Knowing why we're depressed doesn't immediately remove the pain of depression. For many, depression can linger far longer than we expect it to, and certainly much longer than we'd prefer. So as we're putting off the sin that has led to things like hopelessness, despair, or fear... what do we do about those very real feelings that may linger?This episode begins a short "mini series" that will discuss a few ways we can respond to our depression in a way that is biblically faithful, true, and Christ-oriented. For starters... let's discuss how looking at rocks can help. Find biblical counseling near you:https://biblicalcounseling.com/find-a-counselor/?srsltid=AfmBOopDtuLmzUKtFiNsBXmOjxqzBGSkd33BuUqVO4jXy-GnsNB2kWwI  https://www.ccef.org/find-a-counselor-near-you/ Online biblical counseling: https://www.biblicalcounselingonline.com/Support My Work   • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onward-in-the-faith/id1501743376 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1nbdmFCNWm4gGzeQQzW14d RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/onwardinthefaith/feed.xml Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links):   • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE   • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags  #Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain #Depression Music Credits   • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay   • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

It's not surprising that those suffering from chronic pain are more likely to experience depression and thoughts of suicide. As Christians, how are we supposed to think about these things? Should we understand depression differently than the world does? Does the Bible offer any hope, or are we merely victims of biology?  This episode is an honest, even painful, look at how I've walked through depression and suicidal thoughts in my life, and how God's word can guide us into not only understanding why we experience these things, but what we can do about them. Find biblical counseling near you:https://biblicalcounseling.com/find-a-counselor/?srsltid=AfmBOopDtuLmzUKtFiNsBXmOjxqzBGSkd33BuUqVO4jXy-GnsNB2kWwI  https://www.ccef.org/find-a-counselor-near-you/ Online biblical counseling: https://www.biblicalcounselingonline.com/Support My Work   • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Articles: Christians and Psychology (where I've discussed my depression): https://onwardinthefaith.com/christians-and-psychology/How I Survive Depression: https://onwardinthefaith.com/how-i-survive-depression/ Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onward-in-the-faith/id1501743376 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1nbdmFCNWm4gGzeQQzW14d RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/onwardinthefaith/feed.xml Depression stats:Normal population: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depressionhttps://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html Chronic pain: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/216320https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278584617304670?via%3DihubFibromyalgia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30699852/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3998848/ Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links):   • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE   • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags  #Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain Music Credits   • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay   • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

Should you share your suffering with someone who has it worse than you? What's the point of God's comfort? How can we think biblically and faithfully about suffering in our lives and the lives of others? This episode explores the importance of how to think about comfort, and what God wants us to do with it. Support My Work • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links): • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags#Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain Music Credits • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

About This EpisodeWhy does a sovereign God tell us to pray? He knows what we need, does what He pleases, and can't be changed by human manipulation. If we're honest, sometimes it can seem like prayer is pointless, and that makes it even more difficult to "pray without ceasing." In this episode, I explore why prayer isn't our way of changing God's will, but His way of changing ours.  Timestamps:00:00 Intro and the "problem" of prayer7:25 Understanding whom we pray to10:22 3 things prayer accomplishes in Christians11:03 #1 Prayer acknowledges that God is God12:33 #2 Prayer demonstrates our trust in God being God20:11 #3 Prayer asks God to act as God54:19 Reminder why my content isn't short!54:48 Summarizing this discussion Book mentioned:"Sovereignty of God" by AW Pink Scripture Used:Matthew 6:8bPsalm 115:31 John 5:14-15James 4:1-32 Corinthians 12:8-9Psalm 50:12-15Jeremiah 29:11-14Romans 8:28-291 Thessalonians 4:3 Support My Work • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links): • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags#Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain Music Credits • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

If Satan's very nature makes him incapable of things like whispering lies into our minds or personally attacking thousands of people at once, what do we make of the verses that imply we need to watch out for his attacks? This episode digs in to a part of language we use every day that can help us better distinguish between the being known as Satan and the world system he's responsible for. Scripture Used: Matthew 4:13-16; Isaiah 9:1-7; Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22; Matthew 12:22-26; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; Acts 7:1-9; 1 Corinthians 7:5; James 4:1-10; James 1:13-14; James 3:14-16 Satan Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5oAvNLE5030_XWDG9oWCKfB4aMbXMUbh  Song of Songs for Singles: https://a.co/d/cF5K9Jf Theology with Chris Lenoir: https://youtube.com/@theologywithchrislenoir?si=s2uMfl4BpLB2cA-O Thinklings Podcast: https://thinklingspodcast.com/category/podcast/ Timestamps:00:00 Intro6:47 Modern synecdoches9:26 Biblical synecdoches25:38 Satan as a synecdoche Support My Work • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links): • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags#Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain Music Credits • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

When suffering, sometimes we go into "survival mode" and set aside may important things in our lives. Sometimes, we wonder if we should bother reading the Bible when it's too difficult. This episode helps you think through how we should understand the effects of suffering on our Bible reading, how to be on guard against the deceptiveness of our flesh, and how to rejoice in giving God everything we have in our daily devotions (especially when we don't have much to give).  Scripture Used: Psalm 34 Conscience book: https://a.co/d/bGNjmOB Support My Work • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links): • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags#Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain Music Credits • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

If we believe in a good and sovereign God, are we wrong to want Him to heal us? Can we over-emphasize our desire to be healed? How can we find a good balance? This episode digs in to a question many people may not think to ask, but it is an important question to answer for those who do ask it. Scripture Used: Matthew 6:19-34 Support My Work • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links): • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags#Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain Music Credits • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

You'll often hear me say "God doesn't call us to be healthy, but He does call us to be holy." I know this will bother some people, especially those who have been exposed to the Prosperity Gospel. This episode focuses on what I've learned from God's word that makes me want sufferers to understand and embrace this important truth so that they can more fully glorify God, even in their pain. Timestamps • 00:00 How We Think About Healing and Spiritual Growth • 5:48 I Put Health Before Holiness • 14:33 Is Healing Commanded? Expected? • 29:46 Is Holiness Commanded Without Healing? • 37:46 Put This Into Action Scripture Used: 1 Timothy 5:23, Philippians 4:10-13, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, 1 Peter 1:14-19, Galatians 5:22-25 Support My Work • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links): • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags#Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain Music Credits • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

This first episode of my new series introduces you to my pain journey and why this series exists.  Timestamps • 00:00 Intro • 1:06 My Pain Journey • 10:43 Why Make This Series? • 13:58 What to Expect • 15:13 Final Stuff Support My WorkIf you’d like to support what I do, here are some ways you can help: • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6 Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon (affiliate links): • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://amzn.to/4kGDDgE • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://amzn.to/41GuqfK Hashtags#Christianity #Theology #Faith #Pain #Suffering #ChronicPain Music Credits • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay

The Divine Council Worldview doesn't just affect how we read the Bible; it changes our lives. So why do so many people (including me!) react so poorly when we first encounter it? And does it really matter if we embrace it? I sat down with my good friend, Chris Lenoir, to discuss those very questions.  My Satan series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5oAvNLE5030_XWDG9oWCKfB4aMbXMUbh&si=XT_yZos_HrViFV7_  Chris's Angelology series (subscribe while you're there!): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUWh2PtaHWAmiuJj-TSmdANjN9O6pGgDT&si=gzkPzKRFFU7aLRum  Time Stamps:00:00 Intro01:07 Briefly explaining the Divine Council Worldview08:18 How we’ve seen people react12:58 How Chris first reacted15:00 How Ray first reacted18:06 Why Ray changed his mind20:11 Why Chris changed his mind20:53 The influence of Christian Tradition27:35 Does DCW remove God’s sovereignty?33:27 How DCW has changed our lives34:09 Ray and spiritual warfare36:42 Chris and spiritual warfare39:25 Ray understanding Jesus as “King of Kings”41:38 Chris embracing his heavenly citizenship44:21 This stuff matters Support My WorkIf you’d like to support what I do, here are some ways you can help: • Monthly Support: https://www.Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith  • One-Time Donations: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/OnwardintheFaith | https://account.venmo.com/u/Ray-Burns-6  Check Out My Devotionals on Amazon: • 40 Moments From Christ's Final Days: https://a.co/d/ap0sru7  • 25 Days of Christ in the Old Testament: https://a.co/d/0XVckX4  Hashtags#Christianity #BibleStudy #Theology #Faith #divinecouncil  Music Credits • YouTube Outro Music by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay • Podcast Outro Music by LesFM from Pixabay