Show Notes
If you were to rate your prayer life today on a scale of 1-10…how would you rate yourself? Of course, there is no easy rating scale for our relationship with God, but prayer is one of those areas of our spiritual lives that men consistently find difficult. At the start of this fresh new year, when topics around spiritual disciplines are common conversation, this is a great time to evaluate our prayer habits and what they mean for our walk with God. In this month's podcast, we are excited to welcome Dr. Bill Thrasher! Bill is a graduate professor of Bible and Theology at Moody Theological Seminary and a frequent speaker for churches and retreats nationwide. His ministry interests include campus discipleship, singles ministry, and evangelism. He is the author of Believing God for His Best, A Journey to Victorious Praying, Principles of Christian Living from Romans 5-8, The Attributes of God in Pauline Theology, and Living the Life God Has Planned. Bill and his wife, Penny, live in the Chicago area and have three sons. His most recent book is entitled How to Resurrect a Dead Prayer Life. We all know that prayer is essential—it's the lifeblood of the Christian life. But most of us find prayer to be challenging. We easily get discouraged, disillusioned, and distracted. So, how can a man build and sustain a meaningful and valuable prayer life? Through this conversation, Dean and Dr. Thrasher cover such topics as: What does it mean to "pray in the Spirit"? How does the Holy Spirit motivate and encourage our prayer life? How can we identify and revive a "dead" prayer life? How can someone with a worried or frantic life begin to enjoy God's presence and peace? What does it mean to truly encounter God in prayer, and not just do it as a religious duty? What do you do when you don't know how to pray or what to pray for? How does God use our most challenging moments to actually defeat the Enemy in our lives? How can we turn our chronic temptations into moments of encounter and victory with God? Enjoy all this and more in this month's podcast!
More from Impactus podcast
What if a man's sex drive isn't a problem? Most Christian guys have heard plenty about what not to do when it comes to sex: Don't look at porn, lust, have sex outside of marriage, or give in to temptation. But what if there were a better way to approach the matter? In this episode of the Impactus podcast, Chris sits down with our good friend Matt Cline of Restored Ministries to talk about "Jesus-Centered Sexuality"—a radically different way of understanding sexual desire, temptation, pornography, marriage, shame, and healing. They explore the idea that the goal isn't simply to "stop sinning sexually" and instead offer a better and brighter vision: What if God wants to use a man's sexuality as part of his transformation to becoming more like Jesus? Instead of being afraid of sexual desire, what if you could learn to steward it? Instead of simply running from temptation, what if you learned to run toward Jesus? And instead of seeing pornography only as a behavior you need to eliminate, what if you started asking what your heart is actually looking for when you turn to it? Matt also gets very honest about his own story, the power of bringing hidden things into the light, and the amazing things that can happen when shame is replaced with God's grace. Whether you're struggling with porn, wrestling with temptation, navigating sex in marriage, or simply want a healthier biblical understanding of sex and desire, this conversation will give you lots to think about and help you draw closer to God's vision for sex. Website: https://impactus.org/ Check Our Resources for Men: https://impactus.org/resources/ ---------------------------------------------- Follow us on Social Media Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter This Is Me TV
We live in a cultural moment where men are being handed competing (and often conflicting) visions of masculinity. One side tells us to be stronger, tougher, to take control, and avoid weakness. Or, on the other side, maybe masculinity itself is something "toxic" that we should automatically be suspicious of. But what if Jesus offers guys a very different way to look at things? In this episode of the Impactus podcast, Dean sits down with author and theologian Zachary Wagner to talk about his new book, Men of Virtue, and explore why the fruit of the Spirit might be one of the most important places for men to rediscover what godly masculinity actually looks like. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control. At first glance, that list might not sound particularly "manly, " but Zach argues that these aren't "feminine" virtues or optional "extras" for Christian men; they are the character qualities of Christ, and they are what the Holy Spirit is forming in every man who follows Jesus. But what happens when our cultural picture of manhood begins to compete with the character of Jesus? How can men navigate the tension between conflicting visions of what it means to be a man? If you want to think more deeply about what it means to become a man who looks like Jesus—not simply a man who looks "manly" by any definition of "man" out there—then this conversation is definitely worth a listen. Website: https://impactus.org/ Check Our Resources for Men: https://impactus.org/resources/
What does it actually mean to become a good man? In a culture where it's so easy for men to become obsessed with greatness, achievement, and influence, many guys find themselves chasing the wrong things. In this conversation, Jordan sits down with pastor and author Donnie Griggs and explores why goodness and faithfulness matter more than being impressive—and why becoming a good man is a lifelong journey we were never meant to walk alone. Jordan and Donnie talk honestly about responsibility, the weight men are meant to carry, and what happens when men avoid the responsibilities that help them grow. They also unpack a vision of masculinity that refuses to choose between strength and tenderness, and the biblical truth that men need brothers, not just buddies—men who know us, encourage us, speak truth to us and walk with us through every season of life. Join Jordan and Donnie for a compelling conversation about responsibility, friendship, masculinity, faithfulness and what it really means to become a good man.
Most guys know they probably need to sleep better—but few realize that sleep is far more than just a physical necessity. In this episode of the Impactus podcast, Chris sits down with author and Gospel Coalition journalist Brett McCracken to explore the deeper meaning behind one of God's most overlooked gifts. Drawing from his new book, The Wisdom of Sleep: How Rest Reveals God's Truth and Revives Weary Souls, Brett unpacks how sleep is not just a physical need but a powerful act that actually points to the grace, sovereignty, and wisdom of God. While science continues to discover the incredible benefits of sleep for our bodies, minds, and emotions, Scripture also reveals that sleep points us toward even deeper realities: our dependence on God, our need for rest in Him, and the Gospel hope of resurrection. Brett and Chris discuss why modern men struggle with rest in a culture shaped by technology, constant productivity, and the pressure to always achieve, and explore the danger of measuring our worth by our work, and how choosing rest can actually be an act of worship and trust in God's provision. The conversation also dives into the fascinating world of dreams—what science is learning about them, how God used dreams throughout Scripture, and what dreams reveal about the mystery of God's work in our lives. Whether you struggle with sleep or simply want to grow in your understanding of this intriguing topic, this fascinating conversation will challenge every man to view sleep differently. Copyright © 2026 Impactus. All rights reserved.
In a world filled with uncertainty, many men find themselves asking the same question: How do I know what God wants me to do? Whether a man is at a crossroads in his career, facing personal challenges, trying to make good choices for his family, or simply searching for his next steps in his faith journey, discerning the right thing to do can be daunting. Godly men want to please the Lord, and want to walk in His will—but how can we know if we're getting it right? Pastor Doug Wekenman leads a church called Red Rocks Austin and has written a new book, What Does God Have Planned For Me Next?, which seeks to answer some of these important questions that every man must grapple with. Doug and Dean have an engaging and far-ranging conversation about finding God's will, wrestling through tough decisions, how to bring others into your decision-making journey, and learning the many various ways God speaks to His sons. Navigating life's uncertainties can be overwhelming, but by understanding how to follow God's voice and recognizing the signs He provides to guide His kids, any man can learn to make decisions with confidence. Jump into this important conversation to learn more! Website: https://impactus.org/ Check Our Resources for Men: https://impactus.org/resources/ ---------------------------------------------- Follow us on Social Media Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter This Is Me TV