Stephanie has a fun surprise for anyone who has loved the show for some time! She is joined by her husband Jonah, for the first time on the show, to celebrate a momentous milestone: the fifth anniversary of the podcast! Through a heartfelt conversation, they invite you to explore the themes of spiritual growth, understanding God’s love, and the journey of faith. They hope to point us to God’s faithfulness and the transforming power of His presence.

In a world rife with distractions, Stephanie and Jonah invite you to remember our need for intentional presence. They discuss practical steps like spending quiet time with God, paying attention to distractions, and listening to the Holy Spirit's nudges. This investment in intimacy with God allows for discerning His guidance and being His hands and feet in daily life. Scripture challenges us to engage our faith deeply through Christ.

Jonah opens up about his spiritual journey, transitioning from a works-based faith, to understanding sanctification as a divine gift through the Holy Spirit's work. He highlights the importance of obedience stemming from gratitude rather than religious vanity, noting the critical need to avoid the pitfalls of pride and self-righteousness.

Stephanie asks Jonah about a Bible character he relates to. Jonah finds a connection with King David, appreciating his acknowledgment of grace and his deep yearning for divine presence. He draws a beautiful parallel with an imagined “third brother” in the parable of the prodigal son, the brother who is content simply being in his father's presence. This will inspire you! Make sure to listen.

Jonah admires David's profound understanding of grace and his relentless pursuit of God's presence. David’s journey, especially as portrayed in Psalm 56 and Psalm 27, serves as a roadmap for seeking God’s presence amid crises and life's challenges. Jonah encourages us to embrace God’s goodness, trusting Him with our sorrows and tears, much like David did.

Jonah’s aspiration to reject shallow spirituality is another powerful point. He invites us towards deeper wisdom and joy through God’s presence, rather than transient cultural practices, urging us to develop mindful habits centered on Christ. This intentionality in connecting with God’s presence is essential in today’s distraction-filled world.

Stephanie and Jonah provide practical advice for growing in grace and holiness. They emphasize that sanctification should not be self-centered, but focused on reflecting Christ’s image on earth. This aligns with God’s broader goal for us - of transforming us from within, in order to then share love externally, cultivating an internal source of life that impacts outward actions.

As they conclude the episode, Jonah and Stephanie reflect on the journey of Gospel Spice, expressing gratitude for its impact over the past five years. They offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the ministry and its listeners, invoking God’s guidance and blessings.

Fun Fact from the Episode: Stephanie and Jonah usually chat in French, but for this special episode, they switched to English, making the conversation an adventurous and fun challenge for them both!

YOUR FREE GIFT FROM JONAH ON OUR ANNIVERSARY:

Want to use the prayer that Jonah uses at the end of the episode? Click HERE to download a beautiful printable version. Also available here: https://www.gospelspice.com/free 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1.      Intentional Presence: Invest time and focus to truly connect with God’s presence, setting aside daily distractions to foster deeper spiritual growth. Use Scripture, prayer, worship.

2.      Responding to Divine Nudges: Cultivate an awareness of the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your everyday life, aiming to be God's hands and feet in all you do.

3.      Reflecting Christ's Image: Sanctification is about transforming from within to reflect Christ’s love outwardly—impacting your actions and interactions with others.

4.      God’s Balance of Might and Love: Understanding both aspects of God is essential to a complete faith.

5.      Journey from Works-Based Faith to Grace: Discover Jonah’s transformation from a works-focused faith to embracing sanctification through the Holy Spirit.

6.      The Real Meaning of Obedience: True obedience stems from gratitude and the Holy Spirit, not religious vanity.

7.      David’s Example of Grace: King David’s pursuit of God’s presence can inspire a deeper, more genuine faith.

8.      Cultural Contentment and Spiritual Practices: Explore ways to find true contentment in God’s presence amidst the distractions of modern life.

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/

Shades of Red | Against human oppression

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/

God's glory, our delight 

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/

 

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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