. Yes, there is evil happening that night. It's also a night when kids and families are out looking for something. They are literally going door to door asking. If you live in a neighborhood with kids, you could hand out Scripture music, or candy with a Bible verse attached. Or you could simply say, I love your costume, is there anything you need prayer for? This is one of the few nights a year when we have a natural reason to meet our neighbors. If we have the good news, why wouldn't we offer it on a night when people are at our door asking for something? Now, if you start handing out ghosts and goblins, you've missed the plot. But hiding with the lights off and pretending we're not home is literally hiding your light under a bushel. We all learned that song as kids. Halloween is a good chance to actually live it. What about my kids? If you're going to participate, it comes with a conversation, and it's still your responsibility to protect your children. Letting them dress up as a witch is not okay. But there are plenty of options. They can be a favorite character or dress up as popcorn. There's a lot of room between a witch costume and hiding in the house. While you're out, if a house looks evil, you skip it. Or maybe you pray for it. Or maybe you go up and offer to pray for those people. That depends on the age of your kids. If you have a four-year-old, I wouldn't. If you have a sixteen-year-old, maybe you should. If we take the mentality of hiding from evil, where does it stop? We're not called to hide. We're called to face it. What about "God hardened his heart" and free will? A listener wrote in accepting that God is sovereign while also believing we can choose to turn away, and wrestling with Romans 9 and the Pharaoh passages. You're not the first to sit with this. Scholars have discussed it for centuries. Start in the garden. God put the tree there and gave a real command with a real consequence. That means they had a choice, and that matters, because love that can't say no isn't love. It's control. That theme runs all the way through. Moses sets before Israel life and death and tells them to choose life. Joshua says choose this day whom you will serve. God calls people to respond, but He doesn't force it. So what about Pharaoh? Before the plagues begin, God tells Moses that Pharaoh's heart will be hardened. Read that alone and it's troubling. Read the whole story and something else emerges. Again and again, Pharaoh hardens his own heart. He sees God's power, experiences a plague, asks Moses to stop it, the plague is removed, then he changes his mind and hardens his heart again. Only later does Exodus say the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. This isn't a willing heart that God forces into rebellion. Pharaoh is already resisting. God allows that resistance to solidify and uses it for His purpose. The Hebrew helps. One word is chazaq, meaning to strengthen or make firm. When I taught this to kids I compared it to Jell-O. The ingredients are all there, and eventually they set. Another is kabed, carrying the sense of making something heavy. The picture is God confirming Pharaoh in a direction he already chose. That connects to Romans 1, where three times Paul says God gave them over to the sin they had chosen. Sometimes God's judgment isn't forcing someone to do what they don't want. It's allowing them further down the road they keep insisting on. How should I read Romans 9? In context, which means reading 9, 10, and 11 together. Those chapter divisions were added centuries later by scribes. Paul doesn't open Romans 9 with a lecture on predestination. He opens by grieving, saying he has unceasing anguish because his own people have rejected Jesus. The question he's answering is whether God's promise to Israel failed. His answer is no. God's purposes have not failed, and He has always been free to choose how He accomplishes them. That's the context for I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. The point isn't that God randomly decides who gets saved. It's that He decides how He accomplishes His plan. Keep reading. In chapter 10, Paul says everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Everyone. Then that Israel can be grafted back in, and eventually that God has bound everyone over to disobedience so He may have mercy on them all. How do both things hold together? Scripture doesn't feel the need to pick one and throw out the other. At Pentecost, Peter says Jesus was handed over according to God's deliberate plan, and in the same breath tells the people they were responsible for His death. Paul says work out your salvation with fear and trembling, then adds that it is God who works in you. We also read difficult passages in light of clear ones. God wants all people to be saved. Jesus stood over Jerusalem and said how often He longed to gather her children, and they were not willing. So here's where I land. God is sovereign and nothing is outside His authority, and our choices are real. I don't believe God creates some people for salvation and others for hell. That isn't consistent with His character, and predestining someone to hell and then holding them responsible for a choice they were never free to make throws out free will entirely. He is powerful enough to accomplish His purposes even when people resist. Pharaoh said no and God didn't lose control. Mystery isn't the same thing as contradiction. When we want to know what God is like, we look at Jesus. Timestamps 00:00 Why we do Q&A episodes 01:40 The Halloween question 03:06 Taking light into the darkness 03:32 A hundred years, a hundred days 04:32 What our trunk or treat looked like 06:25 The trunk or treat that went wrong 07:51 When churches lose the plot 08:17 Giving instead of taking 08:47 They're already at your door asking 09:45 Hiding your light under a bushel 10:13 Talking with your kids about it 11:26 The free will question 14:22 What about Pharaoh? 