Refreshing The Soul

Are you experiencing a season of change?    Whether it is a change in position, location, or something within your soul, changes can be good AND challenging.    How do we navigate this season and fully accept the newness that God is bringing us into?   In this week's episode I break down how we can E.M.B.R.A.C.E. this season so that we can fully experience the benefits and lessons that come with following God.

New Year, Same Cycle? We look for approval from others mostly because we haven't accepted ourselves. This year let's take back the power that we put in others hands to approve us and become settled in our souls in who we are becoming. In this episode, I give you 3 things you can start doing now to disrupt the cycle of people pleasing, not being honest with your true feelings, seeking excessive reassurance, and more! ******************** Need More Refreshing? Connect With Me! FaceBook // RefreshingTheSoul https://www.facebook.com/refreshingthesoul Instagram // Iamshawandawilliams https://www.instagram.com/refreshing_thesoul/ Our Podcast hashtag is #RefreshingTheSoul ******************** Stay tuned for new episodes every Monday on this channel or when you SUBSCRIBE to Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform!

Happy New Year! Sooo our family did a thing...a new thing...we recorded an episode together sharing our personal, spiritual and family goals for 2024! I'm honored God allowed me to share my family with you. ❤️ We hope this video sparks conversation with your family and brings you joy, encouragement, and refreshment! Happy viewing!

Hello My Refreshed Sister❤️ If you've been following me for sometime now, you know that my heart is to release episodes that are God-breathed. Lately, I haven't released an episode because God is changing RTS Podcast and the way I show up. He birthed this podcast in me, so I'm eager to share the new direction He is taking it. I pray you leave this episode encouraged the more to follow God's leading and rest in His ways, no matter how scary or different it may look.

We can hold ourselves captive to our past mistakes and shortcomings, and not give ourselves permission to receive the good that God wants to bless us with because we feel unworthy of it. So we sabotage relationships, jobs, opportunities…you name it. We punish ourselves by pushing the good we don't feel we deserve, and settle for less. My sister, I want to let you know that your past does not qualify your future, only God does. Let yourself go. God has.❤️

I remember the place of feeling angry and frustrated, yet confused if it was ok to show it. The feeling of being scared but afraid to say it. I was torn between the ache of my feelings and how to respond in a way that still pleased God. The question that burned in my heart was, "God how do I be?" God so lovingly heard my heart without a word leaving my lips and sent an older lady to me to say, "God wants you to know, whatever you're doing, keep doing it." What was I doing? I was BEING with God. I invited God to be with me and me with Him in every essence of my life and my heart. With Him is where I'm being set free to be ME. Our being starts with being with God.❤️

I GIVE UP! I give up the weight of how I want things to look and go, for what God wants! There's only so far we can go with so much weight. What do you believe you need to surrender in order to move forward in who God is calling you to become? There is something(s) we have to give up to go forward. Let's talk about it!

When we daily decide to break up with the old version of ourselves, we can accept who we were always designed to be. Check out this week's episode as we continue to breakdown what we need to move forward.

You've been honest. You've addressed the pain. You've allowed yourself to feel. You've allowed God and His Truth into the sacred place of your heart. It's time to move forward. God's best for you is ahead of you.❤️

A Safe Space Form You have permission to ask questions.   I understand that your past may have taught you to keep your questions to yourself to avoid belittlement, offense, weird looks or an image of weakness…   …but my sister, in order to become what God already knows about us, we must tap into wisdom outside of our own understanding.   While there is an internal work and healing we are accountable for, God did not call us to do the work alone. He has set safe spaces to aid you as you heal and process.❤️‍

A Safe Space Form How are you creating a safe space in your relationships, in your home, your job, or the ministry God has called you to?   Last week we covered some reasons why it's hard to be honest about your feelings, your desires, the need for help, etc...and ways we can begin to move out of that place.   This week we are discussing ways to create a safe space for others to be honest.   One mindset shift we need to establish is that someone's vulnerability and honesty is a gift, not a green light to impose your frustration or opinion of where someone is at or should be on their journey. How do you treat gifts that are given to you?

