The Power of Fasting: Strengthening the Heart Through Sacrifice

The Power of Fasting: Strengthening the Heart Through Sacrifice

In this final Lenten-focused episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod explores the often misunderstood practice of fasting and reveals its deeper spiritual purpose. Far beyond giving up food or checking religious boxes, fasting is presented as a powerful pathway to interior transformation. Through thoughtful reflection and practical insight, Latisha explains how fasting helps us rely less on ourselves and become more open to God’s grace. By gently stepping into discomfort, we build spiritual discipline, strengthen our ability to endure hardship, and grow in love toward others. Drawing connections between spiritual tradition and psychological principles, this episode highlights how practices like fasting mirror concepts such as exposure and resilience—helping us break patterns of avoidance and become more grounded, present, and free. Whether it’s fasting from food, social media, distractions, or self-centered habits, this episode invites you to see fasting not as deprivation—but as preparation. A preparation of the heart to receive, to give, and to live more fully aligned with Christ. In this episode, we talk about: * What fasting really means in the Christian tradition * Why fasting is about transformation—not punishment * Traditional Lenten fasting practices (Ash Wednesday & Fridays) * Fasting beyond food: social media, distractions, and habits * How fasting builds discipline and spiritual resilience * The connection between fasting and psychological growth * Why discomfort can lead to healing and freedom * Moving from self-reliance to dependence on God * How fasting opens us to grace and deeper love * The role of fasting in becoming the hands and feet of Christ Anchor Quote: “Fasting isn’t about depriving yourself—it’s about opening yourself to something greater.” – Latisha Sternod Reflection: What if the discomfort you’re avoiding is actually the doorway to your growth? What if fasting isn’t about losing something—but gaining freedom? This Lent, where might God be inviting you to release what you’re clinging to so you can receive something greater? Resources & Mentions: Spiritual Practices Referenced: * Lenten fasting traditions (Ash Wednesday & Good Friday) * Fasting from distractions (social media, habits, comforts) * Integration of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving Practices Discussed: * Fasting from food and excess consumption * Fasting from self-centered behaviors * Building discipline through small acts of restraint * Embracing discomfort as a path to growth * Creating space to receive grace Key Themes: * Fasting as spiritual transformation * Discipline and self-restraint * Discomfort as a pathway to healing * Dependence on God over self-reliance * Becoming more loving and present Scripture References: Matthew 4:4 – “Man shall not live by bread alone…” The call to deny oneself and follow Christ Connect with Us: 🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org [http://thewonderfulcounselor.org] 📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor [https://instagram.com/the_wonderful_counselor] 🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor [https://facebook.com/thewonderfulcounselor] If this episode encouraged you to embrace fasting in a deeper, more meaningful way, would you leave a review? It helps more women discover this sacred space for Christ-centered healing and transformation.

The Hidden Power of Almsgiving: Becoming a Gift to Others

In this reflective Lenten episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod turns our attention to one of the most transformative spiritual practices in the Christian tradition: almsgiving. Through scripture, contemplation, and practical spiritual insight, Latisha explores how true spiritual growth requires us to move beyond self-focus and become a gift to others. Drawing from Matthew 6 and the practice of Lectio Divina, she guides listeners through a reflective meditation on Christ’s teaching about giving in secret—where love is offered without recognition or reward. In a culture that often encourages self-promotion and immediate gratification, this episode offers a countercultural invitation: to give quietly, love generously, and serve without needing to be seen. As we prepare our hearts during Lent, almsgiving becomes not just an act of charity—but a pathway toward deeper humility, community, and transformation. Through prayerful reflection and gentle guidance, Latisha reminds us that when we shift our focus outward and act with sincere love, we begin to embody the hands and feet of Christ in the world. In this episode, we talk about: * What almsgiving truly means in the Christian tradition * Why generosity is essential for spiritual growth * How self-focus can subtly pull us off course * Applying Lectio Divina to reflect on scripture * Matthew 6 and Jesus’ teaching on giving in secret * The difference between generosity and recognition-seeking * How serving others helps us become more spiritually mature * The importance of examining our motives for giving * Moving from self-centeredness to outward love * Becoming the hands and feet of Christ through action Anchor Quote: “When we give quietly and without recognition, we become a true gift to others.” – Latisha Sternod Reflection: What if generosity isn’t just about what we give—but why we give it? What if the quiet acts of love no one sees are the ones that transform us the most? This Lent, where might God be inviting you to give freely, serve humbly, and love without needing recognition? Resources & Mentions: Spiritual Practices Referenced: * Lectio Divina (prayerful scripture meditation) * Reflective silence and contemplation * Lenten self-examination and renewal Practices Discussed: * Giving without seeking praise or recognition * Reflecting on personal motives for generosity * Practicing hidden acts of service * Shifting focus from self to others * Becoming a vessel of love in daily life Key Themes: * Almsgiving as spiritual transformation * Selflessness and humility * Generosity as love in action * Community and interconnectedness * Becoming the hands and feet of Christ Scripture References: Matthew 6:1–4 – “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” The call to give quietly and sincerely without seeking praise Connect with Us: 🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org [http://thewonderfulcounselor.org]📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor [https://instagram.com/the_wonderful_counselor]🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor [https://facebook.com/thewonderfulcounselor] If this episode encouraged you to grow in generosity and humility this Lenten season, would you leave a review? It helps more women discover this sacred space for Christ-centered healing and transformation.

Why Pray in 2026? Rediscovering the Power of Silence

In this reflective Lenten episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod explores a question many quietly ask: Why would I pray in 2026? Isn’t prayer outdated? With clarity, theological depth, and psychological insight, Latisha reframes prayer not as an antiquated ritual, but as a transformative interior practice, one that aligns both spiritual tradition and modern research. Drawing from Psalm 51, Carmelite spirituality, contemplative silence, and even secular mindfulness studies, she reveals how prayer reshapes the heart, calms the body, and restores the mind. This episode is an invitation to rediscover silence, not as emptiness, but as encounter. Whether you're new to prayer or returning after a long time away, this conversation offers practical encouragement to begin with just five minutes a day and allow God’s grace to do the rest. In this episode, we talk about: * Why prayer is still relevant in 2026 * The connection between counseling, support, and turning to God * Psalm 51 and the desire for a clean, renewed heart * Vocal prayer vs. contemplative silence * Carmelite spirituality and the richness of Christian meditation * How modern mindfulness research supports ancient prayer practices * The physical and emotional effects of silence and stillness * Prayer as reorienting toward love when we’ve “missed the mark” * Grace as a gift—not something we earn * Starting small: five minutes of intentional stillness Anchor Quote: “Create in me a clean heart.” – Psalm 51 Reflection: * What if prayer isn’t outdated—but underused? * What if the peace you’re seeking isn’t found in doing more—but in being still? * This Lent, where might God be inviting you to pause, endure the silence, and rediscover that you are made from love? Resources & Mentions: Spiritual Traditions Referenced: * Carmelite contemplative prayer * Lectio Divina (scripture meditation) * Psalm 51 renewal prayer Practices Discussed: * Five minutes of silent prayer daily * Focusing on something loving and good * Persevering through racing thoughts and discomfort * Reorienting toward love when “off course” * Receiving grace through openness Key Themes: * Prayer as interior transformation * Silence as strength * Grace as gift * Staying aligned with love * Endurance in spiritual practice Scripture References: Psalm 51 – “Create in me a clean heart.” The call to return to love when we’ve “missed the mark” (understanding sin as being off course) Connect with Us: 🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org [http://thewonderfulcounselor.org]📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor [https://instagram.com/the_wonderful_counselor]🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor [https://facebook.com/thewonderfulcounselor] If this episode encouraged you to begin, or begin again, your prayer life, would you leave a review? It helps more women discover this sacred space for Christ-centered healing and transformation.

From Burden to Beloved

In this powerful Lenten-focused episode of Faithfully Healed, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark invite listeners into a sacred interior journey, from feeling like a burden to embracing the truth of being beloved. As Ash Wednesday approaches, they unpack the deeper meaning of Lent beyond giving up chocolate or checking religious boxes. Through thoughtful dialogue, practical examples, and spiritual insight, they explore prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as transformative tools for interior renewal. This episode reframes Lent as an intentional season of metanoia, a change of mind and heart, where we confront distraction, soften hardened places, and allow Christ to shine more fully through us. With warmth and clarity, Jen and Latisha explain how fasting isn’t just about food, prayer isn’t just reciting words, and almsgiving isn’t just donating money. Instead, Lent becomes a deeply personal invitation to spiritual growth, humility, and love, preparing us to receive Easter not just as a date on the calendar, but as a resurrection within. In this episode, we talk about: * What Lent really means, and why it matters * The purpose of Ash Wednesday and receiving ashes * Repentance as metanoia: changing the way we think * Moving from negative self-beliefs to beloved identity * How prayer softens the heart in difficult relationships * Almsgiving as hidden acts of love and service * Fasting as sacrifice—not self-improvement * Fasting from devices, distractions, or harsh words * Why silence is essential for hearing God’s voice * How intentional interior work prepares us for Easter Anchor Quote: “You are not burdened. You are beloved.” – Latisha Sternod Reflection: What if Lent isn’t about losing something, but becoming someone? What if repentance isn’t shame, but renewal? This season, where might God be inviting you to soften, surrender, and step into the truth that you are deeply loved? Resources & Mentions: Books: A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen Clark The Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod Lenten Practices Discussed: * Prayer: Honest, humble conversation with God * Almsgiving: Intentional, hidden acts of service * Fasting: Sacrifice that creates space for Christ * Silence: Reducing distraction to hear God clearly * Interior renewal before exterior expression Key Themes: * Metanoia (repentance as a change of mind) * From self-focus to Christ-focus * From distraction to silence * From burdened identity to beloved truth Scripture References: Genesis 3:19 – “Remember that you are dust…” Mark 1:15 – “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Matthew 6:1–18 – Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.” Connect with Us: 🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org [http://thewonderfulcounselor.org]📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor [https://instagram.com/the_wonderful_counselor]🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor [https://facebook.com/thewonderfulcounselor] If this episode encouraged you as you enter the Lenten season, would you leave a review? It helps more women discover this sacred space for Christ-centered healing and identity renewal.

New Year, New Start Part 3

In the final part of the New Year, New Start series, Latisha Sternod and Jen Clark round out the SPIES wellness framework by diving into Intellectual, Emotional, and Social wellness. This episode is an uplifting, wisdom-filled guide to growing your mind, nurturing your heart, and fostering healthy relationships, key areas that often go overlooked in personal development plans. Through heartfelt stories, expert insight, and faith-filled encouragement, Jen and Latisha inspire listeners to embrace lifelong learning, emotional resilience, and vibrant community connection in 2026. Whether you're an introvert finding your pace or a couple looking to grow together, this episode offers practical steps to thrive in every season. In this episode, we talk about: * What intellectual wellness looks like beyond school and degrees * How learning a new skill or language stimulates brain health * Tips for setting intellectual goals without pressure * Why a growth mindset and grace matter in adult learning * Healthy emotional processing and personal emotional strategies * The impact of inner dialogue and speaking life over yourself * The role of community in emotional health * How social connection boosts longevity and joy * Creating intentional relationships in every season of life * The importance of putting yourself “in the arena” to connect Anchor Quote: “Put yourself in the arena. You were made for connection. God created us to be in communion with one another.” – Jen Clark Reflection: What if this year you didn’t aim to master everything—but simply chose to start something new, feel more deeply, and connect more intentionally? What if learning, healing, and community were your holiest pursuits? Step into this season of growth, knowing that every step matters and grace meets you in every new beginning. Resources & Mentions: Framework: SPIES – Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social (This episode focuses on Intellectual, Emotional, and Social wellness) Books: * A New Day, A New Start: Seek Your Sunshine by Jen Clark [https://www.amazon.com/New-Day-Start-Jen-Clarke/dp/1952943094] * The Wonderful Counselor by Latisha Sternod [https://www.thewonderfulcounselor.org/] Tools & Tips: * Intellectual goals: Read 5 books, learn an instrument, take an adventure * Emotional strategies: Music, journaling, exercise, prayer, solitude * Inner dialogue: Speak life over your body and your efforts * Social tips: Connect through shared interests, service, or faith groups * Grace reminder: Mastery takes 10,000 hours—start with your first 10 Scripture Reference: * Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death…” * Luke 5:16 – “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” * Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two are better than one… if either of them falls, one can help the other up.” Connect with Us: 🌿 Website: thewonderfulcounselor.org [http://thewonderfulcounselor.org]📖 Instagram: @the_wonderful_counselor [https://instagram.com/the_wonderful_counselor]🕊 Facebook: The Wonderful Counselor [https://facebook.com/thewonderfulcounselor] If this episode inspired you, please leave a review. It helps more women walk into healing, wholeness, and wholehearted connection.