Friends With God

Joe Longo
  • 5.0 (24)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Daily

Friends With God is a simple, honest exploration of what it means to know Jesus and build a real relationship with God. Hosted by Joe Longo, each episode opens Scripture, asks honest questions, and connects the teachings of Jesus to everyday life. Together we'll walk through Scripture, discovering practical wisdom, hope, peace, and a deeper understanding of God's love. Whether you're new to faith, returning after time away, or simply curious, you're welcome here. No pretending. No perfection. Just an average Joe learning to know Jesus, one day at a time.

  1. 3d ago

    Jesus Doesn’t Call You a Servant. He Calls You a Friend. | John 15:12-17

    What if your relationship with God was never meant to feel distant? In John 15:12-17, Jesus says something extraordinary: “I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends.” In this episode of Friends with God, Joe explores the passage that inspired the name of the entire podcast and what it might mean to actually live every day as a friend of Jesus. Friendship isn't built through striving or checking religious boxes. It's built through presence, conversation, trust, love, and simply spending time together. Joe explores how prayer can become an ongoing conversation, how abiding means staying connected, and why Jesus' command to love one another may be far simpler and more powerful than we sometimes make it. What if Jesus isn't waiting somewhere far away for you to find Him? What if He's already sitting across the kitchen table? Grab your coffee. Open up John 15. And let's talk about what it means to be Friends with God.

  2. 4h ago

    Stop Striving. Stay Connected. | What It Really Means to Abide (John 15:1-8)

    A note from Joe: This episode originally aired last week. Following the passing of my sister Mary Lou, I'm taking some time away from recording and revisiting a couple of conversations from last week that feel especially meaningful right now. Thank you for your prayers, love, and understanding. What does it really mean to "abide" in Christ? In this episode of Friends with God, Joe explores one of Jesus' most powerful teachings from John 15:1-8, where Jesus calls Himself the true vine and us the branches. Instead of striving harder, performing better, or trying to earn God's approval, Joe reflects on a much simpler invitation: stay connected. Through everyday examples, practical application, and honest conversation, this episode explores how abiding isn't about doing more. It's about remaining rooted in Christ so that peace, joy, faith, and love naturally grow as the fruit of a life connected to Him. If you've been feeling spiritually exhausted or distracted, this conversation is a gentle reminder that the answer may not be trying harder. It may simply be staying close to the Vine.

  3. Aug 10

    When Life Doesn't Make Sense: Holding On to God's Hand

    What do you do when life suddenly changes and nothing seems to make sense? In this episode of Friends With God, Joe opens up about walking through grief, uncertainty, and unexpected loss while reflecting on two powerful scriptures that found him exactly when he needed them most. Before diving into John 15 later this week, Joe explores Isaiah 41:13 and Romans 15:13, discovering a simple but profound invitation from God: "Don't be afraid. I will help you." If you're navigating a difficult season, wrestling with unanswered questions, or simply trying to trust God one day at a time, this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to understand everything to keep holding His hand. ScripturesIsaiah 41:13Romans 15:13

  4. Aug 7

    How to Find Peace in a World Full of Fear | John 14 Explained

    Jesus didn't promise a life without trouble. He promised that we would never walk through it alone. In the final episode of our John 14 series, Joe explores Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit, the gift of lasting peace, and what it really means to trust God when life feels uncertain. Instead of living from fear, worry, and the need to control every outcome, we're invited to believe that God is already with us, guiding us every step of the way. This episode is a reminder that peace isn't found when our circumstances change. Peace begins when we remember we're never alone. Wrapping up John 14, Joe reflects on Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit as our Advocate and constant companion. The conversation centers on the difference between living from fear and living from faith. Joe shares how worry and faith both require belief in something unseen, but we get to choose which direction our imagination takes us. He encourages listeners to release control, trust God's direction, and remember that the Holy Spirit is always present, offering wisdom, peace, and guidance. The episode concludes with a practical invitation to pray with gratitude instead of fear and to walk through life believing that God is already working. Music by Viktor Sklemin from Pixabay

  5. Aug 5

    What Did Jesus Really Mean by "I Am the Way"? | John 14 Explained

    Jesus' words in John 14:6 may be some of the most quoted, and most misunderstood, verses in the Bible. In this episode, Joe explores what it means when Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Rather than approaching the passage as a debate, he reflects on it as an invitation to follow Jesus' example, trust God's direction, and build a genuine friendship with Him. Together we explore faith, miracles, distractions, prayer, and why belief is more than simply saying the right words. It's about learning to live the way Jesus lived, one day at a time. Continuing through John 14, Joe reflects on verses 5 through 14 and Jesus' famous declaration that He is "the way, the truth, and the life." Instead of focusing on arguments or theology, Joe encourages listeners to see these verses as a roadmap for living. He discusses trusting God during uncertainty, recognizing the miracles that often go unnoticed, and moving from performative faith to authentic belief. The episode closes by inviting listeners to ask themselves a simple but powerful question: What would it look like to truly follow Jesus today instead of simply believing ideas about Him? Music by Viktor Sklemin from Pixabay

  6. Aug 3

    Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

    What did Jesus really mean when He said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled"? In the first episode of our John 14 series, we slow down and sit with one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture. Joe explores what it means to trust God even when life feels uncertain, why worry so easily pulls us away from faith, and how surrender isn't giving up, but giving our burdens back to God. Drawing from his own journey through Christianity, mindfulness, and Kundalini Yoga, Joe shares how one simple practice has continued pointing him back to the words of Jesus: "Give your pain to God and take home peace." Whether you're new to faith or simply looking for encouragement today, this conversation is an invitation to breathe, trust, and walk with God one day at a time. This episode begins a three-part journey through John 14 by focusing on Jesus' opening words: "Do not let your hearts be troubled." Joe explains why Friends with God isn't about proving who's right or wrong, but about honestly exploring Scripture together. He reflects on his own spiritual journey and discusses how God can use every season of life to bring us closer to Jesus. The heart of the episode centers on learning to surrender our worries instead of carrying them alone. Joe encourages listeners to stop trying to control every outcome and instead trust that God understands the bigger picture. He closes with a simple daily prayer and reminds us that peace comes when we release what we were never meant to carry. Music by Viktor Sklemin from Pixabay

  7. Aug 2

    What Does It Mean to Be Friends with God? | A New Beginning

    Welcome to the very first episode of Friends with God. After five years of podcasting, Joe introduces the heart behind this new journey and shares why he felt called to return to the teachings of Jesus with fresh eyes. This isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions, creating simple daily practices, and learning to walk alongside God one day at a time. Joe reflects on his own path through Catholicism, evangelical Christianity, mindfulness, yoga, and meditation, explaining how each step unexpectedly led him back to Jesus. Along the way, he explores Philippians 4:19, the power of trusting God's provision, and why distractions so often pull us away from remembering that we are never walking alone. If you've ever wanted a simple, honest conversation about faith without pressure or perfection, pull up a chair. You're in the right place. Episode Summary In the premiere episode of Friends with God, Joe shares the story behind the new podcast and the personal journey that inspired it. Rather than presenting himself as a pastor or theologian, he invites listeners to simply explore Scripture together with curiosity and openness. The episode centers around the idea of developing a genuine friendship with God through small daily practices instead of only turning toward God during life's crises. Using Philippians 4:19 as the day's reflection, Joe encourages listeners to believe that God provides everything we truly need and reminds us that the greatest challenge is often the distractions that pull us away from that trust. The episode concludes by introducing the upcoming study through John 14 and inviting listeners to walk this journey together, one day at a time. Music by Viktor Sklemin from Pixabay Work with Joe Explore More

  8. Jul 16

    The Next Step of Faith | Why Inspire Create Manifest Is Becoming Friends With God

    After five years of Inspire Create Manifest, Joe announces the final episode of the podcast and shares the heart behind its next evolution. Beginning August 3, the show becomes Friends With God: One Day at a Time, a podcast documenting one ordinary person's journey of developing a genuine relationship with God through the teachings of Jesus. Joe explains that this is not about becoming a preacher, theologian, or biblical scholar. It's about becoming an average person who is willing to follow where God is leading, even when it feels uncertain. Throughout the episode he reflects on how the podcast has continually evolved, from The Daily Shot of Inspiration to Inspire Create Manifest, and now into a show centered on friendship with God. He shares the fear of changing direction, the temptation to worry about what others might think, and the realization that growth requires giving ourselves permission to evolve. Drawing inspiration from John 15:15, where Jesus says, "I no longer call you servants... I call you friends," Joe invites listeners into a simpler, more personal way of approaching faith, not through religion or performance, but through relationship. The episode closes with an invitation to walk together one day at a time as Friends With God.

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About

Friends With God is a simple, honest exploration of what it means to know Jesus and build a real relationship with God. Hosted by Joe Longo, each episode opens Scripture, asks honest questions, and connects the teachings of Jesus to everyday life. Together we'll walk through Scripture, discovering practical wisdom, hope, peace, and a deeper understanding of God's love. Whether you're new to faith, returning after time away, or simply curious, you're welcome here. No pretending. No perfection. Just an average Joe learning to know Jesus, one day at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Joe Longo
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.1K
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Joe Longo
  • Show Website
    Friends With God

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