Believe & Speak

What motivates your choices? Most of us want to avoid pain and feel pleasure. It’s human nature to desire what feels good and avoid what feels bad. But what if you want what’s bad for you and don’t want what’s good for you? What would motivate you to say no to something you desire? Or yes to something that doesn’t sound like a lot of fun? If you are a Spirit-filled believer, then you already have what you need to make tough choices. You actually don’t need more willpower, you need greater focus, because when you set your mind on God—when you allow the Spirit to govern your life—you will be rewarded with life and peace. In this episode, I’ll talk about why we want to focus on what the Spirit desires rather than the desires of the flesh. This week’s scripture: Romans 8:5-6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant

Do you ever feel like you’re in over your head? Like people are giving you more credit than you deserve? Like there’s a possibility you might be exposed as a fraud? In this episode, I talk about “imposter syndrome” and we will look into the Old Testament book of Proverbs to learn the secret of having discernment, insight and understanding. If you’re worried that sooner or later the truth about your inadequacy will be exposed, then you’ll want to tune in to discover exactly how to present yourself more competent than you think you are while avoiding the grip of imposter syndrome. This week’s scripture: Proverbs 9:9-10 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant

Do you wonder if God is losing patience with you? Are you convinced your faults, shortcomings and failures count against you? Or does God really accept you just the way you are? This episode dives into what the Bible says about how faith in Jesus not only frees you from accusation, but also makes you holy. If you worry that you’ve somehow let God down or haven’t done enough to please him, then you’ll want to listen, because I’m going to share one reason you don’t have to worry and one requirement to remain holy. This week’s scripture: Colossians 1:21-23a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant

The apostle Paul mentored a young man named Timothy. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul urged Timothy to pray for ALL people. Not just people we like or people who ask or people who deserve it. But ALL people. If you want to pray prayers that God always answers, then you’ll want to stay with me and learn two things Paul taught Timothy about the heart of God when it comes to prayer. This week’s scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant

Are you facing a huge challenge or concern that seems insurmountable? What if you could somehow make your problem smaller, shrink it down to a manageable size? Is that even possible? A baseball looks big compared to a golf ball but small compared to a basketball, right? And a basketball looks miniscule compared to planet earth. It’s all a matter of perspective. Listen to this podcast for two takeaways from two Bible verses to help make your problems smaller. I’ll read from Isaiah for wisdom about how to keep problems in proper perspective. Here's the link to an illustration that you can save to your desktop or print out to help you stay focused on the fact that God is bigger than your biggest challenge: Gaze-and-Glance.png (1910×1072) (shawnamariebryant.com) This week’s scripture: Isaiah 26:3-4 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant

Have you ever looked in the mirror and deliberately said something endearing about yourself? Can you look yourself in the eye and say,“I am wanted”? Listen as I read Jeremiah 1:4-5 and we take a closer look at a man who hung in there and believed he had value, in spite of all the haters. Join me for today’s podcast to be encouraged with a message from the Bible that will assure you God loves you and created you WITH purpose ON purpose. This week’s scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-5 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant

Do you agree with the saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me?” I don’t believe it for a minute. I believe words have power. Today I’ll talk about why this podcast is called “Believe & Speak”, and I’ll share what the Bible says about the power of the tongue. This week’s scripture: Proverbs 18:21 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant

How does God make His will known? Is it possible to hear God’s voice? I say yes. Not only because I’ve heard Him—not audibly but undoubtedly, but also because He promised in Scripture that He would speak through the Holy Spirit. I can take Him at His Word that God makes known to me what I need to know. Supernatural guidance is different from the way Jesus guided his disciples. We can’t follow Him around like the disciples did. But God still guides us today. Just not in the same way Jesus did. Today we’re going to look at His promise to guide us and how we receive that guidance. This week’s scripture: John 16:13b-15 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant

Supernatural guidance may not be as obvious as following Jesus around in the flesh, but the Holy Spirit is every bit as present with us now as Jesus was with the disciples when he walked this earth. And He has something to say to you. Imagine hanging out with a wise and loving person who always has your back. Now imagine that perfect friend and ideal mentor suddenly disappears. That’s exactly what happened to the disciples when Jesus died. BUT... shortly before going to the cross, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to them and enter into a deeply profound relationship with them. Being filled with the Spirit is different from following Jesus around; it’s supernatural rather than natural. But having a supernatural relationship with God means I can trust thatthe Spirit of truth guides me into all truth. This week’s scripture: John 16:12-13a YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant/

This podcast episode is for anyone who understands that you can hunger and thirst for more than food and water. If you’ve ever felt entirely empty or desperately dry, then you’ll be encouraged by the hope I’ll be sharing today from Psalm 63. The message in this psalm can be summed up in today’s declaration: Praising God refreshes my dried-up soul. If you’re currently in a dry season, then stick with me because I’ve got three ways to refresh your soul and a “happy feet” version of an old hymn that will have you praising God. This week’s scripture: Psalm 63:1-8 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeginAgainGod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnamariebryant Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnamariebryant/