Walking in Step with God with Steve McDonald

Walking in Step with God
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Daily

Walking in Step With God: Daily Inspiration is a podcast hosted by Steve McDonald, created to encourage reflection, personal growth, and a more purposeful everyday life.   Each episode offers practical wisdom, thoughtful perspectives, and gentle reminders to pause, reconnect with what matters, and move forward with greater clarity, peace, strength, and hope. For those who find meaning through faith, nothing can be more fulfilling and rewarding than having a close walk with God.   Whether you are exploring life’s deeper questions, beginning a journey of self-discovery, or seeking renewed encouragement, Walking in Step With God offers inspiration for every step along the way.   Learn more at walkinginstepwithgod.org.

  1. 9h ago

    Let's Discuss - Appreciate Favor

    Hi, I'm Steve McDonald. Do you ever think to yourself: “I keep messing up, I know God doesn’t want me to do these things. I’m sure he is going to punish me by making things difficult.” It is a heavy weight to carry, isn’t it? That constant, nagging feeling that you’re walking on eggshells with the Creator of the universe. You might feel like your life is a series of one step forward and two steps back, and every time you slip, you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop. You wonder if the challenges you’re facing today—the car trouble, the strained relationship, the lack of peace—are direct results of that one mistake you made last week or that habit you can’t seem to kick. You find yourself asking, "Is God done with me? Have I finally exhausted His patience?" I want you to know that you aren’t alone in those thoughts, but I also want to help you see past the fear that those questions create. Imagine you’re at work, and you’ve had a particularly stressful morning. You snapped at a coworker, or perhaps you let a small compromise in your integrity slide just to get the job done faster. As you drive home, the silence in the car feels loud with guilt. You start thinking that because of that moment, your whole weekend is going to be ruined by some stroke of "bad luck" sent from above as a lesson. Or maybe you’re lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, replaying a conversation where you weren’t your best self, convinced that God is looking down with a clipboard, marking off your failures and withdrawing His favor. We’ve all been in that place where we mistake God’s holiness for a desire to see us fail, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is God loves you no matter what you have done. He sees your heart and your true intentions. Yes, it is true, we will reap what we sow. If you pursue ungodly behavior with no intention of changing, that is unlikely to bring God’s favor into your life in the same way it would if you had a true desire to turn away from the world and toward God. But notice the distinction: God isn't looking for perfection; He is looking for direction. Favor isn't a reward for being perfect; it is the grace given to those who are seeking Him. When we pivot our hearts toward Him, we stop seeing life as a series of punishments and start seeing it as a journey of refinement. God wants you to have a joy-filled life, you need only decide to give your heart to Him to show you the way. He is waiting with open arms, not to push you away for your mess-ups, but to pull you closer so He can help you overcome them. Applying this doesn't require a massive lifestyle overhaul overnight. Today, I want to give you one simple, actionable step: The "Breath of Favor." The next time you feel that wave of guilt or the fear that you’ve "messed up" your standing with God, stop for ten seconds. Take a deep breath and simply say, "Lord, thank You that Your favor is not based on my performance, but on Your love. I give You my heart again right now." Use that moment to reset your mindset from fear to appreciation. By acknowledging His favor even when you feel undeserving, you open the door for His peace to guard your heart and guide your next steps. Curious to learn more? Join us this Friday @ 7pm Pacific, right here on this podcast as we explore the topic “Appreciate Favor”. Bless you.

  2. Sep 25

    Step Into Open Arms

    Catch today's video message going live tonight! We discuss some powerful things to consider as we step into the open arms of God. Here is a quick summary of what we cover: God is both loving and forgiving, and when we ask for forgiveness, He wipes our slate completely clean regardless of our past or earthly consequences. There are no prerequisites, rituals, or procedures needed to talk to God; we can approach Him exactly as we are, anytime and anywhere. Everyone has a unique, God-given purpose and perfected plan for their lives, and we can ask Him to reveal it to us while incorporating the things we enjoy. Stepping into His open arms only requires a true, genuine desire in our hearts to know Him, no matter how society labels us. God will happily show us any areas in our lives that need adjusting so we can truly experience the fullness of His hope and purpose. Whether it is the first time or the hundredth time, we invite you to turn toward Him. He is waiting with open arms! 🙏 Tune in tonight at 7pm Pacific on our YouTube channel, Facebook Group, and wherever you get your podcasts we discuss the topic "Step Into Open Arms". Miss the episode? Watch here: 👉🏼https://wiswgod.org/message

  3. Sep 23

    Wednesday Challenge - Step Into Open Arms

    Have you ever felt like you’ve gone too far? Maybe you think what you did is so horrible, so unthinkable, that God has finally closed the door on you. If that is where you are, then this Challenge is for you. We all carry these weights around, don’t we? We wake up with the regret, we eat our meals with the shame, and we go to bed with that crushing realization of our own failures. It feels like it’s part of our DNA. For those of you who feel too far gone—maybe you’ve faced the consequences in your relationships or with the justice system—you assume God feels the same way the world does. We look at the wreckage of our lives and see burnt bridges and cold stares, and we project that onto our Creator. We think He’s keeping a scoreboard and our score is so deeply in the negative that there’s no hope of recovery. But I want you to know that the silence you’re feeling isn’t a closed door; it’s a space waiting for you to step into. Let’s consider a situation many of us know too well. Imagine spending years building a life, only to have it go up in smoke because of one bad decision or a moment of weakness. In our world, when we break the rules, we get pushed out or "canceled." We are told our mistakes define us forever. We stay in the shadows because we’re afraid that the light will only expose our mess further. We become our own jailers, locking ourselves away from the very mercy we desperately need. But why would we assume God operates like we do? Here is the truth: God is not like us. He doesn’t operate on a system of retribution or "three strikes." His grace and His mercy are the baseline of His character, not a reward for good behavior. We often think we have to scrub the stains and pay the debts before we can even whisper a request for help. That’s a lie we tell ourselves to maintain control. The reality is that mercy is for the messy and grace is for the guilty. It is an unconditional reach from the infinite to the finite. He sees past the wreckage to the core of who you are, and He sees something worth reclaiming. Today's challenge is for you to turn and walk toward Him. It doesn't matter what you did, the pain you caused, or the damage that’s been done. This challenge is about taking that first step despite the fear. Ask Him for forgiveness and invite Him into your life. God is waiting for you with open arms right now, full of love. His grace is enough. It simply doesn’t matter what is in your past; He wants a relationship with you here, now, just as you are. Start that conversation today. He is waiting for you. Join us this Friday @ 7pm Pacific, right here on this podcast as we explore the topic “Step Into Open Arms”. Bless you.

  4. Sep 20

    Let's Discuss - Step Into Open Arms

    Hi, I'm Steve McDonald. Do you ever find yourself thinking, “It’s just too late for me. I’ve made too many mistakes, and God probably wants nothing to do with me anymore”? If you’ve ever felt that way, I want you to know that I truly understand that heavy, suffocating feeling. It’s that sense that your past has somehow disqualified you from having a relationship with God. Maybe the choices you’ve made broke relationships that feel beyond repair, or perhaps you’re living with consequences that feel like they’ll follow you for the rest of your life. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? We’ve all had those quiet moments late at night where we replay our deepest regrets like a movie we just can’t turn off. It’s a weight that can feel impossible to carry—that constant, exhausting cycle of “what if” and “if only.” In those moments, we often start carrying our burdens like invisible chains. We begin to believe the lie that our mistakes have built a wall so high that even God’s love can’t scale it. We imagine a “No Vacancy” sign is permanently lit at the door of His heart because of where we’ve been or what we’ve done. But I want to sit right beside you in that space today and share a beautiful truth that changes everything. The truth is, God loves us unconditionally, right here and right now. He isn’t waiting for us to get our act together or polish ourselves up before He welcomes us back. In fact, He is like the Father in the scriptures, running down the driveway to meet us while we’re still a long way off. His grace isn’t a reward for our good behavior; it’s a gift meant specifically for our brokenness. When we ask for His forgiveness, He doesn’t just scrub the slate—He replaces it entirely. We aren’t defined by our failures, but by the fact that we are His beloved children. How might your day change if you truly believed that today? So, how do we practically “Step Into Open Arms” today? I believe it starts with a simple, honest conversation. You don’t need fancy words or a theological degree; just find a quiet spot and say, “God, I’m tired of carrying this weight. I feel disqualified, but I’m coming to You anyway. Please forgive me and help me trust Your love more than my past.” As we take that first step, we begin the practice of receiving His peace. When those old thoughts of shame try to bubble up, we can gently remind ourselves that the slate is clean. Let’s walk forward together, one day at a time, resting in the joy of His presence. What is one small step you can take toward Him today? Curious to learn more? Join us this Friday @ 7pm Pacific, right here on this podcast as we explore the topic “Step Into Open Arms”. Bless you.

  5. Sep 11

    [REPEAT] - Worship God

    What can we do to worship God? How can we show God our devotion to our faith and our devotion to Him? 🤔 Let's discuss.

  6. Sep 9

    [REPEAT] - Wednesday Challenge - Find Your Place

    “Find Your Place” So you have the degree, the prestigious job title, the sports car, and the house on the hill you always wanted. Maybe it's the other way around. You have no degree, work at a boring and low paying job, take the bus to work and live in a shoebox of an apartment. Either way, this challenge is for you. You see, God is really not concerned when it comes to how much money you have in your bank account - be it 6 figures or single digits. God cares about a relationship with you, as you are, where you are. My challenge for you is to separate your accomplishments and material things from your worth. In God’s eyes, your identity and worth is not based on the things of the earth, it is based on who you are in Him. Ask God today to show you who you are in Him.

  7. Sep 6

    [REPEAT] - Let's Discuss - Practice Gratitude In Every Season

    “Practice Gratitude in Every Season” I get it. If you are watching this and struggling to understand why you don’t see a response to your prayers, keep your eyes and heart, and mind on God. The truth is that He has heard every word. God’s timing is perfect, even if it does not seem to match what we would want. God is working behind the scenes at this very moment, ensuring you will have what you need. God is aware of the desires of your heart, but also knows a perfected plan for your circumstances. I invite you to keep an open mind and an open heart that God is aware of your challenges and even suffering. God can and will guide you out of a place of lack and into a place of abundance according to a plan and timing that He knows is best. Place your trust in Him and ask Him for comfort and peace as you wait. Thank Him in advance for how He will respond to your prayer.

  8. Aug 28

    Notice The Blessings

    What are the blessings that come from living life with God? 🤔Let's discuss.

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About

Walking in Step With God: Daily Inspiration is a podcast hosted by Steve McDonald, created to encourage reflection, personal growth, and a more purposeful everyday life.   Each episode offers practical wisdom, thoughtful perspectives, and gentle reminders to pause, reconnect with what matters, and move forward with greater clarity, peace, strength, and hope. For those who find meaning through faith, nothing can be more fulfilling and rewarding than having a close walk with God.   Whether you are exploring life’s deeper questions, beginning a journey of self-discovery, or seeking renewed encouragement, Walking in Step With God offers inspiration for every step along the way.   Learn more at walkinginstepwithgod.org.

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