What if some of the anxiety, shame, insecurity, and striving you carry isn’t actually coming from your circumstances… but from believing the wrong story about who you are?

In this episode of Encounter Grace, we explore one of the most foundational questions of the Christian life:

Who are you, really?

Not your job.

Not your accomplishments.

Not your failures.

Not what others said about you.

Not even what you feel about yourself in your worst moments.

We talk about why identity shapes everything in our lives, how many Christians still live from old narratives instead of gospel truth, and what Scripture actually says is true about us in Christ.

Together, we unpack three core realities of Christian identity:

• Accepted

• Secure

• Significant

We also discuss why information alone doesn’t create transformation and how God uses community, worship, Scripture meditation, and relational connection to reshape our identity over time.

This conversation weaves together biblical truth, practical discipleship, and relational to help anyone who’s tired of living trapped by shame, fear, condemnation, or old labels.

If you’ve ever struggled to truly believe that God loves you, forgives you, or delights in you… this episode is for you.

#EncounterGrace #ChristianPodcast #IdentityInChrist #WhoYouAre #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #EmotionalHealing #Discipleship #FaithAndMentalHealth #SecureAttachment #BiblicalTruth #SpiritualFormation #ChristianEncouragement #Grace #FreedomInChrist #RenewYourMind #EmotionalMaturity #RelationalSpirituality #JesusChangesEverything #ChristianLife

Life is a series of decisions—and some of them shape the entire direction of your life.

From career moves to relationships, finances to family decisions… how do you actually know you’re choosing wisely?

In this episode, we walk through a simple but powerful framework for making wise, God-honoring decisions—without getting stuck in confusion, fear, or overthinking.

We start with the foundation: defining the win—living to please God above all. Then we unpack five practical tools to help you navigate any major decision:

• How to discern true inner peace vs. emotional noise

• How to evaluate the real-life impact of your choices

• How Scripture becomes personally guiding (not just informational)

• Why wise counsel is non-negotiable

• And how unconfessed sin quietly clouds your clarity

If you’ve ever stood at a crossroads wondering, “What’s the right move?”—this conversation will help you move forward with confidence, clarity, and conviction.

#ChristianLiving #Wisdom #DecisionMaking #FaithInAction #BiblicalWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #LifeDecisions #FollowJesus #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndLife

What if one small daily habit could reshape your future?

In this episode of our One Practice series, we introduce a simple but powerful discipline that can dramatically increase clarity, confidence, and freedom in your financial life:

Track Every Dollar.

For the next 6–8 weeks, write down every dollar that leaves your hands. No judgment. No complicated budgeting system. Just accurate data.

Why? Because wise decisions require clear information.

When you begin to see where your money is actually going, you gain the ability to align your financial habits with your values, your goals, and your faith. This practice helps you move from feeling reactive or uncertain… to becoming intentional and confident.

We also explore the four things you can do with money: Give. Save. Spend. Borrow.

Understanding these categories helps you evaluate whether your financial patterns are leading toward freedom or creating unnecessary pressure for your future.

Jesus spoke often about stewardship because money shapes our priorities, influences our decisions, and reveals what we trust. Tracking every dollar isn’t about restriction — it’s about clarity. And clarity leads to better decisions.

Data → Assessment → Better Decisions.

This simple 5-minute daily habit can become the doorway to greater peace, generosity, margin, and purpose.

Will you take the challenge?

#money #Christianliving #stewardship #financialfreedom #habits #personalgrowth #faithandwork #discipleship #wisdom #Christianpodcast #productivity #mindset #give #save #spend #debt #financialpeace #habitchange #selfleadership #biblicalwisdom #EncounterGrace

In this special episode of the Encounter Grace Podcast, Jason sits down with NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about faith, public service, leadership, and the spiritual foundations of freedom.

Chief Justice Newby reflects on:

• The spiritual roots of the American founding

• George Whitefield and the Great Awakening

• Why freedom requires responsibility and virtue

• How prayer and community sustain him under pressure

• Serving as a Christian in public office

• His visit to Ukraine during wartime

• The importance of Scripture, prayer, and Christian community

• Daniel, Romans 12, and living faithfully in a divided culture

• Why younger generations may be spiritually hungry again

This conversation is both encouraging and challenging as we explore what it means to pursue wisdom, integrity, courage, and faithfulness in every sphere of life.

If this episode encouraged you, make sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more people encounter grace.

#EncounterGrace #PaulNewby #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndCulture #Leadership #ChristianLeadership #GreatAwakening #GeorgeWhitefield #PublicService #BiblicalWorldview #ChristianLiving #Romans12 #Daniel #SpiritualFormation #Freedom #ChristianDiscipleship #GraceFellowship #FaithInPublicLife #NorthCarolina #GospelCentered

Why do we keep going back to things that don’t actually satisfy?

Whether it’s scrolling late at night, staying constantly busy, chasing approval, or numbing out with food, entertainment, or substances—we all have ways of coping when life feels overwhelming.

But what if those patterns aren’t just bad habits… What if they’re pointing to something deeper?

In this episode, we unpack the idea of BEEPS—Behaviors, Experiences, Events, People, and Substances—and how they become false sources of comfort when we’re dealing with unresolved emotional and relational pain.

Drawing from Scripture and insights on attachment and emotional maturity, we explore: • Why we self-soothe the way we do • How attachment pain drives unhealthy patterns • Why quick relief never leads to lasting transformation • God’s better alternative: relational healing and true comfort

This isn’t about behavior management. It’s about learning how to bring your pain to the only place it can actually be healed.

Because healing doesn’t come from escaping pain…

It comes from meeting God in it.

#ChristianLiving #EmotionalHealth #FaithAndMentalHealth #Attachment #SpiritualGrowth #AnxietyHelp #RelationalHealing #JesusHeals #MentalHealthMatters #ChristianPodcast

What happens when an NHL star encounters Jesus in the middle of a professional hockey career?

In this episode of Encounter Grace, Jason McKnight sits down with former NHL player, Stanley Cup Champion, and leadership coach Ryan Walter for an unforgettable conversation about hockey, faith, leadership, mindset, and spiritual growth.

Ryan shares stories from 15 seasons in the NHL, including playoff intensity, guarding Wayne Gretzky, winning the Stanley Cup with Montreal, and the culture inside professional sports organizations. But beyond the hockey stories is something deeper — the story of how Christ got his attention and transformed his life.

They also dive into:

🏒 Why the Stanley Cup playoffs are different

🧠 The power of culture and leadership language

✝️ Ryan’s journey to faith in Christ

📖 How reading the Gospels changed everything

🔥 Flow state, performance, and spiritual attentiveness

💭 The Thinking Tendencies model from his book Breakout

❤️ Marriage, family, discipleship, and staying spiritually hungry

This conversation is full of wisdom, humility, joy, and practical insight for leaders, parents, coaches, pastors, and anyone wanting to grow in Christ and lead well.

📚 Learn more about Ryan’s books Breakout and Hungry at: RyanWalter.com

If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to like, comment, subscribe, and share? It really helps us continue growing the Encounter Grace community.

#EncounterGrace #RyanWalter #StanleyCup #NHL #ChristianPodcast #Leadership #FaithAndLeadership #Discipleship #Breakout #FlowState #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLeadership #WayneGretzky #MontrealCanadiens #Hockey #JesusChangesEverything #Mindset #LeadershipDevelopment

• We have a future that is secure.

The Ascension strengthens our faith, deepens our worship, and anchors our hope in the victorious reign of Christ.

Forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus did something that many Christians rarely think about — He ascended into heaven.

We talk often about the Cross.We celebrate the Resurrection.We love Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

But the Ascension? It often gets overlooked.

Yet the Ascension is not a minor detail in the story of redemption. It is the moment when the risen Christ is enthroned as King, begins His heavenly ministry as our High Priest, and becomes universally accessible to His people.

The Cross accomplished our salvation.The Resurrection vindicated Jesus as Lord.The Ascension installed Him as reigning King.Pentecost applied His victory through the Spirit.

In this episode, we explore why the Ascension is essential to the Gospel and why it still shapes our confidence, courage, and hope today.

We discuss:

• Why Jesus anticipated His Ascension throughout His ministry

• What the eyewitnesses actually saw (Luke 24; Acts 1)

• What it means that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father

• How the Ascension gives believers confidence in Christ’s authority

• How Jesus is now accessible to believers everywhere

• Christ’s ongoing ministry of intercession on our behalf

How the Ascension guarantees Christ’s return

Far from being a forgotten doctrine, the Ascension reminds us that Jesus is not absent — He is reigning, interceding, empowering, and preparing to return.

Because Jesus ascended:

• We have a King who reigns.

• We have a Savior who intercedes.

• We have a Spirit who empowers.

#Ascension #JesusIsLord #ChristianTheology #BibleTeaching #GospelTruth #FaithAndLife #BiblicalTeaching #ChristianPodcast #TheologyMatters #Resurrection #KingJesus #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy #ChristReigns #HopeInChrist #Discipleship #ChurchLife #ChristianFaith #KingdomOfGod

Many Christians quietly wonder if they are doing something wrong in their spiritual life.

Maybe you’ve tried to follow the same devotional routines others recommend… but instead of feeling closer to God, you feel distracted, discouraged, or disconnected.

In this episode, we explore Gary Thomas’s Sacred Pathways — a framework that helps us understand how God uniquely designed each person to experience relationship with Him in the context of His Word and His Church. Some people connect most deeply through nature, others through study, others through serving, silence, creativity, or celebration.

The problem is not that you don’t love God — it may simply be that you’re trying to relate to Him in ways that don’t match how He wired you.

We’ll walk through the 9 Sacred Pathways and talk about how discovering your natural connection points can remove unnecessary guilt, increase joy in your spiritual life, and help you grow in authentic relationship with God.

God is personal. It makes sense that our connection with Him would be personal too.

If you’ve ever felt like your quiet time isn’t working, this conversation may help you discover a more life-giving way forward.

#SacredPathways #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #QuietTime #SpiritualFormation #FaithJourney #ChristianPodcast #EmotionalHealth #RelationalSpirituality #ChristianDiscipleship #KnowGod #GrowInFaith #ChristianEncouragement #ChristianLeadership #EncounterGrace