Space - Questionnaire Are you being honest with yourself, with God, and others? In this episode, I share reasons why we may find it hard to be honest and ways we can begin to allow God to soften this place in us. Let's continue the conversation about creating a safe space! Also will you share your heart with me about your ideal safe space? Click here: A Safe Space - Questionnaire

Creating A Safe Space - Form   A safe space is required to recover and heal.❤️‍

Are you in the middle of transitioning? You may be moving locations, switching schools, changing jobs, or you're shifting from an old mindset to a Godly one. Whatever transition you may be experiencing, it is sure to come with the ebbs and flows of feelings and thoughts that can lead to heaviness in the soul. We can transition well and lightly! heck out this week's episode as I share the 3 things that has helped me transition well

In this episode I share with you a pivotal point in my life where I was ready to accept God's Truth and believe it no matter how long it took until I was whole! While we're in the process of being restored in our mind, our health or even in our relationships, it can feel long and hard. My prayer is to bring you hope in this episode! God sees you! He sees your progress and He sees you working the Word! Keep going, be patient, it's worth it in the end! . What you can expect in this episode :  Shifting the pressure from you to God Patiently waiting produces a harvest Testing of your faith is part of the process Practicing patience requires being led by the Spirit   Connect With Me : Instagram : @iamshawandawilliams FaceBook : @refreshing_thesoul

I recently asked God to show me my heart in a particular area. What He revealed I did not like. To be completely honest, I felt a small sense of shame.

How do we begin to free the little girl in us?   Somewhere along the way, you were convinced that who you were brought embarrassment, punishment, and rejection. And so, you rejected who you were and began to hide.   When I took the hand of God to pull me out of hiding, He clearly instructed me, "You must embrace and accept her again."   When we choose to love the little girl in us, we are choosing what God has already chosen.   Let's go deeper and hear more on how we free the little girl in us.

As a little girl you may have experienced being shamed for doing something wrong, punished for voicing your feelings, or feeling unseen unless you performed well.   While you aged, the little girl who learned how to hide herself didn't.   She convinces you that you have to be perfect in order to be loved, to be quiet in order to stay safe, and to perform in order to be validated. It's time to free the little girl in you...in me...so that we can live freely and authentically.   God did something special in this episode I had to make it 2 parts!

Hey Refreshed Sister! I'm BACK!!!   I can't wait to share all that God has been doing in my soul and how I am being refreshed by Him.   Over the summer break I have been taking "gratitude walks" with my oldest son. While it was meant to be a creative way to get him to see how much he has to be grateful for, it turned into walks of conversations that brought us closer together.   How is your walk with God?   Do you find your prayers and devotion time is mostly spent to receive something from God rather than being with Him?   Yes, God wants to heal you, give you wisdom, and guide you on the path He called you to...AND God wants to walk with you, day by day. He is relational, not situational.   Let's talk more in this episode on how we can walk closer with God...

Have you been singing the same worry song in your soul?   God wants you to sing to Him a new song, but it requires you getting rid of the old song you have on repeat in your heart and soul. What if...I can't...I'll never...This is too much...If only...   Choose today to sing a new song! God is! God can! God will!

So often we look for peace in places outside of us...the calm of an ocean, a quiet and clean house, check marks off our to do list...but true peace resides in the God within us. In this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. PBJ about the signs we avoid when we are no longer in rest, how disrupt cycles of burnout, and that true peace starts with you!

Anxiety can feel like a giant in our soul. There are things that we have wrestled with for years that cause us to become anxious and to see our lives anxiety-free can seem impossible. But with God, there is no giant too big, no wall too high or gate too protected, for Him to tear down and win the battle for you! Listen to this episode to be encouraged and reminded that God has given you the victory over anxiety!

Instead of normalizing and submitting to the bouts of anxiety, we can began to take control by slowing down and looking at what is triggering our anxiety. There's a root behind the anxiousness and it starts with our thoughts. Let's breathe, pause and ask Holy Spirit to help us pinpoint what areas in our lives we need to shift our perspective! I will also give you 3 simple identifiers to help you move forward from an anxious place!

Do you find yourself battling worries and trying to keep the anxiety in your soul at bay? Sometimes life can seem overwhelming and we can tend to hold it in our souls. Our souls were never meant to carry heavy weights such as anxiety. This week I want to refresh your souls by first coming to an honest place about your worries. Think about it, Write about it, Pray about it! It's time to release it from your soul and get it out! Tell God all the details. He wants to know and He wants to exchange your anxiety for His wonderful peace!

In today's replay episode I want to encourage and remind you what the word already say's about you - you are an Overcomer! Now let's chose to walk out this life with a new mindset that God has created you for more than conquering, He has created and perfectly fashioned you to live free and bring Glory to His name!

In today's replay episode we break down 3 ways to uproot the victim mentality! When we try to change ourselves on our own, we will find ourselves left with more frustration and repeating the same cycles. As I learned to come to Jesus with my insecurities and fears, he began to show me in His Word how to uproot the lies I've longed believe. Sis, I pray that what I've learned motivates you to do the same! God is faithful to do His part, now let's be faithful to do ours!

MY APOLOGIES FOR THE MIC QUALITY!   In today's Summer Replay episode, we get to the root of how we see ourselves when we respond from a victim mindset!   There are experiences, environments and words that have shaped the way we see ourselves and in order to break out of the victim mentality, we must discover the root story we've been telling ourselves.   This clarity will bring light to the reason you've been protecting yourself and begin to move you in the direction of believing who God says you are. ******************** Need More Refreshing? Follow me on my socials!   FaceBook // RefreshingTheSoul https://www.facebook.com/refreshingthesoul Instagram // Iamshawandawilliams https://www.instagram.com/iamshawandawilliams/ Our Podcast hashtag is #RefreshingTheSoul   ******************** Stay tuned for new episodes every Monday on this channel or when you SUBSCRIBE to Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform!

Check out today's replay episode, where I share some indicators that you may have a victim mindset!   It's time to break that mentality and let's start by being HONEST with self!

We were high school sweethearts, married at the age of 19, and entered marriage prematurely. Today we sit down to tell our story of infidelity, secrets, pornography, insecurities, and how we got on the road to forgiveness! After 7 years of being divorced, God has preserved and restored our union by His grace and redemptive power! We pray our story brings you hope that God is able to restore what looks impossible to you, so that it brings Him Glory!

RTS Podcast will be on Summer Break!!!   I will be resting, enjoying my family and leaning more into God

LISTENER FEEDBACK   I know you might be up against some things that you may not want to face or fight.   God doesn't want you to fight.   He wants you to continue to believe and praise Him. That's your posture. He's already gone before you, cleared the way, confused the adversaries and won the battle.

We all have different tastes, styles, and preferences. What may be good to you, may be ok to me or vice versa. God is the only absolute goodness we all can experience! He is GOOD and His goodness is not dependent on anything, so neither should our thanks and praise!   In today's episode, we discuss :

It doesn't have to be November and it doesn't have to be prayer. Having a thankful soul is a way of life!   Lately, I've been finding myself thanking God over the sun I get to feel on my skin to the life I get to live daily.

Submit Listener Feedback   We BLOOM because… we've let the LIGHT in!

We BLOOM because… we're refreshed by Living Water!

We BLOOM because… we're rooted in God's love!

