The Listening Leader: How To Have Real Conversations with God Ep 43

The Listening Leader: How To Have Real Conversations with God Ep 43

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404544/fan_mail/new] You can be successful and still feel spiritually unsure, like you’re making big leadership decisions on instinct, pressure, or anxiety. Kelley Johnson sits down with Vonna Matthews, founder and publisher of CEOMOM Magazine, to get honest about what it takes to become a listening leader who can actually hear the Holy Spirit in everyday work, relationships, and seasons of waiting. We talk about the surprising way listening often starts: getting pushed into moments where self-reliance runs out. Vonna shares how hard places, pruning, and uncertainty can become the very environment where God teaches us intimacy and trust. We unpack why God often answers our insecurity by reminding us who He is, not by listing who we should be, and how that shift changes faith-based leadership from striving into surrender. Then we get practical. We break down active listening through stillness, silence, and asking specific questions like “What’s on the Father’s heart today?” and “What is my role in what You’re doing?” We also explore obedience, stewardship, and timing, including how to pray before meetings so you don’t miss what God wants to do beyond the agenda. You’ll hear a real story of waiting on God for clarity and watching things move quickly when it is finally time. If you’ve been asking, “Is this God’s voice or my own thoughts?” this conversation will help you slow down, discern with confidence, and lead with spiritual clarity. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more women leaders can learn how to hear God at work. Stay in the flow—subscribe wherever you listen, watch on YouTube, and download free devotionals at iamkelleyjohnson.com [https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/]. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@iamkelleyjohnson Instagram: instagram.com/iamkelleyjohnson Looking for leadership community? RAYAH is my Spirit-led leadership cohort for Christian women who want to grow in both spiritual authority and executive excellence. Learn more and join the interest list here https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/rayah EMERGE! Rise-up, Be Fearless, Take Possession of Your Purpose https://a.co/d/hrZWQGr Kelley's book about overcoming trauma to find your God-given purpose. INFINITE: The Power of Love https://a.co/d/51Fy4eq A six-session Bible study about diversity, equity and inclusion. Kelley Johnson is a creator, builder, and catalyst who helps leaders achieve breakthrough—personally, professionally, and spiritually. She spent 20 years in corporate leadership before founding KEIRUS, a learning and talent management firm serving thousands of leaders worldwide.  This show is not a substitute for professional therapy or advice. If you need professional support, we encourage you to seek a qualified mental health, medical, financial, legal, pastoral or other accredited professional. --- Keywords: Christian women, Spirit-led living, Holy Spirit, faith podcast, women in leadership, working ...

The Listening Leader: Freedom To Hear God Clearly Ep 42

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404544/fan_mail/new] Hearing God’s voice shouldn’t feel like guessing, yet so many of us try to lead while everything sounds muffled. Kelley Johnson sits down with Tia Airington, co-founder of Above All Things, a nonprofit serving thousands of families every month through their mobile food pantry. Together, Kelley and Tia explore a connection most leaders overlook: how freedom in Christ impacts spiritual clarity. When strongholds, shame, fear, or unhealthy cycles linger, it can be like walking around with cotton balls in your ears. We slow down and name what’s really happening so you can discern the Holy Spirit with more confidence and peace. Kelley explains how deliverance can be “decent and in order”, grounded in Scripture, and accessible to everyday believers through repentance, renouncing, and practical prayers that activate the authority you already have as a son or daughter of God. We talk about how Satan often leverages condemnation, while the Holy Spirit leads from freedom, wholeness, love, and truth. RESOURCE: "Born To Be Free: Discovering Christ's Power to Set You Free from a Painful Past," by Tom Vermillion, who also authored the Free Indeed Bible study. https://amzn.to/4nsVKZn From there, we get extremely practical: including a discussion on how recurring patterns can signal a stronghold, and freedom requires follow-through like renewing your mind, closing access points, and leaning into healthy community.  If you’re hungry for clearer guidance, stronger faith, and real tools for Christian leadership, listen, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more listening leaders can find this conversation. Stay in the flow—subscribe wherever you listen, watch on YouTube, and download free devotionals at iamkelleyjohnson.com [https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/]. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@iamkelleyjohnson Instagram: instagram.com/iamkelleyjohnson Looking for leadership community? RAYAH is my Spirit-led leadership cohort for Christian women who want to grow in both spiritual authority and executive excellence. Learn more and join the interest list here https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/rayah EMERGE! Rise-up, Be Fearless, Take Possession of Your Purpose https://a.co/d/hrZWQGr Kelley's book about overcoming trauma to find your God-given purpose. INFINITE: The Power of Love https://a.co/d/51Fy4eq A six-session Bible study about diversity, equity and inclusion. Kelley Johnson is a creator, builder, and catalyst who helps leaders achieve breakthrough—personally, professionally, and spiritually. She spent 20 years in corporate leadership before founding KEIRUS, a learning and talent management firm serving thousands of leaders worldwide.  This show is not a substitute for professional therapy or advice. If you need professional support, we encourage you to seek a qualified mental health, medical, financial, legal, pastoral or other accredited professional. --- Keywords: Christian women, Spirit-led living, Holy Spirit, faith podcast, women in leadership, working ...

