Practicing the Presence of God in a Distracted World | CWG 02

God Is A Real Person | Conversation Starters 01

Most people picture God as a distant force that started the universe and stepped back. But in fact, God is a real person, with thoughts, feelings, and intentions, made visible through Jesus. And if a perfect father's love is an ocean, the best human father who ever lived doesn't even fill a drop. The more you treat God as a real person you talk to, the more real He becomes to you. Today's episode ends with a simple exercise: three alarms, three short prayers, one question before bed. Small, repeatable, and designed to compound. Today's exercise: Set three alarms — 10am, 4am, 8pm — and at each one, pause for 5-10 seconds and say: "Lord Jesus, thank you that you are a real person and that you are next to me right now." Before bed, ask yourself how that changed your day. This episode kicks off a daily series — short conversation starters meant to shift how present God feels in your everyday life.

Welcome to Conversation Starters with God

We open our new daily series with a simple premise: talking to God throughout the day — not just quiet time in the morning or night — is what actually changes how the day feels, and grows our relationship with Jesus. The format: a short daily teaching, an action point (something to say to God at set times during the day), and a nightly reflection on what shifted. Doug has been discipling people in this rhythm for over sixty years, built around the idea from Revelation 3:20 — Jesus knocking, waiting to be let in to the ordinary, active moments of the day, not just the big ones. Our first series is called "Your God Is Much Bigger Than You Think." This episode sets the table for everything that follows.

Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm? Jesus' Invitation To Dine With Him

Most Christians would say they follow Jesus, but today we're asking a harder question: can you point to any actual evidence of following? In this episode, Doug unpacks Jesus' letter to the church of Laodicea — the famous hot, cold, or lukewarm passage — and reveals why Jesus says He'd rather you be cold than lukewarm. He then walks through one of the most personal invitations in all of Scripture: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." The life God wants for you isn't about being morally perfect. It's about opening the door to a close, conversational relationship with Him — one that grows in frequency and depth throughout your day. This episode will challenge how you define spiritual health and give you a clear picture of the rich life Jesus is actively inviting you into.

A Day With Jesus: The Before, During, and After Rhythm

What does an entire day spent with Jesus actually look like? In this episode, Doug walks through his own day as a series of conversations with God — from the first moment his feet hit the floor, through coffee, scripture, the drive, meetings, and lunch. He unpacks the "before, during, and after" rhythm that turns ordinary moments into touchpoints with the Lord, and shows how short, honest prayers lead the heart toward deeper presence. You'll hear why repentance is one of the most powerful forward steps in walking with God, how to read scripture as if God is speaking directly to you, and why telling God stories may be the most overlooked spiritual practice in the Christian life. Doug also introduces the five core practices that anchor the Conversations With God ministry: talking to God, asking Him for help, listening to His voice, telling God stories, and representing Jesus in a dark world. Find out more about our ministry at cwgdiscipleship.org

The Image of God You Live By Determines Everything | CWG 04

You've drifted. Maybe it happened over a decade, maybe it happened this afternoon — but the passion you used to have for God has cooled, and you're not sure how you got here. In this episode, Doug makes the case that drift always traces back to one thing: the image of God you actually live by. Not the one you'd say you believe. The one you carry into traffic, into the meeting, into the moment the bill comes in higher than expected. A small God leads to a small life, and every spiritual problem you have can be traced to a lie you've quietly accepted about who He is. In this episode, Doug walks through how to reset that image — always kind and never cruel, always faithful and never failing, always present and never distant — and the simple daily practice that rebuilds it from the inside out: letting your words lead your heart through appreciation and adoration, before, during, and after the moments of your day. The trajectory of your whole life is determined by one thing. This episode is about getting it right.