Become New with John Ortberg

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25. Psalm 23 and the Life You've Always Wanted Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

Can you really live without lack?
In this reflection on Psalm 23, John Ortberg draws from Life Without Lack to explore one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture.
What does it mean to say, "The Lord is my shepherd"? What if "I shall not want" is not a promise that life will be easy, but an invitation to stop being driven by fear, scarcity, and unsatisfied desire?
This episode explores:
- Psalm 23 and the Kingdom of God
- Dallas Willard's vision of life without lack
- Freedom from fear and anxiety
- God's presence as the center of the spiritual life
- Green pastures, still waters, and restored souls
- Goodness and mercy following us every day
Featuring reflections from:
- Dallas Willard
- Charles Spurgeon
- C.S. Lewis
- Walter Brueggemann
Scriptures:
- Psalm 23
- Matthew 6:33
- John 4:14
- Matthew 5:44
#Psalm23 #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #LifeWithoutLack #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #KingdomOfGod
📚 Today's Resources:
Dallas Willard, Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23
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Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Psalm 23: The Comfort We Need
00:30 Dallas Willard & Life Without Lack
01:22 The Lord Is My Shepherd
02:16 I Shall Not Want
03:09 Freedom From Unsatisfied Desire
04:00 Green Pastures & Still Waters
04:51 He Restores My Soul
05:43 Paths of Righteousness
06:05 I Will Fear No Evil
07:03 You Are With Me
08:07 Rod, Staff & Shepherd Care
08:29 A Table in the Presence of Enemies
09:16 Loving Your Enemies
10:09 My Cup Runs Over
10:48 Goodness & Mercy Follow Me
11:18 Grief, Goodness & Mercy
11:42 Living Without Lack

24. Psalm 59 Explained (The Danger of Spiritualized Prayer) Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

What's your story today?
In this teaching on Psalm 59, John Ortberg explores one of the most important lessons of the Psalms: prayer is always prayed from inside a story.
Drawing from Answering God, John challenges the idea of "spiritualized prayer" — prayer that removes the conflict, fear, anger, disappointment, and messiness of ordinary life.
Psalm 59 was written in the middle of David's crisis. Men were sent to kill him. His prayer wasn't polished. It wasn't neat. It was real.
This episode explores:
- Why every prayer comes from a story
- The danger of spiritually correct prayer
- Psalm 59 and David's honesty
- Fear, trust, and emotional authenticity
- Eugene Peterson's insights on prayer
- Bringing your whole self before God
Featuring reflections from:
- Eugene Peterson
- David's life in 1 Samuel
Scriptures:
- Psalm 59
- Psalm 3
- 1 Samuel 19
#Psalm59 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #EugenePeterson #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #Authenticity #Faith
📚 Today's Resources:
Eugene H. Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer
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Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 What's Your Story Today?
00:39 Eugene Peterson & Spiritualized Prayer
01:06 Psalm 3 and David's Story
01:51 Every Day Is a Story
02:32 Psalm Titles and Real Life
03:17 Why Scholars Often Ignore the Titles
04:02 Eugene Peterson's Insight
04:31 The Danger of Spiritualized Prayer
05:24 What Trouble Are You Facing Today?
06:21 Psalm 59 Begins
07:02 Trust, Fear & Emotional Honesty
08:20 Mrs. X and Spiritually Correct Prayer
09:19 The Problem With Polished Prayers
10:08 Living in the Mess With God
10:59 “I Am Not My Strength”
11:23 Every Story Matters to God
11:44 Your Outside Story and Inside Story

23. What If Refuge Was a Verb? (with Lisa Cuss) Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

What if refuge was something you practiced?
In this conversation, John Ortberg talks with therapist and trauma specialist Lisa Cuss about anxiety, church hurt, attachment theory, the nervous system, and Psalm 31.
Lisa shares how reading the Psalms through the lens of the nervous system helped her understand David's prayers in a completely new way. His cries of fear, confusion, and desperation suddenly felt deeply human and surprisingly familiar.
This episode explores:
- Trauma and attachment theory
- Church hurt and emotional healing
- Psalm 31 and the image of refuge
- Why God is called a fortress
- Right-sizing reality through prayer
- Making refuge an active spiritual practice
Featuring reflections on:
- David's prayers
- The nervous system
- Martin Luther
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
#Psalm31 #JohnOrtberg #LisaCuss #Prayer #Trauma #AttachmentTheory #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Anxiety #Psalms
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Music Credits:
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Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction & Meet Lisa Cuss
00:30 Church Hurt, Conflict & Anxiety
01:15 Living Between Panic & Shutdown
02:29 Reading the Psalms Through the Nervous System
03:23 David's Emotional Honesty
04:00 Naming the Amygdala Hijack
04:47 Psalm 31: Refuge & Fortress
05:56 What Refuge Really Means
06:27 Right-Sizing Reality
07:02 Refuge as a Spiritual Practice
07:27 What If Refuge Became a Verb?
08:25 Understanding Fortress
08:42 Protection While Under Attack
09:07 The Battles Inside Us
09:56 Facing Hard Things With God
10:27 Martin Luther & A Mighty Fortress
11:20 Go Refuge

22. God Loves Imperfect People Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

What if your imperfections are not your greatest problem?
In this teaching on Psalm 138, John Ortberg explores the difference between perfection and perfectionism, the beauty of human weakness, and why God has so much compassion for imperfect people.
Drawing from Psalm 138, Psalm 103, the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, and the image of cracked pottery repaired with gold, John shows how God often creates beauty through what we would rather hide.
This episode explores:
- The difference between perfection and perfectionism
- Why God remembers we are dust
- Fear, anxiety, and self-worth
- Wabi-sabi and the beauty of imperfection
- Jesus retaining His scars after resurrection
- Learning to accept imperfect people
Featuring reflections on:
- Brené Brown
- Gordon Flett
- Psalm 138
- Psalm 103
Scriptures:
- Psalm 138
- Psalm 103:13–14
- Isaiah 53
#Psalm138 #JohnOrtberg #Perfectionism #Grace #WabiSabi #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Prayer #BibleStudy #Psalms
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Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Today's Only for Imperfect People
00:27 The Psalms & Human Brokenness
00:47 Psalm 138 Begins
01:16 Though I Walk in the Midst of Trouble
02:08 “The Lord Will Perfect That Which Concerns Me”
02:30 “He Remembers We Are Dust”
03:02 Wabi-Sabi & the Beauty of Imperfection
03:37 The Difference Between Perfection & Perfectionism
04:41 Brené Brown, Fear & Self-Worth
05:19 Cracked Pottery Filled With Gold
05:50 Jesus Kept His Scars
06:22 Isaiah 53 & the Appearance of Jesus
07:07 The Leaning Tower of Pisa
07:33 Post-it Notes & Beautiful Failure
08:45 God’s Compassion for Dust
09:19 Living in an Imperfect World
10:04 Welcoming Imperfect People
10:22 Nancy Joins the Conversation
10:35 “You’re Pretty Darn Close to Perfect”

21. Why We Can’t Worry Our Way to Peace Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

How do you calm and quiet your soul?
In this deeply practical conversation on Psalm 131, John Ortberg and Steve Cuss explore anxiety, emotional awareness, prayer, soothing, and learning to rest in the presence of God.
Psalm 131 offers one of the gentlest images in all of Scripture:
“I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child with its mother.”
This episode explores:
- Anxiety and emotional awareness
- “Trying to worry your way to peace”
- How to notice what’s happening internally
- Connected vs. disconnected prayer
- Relaxing into God’s presence
- Psalm 131 and soothing the soul
This conversation is honest, calming, psychologically insightful, and deeply encouraging.
Scriptures:
- Psalm 131
#Psalm131 #JohnOrtberg #SteveCuss #Prayer #Anxiety #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Peace #BibleStudy #Psalms
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Music Credits:
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Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction & Steve Cuss Returns
00:28 Prayer, Peace & the Need for Soothing
01:39 Psalm 131 Begins
02:32 “I Have Calmed and Quieted Myself”
03:20 A Weaned Child With Its Mother
03:40 Learning to Notice What’s Happening Inside
04:34 “I Don’t Know How I’m Doing”
05:05 Bringing Yourself Honestly Before God
05:46 Calming & Quieting Ourselves
06:19 “Trying to Worry My Way to Peace”
07:19 “Who or What Is Taking Up Too Much Space?”
08:02 Forgetting the Presence of God
08:29 Relaxing Into God’s Presence
09:15 Small Moments of Relief & Resilience
10:04 “Put Your Hope in the Lord”
10:39 “Now and Forevermore”
11:23 Connected Self vs. Disconnected Self
12:14 “How Am I Really Doing?”
12:44 The Wasp Story & Closing Prayer

20. Psalm 1 and the Problem With Twitter May 29, 2026

Show notes

What is social media doing to your soul?
In this conversation, John Ortberg and Steve Cuss explore Psalm 1, online outrage, anxiety, reactivity, and the emotional formation happening through social media.
Why do platforms like Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram so easily pull people toward outrage, contempt, comparison, and self-righteousness? And what do the Psalms have to say about it?
This episode explores:
- Psalm 1 and “the company of mockers”
- Reactivity and self-righteousness online
- Why Steve deactivated Twitter
- Social media algorithms and outrage
- Meditation, attention, and spiritual formation
- “Relaxing into God’s presence”
This is an honest, thoughtful, and deeply practical conversation about technology, attention, anxiety, and the health of the human soul.
Scriptures:
- Psalm 1
- Psalm 55
#Psalm1 #JohnOrtberg #SteveCuss #SocialMedia #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Anxiety #Twitter #Psalms
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction & Steve Cuss Joins the Conversation
00:52 Social Media, Reactivity & Self-Righteousness
01:38 “One More Statement From Me Is What the World Requires”
02:05 Psalm 1 Begins
03:20 Scoffers, Mockers & Online Culture
04:03 “Thank God I’m Not Like Those People”
04:32 Why Steve Left Twitter
05:16 Psalm 55 & “Violence in the City”
06:13 The Emotional Atmosphere of Social Media
07:23 Trying to Respond With Grace Online
08:11 Algorithms Reward Outrage
09:07 Systems That Amplify the Worst in Us
09:34 Self-Awareness Is Not Enough
10:12 Meditating on Outrage vs. Meditating on God
10:42 “What Street Do I No Longer Need to Walk Down?”
10:56 Closing Prayer

19. The Secret Language of the Psalms May 28, 2026

Show notes

Why should we pray the Psalms slowly?
In this reflective teaching, John Ortberg explores the nature of Hebrew poetry, the structure of the Psalms, and why the language of prayer was never meant to be rushed.
Using Psalm 90 and several other Psalms, John unpacks the beauty of biblical parallelism — repetition, pivots, refrains, and poetic movement that deepen meaning and slow the soul down enough to notice God.
This episode explores:
- Why the Psalms are poetry, not prose
- Hebrew parallelism explained simply
- Why repetition matters spiritually
- Psalm 23, Psalm 88, and Psalm 90
- Jesus’ use of poetic teaching
- Prayer as attentiveness rather than efficiency
Featuring reflections from:
- Eugene Peterson
- C.S. Lewis
- Robert Lowth
Scriptures:
- Psalm 90
- Psalm 23
- Psalm 88
- Matthew 7
#Psalms #Prayer #JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #HebrewPoetry #BibleStudy #Psalm90 #ChristianFaith #EugenePeterson #CSLewis
📚 Today's Resources:
Answering God — by Eugene Peterson
Reflections on the Psalms — by C. S. Lewis
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 The One Word for Praying the Psalms
00:21 Psalm 90 & Numbering Our Days
00:51 Why the Psalms Repeat Themselves
01:08 The Psalms Are Poetry, Not Prose
01:34 Hebrew Parallelism Explained
02:03 Robert Lowth & Hebrew Poetry
02:59 Poetry Carries Thought Forward
03:24 “It Doesn’t Rhyme!”
04:04 Eugene Peterson on Poetry & Prayer
05:06 Why the Psalms Slow Us Down
06:02 Psalm 8 & Returning Home
07:18 Psalm 23 & Poetic Pivoting
08:06 Psalm 88 & Unresolved Anguish
09:21 The Psalms Were Never Meant for Speed Reading
09:44 Jesus Used Parallelism Too
10:14 “Judge Not…” Explained
10:37 “Ask, Seek, Knock”
11:23 Prayer, Patience & Attention
11:56 The Language of the Soul

18. How Worship Neutralizes Envy May 27, 2026

Show notes

Why do other people’s lives always seem better?
In this teaching on Psalm 73, John Ortberg explores envy, comparison, resentment, worship, and the deep human struggle of feeling overlooked while others seem to prosper.
The psalmist honestly confesses:
“I envied the arrogant.”
What follows is one of the most emotionally honest prayers in the Psalms — a prayer about jealousy, discouragement, unfairness, and the exhausting habit of comparing our lives to everyone else around us.
This episode explores:
- Why comparison distorts reality
- Social media, envy, and modern dissatisfaction
- Worship as perspective restoration
- The turning point of Psalm 73
- Why gratitude disappears when envy grows
- “It is good to be near God”
This teaching is deeply practical, psychologically insightful, and spiritually grounding.
Scriptures:
- Psalm 73
#Psalm73 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Worship #Envy #Comparison #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms
🙌 New episodes every weekday.
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Introduction & “Where’s the Beef?”
00:28 Pouring Out Envy Honestly to God
00:45 Psalm 73 Begins
01:13 “I Envied the Arrogant”
01:35 Why Other People’s Lives Look Better
02:08 “They’re Really Happy”
02:32 Comparing, Resenting & Complaining
03:18 “Surely in Vain Have I Kept My Heart Pure”
03:45 The Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” Illustration
04:11 Why Life Feels Unfair
04:36 The Turning Point: Entering the Sanctuary
05:15 Worship Restores Perspective
06:01 Nothing Changed… Yet Everything Changed
06:28 “Afterward You Will Take Me Into Glory”
06:55 The “D in Chemistry” Perspective Story
07:39 Worship as a Way of Life
08:09 What Worship Does to the Soul
08:31 What Happens When We Stop Worshiping
09:19 Learning to Meet God Throughout the Day
10:15 “It Is Good to Be Near God”
11:11 “I Will Tell of All Your Deeds”

17. Psalm 126 and the Spiritual Power of Joy May 26, 2026

Show notes

Is it possible laughter could be a form of prayer?
In this joyful and surprisingly profound teaching on Psalm 126, John Ortberg explores joy, humor, delight, neuroscience, and why laughter may be far more spiritual than many people realize.
Why do children laugh so much more than adults? Why does spontaneous laughter feel healing? And what does it mean that God Himself laughs?
This episode explores:
- Psalm 126 and joy
- Why laughter matters spiritually
- The neuroscience of laughter
- Spontaneous vs. social laughter
- Joy, humility, and human connection
- Sarah laughing at God’s promise
- Why the Gospel itself can feel wonderfully absurd
Featuring reflections from:
- Eugene Peterson
- C.S. Lewis
- Carl Jung
- Frederick Buechner
Scriptures:
- Psalm 126
- Psalm 2
- Genesis 18
#Psalm126 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Joy #Laughter #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Psalms #CSLewis #BibleStudy
📚 Today's Resources:
Robert Provine: Laughter: A Scientific Investigation
Eugene H. Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer
C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew
Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Is Laughter a Form of Prayer?
00:20 Why We Rarely Associate Laughter With God
01:05 Why Adults Stop Laughing
01:30 Psalm 126 & Restored Joy
02:19 What Laughter Actually Is
02:48 Why Jokes Aren’t the Main Reason We Laugh
03:11 The Trinity Walks Into a Wine Bar…
03:37 Jung, Spirit & Joy
04:02 Laughter, Safety & Human Connection
04:24 Who Invented Laughter?
04:45 Two Different Kinds of Laughter
05:36 Spontaneous Joy & the Brain
06:06 God Loves to Give Laughter
06:29 Eugene Peterson: “God Laughs”
07:22 The “Get Your Own Dirt” Joke
08:06 C.S. Lewis & The First Joke
09:07 Frederick Buechner on Sarah’s Laughter
10:17 Laughing at God & With God
11:20 “Are You Kidding Me? God Loves Me?”
11:42 God Filling Our Mouths With Laughter

16. Remembering Is a Form of Prayer May 25, 2026

Show notes

Why does memory matter spiritually?
In this reflective teaching on Psalm 77, John Ortberg explores remembrance, gratitude, grief, forgiveness, healing, and why memory itself can become a form of prayer.
Using deeply personal family stories, Memorial Day reflections, and Psalm 77’s call to “remember the deeds of the Lord,” John reflects on the spiritual importance of remembering honestly and hopefully.
This episode explores:
- Gratitude and memory
- Remembering sin and forgiveness
- God’s faithfulness through suffering
- Augustine’s Confessions
- René Girard and mimetic desire
- Why Jesus told us to remember
This teaching is thoughtful, moving, deeply personal, and filled with hope.
Scriptures:
- Psalm 77
- Luke 22:19
Resources referenced:
- Eugene Peterson
- Augustine’s Confessions
- René Girard
#Psalm77 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Memory #Gratitude #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Healing #Psalms
📚 Today's Resources:
Eugene H. Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer
🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.
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TEXT us at 51504
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
00:00 Memorial Day & Remembering
00:28 Psalm 77 & the Prayer of Memory
01:16 “I Will Remember the Deeds of the Lord”
01:38 Three Ways to Pray Through Memory
02:03 John’s Grandmother’s Notebook
02:42 Gratitude & Family Memories
04:00 Remembering People We Love
04:52 Remembering Sin & Forgiveness
05:18 Augustine’s Pear Theft Story
05:51 René Girard & Mimetic Desire
06:20 The Watermelon Story
07:27 Remembering Without Shame
08:09 Remembering God’s Faithfulness
08:36 Grief, Loss & Family Suffering
09:32 “The Healing Power Is Greater Than the Hurting Power”
10:19 Retrospect & Hope Beyond This Life
11:17 “Remember”
11:29 Jesus & the Last Supper
11:46 Closing Prayer

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