In this deeply encouraging second part of our conversation with Ken Helser, we were profoundly blessed by his transparency, wisdom, and devotion to Jesus. Ken opens up about what it looks like to move from a life of hurry into a life of abiding in the Lord, learning to rest in Him and remain connected to His presence every moment of every day. In this episode, Ken shares intimately about his walk with Jesus — not just the highs, but the everyday reality of staying consecrated to Christ in the midst of busy ministry life. As his ministry grew, Ken’s answer to how he maintained that closeness with God was beautifully simple: he remained God’s project through it all. Rather than leaning on his own strength or achievements, he learned to continually surrender and stay dependent on the Lord. We also explore the difficult but faithful process of waiting on God — especially when His promises feel delayed. Ken offers grounded, hopeful insight into how to stay faithful during seasons of heartbreak, disappointment, and uncertainty. He reflects on the lessons God has taught him through the journey, including what patience, trust, and obedience look like in real life. Whether you’re walking through a season of waiting, leading others, or simply longing to abide more fully in Christ, this conversation will refresh your soul and deepen your faith.   A Place for the Heart — A ministry devoted to helping people encounter God’s heart and grow in relational intimacy with Jesushttps://www.aplacefortheheart.org/ 18 Inch Journey — A resource encouraging believers to walk closely with Christ by focusing on the journey from the head to the hearthttps://www.18inchjourney.com

In this episode, we welcome our very first guest—and we couldn’t be more honored. We sit down with Ken Helser, the founder of A Place for the Heart and The 18 Inch Journey, for a conversation that was so rich, we decided to release it in parts. In Part One, Ken shares his powerful testimony and the journey that led him to become the follower of Jesus he is today. He opens up about his past in music, how it became his god, and the how the Lord lovingly convicted him and completely transformed his life. Ken walks us through how that surrender set him on the path of obedience and ultimately led to the birth of The 18 Inch Journey and Cageless Birds. This episode is full of wisdom, honesty, and depth, and we’re so grateful for the honor of learning from Ken and sharing his story with you. A Place for the Heart — A ministry devoted to helping people encounter God’s heart and grow in relational intimacy with Jesushttps://www.aplacefortheheart.org/ 18 Inch Journey — A resource encouraging believers to walk closely with Christ by focusing on the journey from the head to the hearthttps://www.18inchjourney.com  

In this episode, we talk about what it truly means to build your house with Jesus. We look at Matthew 7:24–27 — the scripture about building on the Rock — and we get honest about how easy it is for believers to get caught up in the form of building. Sometimes we think we’re building on the Rock just because we’re doing all the “right” things, but in reality, we’ve left Jesus out of the process brick by brick. We dig into how going through the motions can quietly disconnect our hearts, and how Jesus never asked us to build out of routine — He asked us to build out of affection. At the end of the day, the most important part of living this life for Jesus is staying in love with Him. Without love, everything else becomes empty and meaningless. This episode is a call to reevaluate, realign, and put love back in first place, trusting that when our hearts remain anchored in Him, everything else will naturally follow. 

In this episode, we dive into the importance of forgiving yourself and the quiet trap of self-condemnation. Fedhii paints a powerful picture of what it’s like to sit in a prison cell even though the door is wide open—freedom has already been purchased for us, but we often choose to stay inside. Whether it’s fear of God’s punishment or a distorted idea of how to “earn” righteousness, we remind listeners that no amount of self-punishment will ever make us clean. If you’re covered in mud, you can’t wash yourself with muddy hands. It’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance, not shame. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed, and Jesus is eager to see His children step out of the prison of self-condemnation and finally live in the forgiveness He’s already given.

In this second part, we continue our deep dive into the danger of doubt and explore a sobering reality: sometimes we are the very thing hindering God’s plans from coming to pass in our lives. Yes, God is sovereign—and as seen in the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, He can still move even in the midst of our unbelief. But we also discuss an often-overlooked truth: God desires to co-labor with us. There are things He intended to birth in our lives that may have never manifested simply because we didn’t have the faith to partner with Him. We reflect on the tension between God’s power and our participation, asking hard questions like: How many opportunities or callings were delayed—or never realized—because we chose comfort and doubt over courage and supernatural faith? How often has doubt kept us from stepping into something God uniquely designed for us? Could this be why we’re not seeing the “greater things” Jesus promised we would do through the Holy Spirit? This conversation challenges us to confront the subtle ways doubt shapes our decisions and limits our impact. God can act whenever He wants—but He often chooses to work through us. The question is: Are we willing to believe Him enough to step into what He’s planned?

In this episode, we talk about the danger of doubt and how it can quietly take root in our hearts like weeds that need to be uprooted. Doubt hinders and delays a move of God in your life. Just as Jesus was unable to do many miracles in His hometown because the people doubted Him, we too can limit what God wants to do through our unbelief. James reminds us that “the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6–7). It is not safer to doubt God or to have a plan B—sometimes, that plan B is the very thing blocking our prayers. How many times does God have to come through for us before we have wholehearted faith in Him? Doubt is sneaky—it often starts small, but if left unattended, it can grow and become detrimental to our walk with God.

In this episode, we dive into the mystery of joy in the midst of trials. Beginning with James 1 — “Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds” — Fedhii opens by asking, “What kind of person looks at suffering and chooses to rejoice?” Together, we explore how true joy in hardship flows from an eternal perspective — from knowing that every trial is shaping us into a dwelling place worthy of the Son of Man. Is Jesus worth the suffering if it means becoming more like Him? If it means the Son of Man has a place to lay his head within you? We talk about how seeing the worthiness of the Man of Sorrows draws us into deeper intimacy with Him as we face trials—until our lives become the very home for His presence.

In this episode, we explore the vital role of grace in replacing unhealthy, false beliefs with the truth of who God is. We discuss the importance of showing yourself patience and not condemning yourself, because spiritual growth is a process—undoing years of lies takes time, and your heart has its own pace. Criticizing or condemning yourself in the process doesn’t actually help you grow; real transformation happens through grace and truth. God, as the author and finisher of our faith, is near throughout this process, guiding and shaping us. Just as the Son of God, though perfect, learned obedience through His suffering (Hebrews 5:8), we too grow through trials and challenges. This episode is a gentle but powerful reminder that transformation is a journey, and God’s truth is worth the patient work of aligning our hearts and minds with Him.

In this episode, we talk about how difficult seasons often become the very places where God reveals more of who He is—and how that revelation can completely shift our heart posture. From Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to Hagar encountering El Roi, Scripture is full of moments where people met God in their lowest places and walked away strengthened to endure what was ahead. Sometimes God delivers us out of hardship, and other times He reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Either way, it’s always unto something—unto knowing Him more deeply. As Paul wrote, “In all things, we would grow into Christ.” If every trial leads us into a greater revelation of God’s character, then even the inconvenience becomes worth it.

In this episode, we pick up where we left off and talk about why having the right beliefs about God is so important. Everything in life flows from what we believe about Him. If you don’t believe that God is protector, then everything that happens will seem to prove that false belief. We also talk about how easy it is to idolize our emotions—letting how we feel about life shape how we see God, instead of letting God define Himself. When we choose to believe the truth about who He is, it actually creates space for His presence to come in and change everything.

In this episode, we talk about why having the right beliefs about God is so important. Drawing from the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel, Fedhii unpacks how their unwavering faith in God didn’t just change their circumstances—it shifted the spiritual atmosphere around them. Their belief created space for King Nebuchadnezzar and the entire nation to encounter the true nature of God. We explore how belief attracts God’s presence, cultivates true worship, and builds an altar for others to experience Him too. Worship isn’t just a response to what God has done—it’s a declaration of who He is, even when circumstances don’t align with what we hope to see.

In this episode, we dive into what it means to remove mixture from our hearts, drawing from Matthew 6:24 — “No one can serve two masters.” We explore how it’s impossible to give the first place in our hearts to both God and something else. Through honest reflection, we discuss how fear often reveals the “other gods” competing for our devotion — whether it’s self-sufficiency, control, or comfort. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to be a wholehearted bride, fully surrendered and devoted to Him alone. This conversation invites you to examine what’s truly sitting on the throne of your heart and to allow Jesus to take His rightful place.

In this episode, we talk about how to stoke the flame when your faith feels stagnant. While seasons of stagnancy are a normal part of the Christian walk, there is no such thing as neutrality—you’re either moving toward God or away from Him. We share how testimonies of God’s past faithfulness can serve as fuel for your fire. And if you’re new in your faith or feel you haven’t seen God clearly move in your life yet, we discuss how honoring the stories in Scripture as your own—because we are the people of God—can ignite your fire just the same.

In this season finale, we dive into the importance of remembering who walks with you—God Himself. When we remind our spirits of His omnipresent and omnipotent power, it strengthens and encourages us in every season. God is not apathetic; He is powerful and engaged in every detail of our lives. As we encounter more of Him, more is also expected of us. Rather than letting our circumstances define who God is, we must learn to stand on the truth of His nature and use the confidence of His presence with us to shape how we respond to life’s challenges.

In this episode, we dive into what it means to truly be a good partner with the Holy Spirit. If God is the one doing the work—if He is both the author and the finisher—then what is our role in the process of transformation? We look at the biblical foundation that makes clear it is God who initiates growth, while our part is to respond with a “yes” to His work. Partnership with the Holy Spirit means learning to acknowledge and celebrate what He has already done in our lives. When we honor His testimony, our hearts are positioned toward Him. Gratitude then becomes the doorway—it opens our eyes to how He is moving and deepens our awareness of His ongoing work.

God’s leadership is never random—it’s intentional. In this episode, we talk about how He so often leads us one step at a time, giving only a piece of the puzzle instead of the full picture. It’s in that space of uncertainty where He’s calling us to trust Him deeply. Fear makes us want control, but faith moves when we don’t have all the answers. We were created to follow, not to lead—and when we try to take the role of leader, we end up carrying a weight we were never meant to bear. That weight shows up as anxiety. But when we trust His step-by-step guidance, we find peace in His leadership. We are created to be followers, not the leaders—and when we try to take control, anxiety often follows.   Some songs to help you through this season:  Follow the Leader - Upperroom My Reward - Upperroom Leadership of the Lord - Upperroom  

We were not made for a lukewarm, half-hearted faith — we were created to burn. In this episode, we dive into the holy dissatisfaction we often feel when our lives don’t align with the fullness we were made for. That longing inside you? It’s the reminder that you were created to burn for the Lord. But here’s the truth: you are not the originator or the sustainer of that fire. God Himself is the all-consuming fire — He is the source, the flame, and the One who keeps us burning. We are simply the recipients of His passion, invited to live ablaze for His glory. This is just the beginning of our conversation on what it means to burn for God. Join us as we press into the reality that life at its fullest is only found when we’re fully consumed by Him — everything else leaves us empty.

Sacrifice is more than giving up something—it’s a radical declaration that no one and nothing holds a higher place in our hearts than God Himself. It echoes the first and greatest commandment: God is a jealous God who demands our wholehearted devotion. Our sacrifices remind us daily that we are His alone, willing to surrender anything at His call. In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the essential role of sacrifice in the Christian life. Following Jesus intimately requires sacrifice—it’s not optional but foundational. Drawing from the story of Abraham and Isaac, we explore how the man known as the father of faith earned that title through a life marked by surrender and sacrifice. If God did not withhold His own Son, how can we withhold anything from Him? 

Waiting seasons are often misunderstood as idle or unproductive, but in this podcast, we reveal how they are actually incredibly fertile ground for growth and transformation. Walking hand in hand with the Good Gardener during these times, though little may change on the outside, gardens blossom within—deep roots of faith, character, and confidence take hold. We dive into the story of Abraham and Sarah, showing how God cultivated something extraordinary in Abraham while he waited—a man who wasn’t born the father of faith but was shaped into one. Through patient surrender, Abraham grew strong enough to trust God with even the most precious promise, willing to offer Isaac back in obedience and love. We also unpack David’s waiting season after being anointed king, a time that forged in him a bold confidence rooted in God’s heart and protection—giving him the courage to face Goliath with unwavering faith. Our conversations challenge you to embrace your own waiting season, not with frustration or apathy, but with expectancy, knowing that the Good Gardener is cultivating a garden within you that will bloom in God’s perfect timing. Don’t grumble your way through your promise like the Israelites; lean in, and watch what God will do in the waiting.

In this episode, we explore a deeply relatable part of the Christian walk — those seasons when God feels distant or silent. We unpack the truth that if Scripture is fully trustworthy, then the feeling of separation from God is not reality, but a distortion. We talk about how easy it is to idolize the distance — to let the silence define our relationship with God — when in truth, we’re called to keep our eyes on Jesus, not on our feelings. This episode is a reminder to return to the cross, where Jesus' sacrifice forever closed the gap between us and God. No matter how you feel, the truth remains: He is near and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Let this be an encouragement to trust Scripture over emotion.