The Living Waters Podcast

• Ep. 335 - Why Christians Struggle With Silence and Solitude

  The lost discipline of waiting on God is one that men of old deeply valued, filling their journals with reflections on solitude. Today, however, we are consumed by distraction and the fear of missing out. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar talk about how the rise of social media and smartphones has contributed to the loss of silence and solitude, which are vital to the Christian life. Silence forces us to confront our hearts—our struggles with working on salvation rather than working it out. Instead of facing our darkest thoughts, we use digital distractions as an escape. When we wait on God, we experience revival, healing, and conviction. Practicing solitude requires discipline, as our minds constantly race with thoughts, often without us realizing the noise surrounding us. True stillness is an intentional quieting of the soul before God.Knowing God is more than knowing scripture—it’s abiding in Him. Silence invites us to see God as He sees us, to cease striving, and to recognize His presence. In Mark 6, Jesus told His disciples to step away after their missionary journey. This teaches us that spiritual strength comes from intentional rest in God’s presence. How do we practically apply this? Scripture should be incorporated into prayer. The secular world promotes mindfulness, but Christian  solitude is not about emptying the mind—it’s about filling it with God’s thoughts. The devil’s greatest weapon is busyness, distracting us from true communion with God. We often create our plans and ask God to bless them instead of waiting in silence to hear Him speak.Our deepest yearning is to connect with the One whose image we bear. Yet, our phones keep us in a state of constant stimulation, making true solitude difficult. Practical steps to regain it include taking walks without a phone, setting screen-free times in the morning or before bed, and leaving devices behind when going into nature. This is not about emptying the mind but filling it with God’s promises. Silence before God is an opportunity to recalibrate, much like any precise measurement tool that requires alignment with a definite standard. How do we cultivate solitude in a world of distractions? Establish accountability, identify distractions, and reorder priorities. If entertainment takes up our time, adjust it to prioritize time with God. Applying these principles will be difficult. Our hearts remain restless until they rest in God. True solitude takes time and effort, but we must persist. The reward is a deep, abiding relationship with the Lord, free from the noise that seeks to pull us away.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at [email protected]. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

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• Waiting on God. Praying Through His Word. Resting in the Lord. - Highlight Episode 335

  The discipline of waiting on God, once deeply valued, has been lost to the distractions of social media and constant stimulation, making true solitude rare. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar recognize that silence forces us to confront our hearts; yet, believers often use digital distractions to escape rather than seek revival, healing, and conviction. Knowing God goes beyond scripture—it requires abiding in Him through intentional stillness. Jesus emphasized the importance of stepping away to rest in God’s presence, teaching that spiritual strength comes from solitude. Unlike secular mindfulness, Christian solitude is not about emptying the mind but filling it with God’s thoughts. Practical ways to cultivate this include setting screen-free times, taking walks without a phone, and prioritizing time with God over entertainment. Though difficult, the effort leads to a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord, free from the noise that seeks to pull us away.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at [email protected]. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

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• Ep. 334 - The Power of Leading by Example in Evangelism

  Cory McKenna, founding president of The Cross Current, joins Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar to discuss the power of leading by example in evangelism. Cory, once a pastor who struggled with sharing his faith, shares his story of conviction. The discussion highlights that all the men at the table are byproducts of strong leadership in evangelism. Cory emphasizes that pastors should be examples in evangelism, as imitation is central to discipleship. Modern Christianity often prioritizes information over transformation, but biblical discipleship resembles an apprenticeship. Jesus didn’t simply teach—He commanded His followers to walk alongside Him. Leaders should bring people into their lives as Paul instructed Timothy.The discussion explores how evangelism should be ingrained in church life. There are only three times in scripture the world evangelism is used, yet the role is essential in equipping the church. Many Christians are being discipled but not discipling others. E.Z. warns that churches neglecting evangelism should concern us. Christians should feel compelled to reach the lost because today is the only guaranteed time to share. Evangelism is a natural expression of joy in salvation. Cory stresses that worship is obedience, and witnessing is an act of worship. Everything we do should reflect Christ. Fear often hinders evangelism, but love should overcome it. Christians should not linger too long in apologetics—rather, they should step out and share the gospel.Being a witness extends beyond words; our lives must align with the message we preach. Just as lawyers attempt to discredit witnesses, the world watches Christians closely. We are heralds of the kingdom, returning from glimpsing the future to tell the world. The most enthusiastic evangelists are those deeply impacted by the gospel. Evangelism is unique—it’s the only pyramid scheme where everyone wins. If a Christian isn’t sharing the gospel, they should examine their faith. Fear is common, but fearing the Lord should motivate us to persuade others. Serving the world over God means lacking holy fear. A judge doesn’t seek eloquence but truth—likewise, Christians should simply share what they’ve seen and heard. Guilt over inaction should drive us toward evangelism. Paul exemplifies this burden for the lost in Philippians.Evangelism begins in the home. Parents must model faith to their children, showing them the power of the gospel at the dinner table. Small, consistent efforts—preaching to neighbors, handing out tracts, setting goals—will grow into a lifestyle of evangelism.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at [email protected]. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

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• Faithful Leadership, Evangelistic Worship, and Living by Example – Highlight Episode 334

  Evangelism is at the heart of discipleship, yet many churches and leaders neglect it, focusing more on knowledge than transformation. True discipleship follows the example of Christ, who led by action, and pastors should embody this by equipping their congregations to share the gospel. Evangelism isn’t about expertise in apologetics but about faithfulness, overcoming fear, and expressing the joy of salvation. Christians should take responsibility for reaching others, recognizing that evangelism is an act of love and worship. The Great Commission starts in the home, with parents modeling faith for their children, and extends into daily life through conversations, gospel tracts, and intentional outreach.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at [email protected]. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

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• Ep. 333 - That’s NOT in the Bible: Examining Verses That Don't Exist

  Today Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar discuss things that are not in the Bible along with verses that are often taken out of context. Ray shares that as a new Christian, he wanted to know what wasn’t in the Bible. It’s easy to see what is, but harder to identify what isn’t. Many phrases sound biblical but aren’t. One common phrase is “God helps those who help themselves.” In reality, Christianity is about relying on God, not self-reliance. People like this phrase because they crave self-discipline, but true faith means trusting in God’s help, not our own efforts.Another phrase is “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” In truth, God often allows overwhelming situations so we rely on Him. He isn’t looking to harm us but to draw us closer. When we come to the end of ourselves, we find the beginning of Him. Oscar shares a personal experience of realizing his reliance on himself and learning to trust in God’s strength. “Cleanliness is next to godliness” suggests outward cleanliness equates to righteousness. But morality alone isn’t enough—we need the gospel. Many misquote “Money is the root of all evil.” The Bible actually says, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Money itself isn’t the problem; it’s the trust people place in it. Wealth can be a snare, but true contentment comes from trusting Him, not accumulating wealth. “God wants me to be happy” is another misconception. The Bible prioritizes joy over happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy is rooted in Christ. God is more concerned with our holiness than our comfort. Jesus endured suffering, and if our ultimate pursuit is happiness, we will lose our way. “Name it and claim it” theology is challenged by the story of the paralytic, who was healed because of his friends' faith, not his own declaration. Similarly, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is often misapplied. Paul’s message wasn’t that we can accomplish anything we desire, but that we can endure all situations through Christ. A verse commonly found on jewelry, spoken between Jacob and Laban, is often misunderstood. It was actually about distrust, not a general blessing. Likewise, “Judge not lest you be judged” is misinterpreted to mean Christians shouldn’t judge at all. However, scripture later says to “judge rightly.” Finally, “God causes all things to work together for good” is often quoted without the full meaning. The rest of the verse explains that God works through our circumstances to make us more like Christ. Even hardships serve a purpose in shaping our faith.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at [email protected]. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

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