The Listening Leader: How Does God Speak To You? Ep 41

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404544/fan_mail/new] Some guidance from God feels obvious. Other guidance shows up as a vivid dream you can’t shake, a nagging inner check, or a pattern you keep seeing and you’re left wondering, "Was that You or was that me?" I’m joined by Tia Airington, co-founder of Above All Things, to talk about how a listening leader learns to receive God’s voice with clarity and then steward it with care. Tia shares her journey as a lifelong dreamer who didn’t always have language for what she was experiencing. We unpack why not every dream is a message from God, how to “clean the filter” of your heart and mind, and what it looks like to write things down, pray first, and let the Holy Spirit confirm meaning over time. If you’re craving Christian discernment that is grounded, practical, and rooted in relationship, you’ll find real tools here. We also get honest about what can block spiritual clarity: the media you watch, the words you let into your space, and the subtle way loyalty to people can become obedience to the wrong voice. We talk about boundaries, seasons of spiritual growth, prayer rhythms like sunrise walks and kneeling in the morning, and how God may shift the way He communicates as you mature. Will you help individuals, children and families get fresh food each month? Support Above All Things https://aboveallthings.org/donate If you want to grow in hearing God, spiritual formation, and faith based leadership, listen all the way through, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more leaders can learn to live and lead in the flow. Stay in the flow—subscribe wherever you listen, watch on YouTube, and download free devotionals at iamkelleyjohnson.com [https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/]. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@iamkelleyjohnson Instagram: instagram.com/iamkelleyjohnson Looking for leadership community? RAYAH is my Spirit-led leadership cohort for Christian women who want to grow in both spiritual authority and executive excellence. Learn more and join the interest list here https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/rayah EMERGE! Rise-up, Be Fearless, Take Possession of Your Purpose https://a.co/d/hrZWQGr Kelley's book about overcoming trauma to find your God-given purpose. INFINITE: The Power of Love https://a.co/d/51Fy4eq A six-session Bible study about diversity, equity and inclusion. Kelley Johnson is a creator, builder, and catalyst who helps leaders achieve breakthrough—personally, professionally, and spiritually. She spent 20 years in corporate leadership before founding KEIRUS, a learning and talent management firm serving thousands of leaders worldwide.  This show is not a substitute for professional therapy or advice. If you need professional support, we encourage you to seek a qualified mental health, medical, financial, legal, pastoral or other accredited professional. --- Keywords: Christian women, Spirit-led living, Holy Spirit, faith podcast, women in leadership, working ...

The Listening Leader: What It Truly Means To Hear God Ep 40

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404544/fan_mail/new] “Listening” sounds gentle until you learn the Bible’s definition. Shema the Hebrew word often translated as “hear” carries a challenge: real hearing sinks in, forms understanding, and produces a response. That one idea can change how we practice Christian leadership, especially when we’re trying to hear God at work while leading teams, making decisions, or carrying responsibility at home and in our community. I walk through Deuteronomy 6:4–5, the beginning of the Shema prayer, and share reflection questions that help you notice what happens when God speaks through Scripture, prayer, a sermon, a mentor, or even a dream.  Then we widen the lens to Ahavah, the biblical picture of love as giving, loyalty, and faithfulness not just emotion. I bring it into the workplace with tangible examples like choosing not to gossip and using your influence to advocate for someone who isn’t in the room. Finally, we revisit Elijah’s journey across five key moments and symbols (brook, widow, fire, cave, succession) so you can locate your own leadership season and respond with courage. Reflection Questions: 1. As a listening leader, when you hear from God through scripture, prayer, a sermon or maybe even a dream, how do you respond? 2. What are ways you can begin to steward what you hear from God? 3. How can you apply these spiritual practices of being a listening leader in the natural - at work, at home, in your community or at church? 4. As you think about all the ways you lead, in what ways are you giving to others?  5. Could your definition of loyalty be broader? Subscribe, share this with a friend who wants faith and leadership to connect, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Stay in the flow—subscribe wherever you listen, watch on YouTube, and download free devotionals at iamkelleyjohnson.com [https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/]. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@iamkelleyjohnson Instagram: instagram.com/iamkelleyjohnson Looking for leadership community? RAYAH is my Spirit-led leadership cohort for Christian women who want to grow in both spiritual authority and executive excellence. Learn more and join the interest list here https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/rayah EMERGE! Rise-up, Be Fearless, Take Possession of Your Purpose https://a.co/d/hrZWQGr Kelley's book about overcoming trauma to find your God-given purpose. INFINITE: The Power of Love https://a.co/d/51Fy4eq A six-session Bible study about diversity, equity and inclusion. Kelley Johnson is a creator, builder, and catalyst who helps leaders achieve breakthrough—personally, professionally, and spiritually. She spent 20 years in corporate leadership before founding KEIRUS, a learning and talent management firm serving thousands of leaders worldwide.  This show is not a substitute for professional therapy or advice. If you need professional support, we encourage you to seek a qualified mental health, medical, financial, legal, pastoral or other accredited professional. --- Keywords: Christian women, Spirit-led living, Holy Spirit, faith podcast, women in leadership, working ...

Listening Leader: Trusting God Through Opposition Ep 39

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404544/fan_mail/new] What if opposition isn’t a sign to stop, but a signal to listen deeper? We turn to Nehemiah 4 to reframe leadership under pressure—moving from fear to vigilance, from isolation to trumpet-ready community, and from frantic fixes to Spirit-led strategy. Rather than glorifying the 52-day rebuild, we explore the blueprint beneath it: a leader who hears God clearly, discerns threats wisely, and mobilizes people to build with one hand while holding faith-fueled weapons in the other. We share practical guidance for women leading in workplaces where exclusion, scarcity, or subtle mockery show up at the water cooler and in the boardroom. You’ll learn how to create “trumpet culture” so your allies rally fast, how to distinguish when vs if in your theology of resistance, and how to translate biblical vigilance into today’s meeting rooms, project plans, and stakeholder maps. Along the way, we highlight spiritual disciplines—prayer, Scripture, fasting, silence, Sabbath, confession, wise counsel—that sharpen discernment and keep your identity rooted when voices grow loud. Against the backdrop of shaken systems—economic, political, educational, even religious—we talk about collaborating with God instead of defaulting to passivity or control. Listening leadership means acting with surrendered strategy: asking for divine wisdom, stepping with courage, and staying responsive when reality doesn’t match your plan. We close with reflection prompts to clarify what you’re building, who hears your alarm, and which spiritual tools God may be inviting you to pick up next. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s building under pressure, and leave a review to help more leaders find these conversations. Stay in the flow—subscribe wherever you listen, watch on YouTube, and download free devotionals at iamkelleyjohnson.com [https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/]. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@iamkelleyjohnson Instagram: instagram.com/iamkelleyjohnson Looking for leadership community? RAYAH is my Spirit-led leadership cohort for Christian women who want to grow in both spiritual authority and executive excellence. Learn more and join the interest list here https://www.iamkelleyjohnson.com/rayah EMERGE! Rise-up, Be Fearless, Take Possession of Your Purpose https://a.co/d/hrZWQGr Kelley's book about overcoming trauma to find your God-given purpose. INFINITE: The Power of Love https://a.co/d/51Fy4eq A six-session Bible study about diversity, equity and inclusion. Kelley Johnson is a creator, builder, and catalyst who helps leaders achieve breakthrough—personally, professionally, and spiritually. She spent 20 years in corporate leadership before founding KEIRUS, a learning and talent management firm serving thousands of leaders worldwide.  This show is not a substitute for professional therapy or advice. If you need professional support, we encourage you to seek a qualified mental health, medical, financial, legal, pastoral or other accredited professional. --- Keywords: Christian women, Spirit-led living, Holy Spirit, faith podcast, women in leadership, working ...