Say Goodbye And Imagine!

How Long, God? The Truth About Waiting

Ep 81 - Have you ever cried out "How long, God?" — waiting for healing, freedom, a prodigal child to return, or relief from something that has taken over your life? In this episode, Rose Ann opens a devotional she just finished on Psalm 13 and unpacks David's raw, honest cry to God. She explores the Hebrew word qavah (the true meaning of "wait"), the neuroscience of hope and dopamine, and why your waiting season is not empty — it is where a thread becomes a rope. In This Episode: * Psalm 13:1–2 and what David's lament gives us permission to do * Why Scripture doesn't tell us exactly when David wrote this psalm — and why it doesn't matter * The Hebrew word qavah: waiting is not passive — it means to bind, twist, and intertwine * Chalaph: the trade — your exhaustion for His strength * Isaiah 40:31 and what the original Hebrew actually reveals * Ecclesiastes 4:12 — a cord of three strands * Lamentations 3:25 — the Lord is good to those who qavah * Two kinds of "how long" waiting for people in recovery * The neuroscience of hope: why dopamine fires on anticipation, not pleasure * David praising before the rescue came — and what that does to the brain * Three reflection questions and a closing prayer Scripture References: * Psalm 13:1–2, 5–6 * Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) * Ecclesiastes 4:12 * Lamentations 3:25 Resources Mentioned: * 📺 YouTube video: "The Promises of God: What the Original Hebrew Actually Reveals [https://youtu.be/rKD-Pggjr-U?si=WloiBWCxLFYLAxqC]"] * 🎙️ Previous episode: Willing But Not Yet Ready [INSERT LINK] * 📖 The Plans He Has for Me [https://amzn.to/4wjPZkw] — 12-week devotional for anyone struggling with alcohol or other substances * 📖 Prepare to Quit [https://amzn.to/4faE4zm] — the eight spiritual keys to finally getting ready, includes personal workbook, Audible version, and three bonus core concepts from the Choose Freedom program not available anywhere else [INSERT AMAZON LINK] * 📖 Transformed by His Promises [https://amzn.to/4dgbGJI] — 12-week companion devotional challenge for life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors * 💻 Choose Freedom Program [https://choosefreedom.today/choose-freedom-program/] — structured coaching journey with a trained coach Reflection Questions: 1. What is your "how long" prayer — the one you have carried so long you have almost stopped saying it out loud? 2. What lie have you been believing that keeps you returning to the same place? 3. If this pattern disappeared tomorrow, what would you actually want your life to look like — and what would that hope catalyze in you?

Willing But Not Yet Ready to Quit: Why You Keep Going Back

Ep 80 - Many people reach a point where they want to change, yet find themselves stuck in the same patterns. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine, Rose Ann Forte explores the critical gap between willingness and true readiness—and why understanding that gap can change everything. Drawing from both personal experience and her work with clients, Rose Ann explains why repeated attempts to quit often lead to frustration and shame. She reframes the struggle through both Scripture and neuroscience, showing how patterns form in the brain and why this does not mean you are broken—it means your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do. Through powerful biblical insight, including John 8:34, Romans 12:2, and 1 Timothy 4:15, this episode reveals that transformation is not a single decision but a refining process. Just like testing gold or running clinical trials, real change requires repeated testing, awareness, and intentional practice over time. Listeners will walk away with a renewed sense of hope, a deeper understanding of their patterns, and a practical pathway forward—one that removes shame and replaces it with clarity, truth, and the possibility of lasting freedom. In this episode, Rose Ann Forte addresses a common but often misunderstood experience: wanting to quit a habit or behavior but not being able to follow through consistently. She explores the difference between willingness and readiness, and why recognizing this distinction can remove shame and accelerate real change. Through a combination of biblical truth and neuroscience, Rose Ann explains how repeated behaviors create neural pathways, why relapse does not mean failure, and how preparation—not just action—is the key to lasting transformation. Key Topics Covered: * The difference between desire and readiness * Why repeated attempts to quit are part of the process * The role of neural pathways in habit formation * "Psychological slavery" and John 8:34 * Romans 12:2 and the refining process of transformation * The Transtheoretical Model of Change * Why action alone doesn't work for most people * The three keys: awareness, exposing the lie, and choosing a new path Key Scriptures: * John 8:34 * Romans 12:2 * 1 Timothy 4:15 Core Takeaways: * Wanting to change is not the same as being ready to change * Your brain is not broken—it is operating as designed * Transformation requires testing, practice, and repetition * Shame delays progress; awareness accelerates it * Preparation is the foundation for lasting change Reflection Questions: 1. What if going back to the pattern isn't a failure, but evidence of how your brain has been trained? 2. What is the repeated thought or belief that shows up right before the behavior? 3. If this pattern disappeared, what would you truly want your life to look like? Resources Mentioned: * Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol: https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm [https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm] * Choose Freedom® Program: https://choosefreedom.today [https://choosefreedom.today] * Recommended Resources and Links * Choose Freedom Program and Resources - https://www.choosefreedom.today [https://www.choosefreedom.today] * The Plans He Has for Me Devotional - https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 [https://amzn.to/42Y3E40] * Transformed by His Promises Devotional - https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ [https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ] * Podcast Episodes with Dr. David Jenkins (Stages of Change) Part 1 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36124190 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36124190] Part 2 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36335480 [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36335480]

Why We Wait for Pain to Change: The Story of Manasseh

Ep 79 - Why do we wait until life falls apart before we finally change? In this episode, Rose Ann Forte explores the powerful story of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33—a king whose life was marked by extreme rebellion, yet ultimately transformed through repentance. Despite repeated warnings from God, Manasseh ignored truth until severe consequences forced him to see clearly. This episode unpacks the deeper pattern behind that behavior. From both a biblical and neuroscience perspective, repeated actions become automatic, making it difficult to change even when we know better. Often, it takes pain to interrupt those patterns and create awareness. But what if you didn't have to wait for the "brick wall"? This episode challenges you to recognize early warning signs, interrupt destructive patterns sooner, and respond to God before consequences take hold. No matter how far you've gone, restoration is always available—but the decision to turn can happen today. Key Takeaways * We often don't change when we hear truth—we change when pain gets our attention * Manasseh ignored God's warnings until consequences forced awareness * Repeated behaviors become automatic in the brain, making patterns hard to break * Pain interrupts patterns—but awareness can interrupt them earlier * You don't have to wait for a "rock bottom" moment to change * God responds to a repentant heart with mercy and restoration * Early awareness and intentional response create a pathway to freedom Faith and Neuroscience Insight The brain becomes efficient at whatever we repeatedly do. Over time, behaviors—whether helpful or harmful—become automatic. Even when we know something isn't right, that knowledge alone may not be strong enough to interrupt the pattern. Pain often becomes the interrupter. But awareness can be trained before consequences occur—creating space to choose differently without needing a crisis moment. Reflection Questions 1. Where in your life have you been continuing a pattern you already know is not aligned with what God is asking of you? 2. What are the early signals—thoughts, feelings, or behaviors—that show up before that pattern takes over? 3. What would it look like for you to respond differently this time, not waiting for consequences, but choosing to turn now? Recommended Resources and Links Choose Freedom Program and Resources https://www.choosefreedom.today [https://www.choosefreedom.today] Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm [https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm] The Plans He Has for Me Devotional https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 [https://amzn.to/42Y3E40] Transformed by His Promises Devotionalhttps://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ [https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ] Related Episode: Forgiveness of Self (Core Concept 7, September 1, 2025) [https://sites.libsyn.com/458844/you-are-already-forgivennow-its-time-to-live-like-it-core-concept-7] Suggested Scripture 2 Chronicles 33:12–13 (NLT) 2 Chronicles 33:6 2 Chronicles 33:9 Romans 12:2 John 8:34 Connect and Next Steps If this episode encouraged you: Follow the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes Share this episode with someone who may need it Leave a review of the podcast or one of the books you've read—this helps others discover a path to freedom Rose Ann Forte is an international best-selling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and the creator of the Choose Freedom® framework. She is the co-author of Transformed by His Promises, a faith-based devotional integrating biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help individuals break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her body of work focuses on preparation, renewal of the mind, and compassionate, practical pathways to lasting change without shame or performance-based faith. #ChooseFreedom #ChristianPodcast #RenewYourMind #FaithAndScience #BreakThePattern #BiblicalWisdom #PersonalGrowth #FreedomInChrist #AddictionRecovery #MindRenewal

Made in God's Image: Reclaiming Authority Over Life-Interfering Behaviors

Ep 78 - In this special episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine, Certified Choose Freedom Coach Anthony Covington steps in to share a powerful reflection on identity, authority, and transformation through God's Word. Rooted in Genesis 1, the episode explores what it truly means to be created in the image of God and how life-interfering behaviors can distort that identity, leaving us feeling stuck, defeated, and out of alignment. Anthony walks listeners through the deeper meaning of dominion and authority, reframing it as God-given agency. When we allow substances, habits, or distractions to take control, we move out of position and experience the consequences of that misalignment. But through daily engagement with Scripture and intentional practice, we can return to the identity God originally gave us. Drawing from passages like Genesis 1:26–31, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 1:6–7, and James 1:22–24, this episode highlights the importance of not just hearing God's Word, but living it. The Transformed by His Promises devotional becomes a practical tool for renewing the mind, reinforcing truth, and creating new patterns that align with both biblical wisdom and how the brain forms habits over time. If you've ever felt like you're saying the right things but not living them, this episode offers a clear path forward. You'll be challenged to reflect on who you are, what you truly want, and how practicing truth daily can lead to lasting transformation. Listen in and begin stepping back into the life God designed for you. Rooted in Genesis 1, this episode explores: * What it means to be created in the image of God * How life-interfering behaviors pull us out of position * Why practicing Scripture daily leads to real transformation * The connection between biblical truth and rewiring the mind Anthony shares how engaging with Scripture is not just reading words, but entering into relationship with God, and how that relationship restores identity, purpose, and direction. Scriptures Referenced * Genesis 1:26–31 * Ephesians 2:10 * 1 Peter 1:6–7 * James 1:22–24 Key Takeaway The problem isn't just behavior. It's position. When we return to who God says we are, our lives begin to align with how He designed us to live. Resources & Next Steps * Website: https://choosefreedom.today [https://choosefreedom.today] * Transformed by His Promises Devotional [https://amzn.to/4t9yuRx] * Work with a Choose Freedom Coach [https://choosefreedom.today/directory/] Enjoying the Podcast? Follow Say Goodbye and Imagine and leave a review of Rose Ann's books on Amazon to help others find freedom. Rose Ann Forte is an international best-selling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and the creator of the Choose Freedom® framework. She is the co-author of Transformed by His Promises, a faith-based devotional integrating biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help individuals break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her body of work focuses on preparation, renewal of the mind, and compassionate, practical pathways to lasting change without shame or performance-based faith. #ChooseFreedom #ChristianPodcast #RenewYourMind #FaithBasedRecovery #IdentityInChrist

Life Has Direction: Are You Paying Attention to Where You're Going?

Ep 77 - Life always has direction. The real question is not whether we are moving — the question is whether we are paying attention to where we are going. In this episode of the Say Goodbye and Imagine Podcast, Rose Ann Forte explores wisdom from Proverbs 4:25–27, a passage that speaks directly to the direction of our lives and the awareness we need to stay on the path God has for us. Most people do not wake up one day and intentionally choose a destructive path. Instead, we slowly drift away from God's direction through distraction, habits, and small compromises that seem harmless in the moment. Rose Ann shares a personal story about a recent season of physical setbacks — from a hernia emergency to surgery, recovery, back pain, and COVID — and how keeping her focus on God changed how she responded to adversity. Instead of falling into discouragement or self-defeating thoughts, she chose perseverance and trust in God's plan. This conversation explores the connection between spiritual awareness, the condition of our heart, and the direction of our life. Rose Ann also explains how Scripture aligns with neuroscience. The thoughts and behaviors we repeat form neural pathways that influence the choices we make and the direction we take. You will also hear how the Armor of God connects to this concept — the belt of truth guiding the mind and the breastplate of righteousness protecting the heart. Stay until the end for three reflection questions and a prayer designed to help you examine the direction your life is heading this week. Scripture in This Episode Proverbs 4:25–27 "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." Related passage discussed: Proverbs 4:23 "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Resources Mentioned Choose Freedom Program https://choosefreedom.today [https://choosefreedom.today] Books by Rose Ann Forte Transformed by His Promises https://amzn.to/4cGgA41 [https://amzn.to/4cGgA41] The Plans He Has for Me https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 [https://amzn.to/42Y3E40] Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm [https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm] Rose Ann Forte is an international best-selling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and the creator of the Choose Freedom® framework. She is the co-author of Transformed by His Promises, a faith-based devotional integrating biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help individuals break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her body of work focuses on preparation, renewal of the mind, and compassionate, practical pathways to lasting change without shame or performance-based faith. #ChooseFreedom #ChristianMindset #BiblicalWisdom #FaithAndNeuroscience #ChristianPersonalGrowth