REBROADCAST: Scripture talks about three kinds of strongholds. One is a fort, fortress, castle, or secure place (a physical place) to be safe against the enemy’s attacks. Another example is when God himself is referred to as our stronghold. The third refers to negative patterns of thinking, prideful thoughts, or worldly messages that have written negative messages on the minds and hearts of believers. In this episode, I'm talking about how you can use God's Word to destroy the negative stronghol...
Aug 09, 2023•19 min
REBROADCAST: It’s our brokenness that blinds our eyes from the truth and keeps us focused on our pain. We can’t see clearly because our pain changes our perspective, and our perspective directs our path. Over time, ignoring our emotions, feelings, and pain only obscures our vision and ability to see clearly. Trying to pray them away or ignoring them causes even more blindness to the truth. In this episode, I'm talking about how you can start learning to trust in God and grow your relationship wi...
Aug 02, 2023•17 min
How do we befriend the broken parts of us without allowing the broken parts to break us? How do we care for the pieces of our stories we aren’t ready to draw near to? Our pain wants someone or something to blame. If we keep our pain far enough away from us, then we don’t have to deal with it and we think it becomes someone else's problem. We can’t take responsibility for anyone else's actions or reactions. However, we can take responsibility for ours. When we continue to blame someone for someth...
Jul 26, 2023•16 min
As I've been praying about the direction of this podcast, I've felt led to add some episodes that are a little different in the hope that they will inspire you that God can turn your misery into your ministry. In this episode, I'm giving you a peek at what a live coaching call with one of the students in my Spiritual Growth Mentorship sounds like. In this conversation, Skyler shares about her past struggles with religion that have led her to the place where she's asking about how she can know an...
Jul 24, 2023•20 min
There is no escaping the fact that we will experience pain in this world. Therefore, we must learn how to deal with triggers from trauma and pain with God. We have responses from our pain and our bodies will respond accordingly. However, God’s love for you is not on trial. He wants to walk through this healing with you as you become more like Him. Love opens our hearts and welcomes the possibility of what could be and what is. In this episode, I explain the common stages individuals may go throu...
Jul 19, 2023•26 min
What is anger? What beliefs cause us to become angry? Are there different types of anger? I'll be exploring all those questions in this brief study on anger, as well as investigating the seven-stage cycle we tend to go through when anger becomes toxic. When left unchecked, a disagreement may become contempt for another person. Anger becomes dangerous when we give in to it because your relationship with God is tied to your relationship with people. If we allow anger to infect us our hearts like c...
Jul 12, 2023•28 min
Have you ever wondered if it's possible to move past your pain and forgive someone without letting the other person know? That's what I'm addressing in this Q&A episode. Forgiveness does not require forgetting or reconciliation. Determining your goals for the relationship will allow you to move forward with the correct heart posture. Don't forget, you can submit your own question any time at jessicahottle.com/podcast . I'd love to hear from you! Rooting for you, Jessica Join the Spiritual Gr...
Jul 10, 2023•13 min
According to the Bible, God's will is revealed through various means, including His written word, the scriptures. But what does God’s will look like when it involves change in our life? In this episode, I walk through key aspects of God's will in the Bible, God’s will and how it can change your life, why change feels so hard, and how we can embrace God's will for life change. We talk about change often inside the Spiritual Growth Mentorship . We talk about the tension and how sometimes we want t...
Jul 05, 2023•18 min
If you're a regular listener of From Head to Heart, you often hear me invite you to join my Spiritual Growth Mentorship . In this episode, I share my story of pain, revelation, and hope. I didn’t need someone telling me to read my Bible or to pray more and I didn't need another how-to guide. So God led me to create something I didn’t have - a mentorship and a safe community of women. I see your anger, your resentment, your bitterness. I know you feel unseen, unheard, underappreciated, and like y...
Jun 29, 2023•21 min
As I've been praying about the direction of this podcast, I've felt led to add some episodes that are a little different in the hope that they will inspire you that God can turn your misery into your ministry. In this episode, I'm giving you a peek at what a live coaching call with one of the students in my Spiritual Growth Mentorship sounds like. In this conversation, Brittany shares honestly and vulnerably about something that's been on her heart - how to process the pain of the past with God ...
Jun 28, 2023•28 min
When we're going through something hard we often want to isolate ourselves or feel like we're too far gone. Maybe you can relate. In this episode, I'm speaking with Sarah Standley, one of the students in my Spiritual Growth Mentorship . In this conversation, Sarah shares her personal story about what led her to join the mentorship, what she has learned from it, and why she recommends it to others seeking to grow their relationship with God. Rooting for you, Jessica Join the Spiritual Growth Ment...
Jun 27, 2023•18 min
Faith over fear is what we choose, walk out, and become disciplined in. To live in faith over fear, we must know that experiencing safety with God is physical, spiritual, and emotional. The enemy of our hearts is fear because it reminds us of the absence of our safety and comfort. In this episode, I'm walking through some questions we can answer to determine how we arrived at this place of fear and how can we choose faith over fear. It’s our proximity to God that demands change. Safety is restor...
Jun 21, 2023•14 min
“I’m praying; I’m begging God. I want it to all go away.” Are you someone who feels like prayer isn't working? You are not alone in this wonder. When we call upon Jesus and He doesn’t show up when we want or how we would like, it makes us wonder and question. So what do we do when our prayer doesn’t take our pain away? We stand and we fight. In this episode, I'm chatting with you about the power of spiritual warfare through prayer. Prayer may not take our pain away or the feelings that come with...
Jun 14, 2023•20 min
If it’s one thing I talk a lot about with the women in the Spiritual Growth Mentorship , it’s helping them walk through forgiving themselves for the mistakes they have made. We know God forgives us of our sins through Jesus, but we continue to carry the weight of the sin. We think we have to get ourselves right before we go to God. With this belief, we isolate ourselves. Making mistakes suck. It’s the last thing we want to do and it’s also something we can’t seem to let go of when we do. In this...
Jun 07, 2023•23 min
As I've been praying about the direction of this podcast, I've felt led to add some episodes that are a little different in the hope that they will inspire you that God can turn your misery into your ministry. In this episode, I'm giving you a peek at what a live coaching call with one of the students in my Spiritual Growth Mentorship sounds like. In this conversation, Amanda shares raw parts of her story about an unhealthy relationship as I coach, mentor, and encourage her on how to begin valui...
Jun 05, 2023•21 min
Hearing from God is discerning between the different voices we hear. Whether it’s through our feelings and what they communicate or what the enemy is trying to distract us from or with. Hearing from God requires us to think about what we are thinking, instead of allowing what comes to be have the ultimate say over our lives. I want you to know, above all, that you have the ability to discern, knowing hearing from God is possible and true. (In fact, I bet you are hearing from God more than you th...
May 31, 2023•14 min
Moving forward with God means we must allow Him to heal us from the pain of our past. Trusting God is more than a feeling; it’s a choice to have faith in what He says, even when your feelings or circumstances would have you believe something different. It’s not about convincing ourselves or others we have moved on. Healing is about honesty and humility. Honesty with where we are and humility in recognizing our need for the Lord. Trusting God is living a life of belief in and obedience to God eve...
May 24, 2023•14 min
Are you holding on so tightly trying to make it all work out, but exhausted? Trusting in God's guidance can provide the strength and wisdom needed to move on from difficult situations in life. Sometimes the best thing for us to do is to let go. Letting go isn’t giving up. It’s giving it over to God so the yoke we now carry is His and not ours. Through prayer and faith, we can seek God's guidance and find the courage to move on from past hurts and mistakes. In this episode, I'm talking about how ...
May 17, 2023•14 min
You spent months with a person, building trust, only for the trust to be broken in what feels like an instant. Sometimes trust isn’t broken in an instant, though, but slowly over time. Sometimes their words are what we cling to the most, hoping for change. However, their actions are what often speak the truth. I know how hard it is to walk through broken trust and also the steps and time it takes to try and rebuild trust when your heart is hurting. In this episode, I'm talking about finding stre...
May 10, 2023•21 min
Let me start by asking: Are you a people pleaser? Stay with me, then. Setting emotional boundaries is an essential part of maintaining our mental and spiritual well-being. Boundaries help us define our limits, protect ourselves from emotional harm, and maintain healthy relationships. In this episode, we'll explore the importance of setting emotional boundaries and how to do so in a way that aligns with our faith and walk with God. Rooting for you, Jessica Free Downloads: Chase God Not Your Feeli...
May 03, 2023•15 min
I know this is one of the hardest hurts to begin to process, unfold, and make sense of, friend. I know it's not easy to discern at times what is you, God, or the enemy because, for a longer period of time, they were all mixed together in what seemed like beautiful harmony and understanding. I also know how hard it is to trust in God after experiencing spiritual manipulation. In this episode, I talk about breaking the cycle and learning to trust in God after spiritual manipulation, navigating the...
Apr 26, 2023•17 min
I’m sorry for the times you felt like you had to choose between God or the pain you experienced. And I’m sorry for all the times you felt like you had to get yourself together to go to God with your pain. When we feel that way, it is easy for us to get stuck in the past. I want to remind you that you are not alone in feeling this way. In this episode, I'm talking through the effects of being stuck in the past as well as how you can avoid getting stuck there again. I also explain why forgiveness ...
Apr 19, 2023•16 min
Life can be a journey with many twists and turns. At times, we may stray from our path and lose our connection with God. But the good news is that God is always waiting for us to return home. In this episode, we will explore some practical steps to help you return to God. Rooting for you, Jessica Free Downloads: Chase God Not Your Feelings Guide >> https://www.jessicahottle.com/chase-god-guide 4-Week Know Your Worth Bible Study >> https://www.jessicahottle.com/know-your-worth-study F...
Apr 12, 2023•14 min
Negative thoughts can be overwhelming and can affect our mental and emotional well-being. While there are different ways to address negative thinking, one powerful approach is to turn to God for help. In this episode, we will explore some practical steps to stop negative thoughts with God's guidance. Rooting for you, Jessica Free Downloads: Chase God Not Your Feelings Guide >> https://www.jessicahottle.com/chase-god-guide 4-Week Know Your Worth Bible Study >> https://www.jessicahottl...
Apr 05, 2023•17 min
Having a quiet time with God is an essential part of developing a personal relationship with Him. It's a time set aside for prayer, meditation, and studying the Bible. In this episode, we'll explore what it means to have a quiet time with God and provide practical tips for making it a regular part of your daily routine. Rooting for you, Jessica Free Downloads: Chase God Not Your Feelings Guide >> https://www.jessicahottle.com/chase-god-guide 4-Week Know Your Worth Bible Study >> http...
Mar 29, 2023•19 min
There is something about the idea of control that leads us to feel safe. So, how do we let go and trust God will come through? Sometimes to let go and trust God feels unbearable because we think we are in charge. Anything outside of that brings uncomfortable feelings and doubts. Control is a false sense of security and safety. Our relationships, money, jobs, all of it, is something given to us by God to steward well. Nothing we have is truly ours. It’s His. So the question becomes do we trust Go...
Mar 22, 2023•15 min
How often have we heard that it’s not about religion, but a personal relationship with God? Probably a lot. I know I have said it many times myself. However, something I think we miss is how we build a personal relationship with God. In this episode, I talk through how our personal relationships can affect our relationship to God, how to develop a personal relationship with God and share scripture that can encourage and instruct us as we grow closer to Him. Rooting for you, Jessica Free Download...
Mar 15, 2023•16 min
Friend, I know what it’s like to feel like a burden to those around you, but you will never be a burden to God. You can not exhaust or empty His love for you. God isn't asking you to have it all together, to right your wrongs, or to try and do it all by yourself, He's inviting you to the table; He's welcoming the pain and the offense. In this episode, I explain what the Bible says about the spirit of offense and being offended, talk through six steps that can help you not take offense, and share...
Mar 08, 2023•18 min
There will be people who will never be able to see the pain they caused us, but nothing is hidden from God. Our pain can drop us to our knees, but it's our anchor and hope in Christ that allows us to stand again with forgiveness in our hearts. When we fix our gaze on Jesus, our pain can be met with gentleness and the tenderness it deserves. In this episode, I walk you through what forgiveness is, what scripture has to say about forgiveness, and why forgiveness is so important to God. Rooting for...
Mar 01, 2023•15 min
If you're struggling to find hope in the midst of hurt, you need to hear this conversation with author and speaker, Toni Collier. I invited Toni on to talk about this topic because she is also the founder of an international women’s ministry called Broken Crayons Still Color, which helps women process through brokenness and get to hope. In this episode, Toni explains how embracing the complex middle of life prepares us to hold both hurt and hope simultaneously, as well as the importance of not g...
Feb 22, 2023•24 min