71 episodes
The Christian Habits Podcast Barb Raveling
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- Religion & Spirituality
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4.7 • 210 Ratings
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Do you ever feel like you can’t change no matter how hard you try? On the Christian Habits Podcast, we’ll talk about biblical transformation through the renewing of the mind. This is a practical, hands-on podcast that will help you break free from the things that control you: things like bad habits, idolatry, overeating, and negative emotions such as worry, insecurity, anger, and stress. We'll also talk about how to develop a close relationship with God as we develop the habit of going to Him for help with life.
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Letting Go of Anxiety with God’s Help
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 perfect book of the Bible to go to for help.
On the podcast, we’ll talk about five different options we can take when anxiety hits, and which options are most helpful. If you’d like to download a copy of Lesson 15, click here:
Free Downloadable Bible Study Lesson: Lesson 15 Philippians Bible Study by Barb Raveling.
In the podcast episode, I mentioned that I would include an image of how I diagramed Philippians 4:8-9. Here’s an image of that diagram:
Online Philippians Bible Study
I’d also like to invite you to our online Philippians Bible study, which begins May 15. We’ll be covering the following lessons in that Bible study.
Wednesday mornings classes: 9 am PST, 10 am MST, 11 am CST, 12 pm EST
* May 15 – Lesson 2: Loving When It’s Hard to Love
* May 29 – Lesson 6: People Pleasing, Self-Pleasing, and God-Pleasing
* June 12 – Lesson 15: Letting Go of Anxiety
Tuesday evenings classes: 5 pm PST, 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, 8 pm EST
* May 21 – Lesson 4: Letting Go of Idols
* June 4 – Lesson 11: Finding Your Identity in Christ
* June 18 – Lesson 16: Learning to Be Content
Click here for more info on the study and to sign up for it: Philippians Online Bible Study
Resources We Mentioned on the Podcast
* How to Diagram Scripture – YouTube video
* How to Diagram Scripture – Blog Post/Podcast
* Option Charts (Scroll down to Charts to find info on option charts._
* Philippians Bible Study
* Philippians Online Bible Study Sign Up Page
How to Listen to the Podcast:
To listen or subscribe on YouTube: click here
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Amazon Alexa: To listen on Amazon Alexa, say, “Alexa, play the Christian Habits Podcast.”
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Closer to God Bible Studies with Barb Raveling
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 of my favorite books of the Bible. One of the main themes of the book is finding contentment in all circumstances. This is interesting because Paul wrote the book from prison.
I picture him sitting in prison, possibly bored, anxious, or maybe even thinking of the unfairness of it all. I imagine him talking to God and learning how to be content in this difficult situation. Seeing it all from a biblical perspective, letting go, and embracing God in the midst of it.
Then he writes his letter to the Philippians and encourages them to rejoice always, dwell on the good, and learn to be content in all situations, just as he was doing in prison!
Thankfully, we get to benefit from Paul’s hard-won wisdom in this book. I’ll be sharing more about my Philippians Bible study and also the Closer to God Bible Study Series on my podcast interview today.
If you don’t have time to listen to the podcast …
You can find out more about the study here: Philippians Bible Study.
What We Discussed on the Podcast
* Why I wrote a study over a book of the Bible rather than a specific topic
* How this series was birthed to solve a problem in my own life
* The significance of the name of the series
* How this study is different than many others
* Who this book is geared towards and different ways to approach the study
* How my passion to see the church (and myself) mature and become more Christ-like continues to drive me to write and teach others
Resources Mentioned on the Podcast
* My new Philippians Bible Study
* My Closer to God Bible Study Series
* How to Diagram Scripture – YouTube
* Friendship Counseling by Kevin Huggins
* Novel Marketing Podcast with Thomas Umstattd Jr.
How to Listen to the Podcast
To listen or subscribe on YouTube: click here
To listen or subscribe on Apple Podcasts: click here
To listen or subscribe on Android: click here
To listen or subscribe on Stitcher: click here
To listen or subscribe on Spotify: click here
Amazon Alexa: To listen on Amazon Alexa, say, “Alexa, play the Christian Habits Podcast.” -
Healing What You Can’t Erase with Christopher Cook
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 advice that simply doesn’t work
* “Anxiety is just an alarm.” What does this statement mean?
* What is true peace?
* What are practical ways to fix our focus on Jesus?
* How the process of transformation happens
* Christopher’s S.E.E.D. strategy for dealing with intrusive thoughts
Resources Mentioned on the Podcast
* Healing What You Can’t Erase by Christopher Cook
* Pre-Order Bonuses for Christopher’s new book
* Win Today podcast with Christopher Cook
* Philippians Bible Study by Barb Raveling – pre-order today!
* James Bible Study
About Christopher Cook
Christopher Cook is a leadership coach, author, and podcast host focused on transformation and wholeness. With an aptitude for strategy and execution, his ability to unearth clarity out of complexity drives his mission to help individuals and organizations thrive in their true identity. His work has appeared in outlets such as SUCCESS Magazine, and he has spent over a decade coaching leaders in both the marketplace and non-profit sectors. His weekly podcast, Win Today with Christopher Cook, equips wellness-minded listeners to move beyond the limitations of self-help, and instead, toward an integrated life of wholeness from the inside out. Pulling from his own experiences with adversity and personal transformation, these efforts, embodied by his passion for mental health, emotional health, and spiritual maturity, along with his educational credentials in business administration, leadership, and ministry, have led to helping people experience healing and transformation in their spirit, mind, and body.
How to Listen to the Podcast
To listen or subscribe on YouTube: click here
To listen or subscribe on Apple Podcasts: click here
To listen or subscribe on Android: click here
To listen or subscribe on Stitcher: click here
To listen or subscribe on Spotify: click here
Amazon Alexa: To listen on Amazon Alexa, say, “Alexa, play the Christian Habits Podcast.” -
14 Practical Ways to Get Closer to God
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 with Him. If you dread your quiet time, you won’t want to do them. In the past, I didn’t feel like doing quiet times because I thought they were boring. I found something I enjoyed doing, though, and all of a sudden I wanted to do my quiet times. Some of the ideas we talk about on the podcast are truth journaling, Scripture meditation, the Examen app, topical Bible studies, and any of these renewing of the mind activities. Don’t worry about beginning with something simple, as you can always progress later to more Bible reading, etc. The key in the beginning is to establish the habit.
Meet with God each day during the time of day that you’re most alert. The advice we usually hear on this topic is to have your quiet time as soon as you wake up. That works for me and for many others, but it doesn’t work for everyone. If you’re a person who has more energy or self-control later in the day, it may be better to schedule your devotional time for that time of day. If you struggle with discipline in quiet times like I did for twenty years, try journaling through these questions and Bible verses.
Do a “closeness check” at the beginning of your time together. In the past, I used to begin each quiet time with a closeness check. I’d ask, “Am I feeling close to God?” If the answer was no, I’d think back to the previous day to see if there was anything I needed to talk to God about. I’d confess any sin that I needed to confess (often heart sin such as bad attitudes) and work through anything I needed to work through with Him. We’ll talk more about the reasons for not feeling close (sin, idolatry, and not accepting what you need to accept) in the podcast and what you can do about it.
Believe that He loves you. Have you ever been in a relationship in which the person actually loved you, but for some reason you felt like they didn’t love you? When this happens to us, it makes us not trust that person or feel close to them. The same thing happens when we feel like God doesn’t love us. If you feel like He doesn’t love you right now, try praying through the following Bible verses and picture God doing the things He says He’ll do in those verses. The first couple of times I tried this, it was transformative: Insecurity Bible verses, 1 John 1:9.
Work on letting go of your idols and sin. When we feel like we have to have certain things to be happy, it interferes with our relationship with God. So does sin. It’s impossible to completely get rid of sin and idols, but the more progress we make in those areas, the closer we’ll feel to God. Here are a couple of posts/blog series that will help: a href="https://barbraveling.com/2013/05/26/how-to-break-free-from-idolatry/"... -
John Mark Comer: Practicing the Way
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 intentionality in your walk with Jesus changes everything
* The keystone habits of a practicing Christian
* One powerful way to overcome temptation and sin
* What a Rule of Life is and why the ancients practiced it
* The practice of contemplative prayer
Resources Mentioned on the Podcast
* Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. by John Mark Comer
* The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
* Live No Lies
About John Mark Comer
John Mark Comer is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books including The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Live No Lies as well as being a pastor, teacher, and founder of Practicing the Way. His latest book is Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. (a WaterBrook hardcover; on sale 1/16/24).
After serving as the lead pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, for nearly two decades, John Mark and his family now reside in Los Angeles, where he serves as a teacher in residence on discipleship and spiritual formation at Vintage Church LA. His podcasts, John Mark Comer Teachings and Rule of Life, have been ranked on top religion and spirituality podcast charts in the US and UK. For more information visit johnmarkcomer.com and find him on Instagram .
How to Listen to the Podcast
To listen or subscribe on Google Podcasts: click here
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Living with Joy in a Stressful World with Brant Hansen
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 “outsource” our worries
* What it truly means to be a disciple
* How God’s ways always lead to the best life
* A technique beyond list-making to increase our gratitude
* The importance of choosing the attitude of our heart
Resources Mentioned on the Podcast (Including Links for Pre-Order Bonuses)
* Brant’s newest book, Life is Hard, God is Good, Let’s Dance – publishing January 16, 2024
* Barnes and Noble’s pre-order sweepstakes
* Other pre-order gifts from Thomas Nelson Publishing
* Brant’s other books
* CURE International Children’s Hospitals
About Brant Hansen
BRANT HANSEN is a bestselling author, syndicated radio host and advocate for healing children with correctable disabilities through CURE International Children’s Hospitals. His award-winning radio show, The Brant Hansen Show, airs on top stations in the U.S. and Canada. His podcast, The Brant and Sherri Oddcast, has been downloaded more than 15 million times. He has been named “Personality of the Year” multiple times by Christian Music Broadcasters and is called “Christian music ‘s most beloved radio personality” by Christian Voice Magazine. Brant writes about varied topics related to faith, including masculinity in his book, The Men We Need, and forgiveness in Unoffendable, about which he was recently interviewed on ABC’s Good Morning America. He speaks often about being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder as an adult. Brant also proudly refers to himself as a “toast-obsessed nerd’ who was no less than president of the Illinois Student Librarians Association in high school. He also plays the accordion, “in spite of popular demand.”
Connect with Brant at his website, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
How to Listen to the Podcast
To listen or subscribe on Google Podcasts: click here
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Customer Reviews
To the 13 year old that needs help. And to the mommy who responded☺️
“Thank you” for saying everything you said to the young 13 year old girl who left her feelings in a review, last month.
Now to the young and honest brave, Girl💗
My goodness, your wisdom in what you shared is beyond your years.. Honey, please know, how you feel is normal! I mean between the raging hormones and being a teen these days, we can all agree how hard it must be for kids today. Back in my day, one of the worst things was you wouldn’t get picked until last or next to the last in gym class. True story! And unfortunately, I spent way to much time worrying about it, that it cost me my self esteem and with no esteem there wasn’t a lot of courage, just a lot of jealousy that I had years of praying that God take that away.. and guess what? He did🙏 Now , fast forward to 2024.
I have a beautiful little 2 year old grandson, that I worry about. And wonder what will this next future generation will be like and my heart breaks you all!
Please know that I will pray for you, and ask the God of the universe - The creator of All things- The God of the Old Testament, The Lord of Heaven, If He, would reveal himself to you do you feel His presence. That He will guide your steps, leading you in your life, All the days of your life. Praying God will put the right friends in your life, for LIFE!! That love & worshipJesus.
Lord, thank you for directing my eyes tonight so I as well can lift this in prayer. Lord, you know the only reason I stumbled across this tonight was because of all the apps on my phone. LOL then finding “ The, I deserve a donut” app, that I forgot I had when scrolling.
I need help please!
Hi! I’m 13 years old. I have been sort of sad lately. I almost never read the Bible. I almost never pray. I go to church on Sunday, then go home and play Roblox. I feel so lost when it comes to Christianity. I have been having doubts and fear, and as a Christian it’s scary to have doubts in the first place. I feel bad about myself all the time, because I am not enough for God. That’s what I tell myself, at least. I even recently have been feeling like I am transgender, and want to be a boy so much. I am really scared to share how I feel though, and don’t really want to be trans or feel trans in the first place. For me, having doubts is scary. I feel like I am not a functional Christian. I feel like there is some rubric I am not following, one path to righteousness that I can’t seem to grasp. What do I do? One of the things that made me start feeling this way was my old church’s youth group. When I graduated from the 6th grade class into the 7th-12th youth group, all the kids seemed to instantly be best friends. They all wanted to hang out on the weekend, loved similar things, and seemed like perfect Christians without doubts at all. They read their Bibles, they prayed, and I struggled to do that at all. I started comparing myself to them, and that’s when everything went downhill. We ended up changing churches, and the one I go to now is an Episcopal church! I like it much better! I still remember the youth group girls though. So perfect and simple. I was weird, had doubts, and wasn’t perfect or simple. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to slip away from God. I don’t want to be a failed Christian. I don’t want to tell my parents how I feel. I don’t know what I want to do, other than play Roblox. I don’t know if there is anyone who will read this review, or care, but if someone does and can respond using a review, I’d love some help. Please pray for me, and I’ll try to pray for you as well. Let me just work up the courage. Will I ever be normal? Will I ever be a good Christian? Why am I so lost? I guess I’ll just try praying and see what happens. I sure hope something happens.
🧡 Reply to the girl who asked for help 🧡
Hey, I just started listening to this podcast & I saw a 13yo’s review from last month & wanted to reply…
My name is Rachel & I am a mom to some little ones, but I also have two nieces who are about your age. I hope you can feel like I’m talking to you as an aunt or a big sister. :)
First of all: God loves you so much, darling girl! He sees you & He honors your precious desires to follow Him. Your honesty is admirable. You said you don’t feel you are enough for God - that’s actually *true*, because our sin causes us to not be good enough. HOWEVER, Jesus died so our sin would be covered by His sacrifice. HE is good enough, & He covers YOU (if you have made that decision to follow Him), so you don’t HAVE to be good enough. You have a relationship with God because of GRACE, & everything you do from here on out is a step of obedience in turning away from your sins. HE is enough for YOU, sweet girl. The “rubric” to follow is to continually repent of your sins & change your ways to those that please Him… all the while thanking Him & enjoying His grace to allow you & help you to do that! The Bible helps us to see our sins, know Who He is & what He is like, as well as who we are in Him. You can start small, like a verse a day! Or get a devotional that’s for preteen/teen girls! That can be really helpful for applying His Word to your current life season. :)
As far as the girls at your old church - it is so hard when you feel like an outsider! I promise you, everyone has their things they struggle with or feel insecure about. I was not in the “in crowd” in my youth group either; I had to find other “outsiders” to be my friends. But I did! And those years are precious memories. I am so glad you feel more comfortable at your new church - when you remember those negative feelings at your old church, try to let it go & thank God for your new community.
As for the transgender feelings, it is natural to question & wonder & imagine all of these things. You said you’d really like to be a boy, but then you also said you don’t WANT to feel this way or be trans. Being a teenager is HARD, & being content with who God made you to be is a massive part of that. I would Google some articles about your identity in Christ, & post those verses up around your room! Or read them before you go to bed at night! Psalm 139 is a good place to start.
Going forward, I think the absolute best thing you can do is talk to a trusted adult. Sometimes it is easier to talk to your parents, & sometimes it is easier to talk to someone outside the family (a youth minister, a teacher, etc.). I would recommend your parents first — even if I don’t know them, I’d be willing to bet they love you SO much & want to hear every concern you have. They know you best out of anyone. They have struggled with a lot of the same things you are!!! Do you tell them other things? Like when you felt different from the girls at your old youth group? Or if you’re worried about something at school? Do you tell them things you are excited about? Ask them questions about God? If so, I think they are a safe place for you to share all of this. If you don’t know where to start, maybe just straight up read what you wrote here to us!!! Or even show it to them so they can read! They can help walk you through your feelings & perceptions, & support you. If you don’t feel your parents are the best place to start, talk to a family member or teacher or church leader! It seems like you really want to know God & please Him, so trying to find someone who also loves God is going to be important. Don’t do this alone, sweetheart! God didn’t make us to be able to just do it all by ourselves. We need each other.
You’re going to be okay!!! Keep your eyes on Jesus!!!! He is enough for a teenage girl, or a mama of littles, or a grandmother fighting cancer. He will be with you in every challenge of your life, including this one. Love and hugs to you baby girl.
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