Welcome to the first episode of 2023! God put it on my heart to dedicate the first month of this new year by hosting a “First Fruits” podcast series. In this podcast series, we will take every Monday and give the first of a different area of our lives to the Lord. The first area God put on my heart was rest. Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This is not a religious checklist; rather, it’s a gift from God.

PROCESS with these 3 Rs:

1. Repent: "God, I repent for not taking a Sabbath day of rest. Please forgive me for not receiving this gift of rest. I receive your grace and forgiveness today."
2. Rejoice: Thank God for rest. It was His idea.
3. Revisit: What does rest look like for me in this season?

Resource: My book launch team is unofficially open and I have space to lead a group of women through an early release copy of my book, Image Restored. The first 100 to register get a physical advanced reader copy of my book. Anyone after that will get a digital copy. We will cap the group so I am giving time for my people, that’s YOU, to sign up and be part of that launch before I announce anything publicly. To learn more and register, head to ImageRestoredBook.com. The book trailer is now available on that page, as well!

Back by popular demand is our third annual Process and Pray series. Each December, we spend every Monday morning in a series where we process and pray through the year. Each week the focus will be different, but the theme of processing, praying, and praising will remain the same. I asked the Lord to show me four areas he wants us to process before we move into the new year. In this episode, we're finishing the series by giving God the dreams and desires of our hearts.

Process the following questions throughout the week in a journal -

1. What dreams or desires of your heart came to pass this year?
2. What dreams are still in your heart, but don’t seem to be coming to pass?
3. Is it time to let that dream go OR do I need to stand in faith for it?
4. What dream do you want to deposit in my heart for 2023?

Resource: I have a private invitation for my podcast listeners only. My book launch team is unofficially open, and I have space to lead 100 women through an early release copy of my book, Image Restored. I am giving time for my people, that’s YOU, to sign up and be part of that launch before I announce anything publicly. To learn more and register, head to ImageRestoredBook.com. The book trailer is now available on that page, as well!

Back by popular demand is our third annual Process and Pray series. Each December, we spend every Monday morning in a series where we process and pray through the year. Each week the focus will be different, but the theme of processing, praying, and praising will remain the same. I asked the Lord to show me four areas he wants us to process before we move into the new year. In this episode, we're evaluating if our values lined up with our resources in 2022.

Resources are anything we have in our hand - time, money, energy, and influence. Values are the core of who we are and what we do. Everyone has values, but we don’t always stop to ask what they are and if they are biblical.

Process the following questions throughout the week in a journal -

• What are my values? 
• Are those values biblical? 
• Did my values align with how I used my resources in 2022?
• God, what values and resources do you want me to take into 2023?

Resource:

I have a private invitation for my podcast listeners only! My book launch team is unofficially open, and I have space to lead 100 women through an early release copy of my book, Image Restored. I am giving time for my people, that’s YOU, to sign up and be part of that launch before I announce anything publicly. To learn more and register, head to ImageRestoredBook.com. The book trailer is now available on that page, as well!

Back by popular demand is our third annual Process and Pray series. Each December, we spend every Monday morning in a series where we process and pray through the year. Each week the focus will be different, but the theme of processing, praying, and praising will remain the same. I asked the Lord to show me four areas he wants us to process before we move into the new year. In this episode, we are looking at what worked and what victories we experienced in 2022. 

Jesus cares about our past, present, and future. Let’s welcome Him into this journey. Pray, “Jesus, what victories do you want to remind me of from this year?”

Process these questions throughout the week in a journal:

1. What victories or breakthroughs came in 2022?
2. What went well that I want to carry into 2023?
3. Thank God for these victories with your voice
4. Tell someone about the goodness of God

Resource:

Would you like to hear behind-the-scenes footage and content that didn’t make it into my book? When you pre-order Image RESTored on Amazon or other retailers, you get access to a private podcast all about body image and other health-related topics. Head to imagerestoredbook.com to learn more, preorder, and join the email list so you can access that private podcast when it releases in the new year.

Back by popular demand is our third annual Process and Pray series. Each December, we spend every Monday morning in a series where we process and pray through the year. Each week the focus will be different, but the theme of processing, praying, and praising will remain the same. I asked the Lord to show me four areas he wants us to process before we move into the new year. 

As a therapist, I like to start by looking back and processing the hard things so we can embrace the present and look forward to the future. In this episode, we are going to start by processing disappointments. We will also look at what didn’t work this year so we can let that go as we move into the new year. Jesus cares about our past, present, and future. Let’s start by welcoming Him into this journey.

Process these questions throughout the week in a journal:

1. What disappointments did I experience in 2022?
2. What didn’t work in 2022? Consider schedules, expectations, etc.
3. Have I grieved this disappointment or numbed the pain with passive activities like eating, shopping, social media, or other avoidant activities?
4. God, what do you want to redeem that was stolen in 2022?

Resource:

Would you like to hear behind-the-scenes footage and content that didn’t make it into my book? When you pre-order Image RESTored on Amazon or other retailers, you get access to a private podcast all about body image and other health-related topics. Head to imagerestoredbook.com to learn more, preorder, and join the email list so you can access that private podcast when it releases in the new year.

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with artist and author Matthew West about his new book The God Who Stays. Matthew is a five-time GRAMMY nominee, a multiple ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year winner, and a 2018 Dove Award Songwriter of the Year (Artist) recipient. He has received an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, a K-LOVE Fan Award, and named Billboard’s Hot Christian Songwriter of the Year. Apart from his successful career as a musician, he is also an accomplished author, passionate father, and husband.

• In some seasons it can feel like God is distant, but He is the God who stays. Not only does He stay, He actively desires to spend time with us because He doesn't just love us, He likes us as well.
• The thing we need, don't deserve, and that gives us hope is the grace of God. He is present in our failures. Our imperfections don’t disqualify us from His perfect love.
• When we know that God is with us regardless of the situation, we are called to stay with others in their times of need. 

Reflect on your own "blue couch moment" - the moment you accepted the love of Christ. He was the God who stays then and He's the God who is with you now. Remembering our "blue couch moment" is a reminder of His unfailing faithfulness.

Connect with Matthew: website | Instagram | Facebook Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This month we aren’t in a specific series. Instead, I feel the Lord directing me to share what He puts on my heart for the week. Today’s word is “you are secure.”

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is as follows: physiological needs, safety, love, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Security is a basic need of all humans, especially women. As a Christian counselor, I see many women, myself included, who do not doubt our salvation, but we doubt our worth. We sing the song, “I am a child of God,” but we don’t act like it.

Process:

In the introduction of my book, Image Restored, I shared about a study that found a secure attachment to our creator improves body image and other insecurities. Spend some time today evaluating your secure attachment to God. Then start a servant versus secure list and allow God to reveal the places He wants you to trust in Him.

Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This month we aren’t in a specific series. Instead, I feel the Lord directing me to share what He puts on my heart for the week. Also known as "a word in due season." Today’s word is “expect a miracle.”

Here's the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary definition of a miracle:

"The definition of miracle in the Bible, then, is a literary definition: an extraordinary occurrence, attributable to God’s hand (which at times disrupts the order of creation), and which leaves a marked impression in the text; the criteria for determining what is to be considered a miracle are literary in character."

I am hungry to see miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

This week, try these two prayer prompts: God, open my eyes to miracles all around me. (Consider keeping a “miracle journal.”) God, how can I play a part in a miracle that You want to do in someone else’s life? Open my eyes to people around me who are praying for a miracle.

In most miracles, both man and God take part in the performance of the miracle such as in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7–11) or in bringing forth water from a rock (Exod 17:1–7). God wants to partner with us to perform miracles, He's just waiting for us to say yes. God blesses obedience. 

Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with author Grace Valentine about her book "What Will They Think?". Not only is Grace an author, she's also a blogger, podcast host, and speaker. Her readers love that she is so relatable. They say her fresh voice helps them navigate their own faith and life, which in turn helps fulfill her mission to show others that Christianity is an adventure worth living. After growing up outside New Orleans, Louisiana, Grace attended Baylor University, graduating in 2018 with a degree in journalism. She now resides in Orlando, Florida, where she enjoys running and eating lots of sushi. Grace loves connecting with readers, so send her a message!

• Most of the younger generation of women don't have a healthy view of women in the Bible. Religion has made us believe that women are less, but there are multiple examples of powerful women in the Bible, some in status and some in faith. We can learn from them about how we are designed to have a voice and that God doesn't overlook us. We don't have to be the best to be used by God, we just need to be eager to serve Him with a bold heart.

• No matter how old your voice is, it has value. If you're a loud person, you're not too much. Allow God to refine that gift and use it. If you're quiet, be bold and have confidence that the Holy Spirit is speaking through you and you will do amazing things.

• It's okay to be ordinary. Your life isn't about proving you're worth loving, it's about your character and kindness. Regardless of status, you can speak love to the overlooked. 
• If you find yourself getting stuck by comparison, remember that you don't have to prove yourself to anyone when you're fulfilling God's purpose. Run your race. You miss out on your blessings when you get too distracted by what other people think.
• Being obedient to God isn't boring. He isn't holding good back from you, He wants you to experience the fullness of life. Success is obedience.
• Every generation can learn from one another. We're experiencing the same experiences in different ways.

In her book "What Will They Think?", Grace has a list of 40 things to remind you not to miss out on God’s best for your life. I go through a few of them in this section, so your Get Practical application this week is to ask the Holy Spirit which one or two you need to take to heart and apply in your life today.

Connect with Grace: website | Instagram | Facebook Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This month we aren’t in a specific series. Instead, I feel the Lord directing me to share what He puts on my heart for the week. Today’s word is “I Choose Joy”.

As counterintuitive as it sounds, joy is not determined by our circumstances. Joy is a choice. It's a choice to be joyful despite our circumstances. When we look at the scripture, joy is a fruit of the spirit. It's what separates us as believers in Christ and draws people to Him. On the surface, joy might seem like it's about your circumstances, but in reality, it's a state of being rather than an emotion. It's a result of choice. Joy is a gift from God. We can’t always explain it, but just like any gift, we have to choose to accept it.

Ask God today, "What area of my life do I need to choose joy?"

Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook