In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, the guys continue their series "So You Are Saved, Now What?" by diving deep into the discipline of prayer — the essential practice of talking to God. The guys open with an honest confession: prayer is hard work, and most of us don't do nearly enough of it. They break down the common barriers to a consistent prayer life, from distraction and busyness to simply not knowing what to pray for, and explore the difference between devoted prayer and the continual, "boots on/boots off" posture of God-consciousness throughout the day. Walking through the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11, Justin, Braden, and Elijah unpack each element — from the intimacy of calling God "Abba Father," to hallowing His name, seeking His kingdom, asking for daily provision, confession, and protection from temptation. The group also addresses a sobering reality: unconfessed sin and unforgiveness can actually hinder our prayers from being heard. They wrap up with a practical acronym — TACOS (Thanksgiving, Adoration, Confession, Others, Self) — as a helpful template for balanced, Spirit-led prayer. Closing with a powerful quote from John MacArthur, the episode challenges listeners to live with "God-colored glasses" — seeing every moment of life as filtered through an awareness of His presence. Whether you're a brand new believer learning to pray for the first time or a seasoned Christian who's let your prayer life grow cold, this episode will convict and encourage you to draw near to God.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

• An Exposition on Prayer: Igniting the Fuel to Flame Our Communication with God by Jim Rosscup
• Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes
• Prayer and Spiritual Warfare by Charles H. Spurgeon
• The Armor of God: Praying at All Times by John MacArthur

Verses Mentioned:

• Nehemiah
• Acts 6
• James 4:3, 5:16
• Galatians 4
• Luke 18:1-5
• Luke 11:1-8
• Hebrews 2; 4
• 1 Thessalonians 5
• Matthew 6
• 2 Corinthians 12
• Psalm 66:18
• 1 Peter 3
• Proverbs 30:8-9
• Luke 22
• Romans 8
• Ephesians 6:18

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In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, Justin, Braden, and Elijah tackle one of the most pressing questions for new and seasoned believers alike: how does God speak to us today? The guys dig into the common ways Christians claim to hear from God — still small voices, feelings of peace, prophetic words, open and closed doors, and dramatic signs — and test each one against the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. Using memorable stories (including Justin's hilarious "Lady in Red" saga), they expose how easily our feelings, impressions, and experiences can be mistaken for divine communication. The conversation explores the critical difference between biblical description and prescription, reminding listeners that just because something happened in the Bible doesn't mean it's the normative Christian experience. They also walk through the dangers of extra-biblical revelation, showing how elevating personal impressions above Scripture undermines the Word of God and can even lead to blaming God when things go wrong. The episode wraps up with practical, encouraging advice for building consistent Bible-reading habits — because if you want to hear the voice of God, open your Bible, and if you want to hear it audibly, read it out loud.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

• Strange Fire by John MacArthur
• Disciplines of A Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes

Verses Mentioned:

• Jeremiah
• Deuteronomy 29
• Deuteronomy 8
• Jeremiah 17:9
• 1 Kings 19
• Exodus 33
• Deuteronomy 13
• Deuteronomy 18:21–22
• 2 Timothy 3:16–17
• 1 Corinthians 14:33
• 2 Peter 1
• Joel 2
• Acts 16
• Revelation 3
• 1 Corinthians 2
• Psalm 119:11
• Proverbs
• 1 Peter

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On this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, Justin sets the stage for one of the biggest priorities for the church: effective salt and light-and namely, in the oppressing reality of human-trafficking that is destroying our country. Jesus does not tell us to BE the salt and light of the earth, He tells us that we ARE the salt and light of the earth (Matt 5:13-20). It's time for us to act.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show