Become New with John Ortberg

Become New
  • 4.8 (364)
  • Spirituality
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Join John Ortberg each day for 10 minutes of spiritual guidance on the person we are becoming.

  1. 20. Psalm 1 and the Problem With Twitter

    12h ago

    20. Psalm 1 and the Problem With Twitter

    What is social media doing to your soul? In this conversation, John Ortberg and Steve Cuss explore Psalm 1, online outrage, anxiety, reactivity, and the emotional formation happening through social media. Why do platforms like Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram so easily pull people toward outrage, contempt, comparison, and self-righteousness? And what do the Psalms have to say about it? This episode explores: - Psalm 1 and “the company of mockers” - Reactivity and self-righteousness online - Why Steve deactivated Twitter - Social media algorithms and outrage - Meditation, attention, and spiritual formation - “Relaxing into God’s presence” This is an honest, thoughtful, and deeply practical conversation about technology, attention, anxiety, and the health of the human soul. Scriptures: - Psalm 1 - Psalm 55 #Psalm1 #JohnOrtberg #SteveCuss #SocialMedia #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Anxiety #Twitter #Psalms 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Introduction & Steve Cuss Joins the Conversation 00:52 Social Media, Reactivity & Self-Righteousness 01:38 “One More Statement From Me Is What the World Requires” 02:05 Psalm 1 Begins 03:20 Scoffers, Mockers & Online Culture 04:03 “Thank God I’m Not Like Those People” 04:32 Why Steve Left Twitter 05:16 Psalm 55 & “Violence in the City” 06:13 The Emotional Atmosphere of Social Media 07:23 Trying to Respond With Grace Online 08:11 Algorithms Reward Outrage 09:07 Systems That Amplify the Worst in Us 09:34 Self-Awareness Is Not Enough 10:12 Meditating on Outrage vs. Meditating on God 10:42 “What Street Do I No Longer Need to Walk Down?” 10:56 Closing Prayer

    13 min
  2. 19. The Secret Language of the Psalms

    1d ago

    19. The Secret Language of the Psalms

    Why should we pray the Psalms slowly? In this reflective teaching, John Ortberg explores the nature of Hebrew poetry, the structure of the Psalms, and why the language of prayer was never meant to be rushed. Using Psalm 90 and several other Psalms, John unpacks the beauty of biblical parallelism — repetition, pivots, refrains, and poetic movement that deepen meaning and slow the soul down enough to notice God. This episode explores: - Why the Psalms are poetry, not prose - Hebrew parallelism explained simply - Why repetition matters spiritually - Psalm 23, Psalm 88, and Psalm 90 - Jesus’ use of poetic teaching - Prayer as attentiveness rather than efficiency Featuring reflections from: - Eugene Peterson - C.S. Lewis - Robert Lowth Scriptures: - Psalm 90 - Psalm 23 - Psalm 88 - Matthew 7 #Psalms #Prayer #JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #HebrewPoetry #BibleStudy #Psalm90 #ChristianFaith #EugenePeterson #CSLewis 📚 Today's Resources: Answering God — by Eugene Peterson Reflections on the Psalms — by C. S. Lewis 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 The One Word for Praying the Psalms 00:21 Psalm 90 & Numbering Our Days 00:51 Why the Psalms Repeat Themselves 01:08 The Psalms Are Poetry, Not Prose 01:34 Hebrew Parallelism Explained 02:03 Robert Lowth & Hebrew Poetry 02:59 Poetry Carries Thought Forward 03:24 “It Doesn’t Rhyme!” 04:04 Eugene Peterson on Poetry & Prayer 05:06 Why the Psalms Slow Us Down 06:02 Psalm 8 & Returning Home 07:18 Psalm 23 & Poetic Pivoting 08:06 Psalm 88 & Unresolved Anguish 09:21 The Psalms Were Never Meant for Speed Reading 09:44 Jesus Used Parallelism Too 10:14 “Judge Not…” Explained 10:37 “Ask, Seek, Knock” 11:23 Prayer, Patience & Attention 11:56 The Language of the Soul

    14 min
  3. 18. How Worship Neutralizes Envy

    2d ago

    18. How Worship Neutralizes Envy

    Why do other people’s lives always seem better? In this teaching on Psalm 73, John Ortberg explores envy, comparison, resentment, worship, and the deep human struggle of feeling overlooked while others seem to prosper. The psalmist honestly confesses: “I envied the arrogant.” What follows is one of the most emotionally honest prayers in the Psalms — a prayer about jealousy, discouragement, unfairness, and the exhausting habit of comparing our lives to everyone else around us. This episode explores: - Why comparison distorts reality - Social media, envy, and modern dissatisfaction - Worship as perspective restoration - The turning point of Psalm 73 - Why gratitude disappears when envy grows - “It is good to be near God” This teaching is deeply practical, psychologically insightful, and spiritually grounding. Scriptures: - Psalm 73 #Psalm73 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Worship #Envy #Comparison #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Introduction & “Where’s the Beef?” 00:28 Pouring Out Envy Honestly to God 00:45 Psalm 73 Begins 01:13 “I Envied the Arrogant” 01:35 Why Other People’s Lives Look Better 02:08 “They’re Really Happy” 02:32 Comparing, Resenting & Complaining 03:18 “Surely in Vain Have I Kept My Heart Pure” 03:45 The Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” Illustration 04:11 Why Life Feels Unfair 04:36 The Turning Point: Entering the Sanctuary 05:15 Worship Restores Perspective 06:01 Nothing Changed… Yet Everything Changed 06:28 “Afterward You Will Take Me Into Glory” 06:55 The “D in Chemistry” Perspective Story 07:39 Worship as a Way of Life 08:09 What Worship Does to the Soul 08:31 What Happens When We Stop Worshiping 09:19 Learning to Meet God Throughout the Day 10:15 “It Is Good to Be Near God” 11:11 “I Will Tell of All Your Deeds”

    14 min
  4. 17. Psalm 126 and the Spiritual Power of Joy

    3d ago

    17. Psalm 126 and the Spiritual Power of Joy

    Is it possible laughter could be a form of prayer? In this joyful and surprisingly profound teaching on Psalm 126, John Ortberg explores joy, humor, delight, neuroscience, and why laughter may be far more spiritual than many people realize. Why do children laugh so much more than adults? Why does spontaneous laughter feel healing? And what does it mean that God Himself laughs? This episode explores: - Psalm 126 and joy - Why laughter matters spiritually - The neuroscience of laughter - Spontaneous vs. social laughter - Joy, humility, and human connection - Sarah laughing at God’s promise - Why the Gospel itself can feel wonderfully absurd Featuring reflections from: - Eugene Peterson - C.S. Lewis - Carl Jung - Frederick Buechner Scriptures: - Psalm 126 - Psalm 2 - Genesis 18 #Psalm126 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Joy #Laughter #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Psalms #CSLewis #BibleStudy 📚 Today's Resources: Robert Provine: Laughter: A Scientific Investigation  Eugene H. Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer  C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew  Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale  🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Is Laughter a Form of Prayer? 00:20 Why We Rarely Associate Laughter With God 01:05 Why Adults Stop Laughing 01:30 Psalm 126 & Restored Joy 02:19 What Laughter Actually Is 02:48 Why Jokes Aren’t the Main Reason We Laugh 03:11 The Trinity Walks Into a Wine Bar… 03:37 Jung, Spirit & Joy 04:02 Laughter, Safety & Human Connection 04:24 Who Invented Laughter? 04:45 Two Different Kinds of Laughter 05:36 Spontaneous Joy & the Brain 06:06 God Loves to Give Laughter 06:29 Eugene Peterson: “God Laughs” 07:22 The “Get Your Own Dirt” Joke 08:06 C.S. Lewis & The First Joke 09:07 Frederick Buechner on Sarah’s Laughter 10:17 Laughing at God & With God 11:20 “Are You Kidding Me? God Loves Me?” 11:42 God Filling Our Mouths With Laughter

    15 min
  5. 16. Remembering Is a Form of Prayer

    4d ago

    16. Remembering Is a Form of Prayer

    Why does memory matter spiritually? In this reflective teaching on Psalm 77, John Ortberg explores remembrance, gratitude, grief, forgiveness, healing, and why memory itself can become a form of prayer. Using deeply personal family stories, Memorial Day reflections, and Psalm 77’s call to “remember the deeds of the Lord,” John reflects on the spiritual importance of remembering honestly and hopefully. This episode explores: - Gratitude and memory - Remembering sin and forgiveness - God’s faithfulness through suffering - Augustine’s Confessions - René Girard and mimetic desire - Why Jesus told us to remember This teaching is thoughtful, moving, deeply personal, and filled with hope. Scriptures: - Psalm 77 - Luke 22:19 Resources referenced: - Eugene Peterson - Augustine’s Confessions - René Girard #Psalm77 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Memory #Gratitude #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Healing #Psalms 📚 Today's Resources:  Eugene H. Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer  🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Memorial Day & Remembering 00:28 Psalm 77 & the Prayer of Memory 01:16 “I Will Remember the Deeds of the Lord” 01:38 Three Ways to Pray Through Memory 02:03 John’s Grandmother’s Notebook 02:42 Gratitude & Family Memories 04:00 Remembering People We Love 04:52 Remembering Sin & Forgiveness 05:18 Augustine’s Pear Theft Story 05:51 René Girard & Mimetic Desire 06:20 The Watermelon Story 07:27 Remembering Without Shame 08:09 Remembering God’s Faithfulness 08:36 Grief, Loss & Family Suffering 09:32 “The Healing Power Is Greater Than the Hurting Power” 10:19 Retrospect & Hope Beyond This Life 11:17 “Remember” 11:29 Jesus & the Last Supper 11:46 Closing Prayer

    14 min
  6. 15. Why Gratitude Cannot Be Forced

    May 22

    15. Why Gratitude Cannot Be Forced

    Why is gratitude so difficult to sustain? In this teaching on Psalm 100, John Ortberg explores the deeper source of genuine gratitude and why thankfulness cannot simply be forced through willpower. Using reflections from Robert Hayden and his poem Those Winter Sundays, John reflects on the hidden acts of love that quietly sustain human life every day — often without being noticed or thanked. This episode explores: - Why gratitude begins with awareness - The hidden acts of love around us - Psalm 100 and worship - “Know that the Lord, He is God” - Gratitude, creation, and ordinary beauty - Learning to “connect the dots” back to God This is a thoughtful, moving reflection on gratitude, worship, attention, and the goodness of God. Scriptures: - Psalm 100 - Genesis 3 (allusion) - John 10 imagery Resources referenced: - Those Winter Sundays — Robert Hayden #Psalm100 #JohnOrtberg #Gratitude #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Thankfulness #Worship #BibleStudy #Psalms 📚 Today's Resources: Robert Hayden, “Those Winter Sundays” 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Introduction & Praying Gratitude 00:24 Psalm 100 & Childhood Memory Contest 01:02 Why Gratitude Cannot Be Forced 01:21 What Comes Before Gratitude 01:52 Robert Hayden’s “Those Winter Sundays” 03:04 “Love’s Austere and Lonely Offices” 03:40 Hidden Acts of Love We Miss 04:41 Gratitude Begins With Awareness 05:10 “Make a Joyful Noise” 05:48 “Know That the Lord, He Is God” 06:06 The Temptation to Be Like God 06:25 “I Got to Have a Life” 06:42 We Are the Sheep of His Pasture 07:12 “Connect the Dots” Back to God 07:56 “The Lord Is Good” 08:18 Ordinary Gifts & Everyday Glory 08:54 Jesus & the Lonely Offices of Love 09:13 Gratitude Overflowing Into Service

    11 min
  7. 14. Why You Should Stop Having a “Quiet Time”

    May 21

    14. Why You Should Stop Having a “Quiet Time”

    Why would God include violent prayers in the Bible? In this deeply challenging teaching on Psalm 137, John Ortberg explores anger, injustice, enemies, suffering, and why the Psalms are far more emotionally honest than most modern spirituality. John begins with a provocative statement:  “You should stop having a quiet time.” Using reflections from Eugene Peterson, this episode explores the difference between prayer that merely calms us down and prayer that honestly confronts evil, grief, and the brokenness of the world. This episode explores: - Why Psalm 137 feels so disturbing - The role of anger and indignation - Why suppressed hatred is spiritually dangerous - Prayer as honesty before God - Jesus, enemy-love, and the Psalms - “Our hate needs to be prayed, not suppressed” Featuring reflections on: - Eugene Peterson - C.S. Lewis - René Girard Scriptures: - Psalm 137 - Ephesians 6:12 - Matthew 5:44 #Psalm137 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Psalms #EugenePeterson #Justice #Forgiveness #BibleStudy 📚 Today's Resources: Eugene H. Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms As Tools for Prayer  René Girard, The Scapegoat  🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Introduction: “Stop Having a Quiet Time” 00:25 Eugene Peterson on Pseudo-Prayer 01:30 “Prayer Is Combat” 02:26 Why the Psalms Talk So Much About Enemies 03:11 Enter Psalm 137 04:10 “How Can We Sing in a Foreign Land?” 04:38 The Most Disturbing Verse in the Psalm 05:13 Why This Psalm Shocks Modern Readers 05:36 The Psalms Refuse Sanitized Spirituality 06:00 Two Kinds of Violence in the Psalms 06:40 René Girard, Victims & Scapegoats 07:08 Indignation, Anger & Injustice 08:06 Why People Want These Psalms Removed 09:03 “Our Hate Needs to Be Prayed” 09:55 Suppressed Anger & False Spirituality 10:18 Jesus, Enemy Love & the Psalms 11:23 Dare to Be Real With God

    13 min
  8. 13. Why We Avoid What Matters Most (Psalm 42)

    May 20

    13. Why We Avoid What Matters Most (Psalm 42)

    Why do we avoid uncomfortable truth? In this teaching on Psalm 42, John Ortberg explores self-awareness, attention, distraction, procrastination, and the deep spiritual thirst at the center of the human soul. Using Psalm 42’s famous image — “As the deer pants for streams of water…” — John reflects on how human beings often distract themselves from the deeper realities happening inside them. Why do we avoid certain thoughts? Why do difficult truths fade when we procrastinate? And what does prayer have to do with attention? This episode explores: - The soul’s longing for God - Why humans avoid painful truth - Self-deception and attention management - Procrastination as a spiritual issue - The relationship between awareness and transformation - “The greatest freedom of human life” Featuring reflections from: - William James - Flannery O’Connor - Gregg Ten Elshof Scripture: - Psalm 42 #Psalm42 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #SelfAwareness #ChristianFaith #Psychology #Attention #BibleStudy #Psalms 📚 Today's Resources: Gregg A. Ten Elshof, I Told Me So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life  Flannery O’Connor, The Violent Bear It Away  🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Introduction 00:26 Psalm 42 & the Problem of Being Real 01:08 Why the Psalms Speak to the Soul 01:31 Awareness, Choice & the Human Will 02:19 “As the Deer Pants for Water” 03:18 Pouring Out the Soul Before God 04:04 “Why Are You Downcast, O My Soul?” 04:38 Flannery O’Connor & Avoiding Truth 06:18 William James on Attention & Experience 06:48 The Sneaky Power of Attention Management 07:09 The Greatest Freedom of Human Life 08:21 Forgetting Painful Experiences 09:12 Procrastination & Self-Deception 10:52 Why Moral Convictions Fade Over Time 11:26 “Help Me See What I’ve Been Avoiding” 11:54 Deep Calls to Deep

    14 min
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4.8
out of 5
364 Ratings

About

Join John Ortberg each day for 10 minutes of spiritual guidance on the person we are becoming.

Information

  • Creator
    Become New
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.1K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Become New with John Ortberg
  • Show Website
    Become New with John Ortberg

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