Followed By Mercy
The Followed By Mercy Podcast
Real Grace, Honest Hope
You might notice a new name and a fresh look, but the heart behind this podcast is the same. After years as the World Evangelism Podcast, I sensed God leading me to a deeper, more personal path centered on His relentless mercy and the kind of honest hope that can reach into every hurting place. That’s why this show is now called Followed By Mercy Podcast. The format may shift, and the tone may be a bit more personal, but my mission hasn’t changed: I still believe the world desperately needs to hear the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ. You are welcome here if you’ve been with me from the beginning or just found us now.
What if God’s love is more personal, stubborn, and relentless than you ever imagined?
Welcome to The Followed By Mercy Podcast, where we get honest about pain, hope, and the kind of grace that finds you right where you are, five days a week. This isn’t about religious performance or church routines. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt worn out, unseen, or unsure if they belong in the story of God’s love. Every conversation is rooted in this reality: God loves you right now, just as you are, and He isn’t giving up on you.
Here’s what you’ll find in every episode:
Experience God’s Relentless Love
Every show starts by reminding you that the Shepherd knows your name, cares about your story, and isn’t offended by your failures or questions. This is personal—it’s about God’s unwavering affection for you.
Find Your Place in His Heart
Once you grasp how fiercely you’re loved, sharing that love with others doesn’t feel forced. It becomes the most natural thing in the world. Real grace overflows.
Prayer That Changes You
We pray together—not just for the world “out there,” but for the battles and hopes you’re carrying right now. These prayers are honest, rooted in Scripture, and meant for hearts that need a gentle touch from the Shepherd.
Discover Your Unique Role
Whether you’re called to go, give, serve, or show kindness in your corner of the world, God’s mercy meets you where you are. You’re not just a bystander. You are His beloved, invited into the story He’s writing.
When life knocks the wind out of you, this is a place to catch your breath. You’ll hear the encouragement that meets you on your hardest days, and your honest questions will be welcomed. No pretending, no heavy-handed advice—just the reminder that your Shepherd is right there with you, walking every step with you, even when you feel like giving up.
Why does this matter? Because some days, it feels like nobody sees you or cares what you’re going through. But the truth is, you have a Shepherd who never takes His eyes off you, lets you slip through the cracks, and never gives up on you. That kind of love can put you back on your feet, and it might be the hope someone else is waiting to see in you, too.
If you’re longing for more than just religious talk—if you want to know you’re not alone and that God’s mercy is following you all the way home, you’re in the right place. Whether you listen in the car, on a walk, or in a quiet moment, let every episode remind you: God’s mercy is after you right now, ready to bring real grace and honest hope.
Subscribe today and join a community to discover what happens when loved people become loving people. The journey’s just beginning, and there’s a place for you here.
Followed By Mercy
Grace And Peace: A Prayer For 2026
summary
In this heartfelt message, Austin Gardner offers blessings and prayers for the new year, emphasizing the importance of grace, peace, and God's unconditional love. He encourages listeners to embrace their worthiness through Jesus and to live free from past burdens, focusing on the blessings that God has in store for them in 2026.
takeaways
- This year, I pray you'll stop trying to prove you're worthy.
- Only grace can heal what guilt and striving never could.
- God wants his people to live under blessings, not fear.
- The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts.
- God is not stingy. He is overflowing with grace and mercy.
- May you cast off every burden and start healing every wound.
- You are entirely accepted, fully loved, and completely forgiven.
- Worry will whisper, but you will cast all your cares on your Father.
- God loves you right now, even in your despair and anger.
- I pray that 2026 will be your best year ever.
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I just want to take this opportunity as we begin 2026, and I want to ask God to bless you in this new year. This is my prayer for each of you. I was praying for you, thinking of those of you who are so kind to read and comment on my articles that I write, or those of you that respond to the podcast and say kind things. So I want to pray over you what the scriptures say. In Galatians 1 3, Paul said, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. So I call the favor, peace, and undeserved kindness of God over your lives. That's a biblical position, by the way, not some prosperity, positive thinking thing to say. This was Paul's way of inviting believers to live each day in God's word, in God's work in their lives, not their own. Only grace can heal what good only grace can heal what guilt and striving never could. This year I'll pray you'll stop trying to prove you're worthy and rest in the truth that you already are. Jesus makes you entirely accepted, fully loved, and completely forgiven. This prayer is grace and peace. Peace is that you will enjoy wholeness, health, prosperity, and total well being. It blesses me to see what God told the priests in the Old Testament to pray over his people. Remember, you think the Old Testament is that's God being harsh and rough on his people, but far from it. They were to hear this when they got together to worship. Numbers chapter six, verses twenty four through twenty six. The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. God wants his people to live under blessings, not fear. Our Father has his face of blessings turned toward all of us. God is not against you. God is not turned away from you, he does not feel disappointed in you. He is looking at you straight in the face and saying that he loves you, and we are his. Not just his, but his beloved. We will have problems this year, but we know that he's with us. In John 16, 33 it says, In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. We know that his grace will give us all we need, even though we're weak. In Second Corinthians chapter twelve and verse nine it says, My grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness. You can't stand knowing that the very power of God will in his grace work in your life. I pray you will know the peace of God this year. This peace, Philippians four, seven. The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Worry will whisper, but you will cast all your cares, your worries on your Father, knowing that he cares for you. You know God can do all this and more, don't you? Ephesians 3 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. God is not stingy. He is overflowing with grace and mercy and wants to bless you. He even tells his ministers to talk about his blessings. Have you seen that in the verses? So I pray that this blessing will be yours this year. The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance and give thee peace. Because of Jesus, God blesses, keeps, loves, and frees you. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. By the way, God bless the people who had often been deceived, confused, but God still blesses. I pray God's undeserved kindness over every one of you. This is not an empty, nice, positive thinking article, but a biblical approach to God's people from God. God loves you right now. Even in your despair and anger, he loves you. This is not something we earned or because of our character or works, but God, who is love itself and his character. May the Lord, may the Holy Spirit fill you with power to forgive, to love, and to walk in joy. May you live free from the chains of the past, free from striving of religion, and free in the finished work of Jesus. May you cast off every burden, start healing every wound, and move every step this year closer to the heart of your Father. Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or take. To him be glory in the church and in your life, both now and forever. Amen. I just wanted you to know I thought about you today, and I'm praying for you. And I'm praying that 2026 will be your best year ever, and that you will enjoy the presence and the power of God like never before. God bless every one of you.
