Become New with John Ortberg

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15. Why Gratitude Cannot Be Forced May 22, 2026

Show notes

Why is gratitude so difficult to sustain?
In this teaching on Psalm 100, John Ortberg explores the deeper source of genuine gratitude and why thankfulness cannot simply be forced through willpower.
Using reflections from Robert Hayden and his poem Those Winter Sundays, John reflects on the hidden acts of love that quietly sustain human life every day — often without being noticed or thanked.
This episode explores:
- Why gratitude begins with awareness
- The hidden acts of love around us
- Psalm 100 and worship
- “Know that the Lord, He is God”
- Gratitude, creation, and ordinary beauty
- Learning to “connect the dots” back to God
This is a thoughtful, moving reflection on gratitude, worship, attention, and the goodness of God.
Scriptures:
- Psalm 100
- Genesis 3 (allusion)
- John 10 imagery
Resources referenced:
- Those Winter Sundays — Robert Hayden
#Psalm100 #JohnOrtberg #Gratitude #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Thankfulness #Worship #BibleStudy #Psalms
📚 Today's Resources:
Robert Hayden, “Those Winter Sundays”
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Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction & Praying Gratitude
00:24 Psalm 100 & Childhood Memory Contest
01:02 Why Gratitude Cannot Be Forced
01:21 What Comes Before Gratitude
01:52 Robert Hayden’s “Those Winter Sundays”
03:04 “Love’s Austere and Lonely Offices”
03:40 Hidden Acts of Love We Miss
04:41 Gratitude Begins With Awareness
05:10 “Make a Joyful Noise”
05:48 “Know That the Lord, He Is God”
06:06 The Temptation to Be Like God
06:25 “I Got to Have a Life”
06:42 We Are the Sheep of His Pasture
07:12 “Connect the Dots” Back to God
07:56 “The Lord Is Good”
08:18 Ordinary Gifts & Everyday Glory
08:54 Jesus & the Lonely Offices of Love
09:13 Gratitude Overflowing Into Service

14. Why You Should Stop Having a “Quiet Time” May 21, 2026

Show notes

Why would God include violent prayers in the Bible?
In this deeply challenging teaching on Psalm 137, John Ortberg explores anger, injustice, enemies, suffering, and why the Psalms are far more emotionally honest than most modern spirituality.
John begins with a provocative statement:
“You should stop having a quiet time.”
Using reflections from Eugene Peterson, this episode explores the difference between prayer that merely calms us down and prayer that honestly confronts evil, grief, and the brokenness of the world.
This episode explores:
- Why Psalm 137 feels so disturbing
- The role of anger and indignation
- Why suppressed hatred is spiritually dangerous
- Prayer as honesty before God
- Jesus, enemy-love, and the Psalms
- “Our hate needs to be prayed, not suppressed”
Featuring reflections on:
- Eugene Peterson
- C.S. Lewis
- René Girard
Scriptures:
- Psalm 137
- Ephesians 6:12
- Matthew 5:44
#Psalm137 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Psalms #EugenePeterson #Justice #Forgiveness #BibleStudy
📚 Today's Resources:
Eugene H. Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms As Tools for Prayer
René Girard, The Scapegoat
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction: “Stop Having a Quiet Time”
00:25 Eugene Peterson on Pseudo-Prayer
01:30 “Prayer Is Combat”
02:26 Why the Psalms Talk So Much About Enemies
03:11 Enter Psalm 137
04:10 “How Can We Sing in a Foreign Land?”
04:38 The Most Disturbing Verse in the Psalm
05:13 Why This Psalm Shocks Modern Readers
05:36 The Psalms Refuse Sanitized Spirituality
06:00 Two Kinds of Violence in the Psalms
06:40 René Girard, Victims & Scapegoats
07:08 Indignation, Anger & Injustice
08:06 Why People Want These Psalms Removed
09:03 “Our Hate Needs to Be Prayed”
09:55 Suppressed Anger & False Spirituality
10:18 Jesus, Enemy Love & the Psalms
11:23 Dare to Be Real With God

13. Why We Avoid What Matters Most (Psalm 42) May 20, 2026

Show notes

Why do we avoid uncomfortable truth?
In this teaching on Psalm 42, John Ortberg explores self-awareness, attention, distraction, procrastination, and the deep spiritual thirst at the center of the human soul.
Using Psalm 42’s famous image — “As the deer pants for streams of water…” — John reflects on how human beings often distract themselves from the deeper realities happening inside them. Why do we avoid certain thoughts? Why do difficult truths fade when we procrastinate? And what does prayer have to do with attention?
This episode explores:
- The soul’s longing for God
- Why humans avoid painful truth
- Self-deception and attention management
- Procrastination as a spiritual issue
- The relationship between awareness and transformation
- “The greatest freedom of human life”
Featuring reflections from:
- William James
- Flannery O’Connor
- Gregg Ten Elshof
Scripture:
- Psalm 42
#Psalm42 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #SelfAwareness #ChristianFaith #Psychology #Attention #BibleStudy #Psalms
📚 Today's Resources:
Gregg A. Ten Elshof, I Told Me So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life
Flannery O’Connor, The Violent Bear It Away
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction
00:26 Psalm 42 & the Problem of Being Real
01:08 Why the Psalms Speak to the Soul
01:31 Awareness, Choice & the Human Will
02:19 “As the Deer Pants for Water”
03:18 Pouring Out the Soul Before God
04:04 “Why Are You Downcast, O My Soul?”
04:38 Flannery O’Connor & Avoiding Truth
06:18 William James on Attention & Experience
06:48 The Sneaky Power of Attention Management
07:09 The Greatest Freedom of Human Life
08:21 Forgetting Painful Experiences
09:12 Procrastination & Self-Deception
10:52 Why Moral Convictions Fade Over Time
11:26 “Help Me See What I’ve Been Avoiding”
11:54 Deep Calls to Deep

12. Psalm 19 and the Problem of Self-Deception May 19, 2026

Show notes

Why is self-awareness so difficult?
In this teaching on Psalm 19, John Ortberg explores self-deception, blind spots, hidden faults, and the surprising difficulty of honestly seeing ourselves.
The Psalmist asks:
“Who can discern their own errors?”
That question launches a fascinating exploration of:
- Freud and the unconscious mind
- Cognitive bias and self-deception
- Why humans protect their image
- The role of feedback and mirrors
- Spiritual growth through honesty
- Grace, confession, and healing
This episode explores how Scripture and modern psychology intersect around one central truth: human beings are remarkably good at hiding truth from themselves.
And yet real freedom begins when we become willing to see.
Scriptures:
- Psalm 19:12–14
- Romans 1
- Obadiah 1:3
Resources mentioned:
- Freud
- George Eliot
- Gregg Ten Elshof
- Awakenings
#psalm19 #JohnOrtberg #SelfAwareness #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Psychology #Prayer #BibleStudy #BlindSpots #Psalms
📚 Today's Resources:
George Eliot, Middlemarch
Gregg A. Ten Elshof, I Told Me So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction & Mirror Thumbnail Idea
00:09 Psalm 19 & the Problem of Self-Awareness
00:30 “Forgive My Hidden Faults”
00:58 The Problem With Unconscious Behavior
01:19 Freud, Depth Psychology & the Iceberg Mind
02:08 What Freud Got Wrong About Trauma
02:58 Memory Wars & Self-Deception
03:17 The Hidden Layers Beneath Consciousness
03:52 George Eliot & “Confessing to Ourselves”
04:16 The Four Levels of Consciousness
05:00 Skydiving & Stress-Induced Memory Gaps
05:57 Peripheral Awareness & Hidden Faults
06:31 Self-Deception in Modern Psychology
06:58 Romans 1 & Suppressing the Truth
07:25 The Self-Serving Bias Explained
08:16 The Fundamental Attribution Error
09:03 Everyday Self-Deception & Rationalization
09:53 Praying “Help Me See the Truth”
10:19 Reviewing the Day With Honesty
11:02 Why We Manage Other People’s Opinions
11:35 Freud, Sin & the Depth of Self-Deception
12:01 Inviting Other People to Help Us Grow
12:39 “Would You Tell Me More?”
13:23 Closing Prayer From Psalm 19:14

11. What Bowling Teaches Us About Peace May 18, 2026

Show notes

What does bowling have to do with spiritual life?
In this teaching on Psalm 19, John Ortberg explores anxiety, surrender, creation, grace, and the deep human longing for soul rest.
Using a surprisingly powerful bowling illustration, John reflects on how most people continue trying to control outcomes long after the “ball” has already left their hands. Psalm 19 offers another way: let go, trust God, delight in creation, and allow your soul to rest.
This episode explores:
- Why modern people struggle with rest
- The connection between anxiety and control
- Creation as medicine for the soul
- Why the law of God is actually a gift
- Soul fragmentation and divided living
- How love restores wholeness
Featuring reflections on:
- Dallas Willard
- Theodore Roosevelt
- Martin Luther
- Psalm 19
Scriptures:
-Psalm 19
-Matthew 22:37–39
-James 2:8
#Psalm19 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #DallasWillard #SoulRest #Anxiety #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms
📚 Today's Resources:
Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ
The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes, edited by Clifton Fadiman
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction & Bowling Thumbnail Idea
00:14 Psalm 19, Soul Rest & the Gift of Law
01:02 “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God”
01:23 Creation, Perspective & the Human Soul
02:16 Running Life Like a Champion
02:37 Dallas Willard on Soul Rest
03:44 What Bowling Teaches Us About Anxiety
04:31 “Let the Ball Go”
04:55 Teddy Roosevelt & Becoming Small Enough
05:50 Creation as an Expression of God’s Mind
06:09 Why Nature Is Good for the Soul
06:40 Psalm 19’s Surprising Pivot to Law
07:14 “The Law of the Lord Is Perfect”
07:22 Why Modern People Resist the Law
07:56 Law, Grace & Human Flourishing
08:38 What Makes a Good Person?
09:14 Why Humanity Has Revered Wise Laws
09:40 Sweeter Than Honey, More Precious Than Gold
10:09 The Royal Law of Love
10:39 How Sin Fractures the Soul
10:57 The Law Revives the Soul
11:25 Delighting in God’s Big Book & Little Book

10. Who May Dwell on the Holy Mountain? (Psalm 15 Explained) May 15, 2026

Show notes

What actually creates a peaceful life?
In this teaching on Psalm 15, John Ortberg explores the ancient biblical vision of an “unshakable” life — a life rooted in goodness, grace, truth, and the presence of God.
Psalm 15 asks:
“Who may dwell on your holy mountain?”
The answer turns out to be both beautiful and deeply challenging.
Along the way, John reflects on:
Why peace is more than a feeling
The connection between character and stability
Gossip, envy, greed, ego, and emotional formation
Positive psychology and virtue
What kind of people we become through daily choices
Why “the good life is with God”
This episode is practical, thoughtful, convicting, and hopeful all at once.
Scriptures:
Psalm 15
Matthew 6:33
Luke 23:39–43
#Psalm15 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Peace #Character #BibleStudy #Psalms #formation
🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction & The Mountain of Peace
00:42 Why Most People Misunderstand Peace
01:21 “Who May Dwell on Your Holy Mountain?”
01:50 Do We Actually Want Life With God?
02:11 The “Sin Room” Illustration
03:01 The Other Gods We Run After
03:41 The Question Psalm 15 Answers
03:48 “The One Whose Walk Is Blameless…”
04:38 Positive Psychology & Human Flourishing
05:21 Speaking the Truth From the Heart
06:09 Slander, Gossip & the Spiritual Life
06:28 Who Is My Neighbor?
07:32 Who Do You Admire?
08:34 Commitments, Oaths & Faithfulness
09:15 Generosity & Stewardship
09:46 “Whoever Does These Things Will Never Be Shaken”
10:17 Peace, Praise & Character Formation
11:05 What If TSA Tested Character?
11:21 Grace, Failure & the Thief on the Cross
11:52 The Invitation to the Holy Mountain

9. Psalm 16 and the Secret of a Steady Heart May 14, 2026

Show notes

What’s the one thing that would make today a good day?
Psalm 16 says it’s simpler—and deeper—than you think.
In this teaching, John Ortberg walks through Psalm 16 and introduces a powerful idea: your life-scape—the inner world where your thoughts, desires, and attention live.
Most of us drift through our days reacting to whatever comes. But Psalm 16 invites us to something different: “I have set the Lord always before me.”
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What shapes your inner life (your “life-scape”)
- Why chasing “other gods” leads to restlessness
- How to center your day around one transforming focus
- What it means to live with a steady, unshaken heart
This is a practical invitation to live today with clarity, presence, and purpose.
📚 Today's Resources:
Sam Storms, One Thing: Developing a Passion for the Beauty of God
Jenn Johnson, “Goodness of God” @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0FBb6hnwTo
Søren Kierkegaard, Purity of Heart Is to Will One Thing
🙌 New episodes every weekday.
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 – Opening Prayer
00:20 – What Is Your “Life-Scape”?
00:46 – Psalm 16: The One Thing
01:07 – The “City Slickers” Illustration
01:34 – What Shapes Your Inner World
02:16 – The Illusion of Life Without Purpose
03:06 – The Search for “One Thing”
03:33 – What Scripture Says the One Thing Is
03:55 – “You Are My Lord” (Psalm 16)
04:19 – The Danger of Other “Gods”
04:44 – Modern Idols (Reputation, Ego, Control)
05:05 – “You Are My Portion”
05:30 – Living Where You Actually Are
06:02 – God Speaks Through Your Heart
06:51 – How God Guides Your Thoughts
07:38 – Recognizing God’s Voice
08:04 – “I Set the Lord Always Before Me”
08:18 – Jesus: “Seek First the Kingdom”
08:49 – The Freedom to Choose Your Focus
09:09 – Practicing God’s Presence
09:27 – A Story of Unexpected Grace
10:04 – Becoming a Blessing to Others
10:19 – What It Means to Be Unshaken
10:55 – God Will Not Abandon You
11:08 – The Path of Life
11:27 – Joy in God’s Presence
11:47 – Final Prayer: Walk With God Today

8. A Simple Way to Pray (Psalm 57) May 13, 2026

Show notes

Ever feel stuck in your thoughts… and don’t know how to pray?
Here’s a simple, practical method that actually works.
In this teaching, John Ortberg walks through a powerful and practical way to pray your emotions using Psalm 57.
Adapted from psychological insights and grounded in Scripture, this ABCD prayer method helps you move from anxiety and rumination to clarity, trust, and peace.
You’ll learn how to:
- Identify what’s actually triggering you
- Name the beliefs driving your emotions
- Understand why your feelings feel so strong
- Reframe your thoughts with truth
- Move into a place of steadiness and action
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to talk to God honestly—this gives you a clear path forward.
📚 Today's Resources:
Martin Seligman - referenced for the ABC model/framework John adapted into prayer and the Psalms
Mark Twain - quote: “I have lived through terrible sufferings, horrible events, some of which actually happened.”
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 – Opening Prayer
00:20 – Why We Struggle to Pray Honestly
00:46 – A Practical Method for Prayer
01:13 – Psalm 57: David in the Cave
01:35 – What Is Your “Cave”?
02:07 – Step A: Antecedent (What Triggered You?)
03:01 – Why Negative Moments Drive Prayer
03:27 – Real-Life Examples (Wallet, Mistakes, Fear)
04:10 – Step B: Beliefs (What Are You Thinking?)
05:02 – Why Writing Matters
05:20 – Naming Fear-Based Beliefs
06:17 – Step C: Consequences (Your Emotions)
06:42 – How Beliefs Drive Feelings
07:08 – Recognizing Emotional Impact
07:47 – Step D: Dispute (Challenge Your Beliefs)
08:08 – Reframing With Truth
08:32 – “Most of My Fears Never Happened”
08:56 – Living One Day at a Time
09:21 – Step E: Energize (New Direction)
09:47 – “My Heart Is Steadfast”
10:11 – From Anxiety → Stability
10:17 – Anticipating God’s Presence
10:43 – Building Life on God’s Faithfulness
11:03 – Putting It All Together
11:28 – God Works in the Cave
11:49 – Final Encouragement

7. A Dangerous Prayer That Can Set You Free May 12, 2026

Show notes

What do you do with anger you can’t let go of?
What if the Bible actually teaches you how to pray it?
In Part 3 of this conversation, John Ortberg and Rankin Wilbourne tackle one of the most difficult emotions we face: anger.
Psalm 109 is one of the most shocking passages in Scripture—full of raw, unfiltered anger. So why is it in the Bible?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why denying anger isn’t spiritual maturity
- How the Psalms give you permission to be honest with God
- What it looks like to pray your anger instead of acting on it
- How anger can actually be transformed into something healing
- This is Part 3 of a 3-part convo on learning to pray your emotions.
📚 Today's Resources:
Life Together / writings on the Psalms — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 – Introduction (Part 3: Anger)
00:24 – Recap: Running Toward the Storm
00:46 – “What Do You Do With Anger?”
01:08 – The Reality of Anger in the Psalms
01:34 – Psalm 109 (The Angriest Psalm)
02:21 – Why This Is So Shocking
02:51 – Owning Your Anger (OWN Framework)
03:27 – The “Alchemy” of Prayer
03:55 – Why These Prayers Are in the Bible
04:17 – Are We “Holier” Than the Psalmists?
05:08 – “Vengeance Is Mine” (Letting Go)
05:37 – Be Angry and Do Not Sin
06:02 – Can You Be This Angry and Still Follow God?
06:28 – A Real-Life Example: Unforgiveness
07:04 – Bringing People Into God’s Presence
07:37 – Expanding Perspective (God, Self, Others)
08:11 – Why This Feels Complicated
08:38 – Everyone Has an Anger Problem
09:18 – Should You Pray Psalm 109?
09:30 – Practical: Naming Someone Before God
10:00 – The Turning Point (You Have a Choice)
10:34 – Admitting “I Am Angry”
11:17 – Psalms as Medicine for the Soul
12:34 – When You’re Not Ready to Forgive
13:00 – Starting With Honest Prayer
13:46 – The Breakthrough: You Have a Choice
14:21 – Final Invitation: Bring Your Anger to God

6. Why We Don’t Know How to Lament May 11, 2026

Show notes

What if the pain you’re avoiding is actually the path to healing?
And what if God already gave you the words for it?
In Part 2 of this conversation, John Ortberg and Rankin Wilbourne explore one of the most overlooked practices in the Christian life: lament.
If the Psalms are the prayer book of God’s people, why are so many of them… sad? And why do we avoid praying that way?
You’ll discover:
- Why lament is essential (not optional) in spiritual life
- How lament becomes a bridge between pain and trust
- Why avoiding pain actually deepens it
- A practical way to pray honestly without getting stuck in despair
This is Part 2 of a 3-part conversation on learning to pray your emotions.
📚 Today's Resources:
A Grief Observed — C. S. Lewis (indirect thematic reference)
Naming the Silences — Stanley Hauerwas
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 – Picking Up the Conversation (Part 2)
00:21 – Why the Psalms Are Full of Sad Songs
01:17 – 30–70% of Psalms Are Laments
01:44 – “How Long, O Lord?” (Psalm 13)
02:14 – What Lament Reveals About Life
02:40 – Why We Resist Lament
03:06 – What Lament Actually Is
03:36 – Permission to Bring Everything to God
04:08 – Do You Pray Like This?
04:31 – Image 1: Running Toward the Storm (Buffalo)
05:31 – Why Avoiding Pain Makes It Worse
06:04 – The Paradox of Grief
06:34 – Image 2: Lament as a Bridge
06:59 – From Pain → Trust (Psalm 13 Turn)
07:38 – How Psalms Train Us to Trust
08:04 – When Prayer Turns Into Rumination
08:52 – Using Psalms as Scaffolding
09:43 – Why Lament Doesn’t Leave You Stuck
10:11 – Learning the “Turn” to Trust
10:46 – Rehearsing Trust Like a Song
11:13 – Naming the Silences
11:48 – Training Your Heart Through Prayer
12:13 – Guided Prayer (Psalm 5)
12:58 – Key Takeaways + Preview Part 3

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