The Holy Shift Devotionals Podcast

DAY 6 — MAY 13 He's Praying for You Right NowNot historically. Not in some future moment when you've finally gotten it together. Not as a general prayer for humanity. Right now — in this moment — Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, saying your name.That is not a devotional sentiment. It is a present-tense, theologically precise reality that most believers treat like a metaphor when it is actually the most active thing happening in the spiritual realm on your behalf.John 17:15 — Jesus prays: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." He is not praying you out of your difficulty. He is praying you kept through it. He is not asking the Father to remove the pressure — He is asking the Father to ensure nothing reaches you that wasn't authorized.The Greek word presbeuo — ambassador, senior representative — tells us exactly what Jesus's role is at the Father's right hand. He is not passively present. He is actively interceding, officially representing you, advocating with full authority on your behalf every moment of every day.Pastor Jose shares the testimony that anchors this episode — the moment as a young believer when he lost everything, sat alone in prayer, and felt something he could only describe one way: I will never be alone again. That is what the reality of Jesus's intercession does when it lands in a person's spirit rather than just their theology.📖 Scripture: John 17:15 🔤 Ancient Word: Presbeuo (Greek) — to be an official intercessor and ambassador; a senior representative pleading another's caseFor more resources and to get your weekly devotional delivered to your inbox, head over to holyshiftmedia.comFor more teaching by Pastor Jose Boveda, check out mfhlv.com for service replays and join live on Sundays at 10am Pacific.

DAY 5 — MAY 12The ExchangeThere is a transaction at the center of the Gospel that every believer knows in their doctrine and most have never fully completed in their daily life.Jesus took your place. Not in a general theological sense — in every specific area. He became what you were so that you could become what He is. That is the exchange. And the Greek word allasso — to change places completely — tells us this wasn't a partial transfer, a gradual improvement, or a slow process of becoming. It was a full, immediate, legally binding trade.Second Corinthians 5:21: He who knew no sin became sin for you, so that you might become the righteousness of God in Him. He became what you carried. You become what He carried. That is the exchange program you are enrolled in.But here is what Pastor Jose teaches that most of the church misses: the exchange requires your participation. You have to walk up to the counter. You have to hand over the shame, the failure, the self-condemnation, the weakness you've been carrying — because on the other side of the counter, the righteousness, the identity, the freedom is already there. Already paid for. Already in your name. But it stays on the other side if you never pick it up.The Pharisees had the letters of Scripture but not the meaning. They stood at the safe every day and walked away without opening it. Today's episode is a practical guide to completing the exchange.📖 Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21 🔤 Ancient Word: Allasso (Greek) — to exchange; to change one thing completely for another; to trade placesFor more resources and to get your weekly devotional delivered to your inbox, head over to holyshiftmedia.comFor more teaching by Pastor Jose Boveda, check out mfhlv.com for service replays and join live on Sundays at 10am Pacific.

DAY 4 — MAY 11The Combination to the SafeImagine being handed the combination to a safe filled with everything you need — and walking past it every day without opening it, because you didn't realize it was in your name.That's what Pastor Jose Boveda says is happening with most believers and the living Word of God. The promises are there. The inheritance is there. The combination has been given. But most of us are reading the safe's exterior and calling that Bible study.John 17:8 — Jesus prays: "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me." The same words the Father gave Jesus, Jesus passed directly to His disciples — and to every believer who came after. Not a summarized version. Not a simplified translation. The words. The actual substance behind them.In Greek, there is a difference between logos and rhema. Logos is the written Word — complete, authoritative, true. Rhema is the living word — the specific, personal scripture that suddenly belongs to your exact situation. The verse that lifts off the page. The passage that God seems to be speaking directly into your week. That is the rhema. And that is what Jesus gave you access to when He passed on the words the Father gave Him.Pastor Jose says it plainly: "What it says is mine. It's mine." The combination is open. Today's episode teaches you how to walk up to the safe and use it.📖 Scripture: John 17:8 🔤 Ancient Word: Rhema (Greek) — the living, personal, active word from God that unlocks meaning rather than just lettersFor more resources and to get your weekly devotional delivered to your inbox, head over to holyshiftmedia.comFor more teaching by Pastor Jose Boveda, check out mfhlv.com for service replays and join live on Sundays at 10am Pacific.

DAY 3 — MAY 10I'm Your Gift, JesusWe have been taught that God so loved the world He gave His Son. That Jesus is the gift. And that is true — completely true. But Pastor Jose Boveda turns the coin over and shows us the other side, and what's there will change how you walk into every room for the rest of your life.John 17:6. Jesus praying to the Father: "Thine they were, and thou gavest them me." You were given. By the Father. To Jesus. As a gift.The Hebrew word mattanah — gift — is not a casual offering. It's something chosen because of what the giver knows the recipient values. It's something sent with the full weight of the giver's love behind it. God the Father does not give His Son something He doesn't cherish. Which means the moment you received salvation, the Father was saying to Jesus: this one. This one is yours. And I'm giving them to you because I trust you with them.Three women in the Gospels understood this before most theologians put it into words — the woman who reached through the crowd and grabbed the hem of His garment, the Syrophoenician woman who said even the dogs eat the crumbs, the blind man Bartimaeus who would not stop shouting until Jesus stopped walking. Pastor Jose calls it pickpocketing Jesus with your faith. They all brought Him something. They activated something in Him.Today's episode is the one that changes your posture in prayer permanently.📖 Scripture: John 17:6 🔤 Ancient Word: Mattanah (Hebrew) — a gift; something given as the fullest expression of the giver's loveFor more resources and to get your weekly devotional delivered to your inbox, head over to holyshiftmedia.comFor more teaching by Pastor Jose Boveda, check out mfhlv.com for service replays and join live on Sundays at 10am Pacific.

DAY 2 — MAY 9The Servants KnewIn the story of the prodigal son, something happens when the father runs to meet his lost boy that most readers move right past. The father calls out: bring the ring, the robe, the fatted calf. And someone has to know where all of those things are kept.Not the son who just came home — he's been gone. Not the older brother sulking in the field. The servants. The ones who stayed close. The ones who knew the house.This is Chapter 1 of Pastor Jose Boveda's teaching: the Three Purposes of Ministry. And before you skip this because you're not in ministry — these three purposes are not for people with titles. They're for anyone who wants to walk in the full will of God. They're for anyone who wants to be close enough to know where the ring is kept.Purpose One: Experience God. Not know about Him — experience Him in supernatural encounter. Purpose Two: Be Taught by God. Not just read the Word — let God become your personal teacher in the quiet moments. Purpose Three: Give Back to God. Let what comes into you flow back out. You're not a reservoir. You're a river.The Greek word doulos — bond-servant — describes someone who belongs completely and therefore has access to everything the master possesses. Today's episode is about building the kind of closeness that gets you into the house.📖 Scripture: Luke 15:22 🔤 Ancient Word: Doulos (Greek) — bond-servant; complete belonging that opens complete accessFor more resources and to get your weekly devotional delivered to your inbox, head over to holyshiftmedia.comFor more teaching by Pastor Jose Boveda, check out mfhlv.com for service replays and join live on Sundays at 10am Pacific.

DAY 1 — MAY 8 The Gift You Don't Know You AreWhat does God the Father actually think of you? Not what you hope He thinks. Not what you say you believe on your good days. What He actually thinks — according to Jesus, in His own words, the night before the cross.This is Day 1 of a 10-day series built from the teachings of Pastor Jose Boveda, and it begins with a question that most believers have never fully sat with: what if you are not just the recipient of God's greatest gift — what if you are the gift itself?In John 17, Jesus prays to the Father and says: "Thine they were, and thou gavest them me." You were given. Deliberately. Chosen. Placed in Jesus's life by the Father who loves Him most — because the Father doesn't give His Son something He doesn't treasure.Today we open with the Hebrew word yada — the kind of knowing that isn't information, but encounter. Intimate. Deep. The kind of knowing that eternal life is actually made of, according to John 17:3. Because this whole series is not about learning more about God. It's about experiencing Him differently.If you've been going to God only in the painful moments — or wondering whether you're really as valuable to Him as the scriptures say — this episode is the beginning of something that's going to shift that. Stay with it all 10 days. Each one builds on the last.📖 Scripture: John 17:3 🔤 Ancient Word: Yada (Hebrew) — deep, intimate knowing; encounter over informationFor more resources and to get your weekly devotional delivered to your inbox, head over to holyshiftmedia.comFor more teaching by Pastor Jose Boveda, check out mfhlv.com for service replays and join live on Sundays at 10am Pacific.

Day 16: You Are the Activated Disciple — The Mountain, the Commission, and What You Carry Now | The Activated Disciple Series FinaleWhat do you do with everything you've learned? On Day 16 — the finale of The Activated Disciple — we walk up a mountain in Galilee with the eleven remaining disciples for the most important sending in human history. The Great Commission. The last words of Jesus before His ascension. The activation. Sixteen days ago, we started this journey on the beach where Peter was restored. We have walked through the Upper Room, the Garden, the courtroom, the cross, the tomb, and the resurrection. We have met the preparers, the leaners, the fixers, the sleepers, the hand-washers, the pardoned, the conscripted, the present, the unlikely, the hidden, the named, the disappointed, the doubting, and the restored. Today, all of those characters fold into one question: What kind of disciple is being activated in YOU right now? This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every listener who has walked through this series and is now ready to be sent. We will uncover the Greek word exousia (ἐξουσία) — "authority" — the word Jesus uses in Matthew 28:18 to anchor every commission He has ever given His disciples. If you have been wondering what to do with everything God has stirred in you over the past sixteen days, how to walk in your spiritual authority, or how to live out your faith after Easter — this finale is your sending.Scripture: Matthew 28:16–20 (echoing the entire 16-day series) Ancient Word: exousia (ἐξουσία) — authority, delegated power, the right to act https://holyshiftmedia.com The Great Commission, Matthew 28 sermon, what does exousia mean, walking in spiritual authority, how to live out faith after Easter, what is a disciple of Jesus, activated faith, sent by Jesus, post-resurrection commission, all authority in heaven and earth,

Day 15: When Jesus Re-Lights the Fire — Peter's Beach Restoration and the Charcoal That Changed Everything | The Activated DiscipleWhat if the moment that broke you was actually the address Jesus has been writing your restoration to? On Day 15 of The Activated Disciple — the emotional climax of this entire series — we walk down to a beach in Galilee at sunrise. Peter has gone back to fishing. Back to the old life. Back to the pre-Jesus version of himself. He has carried the weight of three denials around a charcoal fire for weeks. And on a quiet morning by the lake, Jesus does something that has wrecked believers for two thousand years. He builds another charcoal fire. He cooks Peter breakfast. He asks one question three times. And He undoes three years of weight in a single conversation. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer who has ever needed Jesus to come back and restore something specific. Every soul carrying shame from a moment of failure they cannot stop replaying. Every disciple who has gone back to the old life because they thought their assignment was over. We will return to the Greek word anthrakia (ἀνθρακιά) — the charcoal fire from Day 1 — and uncover the staggering, deliberate parallelism between the fire where Peter denied Jesus and the fire where Jesus restored him. If you have been waiting for God to address the specific thing you cannot get past — this episode is the one.Scripture: John 21:1–17 (echoing Day 1: John 18:18 + John 21:9) Ancient Word: anthrakia (ἀνθρακιά) — charcoal fire (the same Greek word from Peter's denial and Peter's restoration) Peter's restoration on the beach, do you love me three times, charcoal fire John 21, Peter denied Jesus three times, when Jesus restores you, going back to the old life, restoration after failure, Jesus restored Peter, breakfast on the beach, Peter and Jesus conversation, full restoration in Christ, anthrakia meaning, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 14: When God Honors Your Honest Doubt — Why Jesus Came Back Just for Thomas | The Activated DiscipleWhat if your doubt is not the obstacle to your faith — but the doorway to it? On Day 14 of The Activated Disciple, we walk into a locked upper room eight days after the resurrection, where ten terrified disciples are huddled together — and one disciple is missing. His name was Thomas. And when the others tell him "We have seen the Lord," he refuses to fake belief. He needs evidence. He needs to see the wounds. He needs to touch the scars. And then — astonishingly — Jesus comes back. Not to scold him. Not to shame him. But to meet his exact request, line by line. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer who has been embarrassed by their questions about God. Every Christian who has felt like a second-class disciple because their faith is not as effortless as everyone else's seems to be. Every honest soul who has carried doubt in silence because they were afraid the church would not let them carry it out loud. We will uncover the Greek phrase ho Kyrios mou kai ho Theos mou (ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου) — "my Lord and my God" — the most theologically loaded confession in the entire Gospel of John, and discover why it came from the lips of the very disciple labeled "the doubter." If you have been wrestling with hard questions about faith, struggling to believe what others seem to believe so easily, or wondering if your doubt has disqualified you — this episode will reframe everything.Scripture: John 20:24–29 Ancient Word: ho Kyrios mou kai ho Theos mou (ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου) — "my Lord and my God" https://holyshiftmedia.comdoubting Thomas meaning, is doubt a sin, when Christians have doubts, Thomas in the Bible, my Lord and my God, faith and doubt together, Jesus and doubting disciples, honest questions about God, intellectual doubt Christianity, why does Jesus allow doubt, hard questions about faith, evidence for faith, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 13: When You're Walking Away From Your Faith — The Emmaus Road and the God Who Catches Up | The Activated DiscipleHave you ever been so disappointed by what God did not do that you started walking the other way? On Day 13 of The Activated Disciple, we walk down a long, dusty road outside Jerusalem with two heartbroken disciples who are leaving town. They had hoped Jesus was the One. They had pinned their dreams on Him. And now He is dead — and the rumors of resurrection feel like cruel jokes. So they put their heads down and start walking away from the city, away from the news, away from the community. And a Stranger catches up to them. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer in the middle of disappointment with God. Every believer in deconstruction. Every soul whose faith has felt thin lately because the prayer was not answered, the diagnosis was not reversed, the marriage did not heal, the church hurt you, or the dream died. We will uncover the Greek phrase kaiomenē en hēmin (καιομένη ἐν ἡμῖν) — "burning within us" — from Luke 24:32, and discover the moment two grieving disciples realized Jesus had been with them on the road the entire time, hidden in plain sight. If you have been struggling with doubt, walking away from church, or wondering where Jesus has been in your hardest season — this episode will catch up to you on your own road.Scripture: Luke 24:13–35 Ancient Word: kaiomenē (καιομένη) — burning, kindled, set ablaze (the heart on the Emmaus road) https://holyshiftmedia.comroad to Emmaus meaning, walking away from faith, disappointment with God, deconstruction Christianity, when God lets you down, hearts burning within us, Cleopas Emmaus, Jesus on the Emmaus road, faith crisis, doubt as a Christian, when prayers are not answered, hidden in plain sight, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 12: When Jesus Calls You by Name — Mary Magdalene and the First Sermon of the Resurrection | The Activated DiscipleHave you ever needed Jesus to call you by name? On Day 12 of The Activated Disciple, we step out of the dark and into the very first morning of the new creation. Mary Magdalene — a woman the world had written off, a woman whose past had been dragged through public memory, a woman Jesus had freed from seven demons — arrives at the tomb to anoint a body she will never find. Because the tomb is empty. And the first human being on Earth to see the risen Jesus, hear His voice in resurrection, and be commissioned to preach the gospel… is her. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer who has ever wondered if their past disqualifies them from being used by God in the first moments — not just the cleanup. Every soul who has been crying in the dark and waiting for God to say something, anything, that proves He still sees them. We will uncover the Aramaic word Rabbouni (ραββουνί) — "my Teacher" — the single tender word Mary Magdalene cries when she recognizes Jesus, and discover what makes that word completely different from every other "Rabbi" in the gospels. If you have been waiting for God to speak your name, struggling to feel seen by Him, or wondering if you are qualified to carry a message — this episode will reintroduce you to a Savior who calls His daughters by name in the garden.Scripture: John 20:11–18 Ancient Word: Rabbouni (ραββουνί) — "my Teacher" / "my dear Master" (Aramaic intimacy form) Mary Magdalene at the tomb, first to see the risen Jesus, when Jesus calls you by name, Mary Magdalene preacher, do not cling to me, what does Rabboni mean, women preachers in the Bible, called by name by God, qualified by Jesus, past does not disqualify, resurrection morning devotional, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 11: When Hidden Faith Goes Public — The Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus Moment | The Activated DiscipleHave you been a believer in private but afraid to be one in public? On Day 11 of The Activated Disciple, we meet two of the most surprising men in the entire passion week — Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Both members of the Sanhedrin. Both wealthy. Both powerful. Both followers of Jesus in secret. And on the day Jesus dies, when the loud disciples have all gone into hiding, these two quiet disciples step out of the shadows and risk everything — their reputations, their wealth, their seats on the council — to give Jesus a king's burial. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer who has ever felt the tension between their faith and their workplace, their family table, their friend group, or their public image. Every closet Christian who knows in their gut God is asking them to come out into the open. We will uncover the Greek phrase tolmēsas eisēlthen (τολμήσας εἰσῆλθεν) — "he gathered courage and went in" — from Mark 15:43, and discover the exact moment a hidden disciple becomes a public one. If you have been wondering when to share your faith at work, how to be more courageous about Jesus, or whether your private belief is enough — this episode is going to call you out into the light.Scripture: Mark 15:42–46 (supporting: John 19:38–42, John 3:1–2) Ancient Word: tolmēsas (τολμήσας) — having gathered courage, having dared, having become bold https://holyshiftmedia.comwho was Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus secret disciple, hidden faith going public, sharing faith at work, closet Christian, when to come out as a Christian, secret disciple of Jesus, Sanhedrin members who believed, courageous faith, public faith private faith, Christian boldness, faith in the workplace, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 10: The Last Person You'd Expect to Believe — The Roman Centurion's Confession at the Cross | The Activated DiscipleWho is the last person in your life you would expect to come to Jesus? On Day 10 of The Activated Disciple, we meet a man whose entire career was built on a single oath — Caesar is lord. A Roman centurion. A career soldier. The commanding officer of the execution squad that just nailed Jesus to the cross. And in the final breath of one of the most unlikely conversions in all of Scripture, he looks up at a dead Jewish carpenter and speaks seven words that contradict everything he had ever sworn allegiance to. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer who has been praying for someone they have given up on. The wayward child. The hardened spouse. The friend who keeps walking further from God. The coworker who seems to have built walls God will never get past. We will uncover the Greek word kyrios (κύριος) — "lord" — and discover the staggering political and spiritual weight of what the centurion actually said, and why his confession was a death sentence in the wrong company. If you have ever wondered if anyone is too far gone for God, if you have stopped praying for someone because you thought it was hopeless, or if you yourself have felt like the last person God would ever use — this episode will reignite your faith.Scripture: Mark 15:37–39 (supporting: Matthew 27:54) Ancient Word: kyrios (κύριος) — Lord, Master, Owner https://holyshiftmedia.comRoman centurion at the cross, truly this man was the Son of God, unlikely conversions in the Bible, praying for someone hardened, no one is too far gone for God, Jesus is Lord meaning, kyrios meaning Greek, centurion confession, hardest people to reach for Christ, hope for the hopeless, never stop praying, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 9: The Power of Just Staying — The Women at the Cross and the Discipleship of Presence | The Activated DiscipleWhat if the most powerful thing you can do for someone today is just refuse to leave? On Day 9 of The Activated Disciple, we arrive at the foot of the cross — and we find something the gospel writers want us to see clearly. The men who promised to follow Jesus to the death have scattered. But the women have stayed. Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary Magdalene. Mary the wife of Clopas. Salome. Joanna. They had no sword to swing. No position to defend. No platform to protect. They just refused to leave Him. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer who has ever felt like the only thing they have to offer is their presence. Every quiet faithful one who shows up at the funerals, sits in the hospital rooms, holds vigil through the dark seasons, and wonders if it counts. We will uncover the Greek word paristēmi (παρίστημι) — "to stand alongside" — and discover that in the kingdom of God, presence is not a small offering. It is the offering. If you have been wondering how to support a hurting friend, walking with someone through grief, or feeling like your quiet faithfulness is invisible — this episode will redefine what it means to be a true disciple.Scripture: John 19:25–27 (supporting: Mark 15:40–41, Luke 23:49) Ancient Word: paristēmi (παρίστημι) — to stand by, to stand alongside, to be present https://holyshiftmedia.comwomen at the cross, who stayed with Jesus at the cross, Mary at the cross, ministry of presence, how to support a grieving friend, faithful presence, quiet discipleship, just being there for someone, the women who followed Jesus, faithful in the dark seasons, ministry of showing up, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 8: When God Interrupts Your Life — The Simon of Cyrene Moment You Didn't Sign Up For | The Activated DiscipleHave you ever had your life interrupted by something you did not sign up for? On Day 8 of The Activated Disciple, we step out of Pilate's courtroom and onto the road to Calvary — where a man named Simon of Cyrene was just trying to get to the city for Passover when Roman soldiers grabbed him out of the crowd and forced him to carry a cross that was not his. He did not volunteer. He did not raise his hand. He was conscripted. And in that one unexpected moment, he was written into the most sacred story in human history. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer in the middle of an interruption right now — the unexpected diagnosis, the surprise caregiving role, the calling you did not ask for, the responsibility that landed on your shoulders without warning. We will uncover the Greek word aggareuō (ἀγγαρεύω) — "to compel, to press into service" — and discover that what feels like an interruption from God is often an invitation. We will also meet Simon's two sons by name — Alexander and Rufus — and trace why their names appear in Mark's gospel decades after their father carried that cross. If you have been struggling with God's timing, processing an unexpected season, or wondering why God allowed something you did not choose into your life — this episode will reframe everything.Scripture: Mark 15:21 (supporting: Romans 16:13) Ancient Word: aggareuō (ἀγγαρεύω) — to compel, to press into service, to conscript who was Simon of Cyrene, Simon carried the cross, when God interrupts your life, unexpected calling, why does God allow hard seasons, Alexander and Rufus, carrying the cross meaning, divine interruption, surprise caregiving, surrender to God's plan, what feels like an interruption is an invitation, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 7: The Most Misunderstood Man in the Bible — What Barabbas Teaches Us About Substitutionary Grace | The Activated DiscipleHave you ever felt like you were too far gone for grace? On Day 7 of The Activated Disciple, we walk back into Pilate's courtroom — but today, we are not watching Pilate. We are watching the man who walked out free while Jesus was condemned. Barabbas. A convicted murderer. An insurrectionist. A man who, by every legal standard of his day, deserved the cross. And in one of the most stunning moments in all of Scripture, Jesus took his place — literally. The innocent Son for the guilty rebel. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer who has ever felt disqualified by their past. Every person carrying a record they cannot erase. Every soul who has wondered how God could possibly use someone with their history. We will uncover the meaning of the name Barabbas — Bar-Abbas, "son of the father" — and discover the breathtaking truth that the Son of the Father literally died in the place of "the son of the father." If you have been struggling to accept God's grace, wrestling with shame from your past, or feeling like the gospel is for everyone except you — this episode is going to set you free in a way you have never been set free before. The story of Barabbas is the story of every Christian. And it is the story of you.Scripture: Matthew 27:15–26 (focus: vv. 20–21, 26) Ancient Word: Bar-Abbas (Aramaic) — "son of the father"who was Barabbas, Barabbas meaning, son of the father, substitutionary atonement, Jesus took my place, disqualified by my past, God's grace for the unworthy, Christian shame, undeserved grace, gospel exchange, what Barabbas symbolizes, scandalous grace, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 6: When Staying Neutral Is Choosing a Side — Why Pilate Couldn't Wash His Hands Clean | The Activated DiscipleHave you ever known exactly what was right — and stayed quiet anyway? On Day 6 of The Activated Disciple, we walk out of the Garden of Gethsemane and into the most famous courtroom in history. Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, and Pilate is stuck. He knows Jesus is innocent. He knows the crowd is wrong. And instead of using his power to do what is right, he calls for a bowl of water and tries to wash his hands of the whole thing. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for every believer who has ever "kept the peace" when God was calling them to speak. Every leader who has stayed silent to protect their reputation. Every parent, spouse, employee, or friend who has felt the quiet pull to say something true and told themselves it was not their place. We will uncover the Greek word aponiptō (ἀπονίπτω) — "to wash away from oneself" — and connect it back to a little-known passage in Deuteronomy 21 that exposes exactly why Pilate's ritual did not work. If you have been wondering when to speak up as a Christian, struggling with moral courage, or feeling convicted about a situation where you stayed silent — this episode is going to hand you back your voice.Scripture: Matthew 27:22–26 (supporting: Deuteronomy 21:6–9) Ancient Word: aponiptō (ἀπονίπτω) — to wash away from oneself check out more at https://holyshiftmedia.comwhen to speak up as a Christian, staying neutral, moral cowardice, moral courage, silence is complicity, Pilate washed his hands meaning, Pilate trial of Jesus, Christian courage, speaking truth in love, when silence is sin, why Pilate washed his hands, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 5: When You're Too Tired to Show Up for God — The Sleeping Disciples and How to Stay Spiritually Awake | The Activated DiscipleHave you ever wanted to show up for God — and just could not find the energy? On Day 5 of The Activated Disciple, we step into the Garden of Gethsemane with Peter, James, and John — three disciples who loved Jesus, meant every word of their devotion, and still fell asleep when He needed them most. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for the exhausted mom, the burnt-out pastor, the bone-tired believer, the one who wants to pray but keeps falling asleep in the middle of it. For anyone who has ever felt like a spiritual failure because their body couldn't keep up with their heart. We'll sit with Jesus' most misunderstood line — "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" — and discover the Greek word grēgoreō (γρηγορέω), which doesn't mean "don't fall asleep." It means something far more compassionate — and something every exhausted believer needs to hear. If you've been battling Christian burnout, ministry exhaustion, or just a season where you cannot seem to keep your eyes open spiritually, this episode is going to be the rest your soul has been asking for.Scripture: Matthew 26:36–41 Ancient Word: grēgoreō (γρηγορέω) — to be spiritually awake, watchful, soul-alert Series: The Activated Disciple (Day 5 of 16) Check out more at https://holyshiftmedia.comtoo tired to pray, Christian burnout, spiritual exhaustion, sleeping disciples Gethsemane, spirit is willing flesh is weak, ministry burnout, exhausted Christian mom, falling asleep during prayer, how to stay spiritually awake, watch and pray, rest for the weary, tired believer, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 4: When Trying to Help God Hurts People — The Peter with the Sword Moment | The Activated DiscipleHave you ever tried to help God and ended up hurting the very people He sent you to love? On Day 4 of The Activated Disciple, we walk out of the Upper Room and into the Garden of Gethsemane — and we watch one of Jesus' most passionate disciples absolutely blow it. Peter pulls out his sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant. His motive? Pure. He loved Jesus. He wanted to protect Him. But his method? Disastrous. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for anyone who has ever been the impulsive fixer, the controller, the protector who takes matters into their own hands when God says wait. For every leader, every mom, every spouse, every believer who has ever swung a sword of words, reactions, or decisions trying to defend something holy — this one is for you. We'll uncover the Greek word machaira (μάχαιρα) and discover why the sword Peter used was the wrong one — and why the true weapon of the believer is never in your hand. If you have been trying to control what only God can handle, trying to fight spiritual battles with your own strength, or wondering how to let God fight your battles for you — this episode will put the sword down.Scripture: John 18:10–11 (supporting: Luke 22:51) Ancient Word: machaira (μάχαιρα) — short sword, dagger; also the word used for the "sword of the Spirit"https://holyshiftmedia.comtrying to help God, taking matters into your own hands, letting God fight your battles, trust God not yourself, how to stop being impulsive, Peter cuts off ear, Garden of Gethsemane devotional, Malchus, surrender control to God, stop controlling everything, faith over fear, sword of the Spirit, Christian daily devotional podcast, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 3: How to Lean Into Jesus — The Beloved Disciple's Secret to Intimacy with God | The Activated DiscipleHow do you find real intimacy with Jesus when you feel distant from God? On Day 3 of The Activated Disciple, we step into the Last Supper and watch one man — John, the disciple Jesus loved — do something none of the others at that table did. He leaned in. While the other disciples argued about who was the greatest, while Peter panicked about the betrayer, while the whole room spun in tension — John rested his head on Jesus' chest. This Christian daily devotional podcast episode is for anyone who has been feeling far from God, struggling with closeness in their prayer life, or wondering how to go deeper with Jesus in everyday life. We uncover the Greek word kolpos (κόλπος) — the same word used in John 1:18 to describe Jesus' closeness with the Father — and discover that the intimacy the Son has with the Father is the exact intimacy Jesus is inviting YOU into. We'll unpack how to cultivate closeness with Jesus, what the "lean in" posture looks like in real life, and why most of us feel distance from God not because He moved — but because we only come close when we need something.Scripture: John 13:21–25 Ancient Word: kolpos (κόλπος) — bosom, chest, the inner place closest to the heart Series: The Activated Disciple (Day 3 of 16) Be the first to get our new weekly Wednesday devotional in your inbox https://holyshiftmedia.com intimacy with Jesus, disciple Jesus loved, how to be close to God, feeling distant from God, beloved disciple, Christian daily devotional podcast, Last Supper devotional, Holy Shift Devotionals, closeness with God, prayer intimacy, Desiree Day podcast, Activated Disciple series

Day 2: The Setting the Table HeartHave you ever served faithfully — cleaned up the mess, prepared the room, done the invisible work — and watched someone else get the credit? Today on Day 2 of The Activated Disciple, we walk into the Upper Room, but not for the meal itself. Not yet. Today we're looking at the people who made the meal possible. The unnamed man carrying the water jar. The homeowner who opened his guest room. The two disciples sent ahead to prepare the table before the most important supper in history. This episode is for every listener who has felt invisible in their service — at home, at work, in ministry, in their marriage. Because in the economy of heaven, the ones who set the table carry the same weight as the ones who break the bread. We'll also uncover a Greek word — kataluma — that threads Jesus' final meal all the way back to the manger, and reveals why the room you prepare for God is never wasted.Scripture: Luke 22:7–13 Ancient Word: kataluma (κατάλυμα) — guest room Series: The Activated Disciple (Day 2 of 16) Run time: Under 9 minutesCheck out Our Holy Shift Devotional series and other books published by Holy Shift Mediahttps://holyshiftmedia.comIf you have a book on your heart book a FREE 30 Min discovery call at:https://holyshiftmedia.com/services

The Activated Disciple (16 Days): What if the people standing around Jesus during His final days weren't just historical figures — but mirrors of who you are right now? The Activated Disciple is a 16-day journey from the Upper Room to the Beach, exploring the demeanor of every person in the crowd — the ones who served quietly, the one who grabbed a sword, the one who washed his hands, the one who stood at the foot of the cross, and the one who went back to his old life because he thought he was disqualified. This series will challenge you to ask: which character am I carrying today — and what does activation look like from here? New episodes daily April 22 through May 7.Hit that SUBSCRIBE Button so you don't miss an episode !Share this series with a friend!Day 1: Which One Are You? Before we walk from the Upper Room to the Beach, we have to answer one question: which disciple are you today? Not which one you want to be. Which one you're actually living as — right now, at home, at work, in the silence. Today we introduce The Activated Disciple and the promise that holds this entire series together: no matter which character you're inhabiting, the fire on the beach was built for you.Scripture: Mark 16:7, John 21:9 Series: The Activated Disciple (Day 1 of 16)check out more of what Holy Shift Media is doing and join our mailing list for a weekly devotional to your inbox:https://holyshiftmedia.com

DAY 28: The Ten Truths (SERIES FINALE)Some truths can only be learned the hard way. Ryan Hunter paid for these with years of struggle, health consequences, and broken relationships. But today, he's handing them to you for free — and one of them might be the most important thing you hear all month.In our series finale of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," Ryan shares ten truths from his transformation journey. These aren't theories or inspirational quotes. They're battle scars turned into signposts for whoever comes next.The Ten Truths:Change begins with brutal honesty.Small decisions build extraordinary lives.Discipline is a form of self-respect.Your body wants to heal.Suffering can be a teacher.Faith makes the impossible feel possible.Structure creates freedom.Everyone is fighting invisible battles.Your past does not own your future.It is never too late to begin again.But we don't just list them and move on. We go deep on that tenth truth — because some of you need to hear it more than anything else we've said in twenty-eight days. Ryan believed he was simply "a fat person." He believed change happened for other people, not for him. Most dangerous of all, he believed it was too late. But he began rebuilding his life in his forties. And that transformation proved what he wishes he'd understood years earlier: the past explains you — it does not own you.Host Desiree Day closes the series with honesty: "I don't struggle with food the way Ryan does. My chains were different — weed, not weight. But here's what I've learned: the chains don't matter as much as the freedom. The substance doesn't matter as much as the surrender. Whether you're fighting food, weed, alcohol, anger, or something else entirely — the path to freedom runs through the same places."Your story is not finished. You may simply be standing at the chapter where everything changes. This — right here, right now — could be that chapter. The pen is still in God's hand.Thank you for walking this journey with us. Now go write your new chapter.Scripture focus: Proverbs 4:7 and Joel 2:25📖 Get the book & 📝 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list ten truths transformation, series finale, Proverbs 4:7, Joel 2:25, never too late, your story is not finished, Christian transformation, addiction recovery, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day, Ryan Hunter, chapter where everything changes, wisdom hard way, past doesn't own future, begin again, 28 day series

DAY 27: Your Body Wants to HealWhat if your body has been waiting for you this whole time? What if it's been fighting for you even while you were fighting against it?In Day 27 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we're discovering the partnership that makes transformation possible — the one between you and your own body. Because your body wants to heal. It just needs you to stop punishing it and start working with it.Ryan Hunter shares the profound shift that changed his transformation: "The moment I began treating my body with respect, it responded. I didn't know inflammation could steal hope. I didn't know exhaustion could mimic despair. I didn't know energy could feel like grace. But God was rebuilding me from the inside outward."By the time Ryan reached 155 pounds, something deeper had changed: "For the first time in my life, I looked in the mirror and did not feel ugly. I felt respect. Respect for the work. Respect for the discipline. Respect for the man I had become. I was no longer the man praying for an ending. I was a man finally praying for a beginning."Host Desiree Day connects this to her experience with weed: "I had a fog struggle. When I was smoking daily, I didn't realize how much clarity I was losing. I thought the haze was normal. But when I finally quit — when I stopped flooding my system with something it had to constantly process — my mind came back to me. That's what partnership looks like."Your body is not your enemy. It never was. It's been waiting for you to become its ally.Scripture focus: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful." — Psalm 139:14📖 Get the book & 📝 FREE Chapter 1: https://holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list (link in bio)body wants to heal, Psalm 139, fearfully wonderfully made, body partnership, Christian body image, inflammation hope, exhaustion despair, Holy Shift Devotionals, Ryan Hunter, Desiree Day, transformation inside out, respecting your body

DAY 26: The Freedom Most People Never Think AboutWhat does freedom actually look like? For most people, it's something they never think about — because they've never lost it. But when you've lived without basic freedoms, their return feels like a miracle.In Day 26 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we're pausing to celebrate the small victories that prove the work was worth it. Because transformation isn't just about reaching a goal — it's about reclaiming freedoms you didn't even know you'd lost.For Ryan Hunter, freedom looks different than most people imagine: "Freedom to tie my shoes. Freedom to sit in any chair without thinking about it. Freedom to walk long distances. Freedom to climb stairs. Freedom to fit comfortably in an airplane seat. Freedom to hike a trail and enjoy the experience instead of just surviving it. These are things most people never think about. But when you have lived without them, their return feels like a miracle."Host Desiree Day shares what freedom meant for her after years of weed addiction: "Freedom was waking up with a clear head for the first time in years. Not reaching for something to take the edge off before I even started my day. Being fully present with my kids instead of half-numb and checked out. These aren't dramatic transformations that make for good Instagram posts. They're quiet freedoms that only you notice. But they're everything."This episode is a reminder that slavery doesn't usually look like chains. It looks like the small things you can't do anymore. The moments you're not fully present for. And freedom? Freedom is getting those moments back. One by one.Scripture focus: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." — Galatians 5:1📖 Get the book & 📝 FREE Chapter 1: https://holyshiftmedia.com✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing listfreedom from addiction, Galatians 5:1, small victories transformation, Christian freedom, weight loss freedom, addiction recovery wins, Holy Shift Devotionals, Ryan Hunter, Desiree Day, celebrating progress, quiet freedoms, the work is worth it

DAY 25: Stumbling Without CollapsingWe love stories about people who "never gave up." But we rarely tell the full truth: they failed constantly. Edison. Rowling. Disney. Jordan. The difference isn't that they never fell — it's that they fell without deciding it meant something permanent about who they were.In Day 25 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we're learning the mindset that separates those who transform from those who quit: resilience without self-hatred. The ability to stumble like a human without collapsing like a quitter.Ryan Hunter shares the insight that changed everything: "One bad day cannot erase two good days. Progress always belongs to the person who refuses to quit. Faith reminds you that your worth is not tied to today's scale number. That mistakes are not final. That tomorrow exists."Host Desiree Day opens up about her own struggle with this pattern during her weed addiction: "Every time I slipped back into smoking, I'd beat myself up. Call myself weak. Tell myself I'd never change. And then, because I already felt like garbage, I'd keep smoking. Because why not? I was already a failure, right? But here's what I eventually learned: the stumble isn't the problem. The collapse is."This episode reframes failure as part of the journey rather than proof of permanent brokenness. Grace doesn't mean drifting — it means correcting course without shame. It means repentance instead of self-condemnation. It means standing back up immediately instead of waiting for some imaginary perfect restart.Scripture focus: "Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light." — Micah 7:8📖 Get the book &📝 FREE Chapter 1: https://holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list stumbling without collapsing, resilience Christian, Micah 7:8, Edison Rowling Disney Jordan, failing without quitting, self-hatred recovery, Holy Shift Devotionals, Ryan Hunter, Desiree Day, transformation mindset, grace after failure, faith and persistence

DAY 24: When the Scale LiesWhat if the number you've been obsessing over is lying to you? What if that sudden jump has nothing to do with fat and everything to do with water, stress, or digestion?In Day 24 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we're dismantling the tyranny of the scale — and every other metric we've used to condemn ourselves. Because fear thrives in ignorance, and knowledge sets you free.Here's the truth most people don't understand: most sudden scale increases are water, glycogen, salt, inflammation, stress, or digestion — not actual fat. Fat gain is slow. It takes roughly 3,500 excess calories to gain one pound of fat. That's not one bad meal — that's sustained overeating over time. When you understand this, panic loses its grip. The number becomes information instead of verdict. Data instead of judgment.Ryan Hunter shares how he stopped moralizing mistakes: "Food stopped being a referendum on my worth. A bad day stopped being proof that I was doomed. Progress stopped being fragile. Grace is not denial. Grace is perspective."Host Desiree Day connects this principle beyond weight: "With weed, it wasn't a number — it was a moment. One slip, and suddenly I was back to telling myself the old story: 'See? You can't change.' That's what Ryan calls moralizing mistakes. Attaching meaning to failure instead of just correcting course."This episode is for anyone who has let a single data point — a scale reading, a slip, a bad day — define their worth. The truth will set you free. It's time to learn it.Scripture focus: "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." — John 8:32📖 Get the book &📝 FREE Chapter 1: https://holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list scale lies, weight fluctuation truth, John 8:32, fear vs knowledge, stop moralizing mistakes, Christian transformation, data not judgment, Holy Shift Devotionals, Ryan Hunter, Desiree Day, body image faith, tracking without obsession, grace is perspective

DAY 23: The Next Moment RuleWhat if recovery wasn't about never falling — but about how quickly you get back up? What if the difference between people who transform and people who quit isn't strength — it's response?In Day 23 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we're learning the simplest rule that changes everything: correct the next moment. Not Monday. Not next month. The very next moment.Ryan Hunter still has bad days. The cravings still show up. The old instincts still wake up when stress hits. But here's what changed: his response. He doesn't panic. He doesn't spiral. He doesn't punish himself or turn one bad moment into a week-long collapse. He returns to the plan calmly, deliberately, and without shame. That ability to recover emotionally without quitting matters more than any nutrition strategy you'll ever follow.Host Desiree Day connects this to her own journey with weed addiction: "That 'already ruined it' lie kept me stuck for years. I thought recovery meant never falling. I thought one bad choice erased all the good ones. But Ryan's rule cuts through all of that: correct the next moment. The joint you just smoked doesn't decide the rest of your day. You can pivot in real time."This episode destroys the "start over Monday" mentality that keeps millions trapped in cycles of failure and shame. The righteous fall seven times and rise again. The difference isn't that they never fall — it's that they get back up immediately, without waiting for some magical future date.Scripture focus: "For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again." — Proverbs 24:16📖 Get the book & 📝 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list next moment rule, recovery mindset, Proverbs 24, falling and rising, Christian recovery, immediate course correction, stop waiting for Monday, addiction recovery, Holy Shift Devotionals, resilience, Ryan Hunter, Desiree Day, transformation mindset, grace after failure

DAY 22: Staying HumanWhat if the reason you keep failing isn't weakness — it's perfectionism? What if expecting flawless performance from a nervous system that's been under siege for decades is the cruelest thing you could do to yourself?In Day 22 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we're tackling one of the most important lessons of transformation: the difference between grace and permission. Because staying human is the whole game.Ryan Hunter spent most of his life living in extremes. All in or all out. Perfect or ruined. One bad day meant the whole week was lost. One slip meant starting over on Monday. But this time, something shifted. He learned to give himself grace without giving himself permission to burn everything down. That balance — discipline AND mercy, structure AND forgiveness — became the foundation of lasting change.Host Desiree Day shares her own experience with this pattern from her years of weed addiction: "Addiction doesn't care what substance it's attached to. The patterns are the same. The all-or-nothing thinking. The way one slip feels like total failure. What set me free wasn't perfection. It was learning to stumble without collapsing."This episode is for anyone who has ever expected perfection from themselves and collapsed under the weight of that impossible standard. You don't have to be perfect to be transformed. You have to be human. And humans stumble. The question isn't whether you'll fall — it's whether you'll get back up.Week 4 begins now. Welcome to Transformation.Scripture focus: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." — 2 Corinthians 12:9📖 Get the book and 📝 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list grace and transformation, perfectionism recovery, Christian grace, staying human, addiction recovery, 2 Corinthians 12, all or nothing thinking, stumbling without collapsing, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day, Ryan Hunter, faith and discipline, Week 4 transformation, self-compassion Christian

DAY 21: The Complete ToolboxNo single tool saved Ryan — the toolbox saved him. Faith without action stalls. Action without faith burns out. Medicine without discipline becomes another quick fix. You need all of it working together. Today we put it all together: prayer, food, movement, medicine, structure, and grace. God gave us every tool in the box.📖 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join Our Mailing List on the website or email us at [email protected]: Ecclesiastes 10:10

DAY 20: Predictability as RecoveryFor addicts, choice is risk. Ryan simplified everything — same breakfast, same approach to meals. Not because he lacked creativity, but because he needed protection. When food becomes predictable, it loses its power. Structure creates freedom. Today we learn that boring might be exactly what saves you.📖 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our Mailing ListScripture: 1 Corinthians 14:40

DAY 19: Moving in PrivateRyan dreaded exercise more than anything. At 360+ pounds, the gym felt like exposure. So he made a radical decision: work out at home. In private. YouTube videos for obese and elderly people. Chair exercises. Wall push-ups. Movements that met his body where it actually was. Today: you don’t need a gym. You need permission to start badly.📖 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: join our mailing listScripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9

DAY 18: Single-Ingredient TruthThese days, food doesn’t feel dramatic for Ryan. No negotiation. No guilt. Just eating in a way that doesn’t fight him. The secret? Single-ingredient food. When food has one ingredient, it doesn’t deceive you. No marketing spin. No hidden sugars. Just truth. Today we discover that simple food isn’t boring — it’s freedom.📖 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing listScripture: Psalm 23:2-3

DAY 17: A Clean SlateJanuary 1, 2025. Ryan threw away every food that didn’t match his plan. No ceremony. No “one last time.” Just trash bags and finality. The medication quieted the noise, but he didn’t want to be “fixed” again — he wanted to be transformed. And transformation required his participation. Today: remove what’s harming you before adding what’s healing.📖 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com✉️ Weekly devotionals: join our mailing listScripture: Lamentations 3:22-23

DAY 16 When the Fight Becomes FairScripture: Luke 5:31What if you've been losing a rigged fight? Ryan describes hunger that never stopped screaming — pressure that didn't respond to logic, shame, or prayer. When GLP-1 medication entered his life, it did one thing: made hunger honest. And honest hunger, he could manage. Today we dismantle the shame around medical tools. Sick people need doctors. Jesus said that.📖 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: link in bio

DAY 15: It Starts With a StepWhat if the first step toward transformation didn’t feel brave at all? Ryan was 15 when he first tried medication — and lost 150 pounds. But nothing underneath changed. When the pill disappeared, the weight returned like it knew where it belonged. That’s why this time had to be different. Today we learn: first steps don’t need to be heroic. They need to be honest.📖 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: join our mailing listScripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16

E166: DAY 14 I Will Not Die Like This | The Day I DecidedThere’s a moment when everything shifts — not because circumstances changed, but because you made a decision. A declaration. A line in the sand. In Day 14 of “The Day I Decided Not to Die,” we close Week 2 with the spiritual decision that changes everything.“I will not die like this.” That sentence became the foundation of Ryan’s transformation. Today, it’s your turn to make the same declaration.Scripture focus: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life.” — Deuteronomy 30:19📖 Get the book and 📝 FREE Chapter 1: https://holyshiftmedia.com✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list (link in bio)choose life, Deuteronomy 30, life and death, spiritual decision, declaration of faith, turning point, I will live, transformation moment, Holy Shift Devotionals, Ryan Hunter, Christian decision, life-changing choice, Week 2 finale

What if you don’t need more faith — just enough to take the next step? In Day 13 of “The Day I Decided Not to Die,” we celebrate small beginnings. Mustard seed faith moves mountains. Your tiny, fragile, barely-hanging-on faith? It’s enough.Ryan’s faith felt small when he started talking to God again. Desperate. Uncertain. But that mustard seed was the beginning of everything. Today we embrace small faith in motion.Scripture focus: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” — Matthew 17:20📖 Get the book: holyshiftmedia.com/thedayidecided 📝 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list (link in bio)mustard seed faith, Matthew 17, small beginnings, faith journey, starting small, Christian encouragement, mountain moving faith, Holy Shift Devotionals, hope for beginners, weak faith, Ryan Hunter, just start

What if faith was never meant to make things easy — just possible? In Day 12 of “The Day I Decided Not to Die,” we dismantle the myth that real faith means effortless change. God gives tools, not magic. He gives power, not shortcuts.Ryan’s transformation required work — daily choices, practical tools, real discipline. Faith didn’t remove the effort; it made the effort meaningful. Today we explore faith in action.Scripture focus: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” — James 2:17📖 Get the book & 📝 FREE Chapter 1 @ holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list faith and works, James 2, faith in action, Christian discipline, practical faith, faith without works, hard work faith, transformation effort, Holy Shift Devotionals, God gives tools, Ryan Hunter, Christian living

God rarely shouts. He whispers. And if your life is full of noise — cravings, shame, constant negotiation with yourself — you’ll miss it every time. In Day 11 of “The Day I Decided Not to Die,” we learn how to get quiet enough to hear the voice that changes everything.Ryan heard God’s whisper only when the noise finally stopped. Today we explore the discipline of silence and the reward of hearing God speak.Scripture focus: “After the fire came a gentle whisper.” — 1 Kings 19:12📖 Get the book & 📝 FREE Chapter 1: https://holyshiftmedia.com✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list hearing God, still small voice, 1 Kings 19, silence and prayer, listening to God, Christian meditation, quiet time, God whispers, Elijah, Holy Shift Devotionals, spiritual discipline, discernment, Ryan Hunter

What if your body has been fighting FOR you this whole time — and you’ve been fighting against it? In Day 10 of “The Day I Decided Not to Die,” we transform how you see yourself. Your body is not your enemy. It’s a temple waiting for you to become its ally.Ryan spent years punishing his body for “betraying” him. This episode reveals the truth: his body was trying to survive despite everything. Stewardship begins with respect.Scripture focus: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20📖 Get the book & 📝 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals to your inbox: Join our mailing list body as temple, Christian body image, 1 Corinthians 6, self-care Christian, body positivity faith, stewardship, temple of Holy Spirit, body shame healing, Holy Shift Devotionals, health and faith, Christian wellness, Ryan Hunter

What if the prayer that changes your life doesn't sound spiritual at all? In Day 9 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we discover the power of honest prayer — the messy, broken, barely-coherent kind that actually moves mountains.Ryan's transformation didn't begin with eloquent words. It began with raw honesty: "God, help me stop destroying myself." Today we learn why God isn't waiting for eloquence — He's waiting for truth.Scripture focus: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:18📖 Get the book: holyshiftmedia.com/thedayidecided 📝 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list (link in bio)honest prayer, how to pray, Psalm 34, brokenhearted, Christian prayer, prayer that works, raw prayer, talking to God, crushed in spirit, Holy Shift Devotionals, faith and healing, spiritual breakthrough, Ryan Hunter testimony

There's a difference between believing God exists and actually depending on Him. One is theology. The other is survival. In Day 8 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we explore what happens when belief becomes dependence — when you finally run out of your own strength and lean fully into God.Ryan Hunter spent years believing in God while still trying to save himself. This episode marks the shift from passive faith to active dependence. Week 2 begins with the foundation that holds everything together.Scripture focus: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" — Romans 8:31📖 Get the book: holyshiftmedia.com/thedayidecided 📝 FREE Chapter 1: holyshiftmedia.com ✉️ Weekly devotionals: Join our mailing list Christian faith, depending on God, Romans 8, faith journey, trusting God, Christian transformation, spiritual foundation, belief vs dependence, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day, Ryan Hunter, faith and addiction, Christian recovery, God is for us, surrender to God

DAY 7: No One Is Coming to Save YouWhat if "no one is coming to save you" isn't a cruel verdict — but an invitation to finally take your life back? In Day 7 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we close Week 1 with the hardest truth that leads to the greatest freedom: responsibility changes everything.Ryan Hunter shares the night he stopped waiting for rescue and started taking ownership — and how that decision became the foundation of his transformation.Scripture focus: "For each one should carry their own load." — Galatians 6:5📖 Book & 📝 Free Chapter 1 Download: https://holyshiftmedia.comTOMORROW:Day 8: With God On My Side — Week 2 begins with The Faith Foundation.personal responsibility, taking ownership, no excuses, Christian accountability, Galatians 6, stop waiting, take action faith, transformation mindset, weight loss motivation, Holy Shift Devotionals, change your life, Ryan Hunter testimony

What if every diet you failed wasn't a failure of character — but a failure of strategy? In Day 6 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we dismantle the myth that destroyed millions of people: the belief that willpower alone should be enough.Ryan Hunter shares why he stopped relying on discipline alone and started combining faith with medicine, surrender with strategy. God's power is made perfect in weakness — not in pretending you're strong enough to do this alone.You weren't bringing enough willpower to the fight — you were bringing a knife to a gunfight. Today we dismantle the myth and explore why transformation requires more than discipline alone.The limits of white-knucklingWhy weakness is the qualifier, not the disqualifierCombining faith with medicine, surrender with strategy2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."List every strategy you've tried that relied on willpower alone. Write: "Willpower is a tool, not the toolbox. What else do I need?"📖 📝 Book & Free Chapter 1 Download: https://holyshifmedia.comTomorrow Day 7: No One Is Coming to Save You — The hardest truth that leads to freedom.willpower myth, why diets fail, Christian weight loss, grace in weakness, 2 Corinthians 12, strength in weakness, diet failure, obesity help, Christian health, Holy Shift Devotionals, transformation tools, faith and medicine

DAY 5: The Addiction Beneath EverythingWhat if your addiction isn't a character flaw — but a brain chemistry problem? In Day 5 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we pull back the curtain on the science of addiction. Ryan Hunter explains how dopamine dysregulation affects food the same way it affects drugs — and why understanding your biology is the first step to defeating it.This episode bridges faith and science, showing that understanding the enemy isn't an excuse — it's how you finally win.Scripture focus: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." — Romans 7:15📖 Get the book & 📝 Free Chapter 1 reflection guide: https://holyshiftmedia.comaddiction science, dopamine and food, brain chemistry addiction, food addiction science, Christian and science, Romans 7, why willpower fails, addiction recovery Christian, sugar addiction, processed food addiction, Holy Shift Devotionals, understanding addiction

DAY 4: The Label You AcceptedWhat if the label you've been wearing your whole life was never yours to begin with? In Day 4 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we confront the false identities we absorbed when we were too young to know better — the names spoken over us that became the names we answered to.Ryan Hunter shares how childhood labels shaped his adult identity, and how God's Word speaks a different truth over every one of us.Scripture focus: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." — Psalm 139:14📖 Get the book and 📝 Free Chapter 1 & reflection guide: https://holyshiftmedia.comidentity in Christ, overcoming labels, bullying recovery, self-image Christian, fearfully wonderfully made, Christian identity, shame healing, negative self-talk, body shame, name calling healing, who God says I am, Holy Shift Devotionals, Christian self-worth

What if the thing that comforted you was slowly killing you? In Day 3 of "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we examine what happens when survival strategies become sabotage. Ryan Hunter shares how food became his first language of self-destruction — not as rebellion, but as survival.This episode explores the dangerous path that appears right but leads to death, and how to recognize when comfort has become a killer.Scripture focus: "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." — Proverbs 14:12📖 Get the book: https://holyshiftmedia.com 📝 Free Chapter 1comfort eating, food addiction Christian, coping mechanisms, emotional eating faith, self-destruction, harmful habits, breaking bad habits, Christian recovery, comfort vs healing, survival strategies, proverbs, Holy Shift Devotionals, transformation journey

What if your rock bottom didn't start at your heaviest weight — but in a drive-thru window when you were seven years old? In Day 2 of our "The Day I Decided Not to Die" series, Ryan Hunter takes us back to where it all began: childhood wounds, absent fathers, and the coping mechanisms that saved him then but nearly destroyed him later.Today's episode excavates the roots. Because you can't heal what you won't reveal — and transformation requires understanding where the patterns came from.Scripture focus: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." — Psalm 147:3📖 Get the book & 📝 Free Chapter 1 download: https://holyshiftmedia.comchildhood trauma healing, Christian therapy, emotional eating, father wound, healing from past, food as comfort, Christian counseling, inner child healing, family dysfunction, addiction roots, obesity causes, childhood wounds, brokenhearted, Holy Shift Devotionals, faith healing

What happens when a man who prayed every night not to wake up finally hears an answer? In this premiere episode of our 30-day series based on Ryan Hunter's book "The Day I Decided Not to Die," we explore the moment desperation became surrender. Ryan shares the night God whispered back — not with the answer he was asking for, but with something far more dangerous: hope.Whether you're battling food addiction, substances, shame, or simply the weight of feeling stuck, this journey is for you. Join us as we walk through one man's fight to live when he had already decided to die.Based on the book "The Day I Decided Not to Die: One Man's Story of Addiction, Obesity, Faith and the Fight to Live" by Ryan Hunter, published by Holy Shift Media LLC.📖 Get the book: https://holyshiftmedia.com 📝 Free Chapter 1 + reflection: holyshiftmedia.comChristian podcast, faith and addiction, weight loss testimony, obesity recovery, food addiction, Christian transformation, hope in darkness, prayer, surrender to God, Ryan Hunter, Holy Shift Devotionals, Desiree Day, faith journey, overcoming addiction, Christian men, body image, mental health faith