Life As Worship

Winning the War in Your Mind: Taking Every Thought Captive with 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Do you ever feel like you’re losing the battle in your mind—stuck in discouragement, doubt, or “what ifs,” even though you know what Scripture says? In this episode, Angela and guest Paula Romang walk through 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 to show how, in Christ, believers can take every thought captive, demolish lies with truth, and learn to fight their inner battles with Holy Spirit–empowered weapons instead of sheer willpower. Description In this interview episode of the Life as Worship podcast, Angela Mackey talks with writer and bereaved mom Paula Romang about 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 and what it really means to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Paula shares how this passage became a lifeline in the early years of parenting twins, including a son with special needs, and then on the long, painful road of watching her son Matthew suffer and eventually go home to be with Jesus. Through her story, she explains how Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and simple, practical choices helped her move from barely hanging on in discouragement to fighting on offense with the truth of God’s Word. Angela and Paula discuss the nature of spiritual warfare in the mind, how to discern lies about God’s character, and how remembering both God’s works in Scripture and His faithfulness in personal history sustains hope. If you feel weary, overwhelmed, or unsure how to fight the mental battle in a Christ-exalting way, this conversation will point you back to God’s power, presence, and covenant love in the middle of your hard places. Episode Highlights * Paula shares why 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 became a key passage during the early years of raising twins, including a son with significant medical needs, and battling ongoing discouragement. * Angela and Paula unpack the context of 2 Corinthians, the false “super apostles,” and Paul’s reminder that believers are in a real war—but not one fought with worldly weapons. * They explore how much of the spiritual battle happens inside the mind as believers discern whether thoughts and teachings line up with Christ and Scripture. * Paula describes moving from “playing defense” in her thinking to fighting on offense—actively demolishing lies with truth, renewing her mind, and saturating her home with God’s Word. * She shares how God met her in the long, exhausting journey with Matthew, how He strengthened her to trust Him even as circumstances worsened, and how eternity reframed her hopes for her son. Great Quotes * “There is a war on… The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world, but that doesn’t mean that they’re inferior at all. That means they’re divinely empowered.” * “We are pulling down these strongholds of lies that we believe and lies in our culture. It’s an active thing that we’re doing—and we’re doing it with divine power.” * “I realized that I was fighting an ongoing battle with discouragement and disappointment and that I had the weapons at my disposal—I just didn’t know how to use them.” * “I’m not gonna be a casualty of my circumstances. I’m gonna fight in the power of the Holy Spirit… I’m gonna do this in His power because I have the Holy Spirit within me.” Resources Mentioned * 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor%2010%3A3-5&version=CSB] * Ephesians 6:10–18  [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206%3A10%E2%80%9318%C2%A0&version=CSB] * Romans 12:1–2 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012%3A1%E2%80%932&version=CSB]  * Philippians 4:6–9  [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=phil%204%3A6-9&version=CSB] * Paula’s book: Thriving in the Barren Place [https://amzn.to/4ndODnk] (Amazon Affiliate Link). * Paula’s website [https://www.paularomang.com/] * Paula on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/paula.romang] * Paula on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/promang869] Related Episodes * •God’s Comfort In Suffering: Voices In The Wilderness – Stories of experiencing God’s presence and comfort in hard, wilderness seasons. * Ep 63 – Healing In His Wings: Spiritual Healing When God Seems Silent [https://angelamackey.com/healing-in-his-wings-spiritual-healing-when-god-seems-silent/] – Virginia Grounds * Ep 54 – Absolutely NOTHING Can Keep You From God’s Love [https://angelamackey.com/absolutely-nothing-can-keep-you-from-gods-love/] – Christina Custodio * Ep 52 – Experiencing Joy Through God’s Presence  [https://angelamackey.com/experiencing-joy-through-gods-presence/] – Carol Kent * Ep 53 – Come To God: It Is NEVER Too Late [https://angelamackey.com/come-to-god-it-is-never-too-late/] – Tikka McCoy Newsletter Invitation If this conversation with Paula helped you see the battle in your mind more clearly and reminded you that God’s Word and Spirit really are enough for what you’re facing, I’d love to walk with you beyond the podcast. When you subscribe to my Life as Worship newsletter at http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz], you’ll receive ongoing biblical encouragement plus a free 9-day devotional on Philippians 4:8 to help you rethink your thinking in light of God’s Word and notice His faithful work in your everyday life.

