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Become New with John Ortberg

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Become New with John Ortberg
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  • Become New with John Ortberg

    26. How to Pray When You're Struggling (with Kevin Palau)

    08/06/2026 | 13 mins.
    What do you do when your soul feels downcast?

    In this conversation, John Ortberg sits down with Kevin Palau to explore Psalm 42, anxiety, discouragement, emotional honesty, and hope.

    Kevin shares candidly about his own struggles with anxiety, the pressures of leadership, and why Psalm 42 has become one of the most important prayers in his spiritual life.

    This episode explores:
    - Anxiety and spiritual formation
    - Psalm 42 and emotional honesty
    - The pressure to appear spiritually strong
    - Faith and discouragement
    - Sabbath, rest, and slowing down
    - Learning to put our hope in God

    One of the great gifts of Psalm 42 is that it reminds us that faith is not pretending everything is fine. Faith is bringing our real selves before God and placing our hope in Him anyway.

    Scriptures:
    - Psalm 42

    Featuring:
    - Kevin Palau
    - John Mark Comer (referenced)

    #Psalm42 #JohnOrtberg #KevinPalau #Prayer #Anxiety #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Hope #BibleStudy #Psalms

    📚 Today's Resources:
    C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters 

    🙌 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 [email protected]

    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 & Kevin Palau
    00:54 Ministry, Leadership & Hidden Anxiety
    02:06 Why Psalm 42 Resonates So Deeply
    03:41 “As the Deer Pants for Streams of Water”
    04:42 When Tears Become Your Food
    05:45 The Pressure to Appear Spiritually Strong
    07:05 Anxiety Beneath the Surface
    08:27 It's Okay to Feel This Way
    09:13 John Mark Comer, Rest & Sabbath
    10:06 Speaking Hope to Your Soul
    11:21 God Is My Savior and My God
    12:04 Joy, Grandchildren & Future Hope
    12:52 Hope and Discouragement Together
    13:39 Why Honesty Makes Us Safer
    14:31 Giving Others Permission to Be Real
    14:56 Simply Read the Psalm
  • Become New with John Ortberg

    25. Psalm 23 and the Life You've Always Wanted

    05/06/2026 | 13 mins.
    Can you really live without lack?

    In this reflection on Psalm 23, John Ortberg draws from Life Without Lack to explore one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture.

    What does it mean to say, "The Lord is my shepherd"? What if "I shall not want" is not a promise that life will be easy, but an invitation to stop being driven by fear, scarcity, and unsatisfied desire?

    This episode explores:
    - Psalm 23 and the Kingdom of God
    - Dallas Willard's vision of life without lack
    - Freedom from fear and anxiety
    - God's presence as the center of the spiritual life
    - Green pastures, still waters, and restored souls
    - Goodness and mercy following us every day

    Featuring reflections from:
    - Dallas Willard
    - Charles Spurgeon
    - C.S. Lewis
    - Walter Brueggemann

    Scriptures:
    - Psalm 23
    - Matthew 6:33
    - John 4:14
    - Matthew 5:44

    #Psalm23 #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #LifeWithoutLack #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #KingdomOfGod

    📚 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.

    Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
    TEXT us at 51504
    EMAIL US at [email protected]

    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 Psalm 23: The Comfort We Need
    00:30 Dallas Willard & Life Without Lack
    01:22 The Lord Is My Shepherd
    02:16 I Shall Not Want
    03:09 Freedom From Unsatisfied Desire
    04:00 Green Pastures & Still Waters
    04:51 He Restores My Soul
    05:43 Paths of Righteousness
    06:05 I Will Fear No Evil
    07:03 You Are With Me
    08:07 Rod, Staff & Shepherd Care
    08:29 A Table in the Presence of Enemies
    09:16 Loving Your Enemies
    10:09 My Cup Runs Over
    10:48 Goodness & Mercy Follow Me
    11:18 Grief, Goodness & Mercy
    11:42 Living Without Lack
  • Become New with John Ortberg

    24. Psalm 59 Explained (The Danger of Spiritualized Prayer)

    04/06/2026 | 14 mins.
    What's your story today?

    In this teaching on Psalm 59, John Ortberg explores one of the most important lessons of the Psalms: prayer is always prayed from inside a story.

    Drawing from Answering God, John challenges the idea of "spiritualized prayer" — prayer that removes the conflict, fear, anger, disappointment, and messiness of ordinary life.

    Psalm 59 was written in the middle of David's crisis. Men were sent to kill him. His prayer wasn't polished. It wasn't neat. It was real.