LISTENER FEEDBACK   It's Your Time to BLOOM!   We BLOOM because… the soil of our hearts is fertile. Our hearts open, eager to listen, understand and allow His word to take deep roots!   This week let's discuss:

LISTENER FEEDBACK When our hope dies so does our faith. I want to encourage all those who have succumb to a life of pain, insecurities, and brokenness. YOU CAN BE HEALED! I know you have only seen this version of yourself, but there is a healed and whole version of you that God knew before you were a thought! You do not have to walk around the same anymore.   The enemy wants us to doubt that God is a healer and that He is good, because it is our faith that releases His healing!   This week let's discuss: ❤️‍

Listener Feedback  Jesus is the balm your wounded soul needs!   His word says that He heals our broken hearts and binds up our wounds, healing our pain and comforting our sorrows (Psalms 147:3).   In this week's episode, we journey through the story of the woman with the issue of blood to refresh our souls to know: Wounds are not our true labels There is no time limit on your healing Jesus Christ is the only physician for our soul

You have to let it breathe!   Have you ever had someone tell you that after you scraped or wounded yourself? You want to cover it to keep it from being exposed to more injury or you think that by covering it, you're making it heal faster.   But oxygen is needed for healing natural and spiritual wounds.   In this week's episode, we discuss: ❤️‍

When we've been wounded, our first inclination is to STOP THE PAIN!

In the words of the song, "Joy in the Morning," by Tauren Wells... "If it's not good, then He's not done No, He's not done with it yet There will be joy in the morning" Don't allow the rejection or the loss to be the end of your story. It's one chapter to the many that are yet to unfold in your life. Expect to see God's goodness! He is faithful and true to the pages of your story He wrote long ago about you. As long as He's the Author, you best believe it's going to be GOOD!

Some of us have been deeply rejected and wounded, to which our trust has been destroyed. We don't trust man with our heart, our vulnerability, or our truth. So we show up as our false selves, saying yes when we should say no. Smiling when we're hurting. Protective when we need community. Let's start with trusting God. He's going to lead you from there. Open your heart and give Him a try with the tenderness of your soul.

What would happen when we take off the lens of rejection that we see ourselves through and choose to put on the lens of how God sees us? I see you initiating where you would once ask for permission. I see you keeping your heart open where you would once close up. I see you enduring and trusting God where you would once give up and turn back to what's comfortable. Let's get the eyes of our soul checked and walk in the redemption and love of our wonderful God!

We can subconsciously take on the identity of how people and life have treated us. When we have been dismissed, betrayed, or felt something was stolen from us, we can believe that we are not good, not enough, or not loved. I want us to begin by untethering what happened to us from who we are! Some people didn't know how to love you properly because they weren't shown that. God's grace and love is SO much bigger and wider than the trauma you may have faced.

If you constantly struggle with the whispers in your soul that tell you...   "You're not enough" "You're not wanted" "You're not worthy"   ....you may have allowed rejection to take root in your soul and change the way you see yourself.   Join me this month as we come boldly to the One who overcame rejection and fulfilled everything God called Him to!   We're walking out the book of Ruth each week to unlayer rejection, so that we may discover and plant new seeds of who God says we are!

What are the thoughts you think toward yourself? Are they true, honest, pure and lovely?   We can easily pick apart the things we don't like about ourselves and wish we could change, but when we adapt unhealthy thoughts toward ourselves we then move away from loving ourselves the way God loves us.   God thinks good thoughts towards you, my sister, and has a great future for you!   If you're having trouble loving yourself properly, let's discover in the word together what God's love is and how He sees us❤️

God tends to the garden of our souls with love, patience, and grace.   So, in our learning, receiving correction, and renewing our minds, we too can be gracious to our souls.

You've been doing the work. You've been addressing the places you used to fear in your soul. You've embraced the discomfort in order to grow. You're showing up to God and giving Him the first fruits of your heart. Yet you don't see the change. That ache in your soul is still there. Sister, be patient with your soul. You may not see it yet but you are transforming! You are doing your part...so be patient in letting God do His.❤️ He will complete the work He began in you. He won't let you stay there.

So often we are told to be kind, to love one another, to forgive or to give grace. But how often are we showing up for ourselves in the same manner?   In this episode I share an area in my soul that needs wholeness and how God revealed that this same place also needs kindness, patience, grace and love.

How can we experience joy when we're facing trouble or difficulty?   The short answer, we have to choose it.