In this episode of "Rhythms that Restore," host Cherisse Hixson and guest Britney Christie, co-founder of Be Free Revolution and The Retreat House Memphis, explore the significance of prioritizing "being with God" over "doing for Him". They emphasize the importance of self-awareness for personal growth, recognizing patterns of unhealth and health, and the cultural trap of busyness. Britney shares her practices for connecting with God, including setting appointments to show up in prayer and finding strategic places for reflection. The conversation covers soul care, the use of personality assessments, and the importance of community support. Britney also touches on coping with trauma and share some tools she has used through music and intentional time to heal with the Lord, the role of technology in providing care for clients, and the services offered by The Retreat House. The episode concludes with a breath prayer exercise and a message of restoration, inviting listeners to embrace daily peace and share the podcast with a friend.

The importance of being with God (00:01:13) Discussion on the struggle between being for God and doing for God, emphasizing the importance of being with God.

Jesus's boundaries and waiting on God (00:02:24) Exploration of Jesus's ministry and how he balanced action and contemplation, emphasizing the importance of waiting on God and respecting boundaries.

Awareness and boundaries in helping others (00:05:33) The importance of being aware of boundaries when helping others, avoiding circumventing the Holy Spirit's work in someone else's life.

Self-awareness and patterns (00:10:59) The catalyst for growth and change, focusing on self-awareness and recognizing helpful and hurtful patterns.

The value of inner work and soul care (00:14:01) The significance of inner work and soul care, emphasizing the need for time and energy, and the benefits of seeking guidance from coaches, spiritual directors, or counselors.

Recognizing unhealthy patterns and the ability to pause (00:17:09) Discussion on recognizing unhealthy patterns and the importance of pausing to assess the situation and make choices for personal growth.

Space for assessment and intentional time with God (00:20:45) Creating space for self-assessment and intentional time with God, emphasizing the need for appointments and consistency in seeking God's presence.

The value of consistency with other believers (00:21:57) The importance of consistency with other believers in nurturing one's spiritual journey and growth.

Setting Times for the Lord (00:23:03) Brittany discusses setting times for spiritual practices and the importance of having a community of believers.

Focusing on God's Affection (00:24:25) Brittany talks about focusing on things that stir affection for God and the impact of entertainment on her during a difficult season.

Strategic Withdrawal and Spiritual Growth (00:27:14) The speakers discuss the importance of strategic withdrawal to grow spiritually and emotionally, setting appointments with the Lord, and seeking wisdom from trusted sources.

Full Circle Care at The Retreat House (00:28:10) Brittany explains the full circle care offered at The Retreat House, including counseling, trauma work, coaching, and spiritual direction.

Breath Prayer and God's Presence (00:30:06) Brittany shares a breath prayer practice, emphasizing God's omnipresence and the importance of releasing worries and fears.

Closing Prayer and Gratitude (00:34:13) A closing prayer expressing gratitude for God's presence and guidance, followed by expressions of love and gratitude.

• Setting times to be with the Lord, having a body of believers around, focusing on things that stir affection for God: "00:23:03"
• Spotify Playlist named Preachers Harvest and Song of the Lamb, Show: Downton Abbey: "00:24:25"
• Strategic withdrawal, setting an appointment with the Lord, silent retreat, counselor, spiritual director: "00:27:39"
• Breath prayer, Yahweh, breathing in attributes of God, breathing out anxiety, fear, tension: "00:30:24"
• Instagram: "00:34:32"
• Subscribe button, leaving a review on podcast platform, sharing the show with a friend: "00:34:37"

Connect with Britney Christie via email: [email protected] or find her on Instagram @befreerevolution  or @theretreathousememphis 

Connect with Cherisse Hixson on Instagram @cherissehixson01, FaceBook or email: [email protected] would love to connect and dig deeper with you. 

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