E157: Stop Trying To Act Spiritual episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 10, 2026 · 32 MIN

E157: Stop Trying To Act Spiritual

from The Happiest Lives Podcast · host Jill M. Lillard

What does it mean to abide in God when your quiet time feels empty and your spiritual life feels flat?You’ve been showing up — reading your Bible, praying, doing all the things — and something still feels off. This episode is about what’s actually happening when that occurs. Not what you’re doing wrong. What’s actually going on. We go deep into John 15 to unpack what Jesus actually meant when he said remain in me — why the fruit that grows from genuine abiding was never meant to just feed you, and what it looks like to stay when everything in you wants to fix the flatness or conclude that God is gone.Abiding is not a feeling you achieve. It’s a posture you return to.In This Episode•Why doing all the right spiritual things can still leave you feeling completely disconnected•What John 15 actually says about dependence, pruning, joy, and friendship with God•Why reading God’s word alone doesn’t produce transformation — and what has to be added•How the fruit of abiding flows outward and feeds others not just yourself•Why hormonal shifts can affect your spiritual life in ways nobody warned you aboutKey Takeaways•Chase the feeling and you end up performing. Stay in the posture and the fruit takes care of itself•The Word has to abide in you — not just pass through you•Grace positions you in the vine. Faith keeps you there. The fruit grows as the overflow of both•The flatness in your quiet time might be the Father pruning — not evidence that something is wrong•The fruit you bear isn’t yours. It’s Christ’s life flowing through a branch that stayed connectedSeries NoteEpisode two of the Simply Remain series. Start with episode 156 or jump in here — either works.ResourcesSong: Abide by Dwell MusicThe True Vine by Andrew MurrayKeywords•How to abide in God•Spiritual disciplines and faith•Feeling disconnected from God•John 15 abiding in Christ•Perimenopause and spiritual life•Andrew Murray abiding in Christ FREE: The 4 Mindset Shifts for a Happier MarriageReady to stop waiting for your husband to change and start focusing on how you want to show up in your marriage? Get the free mini-course + workbook and Scripture study here:myhappyvault.comDiscover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.comQuestions? Email Jill directly at [email protected]

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 10, 2026

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What does it mean to abide in God when your quiet time feels empty and your spiritual life feels flat? You’ve been showing up — reading your Bible, praying, doing all the things — and something still feels off. This episode is about what’s actually happening when that occurs. Not what you’re doing wrong. What’s actually going on. We go deep into John 15 to unpack what Jesus actually meant when he said remain in me — why the fruit that grows from genuine abiding was never meant to just ...

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E157: Stop Trying To Act Spiritual

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