16:31 Chazaq and kabed 18:37 Reading Romans 9 in context 26:36 Where I land on it 28:27 Mystery is not contradiction Frequently asked questions What is Jump Start 3? A music ministry that set Scripture to music kids enjoyed. We used it in Sunday school and gave the CDs away at our trunk or treat. How do I send in a question? Through the SpeakPipe link above. You can stay anonymous, or ask me to email you back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We end the week by setting down our burdens, including the weight of our own mistakes. These affirmations rest on Lamentations 3:22-23, a reminder that God's mercies are new every morning. Friday Daily Affirmations: God's Grace Is Greater Than My Failures (Lamentations 3:22-23) End your week anchored in peace and presence. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to set down what you've been carrying and find rest in God's care. Today's affirmations are about releasing your burdens, letting go of striving, and remembering that God's strength, love, and renewal are available right where you are. It's time to stop striving and start resting in His goodness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it comes from. Before we begin The week is ending, and as we step into the weekend, let's take a moment to breathe. Release your burdens and rest in God's presence. We're not meant to carry everything ourselves. God calls us to lay our worries at His feet and find renewal in Him. Friday affirmations and Scripture I release my worries and trust God to handle what I cannot. 1 Peter 5:7 God's peace fills my heart and I rest in His presence. Matthew 11:28 I am not defined by my mistakes. God's grace is greater than my failures. Lamentations 3:22-23 I let go of the need to control everything and surrender to God's perfect plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 I am deeply loved by God and nothing can separate me from His love. Romans 8:38-39 God refreshes my soul and renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will be fully present today, trusting that God holds tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 My body, mind, and spirit find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 I let go of striving and choose to rest in God's love. Zephaniah 3:17 I step into the weekend with joy, knowing that God is in control. Psalm 118:24 God's presence is my safe place. Psalm 91:1 I am fully known and fully loved by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I will not let stress steal my peace today. Philippians 4:6-7 God is my refuge and I am safe in His hands. Psalm 46:1 I do not need to have all the answers. I trust God. Romans 11:33 God is fighting my battles and I can rest in His victory. Exodus 14:14 I will not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:13 I am held together by God's love even when life feels overwhelming. Colossians 1:17 God's goodness and mercy follow me every day. Psalm 23:6 I will not carry burdens that God has already taken from me. Matthew 11:29-30 I am at peace because God is in control. Isaiah 26:3 I trust in God's timing even when I don't understand. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will lay down my burdens and take on God's. Psalm 4:8 I am never alone for God is always with me. Deuteronomy 31:6 No matter what happens today, God is still good. Nahum 1:7 Closing prayer Father, as this week comes to an end, I lay my burdens at Your feet. Help me to release my worries, rest in Your peace, and trust You with everything I cannot control. Refresh my heart and renew my spirit so I can step into the weekend with joy. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links If your soul needs room to breathe and receive God's mercy, our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui offers slow, contemplative time in His Word. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I know what a lot of you are thinking. The genealogy. Are we really going there? We are, and there's a reason. If God had wanted a clean family tree for His Son, He had the power to arrange one. Instead He built this one, out of the overlooked and the outsider and the people who were wronged. Today we're finishing Luke 3 by walking through the lineage of Jesus and the women hidden inside a list that never names them. Links We visit Luke's house in Rome on our Bible Study Live trip. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Why does Luke put the genealogy here? Matthew opens his gospel with a genealogy. Luke buries his at the end of chapter three, right after the baptism and right before the temptation. Luke is a details guy, so the placement is intentional. Look at what comes immediately before. The heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice says you are my beloved Son. Then Luke runs the family line all the way back to Adam, who he calls the son of God. And look at what comes right after. Next week we study the temptation, where the enemy says if you are the Son of God. So Luke sandwiches this family tree between heaven declaring the sonship of Jesus and the devil attacking it. In the ancient world, genealogies were identity documents. Why does it say Jesus was about thirty? Thirty was a meaningful number. The Levites entered temple service at thirty. David became king at thirty. Joseph entered Pharaoh's service at thirty. Ezekiel's visions began at thirty. It was the age a man was considered ready to carry the responsibility of ministry. Luke says about thirty because he's a careful historian. The point is that this is not a kid. He's ready. Why is Luke's genealogy different from Matthew's? Matthew starts with Abraham and walks down through David to Jesus. He's making a Jewish case, laying out the royal credentials. Luke flips it. He starts with Jesus and walks backward through David, past Abraham, all the way to Adam, and then one step further to God. That difference is intentional. Matthew stops at Abraham because his point is the covenant with Israel. Luke pushes past Abraham because his point is the entire human race. He's a Gentile writing to Gentiles, saying this is for everybody. Remember what Luke quoted from Isaiah a few verses earlier. All flesh will see the salvation of God. Matthew and Mark stop that quotation short. Luke carries it all the way through, and then he builds a family tree that backs it up. And think about the timing. John just told the crowd that having Abraham as their father wasn't enough. Then Luke shows that the family line of Jesus goes back further than Abraham anyway. Why do the two lists split after David? From Abraham to David, Matthew and Luke match. After David they diverge almost completely. Matthew traces the line through Solomon, the royal line. Luke traces it through Nathan, a different son of David. They also give different fathers for Joseph. Matthew says Jacob. Luke says Heli. Scholarship is divided. One explanation is that Luke is giving Mary's line, with Heli as her father and Joseph listed as son-in-law, since Jewish lists didn't name women. Another is that Matthew gives legal rights to the throne while Luke gives physical descent. They run through different members of the same families, so they aren't in conflict. Why does any of this matter? Here's what struck me. Most of these names appear nowhere else in Scripture. We know nothing about them. No recorded words. And they're in the line of Jesus. Dozens of people who lived and raised children and died without making a mark on history, except that they were part of the lineage of the Messiah. God was working through generations who never knew what they were part of. They died without ever seeing it. For a Jewish person, your genealogy was your identity. Wrapped up in it were land rights, your tribe, and sometimes your job. A priest had to prove descent from a priest in order to serve. And it was verifiable. Genealogies were part of the public archives, and Josephus talks about consulting them for his own work. When Luke published this list, people could go check it. Those records were destroyed when Rome leveled Jerusalem around AD 70. At the time Luke wrote, you could still look it up. Why does it end with Adam, the son of God? Luke is the only gospel writer who takes it all the way back. Paul later calls Jesus the last Adam in 1 Corinthians, and Luke is making that same connection here, using a list instead of an argument. The first Adam was tested in a garden where he had everything, and he failed. The very next thing we read in Luke is Jesus going into the wilderness, hungry for forty days, tested. And He doesn't fail. Where are the women in this list? There aren't any named. Matthew includes four. Luke includes none, because he's writing the way historians of that era wrote. But here's what I can't get past. Every name in this list required a woman. And if Luke is in fact tracing Mary's family, then this entire list is her family tree, recorded under the men's names. So let me point out a few of them. Eve, the wife of Adam. The very first promise of a rescuer in Scripture was given to her, not to Adam. God tells the serpent that her offspring will crush his head. This whole line Luke just traced is the working out of a promise spoken to a woman about her children. Adam named her Eve because she was the mother of all the living, and Luke traces Jesus back through all the living. Noah's wife. We don't know her name. We know she boarded the ark, survived the flood, and raised the sons the whole human race descends from, including Shem, who is in Luke's list. Everything after Genesis 8 runs through a woman nobody ever named. Sarah, attached to the son of Isaac. Twenty-five years waiting on a promise, into her nineties, past any reasonable hope. She laughed when she heard it. Gabriel later tells Mary that nothing is impossible with God, echoing Sarah's story to a young girl who knew it well. Leah, attached to the son of Judah. Jacob loved Rachel. Leah was the wife he didn't choose, and Genesis says plainly she wasn't loved. She names her first sons in a way that reflects that ache. Then the fourth son she names Judah, which means praise, saying this time I will praise the Lord. She stopped naming her children after the love she couldn't get and named one after the God who saw her. And Judah is the son the Messiah came through. The unloved wife is the great-grandmother of the royal line. Tamar, attached to the son of Perez. Widowed twice in Judah's family and left in limbo. Under the law she had a right to a husband from that family, and Judah withheld it. A woman with no power, denied what she was owed, who did the only thing available to keep her family line alive. Rahab, the mother of Boaz. A Canaanite living in Jericho under judgment, with a shameful job. She hid the Israelite spies because she had heard what their God had done and she believed it. Hebrews 11 lists her among the faithful. Her great-grandson was King David. Ruth, the mother of Obed. A Moabite, and Deuteronomy 23 restricted Moabites from the assembly of Israel. A widow with no children, which meant no security of any kind. She followed Naomi and Naomi's God, and gleaned leftover grain at the edges of fields, the provision the law made for the poor. Two generations in a row, the royal line runs through foreign women. Bathsheba, attached to the son of Nathan. According to 1 Chronicles 3, Nathan and Solomon had the same mother. Her story was not a clean one, and it was not one she chose. What do we do with that? Most of these women are invisible to us. Hundreds of years of women whose names we don't have, who carried babies and delivered them and fed them and taught them and buried them and kept going. All of them part of the story. And it wasn't only the respectable ones. There's a woman nobody wanted. A widow who had to fight for her place. A Canaanite with a shameful job. A foreigner from an excluded nation. A woman a king took advantage of. If God had wanted a clean family tree, He could have arranged one. He built this one instead. So if you feel unseen, or unchosen, or like your story is too messy to be useful, this list is for you. You're in good company, and the company is the family line of Jesus. My own family line is messy too. Praise God that He takes the mess and redeems it. Timestamps 00:00 Finishing Luke 3, and why we go slowly 01:28 Reading the genealogy 03:25 Prayer 04:25 Why we study genealogy at all 05:01 What comes right before and right after 06:52 Why thirty mattered 08:53 How Matthew and Luke differ 09:49 Why Luke pushes past Abraham 12:40 Two fathers for Joseph 15:57 The names we know nothing about 17:54 Verifiable in the public archives 19:19 The son of Adam, the son of God 19:49 The first Adam and the last Adam 21:07 Why there are no women in the list 22:42 Eve and the first promise 23:27 Noah's wife 23:55 Sarah and the impossible 25:49 Leah and the son named praise 26:54 Tamar 28:15 Rahab 30:24 Ruth 31:49 Bathsheba 33:37 The women we never see 34:45 If God had wanted a clean family tree Frequently asked questions Why do Matthew and Luke give different genealogies? Matthew traces the line through Solomon and Luke through Nathan, another son of David. Explanations include Luke tracing Mary's line, or Matthew giving legal throne rights while Luke gives physical descent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you're facing a big decision or just need clarity for today, these affirmations help you trust God's plan. We focus on James 1:5, the promise that God gives wisdom generously to anyone who asks. Thursday Daily Affirmations: I Seek Wisdom, and God Gives It Freely (James 1:5) You were created on purpose, for a purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to walk into your day with intention, clarity, and wisdom. Whether you're questioning your calling or finding your footing in a new season, today's affirmations will help you trust God's plan, listen for His guidance, and move forward with boldness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it's based on. Before we begin God created you for a reason. Your life is not an accident, and your steps are not random. He has a plan for you, a purpose that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to your heart. As you listen to these affirmations, let them remind you that God is leading, guiding, and equipping you for everything He has called you to do. Thursday affirmations and Scripture God has a purpose for my life and I walk in His plan. Jeremiah 29:11 I trust in the Lord to guide my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 I seek wisdom, and God gives it freely. James 1:5 God is directing my steps and I do not walk alone. Psalm 37:23 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 God has prepared good works for me to do today. Ephesians 2:10 I am equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will walk in faith, not in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 God's Word lights my path. Psalm 119:105 I choose obedience, knowing God's ways are best. Deuteronomy 5:33 I live with purpose and do not waste my time. Ephesians 5:15-16 I am called to make an impact for God's Kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20 I have the mind of Christ and seek His wisdom daily. 1 Corinthians 2:16 I am a vessel for God's work. 2 Corinthians 4:7 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's purpose for me cannot be stopped. Job 42:2 I do everything for the glory of God. Colossians 3:23 God is using my life to accomplish His plan. Romans 8:28 I am bold in sharing the gospel. Romans 1:16 I walk in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 I remain steadfast in my calling. 1 Corinthians 15:58 God will finish the work He started in me. Philippians 1:6 I live with an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 I press forward in my faith, knowing my reward is in Heaven. Philippians 3:13-14 Closing prayer Father, thank You for calling me to a life of purpose. Help me to walk in wisdom today, seeking You in all I do. Give me clarity where I need direction, courage where I need boldness, and a heart that is always ready to serve You. Let my life bring You glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Links Asking God for wisdom and then listening for His answer is part of what we practice at our Bible Study Live retreat in Maui. Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org Listen ad-free, plus the full library of past series, on Patreon: patreon.com/HearingJesus Questions or prayer requests? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices