Send us a text

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why prayer must come before planning—not after

How faith transforms uncertainty into peace

Biblical wisdom for decision-making and direction

The difference between striving in your own strength and surrendering to God

How to pause, listen, and discern God’s guidance for your next chapter

Scripture References

• Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”
• James 1:5 – Asking God for wisdom without doubt
• Psalm 37:5 – Trusting the Lord with your path
• Matthew 6:33 – Seeking God first

Reflection Questions

• Where have I been planning without praying first?
• What decision am I holding too tightly instead of surrendering to God?
• What would it look like to trust God fully with my next step?

Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach
970.279.1818

https://ggtlife.com/

Send us a text

Prayer Before Plans: Starting the New Year with God-Centered Conversations

As the new year begins, it’s easy to feel pressure to plan, decide, and change everything at once. In today’s episode, I am inviting you to slow down and take a different approach — beginning the year in prayer.

Through a personal reflection on values, communication, this episode offers a gentle reminder that prayer isn’t just for big decisions — it’s for everyday conversations too.

Before you speak, before you decide, before you move forward… pause and invite God to be a part of the conversation.

Scripture Referenced:
Proverbs 16:3
James 1:19

Reflection Questions:

• What value is God highlighting for you this year?
• Where do you need to slow down your words?
• Who in your life deserves prayer before conversation?

If you want goals that actually fit your real life…

If you are ready to move forward with an accountability partner, I am here for you ~ to take that next step with you. Please reach out to me through the website https://ggtlife.com/ or you can message me at 970.279.1818. Until next time, have a great week!

Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach
970.279.1818

https://ggtlife.com/

Send us a text

“Making progress isn’t always moving forward. Sometimes, it’s about bouncing back. Progress is not only reflected in the peaks you reach — it’s also visible in the valleys you cross. Resilience is a form of growth.”
— Adam Grant, Hidden Potential

Hiden Potential ~ The Science of Achieving Greater Things

Author: Adam Grant https://amzn.to/49pUGQh

Hey y’all.
Welcome back to Grit, Grace & Transformation, soon to be Midlife Renewal, and if you’re listening on Christmas Day, I’m so grateful you chose to spend a few quiet moments here with me.

THE PROBLEM WITH GOALS ALONE

As we move toward a new year, goal-setting is everywhere.

Set the goal.
Write the goal.
Manifest the goal.
Crush the goal.

But here’s the truth most people don’t talk about:

👉 Goals without values are fragile.

When goals are based on pressure, comparison, or what we think we should want, they rarely last — especially when life gets hard… and life will get hard.

If you’ve ever:

• Started the year motivated but burned out by February
• Felt guilt instead of growth around your goals
• Or wondered, “Why can’t I seem to follow through?”

It’s not a discipline problem.
It’s usually a values alignment problem.

Here we are on CHRISTMAS DAY, and

If today doesn’t look like the picture you imagined…
If you’re grieving for someone you lost, and it could also be something that you lost.
If you’re exhausted…
If this year knocked the wind out of you…

Hear this clearly:

👉 Resilience counts.
👉 Rest counts.
👉 Reflection counts.

they all matter ~ Progress doesn’t disappear just because it’s quiet. Sometimes, the most values-aligned thing you can do is pause — not push.

A PERSONAL MOMENT
One of the reasons I care so deeply about this work is because I’ve lived the consequences of goals that weren’t aligned — and the healing that came when values led the way.

Faith.
Mindset.
Physical vitality
Rest.

These aren’t just words to me — they’re survival tools.

And someday, I would truly love to connect with Adam Grant — whether that’s a conversation on his podcast or welcoming him onto Midlife Renewal ~ that is coming very soon, because conversations about growth that include resilience are the ones that actually change lives.

As we close on this Christmas Day, I want to leave you with this:

You don’t need to rush into the new year.
You don’t need to fix everything.
You don’t need a perfect plan.

You just need a true north — and that starts with values.

From my heart to yours, Merry Christmas. May grace meet you exactly where you are, and may the coming year be built on what truly matters.

I’ll see you soon.

Rachael D. Arnold, M.Ed., Certified Incite Life Coach
970.279.1818

https://ggtlife.com/