Seeing God's Faithfulness: How to Trace HIs Covenant Love in Our Lives

We say “God is faithful,” but do we really see His faithfulness in our own lives? In this episode, Angela and guest Jennifer Tirrell linger in Deuteronomy 7:9 to remember who God is—the faithful God who keeps His covenant of love—and talk about how, as we obey and look back, we begin to trace His steady love across our days. Description In this interview episode of the Life as Worship podcast, Angela Mackey sits down with author and speaker Jennifer Tirrell to reflect on Deuteronomy 7:9 and the God who keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations.  Together, they explore the context of Deuteronomy, where Moses calls a new generation to remember the works of God and live faithfully as His people, and they consider what that means for believers today.  This conversation is a rich reminder that God’s faithfulness is not only something to affirm intellectually, but something believers learn to recognize as they look back and ask where He has been working.  Angela and Jennifer also talk about how daily obedience—rooted in gratitude, Scripture, prayer, and remembrance—is not burdensome, but part of the way God leads His people into flourishing. Episode Highlights * Angela and Jennifer center the conversation on Deuteronomy 7:9 and the truth that God is the faithful, covenant-keeping God. * Jennifer explains how Moses was instructing a new generation to remember God’s works and live faithfully in response. * They reflect on how believers often recognize God’s faithfulness most clearly when they look back over their lives. * The conversation connects obedience to gratitude, showing that God’s commands are for believers’ good and flourishing. * Angela and Jennifer encourage listeners to stay in the Word, pray, and intentionally remember what God has done. Great Quotes * “There’s a lot in that little, little sentence.” * “Moses… is trying to instruct the new generation on how to remember the faithfulness of the works of God.” * “There with the covenant that comes, the blessing comes with obedience… So God’s faithfulness just reminds us that he is steady.” * “The commandments that he gave us are so for our benefit… They’re the way that we can live our best life.” * “There’s no one way to stay grounded in this world, but we can stay grounded in God because he is faithful.” Resources Mentioned * Deuteronomy 7:9 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deut%207%3A9&version=CSB]  * Jennifer Tirrell’s work as an author of children’s books [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DS94NRJR/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=7d313318-15de-4b61-bd44-2c9f6adab382&ccs_id=277c71b7-d6a8-44f8-90f0-7c28c23c8333] * Jennifer's website: www.writingwithjet.com [https://www.writingwithjet.com/] Related Episodes * ep 32 with Brandice Lardner - Permissible And Beneficial: How God Is Calling Us To Live In Freedom  [https://angelamackey.com/permissible-and-beneficial-how-god-is-calling-us-to-live-in-freedom/] * ep 62 with Amarely Quintanilla - Keeping It Real With God And Money: Trusting His Provision  [https://angelamackey.com/keeping-it-real-with-god-and-money-trusting-his-provision/] * ep 64 with Hadassah Treu - God’s Comfort In Suffering: Voices In The Wilderness  [https://angelamackey.com/gods-comfort-in-suffering-voices-in-the-wilderness/] Newsletter Invitation If this conversation helped you see God’s faithfulness more clearly and stirred a deeper desire to live in grateful obedience, stay connected through the Life as Worship newsletter.  You’ll receive ongoing biblical encouragement and a free Philippians 4:8 devotional to help you renew your mind with truth and notice God’s faithful work in everyday life. Click here to sign-up http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].

Write What You See: Adoption, Revelation 1:10-11, and Sharing God's Stories

What if the files on your desk, the patients you’ve cared for, or the everyday moments with your family are actually invitations from God to “write what you see”? In this episode, adoption attorney and author Alice shares how Revelation 1:10–11 reshaped her understanding of calling, story, and sharing. Her journey will help you look for God in your own life—and not keep it to yourself. Description Angela sits down with retired adoption attorney and author Alice to explore how Revelation 1:10–11—“write what you see”—became a personal call to capture and share decades of God-at-work stories from the world of adoption. Through miracle-filled cases, a deeper understanding of spiritual adoption from Romans 8:15, and practical examples of simple everyday witness, they invite you to slow down, look for God’s hand in your own experiences, and faithfully share what He’s done. Episode highlights * How Revelation 1:10–11 became a personal call for an adoption attorney to “write what you see” and share real-life stories of God at work. * Why biblical adoption (Romans 8:15) is a powerful picture of our identity in Christ and what it means to belong to God’s forever family. * A powerful “two-year-old” adoption miracle that reveals God’s perfect timing and challenges our fast-food expectations of prayer. * Practical ways to “look and share” God’s work in both painful and joyful seasons—so we don’t miss Him or keep His stories to ourselves. * Why you can’t make disciples without words, and how simple phrases like “I’m blessed, thank you” or “God loves me, and He wants me to love others” open doors for the gospel. Great Quotes  * “The Bible isn’t there to entertain us; it’s there to educate us. We have to put on our thinking caps and ask, ‘What is God trying to tell me?’” * “‘Write what you see’ hit me because I have seen God do so many amazing things in adoption. It would be selfish to keep it all to myself.” * “Nobody else has seen what I have seen. That’s true for all of us. You may never write a book, but you can certainly share what you’ve seen.” * “You can live a life that honors and glorifies God, but if you never use words, people may never know who you are honoring and why.” * “Sometimes we think God didn’t answer our prayer, but often the answer is ‘wait.’ God’s timing is perfect even when it doesn’t match our fast-food expectations.” Resources mentioned - Amazon Affiliate links I will earn money for qualifying purchases * God Adopted Us First: Faith Lessons from an Adoption Attorney’s Adventures [https://amzn.to/4vJVGYM] – Alice’s book with 40 true adoption stories and devotions. * Alice’s annotated Agatha Christie mysteries, The Secret of Chimneys [https://amzn.to/41VP2ky] (Winged Publications). * Alice's email author.alicehmurray@gmail.com [author.alicehmurray@gmail.com] Related Episodes * Ep 34 - Running the Race Well [https://angelamackey.com/how-to-run-the-race-well/] (with Dr. Whit Jordan) * Ep 30 – Trusting God: Our Rock and Refuge [https://angelamackey.com/trusting-god-our-rock-and-refuge/] (with Shelley Picard) * Ep 15 – Finding Peace Because Grace Abounds [https://angelamackey.com/finding-peace-because-grace-abounds/] (with Julie Sanders) Newsletter Invitation If this conversation helped you see your own life as worship in a fresh way, I’d love to stay connected. Join the Life as Worship email community for weekly devotions, small group questions, podcast updates, and a FREE 9-day devotional to help you live a life of worship in everyday moments. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].

Rooted in God’s Love: How Ephesians 3:17–19 Shapes Your Everyday Worship

Do you believe God loves you but still feel anxious, overextended, or unseen? In this conversation, we explore how being rooted and established in God’s four‑dimensional love can steady your heart, simplify your days, and turn ordinary moments into worship. Description Angela talks with author and speaker Cynthia L. Simmons about Ephesians 3:17–19 and Paul’s prayer that believers would be strengthened in their inner being so Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith.  Cynthia shares her journey as a shy introvert, a homeschooling mom of five (including a son who was severely disabled and is now working part‑time), and a woman called into speaking, writing, and podcasting only by God’s grace.  Together they unpack the length, width, height, and depth of God’s love and offer simple ways to live loved in everyday life. Episode Highlights * Why Paul prays for inner strength before he talks about behavior in Ephesians. * What it means to be “rooted and firmly established in love” and why God’s love is described with four dimensions. * Cynthia’s story of homeschooling a severely disabled child and seeing God provide wisdom and strength. * How more time in prayer actually led to more getting done in her day. * Honest talk about introversion, insecurity, and stepping into visible ministry. * Practical ideas for reflecting God’s love to the people right in front of you. Great Quotes * “We are never, ever going to come to the end of the length, width, height, and depth of God’s love.” – Cynthia L. Simmons * “When I spent more time in prayer, I actually got more done. God gave me the wisdom and strength to know how to get it done.” – Cynthia * “Jesus limited Himself to a few cells inside Mary’s womb—and He did that for us.” – Angela Resources Mentioned * Ephesians 3:14–21 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph%203%3A14-21&version=CSB] * Cynthia L. Simmons’ website: cynthialsimmons.com [http://cynthialsimmons.com] Related Episodes * “Permissible and Beneficial: How God is Calling us to Live in Freedom” [https://angelamackey.com/permissible-and-beneficial-how-god-is-calling-us-to-live-in-freedom/] – Brandice Lardner * “Joyful Surrender in Suffering: Living Romans 12:12” [https://angelamackey.com/joyful-surreneder-in-suffering-living-romans-1212/] – Sheila Preston Fitzgerald * "Grace for Us, The Thirsty" [https://angelamackey.com/grace-for-us-the-thirsty/] - Jennifer Sakata  Newsletter Invitation If this episode helped you rest a little deeper in God’s love and see your everyday life as worship, I’d love to keep walking with you. For ongoing biblical encouragement, episode updates, and a free devotional, subscribe to my Life as Worship newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].

God's Comfort in Suffering: Voices in the Wilderness

Looking for God’s comfort in suffering and wondering where He is in your wilderness? In this episode of Life as Worship, Angela and guest Hadassah Treu unpack Isaiah 40:1–3 to show how God meets us in our pain and calls us to be “voices in the wilderness” who gently point others to Jesus. Description Angela talks with award‑winning author and spiritual growth mentor Hadassah Treu about finding God’s comfort in suffering through Isaiah 40:1–3.  They explore how God’s words, “Comfort, comfort my people,” speak into seasons of judgment, exile, and grief, and what it means today to prepare the way of the Lord in a hurting world. Hadassah shares her journey through infertility, anxiety and panic attacks, and the sudden loss of her husband, and how Jesus met her with real comfort and a deeper, tested faith.  You’ll be encouraged to receive God’s comfort and then become a gentle, hope‑filled voice in the wilderness for others. Episode Highlights * How Isaiah 40:1–3 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2040%3A1-3&version=CSB] reveals God’s heart to comfort and restore His people in seasons of suffering. * What it means to be a “voice in the wilderness” today and prepare the way of the Lord. * Hadassah’s story of God’s comfort in infertility, anxiety, and loss. * Practical encouragement to receive God’s comfort and share it tenderly with others. Great Quotes * “God’s consequences are always wrapped in love—He hurts us in order to heal us.” * “Only a tested faith is a true faith.” * “We are called to be voices in the desert, singing a different song—a song of worship, obedience, and love.”   Resources Mentioned * Isaiah 40:1–3  [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2040%3A1-3&version=CSB] * Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings [https://amzn.to/4tuE8P2] – Hadassah Treu (Amazon Affiliate link I may receive money for verified purchases) * Hadassah’s website: onthewaybg.com [https://onthewaybg.com/] Related Episodes  * Ep. 27 When Your World Ends: Beginning Again with God [https://angelamackey.com/gods-creative-process-for-rebuilding/]- Dawn Mann Sanders * Ep. 21 – Held in His Hand [https://angelamackey.com/trading-fear-for-being-upheld-in-gods-hands/] - Kelly Hall * Ep. 8 – We Do Not Lose Heart [https://angelamackey.com/how-to-never-give-up-even-if-you-feel-broken/]- Laura Acuna Newsletter Invitation If you’re longing to experience God’s comfort in suffering and live all of life as worship, subscribe to the Life as Worship newsletter for ongoing biblical encouragement and a free devotional to help you rethink your thinking in light of God’s Word. Sign up at http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [http://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].