Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie talks with Braden Pedersen about fear, worry, and the harm of hiding anxiety. Using Psalm 56:3–4, they explore how David expects fear and intentionally "puts" his trust in God. Braden shares how a pastor’s death, staff turnover, and internalized fear led to burnout, and how community and honest confession opened the way back to spiritual life.
Read: Psalm 56:3–4.Reflect: Notice David’s two key words, “when” and “put.” Expect fear, then decide where you’ll place it rather than letting it run you.Respond: This week, tell one trusted friend or mentor one specific fear you’re carrying and ask for their prayer or accountability.Reveal: Share with someone how naming a fear and redirecting trust to God changed one choice you made; offer to pray with them or lead a short conversation about fear and faith.
Connect with Arnie Cole: arnie.cole@bttb.org
Keywords: spiritual fitness, fear and faith, worry, Psalm 56, trust in God, Christian podcast, pastoral burnout, vulnerability, community, Braden Pedersen, Arnie Cole
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Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Braden Pedersen. In this episode Arnie and Braden wrestle with worry: what to do when it feels like you’ll fail at your job, when circumstances aren’t your fault and fear moves in. Using Philippians 4:6–7 and Matthew 6:33, Braden shares how the sudden loss of his mentor tested his faith and how he learned to choose trust and trade worry for prayer. (Four in ten Christian women and three in ten men say they struggle with worry.)
Read - Read Philippians 4:6–7 aloud and then Matthew 6:33.
Reflect - Identify one recurring worry and ask, “Is this pulling my focus off Jesus?” Name it as the arrow it is.
Respond - When you notice that worry, present that specific concern to God in a brief prayer with thanksgiving.
Reveal - Tell a friend one worry you handed to God and invite them to pray with you; observe any shift in peace as evidence of God’s presence.
Connect: arnie.cole@bttb.org
Keywords: worry, anxiety, Philippians 4:6-7, prayer, spiritual fitness, trust God, Matthew 6:33, Christian podcast, Arnie Cole, Braden Pedersen, Spiritually Fit Today
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Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie shares his lifelong struggle with worry and fear, explains how these distractions pull our focus off Jesus, and offers practical steps from Hebrews 12:1–2 to help you refocus on Him.
Read - Read Hebrews 12:1–2 slowly today.
Reflect - Ask: What habit or worry is entangling my feet as I try to run toward Jesus? Spend 2–3 minutes visualizing your eyes fixed on Jesus instead of the struggle.
Respond - Tonight, write down one worry, pray a short surrender over it, and place the paper somewhere visible as a reminder to refocus on Jesus tomorrow.
Reveal - Share that one worry with a trusted friend or small group and pray together, showing how turning a named struggle toward Jesus changes perspective.
Contact Arnie: arnie.cole@bttb.org
Keywords: spiritual fitness, Christian podcast, Arnie Cole, worry and fear, Hebrews 12:1-2, overcome anxiety, spiritual growth, faith, Christian coaching, daily devotion
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Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie grounds us in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and calls us to move what’s on our hearts into ordinary home rhythms by offering a genuine gift of affirmation, then asking a courageous question and receiving the answer with gratitude.Read Deuteronomy 6:6-7.Reflect Ask: Is this teaching lodged in my head or on my heart? Notice everyday entry points (coming home, sitting, walking, lying down, rising) where gospel truth can shape how you relate to the people who live with you.Respond Simple step: Give one honest, face-to-face affirmation of who someone in your home is (not what they do). Later this week ask, briefly and calmly, how it feels to live with you in the first few minutes after you come home—and when they answer, just say “Thank you.”Reveal Model the pattern for someone else: demonstrate giving a plain affirmation, asking the question, and receiving the response with humility so others can see a gospel-shaped way to hear hard truth.ContactQuestions or feedback: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, spiritual fitness, household discipleship, heart to home, gospel in daily life, gratitude practice, family conversation, humble listeningSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie talks with Jason Hietbrink about the “landing zone” — the short, intentional transition between your workday and your home life — and why those minutes matter for presence, marriage, and parenting. Anchored in Psalm 127:1–2, Jason outlines how trusting God as owner and practicing simple habits at the threshold can transform how you show up for your family.Read Read Psalm 127:1–2.Reflect Ask: “Where am I acting like the owner instead of a steward?” Spend 60 seconds naming one worry or control impulse from today and consider whether God is asking you to entrust it to Him.Respond Tonight, choose one household moment (a bedtime, a chore, a short conversation) and do it as an intentional act of stewardship—offer a quick prayer of surrender before you start and notice your heart as you serve.Reveal Share Psalm 127:1–2 and the stewardship action you practiced with one family member or close friend. Explain briefly how trusting God changed the way you showed up.Connect with Arnie: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Jason Hietbrink, landing zone, presence, parenting, marriage, Psalm 127, spiritual fitness, Christian podcast, faith and family, transition routine, trust GodSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole. In this episode Arnie interviews Jason Hietbrink about the four words that set him free as a husband and father: “you are not adequate.” They center the conversation on John 15:4–5—abiding in Christ rather than performing from fear—examining how contentment, motive, and ordered priorities reshape marriage, parenting, and leadership. Jason contrasts two common patterns in marriage and urges presence and love over fixing or proving.4 R action guide- Read: John 15:4–5- Reflect: Ask: Where am I trying to prove my adequacy? How would my choices change if I were motivated by love, not fear?- Respond: Today, schedule one focused 15-minute conversation with your spouse or a close friend—listen without fixing, defend, or offering solutions; simply be present.- Reveal: Share John 15:4–5 with one person and explain one specific way you’ll practice abiding this week, then follow through.Contact: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: spiritual fitness, abide in Christ, John 15:4-5, Christian podcast, Arnie Cole, Jason Hietbrink, marriage, spiritual growth, Christian leadership, faith and adequacySubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Jason Hietbrink. In this episode Arnie and Jason discuss the pressure high-achieving Christian men feel to “do more,” as well as the counselor’s question that pierced Jason’s sense of failure as a husband and father. They explore work-family balance, presence versus providing, and the courage to admit limits so grace can work.4R action steps- Read: Read 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 pausing on the phrase “my grace is sufficient.”- Reflect: Where are you trying to prove your worth by doing more? Name one situation this week where you feel “not enough.”- Respond: Turn off devices and spend 10 uninterrupted minutes tonight actively listening to one family member.- Reveal: Share the verse and one honest admission with a trusted person Jason Hietbrink coaches high‑achieving Christian men and is the author of Never Enough. Questions or feedback: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: spiritual fitness, Christian podcast, Arnie Cole, Jason Hietbrink, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, grace in weakness, work-life balance, fatherhood, marriage, presence over provision, spiritual growth, Christian men, counseling, confession, faith practiceSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole, spiritual fitness researcher and coach. In this episode Arnie explores Mark 8:36 — what we gain versus what we forfeit — and why your presence at home is a clearer sign the gospel has moved from your head to your heart than church attendance or correct theology. 4 R action stepsRead — Read Mark 8:36 (any translation): “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”Reflect — Focus on the words gain and forfeit. Ask: What am I winning that costs my soul or my family? Where have I accepted an unexamined exchange rate?Respond — Choose one concrete boundary for the next week (for example: silence work notifications or close your laptop for the first hour after you arrive home) and honor it as family time.Reveal — Tell one trusted friend or family member the verse and your chosen boundary, then invite them to check in with you after one week to see how the change affected your presence.Contact: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Mark 8:36, presence at home, work-life balance, Christian living, spiritual growth, family ministry, gospel in practice, Christian leadershipSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Sarah Bolden. In this episode they reflect on grief, what actually helps, and how Lamentations 3:21–23 redirects a grieving heart toward hope by remembering God’s unchanging mercy and faithfulness.Arnie and Sarah explore the power of the single word "yet" in Lamentations 3:21–23 — how calling God’s faithfulness to mind turns despair into hope. They discuss practical spiritual preparation for loss: holding earthly things loosely, anchoring life in Scripture, cultivating hope in Jesus, and trusting God’s protection between heaven and earth.4 R Action StepsRead — Lamentations 3:21–23. Read slowly and notice the phrases: “yet I call to mind,” “compassion never fails,” “new every morning.”Reflect — Ask: What does “yet” change about my situation? Spend two minutes naming one truth from this passage that counters your current fear or grief.Respond — For seven days write a one-sentence “Yet” prayer each morning (start with “Yet” and name one way God’s faithfulness gives you hope today).Reveal — Share one of your “Yet” prayers with a friend or family member and offer to pray for their hope this week.ContactQuestions or feedback for Arnie: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: grief, Christian grief, Lamentations 3:21-23, hope, spiritual fitness, faithfulness of God, grieving well, pastoral care, listening, Scripture practiceSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole with guest Sarah Bolden. In this episode Arnie and Sarah talk honestly about grief—why you can't go around it, how leaning into it helped Sarah survive, the comfort God provides, the gift of finding her mother’s prayer journals, and practical permission for facing holidays and traditions after loss.Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.Reflect: Ask: Where have I experienced God’s comfort in loss, and how might that comfort equip me to be present for someone else? Notice how grief can isolate you, especially around holidays.Respond: Pick one upcoming difficult date, put a block on your calendar for that day, and invite one trusted person to be with you (in person or by phone/video) so you don’t face it alone.Reveal: Show the passage’s truth by sharing a brief memory or a short prayer with someone who’s grieving, then listen—offer presence and comfort rather than advice.Contact: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: grief, holiday grief, Christian grief, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, comfort from God, prayer journals, coping with loss, grieving during holidays, spiritual comfort, Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Sarah BoldenSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft