When life presses hard and your confidence thins, where does real strength come from? We go chapter by chapter through 2 Corinthians to trace Paul’s hard-won wisdom: comfort that meets us in the dark, power that shows up in weakness, and freedom that grows as the Spirit reshapes our hearts. Along the way, Paula shares a candid story about messy mornings and mismatched shoes, a reminder that God wants presence, not polish—and that simple, repeatable rhythms can turn scattered days into grounded ones.

We lean into the big themes that make this letter so alive for modern faith: the Father of mercies who walks with us, the paradox of grace that steadies us when we feel small, and the unveiled way of transformation that changes us from the inside out. You’ll hear vivid pictures—treasure in jars of clay, light spilling through cracks—and practical applications for caregiving, work, ministry, and friendship. We talk about forgiving what still stings, giving with real joy, and standing firm without hardening our hearts. To help truth travel from head to heart, we pair short affirmations with simple sensory anchors, turning scripture into practices you can carry into any crowded day.

If your spiritual life has felt like a checklist, consider a gentle reset. Breathe, slow down, and let God’s comfort, courage, and clarity meet you where you are. Subscribe for more Christ-centered encouragement, share this with someone who needs hope today, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. So... which promise from 2 Corinthians will you hold onto this week?

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Have you ever felt like you were standing at a wall that just wouldn’t move? That prayer you've whispered countless times, the healing that feels just out of reach, the breakthrough that never quite arrives – these spiritual stalemates can leave us wondering if God even hears us anymore.

Drawing from powerful biblical examples, we explore how you can take a unique spiritual posture that invites divine intervention. From Queen Esther's life-risking fast that saved an entire nation to Jehoshaphat's remarkable victory without lifting a sword, scripture reveals that our greatest breakthroughs often come when we empty ourselves to be filled with God's presence. Jesus himself modeled this practice, beginning his ministry with forty days of fasting and teaching his followers to make it part of their spiritual rhythm.

The beauty of this spiritual posture isn't in manipulating God to do our bidding but in surrendering everything that distracts us from his voice. Whether you choose to abstain from food, social media, or other comforts, each hunger pang becomes a sacred reminder to turn your heart toward heaven. Your breakthrough might arrive as the circumstance you've been praying for – or it might come as something even more profound: fear transforming into trust, anxiety melting into peace, and self-reliance yielding to deeper dependence on the One who holds all things. If you're standing at what feels like an unmovable wall today, perhaps it's time to not just pray, but to fast and pray. What might change if you hunger for God above everything else? Join me in discovering how emptying ourselves creates space for God to fill us with exactly what we need.

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Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Looking around at your church family and thinking "this is messy" might leave you feeling discouraged—but take heart. The believers in ancient Corinth faced remarkably similar challenges to those we encounter today, from church divisions to moral confusion to the struggle of living distinctively in a complex culture.

The Book of 1 Corinthians provides a roadmap for navigating these challenges with Christ at the center. Paul's letter addresses practical issues that resonate with modern believers: How do we maintain unity when opinions differ? How do we exercise our freedom without harming others? How do we stand firm in biblical truth while showing Christ's love? At every turn, Paul directs the Corinthians back to the cross, emphasizing that true wisdom is found not in human eloquence but in Christ crucified.

What makes this ancient letter so powerful is its gracious approach to growth. Paul begins by thanking God for the grace given to this imperfect community—celebrating their progress while addressing their problems. This reminds us that spiritual growth is a process. Whether you're struggling with consistency in your devotional life, wrestling with how to respond to cultural shifts, or seeking to bring Christ into your everyday decisions, Paul's wisdom offers both challenge and comfort. His words on Christian freedom, love as the greatest measure, and the hope of resurrection provide timeless guidance for living purposefully in Christ. Ready to reset your spiritual rhythm with peace and purpose? Book your Aroma of Christ coaching session today and discover practical ways to keep Christ at the center of your life.

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Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithcollective

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Printable Bible Study for Women >>> PaulaBehrens.com/members

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Find the full episode here >>> PaulaBehrens.com/blog

Those midnight wake-up calls can leave your heart racing and mind swirling with questions. When you jolt awake at 3AM, how do you know if God is speaking to you, if the enemy is attacking, or if your mind is simply processing the day?

The predawn hours have a way of making the spiritual realm feel closer, more immediate. Throughout Scripture, God often chose these quiet moments to speak to His people through dreams and visions. Yet the enemy also exploits our vulnerability during these hours. The key isn't controlling when these moments come—it's learning to discern whose voice you're hearing.

God's communication always carries His peace, even when challenging or convicting. As 1 Corinthians 14:33 reminds us, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." When God speaks, there's a calm undercurrent, a clarity that cuts through the noise. The enemy, however, traffics in fear, accusation, and disorientation. His goal isn't necessarily to make you believe disturbing dreams but to make you doubt your ability to hear God clearly.

Many believers have noticed that the early morning hours—what the Bible calls "the fourth watch of the night" (3AM to 6AM)—often become moments of spiritual sensitivity. Perhaps these wake-ups aren't attacks but invitations to meet with Jesus when our hearts are finally quiet enough to listen. When you find yourself staring into the darkness, try turning that moment into worship. Whisper His name, read Scripture aloud, or simply invite His presence to fill the room.

Remember, you are not powerless in these moments. The Spirit of God dwells within you, and "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Both night and day belong to God, and so do you.

Are those 3AM wake-ups leaving you anxious instead of rested? Book an Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour plus Peace Reset with me, where we'll pray through what you're experiencing and design practices that transform those restless nights into purposeful time with God. Visit paulabehrens.com/coaching to begin your journey from midnight fear to divine peace.

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Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithcollective

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Printable Bible Study for Women >>> PaulaBehrens.com/members

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Find the full episode here >>> PaulaBehrens.com/blog

Wrestling with whether God can truly love you through your imperfections? The book of Romans offers profound answers that have transformed believers for centuries. This powerful New Testament letter isn't just theological doctrine—it's a lifeline for anyone caught between spiritual aspirations and human limitations.

Paul's masterpiece begins with a sobering reality check about our universal brokenness before revealing the revolutionary solution: justification by faith alone. Just as Abraham was credited as righteous simply for believing God's promises, we too are made right with God not through perfect performance but through trusting in Christ's completed work. This paradigm shift from religious striving to grace-filled surrender changes everything about how we approach our relationship with God.

What makes Romans especially relatable is Paul's raw honesty about his own spiritual struggles: "What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Sound familiar? Yet this confession leads to the triumphant declaration that "there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus" and the assurance that absolutely nothing can separate us from God's love. From this foundation of security, Paul shows us how to walk this journey as "living sacrifices"—transformed by renewed thinking and expressing Christ's character through genuine community.

If you're tired of exhausting yourself with spiritual perfectionism or feeling like you're never quite measuring up, this episode offers the freedom you've been searching for. Subscribe now, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and join me next week as we continue discovering how to live on purpose in Christ. Ready to experience a personal reset in your spiritual journey? Visit PaulaBehrens.com/coaching to book your Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour today.

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Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithcollective

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Printable Bible Study for Women >>> PaulaBehrens.com/members

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Ever stood in the middle of your living room surrounded by scattered toys, with a tugging toddler at your leg, wondering if you're doing any of this right? Or perhaps you're a grandmother stepping back into the world of little ones, quietly questioning if you still remember what you're doing or if you're truly the influence they need?

God's Word speaks directly to these uncertainties with powerful promises for both mothers and grandmothers. Through five key scriptures, we discover that God never asks us to parent from our own strength or meet impossible standards of perfection. Instead, He offers His presence, wisdom, and gentle guidance for this sacred journey.

Whether you're in the trenches of daily motherhood or providing the irreplaceable influence of a grandmother, these truths anchor us when uncertainty rises. God chose you specifically for the children in your life, and His Word lights your path. You don't walk this journey alone—you're living on purpose in Christ as a beloved daughter of God who happens to be a mother or grandmother too. Join us for this heart-to-heart encouragement that meets you exactly where you are.

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Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithcollective

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Printable Bible Study for Women >>> PaulaBehrens.com/members

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Find the full episode here >>> PaulaBehrens.com/blog

What happens when ordinary people are filled with extraordinary power? The book of Acts gives us the answer. This vibrant narrative takes us from a small upper room in Jerusalem to the far reaches of the Roman Empire, showing how the Holy Spirit transformed a handful of fearful disciples into unstoppable witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Acts begins with Jesus' promise of power through the Holy Spirit and maps out a mission that will spread from Jerusalem to "the ends of the earth." We witness the dramatic birth of the Church at Pentecost when the Spirit descends like fire, empowering believers to speak in languages they never learned and Peter to preach with such boldness that 3,000 people are baptized in a single day. This new community devotes itself to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer—creating a radical alternative to the surrounding culture through their unity and generosity.

As opposition rises, so does the church's resolve. We follow the gospel's expansion through persecution, watching as Stephen's martyrdom scatters believers who plant the message wherever they go. The transformation of Saul from violent persecutor to passionate apostle Paul demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. Through Peter's vision and encounter with Cornelius, we see God demolishing barriers between Jews and Gentiles, declaring that the gospel is for everyone regardless of ethnicity or background. Throughout Paul's journeys, imprisonments, and trials, one truth remains constant: what appears to be defeat becomes the very means of advancing Christ's kingdom.

The story of Acts doesn't end with Paul in Rome—it continues through every generation of believers, including our own. The same Spirit that empowered those first Christians empowers us today. If you're feeling weary or disconnected from God's purpose, consider booking an Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour Plus Peace Reset at PaulaBerens.com/coaching to create space for the Holy Spirit to renew your heart and vision. Because the unstoppable story of Acts is still being written—through you.

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Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithcollective

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Printable Bible Study for Women >>> PaulaBehrens.com/members

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Find the full episode here >>> PaulaBehrens.com/blog

Ever glanced at your dusty Bible with a pang of guilt while racing through another hectic day? You're not alone. Drawing from my seminary years spent navigating dark country roads at 5 AM (dodging feral hogs, no less!), I share how God transformed my understanding of devotional time forever.

The perfect Bible study scenario—comfy chair, steaming tea, hour of solitude—remains an unattainable myth for most of us. But what if I told you that God's Word thrives in the messy, ordinary corners of your day? During my grueling twice-weekly commutes from Kosse to Dallas, Texas, I discovered sacred spaces in unexpected places: gas station parking lots where I'd read a Psalm while eating a breakfast biscuit, long stretches of highway where audio Scripture filled my car, and exhausted moments when a single memorized verse carried me through.

Your spiritual life doesn't require Pinterest-perfect settings to flourish. Remember the woman who touched Jesus' garment? She didn't schedule a lengthy appointment—she reached out in a moment and was transformed. God meets us in these brief, authentic encounters, turning ordinary moments into holy ground. Whether it's five minutes in the school drop-off line, a lunch break at your desk, or those quiet moments before the household wakes, He's there, ready to speak through His Word.

Ready to discover how God can meet you in your unique life circumstances? The Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour helps you create a devotional routine that works with your reality, not against it. Stop waiting for the perfect moment to connect with God—He's already waiting for you in the beautiful mess of your everyday life. Book your session today at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching and receive a bonus Aroma RESET to help you release what's been holding you back.

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Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithcollective

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Printable Bible Study for Women >>> PaulaBehrens.com/members

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI