Guided by Faith: Daily Christian Devotions and Advice for Teens and Young Adults

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay kicks off a crucial week by asking a foundational question that shapes every part of our lives: Who do you trust? Drawing from Romans 8 and insights from Dr. Kathy Koch's Five to Thrive, this devotional explores the core human need for security and how it affects identity, belonging, purpose, and confidence—especially for teens and young adults. Jay unpacks why placing our trust in people, talents, looks, or success will always lead to insecurity, and why Scripture calls us instead to trust in the Lord, who has already proven Himself faithful through Jesus. If you’ve ever struggled with broken trust, shaky confidence, or wondering what your life is built on, this episode invites you to examine where your security really comes from and challenges you to build your life on the solid foundation of trusting God.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this finale episode of the week on Guided by Faith, Jay explores the awe-inspiring promise of glorification from Romans 8:28–30. Teens and young adults will discover what it means that those God justifies, He also glorifies, and why Paul uses past tense to describe it—showing God’s eternal certainty and perspective. Jay paints a vivid picture of glorified bodies like Jesus’, perfected and radiant, free from pain, flaws, and sin, yet still connected to our earthly selves. This episode encourages listeners to trust God’s ongoing work in their lives, from calling and justification to the ultimate glorification, and inspires hope for an eternal, joyful existence with Christ in the new heavens and new earth.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay breaks down one of the most important—and often misunderstood—words in Christian theology: justification. Walking through Romans 8:28–30, Jay explains how God’s justice, holiness, and love meet at the cross of Jesus, where our sin debt was paid in full. Using clear illustrations and relatable examples, he shows teens and young adults what it means to be justified “just as if I had never sinned” and why believers stand righteous before God—not because of their behavior, but because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. This episode offers powerful reassurance for anyone weighed down by guilt, reminding listeners of the freedom, gratitude, and confidence that come from being fully forgiven and made right with God.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this midweek episode of Guided by Faith, Jay walks teens and young adults through the powerful theology of Romans 8:28–30, focusing on God’s purpose in predestining believers to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Jay explains why theology matters for everyday faith, clears up common confusion about predestination, and shows how God uses both joyful and painful experiences to shape Christians into Christlike people. Rather than promising an easy life, this episode reveals that the greatest “good” God is working toward is making you more like Jesus—holy, compassionate, and hopeful for eternity. If you’ve ever wondered why God allows hardship, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a bigger-picture view of God’s loving plan for your life.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this encouraging episode of Guided by Faith, Jay continues unpacking Romans 8:28 by answering a hard but honest question many Christian teens and young adults ask: How can God actually use bad things for good? Jay explains God’s active role in working all things together without being the cause of evil, sharing powerful illustrations—from near-miss personal experiences to the chemistry of salt—to show how God combines hardship with truth, people, and grace to bring healing and growth. With an eternal perspective rooted in Jesus, this episode reminds listeners that pain is never the end of the story and that God is faithfully at work, even in seasons that don’t make sense yet.Listen and Subscribe:Apple Podcasts | SpotifyConnect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay dives into one of the most hope-filled promises in Scripture—Romans 8:28—and explains what it truly means for Christian teens and young adults. You’ll learn why this verse applies specifically to believers, what it does not mean about suffering and hardship, and how God’s power and love allow Him to work even painful experiences for ultimate good. Jay unpacks common misunderstandings about God causing tragedy, highlights the balance between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, and reminds listeners that this promise is rooted in an eternal perspective through Jesus. If you’re facing struggles, betrayal, or uncertainty, this episode offers realistic hope and encouragement to trust that God is actively at work in your life for your good and His purpose.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this Friday episode of *Guided by Faith*, Jay wraps up the week on prayer with practical guidance for teens and young adults on how to make prayer a meaningful part of daily life. Drawing from Romans 8:26–27, Jay shares three helpful methods: the ACTS model (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), Look Up–Look In–Look Out, and simply talking to God conversationally. Each method encourages listeners to focus on God, examine their hearts, and pray for the world around them, all while trusting that the Holy Spirit intercedes and Jesus advocates on their behalf. This episode equips young believers to deepen their prayer life, grow in intimacy with God, and approach prayer with confidence, creativity, and authenticity.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this thoughtful and biblical episode of Guided by Faith, Jay tackles a common and often confusing question: should Christians pray to saints? Grounded in Romans 8 and the broader teaching of Scripture, Jay explains why the Bible never instructs believers to pray to deceased saints and instead emphasizes the incredible gift of direct access to God through Jesus Christ. Listeners will learn what the Bible really means by the word “saint,” why every believer is called a saint through faith in Christ, and how the Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself already intercede on our behalf. This episode encourages Christians to pray confidently to their Heavenly Father, trusting the perfect access they already have through Christ.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this midweek episode of Guided by Faith, Jay helps teens and young adults learn how to pray by looking at Jesus’ own teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Walking through Matthew 6:5–14 and the Lord’s Prayer, Jay highlights what Jesus reveals about prayer: God expects us to pray, prayer is relational rather than performative, and it should come from an engaged, honest heart—not empty repetition or a desire to impress others. This episode encourages listeners to pray authentically, remember who they are talking to, and approach God with both intimacy and awe. If you want a deeper, more meaningful prayer life rooted in Jesus’ example, this episode offers a clear and encouraging guide.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this practical and relatable episode of Guided by Faith, Jay breaks down a simple but powerful question: what is prayer, really? Using Romans 8:26 as a foundation, Jay explains that prayer is more than just talking to God—it’s talking to God with the confidence that He hears you and will respond. This episode explores the different ways God answers prayer—yes, no, wait, and sometimes in ways that are better than we imagined—and why those answers flow from His love and perfect plan. If you’ve ever struggled with prayer, felt unsure how to pray, or wrestled with God’s timing, this episode will help you grow in trust, maturity, and confidence in your daily walk with God.Listen and Subscribe:Apple Podcasts | SpotifyConnect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this encouraging episode of Guided by Faith, Jay walks teens and young adults through one of the most mind-blowing truths in Romans 8: you are never praying alone. Drawing from Romans 8:26–34, Jay explains how the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray, and how Jesus Himself is at the right hand of the Father praying on our behalf. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsure how to pray, or like no one is praying for you, this episode offers deep hope and confidence. Discover how God’s perfect prayer team—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is working for you, correcting your prayers, and inviting you to join them in a powerful, honest prayer life rooted in God’s love.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay explores the wonder and mystery of how Jesus will one day make all things new, drawing from Romans 8:24–25. Jay reflects on the questions we naturally have about the new heavens, new earth, and our glorified bodies—how creation and even the laws of the universe might be transformed, and how our current suffering will be redeemed in ways beyond our imagination. This episode encourages listeners to live in anticipation and hope, using curiosity and faith together, trusting that God has a perfect plan to reconcile and renew everything for His glory.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay unpacks Romans 8:18 and offers a hope-filled perspective for teens and young adults walking through hardship. Using vivid analogies—from tiny seeds growing into massive trees to unimaginable future realities—Jay explains how present suffering, though real and painful, is producing an eternal glory far beyond what we can currently see or imagine. This episode encourages listeners not to lose heart in seasons of pain, but to trust that God is using every struggle to shape something greater, reminding us that what’s coming in Christ is infinitely better than what we’re enduring now.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay continues the study of Romans 8, focusing on Paul’s reminder that all creation is groaning under the weight of sin and brokenness as it waits for redemption. Jay explains how natural disasters, disease, famine, and everyday suffering are signs that the world is not as God originally designed it—and not how it will remain forever. Rather than becoming overwhelmed or numb to suffering, listeners are challenged to respond like Jesus by caring for people locally, coming alongside those who are hurting, and living as God’s hands and feet in a broken world while we wait for Christ to make all things new.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay addresses one of the most universal and difficult realities of life—suffering—through the lens of Romans 8:18, reminding teens and young adults that present pain is not worth comparing to the glory God has promised. Jay explains the two primary types of suffering found in Scripture: suffering because of sin, which affects all humanity in a broken world, and suffering for Christ, which includes persecution, sacrifice, and even the daily struggle of resisting sin to follow Jesus. Pointing to Jesus as the ultimate suffering servant, this episode offers hope that God has not abandoned us in our pain, walks with us through it, and will faithfully reward every ounce of suffering endured for the sake of Christ and the gospel.Listen and Subscribe:Apple Podcasts | SpotifyConnect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay begins a powerful new week-long study in Romans 8:16–25, one of the most hope-filled passages in all of Scripture. Jay reminds listeners that suffering is not a sign that God has abandoned them. Instead, the Apostle Paul shows us that suffering is part of life in a broken world—and part of the Christian journey—but it is never the end of the story. This episode explores how our present suffering cannot compare to the future glory God has promised. Jay unpacks what it means to be children and heirs of God, how all of creation is groaning for redemption, and why hope in Christ allows us to endure pain with patience. If you’re struggling personally, weighed down by the suffering you see in the world, or simply wondering how God uses hardship for good, this episode will point you to the unshakable hope found in Jesus and the transformation still to come.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

How do we actually live out our faith when life gets hard? In this concluding episode of the Romans 8:12–17 series, Ryan Woods brings everything together by reminding teens and young adults that real transformation happens by the power of the Holy Spirit—not our own effort. This episode recaps our identity as sons and children of God, co-heirs with Christ, and explains why suffering is a normal part of the Christian life. Drawing from Romans 8 and 1 Peter 4, Ryan challenges listeners to stop relying on self-effort and instead daily set their minds on the Spirit. When we walk in our new identity and depend on God’s strength, we experience life, peace, and the ability to resist our old way of living—no matter the circumstances.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

What does it mean to be a child of God—and why does that matter for how we live today? In this episode, Ryan Woods continues unpacking Romans 8:12–17, focusing on verse 16 and the powerful truth that believers are not only sons of God, but also children and heirs of God. Ryan explains the difference between sonship (our relational closeness to the Father) and being children of God (our future inheritance and hope). Through Scripture and creative illustrations, this episode highlights how our identity as heirs—fellow heirs with Christ—gives us a hopeful expectation of what’s to come and reshapes how we see ourselves now. Instead of being defined by our past, we’re invited to live with confidence, joy, and anticipation as members of God’s family.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

What does it really mean to be called a son of God? In this episode, Ryan Woods continues walking through Romans 8:12–17, focusing on verse 14 and the powerful truth that believers are sons of God through the Spirit. Ryan explains how “sonship” is not about gender, but about an intimate relational status—one that allows us to cry out “Abba, Father” with confidence and security. Using personal stories and biblical insight, this episode explores how God invites us into a close, loving relationship where He guides, trains, protects, and cares for us like a perfect Father. Whether you had a great dad, a difficult relationship with your father, or no father at all, this conversation points to the healing and hope found in our identity as sons adopted into God’s family.Listen and Subscribe:[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]Connect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

What does it actually mean when the Bible says the Holy Spirit lives in you? In this episode, Ryan Woods continues through Romans 8:12–17 and helps teens and young adults understand what it means to live with the Spirit dwelling within them. Building on the idea of a new identity in Christ, Ryan explains how the Holy Spirit—God Himself—comes to live in believers as a guide, comforter, and interpreter of truth. Drawing from both Romans 8 and Galatians 4, this episode clarifies how salvation through Jesus leads to adoption as sons and daughters of God, freeing us from fear, slavery, and striving for approval. Rather than focusing on trying harder to avoid sin, listeners are invited to set their minds on the Spirit, discovering true life, peace, and transformation.Listen and Subscribe:Apple Podcasts | SpotifyConnect with Us:Website: www.guidedbyfaith.netYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcastInstagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavlGuided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org