Got a minute? That’s all it takes to listen to HEARTBEAT, a podcast with plain talk about real life. Brought to you by The Salvation Army, HEARTBEAT offers Christian insights on everyday issues. Learn more about the show and our hosts at www.salvationarmysoundcast.org.
Have you ever wondered if your prayers are too small for God? Maybe you've thought, God has bigger things to worry about than this. But the Bible tells a different story. In 2 Kings 6, a borrowed iron axe head falls into a river while a group of prophets is building a larger meeting place. What seems like a small inconvenience becomes an opportunity for God to demonstrate His care and power as He miraculously causes the axe head to float. In this episode of HEARTBEAT, discover the comforting truth that God is interested in every part of your life. He cares about the major life decisions, the unexpected setbacks, and even the everyday concerns that weigh on your heart. Nothing is too big for His power, and nothing is too small for His attention. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What does it take for a marriage to last 50 years? As one couple renewed their wedding vows after five decades together, it became clear that lasting love isn't built on emotion alone. It's a daily choice rooted in grace, forgiveness, and faithfulness. In this episode of HEARTBEAT, we're reminded that God's steadfast love is the perfect example of faithful commitment. Whether you've been married for five months or fifty years, healthy relationships aren't sustained by perfection. They grow through intentional love, forgiveness, and the decision to keep showing up for one another every day. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Some people seem to have a special gift for giving thoughtful presents. They always know exactly what to give. The rest of us might spend hours searching online, hoping the perfect idea appears. But no earthly gift compares to the greatest gift ever given: salvation through Jesus Christ. Long before we realized our need for a Savior, God made a way for us through His Son. As Romans 6:23 reminds us, "The gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." In this episode of HEARTBEAT, take a moment to reflect on God's incredible grace and thank Him for the free gift of eternal life. It's a gift we could never earn, yet one He lovingly offers to everyone who believes. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
As a new school year begins, parents often experience a mix of excitement, hope, and uncertainty. New teachers, new friendships, academic expectations, and social pressures can all feel overwhelming. But while school success is important, God has given parents an even greater calling: helping their children grow spiritually and emotionally, not just academically. In this episode of HEARTBEAT, we're reminded of the encouragement found in Deuteronomy 6 to weave God's truth into the everyday moments of family life. Discover how praying with your children, speaking words of encouragement, and reminding them that their identity is found in Jesus Christ can prepare them for whatever this school year brings. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In a classic sitcom, a character's mistake is often met with blame-shifting and denial, but what happens when the truth finally comes out? In this episode of Heartbeat, the speaker explores a pivotal moment in the Book of Genesis where Judah takes responsibility for his actions, marking a turning point in his life and the bigger story he's a part of. This moment of honesty has a profound impact, and the speaker delves into what it means for us today. When we stop making excuses and start surrendering, God can do incredible work in our lives. But what does it take to get to that point? And how can we apply this lesson to our own lives? 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Why is it so hard to let go of control? In this episode of HEARTBEAT, we start with something surprisingly relatable: being a passenger in a car. We like feeling in control. And when that control disappears, anxiety and fear can quickly take over. The same struggle often shows up in our faith. Following God requires trust, especially when we can’t see the full picture. Proverbs 3 reminds us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” That kind of trust means surrendering the need to control every outcome and believing that God sees what we cannot. This devotional is an encouragement for anyone feeling anxious about the future, overwhelmed by uncertainty, or exhausted from trying to hold everything together. God is not trying to confuse or embarrass you. He is leading you with wisdom, purpose, and care, even when the path ahead feels unclear. Takeaways from this episode: Our desire for control often reveals deeper fears and insecurities. Faith requires trusting God beyond our own understanding. God sees the full picture even when we cannot. Letting go of control can lead to deeper peace and dependence on God. Uncertainty does not mean God is absent from your situation. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by guilt or shame that you started believing God wanted nothing to do with you? In this episode of HEARTBEAT, we talk about the spiritual tunnel vision that sin can create. Shame has a way of narrowing our perspective until all we can see is our failure, our mistakes, and the distance we feel between ourselves and God. It convinces us we’re alone, uniquely broken, or somehow beyond grace. But that’s not the story Jesus tells. Looking at the woman caught in adultery in John 8, we’re reminded that while others stood ready to condemn, Jesus stayed near. He confronted the brokenness around her with both truth and mercy, then invited her into a new way of living: “Go, and sin no more.” God has not moved away from you. Even in your struggle, He is still calling you toward healing, freedom, and restoration. Shame isolates, but grace invites us to be made new. Takeaways from this episode: Shame can distort how we see ourselves and God. Sin isolates, but Jesus moves toward broken people with grace. God’s response to our failure is not abandonment. Jesus offers both truth and mercy. No one is beyond the invitation to healing and restoration. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What does God do when we feel lost, forgotten, or far from Him? In this episode of HEARTBEAT, we reflect on Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep from Matthew 18; a powerful reminder that God doesn’t abandon those who wander. While the world often values the loudest, strongest, or most successful, Jesus tells the story of a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep behind just to search for one that is missing. That’s the heart of God toward us. If you’ve been struggling spiritually, battling feelings of isolation, depression, shame, or distance from God, this devotional is a reminder that you are not invisible to Him. God does not wait for you to have everything together before He moves toward you. His grace pursues you even in the darkest places. The Shepherd still knows your name. And no matter how far you feel you’ve wandered, you are never beyond His reach. Takeaways from this episode: God personally pursues those who feel lost or forgotten. Your value to God is not based on your strength or performance. Depression and spiritual struggles do not separate you from God’s love. Jesus moves toward us with compassion, not abandonment. No one is too far gone for God’s grace to reach. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever stepped out in faith only to wonder if it even mattered? Maybe you started something meaningful; a Bible study, a ministry opportunity, a conversation about faith, and the response felt small. Maybe you’ve tried to serve quietly, love people well, or live more boldly for Christ, yet it feels like no one notices. In this episode of HEARTBEAT, we’re reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 13, where He compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. Small. Ordinary. Easy to overlook. But over time, that tiny seed grows into something strong, life-giving, and impactful. That’s often how God works in our lives too. He doesn’t ask us to produce instant results or impressive outcomes. He asks for faithfulness. If you’ve been discouraged because your efforts feel unnoticed or insignificant, this episode is a reminder that God is still at work in the small things. Takeaways from this episode: God often works through small beginnings. Faithfulness matters more than visibility. Small acts of obedience can lead to lasting impact. The kingdom of God grows in ways we don’t always immediately see. What feels insignificant to you may be deeply meaningful to God. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Why do we hide the things we’re ashamed of? In this episode of HEARTBEAT, we look at a surprisingly relatable picture from parenting: toddlers testing boundaries, hiding vegetables under the table, and learning what it means to feel guilty. As funny as those moments can be, they reveal something deeply human about all of us. From an early age, we learn to cover up our mistakes, avoid consequences, and pretend we’re more put together than we really are. But God’s grace meets us right there. This devotional explores the balance of truth, consequences, mercy, and love, both in parenting and in our relationship with God. While our instinct is often to hide our failures, God invites us into honesty and healing instead of shame. His grace is not earned by perfection. It’s found when we stop pretending and allow Him into the places we try hardest to cover up. Takeaways from this episode: Shame often causes us to cover up instead of confess. God responds to our failures with both truth and grace. Parenting can reflect God’s balance of correction and mercy. We don’t have to hide from God to receive His love. 👉 Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Ed is the Mission and Cultural Ministries Assistant for The Salvation Army USA Southern Territory. He is a husband, father, dancer and Jesus follower.
Bethany Farrell is a beloved daughter of the King. She attempts – with varying degrees of success – to share that love daily with her husband and four young daughters, and with artists of all ages through her work as the Territorial Creative Arts Director for The Salvation Army Southern Territory. Her hands, and her life, are incredibly full.
