Habits of Hope: Cultivating a Deeper Life with God

Feeling weary? You're invited to find true rest. Join us as we discuss Jesus’ gentle call to lay down our burdens.

Discover the profound concept of soul rest with our in-depth exploration of Matthew 11:28-30. Learn how Jesus invites us to find true peace and spiritual relief from the burdens of life through His gentle and humble heart. This episode delves into the significance of biblical rest, differentiating between physical rest and the deeper, transformative rest offered by Christ. Understand how spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible reading, and meditation can facilitate this soulful tranquility. Gain insights on how to release burdens not meant to be carried and rely on Jesus for strength and guidance. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands or seeking spiritual rejuvenation, find out how to achieve soul rest by embracing Jesus' teachings and His promise of a lighter burden.

Takeaways

• Soul rest is a continuous need throughout life.
• Physical rest is important, but deeper soul rest is essential.
• Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest.
• Burdens can come from both labor and expectations.
• Celebrating wins and closing chapters helps us find rest and transition well.
• Self-expectations and worrying about outcomes can burden our souls and hinder our rest.·    
• Spiritual disciplines are pathways to experiencing soul rest.
• It's important to trust God with our burdens and relationships.
• Setting boundaries can help alleviate soul weariness.
• Finding rest for our souls is essential for our well-being and spiritual growth.
• Rest is a biblical principle, not a sign of laziness.
• Building a relationship with Jesus is key to finding true rest.
• Practical ways to rest include entrusting loved ones to God, short prayers for guidance, and writing reminders.

Listen in or check out the blog post version of this episode to learn about 

Mentioned in this episode:
Ginger's Free Habits of Rest ebook
Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity by Saundra Dalton-Smith
Redeeming Your Time: 7 Principles for Being Purposeful, Present, and Wildly Productive by Jordan Raynor

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• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
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• 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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 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.

In this engaging conversation, Lori Schumaker shares her journey of finding hope and joy during difficult circumstances, particularly through her experience of adopting a special needs child. She emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God and trusting in His promises. Lori also discusses the significance of taking care of one's mental and emotional health as a caregiver, and the power of gratitude in cultivating a positive mindset. She encourages listeners to hold onto hope, even in the darkest moments, and to remember that joy comes in the morning.

Takeaways

• Surrendering to God and trusting in His promises can bring hope and joy in difficult circumstances.
• Developing a habit of gratitude can help shift our perspective and cultivate a positive mindset.
• Even in the midst of challenges, it is possible to find beauty and purpose in God's plan.
• Hold onto hope and believe that joy will come in the morning.
• Surrendering personal expectations and trusting in God's plan can lead to peace and acceptance, even when life doesn't go as planned.
• Prioritizing mental health is essential, especially for caregivers. Seeking counseling and addressing past traumas can help in maintaining emotional well-being.
• Acknowledging and dealing with personal brokenness enables individuals to show up whole and be more effective in caring for others.
• Accepting the present moment and finding contentment in what God provides can lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment and joy.

Learn more about Lori Schumaker and her hope resources on her website.

Mentioned in this episode:
Lori's book, Surrendered Hearts: An Adoption Story of Love, Loss, and Learning to Trust.(This is an affiliate link).

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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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• 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.

Discover the power of intentional quiet time with God in our latest episode of Habits of Hope.  With practical tips and personal stories, we reveal our current quiet time practices and devotional tips. Get actionable tips for creating a flexible, grace-filled devotional routine that fits any schedule. Whether you're a morning person or finding time during a busy day, learn how to connect with God deeply and effectively. Perfect for new Christians and seasoned believers alike. Transform your daily time with God and experience renewed spiritual growth with today’s episode.

Takeaways

• Quiet time is a spiritual discipline that nurtures our connection with God.
• Personal stories can significantly impact our faith journey.
• God's Word offers hope and sweetness to our lives.
• Consistency in quiet time is essential for spiritual growth.
• Flexibility in our devotional practices is important as life changes.
• Creating a dedicated space for Bible reading can enhance focus.
• Having a plan for Bible reading helps maintain consistency.
• Starting small is better than not starting at all.
• Listening to God during quiet time can lead to transformation.
• It's important to be willing to let God lead in our quiet time.

 Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Quiet Time with God

02:25 The Impact of Personal Stories on Faith

05:30 The Sweetness of God's Word

10:51 Flexibility and Grace in Establishing a Routine

13:45 Flexibility in Quiet Time Practices

18:56 Setting Up for Success in Devotional Time

21:08 Planning Your Bible Reading

24:50 Starting Your Journey with God

29:05 Listening to God During Quiet Time

35:05 Ginger’s Free Spiritual Growth Pack

36:58 Final Thoughts on Connecting with God

Remember, it’s not about perfection but about consistency and connection. 

Share this with a friend who might need encouragement in their own spiritual walk. 

Get Ginger's best tips in this free Spiritual Growth Pack. Sign up here to get your copy.   Mentioned in this episode: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day: A 40-Day Journey with the Daily Office by Peter Scazerro (affiliate link).

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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.

Habit of Hope #4: Turn to God with your doubts and fears to receive His grace and strength.

In this episode of Habits of Hope, we explore the importance of turning to God with our doubts and challenges. Life’s challenges can rob us of hope, tempting us to turn from trust and give into fear or anxiety. Learn practical steps for overcoming doubt, building spiritual resilience, and turning everyday moments into opportunities to deepen your trust in God. Discover how these small habits can transform your mindset and keep hope alive, even when life feels overwhelming.

Takeaways

• Cultivating hope is essential for navigating life's challenges.
• Doubt can be transformed into a tool for deeper faith.
• Daily habits of faith help us stand firm in difficult times.
• Emotions serve as indicators of our spiritual health.
• Asking God for wisdom is crucial in times of doubt.
• Drawing near to God strengthens our faith and resilience.
• Endurance is built through trials and testing of faith.
• Prayer is a powerful tool for seeking God's guidance.
• Recognizing and addressing doubts can lead to spiritual growth.
• Hope is cultivated one step at a time.

Chapters
00:00 Cultivating Hope in Difficult Times

05:11 The Role of Faith and Endurance

11:08 Understanding Emotions as Indicators

19:35 Navigating Doubts and Seeking Wisdom

25:41 Drawing Near to God in Trials

32:00 The Power of Prayer and Trusting God

“The very act of turning to God in faith, even when we’re struggling, opens the moment up for us to receive His wisdom and strength.”

Ready to build faith habits that sustain you in tough times? Subscribe to Habits of Hope for more inspiring episodes and join our community committed to growing deeper in faith and hope. Start Your Journey with the Habits of Hope Devotional!
The Habits of Hope  mini-devotional PDF includes 6 transformative habits, practical application exercises, and journaling pages to deepen your faith. Get it here.

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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/
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• 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.

Habit of Hope #3: Cultivate the habit of looking for God’s faithfulness each day.

Are you struggling to find hope in the midst of life’s challenges? Hope is closer than you think. It’s found in the habit of looking for God’s faithfulness, one day at a time. This episode is designed to help you overcome feelings of discouragement, stress, and uncertainty by noticing God’s faithfulness in your life. Today, we’re diving deep into the promises in Lamentations 3:23–24 and learning how to recognize God’s fresh mercies in our day. We chat about simple but powerful ways to shift your focus to how God is working in your life—even in small ways. Learn how noticing His mercies will restore your hope and energize your faith today. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands or stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, this episode offers a lifeline. You’ll gain:

• A New Way to See Challenges: Instead of focusing on what's going wrong, you’ll learn to see how God is working behind the scenes, turning difficulties into opportunities for spiritual growth.
• Daily Encouragement: Practical steps and faith-building habits that you can incorporate into your routine, helping you stay grounded and hopeful even on tough days.
• A Deeper Connection with God: As you develop the habit of noticing God’s faithfulness, you’ll find yourself drawn closer to Him, experiencing His presence in more tangible and meaningful ways.

Key Takeaways:

• Mindset Shift: Changing your perspective to look for God’s faithfulness can significantly impact how you experience daily life, turning challenges into opportunities for spiritual growth.
• God’s Promises: Understanding that God’s compassion and faithfulness are not based on your circumstances but on His unchanging character helps you stay grounded in difficult times.
• Building Trust: Developing the habit of seeking God’s presence and faithfulness in the little things helps build trust for when bigger challenges come your way.
• God’s Faithfulness is Personal: It’s not just about seeing God’s faithfulness in the lives of others but recognizing and believing that His faithfulness is for you, personally and individually.
• Expectation, Not Entitlement: We should wait with hope and expectation for God’s faithfulness, trusting in His timing and ways, rather than feeling entitled to certain outcomes.

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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/
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• 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.

Habit of Hope #2: Choose to believe God's faithfulness is a fact, not a question for debate.

When doubt creeps in, it’s easy to question whether God will come through for you. In this episode, we tackle the pain points of fear, uncertainty, and doubt by showing you how to develop the mindset that God’s faithfulness is a fact, not a question. You’ll walk away with actionable steps to cultivate hope, build unshakable trust, and navigate life’s toughest challenges with confidence in His promises. Discover how to hold onto hope, no matter what you’re facing, and learn to trust in God’s faithfulness even when life feels overwhelming.

Takeaways

• Hope is not wishful thinking; it's a confident expectation.
• Faith requires a decision to trust God, regardless of feelings.
• The enemy plants doubts to undermine our faith.
• Our emotions can mislead us if we let them drive our faith.
• Lies we believe can affect our relationships and perceptions.
• We must take every thought captive to align with God's truth.
• Building habits of hope helps us focus on God's faithfulness.
• Perspective is crucial; we should view life through God's promises.
• Practical steps, like memorizing scripture, can combat negative thoughts.
• God's faithfulness is a fact that we can cling to, not a question.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Importance of the Habit of Hope
• 01:50 The Game-Changing Nature of the Habit of Hope
• 09:41 Faith and Trusting God's Faithfulness
• 11:42 The Enemy's Tactics and the Battle for Faith
• 16:19 Teasing Out Misperceptions and Recognizing Lies
• 23:56 Practical Tips for Building the Habit of Hope
• 39:54 Conclusion and the Life-Changing Power of Hope

Mentioned in This Episode
Ginger's award-winning book, Holy in the Moment (affiliate link)
Read the full story in this free chapter

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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.

In this debut episode of Habits of Hope, recorded in person, hosts Ginger Harrington and Larissa Traquair dive into the transformative power of gratitude and hope. Through personal stories and practical insights, they reveal how developing daily habits can help you trust in God’s faithfulness, even in life’s toughest challenges. Get to know your hosts as they offer spiritual encouragement and actionable steps to anchor your heart in hope, cultivate resilient faith, and navigate the ups and downs of life. Tune in to discover how you can strengthen your faith, find hope in every season, and live with greater peace and purpose.

Takeaways

• Cultivating the habit of looking for God's faithfulness in our daily lives is important, even when our circumstances may not seem favorable.
• Knowing God intimately through experience is essential, not just head knowledge.
• Starting each day in prayer and asking God to help us notice His faithfulness can change how we engage with Him.
• Ending each day by reflecting on where we saw God's faithfulness helps solidify our trust in Him.
• Community plays a significant role in experiencing and sharing God's faithfulness.
• Gratitude and journaling can help us cultivate an attitude of gratitude and notice God's faithfulness.

💌 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.