How can you truly get the most out of Lent—without burnout, guilt, or unrealistic expectations?

In this episode of The Bible Made Real Podcast, Kathy Abraham offers a deeply practical and spiritually rich guide to walking through Lent in a way that actually transforms your heart, habits, and inner life.

Lent is not just about giving things up.
It’s about getting free.

Together, we explore:

• Simple, sustainable Lenten practices for real life
• The deeper biblical meaning of fasting and repentance
• How the Epistle to the Hebrews reveals Lent as a journey of drawing near to God
• Christ’s victory in the wilderness—and how Lent becomes participation in His strength
• A week-by-week walkthrough of the Eight Sundays of Lent, forming the soul step-by-step toward resurrection

Whether you feel motivated, overwhelmed, distracted, or unsure where to begin, this episode will help you enter Lent with clarity, peace, and purpose—so that Easter becomes not just a celebration, but the beginning of new life.

• Why Lent is a sacred “tithe of the year” that creates space to receive God’s love
• How a digital fast can restore attention, silence, and prayer
• The importance of keeping a Lenten rule doable, honest, and consistent
• The three pillars of Lent: Reflection, Repentance, and Reconciliation
• How fasting joins us to Christ’s victory in the wilderness
• The spiritual roadmap of the Eight Sundays of Lent, from preparation to resurrection
• Practical ways to pray, give, forgive, and grow during the season

1. Preparation Sunday — Reordering loves and seeking hidden life with God
2. Temptation Sunday — Fighting with truth, not willpower
3. Prodigal Son Sunday — Repentance as a joyful return home
4. Samaritan Woman Sunday — Discovering the living water that truly satisfies
5. Paralytic Sunday — Healing, persistence, and rising from stuck places
6. Blind Man Sunday — Receiving spiritual sight and illumination
7. Palm Sunday — Welcoming Christ as King through humility
8. Resurrection Sunday — Entering joy, victory, and new creation

• St. Mary of Egypt — A witness of radical repentance and transformation
• The Ladder of Divine Ascent – St. John Climacus
• Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives – Elder Thaddeus
• The Gift of Faith – Tadeusz Dajczer

• Establish a consistent daily prayer time and place
• Add a small, sustainable spiritual practice
• Practice almsgiving through generosity, forgiveness, service, and love
• Keep Lent focused not on performance—but on returning to God

• Drawing near to God with endurance and sincerity (Hebrews)
• Christ’s faithfulness in the wilderness versus Adam’s failure in Eden
• Repentance, healing, illumination, humility, and resurrection life

If this episode encouraged you:

• Share it with a friend walking through Lent
• Follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show
• Visit kathyabraham.com for Bible studies, devotionals, and spiritual resources

Welcome to The Bible Made Real.

Be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes.

You can connect with Kathy on Instagram @kathyabidinglight and learn more at kathyabraham.com.

Episode Summary

What does it mean to be loved personally by Jesus—not in theory, but in a way that changes everything?

In this powerful episode of Bible Made Real, Kathy Abraham explores a love that calls you by name—a love that forgives deeply, heals completely, stays faithful through suffering, and ultimately sends us with purpose.

Through the story of Mary Magdalene, the first witness of the Resurrection, Kathy reveals a profound spiritual truth:
the depth of our love for Christ is directly connected to the depth of forgiveness we are willing to receive from Him.

From the feet of Jesus in repentance, to the foot of the Cross in loyalty, to the garden tomb in grief, this episode walks through a transformative journey of mercy, devotion, and personal encounter with the risen Lord.

This teaching is deeply biblical, theologically rich, and personally invitational—calling each listener to hear Jesus speak their name and respond with a life of surrendered love.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why Jesus revealed Himself first to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection
• How forgiveness becomes the gateway to deeper love and devotion
• Why awareness of sin is not condemnation, but an invitation to mercy
• What true deliverance produces in the life of a believer
• Why real love remains faithful when it costs something
• How Jesus meets us in grief without rebuking our sorrow
• What it means when Jesus asks, “Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
• The power of Jesus calling someone by name—and what that means for you
• How encounter always leads to commission
• Why those who love Jesus are entrusted with His message

Key Scriptures Referenced

• 1 Corinthians 13
• Luke 7:36–50
• Luke 8:2
• John 19:25
• John 20:1–18
• John 10:3
• Isaiah 43:1

Core Truths Shared

• Forgiveness always comes before calling
• Those who are forgiven much love much
• Deep healing produces deep devotion
• True love stays when it no longer benefits
• Jesus is not offended by grief rooted in love
• Love recognizes the voice of Christ
• Encounter with Jesus always leads to mission

Reflective Questions for the Listener

• What am I seeking right now instead of Jesus?
• Where have I been placing something above Him in my heart?
• Am I allowing myself to fully receive Christ’s forgiveness?
• Can I hear Jesus calling me by name?
• How is He inviting me to respond?

Takeaway for the Week

Ask God to help you receive His forgiveness more deeply.

As you do, notice how love begins to overflow—
toward Jesus, and toward others.

Be forgiven much, and you will love much.

Closing Blessing

May you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling you by name.
May mercy open your heart wider to love.
And may your life become an overflow of gratitude, devotion, and truth.

Connect With Kathy

• Visit kathyabraham.com for Bible study tools and resources
• Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @KathyAbidingLight
• Subscribe, follow, and share this episode to help others experience the Word of God made real

Welcome to The Bible Made Real.

Be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes.

You can connect with Kathy on Instagram @kathyabidinglight and learn more at kathyabraham.com.

How to Hear the Voice of God

Have you ever wondered if God is really speaking to you—and how to recognize His voice amidst the noise of your thoughts, emotions, and daily distractions? In this episode of Bible Made Real, Kathy Abraham breaks down what it truly means to hear the voice of God in a way that is biblical, grounded, and accessible for everyday life.

This episode brings clarity to a question many believers wrestle with: How do I know it’s God and not just my own thoughts? Through Scripture, practical teaching, and spiritual insight, Kathy explains how God speaks, why we often miss His voice, and how to posture our hearts to hear Him more clearly.

If you desire deeper intimacy with God, confidence in discernment, and a faith that is led—not confused—this episode will help you tune your heart to His voice.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What the Bible says about hearing the voice of God
• How God speaks today and the different ways He communicates
• The difference between God’s voice, your own thoughts, and fear or emotion
• Why silence, stillness, and Scripture matter in discernment
• How to grow in spiritual sensitivity without confusion or pressure
• Common obstacles that block us from hearing God clearly
• How obedience strengthens clarity over time

Key Themes

• Discernment vs. emotion
• Scripture as the foundation for hearing God
• Stillness and surrender
• Trusting God’s character when seeking His guidance
• Growing confidence in spiritual listening

Practical Takeaways

• Learn how to quiet competing voices and distractions
• Anchor your discernment in God’s Word, not feelings
• Develop habits that create space for God to speak
• Practice listening prayer rooted in Scripture
• Move forward in obedience, even when clarity feels small

Reflection Question

What might God be inviting you to quiet in order to hear Him more clearly?

Encouragement

God is not distant, silent, or confusing. He desires relationship, not perfection. Hearing His voice is not reserved for a select few—it grows through humility, Scripture, and trust.

Connect & Resources

• Visit cathyabraham.com for free Bible study tools and weekly devotionals
• Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @KathyAbidingLight

Welcome to The Bible Made Real.

Be sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes.

You can connect with Kathy on Instagram @kathyabidinglight and learn more at kathyabraham.com.