WHOA That's Good Podcast - Brian & Jenn Johnson on Hearing The Voice of The Lord

Episode Date: October 24, 2018

Sadie visits with Brian and Jenn Johnson, the founders of Bethel Music. Jenn shares dating advice from her mom and talks about the value of focusing on developing friendships in relationships and listening to the Holy Spirit. Brian talks about getting a word from God and sticking to it until you get another one. www.bethelmusic.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh no! No! Hey fam! I am so excited about this episode of WoW That's Good because we have the founders of Bethel Music, Brian and Jen Johnson straight out of Redding California. They are two incredible leaders, incredible parents, incredible people, all in all just absolutely incredible. And I cannot wait for you guys to get to know them. I get to know them at the Bethel Conference. And oh my gosh, I felt like family immediately because that's just the kind of people

they are in the atmosphere they create. So today is gonna be super special. And I can't wait, so let's dive right in. Okay guys, I am so excited that y'all are on the world. That's good podcast because everything you say is world that's so good and that's why I have your love here, y'all are seriously too of my personal favorite people that I've gotten to meet and I don't just say that Lany and I, you know Lany, you know I talk about that all the time of how when we met you guys, it was like, we felt like we were a family. So we're so welcoming.

So thank you for being on this podcast and just being who you are and we'll have a pleasure. So I'm going to ask you a question and the reason I want to ask you is I like to ask people what the best piece of advice they've been given especially the people in my life that I receive a lot of good advice from and I know that y'all give so much good advice so I would love to know what's the best piece of advice that both of you have been given in your life. Okay so the first one that came to my mind was when I was younger, my mom had dating advice for me. Oh, yes. Yeah.

And she really encouraged me, both my parents said, to not date people, but to go on dates, and to get to know people. And my mom kind of had this philosophy of like, you know, date everybody. And what I do is it really gave me the emphasis of making friends and strong relationships with guys instead of getting in committed relationships that wouldn't need to be broken. And it just really, looking back

on it gave me a lot of healthy relationships that I still have with these guys still to this day. I'm really good friends with them because I put more value on getting to know people than I did. Wondering who I was dating. And you know, really, I think it's just a massive, positive thing for my life. So that's so good. Except for when I did it, except for when I met the one,

then it was a game changer. I was waiting for that comment. I was like, when is he gonna pipe in with it? That's awesome. No, that's actually so good. And that's something that my mom and my grandma actually says to me a lot. She's like, Y'all's generation.

Y'all are not doing it right. We dated, we had a different day every weekend. And she was like, it really helped you to get to know, you know, get to really know the person. And now it's like we insted DM one time and all of a sudden we're dating. And you don't get to really know the person and now it's like we insted DM one time and all the sudden we're dating. And you don't get to really know somebody like that. So that is really, that's really good advice.

So for you, and then we'll switch to Ryan's best piece of advice. But for you in that, when did you kind of know like when you were dating Brian, you're like, okay, this is the one actually. You know, we actually knew, I mean, we only dated for 10 days. So it's a crazy story, but we really had this amazing week of, we just, we've known each other for a long time, but God really had spoken to both of us,

and it felt like a totally different thing. So just when you think, you know, you've got God figured out, he puts a left turn, but it was so beautiful. But I think the key is that in any relationship, you know, you have to follow the Holy Spirit with timing, but we just knew. And so it was a fast thing.

But man, we have no regrets. We knew it was the Lord and it's been incredible. Wow, that is so cool. That's crazy. And that's amazing. And so would you say that you would say the same thing to your daughter. So like, as they're dating to just really get to know the person,

kind of how you did it. Yeah, I think that with every single person with Mike, all of our kids and friends, it's just so different for each person. What may be great for you may not be great for someone else. And you really just, with relationship, you have to listen to the Holy Spirit with timing. But I think it's a value is on friendship and relationship.

You know, God will sort it out with the details of timing. Yeah, that's so good. Okay, Brian, let's hear it. Best piece of advice you've ever been given. All right, I think probably the best piece of advice I've ever been given was for my dad. And he's always said this to us, me and my brother and sister as we were kids and growing up, because life is full of so many ups and downs and different season chains.

He says, son, get a word from God, whether it's from someone or through the Bible or whatever, and stick to it until you get another one. And then he also, he kind of related it to you, you know, as your ship gets bigger like your life as it gets bigger and more influential, that rudder needs to get bigger with it or it'll overtake. And so he's always gone back to, you know, as they're, always, the phrase that says, if something is without hope, it's under the influence of a lie. And so if something's happening in your life that feels too much, just pause, get a word from God, and that's your strength.

And it's what David did. He's strengthened himself in the Lord. And so I think that stuck with me through all the different changes in life. So there's my piece of advice. That's so good. Okay. I want to ask all this. And this is like, I think that this is something something that for I know a lot of my friends have asked me

And this is definitely a big question that people have is like both of you have reference just hearing from God and really Hearing from the Holy Spirit and the timing and what does that look like for you all in your life to to hear from God or to know that It's the spirit really leading you to do something because I know a lot of people really doubt. It was this from God, it was just this my head, whatever that is. And so if you all could just kind of speak to what that looks like. Well, I think you have to start somewhere and a lot of people are afraid to start, you know, to take a risk and a lot of times, you know, we live in an environment where we do step out. And if we feel like God's saying something, we don't say, thus say, the Lord, we say, for instance, to Jett of the life, I feel like I just feel like maybe God's saying something. We don't say that's safe. The Lord we say for instance to Jett of the life I feel like I just feel like maybe God's saying this and over time you start to learn the voice of the Lord a bit more by doing that

By just taking risks and stepping out and for your own life. There's that there's got a humility always has to be attached to the prophetic Do you get any more for God? Yeah, so that like if you get it wrong or like like for me, you know if I I'm always like I feel like I'm supposed to do this. And I just step out, and I think God honors that when we step out in humble faith. Because, and he can entrust us with things when we have a heart posture that says, I don't have all the answers,

but I feel like I'm supposed to do this. And a lot of times, he proves himself, like a lot of times you know, step, I feel like God's saying this, and then we act on that, and then it ends up being him Or ends up not being him. Yeah, and you learned through trial and air like really the voice of the Lord and I think that God puts people in our lives that You know we're supposed to listen to for different periods of time like I remember when God brought a friend of mine into my life

It was a distinct moment where like he it not not that he was the voice of the Lord But he brought elements to the table that we really needed and he was hearing from God in my level for us That then we were even hearing and so I feel like There's a lot of that in there, but Jen you've got some That's so good. That's awesome. I think that you know Key phrase is being anchored in the word of God, knowing your Bible, and keeping that your hearing's got to match up and line up to the word of God. So being anchored in the word of God, hiding it in your heart is everything.

And then, like Brian said, it really is practicing. So with our child like faith, we practice. And no one's perfect at anything. But I think that the heart of God is that we would have ears to hear what he's saying. And then we'd listen. And to the best of our ability, we would do what he's asking us to do. And so I think as you just, you're practicing with anything in life, the more you practice, the better you get. And so with hearing the voice of the Lord, the more that you practice, and like Brian said, having a humble approach saying, hey, maybe not best say it the Lord, but hey, I feel like

God's saying this or even in your own life what you feel like God's telling you to do, just obeying it to the best of your ability. I think the heart is what really God's looking for and it's what He honors. Oh, that's so good. I've heard it or I read it before that somebody said, the best way to learn the quickest is to do it publicly because you're probably gonna fail doing it, but you're gonna really quick. Yeah, and I totally relate to that.

And that helps me so much because for me, like I feel like everything that we do is definitely a risk as far as like you could totally face plant, you could totally, you know, sing the wrong words or try to say a sentence that just did not really click. And that happens all the time. And I found this like every year that I do a live regimen to where it never fails.

