Become New with John Ortberg

How does God actually guide His people?

In this reflection on Psalm 32, John Ortberg explores one of Scripture's most comforting promises:

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go."

Drawing on insights from Dallas Willard and the story of Peter in the book of Acts, John explains the difference between mechanical control and personal guidance—and why God desires relationship more than coercion.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 32 and God's guidance
- Mechanical vs. personal guidance
- Learning to recognize God's voice
- The Holy Spirit and spiritual discernment
- Peter's vision in Acts 10
- Why discovered truth often changes us more than presented truth

Scriptures:
- Psalm 32
- Acts 10

#Psalm32 #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #Guidance #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #HolySpirit #Discernment

📚 Today's Resources:
Dallas Willard, Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God 
George MacDonald, Thomas Wingfold, Curate 
Gary Wills, Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Learning to Be Guided by God
00:53 Psalm 32 & Forgiveness
01:57 Oliver Cromwell's Humility Challenge
02:44 "I Will Instruct You"
03:11 Mechanical vs. Personal Guidance
04:11 How God Leads His People
05:16 Don't Be Like a Horse or Mule
05:59 Asking, "Is This Thought From God?"
06:20 The Holy Spirit Works Through Wondering
07:04 Peter's Vision & Cornelius
08:08 Truth Presented vs. Truth Discovered
09:00 Why Wrestling Deepens Faith
09:59 John's Grandfather's Poem: Retrospect
11:18 "I Think I'll Be a Boy Again"

What if the key to gratitude is realizing that none of us is self-made?

In this reflection on Psalm 136, John Ortberg explores the repeated refrain:

"His love endures forever."

Through a powerful exercise inspired by philosopher Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, John invites us to trace the hidden network of people and gifts behind the things we enjoy every day—and ultimately back to God Himself.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 136 and enduring love
- Gratitude as a way of life
- The myth of self-sufficiency
- Celebrating dependence rather than independence
- The web of generosity behind everyday gifts
- Becoming a more grateful and generous person

Scriptures:
- Psalm 136

#Psalm136 #JohnOrtberg #Gratitude #Thankfulness #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Dependence #GodsLove

📚 Today's Resources:
Kent Dunnington (foreword by Rebecca Konydyk DeYoung), Gratitude to God: The Heart of Christian Formation

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Give Thanks to the Lord
00:37 His Love Endures Forever
01:28 Gratitude as a Way of Life
02:17 Rebecca DeYoung's Dependence Exercise
03:03 Celebrating Dependence, Not Independence
03:49 Choose One Thing You Enjoy
04:34 The Story Behind a Cup of Coffee
04:58 The Baby Grand Piano Illustration
05:47 Standing on the Shoulders of Gift-Givers
06:35 A Story of Interlocking Indebtedness
07:26 Gratitude as a Way of Inhabiting the World
07:53 Who Made This Gift Possible?
08:43 Thank You for This Moment
09:16 Every Breath Is a Gift
09:36 Give Thanks to the Lord

How do you process painful emotions without letting them control your life?

In this conversation on Psalm 30, John Ortberg sits down with counselor and friend Rick Blackmon to explore one of the most practical lessons in the Psalms:
Own your emotions—but don't enthrone them.

Together they discuss anxiety, grief, anger, praise, humor, counseling, and the hope found in God's presence.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 30 and emotional healing
- The journey from the pit to praise
- Why naming emotions helps
- "What you name, you can tame"
- Welcoming rather than suppressing difficult feelings
- Building a trusted support team
- The promise that weeping does not last forever

Scriptures:
- Psalm 30
- Galatians 6:2

#Psalm30 #JohnOrtberg #RickBlackmon #Prayer #EmotionalHealth #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #MentalHealth

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Learning From the Psalms
01:21 The Therapy Room of the Old Testament
02:02 Own Your Emotions, Don't Enthrone Them
03:20 Praying Psalm 30 Together
04:39 From the Pit to Praise
05:33 Turning Pain Into Praise
06:17 Leaning Into God's Presence
07:08 Looking Through the Window
08:19 What You Name, You Can Tame
09:23 Journaling & Trusted Friends
10:09 Welcome Your Emotions
11:01 Weeping May Last for a Night
12:08 Humor as a Spiritual Practice
12:44 When Medication Can Help
13:02 Schedule Your Worry
14:22 Let Joy Have the Weekend
14:54 Build Your Team
16:00 Joy Comes in the Morning

How do you become a grateful person?

In this reflection on Psalm 103, John Ortberg explores one of the great themes of spiritual life: gratitude.

At the center of Psalm 103 is a simple command:
"Forget not all His benefits."

Drawing from philosopher Robert C. Roberts and the rich imagery of the Psalm itself, John explores why gratitude grows through remembering and why forgetting often leads to entitlement.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 103 and gratitude
- The meaning of the soul
- The logic of gratitude
- God's forgiveness and compassion
- Remembering God's benefits
- Gratitude as a spiritual practice

Scriptures:
- Psalm 103
- Luke 7
- Deuteronomy 6
- Leviticus 19

#Psalm103 #JohnOrtberg #Gratitude #Thankfulness #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #Soul

📚 Today's Resources:
Robert C. Roberts’ essay: The Blessings of Gratitude: A Conceptual Analysis, published in the edited volume The Psychology of Gratitude (2004)

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Gratitude & Psalm 103
00:25 Bless the Lord, O My Soul
00:52 What Is the Soul?
01:37 The Hokey Pokey of Gratitude
02:17 Put Your Whole Self In
02:48 Forget Not His Benefits
03:44 The Logic of Gratitude
04:23 Benefit, Beneficiary & Benefactor
04:55 Why Gratitude Needs God
05:19 Forgiven Much, Loves Much
06:05 God's Benefits to You
06:39 Renewed Like the Eagles
07:32 God Made His Ways Known
08:16 Compassion, Grace & Mercy
09:01 As Far as East Is From West
09:33 A Father's Compassion
10:24 He Remembers We Are Dust
10:53 Every Breath Is a Gift
11:15 Gratitude vs. Entitlement
11:28 Bless the Lord

Do you ever struggle with doubt?

In this teaching on Psalm 91, John Ortberg explores faith, trust, doubt, works, and what it really means to believe.

Drawing heavily from the teachings of Dallas Willard, John introduces a powerful framework for understanding belief and asks a challenging question:

What do your actions reveal that you actually trust?

This episode explores:
- Psalm 91 and trusting God
- Three different kinds of belief
- The relationship between faith and works
- Dallas Willard's concept of a mental map
- Peter's denial of Jesus
- What saving faith really means
- How trust grows through practice

Scriptures:
- Psalm 91
- James 2
- Matthew 25
- John 7

#Psalm91 #JohnOrtberg #Faith #TrustGod #DallasWillard #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #SavingFaith

📚 Today's Resources:
Dallas Willard, Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23 

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Do You Ever Wrestle With Doubt?
00:31 Psalm 91 & Trusting God
01:31 Three Kinds of Belief
02:49 Beliefs We Profess
03:51 Beliefs We Think We Believe
04:47 Peter's False Confidence
05:41 Dallas Willard on What Belief Really Is
06:25 Your Wallet Reveals Your Beliefs
06:40 The Mental Map That Guides Your Life
07:33 Trusting a Chair & Trusting Gravity
08:13 Jesus' Mental Map of Reality
08:36 Why You Don't Have to Be Anxious
08:58 What Saving Faith Really Means
09:48 Faith and Works Belong Together
10:45 Living in Jesus' Reality
11:03 How Faith Grows
11:25 Do One Thing Jesus Said To Do
11:55 Trust in God