Send us a text Find the show notes here. Do you keep trying to make a decision about some aspect of your dream but just can't seem to choose? Maybe the end goal feels too far out of reach so it’s difficult to define what your dream could look like right now. Or there are so many directions you could go to get started that all those possibilities are paralyzing. It’s like going to the grocery store without a shopping list. When you can choose anything , it’s more difficult to decide on one thing....
Mar 22, 2023•32 min•Season 11Ep. 264
Send us a text Find the show notes here. If your time is limited, how can you make meaningful progress on your dream? It’s the age-old question: How do I find more time to do the things I want to do? I won’t give the pat answer, but I am going to help you see what’s possible if you could find two hours a week to devote to your God-shaped dream. It’s not easy, but it is do-able. Yes, even for you. 😊 Time probably feels like a huge limitation to pursuing your dream because you’re already committe...
Mar 15, 2023•34 min•Season 11Ep. 263
Send us a text Find the show notes here. Don’t miss my free workshop on March 20th to help you Get Out of Your Head & Find Momentum for Your Dream. Register Here What’s the secret to finally feeling ready to start pursuing a dream? It is a humbling experience to be trusted with a God-shaped dream. It can feel overwhelming if you think too hard about what it means to be called by the King of the universe into something bigger than yourself. Not to mention, there is no instruction manual (thou...
Mar 08, 2023•40 min•Season 11Ep. 262
Send us a text Find show notes here. How can your small and seemingly insignificant first steps really make any difference? Brittany Ann began her writing and speaking career in the smallest of ways utilizing the resources and tools she already had—a little bit of time while her baby slept and a computer. It wasn’t much, but she used what she had (instead of focusing on what she lacked) to start writing. At first, she wrote articles she was sure nobody cared to read. But with each step she took ...
Mar 01, 2023•37 min•Season 11Ep. 261
Send us a text Find the show notes here. Have you seen what’s happening at Asbury University? It’s been all over social media this week and elsewhere on the internet, if you know to look for it. Holy Spirit Revival is happening at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. Even secular news outlets are covering the event that’s been exponentially growing since “an ordinary chapel” gathering on Wednesday, February 8th. What is a revival? Maybe you have questions about this like I did earlier in the ...
Feb 18, 2023•27 min•Season 11Ep. 260
Send us a text Find show notes here. What should you do when it feels like you don’t have what it takes to follow your dream? Whether it’s time, energy, know-how, or all of the above, many of us struggle with feeling like we don’t have enough to accomplish the dream that God has given us. Rachel Baker knows what it’s like to grapple with these questions. She’s the author of Deconstructed , a bible study guide for anyone who feels overwhelmed or ill-equipped to study the Word of God. She’s also a...
Feb 15, 2023•46 min•Season 11Ep. 259
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits series here. Are negative thoughts keeping you stuck? In my January Habit Series, I’ve been talking about habits you might consider adopting this year (and tips for making them easier), because building new habits has the potential to strengthen you and support your dream. Each episode focuses on a particular habit to consider and/or a tip/hack to help you implement it. These are short and sweet episodes (about 10 minutes each) and are meant t...
Jan 30, 2023•11 min
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits series here. When was the last time you tried something you’ve never done before? In my January Habit Series, I’ve been talking about habits you might consider adopting this year (and tips for making them easier), because building new habits has the potential to strengthen you and support your dream. Each episode focuses on a particular habit to consider and/or a tip/hack to help you implement it. These are short and sweet episodes (about 10 m...
Jan 27, 2023•11 min
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits Series here. How would it feel if you could clear out your email inbox by next week? For the entire month of January, I’ll be talking about the habits you might consider adopting this year (and tips for making them easier). These mini episodes are all part of my series on building habits that will strengthen you and support your dream. We will focus on a particular habit you might consider and/or a tip/hack to help you implement a new habit. T...
Jan 25, 2023•12 min
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits series here. What if getting more sleep at night could significantly impact your energy to pursue a dream? For the entire month of January, I’ll be talking on the podcast about the habits you might consider adopting this year (and tips for making them easier). These mini episodes are all part of my series on building habits that will strengthen you and support your dream. We will focus on a particular habit you might consider and/or a tip/hack...
Jan 23, 2023•11 min
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits series here. Could you benefit from planning out your week on Sunday nights? This habit will not only help you stay on top of those one-off commitments you might otherwise forget, but it also illuminates where you have pockets of time that could be used more effectively for pursuing your God-shaped dream. I started weekly planning (off-and-on) about two years ago. I usually get really excited about it at the beginning of the year and lose trac...
Jan 20, 2023•10 min
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits series here. Get the Devoted Dreamers Habit Tracker here. What would need to change for you to spend twenty minutes a day moving your body? Five days ago, when I recorded this episode, I did not have a daily movement habit, but that is no longer the case. Just thinking and talking about it for this episode was enough to spark me into action. Maybe it’ll do the same for you. As of Tuesday morning, I’ve walked four out of four mornings for fifte...
Jan 18, 2023•8 min
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits series here. How important is restorative rest in pursuing a big ambition? Our body, mind and soul require rest; it’s just how we were made and it was modeled for us by God in the creation account and in Adam’s first day on earth. Why wouldn’t we also benefit from regular rhythms of rest in our lives? All month long on the podcast I’ll be talking about habits to consider (and tips for making them easier) as part of my series on building habits...
Jan 16, 2023•13 min
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits series here. Why should you read the Bible every day? All month long I’ll be talking about habits to consider (and tips for making them easier) as part of my series on building habits that will strengthen you and support your dream. Welcome to the second episode in the Habit Series. Today is all about the easy way to start a daily Bible reading habit. In this episode, you’ll learn: The benefits of reading the Bible every day It’s easier than y...
Jan 13, 2023•11 min
Send us a text Find show notes for the entire Habits series here. What could you begin doing today that would impact your God-shaped dream (and your ability to persevere in it) for the long haul? It’s easier than you might think, and I’ll be talking about it all month in this new series of mini episodes focused on habits. Welcome to the intro episode for a new series focused on habits. Come back every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in January to learn about building simple, small habits that will ...
Jan 11, 2023•13 min
Send us a text Find the show notes here. What do you want to be true about your dream in a year? When I ask other dreamers about what’s keeping them from acting on their dream, there are a few themes I hear repeatedly. One of the biggest struggles Christian women share with me is not having clarity on their dream. Others feel uncertain about what is the next right step to take. Some say they feel like they are taking shots in the dark, not sure if they’ll hit anything, and worrying about putting...
Nov 16, 2022•37 min•Season 10Ep. 258
Send us a text Find show notes here. Have you been keeping your dream to yourself? Putting your work out into the world is an act of vulnerability. Writers know this. Artists know this. Dreamers, too, know what it feels like to share something beyond your small, trusted circle and afterwards experience a vulnerability hangover. My guest Ainsley Britain is an author, podcast host, and Enneagram coach, who helps young adults embrace their confidence, date healthy, and discover their identity in Ch...
Nov 09, 2022•51 min•Season 10Ep. 257
Send us a text Find show notes & links here. Have you ever wondered about bringing on extra help but didn’t think you could afford it? Our dreams are often so big that it’s not long before you realize that you can’t do it all on your own. But you’re not even paying yourself and you can’t imagine hiring someone else to help. However, that doesn’t change the fact that your hours are limited and you’ve been spending more time on tasks that drain you rather than light you up. Eventually the thou...
Nov 02, 2022•46 min•Season 10Ep. 256
Send us a text Find show notes here. What if your dream is already in the hearts of others? Have you ever considered that just because God gave you a dream that it doesn’t mean you were intended to fulfill it alone? Could there be others out there who have gifts and talents and experiences that you lack and who could be fantastic assets to your team and the fulfillment of your dream? Lindsay May returns to the podcast as part of my Building Your Team Series to share more details about how she bu...
Oct 12, 2022•51 min•Season 10Ep. 255
Send us a text How can you launch a dream when you don’t feel ready? It can be difficult to know when and how to launch a dream because there may be limitations that seem impossible to overcome. As Junia Judson began researching what it would take to bring her dream to life, she met someone who believed it was not only feasible but also could become a reality sooner than Junia ever imagined. In this episode you’ll hear Junia Judson and I discuss: Unique ways of identifying partners and team memb...
Oct 05, 2022•47 min•Season 10Ep. 254
Send us a text Find the show notes here. Join the Accountability Accelerator waitlist here: https://merrittonsa.com/accelerator Have you discovered the power of building community around your dream? This is a different kind of solo episode; I recorded a third of it in the car because I felt so inspired after meeting with a group of dreamers this month to work through a problem area that we’ve all struggled with: defining with specificity who our dream serves. It is so motivating to sit with othe...
Sep 28, 2022•24 min•Season 10Ep. 253
Send us a text Find show notes here. How do you faithfully pursue a dream despite your limitations? Mother of five little girls, Joy Wendling relishes the dream God has given her to help other moms enjoy their motherhood and incorporate playful moments with conversations about faith. But there are days when her own sin and brokenness make her feel disqualified from pursuing this dream. That’s when she reminds herself to trust that God’s faithfulness is bigger than her brokenness. Maybe you have ...
Sep 21, 2022•47 min•Season 10Ep. 252
Send us a text Find show notes here. How do you adapt when your dream isn’t quite what you planned? Fear and perfectionism are two of the biggest enemies when it comes to pursuing a God-shaped dream. Maybe you’d prefer to have it all figured out before you begin. Or maybe you’ve stepped out in the past but then retreated when things didn't work like you thought they would. Friend, you are not alone! But what if it’s not about getting everything perfect the first time? What if it’s your progress ...
Sep 14, 2022•48 min•Season 10Ep. 251
Send us a text Find the show notes here. Have you resisted inviting others into the hardest parts of your dream? We all want to be the one who helps when our friends are in need, but which of us actually wants to be the needy one? Few of us easily admit weakness; it’s our fallen nature as humans. But it’s also the lie that we see all around us: That everyone else has their stuff together. Instagram highlights rarely touch the hard stuff, not in a real, meaningful, or vulnerable way. So you end u...
Sep 07, 2022•34 min•Season 10Ep. 250
Send us a text Find show notes here. How is God calling you to use your gifts to make a Kingdom difference in the world? As a college student, Simone Ispahani learned the devastating truth about human trafficking and how many millions of victims worldwide suffer from this crime. She went searching for opportunities to make a difference and learned all she could through reading, watching documentaries, speaking to nonprofits and federal agents about their work on the frontlines, interning with no...
Aug 31, 2022•36 min•Season 10Ep. 249
Send us a text Find show notes here. Does it ever feel like you got the enormous dream? In June 2022, the nationwide conversation about abortion rose to the top again after the U.S. Supreme Court decided the Dobbs v. Jackson case and overturned Roe v. Wade after decades of legalized abortion in the U.S. It was long before that, though, when today’s guest Angie Weszely began to understand how the politicized nature of the abortion discussion was doing more harm than good to everyone involved. Whe...
Aug 24, 2022•45 min•Season 10Ep. 248
Send us a text Find show notes here. What can you do when you lack the energy and vitality to pursue your God-shaped dream? Oftentimes we find ourselves with to-do lists that far outweighs the hours we have in a day to complete those tasks. And somewhere in the mix, we can lose sight of our health and the impact it has on everything we do, including running after your God-shaped dreams. But where do you start and how do you make healthy living sustainable? Robin Rhine McDonald is a Faith-Based H...
Aug 10, 2022•47 min•Season 10Ep. 247
Send us a text Join me to experience the transformation that becomes possible when you are no longer working on your dream alone! Register here : https://www.merrittonsa.com/augustworkshop Date : Wednesday, August 3, 2022 Time : 9am PT / 10am MT / 11am CT / Noon ET Location : Zoom NEXT STEPS: Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call Get Connected with the Facebook Community Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe : on Apple Podcasts * on Android MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DR...
Aug 01, 2022•5 min
Send us a text Find the show notes here. Have you delayed your dream because you don’t feel ready yet? One of the biggest lies keeping dreamers stuck is thinking you are lacking something necessary to begin. It’s like there’s a box to check, an accomplishment to achieve, or a degree to earn before you can truly begin on the dream in earnest. Well, that’s simply not true. In this episode, you’re going to hear: What’s at stake if you wait to feel ready The truth about what pursuing a dream is real...
Jul 27, 2022•29 min•Season 10Ep. 246
Send us a text Find show notes here. Do you have a burning question that feels too small to ask? I have a really special episode for you today, thanks to a previous guest Jenn Jett Barrett who came on the show first in 2016 (ep 16) and then again in March 2022 for my financial series. In that most recent episode (#234, which was filled with amazing ideas for funding our dreams) , Jenn offered to do a follow-up Zoom call to help a few of listeners with their questions on this topic. Trauma integr...
Jul 13, 2022•46 min•Season 10Ep. 245
