Christians may believe, intellectually and theologically, that God is ever-present. But is our lived experience one that recognizes and relies on God’s radical availability? On any given day, at any given moment, how much do any of us recognize the nearness and wellspring of God’s love, grace, and mercy?

In this episode, host Jay Kim converses with Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and an influential voice in spiritual formation. Together, they explore insights from Villodas's discipleship journey and his vision for a life of peace that draws deeply from God’s presence and loving attentiveness.

With insights from his latest book, Good and Beautiful and Kind, Villodas challenges us to meet God’s grace with personal effort to encounter him, whether daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly, and provides practical guidance from his own spiritual rhythms.

Tune in to learn everyday practices that can help your interior life flourish and increase your awareness of God’s presence, available to you at every moment.

Download a reflective guide to The Examen.

This episode highlights the following themes:

• The multi-layered nature of sin as a failure to love, beyond mere rule-breaking
• The balance between grace and effort in experiencing God’s presence
• Practical ways to live in sacrificial love, rooted in the example of Jesus

Links from this episode:

• Get to know more about Rich Villodas
• Order Villodas’ book, Good and Beautiful and Kind
• Read Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero
• Check out New Life Fellowship
• Read the transcript here

The world is full of noise. Many are exhausted by the cacophony and chaos of the modern, digital age, where peace is scarce and self-reflection is infrequent. In “The Digital Examen”, a new podcast from IVP, author and pastor Jay Y. Kim converses with a variety of leaders, pastors, and scholars who are working to reorient their lives in the direction of listening, tuning their hearts and minds to hear the voice of God in all of its clarity, kindness, and strength.

Learn more about your host, Jay Y. Kim

Read Analog Church and Analog Christian by Jay Y. Kim

Links and Credits

✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com and use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.

✅ Producers: Helen Lee, Travis Albritton, and Andrew Bronson

✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts

✅ Social Media Manager: Allie Noble

✅ Production Assistants: Christine Pelliccio and Isis Toldson

✅ Podcast Art: Kate Lillard

✅ Theme Song: "For They Will Inherit the Earth" by Stephen Keech

Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.