JesusSmartX

When a situation hits, most of us go straight to our heads — cycling, analyzing, worrying. But the Kingdom move is a vantage point shift: get out of your head and lock into God's heart.In this Jesus Smart 180, Brian Del Turco unpacks two connected disciplines... seeking God's perspective on your situations and refusing to be impressed by anything sourced in the inferior world of the Adversary. Discernment is a deliberate choice about what framing shapes your inner world.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/370👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: The Vantage Point Shift: Out of Your Head, Into His HeartHey, welcome back. I'm Brian Del Turco. This is Jesus Smart 180 — our short-form format, 180 seconds, one turnaround. We have one of these each week alongside the full-length episode. Look for both in the feed.Out of Your Head, Into His HeartTwo words for you today: situations and impressions. They're more connected than you might think.Here's where most of us live when something hits. I know I do. Turning it over, analyzing it. A situation arises and we go internal, cycling through worst cases, best cases, our own read on what's happening and why.But that's not the move for those who are developing in Christ. The move is to get out of your head and seek God's heart on it. Not your assessment of the situation. His. Not what it looks like from where you're standing, but what it looks like from where he's standing. Those are two very different vantage points.And here's the key: don't just seek his heart on it. Lock into it. There's a difference between a passing glance at what God might be saying and actually positioning yourself in his perspective. Staying there. Abiding. Praying from there, acting from there, making your moves from there. That's what it means to lock in.Refuse the Inferior, Receive What's Really RealNow here's where impressions come in. And this is where it gets sharp.We live in a world constantly competing for what impresses us, what grabs our attention, what shapes our perception of what's real, what's powerful, what's threatening. And a lot of what's vying for that territory is sourced in what I'd call, from a scriptural worldview, the inferior world of the adversary.Inferior not because it isn't loud. But because it has no ultimate authority. It is not ultimate reality. It's a counterfeit kingdom pressing for your impressions.So we have to refuse it. Refuse to be impressed by it. You're not pretending the situation isn't real. You're refusing to let the enemy's framing of it be the one that sticks.Instead, let God impress upon you who he is ... his magnitude, his sovereignty, his active engagement in your situation right now. Let his designs, his purposes, his advanced plans be what shapes your inner world. Get on the front of the wave. Get over the horizon. Seek his heart.Lock in. Refuse the inferior. Receive what's really real.Show notes for this episode are at jesussmart.com/370. If this sharpens something for you, pass it on. I'm Brian Del Turco. Let's keep seeking his heart on the matter.Thanks for listening to Jesus Smart 180. Your move. Visit jesussmart.com for show notes and more.

You are not an accident. God didn't improvise your life — he designed it. In this inaugural episode of Jesus Smart 180, a new short-form format in the Jesus Smart X feed, Brian Del Turco unpacks the Greek word 'prothesis' from Romans 8:28. What does it reveal about the deliberate, forward-leaning purpose God has for your lifetime right now?This isn't a comfort verse for passive Christianity. It's a declaration for people on assignment, on point, and on time. 180 seconds. One turnaround.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/369👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Not an Accident: God Has Designs on You!Welcome, friend, to the Jesus Smart X podcast. I'm Brian Del Turco.Starting with this episode, we're adding something new to the podcast feed — a short-form format. We're calling it Jesus Smart 180. Three minutes or Less. Tight, focused, designed to land with something worth carrying with you through the day, through the week. 180 seconds.But also a 180 is a turnaround. Because that's what Jesus brings through Kingdom reality in our lives. Each week you'll still get the full-length episode. Jesus Smart 183 runs alongside it. Same Kingdom DNA, just a different bandwidth.A Word Worth Sitting WithHere's what I'd love for you to sit with for the next couple of minutes: God is filled with purpose. God has designs on you. Yes, the eternal Creator of the universe has designs on you, for your lifetime.Unpacking 'Prothesis'The Greek word for purpose in Romans 8:28 is prothesis. Let's break it down. Pro — before. Thesis — a place. Together it means a setting forth. Your place in this world. It's a deliberate, advanced design. Not improvised, not reactive. Intentional, forward-leaning, already in motion purpose from eternity past.Your salvation didn't happen because God was scrambling. It flowed from his eternal purpose. And that same purpose is already leaning into what comes next.The new heavens and new earth are coming — the full reconciling work of Christ. But in the meantime, he has a wonderful purpose for your lifetime. Right now. Right here. Right where you are in this season.You're Already PositionedYou're not waiting to become useful to God's story. You're already positioned in it. It's simply a matter of awareness and yieldedness. And hearing from Jesus.Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. That's not a comfort verse for passive Christianity. That's a declaration for people who are on assignment, on time, on mission with Jesus.Let's Receive ItSo let's receive it. Let's pray it in.Father God, we thank you for your wonderful purpose. We resolve to live and move and have our being in your Son Jesus Christ. And in your higher design for our lives. We praise you that our lifetime contributes to your great purpose. Amen.Find the show notes at jesussmart.com. And if this landed for you, share it with someone who needs the reminder. They're not an accident. God has designs on them too!

Most Western Christians have a faith that lives almost entirely in the head. Travis Weber — Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at the Family Research Council — argues that's not enough for the hour we're in. In this conversation, Travis shares what the Lord has been showing him about walking in an increasing measure of the Holy Spirit: displacing the enemy, receiving healing, and moving beyond intellectual Christianity into genuine spiritual power.Then the conversation shifts to the geopolitical: Travis attended the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2024, and what he observed should concern every believer. The WHO pandemic agreement, the UN Pact for the Future, and the steady march toward global governance are not distant abstractions — they are a coordinated shift away from national sovereignty and toward centralized, unelected power. This episode equips you to do what the sons of Issachar did: understand the times, pray with authority, and act.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/368👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Full-Spectrum Faith: The Holy Spirit, Global Governance, and the Alert ChurchINTROWelcome to the podcast. This is Jesus Smart X the Podcast. I'm Brian Del Turco, and today I'm joined by Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. There are two vital themes: what it means to walk in the full power of the Holy Spirit as individual Christ followers, and why Christians need to be awake to the global push for governance and the minimizing of national sovereignty. This is Episode 368 — a recast episode. I think you'll enjoy it. Show notes at jesussmart.com/368. Let's go.Brian: We have a great guest on the podcast today — Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., holding a Juris Doctorate and a Master's in Law.Two great themes today. The first is Travis's own recent walk with the Lord and what I've been calling full-spectrum Christianity — full-spectrum Christ following. It is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not just the Father, Son, and Holy Bible. We hold a very high view of Scripture — you can't get any higher — but we have to move beyond doctrinal assent alone. We have to engage the Holy Spirit. We have to track with the first-century Christ followers and their experience of the Spirit as seen in the Book of Acts and Paul's writings.If the American church and the Western church are going to meet this hour, we have to meet it with the power of God. And the second theme: my wife and I attended a conference in early October in D.C. and heard Travis on a panel discussing the push toward global governance through organizations like the World Health Organization and the United Nations. We discuss our call to be aware, engaged in prayer, and willing to act where the Lord leads.For the show notes and to go deeper on today's themes, visit jesussmart.com/368.Brian: Travis, welcome. You're a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served as a Navy pilot, earned your J.D. from Regent University, and a Master's in Law from Georgetown. What was that LLM focus?Travis: Thank you for having me. It's a Master's in Law from Georgetown — mine was in international law with a focus on international human rights law.Brian: And you're increasingly involved in international outreach through FRC as well.Travis: Yes. The family is really under attack globally. The things God established in Genesis 1 and 2 — his prescription for how we are to live — are under assault from the enemy worldwide. Many people are suffering. But it's important to understand that God is good. Suffering is not his doing — it's the result of the fall and the sinful brokenness man has introduced into the world. God is against suffering. He desires healing and hope. That's why he sent Jesus as the redeemer we can turn to and find life.Brian: That reminds me of the chiropractic concept of subluxation — a misaligned vertebra pinching nerve energy from the brain down through the spine. So much of what's wrong in our world is that we are misaligned with God's created order. It crimps his energy and life flowing to us. You're seeing that globally — the assaults on gender, sexuality, marriage.Travis: That's right. Being out of alignment with God's Word has caused enormous suffering. At the very same time we've seen profound technological advancement, the CDC is reporting elevated rates of teen suicide risk. We are technologically advanced yet suffering deeply in our overall well-being. That correlation is telling a story.Brian: Jesus said in John 3 to Nicodemus, "You must be born again" — which implies we're fundamentally born wrong the first time because of the fall in Genesis 3. All of early Genesis seems to be under a coordinated, multifaceted assault — male and female, image of God, family, the creation mandate. Travis, on a personal level — what is the Lord showing you in this season? How is the Holy Spirit leading you?Travis: One area the Lord has been showing me is walking closely with him to welcome his presence. When we welcome his presence — an increased measure of the Holy Spirit — it displaces the enemy and anything opposed to God. We need that presence to deal with physical and mental illness, to deal with demonic forces, to receive the Spirit's fruits of clarity, peace, and joy, and to receive his guidance in our decisions.I did not always walk this way, but the Lord has awakened me to this reality. And when you read Scripture, it's all right there. There is nothing in Scripture that says the power of healing and driving out demons is not for today. You have to read that into the text or construct a theological framework to reach that conclusion. For those of us who claim Scripture as the rule of faith and life, the plain text says the Lord came, healed, cast out demons, and desires us to have that same power through the Holy Spirit.Brian: Would you say there's a difference between the initial indwelling of the Spirit at salvation and an increasing measure of his presence as we grow?Travis: Absolutely — and Scripture addresses this directly. The disciples couldn't cast out a demon, and Jesus said, "This kind only comes out through prayer and fasting." A certain level of power was needed that wasn't being brought to bear. That's clear in the text.Many of us in the West are swimming in the sea of the intellect. We've absorbed information our entire lives — through education, culture, institutions — all of it conducted within that intellectual framework. God created the mind and we absolutely need right information. But intellectual knowledge alone is not enough. We need the Lord's presence and spiritual discernment. Psalm 91:1 — dwelling under his shelter and shadow — is a place of refuge. We will run into serious problems if we try to navigate spiritual forces with the intellect alone.For more on full-spectrum Christianity and Kingdom living, visit jesussmart.com/368.Brian: Paul told the Corinthians: "I did not come with words only, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." That's a challenge. The American praying church does operate in power, but it needs to grow. We need those Kingdom jet streams synchronized with heaven, releasing the power of God even into the geopolitical arena.My wife Penny and I attended the Pray and Vote Summit sponsored by FRC in early October in D.C., and one panel you were on — with Michele Bachmann and Gabe Lyons, led by Tony Perkins — was focused on the push for global governance. You attended the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May of 2024.Travis: Yes. The discussion there was entirely focused on how to increase governmental power to address future health emergencies. Individual rights, religious freedom, the question of whether pandemic measures even accomplished what governments claimed — none of that was on the table. When the entire focus is on control and coordination, you get an outcome skewed entirely in that direction.The fruit of that was borne out in discussions on a pandemic agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations. The IHR amendments were finalized with incremental steps toward increased global coordination. The pandemic agreement wasn't finalized due to disagreements between countries, but work continues. The trajectory is toward global governance, not away from it.Brian:...

A good dose of American Christianity has settled for blessing without the cross, comfort without death, resurrection without crucifixion. But apostolic Christ-following operates on a radically different principle: life comes through death.In this episode, we're exploring what it means to build on the firm foundation of Christ in a world where everyone around you is building on sand. We're talking about pulling down the blueprint God designed for your life over your work, your family, the places your feet touch, and why the cross must precede the life of the resurrection in every area where you want Kingdom breakthrough.This is the daily dynamic of dying to ego, perceived rights, and the small kingdoms we build for ourselves so the life of Jesus can be released through us. It's about living an ascended life where you operate from above rather than scramble from below.If you're tired of half-life Christianity and ready to live out your full potential in Christ, this episode may challenge what you thought following Jesus meant.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/367👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Take Up Your Cross: Apostolic Living in a Sand-Built WorldIntroduction: The Question Before UsHey there, my friend. Welcome to the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco. Here's a question for us: What does it actually mean to follow Jesus in a way that brings heaven's culture into the now, into our everyday life? Not just spiritual theory, but actual Kingdom breakthrough — practically in our work, our family, the places that our feet touch, the things that our hands reach out to and touch. The world is waiting to see a witness of Jesus' Kingdom in a practical way.I'm suggesting that most American Christianity has drifted toward personal life enhancement, comfort, blessing without the cross. But apostolic Christ-following — let's use that word as an adjective, apostolic — apostolic Christ-following, the kind Jesus modeled in His very life and that He calls us into, operates on a radically different principle: Life comes through death.Today we're exploring what it means to build on the firm foundation of Christ Himself, to live out the blueprint that God designed for our life, and why the cross must precede the resurrection in every area where we want to see Kingdom breakthrough.This is actually a recording of an episode, a short episode — it's very tight — that I did a number of years ago actually, and I'm just introing it right now. I did this episode out in the woods. I had a portable digital recorder. I was out with the trees and the sunshine coming through the leaves. So the sound is good — slightly different than a normal recording sound, but it's good, high-quality audio. It was done outside. I think I probably had a piece of paper with some bullet-point notes on it. I must have.This is episode 367. I think we're calling this "The Cross Dynamic: Apostolic Living in a Sand-Built World." Again, I'm Brian Del Turco, and this is the Jesus Smart X podcast.Before we dive in, if you want these Kingdom realities sharpened and applied to the noise of our cultural moment every week, please subscribe to the Smart Edit newsletter at jesussmart.com/smartedit. It's free, it's direct, cuts through the noise, cuts through the fog. I'd love to have you on the list.All right, let's talk about what it means to actually follow an apostolic Jesus.Apostolic Living: Building on the Firm FoundationYeah, in the middle of the trees, the sun breaking through the leaves. And I love the versatility of this kind of recorder to be able to do that.I really believe that the Holy Spirit is restoring and breathing upon apostolic — apostolic as an adjective — breathing upon believers and wanting to restore apostolic Christ-following. Now, what do I mean?Apostolic living under Christ is concerned with building as a master craftsman and pulling down the design from above over your life, over the lives of those you run with, your families, over what you're connected to in your work, what you put your hands to, over companies of believers — the church, the ecclesia. The design is foundational.If you read the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, he would say things like, "I've laid a foundation, and that foundation is Christ." You see, apostolic Christ-following is not me-centered. It's not anthropocentric. It's not man-centered. It's Christocentric. It's Christ as the foundation.And what He says — Jesus talked about the house that is built upon the foundation. If we listen to His words and activate what He says, it is like we build our house upon a firm foundation that can withstand anything. But if we don't, it's as if we're building upon sand.And I've got to tell you, all around you is sand. Most people around you — the overwhelming majority — are building on sand. But you and me, as consecrated Christ-followers, as we quest for that, we build upon the firm foundation of Christ Himself.It's the wisdom of God coming down. It's the strategies from above. It is a blueprint.And I have to mention a friend and, frankly, a mentor — Paul Graham Hubbard. My thoughts today are provoked by his book, The Blueprint of Life. And I think I'll be able to leave a link to this book on the show notes page under Resources. You're going to want to check this out. This is some of the freshest teaching that I know of in this area. It's very inspiring, very challenging, and it is probably unlike anything you have ever heard.Becoming Like Jesus: The Apostolic ContinuumJust by way of introduction: Jesus is an apostle, and He calls us to follow Him. So it makes sense that as we continue on that continuum of following Him, we will become apostolic. We will become like Him.You see, what apostolic does is it brings the culture of heaven into the earth. It brings the culture of the kingdom of God into spaces and places. Wherever your feet go, whatever you put your hand to, whatever you apply your mind to, whatever words you release into settings, and the very lifestyle of your life — it brings more and more of the culture of heaven.You know, we pray that prayer: "On earth as it is in heaven. Father, let Your kingdom come. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Well, it takes an apostolic edge in our lives to do that.This is very challenging to the American expression of Christianity and to Christianity in the West in general. You see, following Christ is not about just personal life enhancement. It's not just the inheritance. It's not just prosperity — although prosperity is included in God's kingdom.The Principle: Life Comes Through DeathFollowing Christ is a quest for death. I mean, Jesus actually said, "Look, if you want to follow Me, you have to take up your cross." If we don't take up our cross as we follow Him, we're really not following Him.If we are born again, if we are saved, and if we do make it into the new heavens and the new earth, we will live half-lives. We won't live our full potential. We won't live out the full destiny, the full story without the cross working in our lives.Here's the principle: Life comes through death.If we want to live in resurrection life, we have to live a cross life. The cross precedes the empty tomb, not vice versa. It doesn't just start out with the empty tomb with no cross. We must take up our cross daily, Jesus said, and follow Him.And every day will present us with numerous opportunities — little daily things that we can die to. Die to our ego. Die to what we perceive as our rights. Die to what we think is our standing. You know how this works — we just die to it. Just lay it down so that the life of Jesus more and more may be released through us.The Ascended Life: Operating From AboveWe certainly won't live an ascended life. You know, the ascension of Christ was even beyond the tomb. So we must go through the cross experience consistently. We must experience the resurrection life, the empty tomb experience consistently, to live an ascension life.You know, Ephesians 2 says that we've been seated with Christ in heavenly places. But that has to become more than just a doctrinal truth that we mentally assent to. That has to become a living, practical dynamic that is outworking in this life. Now it's being demonstrated, and it's a witness to the ascended Christ, you see.So resurrection life manifests in all kinds of ways: healing, release from poverty, release from the bondage of dark powers. Living an ascended life where you're actually the head and not the tail, if you will. You actually transcend situations, and you're no longer under them.An Invitation to the Person of Jesus ChristHere's the deal for this first little mini-episode:...

Most Christians believe Jesus is waiting in heaven to become King. But what if He's been reigning all along? Brian Del Turco unveils Psalm 110—the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament—and reveals why the early church treated it as the master key to understanding Christ's present authority. Discover why Jesus reigning now isn't future hope but current reality, how the apostles saw Christ as King even under Roman persecution, and why "rule in the midst of your enemies" describes our world today. This is a tectonic shift in how you pray, view your calling, and participate in Christ's reign through prayer-born activity. The King isn't waiting. He's already on the throne. Read the full article at jesussmart.com/psalm110.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/366👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.

In extreme times, the Body of Christ can't afford to be passive and polite. Drawing from the latest Smart Edit newsletter, Brian Del Turco explores holy provocation—the biblical call to sharpen one another toward love and good deeds. Discover why speaking truth in love isn't optional, how Millennials and Gen Z are driving a Bible reading resurgence, the power of Micah 7:8's declaration over chaos ("When I fall, I will arise"), and the Japanese principle of Kaizen applied to spiritual growth. This isn't about being comfortable—it's about being sharpened, not softened, to meet this moment. Subscribe to the Smart Edit newsletter at jesussmart.com/smartedit for weekly kingdom insights.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/365👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Sharpened, Not Softened: Meeting This MomentWelcome to the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco, Jesus Smart X, episode 365, and we have something a little different today. I'm pulling from the latest Smart Edit newsletter—a few elements that I produce.And if you're not subscribed yet, I really hope you will be. The Smart Edit exists to spark our development in Christ. It's not just content and ideas to consider, but truth and reality to live in. It's free, it's weekly, five minutes to grow, and you can subscribe at jesussmart.com/smartedit.Before we get to that, I want to mention something remarkable. According to Edison Research's Share of Ear Study, we have hit a historic tipping point. Americans now spend more of their spoken-word listening time with podcasts than with traditional talk radio. Podcasts are at roughly 40% of spoken-word audio time, and it edges out AM/FM talk radio at 39%. That's an inflection point.To give you a point of reference, back in 2015, AM/FM talk radio held 75% of spoken-word listening versus podcasting at only 10%. But by quarter four 2025, it flipped for the first time—39% radio, 40% podcasts. We're living in a podcasting revolution. I'm grateful you're part of it here with Jesus Smart X.If you missed last week's episode, episode 364, "Grease the Groove: Spiritual Strength Training for Extreme Times," go back and catch that. We explored how micro spiritual workouts throughout your day can build resilient, responsive faith and a strong spirit. I'm seeking to employ this protocol in my own days. There's edges that need attention in my life, and I've got to stop thinking that I need huge blocks of time to address this in prayer. This concept of greasing the groove, which comes from athletics, can be applied to anything.Holy Provocation: Sharpened for This TimeAs I mentioned, this episode is a little different. We're pulling from the newsletter, featuring some elements there. Here's the first element: Holy Provocation—Sharpened for This Time.The body of Christ was never really meant to be passive nor polite. Now, kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. There's no doubt about that. But you can be kind, discerning, resolute, and impactful at the same time.There's a couple verses in the New Testament which specifically address this—Hebrews 10:24-25. The kingdom calls us to provoke one another toward love and good deeds that we're meant to walk in. And this New Testament word for "provoke" carries the sense of stirring up, urging somebody on, exciting somebody toward action.Now, here's the question for me, for you: Are we open to being a kingdom provocateur? Or are we just going to ride the pews, be passive, be kind and polite, and not in a godly way agitate for change and transformation which meets this hour?It's not intentional offense, though I'm going to be honest—some may be offended because when they're challenged, what it is is a holy push toward leveling up. Did you happen to see the intensity of the gold medal hockey game, men's hockey game in the Olympics? The United States defeated Canada in overtime. You can be assured that those teammates do not coddle one another to experience that level of winning. They sharpen each other. Excellence was demanded because the winning mission required it.And there are edges in your life, in my life, that we need to win on, that we need to reconcile and bring for the kingdom. Maybe it's getting out of debt so we can be freed up with space and time to help facilitate our kingdom contribution. It could be anything though. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another." There's a proverb which says that faithful are the wounds of a friend.→ Read the enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/365In the Old Testament, Joel the prophet prophesied that there would be a time—and we're in that time now—when God would pour out His Spirit and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Prophecy does more than speak words. It reveals the heart of God. It can reveal the condition of the church, the pulse of society, certainly the condition of our hearts. In a real sense, prophecy, or having a prophetic point of view and having the trust between members in the body of Christ where giftings can be employed—it's getting closer to God's point of view on something. And that's what we want. That's what leads us to more fruitful, successful, impactful prayer and even prayer-born action steps.But too often our—I'm putting it in air quotes now—"Churchianity" tends to default to and drift toward comfort, institutional self-protection, hopefully not, but sometimes leadership ambition which begins to eclipse really what Jesus is building, or fear of disapproval.Paul said in Ephesians 4:15 that we can speak the truth in love, and as we do, we will grow to become in every respect—this is the actual verse in the NIV—we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is Christ.We love the church. Christ is building her. But love does not compromise. Love sacrifices. It calls upward. When did we begin to think that love is love but it's never based in reality or truth? Real love is based in ultimate reality, and it has the highest good in view.Here's what I can't seem to escape, and that's this: the thought that if we're going to meet this hour that we are in, if we're going to be faithful, we're going to have to harden ourselves a little bit and begin to more progressively walk worthy of the calling of Christ together as members of the body of Christ.There's no reason why in a godly way, spouses cannot challenge each other. Friends, members in the church, that tight band of believers that you run with, maybe that project team that you're leading—there's simply no reason. And we just need to become more secure, more about excellence, more about the ambition of Christ Himself, and just not feel that we have to get into some kind of safe space and that we can never be confronted or can never confront or challenge.Your voice matters. Your courage matters. And your willingness to receive challenge from others matters too. So here's the call to action: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where your voice can awaken, encourage, and strengthen others, and where your voice—and my voice, I'm looking in the mirror—where we need to receive right-sizing, correction, or sharpening. It's going to help us. It's going to elevate our kingdom game, if we can put it that way.There's another related Smart Edit newsletter called "The Proximity Effect"—the importance of drawing near to the right people and the effect that they have on you and that you have on them.Signals and ShiftsWe have a section in this most recent newsletter which we call Signals and Shifts. I'll just briefly touch on a few of the points here. An encouraging point is that Millennials and Gen Z are driving a Bible reading comeback. According to Barna, weekly Bible engagement among U.S. adults has rebounded to 42%, and that is—listen—a 12-point jump from its 15-year low back in 2024.So from 2024 it jumped 12 points. That's now up to 42%. This has been documented by numerous reporting and research. There is a Bible reading resurgence going on, and we think that this is indicative of people searching for meaning.Another point we have in this Signals and Shifts section is Jonathan Cahn issues a warning that the dragon of Revelation 12 is rising. He says the dragon is a mega figure, but we need to remember that victory is meant to be the natural state of authentic Christ followers. You can chase that link there.Another link: 25 tips that save money from a resource called the Penny Hoarder. This section, Signals and Shifts—quick hits where faith, culture, and global currents intersect—we try to curate some resourcing...

Extreme times demand spiritual strength training. Discover how elite athletes "grease the groove"—training their central nervous system through frequent sub-maximal exercises—and how this same principle can be applied to training your spirit. Brian Del Turco reveals how micro spiritual workouts build resilient, responsive faith.Learn the power of prayer bursts throughout your day, why gratitude becomes magnetic when practiced consistently, and how small acts of obedience compound into kingdom impact. This isn't about exhausting yourself—it's about training your spirit through short, frequent practices that optimize spiritual efficiency and maximize power.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/364👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com/smartedit.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Grease the Groove: Training Your Spirit for Extreme TimesI don't think anybody is going to disagree with me that we live in extreme times right now. Do you sense that? I think most people sense that. Extreme times that demand real strength and impact.The same principle that elite athletes use to build efficient power—we can really learn something about how we can train our spirit to meet this hour. Welcome to Jesus Smart X, the podcast. I'm Brian Del Turco. Thanks for connecting with me today.I think you're going to enjoy this and be inspired by it, and I think it's something that's timely for us. Before we dive in, don't miss the Smart Edit newsletter. I'd really love to have you on the list—elevate your faith, how to live smart, making an impact in our personal world. We're all questing on these edges. It's free, it's weekly, five minutes to grow. You can simply subscribe at jesussmart.com/smartedit.If you missed our last episode with Terry Hoggard on building a pathway to your preferred future, even as you relate in covenant relationship with God, go back and catch that powerful set of ideas and content.Jesus Dynamics: Psalm 110 and the Reigning KingBefore we get into this quick episode today, let's dive into today's Jesus Dynamic. I actually have a rather long article that's in the oven baking, and this Jesus Dynamic is taken from that article. It's unlike many things I've written. I think it's going to be unusual and unique. It's a lens through which we can view our experience with Christ in our times.Most Christians picture Jesus in heaven doing primarily one thing right now—interceding for us. We know the New Testament Scriptures tell us that, and we appreciate and value that. And we imagine Him patiently waiting for the day when the Father says, "Go get Your bride," and He takes up His role as a king on the earth during the millennium and then the new heavens and new earth to follow.What if this understanding is incomplete? I don't want to say it's fundamentally wrong, but incomplete.There is one Psalm that shatters comfortable categories—Psalm 110. It's the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament, and the early church treated it as the Master Key that unlocked what happened for Jesus after the resurrection, meaning His ascension, His session in terms of His enthronement as king, and His current role.I'll read just the first verse of the seven verses in Psalm 110: "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool."Now this isn't symbolic language. This is what we could call throne language, governmental language. Peter actually quotes this Psalm in Acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the newly born church. He quotes this Psalm to explain what just happened. He doesn't say that Jesus will sit there someday. He says that Jesus is sitting there now, and that's why everything has changed. He's ascended, He's been enthroned. He's waiting for all things to be put under His feet, and He has now poured out His Holy Spirit.Paul uses this language: "He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet"—alluding to Psalm 110 in 1 Corinthians 15.Now here's what's startling. Not only the most oft-quoted Psalm in the New Testament, but the most often quoted Old Testament passage, period. So this should speak to us. We should be paying attention to this.Psalm 110 describes a king who rules while His enemies still exist and are even actively resisting. You see, the Father says in Psalm 110, "Rule in the midst of Your enemies." That sounds, does it not, exactly like the world that we're living in? Christ reigns, but opposition remains. The throne is established, but resistance continues.Here's the picture: Jesus isn't waiting to rule. He's been ruling all along from the moment that He sat down at the Father's right hand. Yes, it will reach its zenith during the millennium and the new heavens and new earth to follow. But make no mistake, it doesn't start at His second coming. It started at His ascension.What Is "Greasing the Groove"?So with that kingdom framework in mind—Jesus reigning right now—let's talk about what it means to grease the groove in the Holy Spirit. What on earth do I mean? Am I making this phrase up? No, I'm not. This comes from Eastern European athletic programs.Back in the day, sports scientists and trainers in the Eastern European nations and in Russia discovered that frequent sub-maximal exercises in terms of strength training—they called it greasing the groove. The Russian Pavel Tsatsouline came to the West and popularized this concept of greasing the groove in terms of training.Greasing the groove trains not just our muscles but our central nervous system—our CNS. And this is the key: What this does is it optimizes muscle efficiency and it maximizes strength.Now I'm on a personal experiment right now. I've been on a health quest since April of last year when I got hit with shingles.Here's how it works: You get your maximum number of push-ups that you can do. In my case currently it was like 31. Then you take 50% of that amount, which would be 15, and you do these really quick short sets throughout the day—15 push-ups spread throughout the day in multiple sets, maybe separated by an hour, an hour and a half in between. And it's easy to do, of course. But what we want to concentrate on is form and technique, and it trains our central nervous system.Now what I'm doing is I'm going through this process for two weeks, like six days a week for two weeks, and basically doing about a total of about 100 push-ups a day. But it's spread out throughout the day. It's not that difficult to do, although I am feeling a little sore and my body's not used to it. But hey, that's okay. It's good to be sore. It trains your central nervous system.And then I'm going to test my max again after a two-week period. I'm sure it's going to jump from 31. I'm guessing it's going to jump to 35, 36 after these two weeks, and I'll be thrilled if it jumps to 40. But we'll see. My ultimate goal, Lord willing, is really to get to 70, 80, 100 push-ups max over months like this year.Now today, this concept of greasing the groove—hey, it's not like I'm some kind of great physical specimen or great fitness person. It's not that. But I do value strength training and walking and exercise.This concept is used across different domains now, including learning a new language or learning new anything. So for example, if you're learning a new language, you know how challenging that is. And maybe you got 60 minutes a day that you can budget towards language acquisition. Instead of studying for 60 minutes straight, it's better to study for four 15-minute segments. That's called greasing the groove. And the constant recall spread out throughout a day actually accelerates your learning and solidifies it.So this can be applied to anything—learning a musical instrument or some techniques and processes in business efficiency or anything related to personal discipline and more. It started out in physical fitness, and now it's spread across different domains.Training Your Spirit ManNow likewise, small repeated spiritual practices can train your spirit to respond with precision and power. You know, the Apostle Paul tells us to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus in 2 Timothy 2:1. Strength in our spirit. And boy, do we need that today. It isn't a one-time surge. It grows through faithful repetition.Each short prayer, for instance—you know, Paul said to pray without ceasing. How do we do that? Well, I think we need to have a dedicated time of prayer daily, preferably in the morning, but whatever works best. But then when he says pray without ceasing, what does he mean? Well, we have things to do. Of course we have to work, we got chores, we got things, projects, whatever—we got things to do.In what sense do we pray without ceasing?...

Stop drifting and discover your covenant pathway to a preferred future. Veteran missionary Terry Hoggard reveals a transformative three-movement practice: foundation, strategic insight, and covenant with God. This isn't goal-setting—it's positioning yourself in the center of what God is doing. This calibration time gives God opportunity to download fresh vision for your next season.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/363👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Your Covenant Pathway to a Preferred Future with Terry HoggardBrian: Welcome to the podcast today, friends. I have a great family member and friend and a co-laborer. We work together on some projects, some kingdom projects. Terry Hoggard is with us, and we are discussing something today. We're at the outset of the new year. I think these dynamics could be applied anytime. I don't think we have to do a reboot just in January, right, Terry?Terry: It's a great moment to capture in my heart, so I love it. I'm cleaning up everything I know to do with the old year going out, and I want to be there hands wide open saying, "Here I am, Lord. I've got some things to talk to You about, and I'm sure You have some things to say to me."Brian: Amen. Yes, absolutely. And sometimes people will listen to an episode like six months later. I put out something recently encouraging people to think about 90-day years—the winter season, the spring season, summer, fall. You can continually start afresh, start anew. But definitely at the beginning of our year is a great time. People are of this mindset, aren't they, in January? It's just a natural tendency, it seems.Meet Terry HoggardTerry Hoggard has served for 30 years as a missionary leader across Europe with the Assemblies of God. He's provided pastoral leadership in Rome, Brussels, Copenhagen, and Malmö, Sweden. He has also equipped international teams and built cross-cultural networks around the world, including Asia, throughout his ministry. And Terry and his wife Ruthanne, my cousin on my dad's side, continue to invest in leaders globally. Thank you for being here. And what else could you say about the Lord's workings in your life currently?Terry: Well, at this moment I'm still highly engaged with the network of churches, so I still have intimate connection to the four churches that you mentioned. But in early 2004, I think, we built out what we called FEIC—Fellowship of European International Churches. It's an incredible network still going strong.And then in 2011 we met for a summit. Every year we'd gather, and in 2011 we were praying on our way to say goodbye. A friend of mine, his name is Al Perna, was praying, and he just felt like the Lord was saying, "Now's the time to extend the tent. We've been here together for almost a decade, but there's all these other churches and the movement of the nations and the diaspora." Three times God spoke to us. We have to do something.Well, at this moment, our leader of the Assemblies of God World Missions was brand new. His name was Greg Mundus. I said, "Greg, you know we have FEIC. How would you feel about us bringing all the regions—Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, Northern Asia—and begin to create a network that would allow each one of these regions to be intimately connected internally, but by expansion they have the whole world?" And Greg said, "That's a good idea."Brian: So that came out of prayer both in your own life and in partnership with others. Pattern recognition—what the Lord is continuously saying and doing. How important is it for all of us to be people of prayer, to be connected with others in prayer, to live our best calling before God?Terry: Absolutely. In fact, all those things—it's all about the capacity of the community. These guys were lined up behind me or around me, and I didn't even know that this was something that anyone was percolating. I think God spoke sovereignly in that moment. And from that initiative, God birthed something that was just so amazing.Brian: Percolating. I like that. Percolating in the Holy Spirit. I had a friend who said, "Kingdom currency runs on kingdom connections." That's vital, isn't it, for all of us to have quality, authenticity, kingdom connectivity so that the Holy Spirit can run on that?Terry: Absolutely.Three Words: Clarity, Closure, CatalyticBrian: This is a time, Terry. I was actually thinking this morning about three words that begin with C: clarity, closure, and catalytic. What could you say about just the need to get clarity from the Lord, to maybe bring closure looking back to some things that need to close, and turn to the future and be catalytic with new things that need to open up? What do you think about that? Clarity, closure, catalytic.Terry: Well, I guess I would say this. I think in every situation, but specifically in these kinds of things that are strategic and they're emerging, I think it's the posture of your heart. If you have something you want to take to the Father and you want to talk about it, it's a wonderful thing. But if you just go saying, "Lord, I'm not sure what it is. Let clarity come. Let there be catalytic realities that would confirm that this is what You want me to do." I know there's a lot of things we can do—we can read books and we can hear other things—but I think the seed is born out of the heart. And the posture and the positioning of the heart would be absolutely critical.Brian: Yeah. And the partnership with the Creator in the prayer and the positioning ourselves to receive new initiatives and to really begin to pray them into being, right?Terry: Yeah.The Three Movements Toward Your Preferred FutureBrian: Now, you recently shared something with me, at my request, something that you and your wife Ruthanne go through every holiday season approaching the new year. You pursue—you're really going after a pathway that leads to a preferred future. I appreciate you being willing to share this personal practice that you do with your wife, but I think it can apply to all of us. What is that approach? What are those three movements? I'd just love to hear about that again.Terry: Here's what it really is. My first expression is that I want to openly open my heart and openly confess. I'm here at the end of 2025, and I have some notes here that I carried out of this same moment a year ago. And, Lord, I know there are things here that I was so eager to engage, and somehow along the way, as much as God did glorious things, I think I left this one not unattended, but I didn't bring it into fulfillment.So I began something knowing that. And then I began to realize this time—there's always a way it works. The first thing that struck my heart was foundation. And what I knew was I needed a foundation that was solid and sure. Because to live out the mandate of God is something that really needs to be built around the most powerful platform that anyone could stand on. I don't want to have one foot up on a ledge. I don't want to be right to the center or right to the left. I want to be right in the center of what God is doing. So that was really important to me.The second thing that I found would be important to me is not just foundation, but that I wanted to have the opportunity to have strategic insight. Because I know there are things here that I need to see to get beyond where I am. And I want that to be a reality.And then the other thing was that I wanted to come to this place where I would sort of make it a covenant with God—that these things that I've written and spoken with my wife about, and one of my daughters came with us (she loves to do this thing as well), I want it to be not just a matter of words and not even commitment as much as—I do love commitment—but I said, "Lord, before I leave this time of prayer, we spent the whole hour, two hours actually, doing our work and writing and praying at the end. But I want this to be a locked-in covenant so that I am being provoked every single day when I just stop and pray." I've been doing it now. I'm doing a lot of Bible reading and looking into the whole foundation thing because I think that's important. I think if we don't get a foundation right, we can somehow be swept away unintentionally, but it can be very traumatic.Brian: So the basics, the basic foundational elements—the Word of God, prayer, consecration. And so you prioritize that and build off of that. And you're tapping the power of covenant. Correct me if I'm wrong, Terry—I'm learning, trying to learn all the time—but I'm not sure that many...

You can't see what's coming over the horizon, but your faith can reach it now. Brian Del Turco explores four steps to cultivate over-the-horizon belief: worship and pray over the horizon (prayer as predicting the future), visualize and prophesy what's coming, fix your belief set points with sanctified desire, and act as if—filling your water pots before the wine arrives. Discover why desire means "of the heavens". Like Abraham crossing into unseen territory, you're called to exploit horizons.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Over-the-Horizon Questing: Faith for What's NextListener: The Jesus Smart podcast, to me, intelligently offers its listeners interesting discussions on important topics.Brian: In this episode, it's all about cultivating our over-the-horizon belief, faith, and action.There's a real sense in which our horizons are placed on a curve, and we look at a horizon just like Christopher Columbus sailing to new territory across the terra firma. So we too—we walk by faith, we sail by faith and not by sight.I want to share with you for just a few moments how we can worship and pray over the horizon. Number two, how we can visualize in faith and prophesy over the horizon. Number three, we can fix our belief set points over that curvature in our life. We can't see it yet, it's not manifested yet, but our mind is already there. We're already touching it with prayer. We're already touching it with proclamation. And number four, let's make it complete. Let's be more complete in our faith and begin to act as if—begin to take action with what's coming over the horizon.This is Brian Del Turco. Thanks for connecting with me today on Jesus Smart, the podcast.What Is a Horizon?A horizon is simply a place where the sky and the earth meet, right? Whether we're looking at land or water. Lord Byron is regarded as one of the greatest English poets. He was also a politician. Here's his statement: "Between two worlds, life hovers like a star, twixt (or between) night and morn, upon the horizon's verge."When we come to Jesus, when we are transformed by Jesus and begin to walk with Jesus, we truly become people of the horizon.I believe Abraham was first called a Hebrew in Genesis 14. The word Hebrew, scholars believe, could be derived from a Hebrew word meaning to traverse or to pass over, to cross over, referring to Abraham, who was sent by God and crossed over into the promised land. Abraham is set forth in the Scriptures as a prototype of the faith person for us. And Paul says in Galatians that we are the seed of Abraham in Christ. There's a Hebrew in the truest sense—a person who leaves one territory and crosses over into a new place.Just like Abram left Ur of the Chaldeans, he traveled along the Euphrates River northwest to Haran in northern Mesopotamia, that Fertile Crescent region in the Middle East, and later in Genesis 12 was called down to Canaan into the promised land—a total, I believe, of about a 1,500-mile journey.In Hebrews 11 it says that by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place—listen to this—which he was to receive for an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going, for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.Now, my friend, what do you feel God may be asking you to cross over into as you quest after the horizons that He is setting before you? You will need over-the-horizon belief and applied faith.→ Discover the four complete steps for over-the-horizon living at jesussmart.comLiving for the Ultimate HorizonLet me read a Scripture to you from 2 Peter, chapter 3: "We are looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. According to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."My goodness. We are people of the horizon. That is the ultimate horizon—the coming of the day of God, the Lord's return, which will initiate the restoration of all things that Jesus spoke of. And there's some sense in which we hasten that day of God. Now we're going to have to explore that sometime.And we're looking for the new heavens and the new earth. But all along the way there are many horizons in light of this macro horizon which is coming. And the Bible says that we now taste the powers of the age to come. And we begin to live now, my friend, a lifestyle of restoration in the now, foreshadowing the time of restoration of all things.Now, what are those things that we can do to apply our faith practically, to begin to take action, to begin to orientate ourselves towards over-the-horizon living? Maybe it's a new geographical location God is calling you to. Maybe it's a change, a pivot in your career, your business, your work. Maybe it's some phase of education, maybe it's a new relationship, maybe it's starting a family, some interest, some cause, some justice issue that you're to pursue and quest after.These are all many horizons that God may very well be calling you to and setting before you, which are just reflections of that macro horizon which is to come. Yes, and we begin to live now with over-the-horizon belief and faith and faith-born action in our lives right now. It's an adventure, it's exciting. You, as a human created in God's image, are wired to be facing horizons.Step One: Worship and Pray Over the HorizonSo what can we do? Number one, worship and pray over the horizon. Remember the curvature of the earth. You can't see in the natural what's coming. You have not experienced it yet, but it's there. And you want to begin to pick it up with that radar of faith. And you want to begin to worship and pray over the horizon.There's a real sense in which prayer is predicting the future. Think about the word prediction: "pre," meaning before or in advance, and "diction," meaning to speak or a saying. A prediction is a saying in advance of what's coming.And what worship does is it transforms us further, it conditions us, and even more, it positions us in faith. And we can now predict in worship and in prayer—to say beforehand, to declare. Even our English word "predict" comes from the Latin, which means beforehand and to say. That is a prediction.Think about Psalm 139. It says that even before we were conceived, all the days that were ordained for us were written down in Your book, O God. David says we want to say those pages. We want to predict and pray those pages and soak it all in a sentiment, an attitude of worship. Yes, declaring who God is.Becoming Christocentric in our worship and adoration, allowing the person of Jesus Christ to eclipse all the drama, all the distraction, all the resistance—to get so big in our purview that we pray with a faith which will not falter, with a faith which is not double-minded, but is sincere and single-minded. And we believe we've picked up something of the mind of the Lord, of the counsel of the Lord, and we're praying over the horizon to that effect, to effectualize what wants to happen on the earth. Things want to happen in the heart of the Father that happen through us. It's a partnership.Step Two: Visualize in Faith and Prophesy Over the HorizonSo worshiping and praying over the horizon, number one. Number two, visualize in faith and prophesy over the horizon. So we get before the Lord in His Word, in worship, in prayer. And now we begin to speak forth and to prophesy what we believe the Lord is saying, what His promises are to you, what He's leading you into.We begin to visualize in faith. The Bible word "prophecy" in the New Testament means to forth-tell the counsel of the Lord, to speak forth the counsel of the Lord. See, the Bible says the mind of man plans his way, but the counsel of the Lord will stand—not only in yourself, but all around you. The minds of men and women are trying to plan certain ways and may even have thoughts about you. Your circumstances may be trying to say something about you and what your future looks like. But it's the counsel of the Lord that will stand.And to prophesy in faith means to foretell that counsel, to speak it out. Speak it out over the curvature of your timeline. Let it address and begin to get on what's coming and begin to energize it in faith.Here's what I want to say: Get the word of the Lord on it, and then get the word of the Lord on it. What do I mean? Get the counsel of the Lord, get the word of the Lord on that matter, and then through applied verbal faith, get that word on that matter, uphold it in faith. Release the creativity of God in faith. Speak forth in faith. Visualize and prophesy over the horizon.Do I have a mirror here? Let me hold it up. Brian, what could it look like if on the most desired or even important or urgent edges in your life right now, if you were to consistently, on a daily basis, visualize in faith and prophesy on those horizons what you believe the counsel of the Lord...

What if you could see that struggling relationship, that stalled project, that personal challenge in an entirely different light—God's light? The same creative pattern God used in Genesis—speaking light over chaos—is available to recreate your situation right now. Discover six practical steps to release God's light over the areas where you need transformation. This is about supernatural vision that opens doors to new seasons. When God's light hits your chaos, creation begins.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/361👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: What Happens When God's Light Hits Your SituationComing up, how you see things—really how we see everything—can actually transform things, opening the door to new seasons. Welcome, friend. I'm Brian Del Turco.I believe that Jesus Christ knows how our lives work best and that He is passionate about developing us as His followers, as intimate friends and co-agents in His kingdom. If you want to go further with King Jesus and His enterprise, this is the podcast for you. I'm glad you're here.Jesus Dynamics: Ask, Seek, and KnockWe have a newish feature in the episode called Jesus Dynamics. Let's get right to it. I was driving somewhere recently, just about a week ago, and I felt like the Lord dropped this in my heart—Jesus' statement about asking, seeking, and knocking in the Sermon on the Mount. You can read about this in Matthew, I think it's chapter seven, probably in the Gospel of Luke as well.In the Greek language, the tense is a little bit different. Greek has, I believe, six tenses, whereas English has only three. In this tense, as it was written, it means to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.Here's what I felt. It all starts with conversation with the Father. Ask, talk with Him, get His input. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Don't lean on your own insight, but in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make your pathways smooth. Ask, even request in prayer.Then begin to seek, begin to probe, begin to explore, begin to step out, begin to lean forward, lean into scenarios and horizons and opportunities, and even lean into challenges to overcome them, my friend. And then knock. Do you know that knocking is an expression of faith? Just as asking is, knocking on doors, checking out opportunities, seeing what opens up—and then it creates a narrow pathway on the other side of that door that leads you into a new space, a new level, some new territory that the Lord has for you.Remember, it's about perseverance. Ask and keep on asking. Same with seeking and knocking. And don't just stop with prayer. Begin to seek, begin to quest. Actually begin to put some feet to your prayers and go out. Start knocking, start building things, start creating, start innovating, start pressing into opportunities and challenges.The Power of Seeing in a New LightWell, I'm excited about this topic today. Father, we ask for new light, fresh, extraordinary light from You to break out of our heart. May we see with the eyes of our understanding, the eyes of our heart. We believe, Father, that You can bring transformation and change to things by how we see them supernaturally and not just naturally. Thank You, Father. We commit our time to You, in Jesus' name.Someone may say something like this: "I was having problems in a relationship, but things turned for the better when I saw her in a new light. When I saw him in a new light. Now I'm filled with hope." We can apply that to anything. "I was disparaging the situation I was in. I was looking down upon it. I was really thinking negatively about it. But when I began to see it in better light, a new light, it began to turn. It began to be transformed."You see, seeing things in a new light can create new possibilities.Stephen Covey, in his wildly popular book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, said that the way we see the problem is the problem. Does this resonate with you? It does with me. If we can just get the light of God on that issue, whatever it is, we will see it in an extraordinary light. Then you can call out the gold and even trigger, be catalytic to bring transformation.Seeing Is InterpretingSeeing things in a new light—I'm talking about an extraordinary light, not just natural light. I'm talking about insight. Seeing things in a new light is transformational. In a real sense, seeing is interpreting. Think about this with me.In the natural, light reflects off an object. Maybe you're in a room somewhere—just look at an object. Or maybe you're outside. Look at a tree or look at an automobile. Light reflects off the object. It reflects off a person. It reflects off some landscape or some vista, and it enters your retina. And that visual information is transmitted to your brain, which then interprets what is seen.Here's what this means: seeing actually happens in your mind, not in your eye. The eye is just a medium. It's just a portal. Seeing and interpreting actually happens in the mind. This is true in the natural. Your eyes and the optical nerves from your eyes to your brain are just simply the pathway, the gateway. Light reflects off of something, then we interpret what we see as we begin to grow in maturity. We give it meaning, we interpret it.But can we take this a step further? Let's go above and beyond the natural. Because there is an insightful, extraordinary way to see things.→ Discover how seeing with spiritual eyes transforms everything at jesussmart.com/361-seeing-new-lightSeeing things in a new light will give us the opportunity to understand and interpret things in a new, fresh way. I'm talking about the mental, emotional, and spiritual way that we see. Here are some examples. We begin to see that relationship in a new light. Maybe that seasoned, mature friendship has gone sour. We begin to see it in a new light. We begin to see it now as a diamond in the rough. We're both growing, and we're going to come into a new place as persons, and this relationship is going to come to a new level.Maybe we see a challenge or an opportunity in a fresh light. Our question should be, "What's possible?" It shouldn't be a statement of "This is impossible." See the challenge, approach the opportunity, and see it in a fresh, extraordinary light.What about that project? Can we see that project that we've been working on in a new light? Let me tell you, every project starts out with a high level of excitement. Then it enters a trough, it goes low. And many times projects don't make it through that trough and then begin to ascend again into a place of completion and maturity and fruitfulness. But can we see that project in a new light from God? It will achieve better results.What about yourself? Instead of continuing to see yourself in that old light, can you see yourself in the light of God, in a new light? Higher design is possible and it's powerful.God Is LightNow, what could happen if we see things in a new light, an extraordinary light? We need more than natural light to truly live a successful life. We need extra-natural light. It's possible to be blind in the natural and to live an extraordinary life because you're seeing on the inside.God's very nature is light. Can I tell you that John wrote in his letter in 1 John 1:5 that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. We get caught up in darkness. But God is not in darkness. And as we draw close to Him and receive more of His presence, more of His light, more of His reality into our life, things will get better.If the ultimate Designer is light, here's the question: How can we access it? Remember, He holds the higher design for everything—about your design, about your life, about your calling, about those good works you're destined to do, about your very life. The question is, how can we see things? Indeed, how can we see everything in this new, extraordinary light?Do you know what Jesus said? Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life." Do you see that? The light of Jesus leads us to life—abundant life, the God kind of life. God-designed life. It's another level of consciousness. It's a higher level of conviction from which we can live—resolute, directional, intentional, a heightened state of consciousness.The New Testament says in Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus Christ is "the radiance of His [the Father's] glory and the exact representation of His nature, and He upholds all things by the word of His power." I love the way the Amplified translation renders this verse. "He, Christ, is the sole expression of the glory of God, the Light-being."We are called to come to Christ and to yoke with Him as...

Forget the sanitized nativity—Christmas is a beachhead, an invasion, a sentence of doom upon the dragon. Brian Del Turco unveils Christmas through Revelation 12 and G.K. Chesterton's vision of the cave as an "outlaw's den"—a fortress in enemy territory where the King returned to shake kingdoms from below. This isn't about warm feelings and Michael Bublé—it's about understanding that the incarnation set in motion an advancing process that continues through us today. Discover four practical ways to live in "365 Advent". Pull out the eggnog if you fancy, but remember this: the dragon rages, but you reign in Christ.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: The Outlaw Christ-Child: Why Christmas is Still a RevolutionHey, dragon, you've been resisting, you've been fighting, you've been raging, but we have a message for you. Ho, ho, ho, from King Jesus.Well, I have my little Christmas tree with twinkling lights that my daughter so kindly set me up with right here by my podcasting equipment. I'm ready to go. This is the first in a miniseries on Christmas. Welcome to Jesus Smart, the podcast. Brian Del Turco here. Thanks for connecting with me today.The Central Miracle of ChristianityC.S. Lewis, in his book Miracles, writes that the central miracle asserted by Christians is the incarnation. That's sort of a theological word which simply means God became flesh. Jesus came into the earth in the form of a human being. Lewis writes that they say that God became man. Of course, this is true. Every other miracle prepares for the incarnation or exhibits the reality of the incarnation or results from this, the incarnation.In the Christian story, Lewis writes, God descends to re-ascend. Now listen to this, because you and I are swept up in this. In Christ, He comes down, down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity. But He goes down to come up again and bring the ruined world up with Him. Isn't that powerful?Paul put it this way in his letter to the Philippians: "I press toward the mark of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."Beyond the Hallmark ChristmasNow, I live with a lot of ladies—one wife and many daughters. We have four daughters, two still at home. So I know a lot about Hallmark. I have memorized the script-writing templates of Hallmark movies. I can predict the outcome of a Hallmark movie.I don't mind. I enjoy sitting with my wife on a couch during the holiday season while they have a Hallmark movie on, and maybe we're eating a little something. And quite often, I might have, if I can just be honest with you, earbuds in. And I'm listening to maybe a podcast or something like that, kind of multitasking, glancing up at the Hallmark movie once in a while, but then getting some good solid content as well. This is how I—these are my coping mechanisms. This is how I make it with four daughters.So I don't mind doing that. But I'm always after a deeper, more militant message concerning Christmas. And I know that this may challenge some people. Maybe not. Maybe you're listening, and this doesn't challenge you. I hope not.The Christmas Story from Heaven's PerspectiveLet's consider the Christmas story as told from heaven's perspective in the book of Revelation. You know, we sing "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night, Holy Night," and we think about the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. We put the Charlie Brown special on. We put the music on. If I hear another song by Michael Bublé, I don't know what I'm going to do. But all of these things are around.But deep down, I'm understanding that Christmas is invasion. And this is how I like to try to keep Christmas well.Consider from the book of Revelation, chapter 12: "The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child who will rule the nations with an iron scepter." Yes, take that, Michael Bublé."And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and his angels fought back, but he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring, those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus."What is this account of the woman and the dragon and the birthing of the Christ child? I was having coffee with a fellow compatriot yesterday, and we concluded—I've done some study on it. Not a deep dive on Revelation 12, not super deep, but I see the woman there as a composite picture of first Israel, then Mary giving birth to the Christ child, and then the church as well, and the dragon making war. But we're overcoming.The Outlaw's Den: G.K. Chesterton's VisionNow, G.K. Chesterton—see, we have to read people from a hundred years ago. G.K. Chesterton, just hang with this here. He wrote in his book The Everlasting Man, in the chapter "The God in the Cave," that we need to take the fragrance of what happened in the birth of the Christ child. He calls it an explosion in the Judean hills 2,000 years ago. He sees the cave as an outlaw's den, as an outpost, a fortress in enemy territory. Yes, take that, Hallmark.Herod's days are marked and the dragon's doom is sealed. Now listen to what he says:"There is something defiant in this, something that makes the abrupt bells at midnight sound like the great guns of a battle that has just been won. All this indescribable thing that we call Christmas atmosphere." Just like the bells would ring maybe at midnight on Christmas Eve, he hears it as the great guns of a battle that has just been won.He continues: "This Christmas atmosphere hangs in the air, something like a lingering fragrance or a fading vapor from the exultant explosion of that one hour in the Judean hills nearly 2,000 years ago. But the savor is still unmistakable, and it's something too subtle or too solitary to be covered by our use of the word peace. By the very nature of the story, the rejoicings in the cavern were rejoicings in a fortress or an outlaw's den."Now this is how to keep Christmas well, right? Especially in our time and what we may face, friends, as we look at this next decade or two.As an overcoming Christ follower, he continues, there in that image is a true idea of an outpost, of a piercing through the rock and an entrance into enemy territory. Yes. If I could just say, this is like D-Day. This is a beachhead. The King is back.He continues: "There in this buried divinity, an idea of undermining the world, the world system, of shaking the towers and palaces from below." He sees the Christ child as underground in the cave, in the outlaw's den, shaking even as Herod—Herod the great king felt that earthquake under him and swayed with his swaying palace.See, everything that can be shaken will be shaken so that what remains is the eternal kingdom of Christ. This is so beautiful.Actually, give me my eggnog. Go ahead and put Hallmark on, but I'm going to be thinking and praying on these lines, and I'm going to be positively agitating people around me to consider these edges.The Lord of HostsNow, my friends and angels, did you know that the compound name that represents Christ's nature most frequently in the Scriptures—do you know what it is? The compound name in the Bible that represents Christ's nature most frequently? It's "Lord of Hosts."Get this: it appears nearly 10 times the sum of all the other compound names revealed in the Scriptures. Can you believe that? Do you think that God is trying to say something to us about the primacy of what His nature is, about the priority of what His agenda is?Now listen, in Luke chapter 2: "In the same region, these shepherds"—and I hope they had their adult diapers on, because they probably had an adult accident—"shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened." I mean, no kidding. The sky unzips, there's like a veil that opens up, and the glory of the Lord manifests in white-hot light.And the angel says to them, "Don't be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."Now, if they didn't use their adult diapers yet, they may have right here in verse 13: "Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying"—a multitude of the heavenly host, there it is. These were militant angels that manifested in the sky that were escorting, in a sense, the seed of the second member of the Godhead coming into the hostile environment of the...

We're coining a new Christmas greeting: "Have yourself a very 'chaordic' Christmas!" Chaordic—where chaos meets order. With decades planting churches in Rome and Brussels and serving with Convoy of Hope, Terry Hoggard helps us see Christmas as the ultimate disruptive innovation—an ongoing dance between heaven and earth. Discover why crisis is often the catalyst for much-desired transformation. This isn't your typical feel-good Christmas message. It's a call to intentional disruption and wholehearted seeking. Because when you're all in, God rolls out a pathway you never imagined possible.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/359👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTHave Yourself a Very Chaordic Christmas: When Chaos Meets Order with Terry HoggardBrian: Hey there, friend. Merry Christmas. I'm glad you're with us. Thanks for connecting today. I'm Brian Del Turco, and you are connected with Jesus Smart, the podcast. Jesus knows how this life works best.This is such an inspiring conversation, number 211—now being recast as episode 359. Here's the title—I'm confident you have not heard a Christmas greeting like this before: "Have Yourself a Very Chaordic Christmas" with Terry Hoggard. This, my friend, is a new wrinkle on keeping Christmas well.Meet Terry HoggardTerry Hoggard is our special guest. He's a veteran missionary who has led international churches in Rome and Brussels. He's a leader of international leaders, a life coach, and he's an executive leader in Convoy of Hope, an international relief organization.Here's an idea: why not gift this episode with a friend or two, and then they can gift it to others? I think you'll see that this is a gift worth re-gifting. But you get to keep the value when you gift a podcast episode.Terry really encourages us that it is going to take a wholehearted mindset and heart set—the strength of our desire, the fortitude of our will. We have to have an all-in approach to engage this Christmas dance between heaven and earth.The True Joy of ChristmasHere's the true joy of Christmas: when we understand that heaven and earth merge in us through the indwelling Christ, all bets are off. Unlimited potential can be released. You see, it's more than remembering Jesus as a baby in a manger. Christmas is a breakthrough merging of heaven and earth, and this changes everything.The incarnation means that heaven and earth are reconnected again in a new way. A seamlessness between heaven and earth has been re-established. Think of it—it is the grounds on which we can now pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."What can this mean for you? What can it mean for me? God wants to be reconnected with us. Reconciliation is a huge meta theme in the kingdom of God—putting things back together again. And a huge part of what Jesus is after is the reunification of heaven and earth.From Barely Enough to Abundantly MoreBrian: Welcome, friend, to the podcast today. I'm really excited to bring to you Terry Hoggard. Terry, welcome to the podcast today. I appreciate you carving out some time.Terry: My joy to be with you, Brian. Thanks for the invite.Brian: Give us maybe just a sentence about a springboard theme for today's episode.Terry: A sentence of theme would be this: it's Advent, and I always have some sort of Advent Christmas theme. This year I'm thinking in this way—celebrating the Christ who changes our "barely enough" into "abundantly more."Brian: I personally need this. Tell us about your work over the years. You started out as a missionary with the Assemblies of God in Rome. Why don't you just bring us briefly up through the present?Terry: Well, you're completely correct. 1984, Ruthanne and I, my wife, we answered the call to be missionaries, specifically felt called to Rome at that time. So we planted an international church in Rome, which was for our organization the second international church to be established in Europe. I stayed there 10 years. I then went to Brussels to pastor what was the first international church established for the Assemblies of God globally.I spent 25 years living in Brussels—10 pastoring that church. Then I spent another 10 working in Sweden and Copenhagen, working with churches who wanted to reach their communities by encouraging diversity and inclusion with immigrants. After that, I stayed based in Europe for five years working with Convoy of Hope, overseeing the international program and the teams who drive the global work of Convoy of Hope.→ Read Terry's complete missionary journey and life coaching story at jesussmart.com/359-chaordic-christmasChristmas as Divine DisruptionBrian: This theme of abundance and getting past this scarcity mindset and scarcity experience that you're sensing this year in the Christmas theme—tell us about that.Terry: Yeah. I think without a lot of heavy thought, all of us have stories of moments in our lives when things were just very hard and times were tough. And very likely we know someone right now by first name who's in the same kind of state. I have family members who are literally living on "barely enough."And it's to them that I give my thoughts, knowing that Christ invaded—I like your word about interruption. He interrupted the world and all the life patterns that were normalized. People who were labeled were labeled, and people who were poor were poor, and that was just not going to change. But Christ came to turn all of that upside down.Brian: I'm really enjoying the notion of Christmas as an invasion. The King is back. What are the implications for life, for work, for ministry? Do you see Christmas as an invasion of sorts—the Christ child coming into this earth, the incarnation?Terry: My desire always is that these days—and I actually dial into the Advent as well because I want to redeem all of these days—our fervent resolve should be to make the most of every opportunity. A great Christmas is a wonderful gift to give to someone who's in a very difficult situation. But a great Christmas doesn't compare to the abundantly more that Christ could provide.If we, in the act of kindness or in wanting to make someone's Christmas better, don't forget to give highlight to the most important thing—which is Christ coming not just to your home or your heart at Christmas, but becoming a part of your everyday—that's going to change everything.Brian: I love working through the Christmas narratives in the Gospels and trying to tease out kingdom dynamics. This Advent dynamic—you know who Leonard Sweet is, right? I don't know if he invented this word, but "chaordic." It's a word that blends chaos and order. When something is chaordic, it's an opportunity wrapped in chaos. It seems like the birth of Christ was quite chaordic, doesn't it?Terry: Oh, absolutely. Everything about Him was to disrupt normal so thoroughly that people could embrace change. People don't break change, they don't go to change until they're thoroughly done with the circumstances they're in. That's the tragedy. So you need someone to disrupt that.Brian: Disruptive innovation is a business term. I'm just seeing the Christ child as sort of like the ultimate disruptive innovation.Terry: Yeah, that's so true. There's nothing about Christ in reality that cuddles the best world image that can be presented. The nativity sets—Christ is this baby wrapped in these beautiful cloths and He's surrounded by hay. The most we can give is not even a glimmer of who the Christ of Christmas really is.The Power of Crisis and NecessityBrian: So practically speaking, in terms of everyday life, what suggestions do you have about pursuing an abundant life in Christ?Terry: I'm thinking about what Philippians says to us. It's very clear that we've been promised that God will supply all of our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. That's why I want to promote this Christ who can change "barely enough" into "abundantly more."Here's the thing. The reality of His capacity is only fully revealed to us in times of great necessity, necessity and scarcity. That's the only time we get it.Brian: Someone has said that adult learning readiness equals pain. When we feel the need, when we're tired of it, we're better positioned for transformation.Terry: And it's so true. I remember when this hit my life strong and hard. I was told I had thyroid cancer, and it had been in my neck for a long time. Up until that time, I was a pastor, raised in a Pentecostal family, believing in healing. I believed He was a healer, preached He was a healer, prayed for people to be healed. But in my life, I had never been in a spot where I needed a healer.Never in my...

What if the secret to breakthrough isn't just prayer or hard work—but a powerful combination of both with God's zeal backing your obedience? In this walk cast episode, Brian Del Turco unveils a kingdom framework: creative prayer plus strategic planning plus spirit-filled execution equals fruitfulness and fulfillment. Discover how to discern God's agenda (not just convince Him of yours), why prayer without planning is presumption, and how to tap into the zeal of the Lord that fuels ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. This three-step framework will help you align with how God designed things to work.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/framework👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT - A Kingdom Framework - Prayer + Planning + Spirit-Fueled ExecutionHey there, friends. Welcome to Jesus Smart X, the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco. Thanks for being with us today. You make all the difference. Thank you for listening and thank you for sharing content with others if you find it valuable and think it would inspire and help someone you know.Introducing the Walk CastWe're doing something different today, calling it a "walk cast." I'm outside, as you can probably hear. You'll probably hear vehicles and people, perhaps, but this is what I'm calling a walk cast. I've been getting into walking in recent months—about the past half year, a lot. Many days I'm doing, thankfully by the grace of God, something like 10 to 12,000 steps a day.This recent wellness quest over the past half year was triggered by a bout with shingles, from which I'm still dealing with nerve pain in my lower back. But God is faithful. I hear sometimes it can last as long as a year. I hope that's not the case with me, but I have enjoyed walking, doing some resistance training, and changing my diet and losing a lot of weight. So I'm excited about that.Why Walking Enhances Creative ThinkingWalking is something that really enhances our creative thinking. Research proves this—movement, just moving your body like with walking, can really break mental patterns and open new perspectives. Did you know that Jesus did a lot of his conversation and teaching with his disciples as they walked? This was a rabbinic tradition. The rabbi would walk with his disciples, and they would converse and talk—questions and answers and illustrations—really something of a teaching method. There is something of an ancient practice called "walk and talk," part of a wisdom tradition.We've kind of missed that today. We think we have to be sitting on our derrieres in a classroom or remaining sedentary. But walking and learning has a long history, and it clears the head, engages the body, and helps to free your voice up. So yes, a walk cast. We may do this from time to time, weather permitting. We'll see how things go.A Kingdom Formula for SuccessA secret formula, a kingdom template that I think can help us in a lot of areas. Here it is, sort of like kingdom calculus or algebra. You ready for this?Prayer plus planning plus spirit-filled execution equals accomplishment and success.I heard John Eldredge say that there's a way that things work, and this applies to the kingdom as well. I recently fixed my stove, and there is a virtue in being able to not have to outsource everything but fix a stove yourself. We had buttons on a Samsung stove that were not working, and now with YouTube and ChatGPT, I found out that there was a ribbon cable in there that becomes oxidized. You can simply unplug it, use an eraser on a pencil, clean it up, plug it back in—boom, all the buttons work. But there's a way that things work.Stoves are designed to work in a certain way. They need to be maintained. There's a way to fix things. And in the kingdom, there is a way that things work. I think that this formula—prayer plus planning plus spirit-filled execution equals success—shows us that God wants to help us. We can lay this template, if you will, this pattern over most anything, I think: ventures, tough conversations we need to have with people, parenting, career dynamics, ministry initiatives.James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift comes down from above from the Father of Lights. There's no variation or shadow of turning with Him. He's consistent with all of His sons and daughters. Every good and perfect gift comes down from above. But it doesn't mean that we can't pray and plan and use spirit-filled execution with these good gifts.Step One: Creative PrayerLet's start with creative prayer. I use the phrase "creative prayer" intentionally. Creative prayer isn't just asking—it's partnering with the Father's creative intent. We're actually tuning into what God is already doing.Prayer is not just concocting our own list all the time and coming before God with what our ideas are, but it's also listening, picking up His heart, picking up His mind, what wants to happen from His heart. We're tuning into what God is already doing. Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has plans already designed for us. "I know the thoughts I have for you." He was speaking to the Jews who were in Babylonian exile. "But I have plans for you, to restore you, to bring you back." And it's the same with our own lives.Creative prayer is discerning His agenda, not just convincing Him of ours. Prayer is picking up His heart, what wants to happen from His mind, His heart, and not just solely sharing our own. We're receiving what's already flowing from the Father's heart, listening to His thoughts, what are His dreams, what are His designs.→ Read the full transcript with expanded insights on creative prayer at jesussmart.com/frameworkStep Two: Diligent PlanningNumber two, then move into diligent planning. See, prayer without action, prayer without planning is presumption. It's too passive. Proverbs 21:5 says that diligent plans lead to abundance. Diligent plans lead to abundance; haste leads to poverty.Just doing things haphazardly, not planning, not praying—we need to preface our action with prayer. Then we need to plan, and we need to move on those plans. Once we receive direction, we have to get very strategic intentionally. How much desire do you have for it? What's the intentional level? Map out the steps.We can have vision and then strategy, and then we have to break it down to tactical steps. What are our resources? What people need to be involved? What's the timeline? This isn't just trusting in your own planning more than God. It's not.Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the Lord builds the house," but builders are still working under the Lord. He's the master craftsman. "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." So planning sanctified by prayer equals a high form of worship before God through our work.Step Three: Execute with the Spirit's EnergyNumber three: execute with the Spirit's energy. We have creative prayer plus moving into diligent planning plus now executing with the Spirit's energy. This is where a lot of things can stumble and stall, if I can be honest with you. We try to finish in our own strength what God prompted, what God started.Galatians 3:3 says, "Have you begun by the Spirit? Are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Are you beginning something in the Spirit and now trying to execute on it or finish it in your own natural flesh? The same Spirit who gave the vision wants to fuel the execution of it. So we want to stay connected. We want to pray through each phase of it, be sensitive to course corrections.Spirit-filled execution isn't anxiousness or frenetic activity. There's a grace to it. There's a rest to it. We're working hard while we're resting in God, and God is working through us by His grace. I think a lot of times we think of grace as remedial—"Oh God, give me your grace, I've blown it." It is that, but grace is also empowerment to live according to higher design. So grace is a key part of executing with the Spirit's energy.→ Discover more about spirit-filled execution and avoiding common pitfalls at jesussmart.com/frameworkThe Outcome: The Zeal of the LordWhat's the outcome? What does it equal? The zeal of the Lord comes. It equals success and fulfillment and fruitfulness. Jesus said, "It's my Father's will that you bear much fruit and so prove to be His disciples."The zeal of the Lord—in Isaiah 9:7, "The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this." It's talking about the kingdom of Jesus. "The government will rest on His shoulders, and His kingdom will never end." Zeal. What is zeal? We actually can receive the zeal of God.Did you know that God is zealous, that He carries an intense passion and energy of burning commitment, fierce determination? One of our prayers that we should really key in...

Brian Del Turco converses with Keith Payne to explore how lessons from his earthly father shaped his understanding of God’s Father heart. From a tough, charismatic union leader to a redeemed man of faith, Keith reflects on the wisdom, protection, and love he received and how it points to the perfect love of our heavenly Father. Together, they discuss fatherhood, redemption, and the multi-generational impact of God’s favor and guidance. This conversation is full of practical lessons, inspiring stories, and a reminder that God can redeem any situation.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/357👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------KEITH PAYNEGet your copy of 'Stuff I Got from Dad' on Amazon or Barnes & NobleFacebook -- Keith PayneCarmia’s Window Charitable Fund websiteCarmia's Window Facebook page----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT - Stuff I Got from Dad with Keith PayneSee complete and enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/357Welcome to Jesus Smart X, episode 357. This is Brian Del Turco, and today we're stepping into a conversation that hits home for every single one of us because all of us have a father story. The gospel music bed you're hearing is from the Payne Family Group, a gospel group that Keith was part of along with his brothers.I saw Keith Payne on Facebook talking about his new upcoming release, Stuff I Got From Dad, exploring how he relates his experiences with his earthly father to things about our heavenly Father—things he learned that transformed his understanding of God's fatherhood. He's on the podcast today talking about his new book by that title. It's a great conversation with an inspiring person, and I think you're going to enjoy it and benefit from it.Understanding Fatherhood: Perfect and ImperfectMaybe you had an amazing dad, or maybe your father was present but imperfect. Perhaps your experience with your earthly father was painful or even absent. No matter what your story looks like, your Father in heaven is not a reflection of your earthly dad. He is the perfection your earthly dad was only meant to point to, and God still can use it and show you some things. Please lean in.God is in the business of redeeming fatherhood. He knows how to re-father us. The conversion experience in Christ is about re-fathering—Jesus introduces us now to God as Father to heal us and to teach us who He really is. This can unlock some healing and breakthrough in your understanding of the Father heart of God.If you're new to the podcast, subscribe so that you can stay connected with future episodes. If you want to receive a weekly shot of Kingdom clarity and encouragement, you can sign up for the free Smart Edit newsletter. Just go to jesussmart.com right at the top of the homepage and you'll see the form there. You can unsubscribe at any time.If you'd like to support this podcast and the mission behind it, you can now do that through Buy Me a Coffee. It's a simple way to fuel the work—completely optional but deeply appreciated. Look for the Smart Edit Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes page.A Quick Kingdom Thought: DustedBefore we get the train rolling, I'd like to share something from a recent newsletter. We have a section called Thinking Above and Beyond. God says in Isaiah 55:9, "My thoughts are higher than your thoughts." So we need to reason with Him, think after Him.Here's a quick hit thought: Dusted. In street language, to be dusted means defeated, wiped out. In Genesis 3, the serpent—Satan through the serpent—was sentenced to the dust. It was really a prophetic humiliation. God said, "On your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life."Jesus later said that we would trample on all the power of the enemy. The enemy's realm is dust level. Don't forget that our authority in Christ is above that. We can stay and live out of that place of being seated with Christ in the heavenly places in Ephesians 2:6 and enforce the verdict that's been issued. Remember that because of Christ, his place is now under your feet, eating the dust.All right, let's lean into this conversation. I believe it's going to speak to your mind and spirit in a powerful way.Meeting Keith Payne: A First Podcast InterviewBrian: I'm excited today to have Keith Payne on the podcast. Some of you know Keith, and some of you will be introduced to him today. We're talking about a very primal topic, a seminal topic—the topic of your father and also the fatherhood of God. We've got a big problem in the world today on this issue. Keith, how are you today? I'm glad you carved out some time for us.Keith: Thanks for having me, Brian. This is exciting for me because this is my first actual podcast.Brian: Your first podcast interview?Keith: Yeah. Back in the day, we did a lot of radio and a lot of TV stuff with our music ministry, but this is the first official podcast, so you are a record breaker, my man.Brian: Well, we're christening it right here. That's wonderful. This could be the beginning of your podcast career. Who knows? I'm glad to have you here. What can the listener today expect to hear as we talk?The Birth of "Stuff I Got From Dad"Keith: The book is titled Stuff I Got From Dad: Lessons from My Father. The whole concept was birthed in the last year or two of my father's life. He started to get ill, and I started spending much more time up there helping him organize things and take care of family business. As you have an elderly parent, you reminisce.What came from those conversations was a realization on my part of the many, many lessons through the years that I had gleaned from him. Not necessarily where he sat me down and said, "Son, let me tell you about how to do X," but it was actually just experiences that upon reflection, I realized there was a real lesson there. I learned what to do and what not to do. There were lessons of what to pursue and lessons about avoiding negative outcomes.When I started reflecting on those, I said, "Man, I'm going to start writing down some of these stories." He would reminisce about his childhood or many years ago, and then I started reflecting: I've learned some lessons here. Then it made me think of my relationship with my heavenly Father. There are also lessons or deeper meanings even beyond what I got from my earthly father.Somebody said in a conversation, "Your dad's life was so amazing, somebody ought to write a book." As soon as I heard that statement, I felt that voice in my head—through the years I recognize it as the Holy Spirit—giving me the unction to say, "Yeah, somebody should. It's you."On that day, I said to myself, "I'm going to write a book." I had no experience. I didn't know where to start or what the proper methodology was. A lot of this was just me writing my thoughts and trying to organize them in a way that would be accepted or easily read by the reader. The whole origin was the last couple years of his life reminding me of the things I'd learned, which then directed me toward even deeper lessons from my heavenly Father.Fatherhood as God's DesignBrian: Would you agree with the statement, Keith, that there is no father on this planet who's perfect, and yet God uses fatherhood to teach us about Himself and to bring blessing in our lives? Maybe, as you say, information or perhaps warnings even about what not to do?Keith: Fatherhood was important to Jesus. He referred to His Father many, many times while He was on this earth. The example, the great example of what fatherhood should be—influencing your children, providing direction—He lived that example or referred to that example. So fatherhood is important to me. I've got three sons.The great thing about my relationship with my dad, my earthly father, is when I was a kid, I...

Spiritual attacks and temptation are inevitable—but domination isn’t. Walking in the light, staying aligned with Christ, and cleansing our hearts gives the enemy nothing to grab onto. We uncover practical steps to remove footholds of sin and operate in Christ's authority in everyday life.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Support the podcast (use the Smart Edit BMAC page): buymeacoffee.com/SmartEdit👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/356👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT - The Authority of Being Clean: Living Beyond the Enemy's ReachI want to start with a personal moment. There were many seasons in my life when I realized that the enemy of our soul—Satan, the devil, the adversary—had too much access into my life. He had ways and avenues to influence my thoughts, shape my emotions, and steer my decisions toward compromising choices that could have consequences.I could see patterns, subtle patterns of compromise and sin in my life, and I could feel the weight of the foothold. I could feel the weight of the ground that I had given away. I wasn't falling into egregious sins or earth-shaking major mistakes, but small stuff.And I could sense that I was being positioned for the potential of further compromise. Sin will take you farther than you want to go and faster. The Holy Spirit, prodding and bringing conviction, was a wake-up call.A Jesus Tactic for Spiritual VictoryThat's what I want to explore with you today—a real Jesus tactic for how to walk in the light and remove footholds from the enemy so that we can live and operate in the authority and success that God has given us.Spiritual attacks and temptation are inevitable. As John Eldredge says, when you're born again—even when you're born the first time—you're born into a war.And when you're born again, you're redeemed and saved, placed on a trajectory where you can become Christlike and victorious and share in the inheritance of Christ. You're still in a war, and maybe in a more heightened sense at that point.Here's the good news: when we're talking about sin and compromise and temptation, domination—you being dominated, me being dominated by that—is not inevitable. It's inevitable that we will encounter it, but I'm talking about being dominated and controlled by it.Jesus Had Nothing for the Enemy to GrabJesus knew, I think it was the evening before His crucifixion in John 14, the enemy was coming. And here's what He said: "The ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me." There is no ground in me, Jesus was saying.If we follow this Jesus tactic, we can really cut off the enemy's opportunity. Like Jesus, if we can say, "He has nothing in me." If Jesus could live with zero access for the enemy to penetrate His life and dominate and control Him, we can follow that same principle. The enemy only has as much access as we give him when we are in Christ.Walking in the LightThere's an important passage in 1 John 1:5-9. If we can get this right or start getting it right, there is so much downstream stuff we could cut off from the enemy, so much time we could save, so many benefits."God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet we're walking in the darkness, we're lying and not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."Walking in the light means that we bring hidden attitudes and compromises and sins out into the open. We confess them before the Lord primarily. There may be times where, as it says at the end of James, we confess our faults and sins to one another, and healing comes in that way. We're allowing God's light to do a reset in our inner person.It's not about perfection. When Jesus said, "You need to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect," the New Testament word for perfection is complete or mature or whole. It's not a perfection complex—totally sinless. What it is, though, is about progressive alignment, moment by moment, with the Lord.Where Spiritual Warfare Really BeginsReal spiritual warfare starts on the inside. It's not outside of us. True, there are dynamics external to us which are manifestations of spiritual warfare, but it starts on the inside, in the realm of our thoughts, our emotions, and the choices that we make.Things like anger, bitterness, lust, unforgiveness—all of these things will give the enemy territory in our hearts. And our heart shapes our personal world. Proverbs tells us to pay attention to our heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life.Paul says in Ephesians 4, when talking about anger: "Be angry, but sin not. And do not let the sun go down on your anger." Come to a place of settled resolution the day of. And he says, "Do not give the devil ground."Something like anger—if sin were a river, anger is up at the headwaters of it. All kinds of things flow out of anger: unforgiveness, bitterness, even murder. We don't want to give the devil an opportunity. Don't give him ground. Cut him off.Read the full transcript with all Scripture references and deeper insights at https://jesussmart.com/356The Authority of Being CleanIn Psalm 19, David says, "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever." Talk about lasting power. Being clean has lasting power, both now and forever. There's authority in being clean. This is what we're talking about today: dominion in being clean.We want to be clean because from time to time we have to move in the authority of Christ. We've got to speak to that mountain. We've got to pray over somebody that needs healed. We have to mitigate against some vile thing in prayer.We want to have the authority of the Lord, and being clean is a prerequisite to moving and living in the authority of Jesus Christ.I love this thought from Francis Frangipane in his book The Three Battlegrounds: "Victory begins with the name of Jesus on our lips, but it will not be consummated until the nature of Jesus is in our hearts."It's one thing to say His name, to confess Him as Savior and even Lord, but it's another thing to allow His nature through time to be progressively conformed to His image. Every thought, attitude and choice—the Holy Spirit begins to put His finger on things and ask for change and maturity. As the nature of Jesus is built into our hearts and lives, that's the consummation of victory.Operating from Spiritual AuthorityThe devil's realm is dust level. He's not in your head. He can't be in your life. He's not above you. Our authority is above him in Christ. Ephesians 2:6 says that we've been raised up with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places. So as we walk in alignment with the Lord, as we really game up our obedience and purity, we operate from a position of spiritual authority.We can pray down into earthborn situations from our authority of being seated with Christ and out of the enemy's reach. We don't want to compromise that. Our prayer life can be crimped and hindered by sin. We want to be able to pray from our true authority of being seated with Christ in heavenly places. We're living above the line.John Owen, the Puritan theologian, wrote in his famous book 'The Mortification of Sin': "Simply be killing sin or it will be killing you." There is no third option. It's very binary. Be killing sin or it will be killing you.Be encouraged with this: our obedience to Christ is where the enemy's domination ends. Our obedience to Christ is not where temptation ends. It's not even where spiritual warfare ends or spiritual attacks.But it is where the controlling domination ends, where we do not yield, where we live victoriously. The more we do this, the easier it will become. We can step into our position and watch his grip collapse.Get the complete episode breakdown and practical action steps at https://jesussmart.com/356Three Practical Steps to Remove FootholdsHow can we do this practically? Here are three takeaways:1 - Do a Personal Spiritual AuditDo daily and weekly reflection. How are you doing? Is there something that needs to be brought into the light and confessed and abandoned? It can be thought sin, attitudinal sin, motivational sin, or actual conduct. Sin is not only sins of commission; there are also sins of omission. What should we be saying that we're not saying? How should we be acting?David put it this way in Psalm 139: "Lord, search me, know me, see if there's any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." We want to be open to allowing the Holy Spirit to do audit work in our lives.Be in connection with sound core members of the body of Christ where you...

What if you could see the New Testament not just as history, but as a living story that’s still unfolding? In Part 2 of this conversation, Brian Del Turco continues with Frank Viola, bestselling author of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. Building on Part 1, this episode dives even deeper into the context, relationships, and divine drama behind the letters of the apostles. You’ll gain a clearer view of how the early church moved with Christ—and how your own life fits into that same advancing Kingdom narrative today.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/355👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTHey there, my friend. Welcome to the podcast. This is Jesus Smart X. We're glad you're here. I'm Brian Del Turco. You're one of about 618 unique listeners in the last 28 days. Really glad you're tuning in.This is episode 355. In episode 353, we kicked off a dynamic conversation with Frank Viola, prolific author and Christian leader, about his book The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. It’s a fresh lens on the early church—the book of Acts and the letters that followed, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and so on. If you missed part one, I recommend listening to it first, though part two flows nicely on its own.Also, in episode 350, we explored Life in the Groove: Improvising with the Holy Spirit, looking at jazz and the parallels with walking in the Spirit. Today, in part two with Frank, we go even deeper. You’ll hear insights that could reframe how you read the New Testament, giving you context, storyline, and practical understanding for kingdom living today.Before we dive in, I want to mention the Smart Edit newsletter. Go to jesussmart.com, sign up at the top of the homepage. It’s free, weekly, takes five minutes to read, and will help elevate your faith and influence your sphere.Understanding the Untold StoryWithout the story—the narrative of how it all fits together—we’re open to misapplying and misinterpreting Scripture. Specifically, the early church story is often misunderstood. We tend to read our own century into the New Testament, projecting our practices back onto the primitive church, which is a major mistake across denominations.Some things stand out when the story is put together:The Christian life was lived very differently than most Christians today practice.The way assemblies (the Greek word ecclesiae) were planted and functioned was completely different than today’s churches.The way ministers and church planters were trained in the first century was radically different.People might say they were “archaic,” but if you look at how Jesus trained the 12, there are timeless principles superior to modern ministerial training.Hands-On Leadership DevelopmentCould you give an example of that leadership development?It was hands-on. The disciples lived with Jesus for three years—they observed Him interacting with His Father, saw Him handle problems, watched Him lead. Then He gave them assignments and missions. Paul did the same with his team—training eight men (plus a ninth) in Ephesus for three years, in exactly the same hands-on way.The book doesn’t make prescriptive applications. I don’t tell readers, “Do it this way.” I simply transport you into the first-century story, written in the present tense, and let you draw your own applications.The Untold Story: Why It MattersSo the story is untold—it is what it is, right?Yes. It’s “untold” because no one has presented Acts together with the epistles as one seamless narrative, filling in historical details. My presentation combines Luke’s account with the letters of Paul, creating a complete picture.Applying the Story TodaySo it’s seminal, almost like DNA—something readers need to contextualize in their lives, praying for guidance on how to apply it, without the book being prescriptive.Exactly. It’s not a history book. People may think it is, but the goal is to unlock the New Testament letters with context, helping readers understand them in a fresh way. Most Christians miss much of the letters’ meaning because they don’t know the narrative behind them.Key TakeawaysI look forward to reading more. One major insight—what would you want me to take away?Think of the book as spiritual windshield wipers. The letters are in the book itself—you don’t need to stop and read them separately. You get the background story first, then read the letter, and it opens like a clear mountain stream.Broad ImpactEven just one believer reading it can impact their sphere of influence.Yes, pastors and groups are using it in bulk. You don’t need a particular theological stance—it transcends denominations, because the New Testament is one story, shared across all traditions.Reclaiming the Gospel of the KingdomFrom my perspective, the Holy Spirit is leading the body of Christ to reclaim the explosive gospel of the kingdom. My 2018 book, Insurgents: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, captures that. The Untold Story traces the kingdom theme from Matthew to Revelation.I recently got an email from renowned scholar Paul Barnett praising the book as “astonishing” and “deserving to be widely used,” which was an incredible honor.And for baseball fans, Aaron Judge has my book—he’ll read it next. So it’s reaching both academia and mainstream audiences.Accessibility Meets SubstanceThe New Testament as we see it now is disjointed. We often lift verses out of context, creating doctrine or practice mistakes. This book helps correct that by giving the story, context, and continuity, preventing misapplication.Fragmented thinking is an issue—we need thematic, integrated approaches. This book helps with that.Closing ThoughtsThanks, Frank, and encourage everyone to check out his resources online and in book form.Thanks for joining us for episode 355 of Jesus Smart X. I hope this part two with Frank Viola helped you see the New Testament story and your place in it with fresh clarity. Go to the enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com/355 for links to Frank’s ministry and his book.If you missed part one, that’s episode 353. And for a creative complement, check episode 354, Life in the Groove: Improvising with the Holy Spirit.Grab the Smart Edit newsletter at jesussmart.com—elevate your faith, live smart.

What if walking with God is about moving in rhythm with the Holy Spirit — like a jazz musician improvising in the moment? We explore what it means to live in a Heaven and Earth Jazz Jam session. Listening, responding, and co-creating with God. Drawing on Scripture, spiritual insight, and the creative lessons of jazz, we explore how to sharpen spiritual intuition and flow in unexpected moments in every area of life and work.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISOSDE TRANSCRIPT -- Life in the Groove — Improvising with the Holy Spirit (EP 354)In this episode of Jesus Smart X Podcast, Brian Del Turco explores the idea of moving in rhythm with the Holy Spirit — like a jazz musician improvising in the moment. Drawing on Scripture, spiritual insight, and the creative lessons of jazz, we explore how to sharpen spiritual intuition, respond in unexpected moments, and co-create with God in every area of life and work.Between Episodes: Continuing the Conversation with Frank ViolaBefore diving in, Brian mentions the ongoing two-part series with Frank Viola. Episode 353, The New Testament Like You've Never Seen It, explores reading the New Testament as a single, unfolding narrative, discovering the heartbeat of the early church, and seeing how our personal life story fits into Jesus’ larger story.Don’t forget to check out the Smart Edit newsletter at jesussmart.com.Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly, each Thursday. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.Jazz and the Brain: A Spiritual ParallelListening to jazz activates nearly every part of the brain, enhancing focus, emotional depth, flexibility, and anticipation. Jazz requires us to listen actively, adapt to shifting harmonies, and respond creatively.This is an excellent metaphor for walking with the Holy Spirit. Our relationship with God isn’t meant to be rigid or scripted. Scripture is our key signature — steady, unchanging, and true — while the Spirit invites us to improvise within that framework.As Galatians 5:25 reminds us, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”Walking with the Spirit is not marching in lockstep; it’s keeping time in a living rhythm, a cadence flowing from the Father through the Holy Spirit.The Improvisational Life: Flowing with the SpiritJazz and the Spirit share a key principle: tension and release, anticipation, and responsiveness. Life with the Holy Spirit requires mental and spiritual flexibility — a readiness to pivot, adapt, and respond in a Christlike way.As Dallas Willard taught, true discipleship is Christ in you, living through your life circumstances. This requires alertness, creativity, and continual renewal — exactly what Romans 12:2 calls the “renewing of your mind.”Classical music offers structure, discipline, and symmetry, while jazz develops intuition, sensitivity, and improvisation. Life in the Spirit demands both: grounded truth and openness to surprise, ready to follow God’s lead in the moment.The Heaven and Earth Jazz Jam SessionA powerful image: the Heaven and Earth jazz jam session. Just as musicians listen, respond, and create together, we are invited to move in harmony with God and with a community of believers.This Micro Ecclesia — a small, tight-knit group — becomes a spiritual “studio” where prayer, worship, and collaboration sharpen our ability to listen to God and to one another. The Holy Spirit orchestrates, guiding the flow, rhythm, and improvisation of our lives.Practical Ways to Improvise Spirit-Led LifeFive practical ways to cultivate this jazz-like flow with God:Quiet Your Heart – Set aside time for stillness. Remove agendas and lists, leaving space for the Spirit to move.Flow in Prayer – Begin praying, allowing the Holy Spirit to shift your words and thoughts. Let your prayers take unexpected directions.Journal the “Royal Riffs” – Capture insights, nudges, or impressions from the Spirit. There is authority in recording what God reveals.Partner with Others – Some revelations unlock only in community. Pray, worship, and move with other Spirit-led believers.Take Spirit-Prompted Risks – Step out in faith when the Spirit calls you to speak, start, stop, or act. Trust His guidance, even in improvisation.Each step strengthens your spiritual ear, teaching you to respond to God’s cues and to participate in the divine rhythm of life.The Kingdom Symphony in ActionWalking with the Spirit is not about performance. It’s about partnership. The Holy Spirit leads, and we join in, improvising in sync with God’s rhythm. Ephesians 5:18-19 reminds us to be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Spontaneously, joyfully, and in harmony.Whether in prayer, relationships, or ministry, this improvisational flow equips us to pursue God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. By listening, trusting, and playing our part, we become part of a larger Kingdom symphony, co-creating with God in real time.Closing ThoughtsBrian encourages listeners to embrace a Heaven and Earth jazz jam session in daily life:Listen attentively.Respond creatively.Trust God’s lead.Partner with Spirit-led believers.God has written the ultimate score of redemption, and He invites us to play within it. Life with the Holy Spirit is alive, dynamic, and deeply creative. Let’s keep in step with Him, improvise faithfully, and enjoy the melody He is creating in and through us.Catch this episode and enhanced show notes at jesussmart.com, complete with a full transcript.Remember: God is calling us to partner, not perform. Listen, trust, and play your part in the Kingdom Symphony.

What if you could read the New Testament as a single, unfolding story—seeing the books in their real-life context and discovering the heartbeat of the early church? Brian Del Turco talks with Frank Viola, bestselling author of The Untold Story of the New Testament Church. You’ll see how the New Testament connects to your own storyline in Christ, as His Kingdom continues to advance today. This fresh perspective will help you unlock Scripture and your place in God’s epic narrative. Part 1 of 2.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/353👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTBrian: Welcome to the podcast! Today, I’m thrilled to have Frank Viola with us to discuss his new project—a book every follower of Jesus will want to explore. Frank, how are you today?Frank Viola: I’m doing well, Brian. I always enjoy being on your show, and I’m excited to talk about the book.The Untold Story of the New Testament ChurchBrian: I have my copy right here, and I’ve been using it… literally curling it for reps! Listeners, this is a hefty book—over 600 pages—but it’s surprisingly accessible.Frank Viola: That’s right. Despite its size, many readers find it easy to read. The goal was never just a history lesson—it’s to unlock the New Testament, especially the epistles, in a fresh way.Brian: So, what inspired you to take on this massive project?Frank Viola: It goes back to when I became a believer at 16. I stumbled upon a small book that linked the Book of Acts with Paul’s letters. That exposure shaped everything. Over time, I studied New Testament chronology, influenced heavily by F.F. Bruce, and by 1998, I began constructing a full chronological account of the New Testament, filling in historical and cultural details.Solving a Common Problem for ChristiansFrank Viola: The problem many Christians face is not fully understanding the New Testament. The books aren’t arranged chronologically, and Luke’s account in Acts is highly condensed.Add the 16th-century chapter and verse divisions, and it’s easy to misinterpret. My book reconstructs the story from Pentecost to Patmos, blending Acts with the epistles to provide context that has been missing for centuries.Brian: That’s incredible. It’s vital for Christians to see the full storyline of the kingdom, from the early church to today.Frank Viola: Exactly. And this approach has been endorsed by 20 preeminent New Testament scholars. It’s the first book to combine the entire narrative chronologically with full citations, based on up-to-date scholarship.Challenges and ApproachBrian: Scholars will disagree on some chronological details. Can you give an example?Frank Viola: Sure. The dating of James’ epistle is debated. Some scholars place it before Galatians, others after. Either way, it doesn’t affect the overall narrative, which is what matters.Brian: So, it’s about scoping and sequencing—seeing the narrative as a whole.Frank Viola: Yes. The book organizes the 27 New Testament books, focusing on Acts to Revelation, and even includes Jesus’ story and eternity past, giving readers the full picture of God’s kingdom from beginning to end.Making Study of the New Testament AccessibleBrian: Were there points where writing the book became particularly challenging?Frank Viola: Definitely. Balancing scholarly accuracy with reader accessibility was tough. I wanted complex historical and cultural information to be understandable for every Christian reader.Sourcing was also a major effort—over 2,400 footnotes, distilling insights from over 1,000 books. The goal was to create a compelling narrative that brings the New Testament to life.Brian: It sounds like it transforms the reading experience.Frank Viola: It does. Understanding the full story of the New Testament changed my life. When readers see the letters in context, they experience the New Testament in a way most have never imagined.Understanding the Full NarrativeBrian: I love your analogy with LEGO.Frank Viola: Yes! Reading the New Testament in its current order is like trying to build a dinosaur with only 400 of 600 LEGO pieces. Acts gives you the main body, but the epistles complete the picture. Only by combining them chronologically can you truly see the full story.Brian: That really illustrates why understanding chronology and context is essential for faithful interpretation.Frank Viola: Exactly. This book gives Christians the key to reading the New Testament as a connected, coherent narrative. It’s transformative for personal study, ministry, and understanding God’s kingdom story.

A township board said a couple might have to leave their home over a permit dispute. Instead of giving in to fear, the husband turned to a small Micro Ecclesia prayer gathering. The board voted 4–1 in their favor. We look at how Micro Ecclesia—small, Spirit-led communities—carry real Kingdom authority. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 6, we’ll see why even the smallest gatherings of believers can judge matters and shift outcomes.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/352👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTA Testimony of God’s InterventionImagine this: you and your spouse have just moved into your new home. Renovations are finished, everything is in place—and then you receive troubling news. Your township informs you that the permit for your home may be invalid, and you might have to leave. Suddenly, your plans feel like they’re hanging by a thread.What do you do? Do you panic? Do you put all your trust in attorneys, boards, and bureaucrats? Or do you turn to something far more powerful—the ekklesia, the body of Christ?That’s exactly what one of the members of our prayer group faced this past week. His story illustrates the often-underestimated power of a small, Spirit-led community of believers.What Is a Micro Ecclesia?A Micro Ecclesia is a small, highly functional group of growing believers. These are people on a quest, gathering intentionally—either in person or online—for the exchange of inspired ideas and prayer.In our group, we often focus on national and even international issues. But we also make space for personal concerns. One of our brothers, a pastor who also serves in law enforcement and education in his town, shared a pressing need: his newly purchased home was being threatened by a challenge to its building permit.To make matters worse, someone on the township board told him, “I’ve never lost a case like this.” That’s a bold (and inflated) statement—but God was about to show His authority.Choosing Prayer Over PanicInstead of rushing to the public board meeting that evening, our brother prioritized joining our Micro Ecclesia prayer gathering. He and his wife had already prayed, but this time he brought the concern before the group.We prayed with authority. We treated our gathering not as a simple prayer circle, but as a *laboratory of Kingdom authority.* We asked God to intervene.Later that evening, while we were still praying, he received a phone call: the board had voted 4 to 1 in his favor. Against the odds. Against the boastful words of a man who claimed he never lost.We believe this wasn’t coincidence. It was God’s intervention, honoring the decision to prioritize His house of prayer.The Scriptural Basis of EcclesiaThe word "ecclesia" originally came from the Greeks, later adopted by the Romans. It referred to a gathering of citizens, often at the city gates, to make decisions and determine policy.Jesus took this secular word and infused it with Kingdom meaning: *“I will build my ekklesia.”* He promised His presence and authority whenever two or more gather in His name. That’s Kingdom quorum.The ekklesia is more than a religious service. It’s a gathering of Kingdom citizens exercising Christ’s authority on earth. Local boards, national governments, corporations, and agencies are all subject to the name above every name.Small Gatherings with Big ImpactThe Micro Ecclesia is not meant to replace the local church. Instead, it’s another layer of Kingdom affiliation. In our group of just six people, six different churches are represented.What happens in these small circles? We leave space for the Holy Spirit. We improvise in prayer, following His lead, sometimes into areas we never anticipated. Over time, as a group grows together, it learns to discern the Spirit’s leading with greater precision.And as we saw in this testimony, these gatherings are not powerless. They carry weight in the Spirit that can affect real-world outcomes.A Kingdom Call-to-ActionThe apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6, challenging believers not to rely solely on secular courts for judgment, but to trust the wisdom and authority of the Ecclesia. He reminded us that one day believers will even judge angels.That authority begins now. Micro Ecclesia gatherings are a rehearsal for the Kingdom authority we will fully exercise with Christ in the age to come.This testimony shows that even small, earthly matters are not too small for God. When we prioritize His Kingdom, He takes care of our house.TakeawayDon’t underestimate the power of a small gathering of believers. Ask the Holy Spirit to connect you with one or two others and begin shaping a Micro Ecclesia. Bring your concerns to God, exchange them for His wisdom, and watch how He moves.It doesn’t need to be formal. It doesn’t need to be large. But it can be powerful. When Kingdom citizens gather, things happen.And to the man who boasted that he had “never lost a case like this”? He lost. Because the true authority rests with Jesus Christ and his Ecclesia.---I’d love to hear your thoughts. Send me a message at [email protected] if you know someone who would benefit from the theme in this episode, share it with them.

Faith unlocks understanding. In this episode, we explore how to access Jesus’ intelligence in daily life — from navigating challenges to making smart decisions. Discover why trusting in wisdom from above surpasses human reasoning. Real knowledge of the Holy One is the ultimate source of insight and understanding for life.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: jesussmartx.captivate.fm/episode/by-faith-we-understand-accessing-jesus-intelligence-in-daily-life-ep-351👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTThe Backdrop of a Turbulent WorldAs I record this episode on September 18, 2025, it has been a tumultuous stretch in America and around the globe. Our world is broken and in desperate need of the regeneration Jesus promised — the new heavens and the new earth.Recent events highlight this brokenness. America was shaken by the political assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. In Charlotte, North Carolina, a young Ukrainian woman was brutally murdered on a subway. London saw unprecedented crowds protesting the government, demanding change. In Nepal, younger generations rose up, burned the parliament building, and forced out corrupt leadership. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of war between Russia and Ukraine.These are just a few flashpoints, but they raise the question: how do we process what’s happening? How do we interpret the swirl of events, both globally and in our own lives?Faith as the Highest UnderstandingHebrews 11:3 tells us that “by faith we understand.”Faith is not blind — it is the highest form of understanding. There are realities that human reasoning alone cannot fully grasp. Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”The Hebrew word for “understanding” carries the sense of discernment or insight — perceiving what is really happening. We are warned not to rely on our own insight but to acknowledge God intimately, and He promises to smooth out our path.We Go Beyond Human ReasonModern culture often exalts the human mind. Think of the Enlightenment and the famous phrase cogito ergo sum — “I think, therefore I am.”Reason has value, but our supreme allegiance is not to our ability to think. It is to God Himself. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One brings true understanding.Dallas Willard, in The Divine Conspiracy, reminds us that Jesus is the smartest person who ever lived.He transformed water into wine, fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, calmed storms, and even raised the dead. He is the cognitive and practical master of all reality — physical, moral, and spiritual. To say “Jesus is Lord” must also mean acknowledging that Jesus is brilliant. He continues to oversee human history.Wisdom That Penetrates Every CircumstanceA.W. Tozer wrote that Jesus is the "ultimate strategist, the perfect thinker, the one whose wisdom orders all things." John Piper has said that "Jesus’ intelligence is not abstract but always practical — it penetrates every circumstance."This means He understands international conflicts, cultural upheavals, and national policies. But He also understands your personal challenges: family struggles, work frustrations, opportunities, and decisions.From the macro of world events to the micro of our individual lives, his wisdom applies.Faith Opens Our PerceptionThe Greek New Testament word for understanding, sýnesis, literally means “putting things together.”Faith enables the Holy Spirit to help us see how the pieces of life fit together. Pattern recognition is one of the highest forms of intelligence, and through faith, God opens our eyes to see patterns, contours, and outlines of what He is doing — even if not yet in full clarity.All of God’s people are prophetic in this sense, because the "testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10). The Holy Spirit within us helps us perceive and sense our way forward into the future.Wisdom from AboveJames 1 encourages us to ask God for wisdom in trials, and James 3 distinguishes between earthly wisdom and wisdom from above. Earthly wisdom is natural and even demonic. Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, humble, and willing to yield.We are not left groping in the dark. We have access to the One who knows the end from the beginning. Instead of saying, “I think, therefore I am,” our allegiance can be, “I belong to God, therefore I am.” "In Him we live, move, and have our being" (Acts 17).By Faith, We UnderstandUltimately, understanding is more than data — it is spiritual discernment. The highest form of knowledge is the knowledge of the Holy One. There are puzzles and conundrums we cannot solve on our own, but by faith we understand.So what are the top three challenges you’re facing right now? Instead of leaning on your own understanding, bring them to Jesus, the smartest man who ever lived. He will get into the mix. He will sway your thinking, shape your judgment, and smooth your path.A Closing PrayerHoly Spirit, illuminate our minds. Father, grant us Your wisdom. By faith, we understand. Teach us to acknowledge you in all things so that our paths are made straight.My friend, in Jesus, you are a solver. Don’t be intimidated by the so-called elites or power brokers of this world. They have made a mess of things.But you have the Holy Spirit, you carry God’s voice within you, and you can grow in the Word, in resonance with Him, and in being led by His Spirit.Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement. And don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, the Smart Edit, at JesusSmart.com.

Jericho was more than a military victory—it was a prophetic gateway into the Promised Land. Today, the same God who caused the walls to fall is calling you to silence doubt, lift a faith-filled shout, and step into new territory. The blueprint at Jericho can guide you in overcoming obstacles, align with covenant promises, and step boldly into the story He’s writing through your life.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTHey friend, welcome to the podcast! Brian Del Turco here with Jesus Smart X. Today I want to talk about something I’m calling the Jericho Test—or what I also think of as the explosive Jericho strategy.It’s a biblical pattern that opens the way to promise. The truth is, each of us will face these kinds of tests as we pursue the promises of God in our personal world, our assignment, and our sphere of influence. Passing them not only glorifies God but also contributes to the greater Jesus story—the unfurling of His kingdom.Success, God’s wayThis is episode 350. Can you believe it? In the last episode—episode 349, Success, God’s Way—I talked about the importance of principles, push, and tact. We need sound kingdom principles, but we also need energy (push) and wisdom (tact) so things don’t derail. If you haven’t caught that one yet, I encourage you to go back and listen.Facing the Jericho TestIn the Old Testament, God’s people stood at the edge of promise after 40 years in the wilderness. To transition into the land flowing with milk and honey, they had to face Jericho—the first major city in their conquest of Canaan (Joshua 6).Jericho wasn’t ordinary. It was built on a hill, with two massive walls—an outer wall six feet thick and an inner wall twelve feet thick. Houses were even built into the structure. With no tanks or explosives, cities like this usually took months to conquer. But God gave Joshua and Israel a genius strategy that overturned human expectations.The Jericho Test reminds us that before we move into God’s promises, there are obstacles we must face in faith.Patterns and PrecedentsPaul wrote in Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The Old Testament is full of patterns and precedents that point to Christ and teach us how to walk in the New Covenant.The glory of the New Covenant far surpasses the Old. What Israel experienced at Jericho was remarkable, but what we have in Christ is even greater. As Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”Encounter with the CommanderBefore the battle, Joshua encountered a man with a drawn sword—what scholars call a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (Joshua 5). Joshua fell on his face before the Commander of the Lord’s armies. Just as Moses had to remove his sandals before the burning bush, Joshua was told he was standing on holy ground.This encounter shows us something essential: before we face our Jericho, we must position ourselves before the Commander to receive His directives.Silence, Then the ShoutGod’s strategy was unusual: Israel was to march around Jericho in silence for six days, with only the priests blowing ram’s horns. On the seventh day, they were to shout—and the walls collapsed. Archaeological evidence suggests the walls may have been pushed straight down into the ground, opening the way for Israel to ascend into the city.Why silence first? Because Israel’s downfall in the wilderness was their grumbling and complaining. God shut their mouths for six days to discipline their words. Then, at the appointed time, their shout of faith released angelic activity and brought the walls down.Psalm 118:15 says, “The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” When our tents—our lives—are filled with joyful shouting, God’s right hand moves in power.Four Takeaways from JerichoHere are four takeaways we can apply today:Seek fresh encounters with the Commander. Make His directives your priority. Position yourself to hear from Him.Audit your signal-to-noise ratio. Filter out external noise from people and circumstances, as well as internal noise from fear and doubt. Amplify God’s true signal in your life.Release your shout of praise. Don’t underestimate the power of declaring God’s promises with faith. Your shout is greater than the noise.Expect God to ascend over your affairs. Psalm 68:1 says, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered.” As your life-shout increases, anticipate God rising over your specific challenges and opportunities.Stepping Into PromiseAs you engage this kingdom dynamic, you’ll progressively possess the land of promise God has destined for you. This isn’t about personal aggrandizement—it’s about His glory and the unfolding of His story through your life.Paul writes in Ephesians 1:3 that we’ve already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. The key is committing to the Commander’s directives and releasing a higher sound that God inhabits and angels respond to.Closing ThoughtsThis has been episode 350 of Jesus Smart: The Podcast. Do you know someone who would be encouraged by this? Share it with them—it could be the spark they need.And I’d love to invite you to the Smart Edit, my weekly email. It’s a five-minute read designed to elevate your faith and help you make an impact. You can sign up free at JesusSmart.com.Thanks for listening—I’ll catch you next time.

What does it really take to succeed God’s way? In this episode of JesusSmartX, we highlight biblical success principles that move you beyond theory into real results. True success isn’t about hustle alone — it’s about aligning with a Kingdom mindset and living Spirit-led.We’ll break down the pattern of Principles → Push → Tact:Principles: unshakable, Biblical first truths that set the foundation for success.Push: Spirit-empowered drive to overcome inertia, resistance, and fear.Tact: God’s wisdom in timing, tone, and method that transforms raw effort into fruitful outcomes.When these three elements align, you unlock faith and success in your life, relationships, and calling. If you’re ready to break through resistance and live with purpose, this will equip you with biblical keys to good success.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to the podcast, my friend. Brian Del Turco here with the Jesus Smart X podcast.Have you ever had the right idea about something but just couldn’t seem to move it forward? Or maybe you pushed hard toward something only to realize the timing or tone was off, and it just didn’t work.It’s a familiar struggle. We can have the right principles, but without the right kind of push, those principles don’t carry us forward. On the other hand, if we push without tact, we risk damaging relationships, squandering opportunities, and blowing everything up.When these three elements—principles, push, and tact—come together, that’s when we step into what the Bible calls good success. And that’s our focus for today.Good SuccessThe world measures success by numbers, influence, possessions, or comparisons. But true kingdom success looks different. It bears the mark of Christ. It’s rooted in Him, it produces fruit that remains, and it becomes a testimony to others—pointing them to the hope of Jesus and His everlasting kingdom.This kind of success is both eternal and practical. It shows up in the now, in your life and work, and it points people to Christ.Principle #1: Live from First PrinciplesThe starting point is principles—God’s truth.Jesus taught that the wise person builds their house on the rock. That rock is Christ Himself, along with obedience to His sayings. Kingdom principles are those foundation stones—values, realities, and truths—that cannot be compromised.If we don’t start with God’s principles, everything else is misaligned. It’s like leaning your ladder against the wrong building. You might climb high, but eventually you realize it’s not where you wanted to go.Principle #2: Push with Faith and Holy DrivePrinciples alone don’t move the needle. At some point, we need to push forward in faith.James says that faith without works is dead. Real faith involves movement. It requires effort and holy drive, energized by the Spirit.Paul described it this way: “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).This isn’t about performing to earn God’s favor. It’s about stewarding the calling He’s given us, pressing forward with His energy and strength.But if we push without wisdom or sensitivity, we can squander opportunity. Which brings us to the third principle.Principle #3: Tact—Timing, Tone, and MethodTact is Spirit-led timing, tone, and method. It’s knowing how to apply principles and energy in the right way, at the right moment.Think of Jesus. Though He carried divine authority, He never bulldozed people.Instead, He always had the right word, the right touch, at the right time. He moved with both power and tact, in perfect sync with His Father.Scripture tells us:“He makes all things beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).Without tact, we risk hurting others, damaging our witness, and wasting time. But with tact, the Spirit transforms raw drive into fruitful outcomes.Weaving It All TogetherSo here’s the framework: principles + push + tact. Miss one, and success falters.Some of us lean heavy on principles, but we struggle to act.Others push hard, but without tact, we bruise relationships and squander opportunities.The Spirit invites us into balance—living from Christ-centered principles, moving forward with Spirit-empowered push, and applying Spirit-led tact.Here’s a Prayer You Might Make Your OwnHoly Spirit, illuminate kingdom principles from Jesus for my life and calling. Empower me to push forward with Your strength. And give me Spirit-led tact—the timing, tone, and strategy—to walk fruitfully in Your story.When these three elements are woven together, we step into good success under God’s hand.Closing ThoughtsFriend, I believe this framework can change how you approach your work, relationships, and spiritual growth. It’s about building on Christ, pressing forward with His energy, and moving with Spirit-led tact.If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who might need it. And if you’d like to go deeper, join me through the Smart Edit e-letter, my free weekly email. Just visit JesusSmart.com.Drop in your email, and you’ll start receiving fresh insights and encouragement to live at a higher level in Christ.Thanks for listening—I appreciate you, and I look forward to next time.

We explore the staggering potential you have in prayer—accessing the Father with Christ’s perfection, legal standing, and firstborn rights as a co-heir.Plus, in our Smart Wellness segment, discover why a simple ½ cup of cottage cheese before bed can protect muscle, fuel metabolism, and support fat loss. All while you sleep. A Kingdom key for your spirit … and a small habit that strengthens your body.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart.com/348👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to Jesus Smart X the Podcast! I’m Brian Del Turco, and I’m glad you’re here.Today we’re talking about living with a sense of omnipotency in prayer. Of course, we’re not God—but because prayer connects us to the limitless, all-powerful God, it has no limits. When we pray, we’re partnering with His power and presence.This theme is drawn from the Smart Edit Newsletter. If you’re not yet on the list, you can sign up at JesusSmart.comUpcoming Podcast GuestsWe have some excellent guests on the horizon ...Gary Ingram from the Love and Truth Network will join us to discuss gender confusion, restoration, and biblical truth. He brings both expertise and personal life experience to this critical topic.Frank Viola—a tremendous author and thinker who has deeply influenced me through his writing and mentoring—will also be back on the show.If you missed recent episodes, check out:Kingdom Forward: Living on the Leading Edge of the King’s StoryFaith Gains: Why Resistance Strengthens Your SpiritPrayer = Living Without LimitsA Puritan once said: “In prayer, I have a sense of omnipotency.”He wasn’t claiming to be God, but he recognized that when we partner with God in prayer, His limitless power is directed toward us.Paul writes in Ephesians 1 that as we grow in the spirit of wisdom and revelation, we can know “the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe.” Prayer taps into that reality.Here are three key truths about why prayer has no limits:1. Prayer Gives Us Access to God's ThroneThrough Christ, we have legal standing before the Father. His righteousness clothes us, quenching every accusation and giving us confidence to approach God’s throne. Prayer isn’t about twisting God’s arm—it’s about stepping into the access Jesus secured for us.2. Prayer Carries Legal AuthorityWhen we pray in Jesus’ name, it’s not just a tag at the end of our request. Jesus gave us His name as legal authority—as if holding His power of attorney before heaven’s court. This means we can act in His stead, backed by His rights and inheritance.3. Prayer Joins Us to Christ's Firstborn RightsScripture says we are co-heirs with Christ. When we pray, we do so in partnership with Jesus’ firstborn privileges over all creation. That authority extends over people, systems, organizations, and even nations.Don’t shrink your prayers down to your own resources—pray bold, big prayers that align with God’s will.Prayer is limitless because it connects us to the limitless God. As James wrote (4:2), “You do not have because you do not ask.”Let’s not leave blessings, breakthroughs, and opportunities on the table simply because we failed to pray.A Wellness Bonus: The Cottage Cheese Bedtime BoostNow for a surprising health tip I’ve been practicing—straight from my wellness journey after dealing with shingles earlier this year.Since then, with God’s help and some lifestyle changes, I’ve lost 30 pounds and gained muscle. One of the small but powerful practices I’ve discovered: eating a half cup of low-fat cottage cheese before bed.Here’s why it works:Cottage cheese contains casein protein, which digests slowly and provides a steady release of amino acids overnight.One key amino acid, leucine, signals the body to preserve and rebuild muscle tissue while you rest.When paired with proper sleep rhythms and by shutting down the kitchen after 7 p.m. (to avoid insulin spikes), cottage cheese helps your body release human growth hormone (HGH) naturally.The result: better recovery, stronger muscles, fat burning during sleep, and improved overall metabolic health.This is about stewarding the body God gave us. Jesus cares about every domain of life—our bodies, minds, relationships, finances, and more.Wellness is part of God’s design for human flourishing.Final EncouragementGod invites us to pray bold prayers because His power is without limits. At the same time, He calls us to steward our lives wisely—including our health. Prayer and practical wisdom go hand in hand.As Jeremiah 31:25-26 says: “I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul… and my sleep was sweet to me.”May your prayers grow bold and your sleep be sweet.If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that prayer is limitless. And maybe they could use a cottage cheese tip too!Don’t forget to subscribe to the Smart Edit Newsletter for weekly insights at JesusSmart.com.

What does it mean to live Kingdom Forward? In this short, high-impact episode of JesusSmartX, discover how to align every decision, relationship, and prayer with the King’s agenda. Drawing from John 3 and Matthew 6:33, we explore how to seek first God’s Kingdom, live ahead, and advance His reign in real life — flourishing, now and forever.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter -- Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTLife on the Leading Edge of God’s KingdomWelcome to the Jesus Smart X Podcast. I’m Brian Del Turco, and here we quest to explore life on the leading edge of God’s kingdom. This isn’t just a belief system—it’s a dynamic reality we step into through the born-again experience (John 3, Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus). From there, it’s a process of growth, discipleship, and development.A professor once explained it to me as punctiliar versus process: a point in time versus a continuing line. Entering the kingdom begins at a moment—conversion—but then becomes a lifelong process of growth in Christ.From Tech Forward to Kingdom ForwardRecently, while on a fitness walk, I was listening to a podcast where a guest described people and companies as "tech forward"—early adopters leaning into technology. That phrase struck me. What if we thought of our lives as kingdom forward?A kingdom forward person leans into God’s reign. They seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Their mindset, values, and decisions align with the King’s agenda, not with cultural trends or even religious habits.Why the Kingdom Matters NowIn North America and Europe, many Christians tend to approach faith as “churchianity” or simply “getting to heaven.” But Jesus said we must be born again to see and enter the Kingdom (John 3).This kingdom is not a side hustle. It’s the organizing principle for all of life.The Greeks searched for the organizing principle of reality and called it the Logos. John takes that concept and applies it to Christ: Jesus is the Logos. Everything is created by Him, sustained by Him, and moving toward Him.What It Means to Live "Kingdom Forward"Being kingdom forward means syncing our story with the Jesus story.Allowing our values, decisions, and relationships to be shaped by the King’s agenda.Asking in every challenge or opportunity: "What action right now most advances God’s reign?"Leveraging opportunities not for ego or competition but for the advancement of Christ’s story.Living this way positions us for blessing and alignment with God’s purposes.God Loves All—But He Likes Kingdom Forward PeopleHere’s a challenging thought: God loves all His children, but I believe He especially delights in those who are Kingdom forward. Those who seek His reign first are playing on a different field. They live ahead—carrying the King’s priorities into every space of life.A Kingdom Forward PrayerKing Jesus, I choose to seek first Your kingdom and the Father’s righteousness. Holy Spirit, align my steps, words, and thoughts. Advance Your reign in me, through me, and around me. I trust You to add everything designed for me as I prioritize Your kingdom. Amen.Live Ahead: The Kingdom Is ComingFriends, history is moving toward Christ. He is returning with the fullness of His kingdom—the millennium, a new heavens and a new earth. The life we live now is a seed of what’s to come. Live ahead. Wake up each day with the kingdom first, always.If this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend.

Just like muscles need resistance to grow, your faith needs tests to develop. In this short episode, discover how challenges are God’s signals to develop your spirit and advance you to the next level in Christ.Don’t just survive the pressure—train through it. God is preparing you for greater things.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to the Jesus Smart x Podcast, Episode 346. I’m Brian Del Turco, and today we’re talking about faith gains—why your spirit needs resistance to grow. Think of this episode as a short, punchy kingdom protein shake for your spiritual life.Just like the body needs weights and resistance to develop, your spirit grows when it encounters challenges. Let’s explore how trials, tests, and even spiritual warfare can actually serve as catalysts designed to strengthen our spirit.The Body Thrives on ResistanceIn fitness, you don’t get stronger by lifting air. Runners don’t improve by jogging in place. Muscles need weight, lungs need exertion, and the body adapts when faced with stress.Lift heavier weights, walk faster, or surprise your body with something new—rucking with a weighted vest, or mixing intervals into your walk. These fresh, novel signals push the body to adapt and grow. Without them, the body atrophies.It's the Same with Our SpiritHere’s the connection: your new life in Christ is designed to grow under a load. Under resistance. Your spirit is like a muscle. It only develops when it’s tested. Trials, obstacles, and pressures aren’t meant to crush you ... they’re opportunities to be trained by God.Colossians 3:10 says we “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Your new nature is dynamic, not static. Just as the body responds to weight training, your new man is renovated and renewed when tested.Trials Are Growth SignalsJames 1:2–4 reminds us to “count it all joy” when facing trials, because the testing of our faith produces endurance. And endurance leads to maturity, becoming complete, lacking nothing.God is not trying to break you. He’s training you. Every challenge (and even an opportunity that requires faith) is a faith workout. When you see trials as invitations rather than interruptions, you shift into growth mode.Takeaways for Faith TrainingShift your view — See tests as opportunities to grow, not as obstacles to avoid.Lean into resistance — Pray, declare God’s Word, and obey His leading through the challenge.Track your progress — Notice how your faith, peace, and endurance increase through past trials.Don’t just survive resistance. Train through it. Let it shape you into a strong, mature follower of Christ.The Joy Beyond the TestHebrews says Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before Him.” Likewise, your trials are not the end. They’re the path to joy and fruitfulness.So lean into the resistance. Train through the trial. Let God turn your test into a testimony and your faith into strength.Closing PrayerFather, thank You that no trial is beyond us and no resistance is wasted. Train us through every challenge. Give us joy, steadfast faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Make us more complete in Christ, fruitful in every good work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is the future of the Church small and powerful? In this episode, we unpack the rise of the Micro Ecclesia and why it may be Heaven’s disruptive blueprint for cultural transformation. Could the Holy Spirit be breathing on a grassroots model of spiritual governance—relational, agile, and infused with Kingdom power?Jesus co-opted a secular term, “ecclesia,” and filled it with Heaven’s DNA and authority. Now, that ancient design may be reemerging as a city-on-a-hill movement built to shape culture.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to the Jesus Smart Podcast. I’m Brian Del Turco, and today I want to explore a big question: Is the "Micro Ecclesia" the real mega as far as Jesus is concerned?Could something original, radical, and deeply powerful be recaptured by Jesus today—something that truly moves the needle in culture, justice, and society? Something that embodies what Jesus meant when He spoke of salt, light, and a city on a hill?This idea might stretch you. For some, it will ignite fresh excitement. For others, it may raise big question marks. And that’s okay. This is a discovery journey, and I invite you to walk it with me.Jesus Redefines "Ecclesia"In Matthew 16, Jesus takes His disciples into Caesarea Philippi, a region steeped in paganism and idol worship. Standing before a massive rock facade, He asks them: “Who do you say that I am?”Peter answers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus responds: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it.”But here’s the key: the word Jesus used wasn’t “church” as we think of it—steeples, services, and Sunday mornings. The word was Ecclesia, a term from the Greco-Roman world that described an assembly of citizens empowered to make decisions and extend the culture of the empire.Jesus took this secular institution, infused it with kingdom DNA, and declared that His Ecclesia would overcome the very portals of hell.What Is "Micro Ecclesia"?The Ecclesia isn’t about buildings or religious services—it’s about people with kingdom authority. Jesus validated this when He said in Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three gather in my name, I am there in their midst.”That’s the kingdom quorum: just two or three authentically gathered in His name carries His headship and authority. This is what we mean by a Micro Ecclesia ... a small Kingdom gathering with massive spiritual potential.It’s salt and light. It’s leaven in the culture. It’s not confined to four walls or one weekly service.Salt, Light, and CultureEarly believers wouldn’t have thought of “church” as a building or liturgy. They would have understood Ecclesia as an assembly carrying the presence and authority of King Jesus—just as Roman citizens carried the authority of their emperor wherever they met (a concept called coventus in the Latin).Imagine how this translates today. Small, Spirit-led gatherings in homes, workplaces, schools, or even coffee shops becoming outposts of kingdom influence.Education, business, government, arts, media, family. These are all domains where Micro Ecclesia can permeate culture with the life of Christ.Recovering Jesus' Original DesignThroughout history, Jesus has restored fresh dimensions of His design for His people. Could Micro Ecclesia be one of those rediscoveries today? Yes, fringe expressions may pop up, but that shouldn’t cause us to dismiss the heart of what Jesus is building.This is not about churchianity or tradition. It’s about aligning with Jesus’ architecture for His people. Like Abraham, we’re seeking the city whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11).Apostles and Kingdom BuildersJesus also co-opted the term apostle—not a religious word in His day. An apostolos (Greek) was an admiral leading a fleet, carrying materials and people to build a new colony that looked like Rome.Likewise, apostolic people in the kingdom are builders, pioneers, and makers. They are those who extend heaven’s culture into new territories. Philippi and Thessalonica were Roman colonies.The church in those cities were a kingdom colony of heaven.What About Today?So what does this mean for us?If you’re in education, find two or three who will pray and ideate together for kingdom influence in that space.If you’re in business, government, media, or the arts, begin to gather in His name with other Christ-followers who share that sphere.Think of your influence as a kingdom career. A parallel calling that extends far beyond your profession.Like Paul’s handkerchiefs in Acts 19, even ordinary things we touch can become vehicles of transformation when saturated with the presence of God. What could you touch that drives away darkness and brings healing into your sphere?Closing ThoughtThe Micro Ecclesia may just be the real mega. Not because of size, but because of alignment with Jesus’ original vision. Accurate alignment is conducive to his authority.I invite you to explore this with me. Share this episode with friends. Whether they love the idea, feel curious, or even think it’s heresy! Let’s stir the conversation.Jesus is brilliant, and whatever He builds is truly awesome. Walk with Him, and you’ll catch His brilliance in your own unique way.

Your brain is a masterpiece — the most complex organ in the universe, using up to 25% of your body’s energy. But by day’s end, it’s cluttered with waste. Sleep isn’t just rest. It’s divine design for deep renewal.In this episode, discover why sleep is your secret weapon for brain health and spiritual clarity. We’ll explore the power of the glymphatic system (your brain’s “night crew”) and why consistent sleep is more vital than even diet and exercise.Focus points include:The brain’s need to detox dailyHow sleep deprivation hijacks your healthWhat the glymphatic system does while you restGod's smart design for body, mind, and spirit----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: JesusSmart/344👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode woke something up in you (pun intended 😄), share it with someone who’s ready to live clearer, healthier, and more aligned with God’s best. Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTHey there, my friend. Welcome back to the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco with the Jesus Smart X Podcast, episode 344.First, an apology—it’s been about three weeks since the last episode. Life has been a little crazy, but we’re back on track. This weekly podcast is meant to release consistently, and we’re tightening that up moving forward.Today’s episode is a little different. I’m sharing a little research I did and a short article I wrote on JesusSmart.com: Sleeping Our Way to a Better Brain.I truly believe God gives us wisdom for every dimension of life.When Solomon asked for wisdom in the Old Testament, it wasn’t abstract philosophy. It was practical, skillful wisdom for living—how to make judgments, how to govern, even insights into nature and the created order. That same kind of wisdom is available to us today.The Most Complex Matter in the UniverseYour brain is the most complex matter in the universe. At just 2–3 pounds, it consumes 20–25% of your total energy—oxygen, nutrients, and fuel. But with such high energy use comes waste.By the end of a busy day filled with thousands of thoughts, conversations, and decisions, your brain literally accumulates waste products. If that waste isn’t cleared, your brain underperforms. Over time, it can even open the door to serious issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s.This is why protecting and cleansing your brain is critical—not only for long-term health, but so you can think sharply and finish strong in your calling.Three Keys to a Cleaner, Stronger BrainResearchers highlight three lifestyle habits that help your brain clear waste and stay healthy:Regular exercise. Walking, running, aerobic movement, resistance training—all of these support brain health.Maintaining healthy blood pressure. High blood pressure harms the brain. Medication may be necessary at times, but lifestyle shifts like diet and exercise can also make a difference.A brain-friendly diet. Vegetables, healthy fats, and antioxidants are key. Think olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, nuts. Avoid seed oils like canola or soybean oil, which damage the body and brain.But the biggest factor may surprise you ...Quality Sleep: Your Brain's Secret WeaponSleep is your brain’s hidden advantage. Yet in the U.S., 30% of adults and two-thirds of adolescents are chronically sleep-deprived. This impacts memory, learning, mood, and overall health.Adults need 7–8 hours of sleep a night. Adolescents may need up to 10. Anything less risks not only cognitive decline but also inflammation, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.Why is sleep so essential? Because that’s when your body’s glymphatic system kicks in.Think of it as the overnight cleaning crew God designed for your brain. This system flushes out toxins, metabolic waste, and damaged proteins, replacing dirty fluid with clean.When you shortchange your sleep, you shortchange your brain’s cleansing cycle. Over time, toxicity builds, performance drops, and disease risk increases.Spiritual Warfare and RestThis isn’t just biology—it’s spiritual too.Sleep deprivation can be a form of spiritual warfare. Psalm 127 reminds us that unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain. It also promises that God gives his beloved sleep. Or even gives to his beloved in their sleep.Good sleep is a gift, but we must steward it with practical habits:Consistent sleep and wake timesMinimizing screen time before bedA cool, dark room (or white noise, if needed)Prayer and meditation before sleepDo these things, and ask the Lord to bless your rest.Shalom and Holistic Well-BeingExperts say sleep is the single most important factor in total well-being. On top of that foundation, you can build exercise, nutrition, and stress management.The Old Testament word shalom goes beyond “peace.” It means wholeness, flourishing, nothing missing, nothing broken.That’s what God desires for you ... full well-being, including your brain health.A Closing PrayerFather, thank You for fearfully and wonderfully making us. You’ve designed our bodies with recovery systems and cleansing capacities. We ask for the discipline to live wisely—eating well, moving our bodies, managing stress, and protecting our sleep. Grant us strong, clear minds to serve You for the long haul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.Share This EpisodeThis is episode 344 of the Jesus Smart X Podcast. You can read the companion article on the site here: Sleeping Our Way to a Better Brain.Do you know someone who struggles with sleep or is passionate about wellness? Share this episode with them. Sleep is one of the most overlooked yet essential keys to brain health, spiritual vitality, and overall well-being.Remember, Jesus knows how human flourishing works. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right resources, people, and practices for your next steps. He will guide you into greater wisdom.Until next time, stay Jesus smart.

Iranian Christian women, imprisoned for their faith, were urged by some American churches and publishers: “Please don’t speak about the Holy Spirit.” But for them, the Holy Spirit wasn’t a side note. He was central. He sustained them through persecution and gave them supernatural strength, guidance, and peace.Why is much of the American Church hesitant, even resistant, to embrace the full-spectrum, present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit we see in the New Testament? Has a theological cognitive bias dulled our spiritual edge?In this episode, we press into the tension between charismatic Christianity and the often rational, stripped-down theology of the West. And we ask: What can the persecuted church teach us about walking in the power of the Holy Spirit?----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode woke something up in you (pun intended 😄), share it with someone who’s ready to live clearer, healthier, and more aligned with God’s best. Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTNot everyone in American churches knows and experiences true Christianity. That reality was driven home in a recent panel discussion featuring three Iranian women who endured prison for their faith in Christ. Their testimony is both sobering and inspiring.They remind us that we must value our freedom as American Christians—and use it. Our freedom is not just for personal enjoyment but to be a voice for the persecuted church worldwide.These women shared that the only thing that sustained them in prison was their faith and the present ministry of the Holy Spirit.The panel, Stories from Religious Freedom and the Growth of the Underground Church, was hosted on the Family Research Council website (FRC.org). I’ll link to it on the show notes page at JesusSmart.com.One of the women was arrested and detained in a men’s detention center in 2009. That same year, the other two were imprisoned for promoting Christianity. They spent 259 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. Although sentenced to death, they were eventually cleared and released under international pressure.Their stories, however, are not unique. Open Doors USA ranks Iran as the ninth worst country in the world for Christian persecution. (I’ll link to their resource on the show notes page as well.)A Message to the American ChurchThe Iranian women explained that when they moved to the United States, they assumed it was a Christian nation. But soon they realized that not everyone believes in Jesus—or even understands true Christianity.They compared it to Iran, where most people are born Muslim but may never read the Quran or deeply know their faith. In the U.S., many are born into Christian culture without a personal relationship with Christ.Their message to the American church is clear: appreciate the freedom you have. The ability to worship freely, sing loudly, and gather openly is a precious gift.But freedom should not be hoarded. It must be used to advocate for those who have none.As one woman said, persecution could one day come to free nations, and then we may find ourselves needing the prayers and support of others.How Can the Holy Spirit Be Silenced?One striking part of their story is how often they were asked—by churches and even a Christian publisher—to avoid talking about the Holy Spirit. They refused.“The only thing that really helped us in prison to stand in our faith was the Holy Spirit,” one said. “How can we not talk about Him?”Their testimony reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not optional. He is central to survival and victory in persecution, and in everyday life.A Theological Bias Against the Full Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today?I believe we are living in the era of the Holy Spirit since Christ. And yet, much of the American church resists embracing His full ministry.There is what I call a theological cognitive bias against the Holy Spirit’s work. Some seem to teach that He has been largely inactive for the last 1,500 years, reduced only to helping us interpret Scripture.But that view robs us of the fullness of Christ. As Paul wrote, “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).The New Covenant is far more glorious than the Old. Why would we believe that we have been downgraded from the first-century church—or even from Old Testament saints who saw God’s power firsthand?The Book of Acts is not just history; it is precedent and pattern for the church age. Jesus Himself said it was to our advantage that He return to the Father so that the Spirit could be sent.We cannot be fully Christ-centered without being fully Spirit-filled.Remembering the PersecutedThe Iranian women urged the international community to stand up for those who suffer for their faith. Their words echo Scripture:“Remember the prisoners as though in prison with them” (Hebrews 13.3).“When you did it to the least of these, you did it unto Me” (Matthew 25.40).As Christ-followers, we’re called to pray, to advocate, and to use our freedom for those who don’t have it.Living in the Light of ChristJesus is brilliant and full of light. When Saul of Tarsus encountered Him on the road to Damascus, the brilliance of His presence blinded him. I find myself praying, “Lord, blind me to my natural way of seeing. Flood me with Your light and intelligence.”The future is bright—new heavens and a new earth are coming. But even now, we can live in the light of that horizon, carrying the power and authority of Christ and His Spirit into our world.

The journey to mental freedom continues. In Part 2, author and coach Bruce Colbert unpacks the six-step process to overcome negative thought patterns for good. We also explore the often-overlooked connection between your physical health and your thought life. Heart Intelligence isn’t just theory. It’s a practical, biblical pathway to renewed thinking and the abundant life Jesus offers.👉 If this episode stirred something in you, share it with someone who’s sensing the shift and hungry for more. And be sure to follow the show—each conversation is crafted to help you live sharper, freer, and more Kingdom-centered.Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastThe Smart Edit newsletter -- Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level > https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/.

Negative thought patterns can trap us in anxiety, frustration, and spiritual stagnation. In this episode, author and coach Bruce Colbert shares a step-by-step, biblical strategy to heal your mind and break free. Discover how Heart Intelligence—a scriptural key—can transform your thinking and unlock the life Jesus promises.👉 If this episode stirred something in you, share it with someone who’s sensing the shift and hungry for more. And be sure to follow the show—each conversation is crafted to help you live sharper, freer, and more Kingdom-centered.Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastThe Smart Edit newsletter -- Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level > https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/.

Pulled from the Smart Edit newsletter, this episode flows with a prophetic edge. We’re spotlighting a Kingdom Dynamic from John 2: the first miracle of Jesus—turning water into wine at a wedding.But it’s more than a party trick. It’s a revelation. Jesus doesn’t just top off what’s lacking. He introduces something radically better, a new era, new wine, and a call for new wineskins.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Enhanced show notes: Go here👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast. Each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTIn this episode of Jesus Smart X, Brian Del Turco explores the miracle at Cana — Jesus turning water into the best wine — as a prophetic picture of how Christ upgrades our lives and stories. Discover how He’s still transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary today.What "X" Means in Jesus Smart XHey there, my friend. Welcome to the podcast! This is Brian Del Turco with Jesus Smart X. You might be wondering, What does the “X” stand for?It’s actually a historical symbol for Christos (Christ) in the early church. But I also see it as representing Christ in you and you in Christ. That intersection — Jesus Christ with you, together — is where the kingdom works.At Jesus Smart, we’ve always believed Jesus is the most brilliant person in the universe. As Dallas Willard said, He’s the “Master of molecules.” Jesus knows how to turn water into wine, heal the human body, and even pull up a fish with enough resources in its mouth to pay the tax bill.He knows how life works best. Now and forever.And that future? It belongs to Him. Not to the so-called “great singularity,” or to the globalist vision of a great reset.This world will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Everything else is a counterfeit substitute.Jesus’ message still calls out to us today: “Repent, for the kingdom of God has drawn near.” That word repent means to change your mind — and thus your lifestyle — so you can begin preparing now for the kingdom that’s coming in its fullness.Podcast Overview and Recent EpisodesThat’s what this podcast is all about. You can listen to most episodes at JesusSmart.com, and of course on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Audible — all your favorite platforms. Spread the word! Invite someone to listen in.We’re at episode 340 today, and I’m drawing from The Smart Edit newsletter — which you can subscribe to at thesmartedit.beehiiv.com (that’s spelled b-e-e-h-i-i-v). You can also find it by clicking the Newsletter tab at JesusSmart.com.The long-form newsletter goes out every Thursday. The short “B12 shot” arrives Monday mornings, a quick dose of motivation and calibration for the week.From Water to the Best WineLet’s talk about John chapter 2 ... the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding.Here’s what I love to say: There ain’t no party like a Jesus party, because a Jesus party doesn’t run dry!In this account, the wine runs out during a wedding feast. It was a major cultural embarrassment in first-century Jewish life. A seven-day celebration suddenly teetered on collapse. But Jesus stepped in.He took ordinary, common water and turned it into the best wine. Six large stone jars (used for Jewish ceremonial washings) were filled to the brim. And suddenly, the water was transformed into exquisite new wine.This wasn’t just a fix for the moment. It was a revelation. John tells us it was the first miraculous sign Jesus performed — an unveiling of His glory, showing who He truly is.The Old Is Ending. Something New Is Here.Why did Jesus start His public ministry with this miracle? It wasn’t healing blindness or raising the dead. It was providing wine for a wedding feast.There’s something deeply prophetic here. This moment prefigures the marriage supper of the Lamb, the sacred romance between Christ and His people. But it also signals that the old is ending, and something radically better is beginning.The vessels Jesus used weren’t random. They represented the old order, stone jars for ceremonial washings. Jesus filled them with something entirely new.He’s showing us that the old system, the old ways of thinking and living, can’t hold what He’s pouring out now. As He said in Luke 5:37–39, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins.” New wine demands new containers.Becoming a New WineskinWe’re in a similar moment today. The old wine is running out. Worn-out religious habits, outdated mindsets, broken systems.The question for us is: Are we willing to become new wineskins?Because Jesus is still in the “turning water into the best wine” business. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”He’s still transforming lack into abundance, ritual into reality, and the ordinary into the extraordinary — in our relationships, our work, our finances, and every life domain. But the upgrade won’t fit into yesterday’s mold. It requires fresh surrender and stretching.He’s preparing His bride (you and me) for the ultimate wedding. And the miracle at Cana is a preview of that day.Accelerated Miracles and Timing from AboveThere’s something else about this miracle that stands out ... Jesus compressed time.Growing grapes and fermenting wine takes months, even years. Yet in an instant, Jesus produced the finest wine. Maybe you need a miracle like that — something accelerated, something outside the normal timeframes of life. He can still do that.Jesus is both the bridegroom and the head waiter of His own wedding. When the head waiter tasted the wine, he told the bridegroom, “Everyone serves the best wine first, and then the cheaper wine after guests have had too much. But you have kept the best until now.”That’s the heartbeat of this story: Jesus saves the best for last.Kingdom Dynamics and Higher ThoughtsIn The Smart Edit newsletter, we often feature a “Big Idea” article, a key insight into how the kingdom of God works in real life. The water-to-wine story was one of them.We also share sections called Higher Thoughts — quick insights to elevate how we think and live. Two from recent issues stand out:Kingdom Identity Foreclosure:In psychology, “identity foreclosure” happens when someone settles too early into a version of themselves that’s not fully developed. Spiritually, the same can happen when we settle into a version of the Christian life without letting the Holy Spirit shape us deeply. Don’t foreclose on your kingdom identity too early. You’re still being formed into the image of Christ.Another insight from the newsletter ... Ballast in Your Boat:Ballast keeps a ship upright in rough waters. In our lives, truth, prayer, discipline, and community serve as ballast. Without them, we drift. Paul said in Colossians 2:7, “Let your roots grow down into Christ.” In turbulent times, depth and weight in Him keep us steady.Live Like the Wedding Is Already on the CalendarSo what does this miracle recorded in John 2 mean for us?It means we can ask Jesus: What are You upgrading in me right now? How can I live like the big wedding is already on the calendar — in the beauty, love, and provision of that coming day?He’s still transforming water into wine. Still turning the ordinary into something extraordinary. And He’s inviting us to be new wineskins that can hold His next outpouring.If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who could use encouragement today. And remember, you can sign up for The Smart Edit newsletter at thesmartedit.beehiiv.com or JesusSmart.com (click the Newsletter tab).Until next time, keep leaning into Jesus. He always saves the best for last.

Your mind wasn’t designed to live in overdrive. The pace, the pressure, the nonstop noise—no wonder we’re anxious, foggy, and missing the moment we’re in. But what if your mind could become a place of peace? In this rich conversation, Dr. Charles Stone (pastor + neuroscience guy) unpacks “holy noticing”—a practice that helps you tune in and actually live the abundant life that Jesus offers.👉 If this episode spoke to you, pass it along to someone who could use a little more peace and clarity. And don’t forget to follow the show—each conversation is here to help you live sharper, calmer, and more Kingdom-centered.Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastThe Smart Edit newsletter -- Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/)

What if the real reason you're feeling stuck isn’t a lack of talent or opportunity—but a lack of awareness about what’s already yours in Christ?In this episode, we highlight 6 cutting-edge advantages that every Christ-follower can activate:The authority of bold faith at the Throne of GraceAccess to “God-tel” — divine intelligence for real-world problemsHow insane favor flows from alignment with ChristWhat it means to carry Christ’s Name as legal authorityHow the Romans 10 pattern of heart and mouth is a lifelong power dynamicSupernatural energy and momentum from the Holy SpiritIsaiah 41:15—“I will make you into a new, sharp threshing sledge... you will pulverize mountains.” This isn’t poetry. It’s your potential.This isn’t hype. This could be our new normal.I’m sharing this because I’m waking up to these truths myself—and I want you to experience the shift too. You’re not at a disadvantage. You’ve been regenerated in Christ.----------See the full episode transcript below.👉 Explore more episodes: JesusSmart.com/podcastIf this episode gave you a fresh perspective on Kingdom Living, share it with someone who needs encouragement.Be sure to follow the podcast—each episode is designed to help you think more clearly and pursue the kind of life only Jesus makes possible.Stay current via The Smart Edit newsletter—Elevate your faith. Live smart. Make an impact. Free. Weekly. 5 minutes to grow. Unsubscribe anytime. Sign up at JesusSmart.com.----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPTHey there, Friend — welcome to Jesus Smart X. This is Brian Del Turco, and you’re listening to episode 338.Today, I want to share what might be called a listicle podcast — six ways you have a believer’s advantage as a Christ follower. You can pulverize the mountains that stand before you. This isn’t a complete list, but it’s a strong start.Before we dive in, if you missed the last couple of episodes, check them out. In episode 337, I talked with Mary DeMuth — Jesus is a Champion of Women: He Rewrites Your Life Story. It’s a powerful conversation about the Kingdom of God and how Jesus restores women to their true design and purpose.And in episode 336, I spoke with Len Hauser — Start Your Day with a Positive Mindset. Len has years of experience in radio, marketing, and ministry, and that conversation is full of energy and insight.You can find these and our full archive of episodes wherever you listen to podcasts — Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, and many other platforms. Just search Jesus Smart X and subscribe so you don’t miss anything new.The Believer's AdvantageA lot of Christ followers don’t realize they have real advantages in Jesus Christ. This isn’t about self-improvement or a life-hack program — it’s about aligning your life with Christ and seeking first the Kingdom and His righteousness.When you do, there are spiritual edges that form in your life — advantages that come directly from your connection to Christ. You’re not at a disadvantage. Let’s look at six key advantages that belong to you.Access to the Throne of GraceHebrews 4:16 says we can come boldly to the throne of grace. Authentic Christianity is not timid religion — it’s confident access to God.When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. That supernatural act opened the way for every believer to enter God’s presence freely.When you approach Him in faith, things shift. Wisdom flows, peace fills your heart, and mountains move.As James writes (James 4), sometimes we don’t have because we don’t ask. Coming boldly before the throne of grace is a tremendous believer’s advantage that releases Kingdom leverage into your life.GodtelThink of this as “God intel” — supernatural intelligence, revelation, and solutions. The Holy Spirit gives you access to the smartest mind in the universe.George Washington Carver modeled this beautifully. As a botanist, he prayed daily in his lab, asking the Creator to reveal the mysteries of creation. God answered, showing him insights about the peanut that revolutionized Southern agriculture.We talk a lot today about AI — artificial intelligence. But what about anointed intelligence? The Holy Spirit can give you real-time revelation, insight, and answers. That’s divine Godtel — and it’s one of your greatest advantages.Insane Favor via AlignmentFavor isn’t random or luck-based. It’s the byproduct of alignment with Christ.When you say yes to His ways, doors open. You walk into rooms you don’t qualify for. Things accelerate. Scripture says Jesus grew in favor with God and man — and because you’re in Him, that same favor is yours.Don’t shrink back from it. Of course, we don’t deserve it in ourselves — but we have access because of who we’re united with. Alignment equals acceleration.Exercise Authority in Christ's NameJesus said, “My name I have given to you.” That means you have spiritual power of attorney before the Father. You come to Him not on your own merit, but backed by the full credit of heaven.It’s like holding a legal authorization that activates divine authority. When you pray, act, or speak in His name, you are backed by Jesus Himself — the full faith and credit of heaven. That’s not hype. It’s Kingdom reality.The Romans 10 Pattern: Heart Belief and ConfessionRomans 10 tells us we’re saved by believing in our heart and confessing with our mouth. That’s not just a one-time event ... it’s a lifelong operating system.“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved” (Romans 10.9-10 NLT).When your heart belief aligns with your words, it creates a supernatural rhythm of transformation and manifestation. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Your words architect your reality.Keep your speech aligned with God’s Word — both your inner talk and what you speak outwardly. Salvation (soteria) includes forgiveness, healing, deliverance, and provision. A complete redemption package.Supernatural Energy from the Holy SpiritYou were never meant to live on your own battery. Romans 8 says the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. That’s resurrection power energizing your body, soul, and spirit.When you feel depleted, wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40 says those who do will renew their strength, mount up with wings like eagles, and soar high on the wind of the Spirit.This supernatural energy is an advantage that fuels every Christ follower to persevere, create, and overcome.Walking In Your AdvantagesLet’s summarize:Power at the throne of graceGodtel — supernatural intelligenceInsane favor through alignmentThe authority of Christ’s nameThe Romans 10 operating systemSupernatural energy from the SpiritYou’re not disadvantaged. Not in your calling, work, relationships, or purpose. You’ve been given an above-normal edge in Christ.A Faith Affirmation to DeclareRehearse these lines over yourself and thanking the Father as you do:I have above-normal advantages.I reject the lies that I’m late, losing, or lacking.I choose to align with Christ and play huge.I’m redesigned for wisdom and energy from above.The Spirit of Christ animates me.I advance today and this week with Kingdom force.Cycle through this three times in prayer. You’ll feel a real shift.Remember: you have the power to thresh mountains, reduce them to dust, and see God’s glory manifest in your life.“Behold, I have made you into a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges; You will thresh the mountains and pulverize them, and make the hills like chaff” (Isaiah 41.15 NASB).If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who’s ready to stop playing small. Subscribe and leave a review, and let’s keep advancing together with Kingdom force.Until next time ... stay sharp.

The image of God was never meant to be reflected by men alone. You were created with divine intention—female and male together—to carry His likeness into the world. And Jesus? He doesn’t just include women. He champions them.In this episode with Mary DeMuth, we explore how King Jesus restores women to their full, royal place in His Kingdom. What’s at stake isn’t just dignity—it’s dominion.Go further with the show notes page > JesusSmart.com/337Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastThe Smart Edit newsletter -- Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/)

Kicking off your day with the right mindset sets the tone for a fruitful life. Good days lead to good weeks, and good weeks build a life of significance. In this episode, I’m joined by Len Howser from the Start Your Day Positive podcast. We dive into the power of new media, AI, and shifting worldviews—and why this might be the greatest opportunity of our lifetime as Christ-followers.Be sure to visit the site for Len and Sara's podcast > StartYourDayPositive.comEpisode show notes > JesusSmart.com/start-your-day-positive-mindset-len-howserDiscover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastThe Smart Edit newsletter -- Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level > thesmartedit.beehiiv.com

Feeling stuck? Whether it’s in your work, relationships, faith, or personal goals, the way forward isn’t waiting—it’s movement. In this episode, we’re talking about flooding the zone—a strategy to overwhelm your "stuckness" with action. It’s time to break the cycle. We’ll explore four ways to flood your life with momentum: expanding your network, stepping into new learning spaces, taking massive (imperfect) action, and focusing with intensity.Your breakthrough is closer than you think. Don’t wait—move. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs a push. Let’s build momentum together.Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastThe Smart Edit newsletter -- Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/)----------EPISODE TRANSCRIPT -- Flood the Zone: Overwhelm Your "Stuckness" By Taking Massive ActionHey, everybody. Welcome to the podcast. This is Brian Del Turco with Jesus Smart X Podcast. I'm glad you're here.We have low production value but hopefully very high content value today. There are some equipment issues and software transferability issues going on, so you're not hearing music or effects, but it'll come back. We believe the content is high in this episode, so let me ask you a question.The Problem: Why We Get StuckHave you ever felt like you're waiting for that perfect moment to act or move on something? You're analyzing it—if we're honest, probably over-analyzing it. You're hesitating, overthinking it, maybe even procrastinating. But what if the key to breaking through into that new thing isn't waiting, but taking massive action?If you're feeling stuck right now, whether it's in work, relationships, your faith, or a personal goal, project, or personal horizon you're pursuing, then this episode is for you.Today I want to talk about a strategy—it's not original with me, but we can call it Flooding the Zone. When things aren't moving, sometimes the best thing you can do is overwhelm your stuckness with action.Let's talk about why we get stuck. If you have faith in Christ, you have the resourcing of prayer, faith, and receiving vision from your Heavenly Father. These are tremendous resources that are above the normal. But there are also some very practical dynamics that we need to apply.Maybe you've been trying to start something—a creative project, a healthier lifestyle, a business. Maybe you're wanting to get married and start a relationship. Or maybe you're facing an opportunity, but doubt is leaching in and uncertainty is holding you back.One of the reasons we get stuck is that we're waiting for things to align perfectly. But here's the truth—let's just be real and honest about it. Clarity often comes after we start taking action, not before.So instead of waiting, procrastinating, and getting in a fetal position thinking "it's just not going to happen," what if you just flooded the zone? What if you took so much action that being stuck became impossible?Have you ever felt overwhelmed? That can often be a sign that the breakthrough is closer than you think. The stuckness and resistance coming at you could be an indicator that your breakthrough is near.Four Ways to Flood the ZoneIf you're a person of faith, you have the resourcing of prayer, reaching out to your Heavenly Father for counsel, and leaning into the Holy Spirit for ideation, solutions, and a lead. But if we can couple that with these practical concepts—if we can supersize them with our relationship with the Lord, with the creativity of the Holy Spirit, with the power of His Word and prayer—you can super-plus these practical steps.1. Reach Out and Expand Your NetworkWe're not meant to do life or try to lead something or create something alone. If you're feeling stuck, maybe it's time to widen your circle.You can get exposed by stepping into spaces that challenge the status quo. You have to disrupt yourself. We can step into spaces that disrupt ourselves and challenge our status quo.Connect with new people who bring fresh ways of seeing things and fresh ideas into your life. These could be professional relationships or casual relationships. It's very healthy for you—mentally, emotionally, in terms of your perspective—to talk with strangers. Just strike up a conversation.Engage with mentors or peers who challenge you. Maybe you have old mentors you'd like to breathe some life back into, or maybe you need some new mentors. Different seasons require different guidance. Life evolves and iterates.Have conversations that spark insight. Don't underestimate the power of talking over coffee—the natural caffeination as well as, more importantly, the mental stimulation, the emotional caffeination, and the new perspectives that can percolate. Sometimes one key relationship changes everything, but you won't find it unless you put yourself out there.Your relational network should never be static for years upon years. It should be dynamic. There will probably be some pruning, but there will also be growth. Someone says your worth is your net worth or the worth of your network. There's a lot of truth to that.👉 Read the full transcript with expanded insights on networking at jesussmart.com/flood-the-zone2. Get Exposed to New Things by Stepping Into New SpacesWe need to read books. Reading is one of the most powerful things you can do. Statistics show if you read the top three books in some area of interest or some space you're trying to grow in, you will be in something like the top three percentile of all people on the planet with expertise in that area. But it just takes the discipline of reading.Television, doom scrolling, being envious and coveting others by scrolling—all of that will help you zero. But quality books, quality podcasts, quality YouTube videos—maybe you're taking a class, maybe you're in a full-on education program—these will help.Attend events, attend conferences, or connect with online communities that stretch you. When you attend an event or conference, you're pulling yourself out of your normal space and rhythm, and you're in a totally new space with others who have very similar interests.I like to think of conferences as conferring with others. If it's a faith conference, I see the conferring as two-dimensional. We're conferring vertically with God together and we're conferring horizontally with each other.Don't stop being educated. The Latin root of "educate" means "to call forth." Education helps you emerge; it calls you forth. You can be more, you can do more.Today, there's no reason not to learn. We have access to the internet. Everything is democratized. There are free courses—you could even take free courses from Harvard. There are all kinds of opportunities for education and skill-gathering.3. Take Massive Action: Progress Over PerfectionA lot of people stay stuck because they're waiting for that perfect plan or perfect time. But real progress comes when you take imperfect action.Jesus gives us a master class in leading people and getting them to take massive action. He only had them for three and a half years, and he left the most important thing in history with them. He immersed them, taught them, and then immersed them in action. They took massive action and matured quickly.It doesn't have to be perfect. We're talking about progress, not perfection. Progress will open doors.Instead of waiting to launch something, start. Get a minimum viable amount of information and resourcing to start something. You don't need a full-blown budget and master plan. Start it. You need something minimal—a vision, a mission, maybe some minimal resources. But just start and then iterate.Don't overthink it. Commit to taking a step forward today. Trust that momentum will build as you begin to move. I'm on a journey too. I'm learning myself. The Lord seeks to coach me up as well, just as He does you.Begin and iterate. Begin fast, fail fast, and iterate. Find out what doesn't work through movement and momentum.You don't need the full picture to take that first step. Did Abraham have the full picture when God called him? No, it says he went out not knowing where he was going. But as he journeyed with God, he learned and progressed.👉 Get more practical examples on taking massive action at jesussmart.com/flood-the-zone4. Focus With IntensityWhen you want to get unstuck with massive action, focus with intensity. Zero in on what matters. This is about eliminating distractions and taking a deep dive into what truly matters. When you do this, it creates the space for meaningful breakthroughs.Distraction is the enemy of momentum. If you want to break through, you have to dial in. You've got to focus, you've got to lock in. Go for the signal, not the noise.Schedule deep time where you can push towards your goals and be ruthless with your attention. One of the greatest commodities on earth today is time. The second greatest currency is attention—what you give your attention to in time. Be ruthless with your attention.What you focus on magnifies, tends to grow, and positions you for success. As you flood the zone with focused effort and maximum action, things will start to...

Often, the hardest part of pursuing something meaningful is getting through "the dip"—the season when progress stalls, and quitting feels like the easiest option. But what if the breakthrough you’re praying for, working toward, or hoping to see in your relationships, faith, or projects is just on the other side of that dip?In this episode of Jesus Smart X, we explore the truth that the dip isn’t a dead end. It’s a refining process, preparing us to hold and experience what’s on the other side.Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastThe Smart Edit newsletter -- Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/)

In a world filled with quick, processed everything—content, spirituality, relationships—it’s easy to miss what truly nourishes us. In this episode, we explore how embracing what’s real and organic—from our faith to our relationships, work, and rest—leads to fulfillment and significance. Let’s shift from the artificial to the life-giving. If this speaks to you, pass it along to someone who could use a reset.Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastThe Smart Edit newsletterQuest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/)Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

We know God is everywhere—He’s omnipresent. But have you ever noticed that His power doesn’t always seem active in a given situation? That’s because His presence isn’t the same as His manifested presence. And here’s the wild part—He often looks to us to set the stage for that.There’s a Kingdom protocol at play, and when we tap into it, we can create “God spots” in our lives—places where His presence and power break through. That could be over challenges we’re facing, opportunities ahead, relationships, projects, or even bold Kingdom initiatives. So, how do we partner with him?Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastNewsletters!The Smart Edit. Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (https://thesmartedit.beehiiv.com/)Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

Ready for something totally new? Maybe it's a desperate need. Peter Thiel’s idea of moving from "0 to 1" is about creating breakthrough moments, not just refining what we already know. This isn’t just for startups—it’s a Kingdom principle. Never-before-seen possibilities could be on your horizon.Go further with the show notes page > JesusSmart.com/331Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastNewsletters!The Smart Edit Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (New domain name www.smarteditaccess.com will be available by February 5, 2025 to subscribe).Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

A new birth in Christ changes everything. It’s not just a new chapter—it’s a whole new quality of life. We’re reconnected with God as our true Father, freed from the grip of lies, and brought into His Kingdom. In this episode, explore how this change gives us a secure identity, a deep sense of belonging, a restored voice, and personal agency to live with purpose.Go further with the show notes page > JesusSmart.com/330Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastNewsletters!The Smart Edit Quest with us to elevate our walk with Christ, discern the times, and deeply influence circles of influence. Practical insights and encouragement to live at a higher level. (New domain name www.smarteditaccess.com will be available by February 5, 2025 to subscribe).Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

This is how to truly keep Christmas well and celebrate! When the Little King entered the scene, the unhinged King Herod unraveled—a vivid glimpse of Satan’s downfall and the victory we share in Christ.Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcastNewsletters!The Smart Edit (thesmartedit.beehiiv.com). Advance in Christ. Live Smart. Free newsletter every Thursday.Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).

In this episode, we discuss why living and working with God’s power is essential today. Plus, we look at global initiatives from the World Health Organization and the United Nations aiming for unified global governance—and what actions believers can take in response.Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at the Family Research Council, dives into the powerful impact of hosting God’s presence more fully in our lives. Travis Weber bioFamily Research CouncilGo further with the show notes page > JesusSmart.com/328Newsletters!The Smart Edit (thesmartedit.beehiiv.com). Advance in Christ. Live Smart. Free newsletter every Thursday.Pray AmericanDNA (prayamericandna.beehiiv.com).Discover more episodes > JesusSmart.com/podcast

In this fast-paced episode, we dive into the question: Is there really a devil? I’m convinced the answer is yes. Explore short, impactful thoughts on practical ways to counter the devil's influence in daily life. Take steps toward reclaiming peace and purpose.Get the Smart Edit newsletter from Jesus Smart!

In challenging times, renew your vision by reaffirming your commitment and creating fresh, effective strategies. Stay grounded with gratitude to the Creator, fueling resilience and purpose. Finally, use your momentum to accelerate success. Challenges are opportunities, calling us to grow and achieve more. (Inspired by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson.)Get the Smart Edit newsletter from Jesus Smart!

Looking to unlock new possibilities in your life from a higher dimension? In this episode, we dive into the power of over-the-horizon thinking and applied faith. We’ll explore four key elements: 1) worship and prayer, 2) visualizing and prophesying, 3) raising your belief levels, and 4) taking bold faith-filled action. Together, these dynamics will help you break through limitations and advance in your faith quest.Get the Smart Edit newsletter from Jesus Smart!

(2 mins.) Each son and daughter of God has a "landedness" to claim. David reveals a dynamic reality in Psalm 16. The Lord has set the boundaries of our lives in custom places of blessing. We are then authorized to claim the "land" God has promised. Jesus Dynamics are sharp, impactful episodes empowering you to take hold of the life God has outlined for you.Get the Smart Edit newsletter from Jesus Smart!

America stands apart in world history, an "experiment" unlike any other. It’s a nation not shaped by ethnic origins or monarchies, but by lofty ideals—the "Laws of Nature and Nature's God." Our unalienable rights come from the Creator, not from man or government. Could America now be on the brink of a Third Great Awakening? Join us in this recast episode as we explore the spiritual DNA of this nation and what might lie ahead.Get the Smart Edit newsletter from Jesus Smart!

This conversation with Frank Viola is a fascinating look at what will increase true spiritual power in your life and circle of influence. These dynamics are timeless field-tested principles to steward God's power. Learn to release God's authority to make a lasting impact on others for good.Get the Smart Edit newsletter from Jesus Smart!

Keith Guinta asks a shocking question: Is God trying to send a message to Americans through Donald Trump? He wonders if Trump surviving an assassination attempt in July 2024 could be a message from God. Guinta suggests we look at the news differently ... instead of seeing things only through a political point of view, what if we try to perceive them with higher meaning?The Wine Patch with Keith GuinaGet the Smart Edit newsletter from Jesus Smart!