    This episode explores:
    - Why every prayer comes from a story
    - The danger of spiritually correct prayer
    - Psalm 59 and David's honesty
    - Fear, trust, and emotional authenticity
    - Eugene Peterson's insights on prayer
    - Bringing your whole self before God

    Featuring reflections from:
    - Eugene Peterson
    - David's life in 1 Samuel

    Scriptures:
    - Psalm 59
    - Psalm 3
    - 1 Samuel 19

    #Psalm59 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #EugenePeterson #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #Authenticity #Faith

    📚 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 [email protected]

    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 What's Your Story Today?
    00:39 Eugene Peterson & Spiritualized Prayer
    01:06 Psalm 3 and David's Story
    01:51 Every Day Is a Story
    02:32 Psalm Titles and Real Life
    03:17 Why Scholars Often Ignore the Titles
    04:02 Eugene Peterson's Insight
    04:31 The Danger of Spiritualized Prayer
    05:24 What Trouble Are You Facing Today?
    06:21 Psalm 59 Begins
    07:02 Trust, Fear & Emotional Honesty
    08:20 Mrs. X and Spiritually Correct Prayer
    09:19 The Problem With Polished Prayers
    10:08 Living in the Mess With God
    10:59 “I Am Not My Strength”
    11:23 Every Story Matters to God
    11:44 Your Outside Story and Inside Story
  • Become New with John Ortberg

    23. What If Refuge Was a Verb? (with Lisa Cuss)

    03/06/2026 | 14 mins.
    What if refuge was something you practiced?

    In this conversation, John Ortberg talks with therapist and trauma specialist Lisa Cuss about anxiety, church hurt, attachment theory, the nervous system, and Psalm 31.

    Lisa shares how reading the Psalms through the lens of the nervous system helped her understand David's prayers in a completely new way. His cries of fear, confusion, and desperation suddenly felt deeply human and surprisingly familiar.

    This episode explores:
    - Trauma and attachment theory
    - Church hurt and emotional healing
    - Psalm 31 and the image of refuge
    - Why God is called a fortress
    - Right-sizing reality through prayer
    - Making refuge an active spiritual practice

    Featuring reflections on:
    - David's prayers
    - The nervous system
    - Martin Luther
    - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

    #Psalm31 #JohnOrtberg #LisaCuss #Prayer #Trauma #AttachmentTheory #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Anxiety #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 [email protected]

    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 & Meet Lisa Cuss
    00:30 Church Hurt, Conflict & Anxiety
    01:15 Living Between Panic & Shutdown
    02:29 Reading the Psalms Through the Nervous System
    03:23 David's Emotional Honesty
    04:00 Naming the Amygdala Hijack
    04:47 Psalm 31: Refuge & Fortress
    05:56 What Refuge Really Means
    06:27 Right-Sizing Reality
    07:02 Refuge as a Spiritual Practice
    07:27 What If Refuge Became a Verb?
    08:25 Understanding Fortress
    08:42 Protection While Under Attack
    09:07 The Battles Inside Us
    09:56 Facing Hard Things With God
    10:27 Martin Luther & A Mighty Fortress
    11:20 Go Refuge
  • Become New with John Ortberg

    22. God Loves Imperfect People

    02/06/2026 | 12 mins.
    What if your imperfections are not your greatest problem?

    In this teaching on Psalm 138, John Ortberg explores the difference between perfection and perfectionism, the beauty of human weakness, and why God has so much compassion for imperfect people.

    Drawing from Psalm 138, Psalm 103, the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, and the image of cracked pottery repaired with gold, John shows how God often creates beauty through what we would rather hide.

    This episode explores:
    - The difference between perfection and perfectionism
    - Why God remembers we are dust
    - Fear, anxiety, and self-worth
    - Wabi-sabi and the beauty of imperfection
    - Jesus retaining His scars after resurrection
    - Learning to accept imperfect people

    Featuring reflections on:
    - Brené Brown
    - Gordon Flett
    - Psalm 138
    - Psalm 103

    Scriptures:
    - Psalm 138
    - Psalm 103:13–14
    - Isaiah 53

    #Psalm138 #JohnOrtberg #Perfectionism #Grace #WabiSabi #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Prayer #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 [email protected]

    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 Today's Only for Imperfect People
    00:27 The Psalms & Human Brokenness
    00:47 Psalm 138 Begins
    01:16 Though I Walk in the Midst of Trouble
    02:08 “The Lord Will Perfect That Which Concerns Me”
    02:30 “He Remembers We Are Dust”
    03:02 Wabi-Sabi & the Beauty of Imperfection
    03:37 The Difference Between Perfection & Perfectionism
    04:41 Brené Brown, Fear & Self-Worth
    05:19 Cracked Pottery Filled With Gold
    05:50 Jesus Kept His Scars
    06:22 Isaiah 53 & the Appearance of Jesus
    07:07 The Leaning Tower of Pisa
    07:33 Post-it Notes & Beautiful Failure
    08:45 God’s Compassion for Dust
    09:19 Living in an Imperfect World
    10:04 Welcoming Imperfect People
    10:22 Nancy Joins the Conversation
    10:35 “You’re Pretty Darn Close to Perfect”
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About Become New with John Ortberg
Join John Ortberg each day for 10 minutes of spiritual guidance on the person we are becoming.
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