Igniting Hope Ministries

Is every strong, confident woman a Jezebel? In this podcast, Steve Backlund explores the difference between healthy strength and the misuse of power through control, manipulation, and intimidation; why we should be careful not to turn immature behavior into someone's identity; and how we can help women be strong, confident, healthy leaders.

Striving can be difficult to recognize because it often looks like responsibility. Yet underneath this "responsible behavior" can be an internal pressure that says, “I have to make this happen.” In this message, Steve Backlund gives insights and strategies to overcome striving and be restful while still being responsible.

Our greatest communication upgrade may not be learning what to say, but it may be changing what we believe about the person we're saying it to. Join Steve Backlund for a message that is guaranteed to increase your positive influence in relationships, ministry, and more.

God seems to have a habit of giving us directions or something to believe that does not make sense to our natural mind. In this fun message, you will be inspired to let go of leaning on your own understanding and live a greater life of faith.

"Now may the God of hope fill you . . . . " (Romans 15:13). How full does God want us to be? Join Steve Backlund as he looks at God's message to the Children of Israel in a season of bondage and disappointment. 

"Enabling people focuses on today's comfort. Empowerment focuses on tomorrow's freedom. Our goal isn't to make life easier for people. Our goal is to make people stronger for life." This is an excerpt from this podcast that looks deeper at what love really is in relationships.

The Pharisees defended truth, valued obedience, and devoted themselves to preserving God's law. Yet most completely missed the Messiah standing before them. In this message, Steve Backlund inspires and equips you to be a modern day son or daughter of Issachar.

Steve Backlund uses an excerpt out of his book, Let's Just Laugh at That, to speak into our beliefs about spiritual warfare and spiritual protection. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and equipped to be a spiritual thermostat, not a thermometer. 

Great leaders have skills in integrity, communication, vision-casting, tenacity, relationships, and more. In this podcast, Steve Backlund shares a "skill" that truly determines our influence level. 

Many years ago, AAMCO Transmissions had a memorable slogan: "Pay now or pay later." Their message was simple. Spend a little money on maintenance today or spend much more repairing major problems later. In this podcast, Steve Backlund unpacks his leadership pillar of intentionality to inspire and equip us to have an investment mindset, not a debt mindset.

One of the greatest areas where we are tempted to be frustrated in our Christian life is believing for something that hasn't happened yet. In this podcast, Steve Backlund shares one of his most important life habits to navigate these situations with victory.

Melinda and Pieter Lagaay join Steve Backlund to share their incredible marriage restoration and to give a key for breakthrough and growth in marriages.

If we always wait for provision before deciding to do something, we will limit what our lives can become. In this message, Steve Backlund extracts from his book, Fully Convinced: The Art of Decision Making to inspire us to think big in our decision making. 

We are all tempted to be "small" on the inside of ourselves (offended, jealous, envious, selfish, entitled, etc) like the Bible characters of Cain, Joseph's brothers, King Saul, and the Pharisees during Jesus' ministry. In this message, Steve Backlund inspires us to go higher in our beliefs when others are experiencing what we want. 

Jesus said, "Do you not say, 'Four months and then the harvest,' but I say to you, 'Look up and see; the fields are white for harvest" (John 4:35). The belief that it is already happening (in our lives, families, cities, job, schools, etc.) will cause us to see what was missed when we were not hope-filled.

Jesus made a startling statement in John 4:35: “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.” Hope people see what is happening that others are missing. Indeed, there is something to partner with that God is already doing in our lives, families, neighborhoods, workplace, school, church, and nation. Join Steve Backlund as he expounds on an important truth for our personal victory and increased influence.

"Then the manna ceased . . . " (Joshua 5:12). The Israelites faced a major shift in their relationship with God (and in how provision was going to be experienced). It was unsettling, but it launched them into greater maturity and influence. Join Steve Backlund as he gives wisdom and inspiration for when the "manna" seems to cease in our own lives.

Our brains are wired to change. Modern neuroscience calls this neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to rewire itself through repeated input, focus, and experience. Declarations are a big part of this. Join Steve Backlund in this inspiring message.

Many believers lack victory, not because they do not fast enough, but because they do not "feast" on hope, truth, testimonies, worship, teachings, biblical meditation, declarations, and the promises of God. Join Steve Backlund as he unpacks this life-launching truth in this podcast.

Managers tend to maintain, while leaders lead into better things. In this podcast, Steve Backlund releases motivation and strategies to take key areas of our lives, ministries, and assignments to the next level. 

"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10). One of the main reasons we have been given a memory is to remember what the Lord has done, because what God has done in the past prophesies how we see our current situations. In this podcast, Steve Backlund shares about the vital role of testimonies in healthy mind renewal and teaches how to extract the prophecy within them to build faith for your future. Get ready to be equipped with a higher way of thinking and seeing!

What comes to mind when you hear the word revelation? For many, it means something deep, something new, something we’ve never heard before, and/or a fresh insight that feels profound. And while those things can be a part of it, there is a bigger purpose. Join Steve Backlund as he shares an important insight for people who value growing in biblical revelation.

Many people are trying to stop negative behaviors.  But here’s a powerful truth: The best way to stop a negative behavior is not just to remove it—it is to replace it. Join Seve Backlund as he shares an important truth for those who desire change.

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly, adapt, or "bounce back" from adversity, trauma, or significant stress. In this podcast, Steve Backlund gives insight into the beliefs and habits that will help you make a faster comeback when faced with disappointing happenings.

"This is going to be my best day yet!" This does not guarantee it will happen, but the moment this is said, it increases the likelihood it will. In this message, Steve Backlund shares one of his favorite life tools for seeing dreams and desires happen. 

We cannot consistently do what we don't believe we are. One reason many sincere Christians feel unworthy when they read the Bible is that they are reading it with a behavior-first mindset instead of an identity-first mindset. In this message, Steve Backlund gives you insight into this and helps you get excited about Bible reading (and hearing sermons) like never before.

We are called not only to prophesy, but to be a prophetic person - one who sees people, circumstances, and possibilities through Heaven’s lens. Instead of being limited by appearances, past history, or natural probabilities, they choose to believe what God says is possible. In this message, Steve Backlund shares about this higher way of living.

Romans 12:3 says God has dealt to each one “a measure of faith.” The word “measure” comes from the Greek word metron, which is a measured sphere of authority. It’s the area where God has entrusted us with unusual faith, unusual grace, and unusual influence. This podcast is designed to help you find your purpose and calling in a greater way.

Lies smart people believe usually don't make them rebellious; they make them passive. They don’t cause them to run from God; they cause them to expect less from Him. In this podcast, Steve Backlund reveals subtle lies that put on ceiling on the potential of responsible and logical people.

This is a part two to last week's podcast, "I Am So Glad It Was Hard".  In this message, Steve Backlund quotes from James 1:12 and shares how perseverance through trials gives us a "crown of life" (ability to give life away to others in the very areas we are overcoming in). This message will give further purpose to what is difficult in our lives. 

I was talking recently with my wife, Wendy, reflecting on some high-profile leadership messes. These people rose quickly in influence, but their lack of character undermined their influence. In the middle of that conversation, I said, “I am so glad it was hard for us.” This podcast shares the why behind that statement. Get ready to be inspired and equipped for strength and longevity as you listen.

When controversy happens in our lives, our churches, or in our nation, we are very tempted to let our emotions direct our beliefs and responses, but this often leads to division rather than bridge-building. In this podcast, Steve Backlund gives some great insights into navigating controversies in a healthy way.

Steve Backlund gives great insight into how to think and respond to the unexpected happening in our lives. 

The fruit of the Spirit of self-control is vital for so many areas, but it is especially needed for us to not over-react to perceived doctrinal error or rumors about people. In this podcast, Steve Backlund will help you become more balanced in your responses to such things. 

In this message, Steve Backlund makes the case that the third most important question in life is "Who Do We Say the People in Our Life Are?"

"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34. Our beliefs come out through our words. It is fascinating to consider what we believe is hard (hard to do or difficult to experience). The belief that something is hard is usually a bigger problem than what seems to be hard. In this fun, inspiring, and revelatory teaching, Steve Backlund shares what we really need to believe is hard.

Steve Backlund shares prophetically what he is hearing for 2026.

This is a message Steve preached at Valley Church in Caldwell on December 14, 2025, right after Wendy and he moved there. Get ready to be inspired and hear a "now word" for your life.

Steve continues a Christmas podcast tradition of sharing insights into what the birth of Jesus speaks about the circumstances we are facing in our own lives.

This great message will build your expectation to experience abundance in nine key areas to accomplish God's highest purposes for your life.

It has been said that people, on average, heard the gospel 7.4 times before surrendering and believing in Jesus. In this podcast, Seve Backlund shares the importance of repeating things in ministry and beyond. 

In this podcast, Steve Backlund makes the case for "thank you" being the two most important words we can speak. Get ready to be inspired to take your thankfulness to life-changing levels. 

The Apostle Paul told Timothy to "stir up the gift" that was in him (2 Timothy 1:6). It is not automatic that our gifts will mature and bear fruit. In this podcast, Steve Backlund puts on his coach's hat to inspire you and give you insight into how to stir yourself up and see an increase in the gifts and talents you have. 

Those who succeed most seem to fail most. Winston Churchill said, "Success is moving from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." In this podcast, Steve Backlund helps us practically live out these truths.

Cyndi Barber joins Steve Backlund on this important podcast. Cyndi shares her own experience with grief, and conveys the powerful truths and practices that have helped her and many others overcome it.

"The joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Our spiritual load-bearing capacity is in direct proportion to the level of joy in our lives. Celebrating progress, not perfection, is an important habit of joyful people. In this podcast, Steve Backlund expounds on five Bible verses to help activate your celebration of yourself like never before.

Both those who believe they can, and those who believe they can't, are right. What we are experiencing today is largely the result of the beliefs and words we had in the past. In this podcast, Steve Backlund helps us break the tendency to use circumstances and feelings for why we believe what we believe.

We have beliefs to "work out" and strengthen in five areas - beliefs about God, ourselves, other people, circumstances, and decisions we are making. In this podcast, Steve Backlund gives insights and inspiration about our beliefs about the people in our lives. 

This podcast helps break off the lie that we are victims of the people in our lives. Steve Backlund shares an excerpt from his book, Let's Just Laugh at That!, about how some of his favorite biblical characters overcame this lie and how we can do so too.

Steve Backlund shares seven fun and transformational truths from his white water rafting experiences.