Hey friends, we're pausing our walk through John to speak to the moment we're in, at the beginning of January, to answer a question that I often get asked: What does God want for my life? How can I discern his will for me?

To that end, this week, we're studying Romans 12:1-2 and Proverbs 3:5-6.

THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES:

Sign up for Nicole's newsletter and get regular encouragement straight to your inbox: https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/

Help! My Bible is Alive!

Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For 

When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide! 

Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Hey friends, we're pausing our walk through John to speak to the moment we're in, at the beginning of January, to answer a question that I often get asked: What does God want for my life? How can I discern his will for me?
To that end, this week, we're studying Romans 12:1-2 and Proverbs 3:5-6.
THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES:
Sign up for Nicole's newsletter and get regular encouragement straight to your inbox: <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727966241794000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0tVRclOME9LHyn54IIEPfh">https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216">Help! My Bible is Alive!</a>
Nicole&rsquo;s Newest Book: <a href="https://www.christianbook.com/not-what-finding-strength-purpose-through/9781496448651/pd/44865X">Not What I Signed Up For&nbsp;</a>
When you go to <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/notwhatisignedupfor/">NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor</a> you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!&nbsp;
Find all of Nicole's books and resources on<a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/nicoleunice/list/1RSVU2ZK7YHKC?linkCode=spc&amp;tag=nicoleunice-20&amp;domainId=influencer&amp;asc_contentid=amzn1.ideas.1RSVU2ZK7YHKC"> Amazon </a>or <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Nicole%20unice">Barnes &amp; Noble</a>

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do! But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:
💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible 💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life 💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!) 💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more 💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life 💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture
To find more from Nicole, visit <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">https://nicoleunice.com/</a>.

How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible Study Lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and More
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do! But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way. In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:
💡 Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible 💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life 💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We've covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!) 💡 Topical Bible Study Lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and More 💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life 💡 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture
To find more from Nicole, visit <a href="https://nicoleunice.com/">https://nicoleunice.com/</a>.

How To Study The Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

What Does God Want for Me in 2025? Discerning God's Will for Your Life

Today, we're walking through Mark chapter 8, a pivotal moment in the Gospel where the disciples move from confusion to clarity about who Jesus really is. Through repeated miracles, honest questions, and a powerful healing story, we see that spiritual understanding often happens in stages—not all at once.

Join me as we explore how we interpret what we see, why we sometimes misunderstand God, and how Jesus patiently leads us toward truth. At the center of the chapter—and this episode—is one life-changing question: Who do you say Jesus is?

What We Cover: 
Spiritual clarity is a process, not a moment.
Faith often develops over time through repeated experiences and deeper understanding.
You can follow Jesus and still feel confused.
Even the disciples witnessed miracles and still struggled to fully understand who Jesus was.
Jesus meets us in partial understanding.
Just like the blind man healed in stages, Jesus patiently leads us from incomplete vision to clarity.
Faith is relational, not transactional.
Following Jesus is not a one-time decision—it’s an ongoing relationship of growth and discovery.
Your perception shapes your reality.
We interpret life through limited data, but Jesus invites us to see what is truly real.
The most important question is personal.
“Who do you say I am?” is the defining question of your faith journey.

Want More? 
Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: https://nicoleunice.kit.com/ 


Nicole’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice

Today, we're walking through Mark chapter 8, a pivotal moment in the Gospel where the disciples move from confusion to clarity about who Jesus really is. Through repeated miracles, honest questions, and a powerful healing story, we see that spiritual understanding often happens in stages&mdash;not all at once.
Join me as we explore how we interpret what we see, why we sometimes misunderstand God, and how Jesus patiently leads us toward truth. At the center of the chapter&mdash;and this episode&mdash;is one life-changing question: Who do you say Jesus is?
<hr data-start="1182" data-end="1185">
What We Cover:&nbsp;
<ul data-start="1227" data-end="2079">
<li data-section-id="10y95pa" data-start="1227" data-end="1368">Spiritual clarity is a process, not a moment. Faith often develops over time through repeated experiences and deeper understanding.</li>
<li data-section-id="8wagqx" data-start="1370" data-end="1518">You can follow Jesus and still feel confused. Even the disciples witnessed miracles and still struggled to fully understand who Jesus was.</li>
<li data-section-id="riuzqe" data-start="1520" data-end="1672">Jesus meets us in partial understanding. Just like the blind man healed in stages, Jesus patiently leads us from incomplete vision to clarity.</li>
<li data-section-id="q39x4w" data-start="1674" data-end="1820">Faith is relational, not transactional. Following Jesus is not a one-time decision&mdash;it&rsquo;s an ongoing relationship of growth and discovery.</li>
<li data-section-id="1co87i4" data-start="1822" data-end="1956">Your perception shapes your reality. We interpret life through limited data, but Jesus invites us to see what is truly real.</li>
<li data-section-id="2lowkr" data-start="1958" data-end="2079">The most important question is personal. &ldquo;Who do you say I am?&rdquo; is the defining question of your faith journey.</li>
</ul>
Want More?&nbsp;
<ul data-start="1885" data-end="2086">
<li data-start="2895" data-end="2973">Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: <a href="https://nicoleunice.kit.com/">https://nicoleunice.kit.com/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-start="2974" data-end="3060">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice">Nicole&rsquo;s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice</a>
</li>
</ul>

How We Move from Confusion to Clarity in Our Faith | Mark 8 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/1dd79070-50e9-4692-b82a-b41700efa370/transcript

In this episode, I walk through Mark 7 and unpack one of Jesus’ most challenging and freeing teachings: the problem isn’t primarily what’s happening around us—it’s what’s happening inside of us. As Jesus confronts the Pharisees, He exposes how easy it is to focus on appearances, rules, and outward behavior while missing the deeper issue of the heart. We explore how this conflict reveals a powerful truth: real transformation doesn’t start with behavior modification, but with heart renewal. And the good news is that Jesus doesn’t just point out the problem—He offers the only solution that can truly change us from the inside out.

What We Cover:


You’ll learn why Jesus confronts outward religion that ignores inward transformation.


Discover how we often “major in the minors” and miss what matters most.


You’ll see why behavior alone cannot fix the deeper issue of the human heart.


Learn how Jesus redefines what it means to be “clean” or truly righteous.


You’ll understand why sin is more than actions—it’s a condition that affects every part of our lives.


Discover how Jesus offers not just correction, but true heart transformation.

Want More? 
Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: https://nicoleunice.kit.com/ 


Nicole’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice

In this episode, I walk through Mark 7 and unpack one of Jesus&rsquo; most challenging and freeing teachings: the problem isn&rsquo;t primarily what&rsquo;s happening around us&mdash;it&rsquo;s what&rsquo;s happening inside of us. As Jesus confronts the Pharisees, He exposes how easy it is to focus on appearances, rules, and outward behavior while missing the deeper issue of the heart. We explore how this conflict reveals a powerful truth: real transformation doesn&rsquo;t start with behavior modification, but with heart renewal. And the good news is that Jesus doesn&rsquo;t just point out the problem&mdash;He offers the only solution that can truly change us from the inside out.
What We Cover:
<ul data-start="1266" data-end="1791">
<li data-section-id="1lowbyb" data-start="1266" data-end="1357">
You&rsquo;ll learn why Jesus confronts outward religion that ignores inward transformation.
</li>
<li data-section-id="bwdzvt" data-start="1358" data-end="1435">
Discover how we often &ldquo;major in the minors&rdquo; and miss what matters most.
</li>
<li data-section-id="1oviq2s" data-start="1436" data-end="1519">
You&rsquo;ll see why behavior alone cannot fix the deeper issue of the human heart.
</li>
<li data-section-id="1xyoqqd" data-start="1520" data-end="1599">
Learn how Jesus redefines what it means to be &ldquo;clean&rdquo; or truly righteous.
</li>
<li data-section-id="s9hq0d" data-start="1600" data-end="1707">
You&rsquo;ll understand why sin is more than actions&mdash;it&rsquo;s a condition that affects every part of our lives.
</li>
<li data-section-id="6yayr1" data-start="1708" data-end="1791">
Discover how Jesus offers not just correction, but true heart transformation.
</li>
</ul>
Want More?&nbsp;
<ul data-start="1885" data-end="2086">
<li data-start="2895" data-end="2973">Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: <a href="https://nicoleunice.kit.com/">https://nicoleunice.kit.com/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-start="2974" data-end="3060">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice">Nicole&rsquo;s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice</a>
</li>
</ul>

Why Jesus Cares More About Your Heart Than Your Behavior | Mark 7 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/0ff2df99-8bd7-41bb-a899-b41300b62407/transcript

In this episode, I walk through the closing section of Mark 6 and explore what it means to follow Jesus when life feels frustrating, unclear, or stuck. We look at the disciples straining at the oars in the middle of a storm and notice something deeply comforting before Jesus calms the wind—He sees them. As we trace the bigger movement of Mark 6–9 from confusion to clarity, we begin to see that the disciples are still learning who Jesus really is, even after witnessing miracles. And honestly, so are we. This chapter reminds me that when I feel like I’m doing everything I know to do and still not getting anywhere, Jesus is not absent. He sees me, He comes toward me, and He reveals Himself right in the middle of the struggle.

What We Cover: 


You’ll learn why Mark 6 is part of a bigger movement from confusion to clarity about Jesus.


Discover why the disciples’ storm is about more than weather—it’s about faith, fear, and learning who Jesus really is.


You’ll see why one of the most comforting truths in this chapter is that Jesus sees us before He rescues us.


Learn how spiritual hardness can keep us from recognizing what Jesus is doing, even after we’ve seen His provision.


You’ll understand how Jesus walking on water reveals His divine authority, not just His compassion.


Discover why the place where you feel most overwhelmed may be the very place Jesus is revealing Himself most clearly.

Resources mentioned:
Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: https://nicoleunice.kit.com/ 


Nicole’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice

In this episode, I walk through the closing section of Mark 6 and explore what it means to follow Jesus when life feels frustrating, unclear, or stuck. We look at the disciples straining at the oars in the middle of a storm and notice something deeply comforting before Jesus calms the wind&mdash;He sees them. As we trace the bigger movement of Mark 6&ndash;9 from confusion to clarity, we begin to see that the disciples are still learning who Jesus really is, even after witnessing miracles. And honestly, so are we. This chapter reminds me that when I feel like I&rsquo;m doing everything I know to do and still not getting anywhere, Jesus is not absent. He sees me, He comes toward me, and He reveals Himself right in the middle of the struggle.
What We Cover:&nbsp;
<ul data-start="1347" data-end="2036">
<li data-section-id="od78yn" data-start="1347" data-end="1444">
You&rsquo;ll learn why Mark 6 is part of a bigger movement from confusion to clarity about Jesus.
</li>
<li data-section-id="d3ggcf" data-start="1445" data-end="1569">
Discover why the disciples&rsquo; storm is about more than weather&mdash;it&rsquo;s about faith, fear, and learning who Jesus really is.
</li>
<li data-section-id="akzciz" data-start="1570" data-end="1684">
You&rsquo;ll see why one of the most comforting truths in this chapter is that Jesus sees us before He rescues us.
</li>
<li data-section-id="uxr05e" data-start="1685" data-end="1806">
Learn how spiritual hardness can keep us from recognizing what Jesus is doing, even after we&rsquo;ve seen His provision.
</li>
<li data-section-id="1rk9m0s" data-start="1807" data-end="1912">
You&rsquo;ll understand how Jesus walking on water reveals His divine authority, not just His compassion.
</li>
<li data-section-id="lu49fg" data-start="1913" data-end="2036">
Discover why the place where you feel most overwhelmed may be the very place Jesus is revealing Himself most clearly.
</li>
</ul>
Resources mentioned:
<ul data-start="2895" data-end="3213" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">
<li data-start="2895" data-end="2973">Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: <a href="https://nicoleunice.kit.com/">https://nicoleunice.kit.com/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-start="2974" data-end="3060">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice">Nicole&rsquo;s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice</a>
</li>
</ul>

What to Remember When You Feel Like You’re Not Moving Forward | Mark 6 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/197f9ae8-1eb7-424e-987d-b40e01780e89/transcript

What Does God Want for Me in 2025? Discerning God's Will for Your Life

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