Habits of Hope: Cultivating a Deeper Life with God

Seek First: Trusting God With What Follows (Matthew 6:33)

Have you ever noticed how easily good intentions can quietly turn into pressure?

You want to live faithfully. You want to be wise with your time. You want to make thoughtful choices and trust God with what’s ahead. But before long, that desire can slip into anxiety—feeling like you need a plan for provision, a plan for the future, and a plan for what comes next.

In this episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, we slow down with Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
Not strive. Not secure. Not solve. Seek.

This conversation explores what it really means to seek God first—not as a checklist or productivity strategy, but as a way of ordering your life around trust instead of fear. Together, Ginger and Larissa unpack how seeking first shapes our motivations, addresses anxiety with compassion, and helps us live from identity rather than urgency.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why seeking first is about direction, not a task
• How Jesus speaks to real, everyday worries with grace
• What God’s righteousness looks like in daily decisions and conversations
• Practical questions to help you discern your motivations
• How seeking first becomes a steady, repeatable Habit of Hope

If life feels crowded, uncertain, or heavy right now, this episode offers a simple, grounding invitation: put God first—and trust Him with what follows.

🎧 Listen now and let this truth re-order your heart.

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Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Have you ever started a new year with good intentions—goals, plans, and lists—yet still felt unsure how God fits into all of it?

In this episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, Ginger Harrington and Larissa Traquair slow down with a prayer from Scripture that reorients how we think about time. Psalm 90:12 doesn’t invite us to manage our days better—it invites us to seek God’s wisdom before deciding how to live the days we’ve been given.

Together, we explore what it means to number our days with a heart of wisdom—not from pressure or control, but from trust, gratitude, and an eternal perspective. This conversation is especially meaningful as we begin a new year, but it speaks to any season where life feels full, uncertain, or overwhelming.

Read the full article and get resources links at GingerHarrington.com.

You’ll hear reflections on:

• Why experience alone doesn’t make us wise—reflection with God does
• How wisdom grows when we seek God’s guidance before making our plans
• What it looks like to receive time as a gift instead of a burden
• How living with an eternal perspective clarifies priorities
• Why faithfulness matters more than productivity
• How gratitude and trust reshape the way we carry unfinished things

If you’re longing to begin this year—or this season—with wisdom instead of pressure, this episode offers a gentle, Scripture-rooted invitation to walk with God one day at a time.

🕊️ Habit of Hope
Receive each day as a gift while seeking God’s wisdom for how to honor Him with your time.

🔗 Resources 

• The Tyranny of the Urgent 
• Read the full article and get resources links at GingerHarrington.com.

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

The start of a new year often makes us want a clean slate—new plans, new habits, new energy. But before rushing forward, this episode invites you to pause.

In this conversation, Ginger Harrington and Larissa Traquair explore a meaningful Habit of Hope: reflecting on what God has already been teaching you and intentionally carrying those lessons forward. This episode is about moving from looking back to living forward—not with pressure or self-improvement, but with wisdom, grace, and trust in God’s faithfulness.

You’ll hear practical ways to reflect with God at the start of a new year, along with personal lessons we’re carrying from 2025 into 2026—about preparation, consistency, creativity, grief, joy, and holding plans loosely.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why reflection isn’t nostalgia—it’s the beginning of wisdom
• How to move from looking back to living forward with intention and trust
• Why preparation can be an act of grace, not striving
• How small, consistent practices shape long-term spiritual growth
• What it looks like to plan well while holding dreams loosely
• Why joy isn’t denial—and how it can coexist with hard seasons

✨ Habit of Hope

Pause at the start of a new year to reflect on what God has been teaching you—then carry those lessons forward so they shape how you live, choose, and grow.

🔥 Invitation for the Week

Take a few unrushed moments to ask:
What did I learn this past year?
What is God inviting me to carry forward?

Write it down. Don’t overthink it. Let reflection move you from looking back to living forward.

Read the full article.

Mentioned in this Episode

10 Benefits of Reviewing What We Learn from God

Related Episodes

• What We Learned in 2024 — Habits of Hope Podcast
• Simple Habits to Nurture a Balanced Life This New Year
• 10 Life-Changing Bible Verses to Inspire Hope This Year

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💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

What do you do when you’ve prayed faithfully for years—and God still feels silent?

In this deeply encouraging episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, Ginger reflects on the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5–25) and the quiet strength of a faith that keeps trusting God—even when longings remain unmet.

This episode is especially for those who have walked with God for a long time, served faithfully, and yet carry disappointment, grief, or unanswered prayer. Scripture reminds us that Zachariah and Elizabeth were called righteous—not because they received what they hoped for, but because they continued to believe God with their lives.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why long seasons of waiting are not signs of weak faith
• How God honors faithfulness even when prayers go unanswered
• What it means to choose to believe when hope feels fragile
• How waiting can be holy—and never wasted
• A gentle Habit of Hope for trusting God in silence

Habit of Hope

Choose to believe that God is near, faithful, and at work—even when you don’t see answers yet.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your faith still “counts” in seasons of disappointment, this episode will steady your heart and remind you that faithful waiting matters deeply to God.

🎧 Listen now and be encouraged to keep believing.

This is our final episode for 2025. Join us on January 13 for our next episode.

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Christmas is supposed to feel joyful—but what if it feels heavy instead?

In this episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, Ginger Harrington and co-host Larissa Traquair talk honestly about the pressure of Christmas expectations, the ache of a season that feels different, and the quiet disappointment many carry beneath the sparkle.

If your Christmas looks nothing like the picture-perfect versions you see online—or like what you hoped it would be—this conversation is for you. Through personal stories, biblical truth, and gentle encouragement, we’re reminded that true joy doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from presence.

Anchored in Luke 2:10–11, this episode invites you to release unrealistic Christmas expectations and rediscover joy rooted in Jesus, who entered real life—not an ideal one.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Why Christmas expectations can quietly drain joy
• How grief, change, conflict, or loneliness can make the season feel heavier
• Why the first Christmas was anything but picture perfect
• What it means to choose presence over perfection
• How joy is still available—even when Christmas feels different
• A simple Habit of Hope to help you stay grounded this season

Habit of Hope

This Christmas, choose presence over perfection.
Let go of how the season should look and make room for Jesus to meet you right where you are.

Resources Mentioned

🎄 Christmas Worship Challenge
A simple PDF with linked daily devotions with a song to life your heart for a worship pause to help you stay focused on Christ throughout December. Sign Up Here.
 

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Loneliness is at an all-time high—even in a world more connected than ever. In this heartfelt conversation, Ginger Harrington sits down with retreat speaker, author, and hospitality mentor Sue Donaldson to explore how simple Christian hospitality can gently heal loneliness and restore hope.

Sue shares powerful personal stories—from inviting someone to brunch as a single woman to welcoming strangers, neighbors, and unlikely friends around her own table—and reminds us that hospitality isn’t about perfection, performance, or Pinterest-worthy meals. It’s about creating space for connection and reflecting God’s welcoming heart, one imperfect invitation at a time.

Together, Ginger and Sue talk honestly about perfectionism, introverts vs. extroverts, boundaries, burnout, and why even leftovers, coffee, or toast can become holy ground when love is present.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Why Christian hospitality and loneliness are deeply connected
• How one small invitation can open the door to meaningful connection
• Simple Christian hospitality ideas that don’t require cooking skills or a perfect home
• How to offer welcome without falling into perfectionism or exhaustion
• Encouragement for introverts—and those married to them
• Why hospitality is about the guest, not the host
• How everyday moments around the table can reflect Christ’s love

Featured Guest: Sue Donaldson

Sue Donaldson is a retreat speaker, author, podcast host, and hospitality mentor who helps women live lives of invitation. Her upcoming book, Never Alone: Stories of Invitation and Connection in an Isolated World, is filled with practical wisdom and real-life stories that show how God uses simple hospitality to transform lives.

Resources Mentioned:

• Never Alone: Stories of Invitation and Connection in an Isolated World — Sue Donaldson
• Sue's Free Hospitality Resource + Prayer for a Hospitality Heart 
• Sue’s website: welcomeheart.com
• Read the full article version on Ginger's website.

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Gratitude may feel impossible in grief or trauma, but it can still become a steadying anchor for your heart.

Gratitude sounds simple until life shatters. In this tender, two-part conversation, we explore what gratitude looks like in the real valleys of grief and trauma—and why it often feels out of reach when your heart is hurting.

In the first half of the episode, Larissa shares honestly from her experience as a widow and how long-rooted spiritual habits helped steady her when nothing in life felt predictable or secure. We talk about why gratitude feels harder in heavy seasons, how grief narrows your world, and practical ways to interrupt the negative spirals that come with discouragement and emotional overload.

In the second half, we’re joined by licensed professional counselor Heather Shealy-Mawhirter, who brings biblical wisdom and clinical insight to the conversation. Heather helps us understand how trauma affects the mind and body, why gratitude can feel “inaccessible” after traumatic loss, and how gentle, realistic steps can create space for healing without minimizing pain. Her metaphors and guidance bring clarity, compassion, and hope for anyone who feels overwhelmed by what they’re carrying.

Whether you’re grieving, healing from trauma, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers steady encouragement and practical tools to help you anchor your heart in God’s presence—one small step at a time.

Key Takeaways

• Why gratitude feels especially difficult during grief or trauma
• How long-term spiritual habits can hold you steady when life falls apart
• The difference between grief and trauma—and why both affect gratitude differently
• Why feelings aren’t facts, and how truth helps reframe your perspective
• Gentle ways to interrupt negative thought spirals before they take root
• How gratitude helps widen your view when trauma narrows life to survival
• Why gratitude doesn’t bypass the pain—it anchors what is still meaningful, good, and true

Heather Shealy-Mawhirter, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor in Texas and a Narrative and Solution-Focused therapist with extensive experience working with survivors of sexual trauma, anticipatory grief, and life-transition challenges. She brings a unique experiential approach to counseling from her years working with Adventure Therapists and has served with organizations including The Rape Crisis Center and The Children’s Bereavement Center of San Antonio. Heather and her husband are both therapists in Boerne, Texas, where they enjoy raising their four children. She currenlty words at Genesis Counseling Center in Boerne, TX.

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The content in this episode and post—including insights shared by our guest counselor—is for informational and en

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Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

You want to be grateful—but some days, it just feels hard. Maybe life is stressful, your routines are off, or you’re simply tired. In this episode, we’re talking about the real obstacles that get in the way of gratitude and how to gently cultivate a habit that lasts—not just in the good seasons, but in the messy, ordinary ones too.

We’ll explore:

• Why gratitude doesn’t always come naturally
• How stress, loss, and emotional fatigue shape our spiritual rhythms
• A biblical framework for remembering God’s goodness
• Small, realistic ways to build gratitude into your everyday life
• What to do when you fall out of the habit

This isn’t about forcing yourself to “be thankful.”
 It’s about learning to notice God’s presence again—one small choice at a time.

Habit of Hope:
Start with one small thanks—and let it become a rhythm of the heart.

Mentioned in This Episode

✨ Free Resource from Larissa
Download Larissa’s gratitude printable to help you begin again with simple, gentle steps:
https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/

If this episode encouraged you…

Share it with a friend or leave a quick review to help others find hope and encouragement.

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

If we’re honest, gratitude can feel overdone—especially in November. We want to be thankful, but real life is messy. Stress, loss, disappointment, routines, and daily pressure can make gratitude feel like something we should do, rather than something that changes us.

In today’s episode, we explore why gratitude matters in a way that goes beyond seasonal thankfulness. Anchored in Psalm 92, we talk about how a simple daily rhythm of remembering God’s love in the morning and His faithfulness at night can shift your emotional world from the inside out.

This isn’t about positivity or pretending everything is okay.
 It’s about real gratitude in real life — the kind that meets you in the middle of your actual circumstances.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why gratitude is more than a feeling — it’s a spiritual practice that forms your heart
• How daily thankfulness interrupts anxiety, complaining, and emotional overwhelm
• A simple habit of hope to try this week (no journal required)
• A fresh and gentle way to see gratitude beyond the month of November

Habit of Hope:
Start and end your day with gratitude.
One moment in the morning. One moment in the evening.
A rhythm of remembering God’s love and faithfulness.

If this episode encouraged you, we’d love for you to follow, leave a review, and share it with a friend who could use a lift today. 💛

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

What do we do when anxiety feels overwhelming and peace feels out of reach? Today, Ginger sits down with author and Bible teacher Becky Keife to talk about her new devotional, A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul—a gentle, grounded guide for anyone longing for calm, clarity, and God’s presence in the middle of real life.

Together, they talk about:
 • Naming anxiety honestly (without shame)
 • The difference between everyday worry and clinical anxiety
 • How to hear God’s voice when your mind feels crowded
 • Simple peace practices you can use anywhere
 • Breath prayers: “Inhale truth. Exhale trust.”
 • Why God can use us in our weakness, not in spite of it

This conversation is warm, practical, and deeply encouraging—especially if your soul has felt tangled or tired lately.

Resources Mentioned:

•  A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul by Becky Keife (affiliate link)
•  Becky’s Website  
• Becky's Instagram

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.