Guided by Faith: Daily Christian Devotions and Advice for Teens and Young Adults

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 374: Should We Pray to Saints? Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

In this thoughtful and biblical episode of Guided by Faith, Jay tackles a common and often confusing question: should Christians pray to saints? Grounded in Romans 8 and the broader teaching of Scripture, Jay explains why the Bible never instructs believers to pray to deceased saints and instead emphasizes the incredible gift of direct access to God through Jesus Christ. Listeners will learn what the Bible really means by the word “saint,” why every believer is called a saint through faith in Christ, and how the Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself already intercede on our behalf. This episode encourages Christians to pray confidently to their Heavenly Father, trusting the perfect access they already have through Christ.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 373: What Can We Learn from Jesus' Prayer? Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

In this midweek episode of Guided by Faith, Jay helps teens and young adults learn how to pray by looking at Jesus’ own teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Walking through Matthew 6:5–14 and the Lord’s Prayer, Jay highlights what Jesus reveals about prayer: God expects us to pray, prayer is relational rather than performative, and it should come from an engaged, honest heart—not empty repetition or a desire to impress others. This episode encourages listeners to pray authentically, remember who they are talking to, and approach God with both intimacy and awe. If you want a deeper, more meaningful prayer life rooted in Jesus’ example, this episode offers a clear and encouraging guide.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 372: What Exactly Is Prayer? Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

In this practical and relatable episode of Guided by Faith, Jay breaks down a simple but powerful question: what is prayer, really? Using Romans 8:26 as a foundation, Jay explains that prayer is more than just talking to God—it’s talking to God with the confidence that He hears you and will respond. This episode explores the different ways God answers prayer—yes, no, wait, and sometimes in ways that are better than we imagined—and why those answers flow from His love and perfect plan. If you’ve ever struggled with prayer, felt unsure how to pray, or wrestled with God’s timing, this episode will help you grow in trust, maturity, and confidence in your daily walk with God.

Listen and Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 371: God is Praying for You! Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

In this encouraging episode of Guided by Faith, Jay walks teens and young adults through one of the most mind-blowing truths in Romans 8: you are never praying alone. Drawing from Romans 8:26–34, Jay explains how the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray, and how Jesus Himself is at the right hand of the Father praying on our behalf. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsure how to pray, or like no one is praying for you, this episode offers deep hope and confidence. Discover how God’s perfect prayer team—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is working for you, correcting your prayers, and inviting you to join them in a powerful, honest prayer life rooted in God’s love.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 370: Living in the Mystery of Jesus Making All Things New Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay explores the wonder and mystery of how Jesus will one day make all things new, drawing from Romans 8:24–25. Jay reflects on the questions we naturally have about the new heavens, new earth, and our glorified bodies—how creation and even the laws of the universe might be transformed, and how our current suffering will be redeemed in ways beyond our imagination. This episode encourages listeners to live in anticipation and hope, using curiosity and faith together, trusting that God has a perfect plan to reconcile and renew everything for His glory.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 369: Our Current Suffering Doesn't Compare to Our Future Glory Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay unpacks Romans 8:18 and offers a hope-filled perspective for teens and young adults walking through hardship. Using vivid analogies—from tiny seeds growing into massive trees to unimaginable future realities—Jay explains how present suffering, though real and painful, is producing an eternal glory far beyond what we can currently see or imagine. This episode encourages listeners not to lose heart in seasons of pain, but to trust that God is using every struggle to shape something greater, reminding us that what’s coming in Christ is infinitely better than what we’re enduring now.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 368: Creation is Groaning Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay continues the study of Romans 8, focusing on Paul’s reminder that all creation is groaning under the weight of sin and brokenness as it waits for redemption. Jay explains how natural disasters, disease, famine, and everyday suffering are signs that the world is not as God originally designed it—and not how it will remain forever. Rather than becoming overwhelmed or numb to suffering, listeners are challenged to respond like Jesus by caring for people locally, coming alongside those who are hurting, and living as God’s hands and feet in a broken world while we wait for Christ to make all things new.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 367: Two Types of Suffering Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay addresses one of the most universal and difficult realities of life—suffering—through the lens of Romans 8:18, reminding teens and young adults that present pain is not worth comparing to the glory God has promised. Jay explains the two primary types of suffering found in Scripture: suffering because of sin, which affects all humanity in a broken world, and suffering for Christ, which includes persecution, sacrifice, and even the daily struggle of resisting sin to follow Jesus. Pointing to Jesus as the ultimate suffering servant, this episode offers hope that God has not abandoned us in our pain, walks with us through it, and will faithfully reward every ounce of suffering endured for the sake of Christ and the gospel.

Listen and Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 366: How the Sufferings of Today Can Produce Hope for Tomorrow Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay begins a powerful new week-long study in Romans 8:16–25, one of the most hope-filled passages in all of Scripture. Jay reminds listeners that suffering is not a sign that God has abandoned them. Instead, the Apostle Paul shows us that suffering is part of life in a broken world—and part of the Christian journey—but it is never the end of the story.

This episode explores how our present suffering cannot compare to the future glory God has promised. Jay unpacks what it means to be children and heirs of God, how all of creation is groaning for redemption, and why hope in Christ allows us to endure pain with patience. If you’re struggling personally, weighed down by the suffering you see in the world, or simply wondering how God uses hardship for good, this episode will point you to the unshakable hope found in Jesus and the transformation still to come.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Ep. 365: By The Spirits' Power, Not Our Own Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

How do we actually live out our faith when life gets hard? In this concluding episode of the Romans 8:12–17 series, Ryan Woods brings everything together by reminding teens and young adults that real transformation happens by the power of the Holy Spirit—not our own effort. This episode recaps our identity as sons and children of God, co-heirs with Christ, and explains why suffering is a normal part of the Christian life. Drawing from Romans 8 and 1 Peter 4, Ryan challenges listeners to stop relying on self-effort and instead daily set their minds on the Spirit. When we walk in our new identity and depend on God’s strength, we experience life, peace, and the ability to resist our old way of living—no matter the circumstances.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

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