We all experience low points in life; we try our very best to avoid them, but they come anyway! We recoil from the pain, the disappointments, and the difficulties that we face. However, what would happen if we viewed these trials as invitations to experience God? My guest today on the Christian Habits Podcast, Strahan Coleman, has learned to do just that through his many years of chronic illness. Moment by moment, God will meet us in our pain. What We Discussed on the Podcast * The...

Most of us realize that our screens are consuming us. We know we should cut back on our screen-time but are at a loss for how to start. My guest on the Christian Habits Podcast today, Hannah Brencher, started off with a 1,000 hour screen-free challenge, and she hasn’t looked back since this pivotal life-change. Hannah gives practical tips as well as inspiration to start putting down our phones and re-discovering the world around us! What We Discussed on the Podcast * What going...

So many of us today are looking for ways to cope with the pressures of life. Instead of going to God, we turn to our phones, food, shopping, or even alcohol. Such was the case with Christy Osborne, my guest on the Christian Habits Podcast. Christy talks about her journey to sobriety and the choice to live without alcohol in her new book Love Life Sober. Even if you do not struggle specifically with alcohol, you will hear many helpful ways to deal with any addiction.   What We Discussed on...

Have you thought to yourself: I’ll never get over this? Have you tried over and over again to get out from underneath the control of a habit or a sin in your life only to be discouraged once again? If so, you will be greatly encouraged by my interview with Kirby Kelly about overcoming temptation which is the subject of her book: You Can Be Free: Overcoming Temptation and Habitual Sin by the Power and Promises of the Gospel. You, too, can find freedom from your habits and addictions! What...

Are you a single person? Or a married person who struggles with regret, overthinking, or worrying about what the future may (or may not) hold? If you fit into either of these categories, today’s Christian Podcast episode will help! I’ll be visiting with Ryan Wekenman about his new book, Single Today: Conquer Yesterday’s Regrets, Ditch Tomorrow’s Worries, and Thrive Right Where You Are. I love Ryan’s new book and found it incredibly helpful, even though I’ve been married for 42 years. I...

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night worrying about something? I know I do! With so much going on in our world and lives, it’s easy to give into to worry and anxiety. On today’s episode of the Christian Habits Podcast, we’ll talk about letting go of anxiety by walking through Lesson 15 from my new Philippians Bible Study together. Each lesson in the Philippians Bible study is on a different topic, but since Philippians is all about finding joy in difficult circumstances it’s the...

Do you ever feel like you want to change, but you can’t seem to make it happen? Do you long to be closer to God? So often we change as soon as we become Christians, then go for years and years without any growth. In the Closer to God Bible Study Series, you’ll have a chance to study the Bible in a way that will help you visibly grow as you go to God for help with life. Today, I’m excited to announce the second book in the Closer to God Bible Study Series: Philippians!! Philippians is one...

In today’s culture, there is a mental health crisis. So many are looking for answers, yet much of the advice given does not provide sustainable relief. However, we know that the only way to true and lasting peace is to know the Prince of Peace! On the Christian Habits Podcast today (links below), my guest, Christopher Cook discusses this very topic and his new book Healing What You Can’t Erase. What We Discussed on the Podcast * The culture’s current mental health crisis * Common...

Do you ever feel distant from God? Do you long to be close to Him? In today’s episode of the Christian Habits Podcast we’ll talk about 14 practical things you can do to get closer to God. 14 Practical Ways to Get Closer to God The more intentional we are about our relationships, the better those relationships will be. Let’s look at some practical things we can do to get closer to God. I’ll give a short list here and then go into more depth in the podcast. Find something you enjoy doing...

Do you find yourself simply going through the motions in your Christian walk? Do you long for a deeply intentional and powerful relationship with God? If so, you will inspired and challenged by this episode of The Christian Habits Podcast (links below). My guest today, John Mark Comer, talks about a whole-life, immersive approach to your faith found in his new book, Practicing the Way. What We Discussed on the Podcast * The difference a Christian and an apprentice of Jesus * How fierce...

It’s easy to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious when we focus on the turmoil in the world (or our own lives). However, there is hope! My guest on the podcast today, Brant Hansen, reminds us that we truly can have peace and abiding joy – no matter our circumstances – if Jesus is the center of our lives. We’ll also discuss Brant’s new book, Life is Hard, God is Good, Let’s Dance. What We Discussed on the Podcast * How to become joyful when that isn’t your natural bent * How to...

Do you struggle to memorize Scripture? I do. For years I thought I couldn’t memorize it because I don’t have a good memory. But for the last couple of months–ever since I read Glenna Marshall’s book on memorizing Scripture–I’ve been going great guns with Scripture memory and love it! If you’re someone like me who has struggled for years to commit God’s Word to memory, my latest episode of The Christian Habits Podcast (links below) will help. My guest, Glenna Marshall, has a new book out...

Do stressful situations steal your peace? Have you allowed the disappointments in your life to keep you from feeling close to Jesus? Do you wish to experience the calm you feel in your quiet moments with God all throughout your day? In my interview on the Christian Habits Podcast (links below), Joni Eareckson Tada shares wisdom from her personal life experiences about learning to stay close to Jesus all throughout the day. We also discuss her newest book, The Practice of the Presence of...

Has the joy and peace in your life been replaced by stress and strife? Is your inner narrative filling you with thoughts of despair? Do you find yourself questioning God’s goodness? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you may be in the midst of a spiritual battle. My guest today on the Christian Habits Podcast (links below), Susie Larson, shares such valuable wisdom from her very personal experiences in spiritual warfare, and from her book Strong in Battle. What We...

Marriage is hard, we all agree. And when a spouse has an addiction to pornography, a marriage can be stretched to its breaking point. However, when God is involved, there is always hope! On today’s episode of the Christian Habits Podcast (links below), my guest, Dannah Gresh shares about this particular struggle in her own marriage which was the inspiration for her newest book, Happily Even After. What We Discussed on the Podcast * The painful cycle of pornography addiction * How the...

Are you going through a hard season right now? Does God feel silent? Sarah J. Hauser, my guest on the Christian Habits Podcast (links below), is no stranger to these difficulties. In our interview, she shares about her new book, All Who are Weary: Finding True Rest by Letting Go of the Burdens You were Never Meant to Carry, and about the difficult season she went through to learn the truths she writes about. What We Discussed on the Podcast * Sarah’s battle with depression * How a...

Do you suffer from chronic pain or a debilitating illness? Have you recently received a difficult diagnosis? Or are you or a loved one simply going through a difficult trial right now? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will be greatly encouraged by my interview with Andrea Herzer about her new book: Incurable Faith: 120 Devotions of Lasting Hope for Lingering Health Issues. What We Discussed on the Podcast * How to find God’s presence in the pain * How God sends...

Do you often feel rushed and like you’re not really enjoying life? Does your heart long for rest and for sweet fellowship with dear friends? If so, you’ll be encouraged by the Danish practice of hygge (HYOO-guh) which my podcast guest, Jamie Erickson, discusses in her latest book: Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow. Today’s episode of the Christian Habits Podcast (links below) considers the beautiful practice of true hospitality. What We Discussed on...

No one can deny that we’re living in an era of great change in the area of morals and faith. Young adults are leaving their faith in droves, or continuing to believe in God but choosing a different set of morals than they grew up with. As parents, it’s hard to watch that process. If you have a child who is making choices that cause you to worry, I invite you to listen to my conversation with Mary DeMuth on the Christian Habits Podcast today (links below). Mary’s new book, Love, Pray, Listen:...

Mark Batterson is an influential pastor and a prolific author of over twenty-three books. His latest book, Please, Sorry, Thanks: the Three Words that Change Everything digs into how every relationship can be positively affected by a new revelation and application of these three words in our lives. I think you’ll really enjoy my interview with him today on The Christian Habits Podcast (links below). Things We Discussed on the Podcast * How we only need to really be good at three things...

Do you ever find yourself wondering why certain things are happening in your life? Or paralyzed with regret, spending too much time in woulda-coulda-shoulda thinking? Are you afraid to admit that, at times, you question whether or not God really is good? If you can relate to any of these questions, I invite you to listen to my interview with Joanna Weaver on today’s episode of the Christian Habits Podcast (links below). We discuss her newest book, Embracing Trust, and how to live with...

We live in an age where people are more connected than ever through social media and email, yet loneliness is rampant in all age groups. It’s easy to feel lonely even when we’re surrounded by people both online and in our own lives. We’re not the only ones who feel this way. Mother Teresa once said, “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness,...

Do you have loved ones in your life with whom you disagree? Do you find it hard to engage with someone who has a different opinion than yours? Are you prone to just “agree to disagree” when beliefs differ? If any of these are true for you, my interview today on the Christian Habits Podcast with Mike Donehey (links below) will give you a more peaceful approach and practical tips to have more healthy conversations when divisive topics arise. What We Discussed on the Podcast * The...

If you’ve ever experienced stress over your personal productivity, today’s episode of The Christian Habits Podcast with Jordan Raynor will really encourage you (links below). I talk with Jordan about his book, Redeeming Your Time: 7 Biblical Principles for being Purposeful, Present and Wildly Productive.  What We Discussed on the Podcast * How this book’s advice differs from other “time management” books * Having peace in Jesus regardless of your productivity * How to centralize “open...