In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, hosts Elijah and Braden welcome Rick, a friend from Desert Bible Church, to share his testimony as part of their ongoing series inspired by 1 Peter 3:14-15 — a call to always be ready to give an account for the hope within us. Rick opens up about being saved at a young age after his father came home from a military stint with a newfound faith that transformed their entire family, landing Rick in a Christ-centered Christian school where the gospel took root in his heart. He reflects honestly on the double life he lived as a young boy — including the weight of early sexual abuse — and how God was quietly convicting and cleaning him up even before he ever knew Christ personally. The conversation moves through Rick's whirlwind early adulthood: marrying at 18, adopting a child, and navigating the chaos of parenthood with no roadmap, all while leaning on God through the messiest chapters. One of the most moving moments comes as Rick shares a pivotal turning point with his rebellious teenage daughter and the unexpected peace God gave him on the drive to pick her up — a moment where God made clear that she was now accountable to Him. Rick also opens up about one of his greatest trials: losing his daughter-in-law to cancer in her early 30s, and how that grief reshaped his understanding of God's sovereignty, and prayer. Throughout the episode, Rick's central message rings clear — knowing God intimately, trusting His sovereignty over the "why," and resting in the truth that His presence alone is worth any suffering this life brings.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Verses Mentioned:

• 1 Peter 3:14-15
• Romans 9:20
• Philippians 1:21
• Romans 8:28

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In this bonus testimony episode of the It Stands Written podcast, hosts Braden and Elijahsit down with Emerson, a young woman who gave her life to Christ just eight months ago. Emerson shares her raw and powerful story — from growing up without a clear understanding of the gospel to spending years in the LGBTQ community. She opens up about how her brother's bold challenge at a Christmas dinner planted a seed, and how one late night in August 2025, reading Matthew 7:7, she asked Christ to be her Savior — and everything changed immediately. Emerson speaks candidly about the backlash she faced leaving the LGBTQ community, losing friends, and navigating guilt as a new believer, clinging to Romans 8:1 as her anchor. The conversation digs into what it looks like to walk away from a former identity and find a new one rooted entirely in Christ, and why finding a biblically sound church is the first and most important step for any new believer. If you or someone you know is wrestling with questions of identity, salvation, or what life after conversion looks like, this episode is for you.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Verses Mentioned:

• 1 Peter 3:15
• Matthew 7:7
• Romans 8:1
• 1 Peter 1:6–7
• Jeremiah 17:9
• Acts 9:15

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In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, hosts Braden and Elijah launch a new testimony series by welcoming a special guest — Pam, a woman from their church with a remarkable conversion story. Raised in a practically atheistic home by two doctors, Pam grew up with zero exposure to Jesus, the gospel, or the concept of sin, and by age 40 considered herself one of God's favorites simply because her life was going well. That all changed one morning in 2004 when she received a mysterious email, listened to a 45-minute audio recording of the gospel, and within that single sitting went from confident self-sufficiency to the terrifying realization that she was at enmity with God — followed immediately by the overwhelming relief of Christ's finished work on the cross. Pam shares how God sovereignly used her father's death to prime her heart, how she came to faith with no Christian community to guide her, and how her husband and family responded to her sudden, dramatic transformation. The conversation explores the power of personal testimony as a defense of the faith (1 Peter 3:15), the way Christ breaks the power of sin without taking anything worth keeping, and the genuine brotherhood and sisterhood found in a healthy local church. Pam closes with a word of counsel to young women: pursue Christ, choose your companions wisely, believe what God says about you — and if you've already collected scars, take heart, because you can still be the "washed kind."

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Verses Mentioned:

• 1 Peter 3:15
• Proverbs 13:20
• Proverbs 1:20

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In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, the guys continue their series "So You Are Saved, Now What?" by diving deep into the discipline of prayer — the essential practice of talking to God. The guys open with an honest confession: prayer is hard work, and most of us don't do nearly enough of it. They break down the common barriers to a consistent prayer life, from distraction and busyness to simply not knowing what to pray for, and explore the difference between devoted prayer and the continual, "boots on/boots off" posture of God-consciousness throughout the day. Walking through the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11, Justin, Braden, and Elijah unpack each element — from the intimacy of calling God "Abba Father," to hallowing His name, seeking His kingdom, asking for daily provision, confession, and protection from temptation. The group also addresses a sobering reality: unconfessed sin and unforgiveness can actually hinder our prayers from being heard. They wrap up with a practical acronym — TACOS (Thanksgiving, Adoration, Confession, Others, Self) — as a helpful template for balanced, Spirit-led prayer. Closing with a powerful quote from John MacArthur, the episode challenges listeners to live with "God-colored glasses" — seeing every moment of life as filtered through an awareness of His presence. Whether you're a brand new believer learning to pray for the first time or a seasoned Christian who's let your prayer life grow cold, this episode will convict and encourage you to draw near to God.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

• An Exposition on Prayer: Igniting the Fuel to Flame Our Communication with God by Jim Rosscup
• Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes
• Prayer and Spiritual Warfare by Charles H. Spurgeon
• The Armor of God: Praying at All Times by John MacArthur

Verses Mentioned:

• Nehemiah
• Acts 6
• James 4:3, 5:16
• Galatians 4
• Luke 18:1-5
• Luke 11:1-8
• Hebrews 2; 4
• 1 Thessalonians 5
• Matthew 6
• 2 Corinthians 12
• Psalm 66:18
• 1 Peter 3
• Proverbs 30:8-9
• Luke 22
• Romans 8
• Ephesians 6:18

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In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, Justin, Braden, and Elijah tackle one of the most pressing questions for new and seasoned believers alike: how does God speak to us today? The guys dig into the common ways Christians claim to hear from God — still small voices, feelings of peace, prophetic words, open and closed doors, and dramatic signs — and test each one against the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. Using memorable stories (including Justin's hilarious "Lady in Red" saga), they expose how easily our feelings, impressions, and experiences can be mistaken for divine communication. The conversation explores the critical difference between biblical description and prescription, reminding listeners that just because something happened in the Bible doesn't mean it's the normative Christian experience. They also walk through the dangers of extra-biblical revelation, showing how elevating personal impressions above Scripture undermines the Word of God and can even lead to blaming God when things go wrong. The episode wraps up with practical, encouraging advice for building consistent Bible-reading habits — because if you want to hear the voice of God, open your Bible, and if you want to hear it audibly, read it out loud.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

• Strange Fire by John MacArthur
• Disciplines of A Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes

Verses Mentioned:

• Jeremiah
• Deuteronomy 29
• Deuteronomy 8
• Jeremiah 17:9
• 1 Kings 19
• Exodus 33
• Deuteronomy 13
• Deuteronomy 18:21–22
• 2 Timothy 3:16–17
• 1 Corinthians 14:33
• 2 Peter 1
• Joel 2
• Acts 16
• Revelation 3
• 1 Corinthians 2
• Psalm 119:11
• Proverbs
• 1 Peter

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On this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, Justin sets the stage for one of the biggest priorities for the church: effective salt and light-and namely, in the oppressing reality of human-trafficking that is destroying our country. Jesus does not tell us to BE the salt and light of the earth, He tells us that we ARE the salt and light of the earth (Matt 5:13-20). It's time for us to act.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

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In this episode of the It Stands Written podcast, the men continue their series "So You're Saved, Now What?" by diving deep into the question: What actually happened to me when I believed? The guys unpack the rich theological realities that become yours the moment you place your faith in Christ — starting with adoption, the stunning truth that you've been legally transferred out of Satan's family and into God's, receiving full inheritance alongside Jesus, your older brother. They explore what it means to be born again — moving from a dead, unresponsive heart of stone to a living heart of flesh that loves what it once hated. The conversation gets practical as they tackle the power over sin that every believer receives through the indwelling Holy Spirit. A rich discussion on the fear of God follows, wrestling honestly with how godly fear draws us toward God rather than away — and how perfect love and holy fear actually work together rather than against each other. The episode closes with a rapid-fire list of nearly 100 blessings that belong to every believer in Christ, from spiritual gifts and wisdom to the promise that God is preparing a home for you right now. Whether you're a new believer or a seasoned saint, this episode is a powerful reminder of the incomprehensible wealth you have in Jesus.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

• 1689 London Baptist Confession
• Holy Spirit ChatGPT Photo
• 100 Blessings in Christ Text File

Verses Mentioned:

• John 1:12
• John 3
• John 8:44
• Romans 8:17
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Galatians 4:6
• Galatians 6:14
• Ephesians 2:18
• 1 Peter 2
• Hebrews 12:6
• Proverbs 14:26
• Exodus 20:18-20
• Ezekiel 36
• Matthew 10:28
• 1 John 4:18
• Ephesians 2
• Titus 3

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In this first episode of the "So You're Saved—Now What?" series, hosts Braden, Justin, Ernest, and Elijah tackle one of the most fundamental questions new believers face: Did God truly forgive all of my sins—past, present, and future? The conversation explores the crucial distinction between legal forgiveness, which establishes your eternal standing before God, and parental forgiveness, which restores daily fellowship with your Heavenly Father. Drawing from passages like Romans 8, John 10, and 1 John, the team explains how Christ's finished work on the cross means believers are eternally secure in God's hands—no sin can forfeit your salvation. They address common struggles with guilt, the temptation to earn God's favor through works, and why spiritual maturity isn't measured by theological knowledge alone but by returning to the basics of the gospel again and again. Through candid personal stories and careful biblical teaching, this episode offers essential reassurance for anyone wrestling with doubts about the completeness of Christ's forgiveness. Whether you're a brand-new Christian or have walked with Jesus for years, this conversation will anchor you in the unshakeable truth that when Jesus said "It is finished," He meant it.

If you were encouraged by this episode or have any questions you would like to have answered, please email us at justin@itstandswritten.org or send us a text at the link in the description.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul
• The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
• The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan
• Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan

Verses Mentioned:

• Romans 8:1,35-39
• Romans 5:12
• John 19:30
• Psalm 51
• John 10:28-29
• Ephesians 1
• John 6:37
• Hebrews 12
• 1 John 1:8-10
• Psalm 66:18
• 1 Peter 3:7
• 1 John 2:1-2
• Philippians 2:13
• Romans 7
• John 15:8
• Matthew 7
• Romans 6:10
• Hebrews 1:3
• Hebrews 7:26-27

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