And I was like, wow, that was way better than last year. And I, you know, I like you know that they're trying to be like super sweet about it. And it was actually really good. But the way it said, you're like, oh wait, it was actually terrible.. But the way it said, you're like, oh wait, it was not. It was terrible. Yeah, like, or the new book. They're like, I could really tell that you've really grown up

and I'm like, oh no, it was my first book. I'm like, not. And, but I do think that that's that part of humility. It's like, well, you got to write one to get to the next and you got it, you know, go out and do one. And a lot of times it's like that pride that, you know, rises up, it's like that pride that you know rises up It's like oh, what if it's not right, but I mean it is always worth that life because that's the thing at the end of the day

It really does change your life like you said your friend at that moment like he was hearing things from God Maybe you know more than you guys were at the time because maybe his heart was just there to hear it You know and yeah, that's what we need each other. So that is so encouraging for me personally. And I know actually in writing, that's where I've had some significant, I came, let's see, last November, and some people spoke some things into my life, just saying, you know, I feel like the Lord is saying this, and I cannot even tell you how spot on it was. It really changed the way I left. And so that's cool to hear you guys say that. Super, super awesome.

So this is just random, but just for you guys, I know people know you from afar and as people know me from afar, but sometimes they don't really, you know, know it's like, know what we wanted, like love to do and just goofy things and I know y'all are like full of fun. So what are some things that y'all as a couple as a family that y'all just like really are excited about? Excited about. We just got back from vacation and we were in the massive red woods in the coast of northern California. Oh wow. And it is so magical there.

It's just gorgeous. And so our family, we all love it there. It's right on the ocean and it's just beautiful. So that's one of our favorite things is just being there. It's just bringing friends there. And so we're really, we're excited because we are getting a place there

so that we can spend more time there with a bunch of friends. And so that's something that our whole family is actually looking forward to. It's just having, you know, we just love to be together at the beach and hang out and bring friends there and eat together. So that's kind of been our, and then we're, we've been building a home for over five years. It's almost done. I think we're like seven weeks away from moving back into it. So that's a massive thing for our whole family. We've been working on this property and it's really a big farm that's just exciting. Oh my gosh. That is like my dream. We're going to big farm with a big family. That's awesome. Yeah. And then we have, it's been, you know, we just

took a massive vacation because we've had a lot going on so we were almost done with two new albums so that's super exciting. Bless the Lord and the Lord. Yeah and then Ryan's just finishing the book that he's writing and it we're an editing process of that so that that's super exciting. That's awesome. Can you say what the book's called? Yeah, when God becomes real. Woo, let's go. That's awesome. Oh, I can't wait.

So I'm sure you're excited about that right now. I will be. Yes. You're in that, like, I'm really excited even I'm also. This is a lot of work, kind of, mode. Yeah, you know that. You know that world.

Oh, yeah. The book, I said to somebody that did writing a book is kind of like a maze It's like you know one one point of the maze. Oh, yeah, I'm totally getting this right I'm totally going the right direction and you hit a wall and you're like oh my gosh How do I even get here and how do you even get out and that that was my book experience? I don't know about you but I had a lot of like man I am cruising and then a whole lot of like whoa. I don't know about you, but I had a lot of like, man, I am cruising and then a whole lot of like, whoa, I am totally stuck. Moments. But yeah, it's an emotional process too because you're pouring your

heart out. Yes, for sure. I get it. Okay, and also, I know that you are quite the hunter. Or you talk about hunting a lot. Do you have any hunting trips coming up? Oh, I actually do. This year's full of them. I actually have not gone on ministry trips to hunt this year. That's how much I like it. So I'm going, I've got hunting here. That's okay. Sorry, you want me to talk closer? Jen's like telling me to talk closer.

I'm hunting here for deer and bear and all sorts of stuff and then I'm going to Texas nice To a ranch there to hunt with some guys and I'm going right after that going to Montana and Then later in the fall I'm gonna be bear hunting So I'm it's just a year full of it, you know well after all that you need to come to Louisiana and we'll all meet in Louisiana We'll go to the Dada cook us a good meal. Just add that to the agenda. That would be awesome.

We feel like y'all are family, so. Oh, same to y'all. You know, actually, I hope you all know this before I say this, but do you know your daughter's actually coming with me and Laney to the Teve Swift concert? I do know that. Look, that's light. She's very excited.

We are so excited. She's might be a little embarrassed to be seen with her with us because Oh no she can fangirl real quick. We'll go there. We're totally ordering Taylor Swift wigs. I'm not kidding. We are going all out. Absolutely. Absolutely. We had so much fun with Lani. Oh my gosh we had so much fun with Lanyl, oh my gosh, we had so much fun. Aw, she's the best, and sorry y'all. Well, thank you so much for sharing your best advice. That was super encouraging, super impactful. And I feel like, I feel like a lot of people don't need to hear both of those things. Girls and guys at all ages. And I think that, you know, I've met people who are,

even my grandparents asked me sometimes about hearing from the Lord and what that looks like. And so I know that's just gonna encourage so many people. You guys are awesome. I could not see me else praises more and just love them more. Just thank you so much for spending time with us today. You're welcome.

All right, bye guys. Bye. All right, y'all, you know what time it is? Time to call mama. So we're gonna call mama with our best piece of advice and our worst piece of advice. Let's see what she has to say. Hey there.

Hey mom. How's your day doing? How you doing? Oh I'm doing good. Actually just thought to Brian and Jen Johnson. So awesome.? Oh, I'm doing good. Actually just taught to Brian engine Johnson So awesome. I know they're the best it was so fun Um great advice Super awesome. I feel like I'm my amen. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord ready to run

That's amazing. That's always good. Always good. All right. You ready for the world. Let's get both. That's bad Yep, let's do it. All right, here we go. This is interesting. Don't trust anyone, but yourself. Good luck in relationships. That is bad. That's right. I could look at relationships. And I think that sometimes we spend ways in my son and her own head and we can art we can get to believe in stories that are not true. We can our brains can start thinking things that are not right and are not true. So you got to trust other people, you got to listen to other people, you got to of course trust God and His Word and people who have good wisdom and that, yeah, just trust in yourself because you can go wrong. Trust in yourself.

Believe it or not, you can be wrong. I don't, yeah, I would not actually trust myself. I also think that I did not trust myself. My emotions are whack, but actually I heard this quote one time, it was actually from the Bealthal Conference. And the guy said, would you ever trust a friend that lies to you as much as your emotions do? And I was like, oh, that is crazy. Why do you continually trust your emotions? Why do you still go with them? Because if a friend would lie to you as many times as your

emotions did, you wouldn't be friends with that person. You know, like, you went to a person or like, you went and apply that person's advice in your life, you know? So, you know, I was like, oh, that's good. Okay. Always consider where the other person is coming from. That's good. That's great. That's true. Yeah.

That's the good. Yeah. And I think that, like, there's a difference. It's not like, it's making excuses for the other person, but it's like looking at it from their perspective because we all come to things from totally different perspectives. I don't know if you're following us all or into your ground. People but actually the other day I said, well, I'm not? We're, I almost said my husband and I'm talking to you. Done now, we're like just disagreeing on something and I just said him our

any of Grand Pides was like, hey just a reminder because like we are coming to this from different perspectives, like we're just different people. We have different you know ways of looking at things and all that and sometimes like it's good to be reminded of that But like okay, like we're not arguing because We're bad people or because we is we're arguing because we're different and we think differently and we can like Tump to a conclusion and say like okay, I can see how you think that way and I can see all I didn't think that way and it's okay Yeah, that's really good. That's so true. I think you knock out the opportunity to take offense whenever you understand where the other person's coming from

because it's not so much about what that person did or what that person said, it's like you said, it's about just who you are and what you believe. So anyways, that was good. Thanks for being so vulnerable with your marriage, you know? Oh well, I love you so much. I love you. All right, talk to you in fun.

All right, got it? Thanks so much for listening to the world. That's good podcast. We got a lot of good nuggets today. Don't forget to follow me on all the social media platforms. I'm on Instagram. I'm at legit Sadie Rob, Twitter, Sadie Rob, and follow our live original Instagram. Also, I'm Sadie Robertson on Facebook. Head over to liveoriginal.com and subscribe to this podcast. And while you're there, you can see the tour dates that I'm coming to a city near you.

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