Show Notes
In this episode of the Armed and Anointed podcast, host Ashley Russell interviewed Pastor Alastair Sterne (@alastairsterne) about his journey to faith and his book "Longing for Joy." Alastair shared how he transitioned from a non-religious background involving New Age practices and touring as a musician to becoming a Christian at age 22 after a spiritual encounter. He discussed his personal struggle with depression and how he found joy through practices like gratitude journaling, running, and connecting with nature. The conversation covered practical advice for new believers, including the importance of joining a local church, starting with the New Testament and Gospel of Mark, and developing Christian friendships. Alastair emphasized that while feelings may fluctuate, a mature faith is grounded in theological truths about God's presence and the authority of Scripture, which he encourages readers to explore through study and community.
Alastair also has two books you can check out! "Rhythms for Life" and "Longing for Joy"
CONNECT WITH ME...
→ Instagram - @armedandanointed
→ Partner with me in Arbonne - Legacy Collective x Arbonne - Legacy Collective
→ Looking for faith based life and business coaching? Fill out an application here and what the The Legacy Collective Coaching Community is all about - Legacy Community Coaching Application - with Ashley Russell
→ Join the Armed & Anointed Insiders Community here: https://armedandanointedcoaching.myflodesk.com/k5w9hcjr6j
→ Wednesday Morning Worship - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87418602507?pwd=CwaWrzxQXZntuDgASS91SLrHjyP16e.1
Purchase previous Masterclasses:
→ Creating a service led personal brand from your story Masterclass - Creating a service led personal brand masterclass
→ Ground Up Brand Building - https://armedandanointedcoaching.myflodesk.com/bjklkftr57
More from Armed & Anointed with Ashley Russell
Today, I’m sharing how I recognized apathy covering my spiritual fire—and how prayer, fasting, and a season of stepping back helped me find clarity. We’ll talk about how God can use wilderness seasons and changes in our relationships to refine us, the difference between rejection and redirection, and why community matters—but can’t replace time alone with God. If you’ve been feeling spiritually foggy or sensing that something needs to change, I hope this conversation encourages you to trust the process and stay close to Him.
In this episode of the Armed & Anointed podcast, Ashley discusses the laws of leadership and why you don’t need more followers or credentials to begin leading. She shares how story, wisdom, conviction, and perspective can shape your influence, and why staying anchored in biblical principles matters more than chasing approval. If you’ve been waiting to feel ready, this conversation offers a fresh framework for leading with clarity and purpose.
In this episode of the Armed & Anointed podcast, Ashley is joined by Pastor Alastair Sterne (@alastairsterne) to talk about navigating faith in marriage, parenting, business, and everyday life. Together, they explore how to hold onto conviction while leading with wisdom, patience, and compassion.
In this episode of the Armed & Anointed podcast, Ashley discusses the story of Jericho and how faith, obedience, and endurance help us trust God through seasons of waiting. She shares personal lessons on holding onto God’s promises when circumstances feel uncertain and continuing to walk forward even when the next step doesn’t make sense.
In this episode of the Armed & Anointed podcast, Ashley focuses on the importance of adopting a new belief system after becoming a "new creation" in Christ. She discussed how many Christians continue living by old patterns and beliefs despite being born again, emphasizing that true transformation requires changing both mindset and behavior. Ashley shared personal examples of how she overcame old belief systems about stress and opportunity, explaining that faith must be directed toward what God is doing new rather than focusing on past experiences. She outlined three foundational elements for choosing a new belief system: spending time in Scripture, developing a consistent prayer life, and surrounding oneself with a supportive faith community. Ashley also described the stages of spiritual maturity from being a child (getting right with God) to waging spiritual warfare against opposition to achieving intimacy with God. The episode concluded with tactical steps for belief system change including awareness, disruption, redirection, and repetition, with practical suggestions for using Scripture and declarations to integrate new beliefs.