Have you ever found yourself stuck in uncertainty, second-guessing your decisions, or feeling paralyzed by the pressure to choose “right”? You’re not alone.
This week on The Love Offering Podcast, I had the joy of talking with Katie M. Reid about her brand-new Bible study, God, What Do I Do?—a six-session journey through Judges 1–5. In these chapters, we see the Israelites struggling at crossroads, learning to trust God’s wisdom, and discovering how to follow His lead in uncertain times.
Katie shares how these stories offer us timeless principles for decision-making today. Whether you’re facing a major life transition, a difficult dilemma, or even small daily choices, Katie’s insights will help you:
- Gain clarity and confidence in your decisions
- Find peace when God’s voice feels silent
- Be empowered to make godly choices—even when the stakes are high
Her heart is to equip you with six simple guiding principles rooted in Scripture so you can move forward in faith, not fear.
Listen to my conversation with Katie HERE
My prayer is that this episode will remind you that you don’t have to carry the weight of every decision alone. God’s wisdom is available to you, and His Spirit will faithfully guide your steps.
Summary
In this episode of the Love Offering Podcast, host Rachael Adams welcomes back Katie Reid to discuss her new Bible study, ‘God, What Do I Do?’ which focuses on making wise decisions in uncertain times. The conversation delves into Katie’s personal journey, the significance of the Book of Judges, and the story of Deborah as a model for informed decision-making and leadership. They delve into the importance of supportive friendships, the challenges of uncertainty, and the guiding principles for making decisions. The episode highlights the importance of obedience to God’s guidance and the transformative power of love and support in our lives.
Takeaways
Katie Reid shares her journey of moving to Florida and the changes it brought.
The importance of God’s timing in our lives and decisions.
Deborah’s story in the Book of Judges serves as a model for decision-making.
Supportive friendships can help us navigate life’s challenges.
Obedience to God’s guidance is crucial in decision-making.
The ripple effect of our decisions impacts those around us.
We should seek God’s word for direction in our lives.
The beauty of creation can remind us of God’s love.
Listening to the Holy Spirit is essential in our decision-making process.
We need to be proactive in our faith and actions.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Love Offering Podcast
01:31 Katie Reid’s Life Changes and New Bible Study
06:07 The Importance of Timing in Decision Making
06:45 Understanding the Book of Judges
09:26 Deborah: A Unique Biblical Figure
11:58 The Role of Supportive Friendships
14:02 Being a Deborah for Others
17:03 Navigating Decision-Making in Uncertainty
18:12 The Paralyzing Nature of Uncertainty
22:21 Six Guiding Principles for Decision Making
25:16 Advice for Women Facing Decisions
28:12 Biblical Love in Decision Making
30:13 The Challenge of Obedience
31:17 Finding Beauty in Everyday Life
32:35 Connecting with Katie Reid
33:45 Closing Prayer and Reflections
Transcript (AI Generated)
Rachael Adams (00:01.302)
Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I’m your host, Rachel Adams, author of “Everyday Prayers for Love,” where we learn to love God, others, and even ourselves. Each week, we delve into meaningful conversations about how to live out the greatest commandment: loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether through inspiring stories, practical tips, or biblical truths, I hope to encourage you to love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect God’s love in your everyday life.
Rachael Adams (00:27.938)
Today, I’m excited to welcome Katie Reed back to the show. Katie is a Bible teacher, podcast host, and author with a heart to help women embrace their God-given assignments. She’s here today to discuss her newest Bible study, “God, What Do I Do?” A Bible study on Judges Chapter 1-5 about making wise decisions in uncertain times. This six-session study delves into the stories of Deborah and other early judges, helping us discover six simple guiding principles for making wise decisions when life feels overwhelming and God’s voice seems silent. Katie invites us to gain clarity, move forward with confidence, and experience peace in decision-making like never before. Well, hello, Katie, and welcome back to the podcast. I’m happy to have you again.
Katie M. Reid (01:16.605)
Thanks so much for having me, Rachel. I had a lot of fun with you when you were a guest host on the Martha and Mary show, too. We did a little switcheroo. That was so fun.
Rachael Adams (01:27.022)
I know. Yeah. We are in life, real friends, and we get to see the summer, and we’re happy about that. And so, it’s interesting that since we met, you’ve had some major life upheavals. Don’t know another way to say that. There are a lot of changes, a lot of transitions, and a brand new season. Since your last appearance on the show, could you please provide us with an update?
Katie M. Reid (01:50.177)
A little over a year ago, I came down to Florida from Michigan to write with my friend Christy. We’re working on a Bible study, and Christy was actually supposed to come up to Michigan, but I ended up coming down. We attended her church, and I walked in, honestly skeptical about this mega church. I’m from a smaller church. I’m like, what is this hubbub all about? Right. But it was not long before God showed me.
I’m actually reassigning you guys to this church. And so it kind of feels like being a missionary, you know, we were at one place and God’s like, you’re actually going to go here. It wasn’t something where he was like, Start putting out resumes all over the country. It was like, I want you to be here, you know, whether your husband’s on staff or you guys are just serving. So Rachel, it wasn’t something we were looking for. It was just something God revealed.
And so here we are, a little over a year later. We’ve been in Florida for about three weeks with three of our five children. The two adult children have decided to stay in Michigan. They’re attending college there. As a result, there have been significant changes. And you know, as authors, Rachel, God often has us walk through difficult things as we write a book or prepare to launch it. And he does that actually out of love for us so that our messages will be authentic, that we’re not, you know, being hypocritical. And so with this new Bible, say, God, what do I do? My friends have teased me about Katie. It sounds like you need to do your own Bible study so that he can give you direction as you walk through this time of uncertainty.
Rachael Adams (03:32.43)
That actually leads me to my question for you. So, did you write the study before you decided to move, or did you make the decision and then write the Bible study, like which came first—the chicken or the egg?
Katie M. Reid (03:44.609)
None of those really, because well, I mean, I guess I wrote it first, but back in 2019, I started writing this, so there was no idea I would be living in a different state, and so often the messages God gives us, he knows what the time is gonna be like when the book comes out. You see, this study is a lot about Israel; you’re aware of all the recent developments in Israel. I had no idea that was going to happen when this book came out. All the upheaval, and it feels like all these giants in the faith are passing away right now. God knew that this was the right time for the study. And I waited patiently for seven years for this study to be published. There was a lot of pouting, and why God, you made this so clear. I’m supposed to write this, but he has confirmed repeatedly that this is the right time. And when you are in a season of waiting, Rachel, I know you know this: it can be irritating when people say, ‘Well, God just has a plan.’ His timing is right on time, you know, and all this. And while those things are true, when you’re in the thick of a waiting season, it can be hard to hear those truths. But on the other side of the fulfillment of the promise here, I am more convinced than ever that his timing is impeccable. You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about Mary and Elizabeth, Mary, Jesus’ mother, and Elizabeth, her relative, and how Elizabeth was barren for so many years. Still, God miraculously provided for her. However, it wasn’t until all these other things had been lined up. You know, Mary becomes pregnant with Jesus at a very young age. So she couldn’t have, you know, been any younger, and so it all converged into the right time. I believe we see this throughout Scripture, how God’s timing is impeccable. In its due season, we’ll reap a harvest if we don’t give up. So, those of you who are listening and find yourself in the thick of that waiting season… You might want to know that a throat punch is someone who’s like, ‘ Just hang on; God will indeed fulfill His promises right on time. ‘
Rachael Adams (06:08.118)
Yeah, absolutely. Well, I’m looking forward to continuing today’s conversation, but we’ll take a brief break to hear a word from today’s sponsor. And when we return, we will discuss Katie’s Bible study further. God, what do I do?
Welcome back. We are speaking with Katie Reed about her Bible study, “God, What Do I Do?” And Katie, how many times have we all probably said, I’ve probably asked that question. Several times, even today, and let alone the numerous times we’ve requested, what do I do in this situation? And in this moment, what do I do with my day? What do I do this year? What do you do in this specific relationship? That is something that many of us struggle with daily. So, for all of us, we can all relate to this question. And so, how was it that the book of Judges? How did that help answer that question? What made you land on the book of Judges for this study?
Katie M. Reid (07:20.874)
Actually, I wanted to write about Deborah from the Book of Judges. And, in fact, at first, it was going to be a nonfiction Christian living book all about Deborah being decisive, just like Deborah. But as I got in, I thought, ‘Man, I think it would help to have a more detailed roadmap.’ Right. It’s like, what do you do about this book? Right. And so, going through the first five chapters of Judges, it really sets the context for Deborah’s story, because sometimes I think we just dive into a character’s life in the Bible, but we really need to know the times in which they lived. And so that’s kind of why I became a Bible study. But I wanted it, it’s kind of a weird book to pick, you know, for my first Bible study I’m writing. But I loved that we can learn actually from the mistakes of God’s people. They were caught in a vicious cycle of sin. God gave them commands. They did okay for a little while, but then they rebelled against his commands. Then they found themselves in captivity as a consequence of their sin. Then they cry out to him. Then he provides a delivery. They have peace, and then the judge dies, and then they start this cycle all over. And so, sometimes, as I was writing, this was a little discouraging. These people are not necessarily making great decisions.
But I don’t know about you, Rachel, but sometimes when we fail or mess up, what we learn from those experiences actually sticks way more than when things go well. And so I think that God allowed us this picture of the Israelites and their mistakes so that we could learn from them. And really, the greater point is that these temporary judges we’re pointing to our permanent deliver in Jesus, who would stop that cycle? He would intervene so we could be forgiven, freed, and delivered, not just on the cycle, but once and for all. And so, yeah, it’s been neat to just really dig into the scripture and be like, what can this teach me in my life right now, because sometimes you can look at the Old Testament and it’s like, well, that was for then. How does that apply to me now? But there’s so much richness in there that we can glean for our right now life.
Rachael Adams (09:54.233)
For the person listening who is not familiar with Deborah’s story or who she is, could you tell us a little bit more about her?
Katie M. Reid (10:01.889)
Yes, Deborah was a prophetess and a judge. We find her in Judges 4 and 5. And in the early Judges, the rest are men. And so, it was very unusual for God to place a woman in this position. I think about her often, as if she didn’t have another peer to look to for guidance on how to do this, but it’s clear she feared the Lord. It’s clear she was the perfect woman for the job, I’m sure by any means, but she knew God’s voice. That was clear. And it required great wisdom. It said she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah, which likely refers to a different Deborah from the Old Testament, and she would settle disputes. And I have to laugh because moms are often in that position.
Katie M. Reid (10:55.263)
Here you are sitting, and your kids come to you to settle disputes, and it takes wisdom. Mean, there are times when, with my kids, I have no idea what the real story is. And I will just say, I don’t know who is telling the truth and what is right, but I know that God knows. And so he’s just going to have to give me wisdom on how to handle this situation. And so we see that with Deborah. What Deborah’s probably most known for is that she gives this exhortation to Barak, who’s a military commander. And she says, Barak, hasn’t God commanded you basically to go into battle against Sisera? And Sisera is the commander of Jabin’s army. And Jabin was oppressing God’s people, and life was not good for them. And so it’s likely that Deborah was reminding Barak of something that God had already told him. And one thing I love to look at in this story is, I believe, she was calling him up, not necessarily calling him out. Yes, she was holding him accountable, but she was doing it in an honoring way. Like, Hey, didn’t God say this? As I paraphrase it, you should do this. This is what you should do. And then he says to her, essentially, ‘I’ll go to battle if you go with me.’ And so I love this collaboration we see between Deborah and Barack. She didn’t try to do his job. She didn’t try to do God’s job.
She carried out the sacred assignment God had given her, and she was willing to link arms with Barak. She wasn’t trying to steamroll him, nor did she shrink back from that position God had entrusted to her.
Rachael Adams (12:38.176)
It makes me think we all need a Deborah in our lives. And so I’m wondering, do you have somebody in your life that’s been a Deborah to you?
Katie M. Reid (12:46.753)
Yeah, I’ve been blessed by multiple people in my life. I think in different seasons. But one thing comes to mind: my friend Charity. God often uses us in each other’s lives to call each other up. And I remember she had a picture in her mind that she shared with me. She said, Katie, I picture you on this busy street like Manhattan or something like that. And there’s all this traffic, and you actually need to cross the street, but your arm is behind your back. It’s like things are pulling you back. And she gave me this visual because there were some things in my life at the time that were good things, but they weren’t necessarily the things God was asking me to do. And she was like, Katie, if you don’t get free, you know, from that thing holding you back, I’m afraid you’re going to get hit. And it was this mental picture that helped me understand the steps I needed to take to move forward. And so that was kind of a Deborah moment, you know, of like, hey, God has these things for you to do. But if you don’t move a little faster in this regard or a little freer in this regard, you know, you might get hurt from a spiritual standpoint. And so I really appreciate the friends in our lives, again, who have earned the right to speak into our lives, because Rachel, I’m sure I’ve done this to people before. Freely share my opinion, you know, when they don’t ask. I still have to work on that at almost 50 years old. But when we have those people in our lives that we know are in our corner and we know have a vibrant relationship with the Lord, I think it can be such a value because they can see things that we don’t see as clearly because they’re a little bit removed from the situation.
Rachael Adams (14:36.652)
Yeah. Yeah. It’s so valuable to have people like that in our lives. And then I pray that we have the courage to be that for other people. Do you have a story of when you’ve been a Deborah for someone?
Katie M. Reid (14:49.279)
Well, yes, I actually shared this story at the Speak Up Conference, but I had a friend in my life who had reached out and permitted me to share this story. And she texted me and she said, Katie, when your husband had the surgery, you know, so that you wouldn’t have any more kids, did you go with him? And I said, No, I did not. But I was reading a little bit between the lines because I knew my friend had had multiple miscarriages, and her husband was gonna have surgery because it was just too hard to keep trying. It was just devastating to them. But I knew my friend would make such a good mom. I didn’t know if God had that for her, but she was so wired as a mom. She’s like a second mom to my kids. And so I was debating, because, as I said, Rachel, I can sometimes meddle. And so I was sitting there, going god, do I say something? Do I not?
And I felt prompted to say something. So all I did was ask a question, and I said, Do you feel at peace about that? And she said, No, I don’t. In fact, I’m going to talk to my husband. Well, Rachel, God did a miraculous thing. They got pregnant. They have a beautiful daughter named Lakeland Faith. We all think she’s perfect. We know all born sinners, but you know, in our eyes, she’s perfect. And I just, you know, it makes me tear up. What if I hadn’t spoken up? What if I hadn’t acted like Deborah in that moment? So, listeners, if you feel a Holy Spirit prompting to ask a pointed question to steer someone away from danger, such as not letting the enemy use wounds from your past or accusations to silence you, because I can’t imagine What Would Have Happened If I hadn’t said that, and Lake wasn’t here. So, we know that God says life and death are in the power of the tongue, and we do not always get it right. However, that is a story I revisit time and again. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to the hisses of the enemy saying, ‘ You always share your opinion, you insert your opinion. ‘ You know, what if you’re overstepping? A lot would have been at stake.
Katie M. Reid (17:14.164)
And so I think Deborah’s story, and hopefully this example, is just a reminder not to be afraid to speak up when God is prompting you. And sometimes we’re not sure, Rachel, right? If it’s Him or our will. But there is grace for that. Know, if our intent is to honor Him and please Him. We also need to practice being receptive. My friend could have just dismissed what I said, also. You know, like, ‘nope, this is just too hard; we can’t try anymore, it’s too painful.’ And so it was God, you know, her responding to that prompting, and it was a big faith move for them too to kind of open themselves up to possible disappointment and hurt again.
Rachael Adams (18:01.996)
Yeah. That’s such a good story. And my biggest takeaway from it is like, what if you hadn’t spoken up? And many of us can recall a situation where we either did speak up or didn’t. And just to think about the way that people’s lives can change based on our silence or our words and prayerfully that they’re God’s words. That’s the biggest thing. Are we listening to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and then obeying whatever He is telling us to do? And so we’ll continue this conversation, but we’ll take a brief break to hear from today’s sponsor. And when we come back, we will talk about how Katie’s study can bring peace to our everyday decision-making.
Rachael Adams (18:48.36)
Welcome back. I’m talking with Katie M. Reid about her Bible study on God. What do I do? I shared that right before we hit record that I’m in the middle of it and need to make a decision. I don’t have all of the information that I need to make that decision yet. They’ve just been praying for guidance and for God’s will to be done in my life, and through the decision I will make. So, everybody right now has a decision they need to make that they’re wrestling with. Why do you think uncertainty about the future or even the next step can feel just so paralyzing? As we just don’t want to make the wrong move, I think, don’t you?
Katie M. Reid (19:27.052)
Yes, you know I used to live as if I had a red light from God. I didn’t want to put one little pinky toe forward unless I was sure he was leading me forward. And then I remember hearing a mentor of mine speak at a conference, and she said, You know, if you’re in an ongoing relationship with the Lord, you’re a Christ follower. She says, ‘What if you actually have a green light?’ And you just go forward in faith, trying to honor him. And if you get off course, he’ll steer you back. Well, Rachel, think about so many things in life, it is both of those things, right? Sometimes he says, ‘You choose.’ He knows what we’re gonna choose anyway, right? And then there are other times when it’s very clear, like, ‘ No, I haven’t asked you to do that. ‘ Yes, I have. And so, we are talking about the Bible study and experiencing God before we hit record here. It discusses having an ongoing, abiding relationship with the Lord. That’s where it starts. Sometimes we just want answers from God, and we forget about the relationship, especially those of us who are made like Martha. However, we should start with an ongoing relationship, and then we turn to His Word. What does his word say? I can’t tell you how many times God has given me a specific scripture to guide me through a particular situation.
Here’s a silly example. We used to live at a Bible camp, and I had a young daughter. The program director asked me if I would orchestrate some skits for the parent rally at the end of each week of camp. And I wanted to be sure, like that sounded very fun to me, but I wanted to be sure it was God. And so he led me to Ephesians, where it talks about how we’ve been giving gifts for the building up of the church, for the building up of the body, and that each part works together. That was the answer I needed: yes, this was a yes for me. I could use the skills he had taught me, and I put my daughter in one of those little fence playpens. I’d then throw Cheerios to her on a blanket so that I could help with rehearsal. However, he wants to give a specific scripture for our situation. Of course, we don’t just take things out of context, but his word is living and
Katie M. Reid (21:49.571)
And so that’s one of the things when I’m trying to make a decision my husband and I will go to the word it’s like God would you lead us to a particular story or particular passage or verse that applies to the situation and so for our move to Florida the story of Abraham you know he went not knowing where he was going that has been a huge story and then also when the priests went into the Jordan River at flood stage and then the water parted, right? God said they had to go into the river, and so we took that as a sign that we would have to take some steps forward, and God would provide as we went. He didn’t part it first, right? There was still some fear and uncertainty. And so sometimes, Rachel, we’re waiting for the bullet point list, you know, or the writing in the sky. And sometimes we just have to move forward and see what happens as we go, knowing that we’re trying to honor the Lord. It is easier to say no up front than it is to untangle ourselves from a commitment later on. Yes, there are times when we have to do that. I’ve had to do that. But it’s easier to say yes or no initially than it is to get halfway through and realize, ‘I don’t think this is the right choice.’ However, we still need to be obedient if we’re in the midst of that season, and perhaps some listeners are right now thinking, ‘ I thought I was supposed to do that, or I was supposed to do that for a season, and now the season has shifted. ‘ And I just want to say, dare to obey because our obedience and our disobedience have a ripple effect. And so it doesn’t just impact us; it affects those around us.
Rachael Adams (23:36.97)
Yes, that’s a great word and a valuable piece of wisdom. And I know you said this is not like a bullet-point process, but there are six guiding principles, right? In this study. Now that we have your study, can you provide a brief overview of what these six principles entail?
Katie M. Reid (23:51.47)
Yeah. Yeah. Some people seem to be more decisive than others, Rachel, right? Just by nature. And so I really want this study to help people who feel stuck, who don’t feel like they have the details about what they should do about the situation. And so we examine six decisions you can make, even when you don’t know exactly what to do about a situation. And those are the decisions to remember. Remember God’s faithfulness in the past through his word and in our own lives—the decision to obey, not partially but fully, to obey the Lord. As we discussed, our obedience has a ripple effect. And if you’re not sure how you’re supposed to obey God, his word is full of thanks. You know, you can just start right there. Like your podcast, love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love others as yourselves. That will keep you busy for a long time in obeying the Lord, a lifetime, right?
Katie M. Reid (24:46.115)
So, we have a decision to remember: the decision to obey, the decision to be responsible. We see all the way back in the garden, right? Adam and Eve, when they sinned, placed the blame on others instead of taking responsibility. So sometimes we want a rescue from our situation, but God is actually allowing natural consequences to teach us. And sometimes we find ourselves suffering not necessarily because of sin, but because we’re actually doing something right. And that’s something we don’t talk about, like with Job. He was actually doing a good job following the Lord, and times were hard. And so, sometimes we suffer because of sin, sometimes just because we live in a fallen world, but sometimes it’s because we’re doing things right. And then the next one is the decision to endure. We often struggle with commitment issues, right? We don’t want to survive for the long haul.
We want that quick fix. The next one is the decision to rise, and we discussed that a little earlier with Deborah, who rose to her God-given position. She didn’t overstep, but she didn’t shrink back. Lastly, one of my favorites is the decision to testify. To testify to what God has done because that fortifies our faith and sparks others on in their faith as well. I love to hear testimonies from other people’s lives, and even the story I shared about Lakeland Faith. You know, that is a testimony of something that God did, and hopefully it will spur someone else on to speak up when God prompts them.
Rachael Adams (26:18.742)
Yeah. Those are so good. And something that we can all do. And I’m just mindful, though, of the woman who has a decision to make today or in the near future. What is your number one piece of advice to her? What can she do today to help make that decision?
Katie M. Reid (26:35.157)
One of the things we discuss is from Judges 1. So Joshua had died, and the tribes were supposed to enter the promised land. And so they inquire of the Lord, and I call these SOS prayers. Going to the Lord for wisdom. God help, God, I’m not sure what to do. And we don’t always hear that audible voice, but we want our uncertain times to drive us to God, not drive us away from. That’s where I would start: by praying and then listening. Sometimes we can be really good at talking to God and not listening for his answer. And if he hasn’t given you an answer yet, wait a little longer. Sometimes we can just be so uncomfortable, as we discussed earlier during that waiting season. However, sometimes all the details aren’t in place yet, and we can rush the decision-making process. And then there are those of us who can drag our feet as well. So I’m sure the listeners are well acquainted with what camp they fall into. And if you do find yourself with someone who drags your feet, it’s really important to have those Deborah friendships in your life that can help you even discern. Nothing replaces us discerning for ourselves from the Holy Spirit and His Word. However, some people may see things that we overlook in them.
Rachael Adams (28:01.132)
Yeah, absolutely. Well, I would be in the camp of dragging my feet and indecisive if I’m being honest, that’s me. And so I’m thankful God has surrounded me with a husband who is very decisive in a great community around me. Which camp are you in? Are you indecisive or pretty decisive?
Katie M. Reid (28:16.699)
Pretty decisive, almost to a fault, because I just want to make a decision like yesterday. And that can sometimes get me in trouble. However, one other tip that would help is for my husband to be more proactive, rather than dragging his feet a little bit. I would rush ahead. And so, one strategy we’ve used in our marriage is that we’ve tried to set a deadline for the decision, because that slows me down, and it speeds him up. And so then it’s kind of like, we’re probably both, you know, have some error in our ways, but then it also gives the person that needs, like, the security of the decision being made to know, okay, it might not be in this moment, but next week, Tuesday, we’re going to make the decision. And then the person that drags their feet, it’s like, okay, shoot, I could maybe forget about this for two days, and then I’m going to really have to, you know, pray and figure it out. And you might need to come back and say, actually, we need some more time. However, I think that can help, whether it’s in a friendship, a marriage, or even with a coworker, to bring us together so that we’re not just doing things one person’s way all the time or being frustrated by the other person’s style of doing things.
Rachael Adams (29:25.454)
Yeah, that’s good marriage advice. My husband is going to thank you. Tell us something. So, is there a biblical concept of love that applies to this topic today?
Katie M. Reid (29:40.804)
You know, I think just with the friendship between them or the collaboration, I guess, I don’t know if they were buddies, but between Deborah and Barack is that one; she loved God and was going to obey him. However, she showed care for Barack and the people by being willing to call him. And so I think that was loving. And also that she went with him in battle. I don’t think she had to do that, but she saw that you asked her to. She didn’t just insert herself into the struggle; but she went with him. And I think that just as our family is going through this kind of upheaval, God has given me what we call the mat carriers. They haven’t come here to Florida with me, but their prayers have, and they’ve walked alongside me. And so, sometimes just being there for someone and praying for them can be incredibly loving. That picture of Deborah going into battle with Barak, when in reality she wasn’t the one called into battle, but she was willing to go with him. And we see that with Judah and Simeon when they were occupying the Promised Land, too. Judah is like, well, you go with me to my allotted territory, and I’ll go with you to your allotted territory. And so, this concept of being for and with one another is a way we can truly show love, as we see it all over Scripture. And of course, Jesus was sent to earth for us, Emmanuel, God with us, His presence and His companionship. That shows a great deal of love being with and for someone.
Rachael Adams (31:23.946)
I love that answer so much. And as you were talking, I couldn’t help but think, you know, and you touched on this a little bit with the obedience, but when we ask God, what do I do? And he answers. And what if it’s not the answer we wanted? And then, we’ve touched on fear as well. Once we receive the answer, we must take the next step to comply. And maybe that’s even harder than making the decision to begin with. Right.
Katie M. Reid (31:52.991)
Absolutely. In the Old Testament, the word “hear” was “Shema,” and it actually meant hearing and obeying. When the Jewish people listened to a command from God, they were spurred to action. Just as in our Western culture, we can pause and consider that. Let me make a pro and con list about it. But when God tells us what to do, which He does throughout His Word and also in our specific situation, obedience is an action. It’s not just a matter of thinking about it. It’s not just hearing it. So listeners, maybe your heart’s pitter-pattering a little bit because you know that God has asked you to do something, and you don’t want to have regrets in delaying it. There may be someone who’s about to give up hope, and God’s prompting you to text them, call them, or pray for them. Don’t delay because that obedience is so important. Don’t obey partway, obey fully, and I’m telling myself that too, Rachel.
Rachael Adams (32:53.646)
And I’m hearing that, and I’m being convicted as well. So we’re all in the same boat, a daily process. So Katie, tell us something that you are loving right now.
Katie M. Reid (33:04.964)
I am loving the sunsets over the river in our backyard. I told my husband, Is it bad that I want to be home at 7:30 every night so we can see what God has painted in the sky? We have church on Thursday night. You know, I can’t rush home to see the sunset on Thursdays, but just how different each night is. And then, after the sun goes down, the colors continue to change.
And I just think, man, how many times do I just rush around and not see the sunrise, not see the sunset? And I just feel like God is displaying his love so boldly and lavishly for us through creation. And I just don’t want my to-do list to distract me from… He’s just, it’s like almost embarrassingly broadcasting his affection. You know, for humanity. And I just want to be more appreciative of that all the time. I’m loving the sunsets right now.
Rachael Adams (34:09.9)
Yeah, I need to be more appreciative of it, too. So many times, we’re so busy that we don’t notice when his beauty and his presence are all around us all the time. So I love that example. Well, I know I want to stay connected with you. I’m sure listeners will want to, so please tell us how we can best do that.
Katie M. Reid (34:29.604)
Yes, so if you go to katiemreed.com, I’m sure Rachel will have that in the show notes so that you can spell it correctly. And then I’d also love to offer you listeners the free introductory lesson from God, What Do I Do? We’ll also share the link to that. You can find me on Instagram, also at katiemreed.com. Check out the Martha and Mary Show podcast, which Lee from Mean Heist hosts, and Rachel has numerous episodes on there as well. And then I’m also on YouTube. I have some teaching videos over there. So, I would love to connect, and I hope people pick up the study. God, what do I do? Do it in a small group or at their church.
Additionally, there are teaching videos available on Right Now Media. On my web store, you’ll also find a leader’s guide. We want to equip you to make this process as easy as possible so that you can facilitate this study effectively. However, I believe it was God’s idea to have us do this at this time, and I hope it helps people make wise decisions in these uncertain times we’re living in.
Rachael Adams (35:31.062)
Yeah, me too. You know, I feel like we are living in uncertain times, but I wonder if everybody has always felt like they’ve lived in uncertain times. Do you think?
Katie M. Reid (35:39.813)
I’m sure they do. Know, one verse I’ve been going back to is how God is the stability of our times. He is not uncertain, even though we’re looking around, wondering, ‘What is happening?’ He’s not surprised. He is working things for the good, even when we don’t understand. And so we can be certain of him, even when we’re not sure about our next step.
Rachael Adams (36:01.998)
I’m so thankful for that truth. On that note, please join us in prayer as we come to a close.
Katie M. Reid (36:08.452)
I’d be honored to, and thanks so much for having me on, Rachel. Dear Lord, we thank you that you indeed are the stability of our times. That God, yes, some things feel like they’re a mystery about you, but yet you make yourself known to us in so many ways. Through a sunset, through a friend encouraging us, through text, through a song, through a specific scripture. And God, when times are hard, especially, we want to be that to drive us to you, to choose to seek you instead of being driven away from you. God, I thank you for the examples you’ve given us in scripture, and how there is no turning away from you. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are our rock and our fortress. And God, more than you giving us wisdom about making decisions, the point is you. So, Jesus, you are the answer: your presence, God, Emmanuel, God with us.
The most important decision we could ever make is what to do with you, Jesus. And so I pray that if anyone is listening who does not yet know Jesus, they would simply say, ‘Jesus, I believe you died for my sins.’ You rose again, and I need forgiveness. Will you rescue me? Will you forgive me? Will you teach me how to be a follower of Christ? And God, we just thank you that we don’t have to live this life perfectly. That’s why you came to cover our sins with your blood. So we want to move forward in faith. We want to seek you. We want to communicate with you, God. And we just thank you for your goodness in our lives. We thank you for your faithfulness. And we thank you that all wisdom is found in you and in your word. Lead us each day, Holy Spirit. And even after we listen to this conversation, if there’s something you’ve asked us to do that we haven’t done, give us the courage, the follow-through, and the endurance to do it. In your name and for your glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Rachael Adams (38:14.706)
Amen. Well, Katie, thank you for joining me today and for helping us make decisions when we are just asking God, ‘What do I do?’
Katie M. Reid (38:23.225)
Thank you.
Rachael Adams (38:25.048)
Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering Podcast. I hope today’s conversation encouraged and inspired you to love God, love others, and even love yourself a little more. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It helps others find the show and spreads the message of love even further. To connect with me, please visit my website at rachelkadams.com. While you’re there, be sure to download the Love Offering Calendar, a free resource filled with simple daily ways to love those around you. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of my book, Everyday Prayers for Love, and Katie’s Bible study, God, What Do I Do? A special thank you to Life Audio for supporting this podcast and making it possible. To find more great podcasts, visit LifeAudio.com. Thanks again for joining us today. Until next time, let’s make our lives an offering of love.
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