EdgeGodIn

Fickle Feelings: Are You Returning to What God Freed You From? Are fickle feelings keeping you spiritually stuck? Have you ever found yourself praising God one moment and complaining about your circumstances the next? In this episode of Edge God In, we explore how the Israelites witnessed God's miraculous faithfulness through the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire, and His daily provision, yet repeatedly longed to return to the slavery of Egypt. Sound familiar? How often do we allow pride, envy, jealousy, impatience, or complaining to master us and pull us back into attitudes and behaviors God is calling us to leave behind? In This Episode, You'll Discover: Why God's timing doesn't always match our expectations. How fickle feelings can lead us back into spiritual bondage. What the Israelites teach us about complaining and forgetting God's faithfulness. How to recognize what is mastering your thoughts and behaviors. Three practical steps to spiritual freedom: Remember, Release, and Return. Scriptures Referenced 2 Peter 3:8–9 — God's timing and patience. 2 Peter 2:19 — We become slaves to whatever masters us. Exodus 13–16 — God's deliverance, guidance, and provision. Numbers 11:4–6 — Longing for the familiar slavery of Egypt. Galatians 5:1 — Stand firm in Christ's freedom. Philippians 2:14 — Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Reflection Question What is your Egypt? What familiar attitude, behavior, or attachment are you tempted to return to when God's pace doesn't match your expectations? Remember: Don't trade God's promised future for the comfort of your familiar past. Edge God In — Allow God to guide your thoughts, emotions, and choices as you grow in spiritual freedom.

Edge God In Podcast 344: The Book of Esther: Courage, Purpose, and the Power of One Voice EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Estella Chavous Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objectives By the end of this Bible study, learners will be able to: Describe how Esther’s encounter with Mordecai challenged her to recognize her identity, responsibility, and potential purpose. Identify how fear, uncertainty, and the desire for personal security can influence decisions, behavior, and willingness to speak up. Explain how preparation, wise counsel, discernment, and courage influenced Esther’s response to the threat facing her people. Apply the Emotional Intelligence in Christ (EIC) framework—Encounter, Identified Behavior, and Course Correct—to evaluate a difficult decision or situation requiring courage. Develop one practical, values-centered action to use personal influence responsibly, advocate for others, or address a challenging situation with wisdom and compassion. Three Key areas of understanding:1. Recognize Your Purpose and Responsibility. Esther learned that her position gave her an opportunity to help others. We should consider how our gifts, relationships, and influence can serve a greater purpose. (Esther 4:14) 2. Prepare Before You Act. Esther approached a dangerous situation with fasting, preparation, and discernment rather than acting impulsively. We can combine prayer, wise counsel, and thoughtful planning when facing difficult decisions. (Esther 4:15–16) 3. Use Your Voice and Influence for Good. Esther demonstrated courage by speaking up to protect her people. We can practice Christ-centered emotional intelligence by moving beyond fear and using our influence with wisdom, compassion, and integrity. (Esther 7:3–4; Philippians 2:4) Key Scriptures: Esther 4:10–16; 7:3–6; Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 15:22; Philippians 2:4. Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the story of Esther and the reminder that courage, purpose, and wise action can make a difference in the lives of others. Help us recognize the encounters in which You may be calling us to examine our values, our fears, and our responsibilities. When we feel uncertain, give us discernment. When we are afraid, give us courage. When we are tempted to remain silent for the sake of comfort, help us consider whether our voice may be needed. Teach us to prepare thoughtfully, seek wise counsel, and respond with humility. Help us use our influence to encourage, protect, and serve others rather than simply to advance our own interests. Give us the wisdom to know when to speak, how to speak, and when to listen. Help us act without allowing fear, anger, or pride to control our decisions. And when we are uncertain about our purpose, remind us that we can take the next faithful step without knowing every detail of the journey ahead. Guide us in our encounter with You. Give us wisdom to identify what needs our attention. And give us courage to course correct. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Support Resources: Books & Resources: Understanding and Acting on Behaviors that lead to Christ-Filled Relationships: Designed to uncover the key behaviors that influence how you relate to Christ-Awareness, Discernment, Emotion, and Renewal. Situational Meditation Theory and Practice: Finding this space and learning to engage in meditation, contemplation and reflection. Situational Meditation Journal: A companion to the book, cultivating a lifestyle of presence and full engagement in the moment. Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course

Edge God In Podcast 343: The Book of Nehemiah: Courage, Purpose, and the Power of One Voice EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Estella Chavous Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objectives By the end of this Bible study, learners will be able to: Recognize how prayer, reflection, and discernment can guide responses to challenges, disappointment, and uncertainty. Identify emotional and behavioral patterns, such as fear, frustration, avoidance, and defensiveness, that may interfere with personal growth and effective leadership. Explain how faith, preparation, communication, and perseverance contributed to Nehemiah’s leadership and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. Apply the Emotional Intelligence in Christ (EIC) framework—Encounter, Identified Behavior, and Course Correct—to examine a personal or leadership challenge. Develop one practical, faith-centered action to rebuild an area of life, strengthen a relationship, or remain focused when facing opposition. Three key areas of understanding: Pray Before You React. Nehemiah responded to troubling news with prayer, reflection, and discernment before taking action. We can seek God’s wisdom before responding to challenges or making difficult decisions. (Nehemiah 1:4–11) Faith Requires Action and Preparation. Nehemiah combined his faith with thoughtful planning, clear communication, and personal responsibility. We demonstrate our faith through the intentional steps we take toward meaningful goals. (Nehemiah 2:17–18) Stay Focused Despite Opposition. Nehemiah refused to let distractions and criticism prevent him from completing his assignment. We can remain steadfast in our purpose by trusting God and persevering through adversity. (Nehemiah 6:3, 9) Scriptures: Nehemiah 2:20| Nehemiah 1:4–11| Nehemiah 2:11–18| Nehemiah 6:1–9| James 1:19| James 2:17 | Galatians 6:9 Prayer: Heavenly Father, As we begin this study of Nehemiah, quiet our hearts and help us become fully present with You. Open our minds to Your wisdom and our hearts to the lessons You want us to receive. Help us recognize the broken places in our lives without becoming overwhelmed by what we see. Give us the courage to face challenges honestly, the wisdom to prepare before we act, and the perseverance to continue when opposition comes. Teach us to lead with humility, respond with emotional discipline, and trust You when the work seems too difficult. Show us where we need to rebuild, where we need to change our responses, and where You are calling us to take responsibility. Guide us in our encounter with You. Give us wisdom to identify what needs our attention. And give us courage to course correct. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Support Resources: Books & Resources: Understanding and Acting on Behaviors that lead to Christ-Filled Relationships: Designed to uncover the key behaviors that influence how you relate to Christ-Awareness, Discernment, Emotion, and Renewal. Situational Meditation Theory and Practice: Finding this space and learning to engage in meditation, contemplation and reflection. Situational Meditation Journal: A companion to the book, cultivating a lifestyle of presence and full engagement in the moment. Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course

Have you ever wondered about God’s purpose in suffering, especially when life brings painful experiences you would never have chosen? In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I share my personal journey through breast cancer and divorce, exploring how God can bring a greater good out of our most difficult seasons. Edge God In Podcast 342: When God Turns Your Pain Into Purpose, The Greater Good You Couldn’t See EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Lauren E Miller Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objective: Discover how God can bring a greater good out of life’s most painful experiences. Through Joseph’s journey, Job’s encounter with God, and a personal testimony of breast cancer and divorce, learn how to recognize God’s presence in suffering, deepen your trust in His purposes, and find hope when life doesn’t make sense. Scriptures: Genesis 37, 40-41, 45-47; Genesis 50:20; Job 38-41 and 42:5; Romans 828; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you never waste suffering there are always lessons to be learned that you will use to change me into your likeness and help people around me. Previous Podcast in this series by Lauren: Watch Your Mouth! Which Wisdom is Speaking Support Resources: Award Winning Books: Hearing His Whisper, with Every Storm Jesus Comes Too  https://amzn.to/3nNxdya 99 Things You Want to Know Before Stressing Out!  Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course Now Launched Stress Relief Video Techniques: Click Here https://laurenemiller.com/stress-relief-coaching-expert/

Edge God In Podcast 341: Watch Your Mouth! Which Wisdom is Speaking? EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Lauren E Miller Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objective: Recognize the two kinds of wisdom described in James 3:7–18 and practice pausing to seek God’s guidance before speaking, choosing words that reflect humility, mercy, truth, and peace. Scriptures: James 3 Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for reminding us that our words matter. Help us become more aware of what is taking root in our hearts and how it influences what comes out of our mouths. When we are tempted to react from pride, jealousy, fear, or frustration, remind us to pause and seek Your wisdom. Previous Podcast in this series by Lauren: How to Be Transformed Support Resources: Award Winning Books: Hearing His Whisper, with Every Storm Jesus Comes Too  https://amzn.to/3nNxdya 99 Things You Want to Know Before Stressing Out!  Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course Now Launched Stress Relief Video Techniques: Click Here https://laurenemiller.com/stress-relief-coaching-expert/

Edge God In Podcast 340: The Book of Ezra: Return, Rebuild, and Renew EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Estella Chavous Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objectives: By the end of this podcast and Bible study, participants will be able to: Explain how the book of Ezra illustrates the themes of return, rebuilding, and spiritual renewal. Recognize the connection between encountering God, identifying personal behaviors or patterns, and making intentional course corrections. Apply Ezra 7:10 by considering how studying God’s Word, practicing it, and living it out can influence everyday choices and spiritual growth. Three key areas of understanding: Understanding the Story — Return Understand the historical and spiritual context of Ezra and the significance of God’s people returning from exile and beginning again. Understanding Ourselves — Rebuild Recognize how seasons of disruption, reflection, and rebuilding can reveal behaviors, attitudes, and areas of our lives that need attention. Understanding Transformation — Renew Explore how an encounter with God can lead to intentional action, course correction, and renewed living. Scriptures: Ezra 7:10 | Ezra 1:5 | Ezra 3:10–11 | Ezra 10:1–4 | Joel 2:12–13 | Zechariah 4:10 | Romans 12:2 Prayer: Heavenly Father, As we begin this study of Ezra, quiet our hearts and help us be fully present with You. Open our minds to understand Your Word and our hearts to receive what You want to show us. Help us recognize the areas of our lives where You are inviting us to return, rebuild, and renew. Give us the courage to look honestly at our choices, our behaviors, and the places where we may have drifted from You. Like Ezra, help us not only to learn Your Word, but to practice it and allow it to shape the way we live. As we study, speak to each of us personally. Show us what we need to notice, what we may need to change, and what step of faith You may be asking us to take. May this time together draw us closer to You and remind us that restoration is possible when we are willing to return to Your presence. Guide us in our encounter with You. Give us wisdom to identify what needs our attention. And give us courage to course correct. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Support Resources: Books & Resources: Understanding and Acting on Behaviors that lead to Christ-Filled Relationships: Designed to uncover the key behaviors that influence how you relate to Christ-Awareness, Discernment, Emotion, and Renewal. Situational Meditation Theory and Practice: Finding this space and learning to engage in meditation, contemplation and reflection. Situational Meditation Journal: A companion to the book, cultivating a lifestyle of presence and full engagement in the moment. Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course

Edge God In Podcast 339: How to Be Transformed EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Lauren E Miller Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objective: Recognize what is holding you back from the true transformation that God desires for you. Explore what fear, wound or place of control may be blocking you from connecting to how God desires to transform your life at this time. Scriptures: Genesis: 18, 21, 22 and 24 Romans 12:1-2 Romans 10:17 Prayer: Dear Lord, how do you want to transform my life at this time and reveal to me what habit, thought, belief or past pain is holding me back from entering into the transformation you want for me. Previous Podcast in this series by Lauren: When Gossip Becomes Counterfeit Connection Support Resources: Award Winning Books: Hearing His Whisper, with Every Storm Jesus Comes Too  https://amzn.to/3nNxdya 99 Things You Want to Know Before Stressing Out!  Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course Now Launched Stress Relief Video Techniques: Click Here https://laurenemiller.com/stress-relief-coaching-expert/

Edge God In Podcast 338: The Book of 2 Chronicles: Returning to the Center EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Estella Chavous Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objectivesz By the end of this podcast and Bible study, participants will be able to: Understand that we are to be strong and courageous for God is with you. Understanding the story of God’s people Understanding how 2 Chronicles fits into the EIC Method Three key areas of understanding: Seeking God Requires Intention Spiritual Renewal Begins With Course Correction God can meet us in Moments of Uncertainty Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 7:14 | 2 Chronicles 15:2 | 2 Chronicles 16:9 | 2 Chronicles 20:12 | 2 Chronicles 20:15 | 2 Chronicles 31:21 | 2 Chronicles 30:6 | 2 Chronicles 34:27 | Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word and for the reminder that our lives can easily become distracted by what is happening around us. As we begin our study of 2 Chronicles, help us understand what it means to keep You at the center of our lives. Teach us to recognize when our hearts have become distracted. Show us the places where our priorities have shifted. Help us understand that spiritual renewal often begins with a decision to return to You. Give us wisdom to recognize the difference between activity and true worship. Give us humility to receive correction. Give us courage to make changes when You reveal something that needs to change. Help us seek You—not simply when we need something, but because You are worthy of being sought. Teach us to respond to Your presence with humility, obedience, prayer, and worship. When life becomes complicated,  when we become discouraged and when we make mistakes , remind us that repentance opens the door to restoration. May our lives continually point back to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Support Resources: Books & Resources: Understanding and Acting on Behaviors that lead to Christ-Filled Relationships: Designed to uncover the key behaviors that influence how you relate to Christ-Awareness, Discernment, Emotion, and Renewal. Situational Meditation Theory and Practice: Finding this space and learning to engage in meditation, contemplation and reflection. Situational Meditation Journal: A companion to the book, cultivating a lifestyle of presence and full engagement in the moment. Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course

Edge God In Podcast 337: When Gossip Becomes Counterfeit Connection EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Lauren E Miller Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objective: Recognize how gossip can become a counterfeit source of self-esteem and connection, identify its impact on relationships, and choose direct, respectful, and biblically grounded communication that protects dignity and promotes reconciliation. Scriptures: Matthew 18: 15-20 Romans 13:8-10 Prayer: Dear Lord delivery me from the tendency to share another person’s story many times because of my own insecurities. Help me to rejoice in the success of others over my own and ground my sense of worth and value in you, an unshakable anchor of identity. Aquinas’s discussion includes sorrow over another’s good, pleasure in another’s misfortune, and attempts to damage someone’s reputation. Tale-bearing Carrying stories between people in ways that create conflict, division, or mistrust. Tale-bearing does not simply damage a reputation; it can damage a relationship. Detraction Sharing another person’s faults or failures—even when the information is true—when there is no legitimate need for others to know it. Before speaking, ask: Is it true—and does this truth need to be shared with this person? Delight in another person’s misfortune Feeling secretly pleased when someone fails, loses influence, or experiences difficulty because it makes us feel better about ourselves. Sorrow over another person’s good fortune Feeling diminished, resentful, or threatened when someone else succeeds, receives recognition, or experiences something good. Previous Podcast in this series by Lauren: Do Less, Surrender More Support Resources: Award Winning Books: Hearing His Whisper, with Every Storm Jesus Comes Too  https://amzn.to/3nNxdya 99 Things You Want to Know Before Stressing Out!  Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course Now Launched Stress Relief Video Techniques: Click Here https://laurenemiller.com/stress-relief-coaching-expert/

Edge God In Podcast 336: The Book of 1 Chronicles: When Faith is tested EdgeGodIn.com | Host: Estella Chavous Championing Human Potential in Christ Download Bible Study Template Learning Objectives By the end of this podcast and Bible study, participants will be able to: Understand the biblical context and major themes of 1 Chronicles, including identity, remembrance, leadership, worship, covenant, preparation, service, and spiritual legacy. Recognize how remembering God’s faithfulness can strengthen our identity and help us remain grounded during seasons of change. Identify behaviors, attitudes, and priorities that can either strengthen or weaken our relationship with God and our ability to fulfill what He has entrusted to us. Apply the EIC (Encounter–Identified Behavior–Course Correct) Framework to examine their relationship with God, their priorities, leadership, service, and preparation for what God is calling them to do. Develop greater spiritual confidence, intentionality, humility, and faithfulness as they seek to build lives that honor God and positively influence others. Three key areas of understanding: Remember Your Story Your Assignment Does Not Have to Look Like Someone Else’s Faithfulness Is a Form of Worship Scriptures: 1 Chronicles | Colossians 3:23 | Galatians 6:4 | Galatians 6:4 | Deuteronomy 8:2 | 1 Chronicles 28:20 | 1 Chronicles 28:20 | Romans 12:1 | 1 Corinthians 3:6 | Psalm 77:11 | 1 Chronicles 29:11 | 1 Chronicles 28:20 | 1 Chronicles 28:9 | 1 Chronicles 16:11 Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word and for the reminder that our lives are part of a story much greater than ourselves. As we begin our study of 1 Chronicles, help us understand the importance of remembering where we have come from, recognizing who we are in You, and understanding what You have entrusted to us. Teach us to value preparation as much as accomplishment. Help us understand that sometimes You call us to build, and sometimes You call us to prepare someone else to build. Give us the humility to serve when we are not receiving recognition. Give us the wisdom to prepare when the results are not yet visible. Give us the courage to lead with integrity and the discipline to remain faithful in the small things. Help us remember Your faithfulness in our past so that we can trust You with our future. Show us anything in our lives that needs to be realigned. Help us place You at the center of our priorities, our relationships, our work, our leadership, and our purpose. May our lives become an offering of worship to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Support Resources: Books & Resources: Understanding and Acting on Behaviors that lead to Christ-Filled Relationships: Designed to uncover the key behaviors that influence how you relate to Christ-Awareness, Discernment, Emotion, and Renewal. Situational Meditation Theory and Practice: Finding this space and learning to engage in meditation, contemplation and reflection. Situational Meditation Journal: A companion to the book, cultivating a lifestyle of presence and full engagement in the moment. Emotional Intelligence in Christ Project: Book, 6-Week Study Guide & Course