The Family Disciple Me Podcast // Discipleship Starts With a Conversation
In a world filled with a lot of talk, we want to have meaningful, biblical conversations with those God has entrusted to us. Join Tosha Williams and the Family Disciple Me ministry for Devotion Driven Discipleship conversation starters that will encourage you to "Seek Him Speak Him" in your own life.
Family Disciple Me is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Christian ministry dedicated to catalyzing Devotion Driven Discipleship in our own lives and homes as well as around the world.
For more information, visit familydiscipleme.org
The Family Disciple Me Podcast // Discipleship Starts With a Conversation
THE PLUGGED IN PRAYER LIFE: Listen! | Hearing God's Voice in a Noisy World
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From Nathaniel Baldwin's kitchen-table invention of headphones in 1910 to today's ubiquitous AirPods, our relationship with audio has transformed dramatically. We're constantly plugged in, listening to something—but are we tuning into what matters most?
The advancement of audio technology is a powerful metaphor for our prayer lives. While we've mastered the art of speaking to God—powering up, plugging in, calling out—many of us struggle with the essential step of listening for His response. As Jesus reminds us, "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow me" (John 10:27). This isn't just poetic language; it's an invitation to authentic relationship where we're not just doing all the talking.
God speaks in myriad ways—through creation's magnificent sounds, through spiritual leaders and worship, through His still small voice, and most consistently through Scripture. The challenge isn't whether God is speaking (He is), but whether we're creating space to hear Him. Through the practical "Seek Him, Speak Him" approach, we learn to ask three powerful questions: What is God saying through this passage? Why does this truth matter? How should I respond? Each question creates a natural pause for listening.
This practice isn't just for personal growth—it's something we're called to model for those we disciple. Whether in short car conversations, around the dinner table, or through family messages, we have daily opportunities to demonstrate what it looks like to not just talk at God but to engage in genuine two-way conversation with Him. When we listen together, we grow together, and we amplify God's voice to the next generation.
Ready to transform your prayer life? Download our Conversation Guide and discover how to put on your spiritual headphones, block out distractions, and truly hear what God is saying to you today.
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The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.
Family Disciple Me is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org
From Headphones to Spiritual Listening
Speaker 1Back in 1910 , a guy named Nathaniel Baldwin was sitting around his kitchen table tinkering with wires and small parts . I can imagine that he was somewhat enchanted with the ideas and the possibilities of electricity , and he was trying to figure out something new with technology . What he ended up creating looked a whole lot like the headphones we use today , turns out , he shared his invention with the United States Navy , and the Navy immediately saw the value , ordering batches of these devices , handmade one by one by Baldwin himself . But Baldwin never patented the design . He didn't think it was anything revolutionary . Yet history proved otherwise .
Speaker 1Not long thereafter , speakers and radios began spreading across the world . For the first time , people could hear from far away . They could hear news , they could hear music , they could hear stories echoing through their homes . And then , in 1979 , the Sony Corporation changed everything with the legendary Walkman . Now listening became personal . You could choose what you wanted to hear and carry it with you . Fast forward to today . There's AirPods , earbuds , inner ear technology and more . We are surrounded by audio . We listen constantly . But here's the question we're asking in today's episode Are we tuning in to what matters most ? Hi , my name is Tasha Williams and I'm thrilled to have you here with me in our next conversation in the Plugged In Prayer Life . I believe that these truths , one and all , have the power to revolutionize our lives and take us to an ever deeper level with God in prayer . So , as we continue this journey through the Plugged In Prayer Life , I am looking forward to talking today about this next conversation , that is , to listen .
Speaker 2Welcome to the Family Disciple Me podcast . You're in the right place to be equipped , challenged and blessed in Jesus' name . The mission of the Family Disciple Me ministry is to inspire devotion-driven discipleship , which is something we believe every Christ follower can do . Discipleship starts with a conversation , so today , let this podcast episode encourage you to seek Him , speak Him podcast episode , encourage you to seek Him , speak Him .
Speaker 1Have you ever been in a room full of people that felt like no one was actually
Prayer: More Than Speaking to God
Speaker 1listening ? You're trying to say something that matters , but everyone's distracted . They're nodding while looking at their phones . They're half present , they're half engaged . It's discouraging , really . It's actually kind of lonely .
Speaker 1Now let's flip that around . What if that's how God feels about us ? Sometimes we power up by acknowledging his presence , we plug in by drawing near , we call out with our needs , our praise , our cries , our worries , our concerns , but in all of that , do we then take time to listen ? That's what we're going to explore in this next essential step about prayer and conversation with God . He wants us to listen because , thing is , prayer isn't just about what we say to God . Prayer isn't just about what we say to God . It's about what he wants to say to us .
Speaker 1In John , chapter 10 , verse 27 , jesus says my sheep listen to my voice , I know them and they follow me . This verse is at the heart of today's conversation . It's more than just a metaphor , an analogy . This is an invitation to know God personally , to hear his voice and respond to him with obedience . You know , in my walk with God . I've discovered that God speaks in so many ways , that God speaks in so many ways . Sometimes he speaks through the giant sound speakers of creation , like thunder and ocean waves and the wind and the storms and the stillness . Sometimes God speaks through pastors and teachers and worship , proclaiming truth that resonates in our hearts . And sometimes God speaks through a still small voice , like Elijah heard in 1 Kings , chapter 19 . But most clearly , consistently and personally , god speaks through His Word
How God Speaks to Us
Speaker 1. John chapter 1 tells us In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God and the Word was God . And then , a few chapters later , in John chapter 8 , verse 47 reminds us whoever belongs to God listens to what God says . The question isn't is God speaking ? He is speaking . The real question is are we listening ? With the Family Disciple Me ministry , we've built our conversations around this powerful rhythm seek Him , speak Him . That rhythm shows up in every single conversation guide and it's actually especially meaningful here guide and it's actually especially meaningful here .
Speaker 1You see , when we seek God in prayer and in his word , we can ask him what , why and how . The what question is God ? What are you saying to me through this scripture ? And then we listen to what he has to say to us . The next question is why to what he has to say to us . The next question is why , god , why does this scripture matter ? And then again , we listen to what he has to say to us . The final question here is how , god , how do you want me to respond to this truth ? And then again , you've got it , we listen again , you've got it , we listen .
Speaker 1These questions create space , they encourage pause for us to listen , really listen , and not just for us , but for those we're discipling . We have the opportunity to model , in front of those God's entrusted to us , what it looks like to have a conversation with him
Seek Him, Speak Him Rhythm
Speaker 1in prayer and then listen to what he wants to speak to us through his word , through his spirit , through our spiritual leaders or through worship or through creation . However he wants to speak into our lives . We get to teach our children not just to call out to him in prayer , but to listen to what he has to say to us . Depending on the age and the stage of your family , of your kids , this may be a conversation during carpool , while you're headed to school and you've got five or ten minutes along the way , or maybe this conversation is something you engage as a family around the dinner table . Or maybe your family , like mine , is mostly grown up and on their own and you don't get to see them every day , so it's something that you put into the family text thread . I don't know what it looks like in your life . I know that in my life and every season it looks different , but the goal for all of us is to have a plugged-in prayer life that engages God in our own lives and then invites the next generation to do the same . I encourage you to do that with these conversations , by reading the verse and then asking the questions together , helping each other listen and sharing with one another what God is speaking to you through his word . Because here's the thing when we listen together , we grow together .
Speaker 1You know , I still remember the first time I had a listening device of my own . I was in third or fourth grade when my parents gave me a tape recorder . I was fascinated . I could talk , I could hit record and then hear my voice played back . I kept that tape recorder for years , all the way till college . And well , my college roommates spilled coffee on it and that was the end of my tape recorder . But that device helped me learn how to listen to myself .
Speaker 1But the Plugged In Prayer Life , it's not about listening to our own voice . It's about learning to recognize God's voice . That takes time , it takes practice , it takes stillness . It starts by choosing to listen , by being in his word and seeing what he wants to say to us . Recently I've been going through scripture and specifically marking every time it says the Lord said , and then I put in brackets what it specifically says that he said . I've been starting in Genesis and I'm working my way through scripture and that has been such a powerful exercise for me to listen to God's voice in a new way . So what is it that God wants you to do in learning to listen ?
Speaker 1In the plugged in prayer life , we want to power up . We want to draw close to our Lord , god Almighty . We want to plug in and make sure that we are connected to the source through prayer . We want to call out . Just like with a phone , we can call
Listening Together Helps Us Grow
Speaker 1anybody anytime . The same is true for prayer . And then we want to listen . We want to put on our spiritual headphones . We want to block out distractions . We want to sit with God's Word . We want to seek Him and speak Him .
Speaker 1Because here's the thing discipleship doesn't start with a lecture . It begins with a heart that listens and then invites others to listen with us as we get the amazing opportunity to amplify God's voice to the next generation . Oh Lord God , give us ears to hear your voice . Lord , god , today , when you speak , help us not to harden our hearts . Lord , help us to lean in and hear your whispers and your words for your glory and our good and the good of all those you've entrusted to us . In Jesus' name , I pray this Amen . Now , friend , go with God . Keep living and pursuing that plugged-in prayer life and
The Plugged-In Prayer Life
Speaker 1well , today , pay special attention to listen .
Speaker 2Thanks for joining us in this podcast episode . Be sure to check out the Coordinating Conversation Guide . The heart of the Family , disciple Me ministry is to meet with God in our own lives . God bless you , friend . Now go seek Him , speak Him .