Spiritually Fit Today

Why You’re Always Triggered (And What to Do) - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Bruce A. In this episode we wrestle with bitterness and how to live an “unoffended” life—not because hurts stop, but because your heart is anchored in Christ. Using Hebrews 12:15 as our guide, Bruce and Arnie explore how hidden roots of bitterness grow, practical daily habits to uproot them (Scripture, prayer, confession, gratitude lists, the simple 3/2 daily sheet), and spiritual practices—like praying for those you resent—that replace grievance with freedom and restoration.4 R action steps you can do todayRead: Hebrews 12:15 (read the verse slowly and aloud). Reflect: Where are the hidden roots of bitterness in my life? How does the hope of the resurrection change how I handle justice and anger? Respond (short prayer): Lord, help me release my need to keep score. Soften my heart, give me grace to forgive, fill me with gratitude, and let Your justice and healing reign. Amen. Reveal: Pray for one person on your resent list, then do one concrete act of blessing for them (a note, an honest call, a small service) to demonstrate the truth you’ve received.Contact: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: bitterness, forgiveness, Hebrews 12:15, spiritual fitness, resentment, gratitude practice, prayer, Christian podcast, spiritual growth, unoffended lifeSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

How to Move Forward When You Don’t Feel Ready - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Bruce A. — a practical, gospel-centered conversation about freeing your heart from resentment and uprooting the root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:15). Arnie and Bruce define what forgiveness is — and isn’t — explain the difference between forgiveness, reconciliation, and trust, and give concrete, spiritual practices for moving from grudges to freedom. Learn simple, actionable habits: name resentment, stop rehearsing the offense, “clean house,” turn it over to God, and pray for the other person.4 R Action Steps- Read: Read Hebrews 12:15 and think on God’s forgiveness.- Reflect: Ask, “What specific offense am I replaying? How does it shape my view of God and others?” Journal one example.- Respond: Pray briefly now — “Lord, I release this debt into Your hands. Heal what hurts and help me forgive as I’ve been forgiven. Amen.”- Reveal: Demonstrate this truth by praying for or serving one person this week, or sharing your struggle and the steps you took with a trusted friend or small group.Contact: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: forgiveness, resentment, root of bitterness, Hebrews 12:15, spiritual freedom, Christian podcast, spiritual formation, surrender, reconciliation, healing, practical ChristianitySubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Why Letting Go Feels So Hard (This Is Why) - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Bruce A. In this episode we examine the hidden perils of resentment and the “root of bitterness” warning in Hebrews 12:15 — why we cling to anger, how it protects identity and postpones grief, and how the gospel’s mercy frees us to release it.ReadHebrews 12:15 — “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” Read the verse slowly and aloud.ReflectAsk yourself: What is this resentment giving me (identity, moral superiority, protection from grief)? Where has this wound become my lens for new relationships? Do I need to own any part of the hurt? Spend 5–10 minutes journaling your answers.Respond (short prayer)Lord, reveal any root of bitterness in me. Give me the courage to grieve what’s lost, the humility to own my part, and the mercy to release others into Your hands. Teach me to replace self-righteousness with Your grace. Amen.RevealTake one practical step this week: name one resentment privately, pray for the person involved, and either share a brief, vulnerable conversation with a trusted friend or perform a small act of kindness toward someone in that category. Let one visible act of mercy test the truth of this passage.Questions or feedback: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: resentment, bitterness, Hebrews 12:15, grace, forgiveness, grief, spiritual growth, gospel mercy, Arnie Cole, Bruce A., Christian podcast, reconciliation, soul careSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
 
 

When Hurt Turns Into Suspicion Toward God - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Bruce A. In this episode we explore how bitterness not only fractures relationships but reshapes our view of God — Hebrews 12:15 warns that bitterness “defiles many.” Bruce and Arnie discuss how resentment grows like a hidden root, hardens the heart, distorts prayer, steals joy and gratitude, and how gospel-centered habits and daily spiritual fitness help move us from resentment to restoration.4 R action stepsRead — Read Hebrews 12:15 slowly. Notice the phrase about bitterness defiling many and the image of a root that grows underground before showing above ground.Reflect — Ask yourself: Has this resentment changed how I pray? Has it made me less compassionate or more cynical? In what single way has bitterness affected my spiritual life? Write your answer down.Respond — Short prayer: Lord, soften any hardened place in my heart. Help me release resentment, restore my trust and tenderness, and receive your ongoing grace. Amen.Reveal — Demonstrate this truth: share your reflection with a trusted friend or small group and ask for prayer; practice one concrete act of gratitude or kindness today; commit to one gospel-centered habit (daily Scripture, brief morning prayer, or accountability) that counters resentment.Contact: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: bitterness, resentment, Hebrews 12:15, forgiveness, spiritual restoration, Christian podcast, spiritual fitness, Arnie Cole, Bruce A., gospel-centered habits, prayer, healing, gratitudeSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

The Real Reason You Still Don’t Have Peace - Spiritually Fit Today

In this episode of Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole and guest Bruce unpack bitterness vs. anger, why resentment becomes a “root” that rewrites our past, and how holding grudges corrodes spiritual and emotional health. You’ll hear honest testimony, Scripture-based insight, and a simple soul exercise to begin letting go.Read- Read Hebrews 12:15: "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble..." (memory verse)Reflect- Spend five quiet minutes and ask: Is there a person who tightens something in me when I think of them? Do I replay a story about them often? Is there a situation where I feel morally superior? Name one resentment you're carrying — not to fix it now, just to acknowledge it.Respond (short prayer)- Lord, search our hearts. If a root of bitterness is growing in us, gently reveal it. Give us courage to name what we’ve been carrying, protect us from shame but not from truth, and help us choose grace over grievance. Amen.Reveal- Share the soul exercise with one trusted friend or mentor: each of you name one resentment (briefly, without judgment), pray together, and commit to handing it over to God. Small, honest steps create space for healing.Contact- Questions or feedback: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: bitterness, resentment, forgiveness, spiritual growth, Hebrews 12:15, inner peace, Christian podcast, prayer, restoration, graceSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Why People Give Up on Church (And What to Do Instead) - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Paula. In this episode they explore why many people leave church, how to stay connected, and practical ways to find a worship community that fits your season of life. Paula shares her journey from long-time choir musician to serving in a house church, the role of perseverance, the tug of the Holy Spirit, and how music and community can change over time. Arnie and Paula encourage patience, gratitude, simple acts of service, and honest relationship-building as paths back into church life.Action plan — the 4 R’s:- Read: Psalm 139:1 — “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” Read that verse slowly and let it remind you that God knows your doubts and hopes.- Reflect: Ask yourself — What draws me to church? What pushes me away? Where might God be inviting me to serve, learn, or receive? Sit with those answers for several weeks rather than making quick decisions.- Respond: Short prayer — Lord, search my heart and renew my desire for community. Help me show up with gratitude, open my hands to serve, and give me patience to grow. Amen.- Reveal: Share this truth with someone else by inviting a neighbor or younger believer to coffee and telling one brief story of how church shaped you, or offer to serve together in a simple ministry so they can see faith lived out.Relevant keywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Paula, church community, stay involved in church, Psalm 139:1, Christian podcast, spiritual growth, worship music, house church, faith formation, church volunteering, devotional practice, Christian encouragementSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

You Might Not Need a Different Church—Just This - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Paula. In this episode they explore the house church experience—how a small, home-based congregation shaped connection, hospitality, intergenerational relationships, in-depth Bible study, shared service (including supporting a local food pantry), and the surprising shifts for someone used to traditional church music and roles. Memory verse: Psalm 139:1 — "You searched me, Lord, and you know me."4 R practical next steps:- Read: Read Psalm 139:1 aloud and sit with the phrase "You know me."- Reflect: Who in your faith community truly knows and cares for you? How does being seen change how you serve or receive?- Respond: Short prayer — Lord, thank you for communities where we are known, cared for, and held. Teach us to love through home, meal, and service; help us to both serve and be served. Amen.- Reveal: Invite someone to a meal or small-group gathering, thank a volunteer by name this week, or bring someone to your next Bible study or food-pantry outreach to show them what faithful community looks like.Want to share feedback or connect with the show? Email Arnie Cole at arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: house church, small group church, Bible study, Psalm 139, Christian podcast, spiritual formation, church community, hospitality, intergenerational ministry, discipleship, church connection, serving, food pantry, faith practiceSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Was Your Identity in Christ… or Your Role? - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and Paula. In this episode we explore what happens when longtime church roles disappear — Paula’s move from a large congregation to an 18-person house church, the loss she felt without music and a visible role, and the deeper question that surfaced: who am I when I’m not the one serving up front? We reflect on Psalm 139:1 — “You searched me, Lord, and you know me” — and how identity in Christ, not ministry role, anchors us.4 R action stepsRead — Read Psalm 139:1 today: “You searched me, Lord, and you know me.”Reflect — Finish this sentence honestly: “If this role were taken away from me, I would be afraid that I’m no longer _____.” If you’re mostly a consumer, write: “If I had a role in the body of Christ, how would things be different?” Sit with your answers and let them reveal where identity has shifted from Christ to function.Respond — Short prayer: Lord, when my titles or ministries change, remind me that my worth and identity rest in You, not my usefulness. Help me to find belonging and purpose in You alone. Amen.Reveal — Share one honest sentence from your reflection with a trusted friend or a small group this week. Ask how you can serve in a way that grows others rather than seeks recognition.Questions or feedback: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: small church, house church, church identity, serving in church, spiritual identity, Psalm 139:1, Christian podcast, Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Paula Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

She Loved Church… But Her Family Needed Something More - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Paula. In this episode Paula shares how church and music shaped her life — and how, while she found joy and a role in worship, her husband and children quietly longed for a more personal, relational faith. Arnie and Paula reflect on the surprise of discovering different spiritual needs within a family, the importance of listening without defending, and how congregational life can either conceal or reveal who people really are. Memory verse: Psalm 139:1 — "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me."Four R action steps:Read — Read Psalm 139:1–6 (start with verse 1) and notice phrases that speak to God’s knowing you.Reflect — Ask: How might my church experience differ from the people closest to me? Where might I be assuming my experience is universal?Respond — Short prayer: Lord, help me listen with humility. Forgive my assumptions. Teach me to love people in my church with tenderness and honesty. Amen.Reveal — Write one name of someone whose church experience may differ, then ask them, “How’s church going for you?” — and listen without defending. Offer to attend, pray, or share a meal to show care.Want to follow up with Arnie? Email: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: church, family faith, relational church, Psalm 139:1, listening, Arnie Cole, Paula, Christian podcast, spiritual growth, church change, discipleship, prayer, Soul Pump assignmentSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

Could Your Church Involvement Be Costing Your Family? - Spiritually Fit Today

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Paula. In this episode we explore how a church experience that feels deeply meaningful to you can still leave the people closest to you—your spouse and children—wanting something more personal. Arnie and Paula talk about roles, listening well, and how Psalm 139:1 ("You have searched me, Lord, and you know me") can anchor us when family members experience church differently.4R Action StepsRead: Read Psalm 139:1 aloud and write it down.Reflect: Ask honestly — Is my experience of church the same as the people closest to me? What might I be missing?Respond: Prayer — Lord, thank you for meeting us through church life. Give me grace to listen well to those closest to me and to love honestly. Help me hold my roles loosely and seek what truly feeds their souls. Amen.Reveal: Take one practical step this week — invite a family member to share what they need from church in a one-on-one conversation, or try a smaller gathering focused on relationship over program.Questions or feedback: arnie.cole@bttb.orgKeywords: Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Paula, church and family, Psalm 139, church roles, faith conversations, Christian podcast, spiritual growth, listening in churchSubscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft