All Episodes

July 16, 2025 44 mins

Send us a text

Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I just don’t feel like it,” even when something really matters? We have too. In this episode, Heidi shares a game-changing realization: if we wait for motivation to magically show up, we might stay stuck. But when we make choices based on our values—especially our identity in Christ—something shifts. We explore what it means to stop letting feelings drive the bus and start acting from a place that’s rooted and true.

This conversation gets real as we share honest struggles and simple tools that help us move forward, even when emotions push back. From the “first thought, second thought” approach to a quick values-check practice, we offer a framework that helps you pause, reflect, and take action that aligns with who you really are. It’s not about forcing yourself through life—it’s about recognizing that motivation often follows movement, especially when that movement starts from your core values.

Support the show

Learn more about our Revelation Within Community: https://www.revelationwithin.org


Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hi and welcome to our podcast, Revelation Within On
the Go.
I'm Heidi Bilesma-Epperson, oneof your hosts and the owner and
lead coach of theRevelationWithinorg ministry,
and.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
I'm Christina Motley, your other host, also a
Revelation Within coach andHeidi's partner in all things
Revelation Within, and we are sohappy to invite you to join us
for this episode of RevelationWithin on the show.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Oh, I had an epiphany this week.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yes, I know and I'm so excited for you to share it.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yes, and so we're going to dive into something
that has been changing the way Iknow, and I'm so excited for
you to share it.
Yes, and so we're going to diveinto something that has been
changing the way I live.
It's like why did it take me 63years to get this one figured
out?
No, and anyway, I hope thatsomebody who might be listening
will be blessed by it too.
Of course, and really I'm notkidding as we go on and talk
about it.

(01:04):
It seems so profound to me andyet so simple.
It's kind of crazy.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
Isn't that so often how it goes with us in the Lord?
It's like, oh my gosh, I've hadthis life-changing time with
him and it's usually somethingsimple, but it's so profound and
I'm so excited that we'resharing this today.
Heidi, thank you for just beingso open and vulnerable and
ready to share.
I know it's already blessed meimmensely to hear about this.
So this is going to be such ameaningful conversation.

(01:41):
It's going to be all aboutmotivation, but not the kind
that you chase, which I canrelate to just chasing, chasing,
running, running, and it's justkind of always slipping through
your fingers.
That's not what we're talkingabout.
We're talking about, we'regoing to talk about the kind of
motivation that flows from whoyou are and what you truly value

(02:06):
.
So it goes, goes deep.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
It comes from a place it does it does.
So I'm just going to start usoff by praying, just a quick
prayer.
Jesus, would you speak clearlyto us today and to those
listening.
Help us uncover the truthbeneath our habits and our
reactions and show us thedifference between living from a

(02:30):
place of what we feel likedoing, or feel like being, and
that place of living from ourvalues.
Lead us into freedom, into aplace of joy, into a place of
confidence.
Thank you, lord, amen, amen,amen.
Well, here's what I've realized.
I can't stop thinking about itand I can't stop thanking God.

(02:55):
But here it is in a nutshell IfI wait until I feel like doing
something, it may never happen.
Until I feel like doingsomething, it may never happen.
Duh.
But if I move and act and livefrom my values, that's a
different story and that'sprobably again, it's probably

(03:17):
pretty obvious.
But the ramifications are sobroad and so deep.
When I act based on how I feel,it's usually in the moment, but
when I act from my values, it'srooted in who I actually am,
especially the fact that I am inChrist.

Speaker 2 (03:35):
Wow, that is so real.
I wonder what it means.
No, I know we're going to talkabout it and kind of explain,
but that I mean just that initself is you've already grabbed
me, heidi and it explains whymotivation feels so slippery

(03:56):
sometimes.
Because feelings are slippery,they're valid, they're real,
they're important, but boy arethey slippery.

Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, they change so quickly, on a dime sometimes.
So we're going to start with ahard truth though so it's going
to get good after that.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
Okay, okay.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
And that is Jeremiah.
17, verses nine and 10 tell usthat the heart is deceitful
above all things and beyond cure.
Wow, who can understand it?
The word says I, the Lord,search the heart and examine the
mind.

Speaker 2 (04:37):
That is a hard truth, I know right it really is.

Speaker 1 (04:42):
It is, but the bottom line is, when we're driven by
our feelings, whether we feellike doing something or not,
we're often being led bysomething that just isn't
grounded.
Feelings are so fickle.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yes, they are.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
But when we live from what God has been writing on
our hearts in our relationshipwith him over the course of our
lives, hearts in ourrelationship with him over the
course of our lives.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
That's a completely different experience.
And there's a big, big smile onHeidi's face right now.
She's just glowing.
So true, Heidi.
Feelings they come and go, andcome again and go, and there
they are again.
But values, especially the onesshaped by God, those anchor us.

Speaker 1 (05:29):
Yeah, that's so true and I'm sure you've seen that.
We've talked about this.
How have you seen it in yourown life?
Are there moments, for instance, christina, where feelings
tried to run the show, but youhad to remember who am I?
What is my deeper value systemlike?

(05:49):
Is it congruent with what I'mfeeling like doing?

Speaker 2 (05:53):
Have you ever felt that way?
Oh, my goodness, like a million, gazillion times.
Yeah, I feel like for years andyears, my feelings did run the
show.
I let them run the show.
I had no understanding of therenewing of the mind, or
feelings did run the show for me.

(06:14):
I really struggled with that andI remember thinking is there a
possible way to deal withfeelings that is like healthy
and healing, like why do we evenhave them if they're just
constantly messing me up?
That's what I used to think.
You know, and people.
I heard people say, well, godgave you feelings and I thought,

(06:35):
well, I wish you would takethem away because they are
driving me.
And I did feel like that for along time.
One of the best examples, Ithink, for me is fear when
something is happening and youare afraid.
Like I can think of times withthe kids when I was really,

(06:56):
really fearful, times with myparents, times in our financial
situation, times with health,things that happen, and there's
this fear that comes up and itis so easy to let the fear take
over.
It's so easy, and every time you, you know, have kind of a quiet

(07:20):
moment and your thoughts dowhat they want to do.
Yeah there it is and it's.
It's like no, I don't want fearto rule my life, I don't want
any feeling to rule my life, butthat's kind of the default,
especially if we don't know whatto do next.

Speaker 1 (07:39):
Right, so true.
I don't know if you've ever feltthis way, christina, or our
listeners perhaps, but recentlyI had been going through kind of
a pattern where every morning Iwould wake up and I felt so
burdened, like there was thishuge boulder sitting on top of

(08:01):
me and I was struggling with mymotivation about anything,
because I felt such heavinessand I knew that there was a
spiritual component to it,certainly, and there definitely
was an emotional one, but it didfeel so physical as well.
I didn't even want to doministry work which is bizarre,
because I love what I get to doand I didn't care about my food

(08:25):
and eating.
It wasn't that I was overeating, it was that I was just
grabbing what sounded good inthe moment, even though it made
me feel cruddy, and then Ididn't want to move my body, I
just want to.
Well, what I wanted to do waseither go back to sleep or play
video games all day.
Okay, just being honest here.
And then, of course, givinginto those urges because I

(08:48):
wasn't feeling like doinganything else resulted in shame.
So I was feeling shame, andthen I would self-soothe by more
video games or more eating ofthe Oreos, when I would probably
need some nourishment insteadof just Oreos.
So I was caught in this cycleand it was all rooted in.

(09:10):
Well, I don't feel like gettingup or I don't feel like doing
something else, and someone Iknow sent me a link to a short,
three minute long video.
And it pointed out, whenlooking for motivation, feelings
aren't really good.

Speaker 2 (09:30):
You know what?
That's so true, isn't that?

Speaker 1 (09:33):
profound though I mean duh, I know that.
But what is a really goodmotivator?
The values I have, my, again,they're fickle, and we speak all
the time in our, in ourministry, about feelings, don't
get to define what is true, whatis fact and how facts can
inform my feelings.

(09:54):
But what about values?
I love this because my valuesare where the God piece and the
Heidi piece kind of cometogether and and it's who I am
and what I am because of him.
My values have been forged overmy lifetime with the Lord.
You know, I wish it would beenough for me to say well, the

(10:17):
Lord wants me to do X, y or Z.
There's times when that doesn'tcut it.
And so this, this approach,this thought of what do I really
value?
Well, I value being healthy, Ivalue being active, I value
being somebody who knows God'sword and and can base my life in

(10:40):
that truth, those are my values.
So, rather than just tellmyself well, it's sin if you
don't do this, which has notbeen very motivating for me, I'm
sorry, I'm admitting it atleast no, no, I think that a lot
of us can relate to that.

Speaker 2 (10:56):
I certainly can.

Speaker 1 (10:58):
Yeah, my values.
They've evolved over a longtime and they will continue to,
I'm sure, but they representwhat I, what I really respond to
as being God honoring.
No matter how I feel when askedabout my values, it feels like
I'm coming home to truth, notjust my truth, but God's truth

(11:20):
in my life that he has.
You know, I picture somebodyworking with clay to get the air
bubbles out of it, and Ipicture God has worked my life
like clay to put his values intome and anything that is
extraneous to that out.
And so it's like what do Ireally value?
It's huge.

(11:41):
You know what I mean.
Or am I just like barking up acrazy tree?

Speaker 2 (11:45):
No, no, no, it's so good.
You've got my mind like goingin all different directions and
thinking about all the differentthings.
But one of the things that I'mthinking, heidi, I've known you
for 11 and a half years and youhave super strong values.
You do you know what you value,super strong values.

(12:08):
You do you know what you valueand there's a real depth there,
like it's not kind ofwishy-washy, well, I'm not sure.
Well, I mean, you really knowand it is rooted in the word and
it's your values are rooted inGod's truth for sure.
But that's really strong in you, like you're, you're passionate
about your values.
So you know, that makes methink well, what about me?
What are my values?
What's going on with me?

(12:29):
And the first thing that comesto mind for me is relationship.
Relationship is huge for me.
Like I almost valuerelationships over anything else
in my life, right, my husbandhas talked about that before.
Oh well, you're all aboutrelationship, you know.
And so for me, coming from aplace of what is that deep value

(12:51):
that brings me passion?
You know, as a teacher, I was sopassionate about my
relationships with students andcoworkers and in my own family,
of course, it's like everythingmy kids and time with them and
conversations with them, and myhusband, of course, is,
incredibly, you know, an amazingrelationship that I've had for

(13:14):
years my relationship with theLord.
I mean I value that deeply.
I value that so deeply.
And then, of course, myrelationship with Revelation
Within, with you, heidi, my bestfriend, and all that we do here
.
I mean I value that so much.
I get excited and I think, well, what is it like in me when I'm

(13:39):
noticing what I value?
How does my body respond?
How do I feel?
I get excited.
You know, I want to talk aboutit, I want to share about it, I
want to be there in it as muchas possible.
I'm drawn to it.
I'm drawn to what I value.

Speaker 1 (14:00):
I like that.
I appreciate you mentioned thatand we probably want to pause
and kind of define what ourvalues I mean you've got a good
idea.
Really.
This is how I've kind of cometo see it.
Your values, my values, arekind of the convictions and
priorities that God has formedin you.
Sometimes it comes throughscripture, prayer, life

(14:24):
experience and relationship withhim, as well as relationships
with others and how they haveinfluenced us.
It's like it's been steeping inour lives for a long time.
It's not just about how muchsleep we got or how well
nourished we are or how wellrested Like.
Here are a few of my values.

(14:44):
Of course, I value freedom inChrist.
Yes, as soon as somebody startstrying to put limitations on my
freedom in Christ, I getsqueamish.
And if I do that to myself, Iget squeamish, you know.
That's why checklists are notmy favorite thing anymore.
They used to be, but I, myvalues, have changed.

(15:05):
I value being strong enough tocare for myself and others, and
when I'm in a place as I havebeen, to be honest, with you for
the last 10 years where I don'tfeel the strength I have felt
previously when I realized thatI'm living from that place, I
want to do what I can to getstrong enough to be able to care

(15:29):
for myself and others.
It's a value I hold and I'veforgotten that because I've kind
of because I think I've beenkind of depressed about not
being so strong anymore.
So it's like it's fed itself.
And then I value stewarding mybody in a way that honors the
Lord but also honors my body, mybody has done a lot in my life.

Speaker 2 (15:52):
Take care of me.

Speaker 1 (15:54):
I also value enjoying nature and not being sidelined
because I'm feeling cruddy youknow, cruddy because of inflamed
joints from what I ate the daybefore or whatever it might be.
I love being outside and I canenjoy hikes and whatnot when I
have taken care of certainthings.

(16:15):
But if I am living from a placeof well, I don't feel like it,
or if I do feel like it orwhatever, I'm not going to make
the same choices.
I'm going to make differentchoices than I will if I do feel
like it or whatever.
I'm not going to make the samechoices.
I'm going to make differentchoices than I will if I live
from my values.
What do you think about that?

Speaker 2 (16:31):
Yeah, I think it's awesome.
Like I said, I'm just kind ofthinking about everything while
you're talking, but I, I lovethis idea because you know, like
I said in me, certainly when Ithink about what I really value,
it does bring a motivation thatcomes from deep within.
Um, it's not just you know.

(16:52):
Well, maybe I should do this,this would be better.
Oh, I don't want to, and andkind of we all do that.
I think we kind of get stuck inthis place of I don't know, kind
of this medium land orsomething.
But you know where we're not.
We're not really one way or theother.
But when we talk about valuesand I'm thinking about other

(17:14):
people I know, and how they actand talk and speak, what they
say when they're talking aboutsomething they value, you know
you can tell they're likeanimated, their facial
expressions are, you know,different, like their eyebrows
are going up and down, and youknow they might be using their
hands when they talk and theystart thinking about examples

(17:39):
and all of a sudden, you knowthey're just you've kind of got
them hooked Like they're talkingabout their stuff, what they
value.
So I think this is just amazingfor me.
Well, I talked about how much Ivalue relationships.
It's like, oh my gosh, if Icould just be with friends and
family all day long on the beachsomewhere.

Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (18:03):
I value what you said , heidi.
You said I value freedom inChrist.
Yes, and I would add to that Ivalue not living in a place
where I am chained bystrongholds.

Speaker 1 (18:19):
Oh, yes, I mean boy.

Speaker 2 (18:21):
I did that for a long , long time and that is.
One of my deepest values now isI'm not living there anymore.
I am not living in a place ofbeing trapped by a stronghold.
That's one of my big ones.

Speaker 1 (18:36):
I bet a lot of people listening can identify with
that.
We identify with that.
Yet many of us and I guess I'llspeak about me I identify with
that.
I want to live my.
One of the deepest values I haveis I want to live from that
place of freedom and freedomfrom strongholds, from them
owning me, my thoughts, mybehaviors, et cetera, and the

(18:58):
regret that goes with givinginto them.
And yet so very often I havelived from a place of feelings.
It's like I don't feel likemaking that choice.
That would be that coincideswith my value system.
And boy I mean it's like hello,heidi, wake up.

(19:19):
When I don't live according tomy values, I am guaranteeing
that I'm going to continue todefy them.
Sort of it's like I've beenliving in a place that I think
is not where I want to be at all.
It's not in agreement with myvalue system at all.
When I think of how much time Ihave spent numbing out with a

(19:40):
video game over the past fewmonths well, how about 10 years?
Oh, my goodness.
Anyway, when I think about that, it's like what have I missed?
that my value system longs topropel me into, to move me
forward through to adventurewith, and you can tell right now

(20:03):
because of the way I'm talkingabout it my voice inflection, my
hand motions.

Speaker 2 (20:08):
Her eyebrows are going up and down.

Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yes, and I think all of us to some degree.
We are wired to live accordingto our values.
And yet we let our feelingsdrive the bus so often.
And I don't just mean like,well, I'm feeling sad today.
I don't mean that, I mean likeright now, in the moment, I
don't feel like running thevacuum.
Okay, that sounds so, but Ivalue having a home that's tidy.

(20:35):
So when I think about that, Iwant to get up and take care of
it.
Right, you know it's sort ofinteresting.

Speaker 2 (20:43):
Yeah, it is.
I guess another one of myvalues that you know are just is
just huge is well, it came tome because what you just said
about being owned by something,so another one of my values is
who am I in Christ?
That's huge to me.
That's something I didn'tunderstand and I'm I'm still
trying to wrap my brain aroundit.

(21:04):
For for years I thought myidentity was what I did.
I thought my identity was howmuch I could do, how much I
could perform accomplishments,stuff like that, and that's not
who I am at all.
And then, when I got hit withchronic illness and all these
other things, it's like, wait aminute, who am I?

(21:29):
Am I?
Am I this, am I that?
And then what about that rolethat just goes away because of
this or that?
No, that's not my identity.
I'm very excited to say youknow my eyebrows are going up
and down when I say that myidentity is in Christ.
I am his girl, end of story.
That's my identity.
All those other roles will fallaway and will come and go.

(21:49):
You know things will go up anddown, but my identity that's a
huge value for me is walkingthat out, even though, like I
said, I'm still trying to wrapmy brain around it.
It's a work in progress, but um, that's a big one for me too.

Speaker 1 (22:06):
Oh, me too.
Me too, because when I livefrom all those other things, a
sense of identity based on whatI do or the role I play in life,
oh my goodness.
Yeah, it's fleeting.
It can be impacted by thingsother people do, by weather, I
mean.
It can be impacted by all kindsof things.
Yeah, yeah, all right so let'sdo some practical stuff here for

(22:29):
a minute.
Great listener, if you, if youcan or want to grab a journal,
or you can just reflect on thesequestions as you listen If
you're driving in a car, ofcourse, don't don't have a
journal and consider.
This is one of the things Imean.

(22:50):
I think this little process canhelp with you, with me, with
Christina, kind of understandingwhat our value system is.
If you aren't sure what issomething.
The first question is whatbrings you joy when you walk in
alignment with it?
What brings you joy when you'rewalking in alignment with it,

(23:11):
christina?
What's something that bringsyou joy when you're walking in
alignment with it?

Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, you know what, when I am intentionally caring
for my body well, that brings mejoy.
And sometimes the result is notfeeling great because I do deal
with chronic illness.
But there is a joy in me when Iknow that I'm caring for the

(23:37):
body well that God gave me.
I spent so many years beingvery mad at my body really
hating my body many, many yearsbeing disappointed by my body
and now so much once.
One of my values really, youknow, is I want to take care of

(23:57):
this body that God made for mefearfully and wonderfully.
This is his gift to me.
I will not get another one.
This is the only body I get inthis life.
When I'm walking that out, itfeels so good and I experience a
lot of joy, like deep joy evenif I'm not feeling well.

(24:18):
Like deep joy even if I'm notfeeling well, which is kind of
bizarre, but it really.
It's amazing how that is.

Speaker 1 (24:24):
Yes, that's such a beautiful answer.
Okay.
Second question then whatmatters to you more than
momentary comfort?
Wow, and you know, I know forme, living in that place of
momentary comfort quite a bitover the last 10 years, I'll say
, but I'm thinking specificallyof the last few months it

(24:47):
matters to me that I contributein some way to the lives of
those I care about and thecommunity that I care about,
that God has entrusted me withthe revelation within ministry.
Momentary comfort would keep meaway from my laptop, keep me
away from doing the work thathe's called me to, that I get so

(25:10):
much joy out of when I do it.
I mean really my answer to thatfirst one what brings you joy
when you're walking in alignmentwith it?
I love what we get to do,walking in alignment with it.
I love what we get to do.
I do too.
It boggles my mind that I wouldever not want to get up and get
going on the things God's givenme to do.
And so what matters to me morethan momentary comfort?

(25:32):
you listener, you person in ourcommunity you I mean that's just
an example of, and so, even ifI'm uncomfortable, I and would
rather lay in bed for somereason, I value contributing in
some way, living the mission andthe purpose that God has called

(25:53):
me to.

Speaker 2 (25:55):
Wow, that's awesome, heidi.
I love the way you said that.
I love it.
That's just makes me so excitedbecause you know I share those
values with you too, of course,and we have so much fun, heidi
and I, doing this together.
We do.
We have so much fun even whenit's hard.

(26:16):
We still have so much fun doingthis together.
So what matters to me more thanmomentary comfort?
You know, more and more andmore it's becoming more valuable
to me to know that God is atwork and what is he doing, and I
want to be in line with that.
I don't want to be in his way.

(26:36):
I don't want to be pushingagainst it more and more.
I'm trusting him with that.
Oh beautiful.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
And that's that's hard.

Speaker 2 (26:45):
That's really hard because God allows hard things,
really, really hard he does.
I think that a lot of myprayers used to be about comfort
Lord, fix this, make thiseasier, make my path straight.

(27:06):
This person that's suffering,can you just take that away?
I mean, I still pray like that.
But what I realized?
What is God valuing in thatdiscomfort?
What's his plan?
What's his purpose?
There's something there that'sreally big.
So my prayers are changing fromfix that, take it away, make it

(27:26):
less, make it easier, make lifeeasier.
You know my prayers arechanging from that to may your
will be done, get your work done.
Lord, whatever it is, I knowyou're good, do what you do best
, best.
Weave our lives together, weavethe situations in.
You know, use these things tobring people's hearts to you

(27:48):
rather than just make it alleasy.

Speaker 1 (27:50):
Right, right.
And it's interesting becausesometimes he chooses the painful
road to accomplish those verythings that we see as beautiful
and wonderful in the long haul.

Speaker 2 (28:06):
All right.

Speaker 1 (28:06):
So the first two questions again are what brings
you joy when you're walking inalignment with it.
Number two is what matters toyou more than momentary comfort.
And the third one is what doyou value because of what God
has taught you, not just whatculture or the experts so-called
experts say what do you valuebecause of what God has taught

(28:30):
you?
Not just what culture or dietbooks say?
And if you do have a chance towrite your responses to these
questions, it can be reallyhelpful.
I know that I think, with allthe thoughts I'm putting into
this value versus feelings thinglately, I'm definitely gonna do
some journaling because I wannahave a record of what are the

(28:54):
things I value, because when I'mreminded of those, I have
motivation.
Remember, that's what we'relooking at.
Yeah, motivation.
If we wait for our feelings tomotivate us, it could be a long
wait.
Yeah, it could be never.

(29:15):
Yeah, my value system is alwaysthere and it can produce in me
things that I could never see ifI wait for feelings.

Speaker 2 (29:19):
Yeah, wow.
So if you were journaling this,this is something that you
might write because of what Godhas shown me, I value.
And then you start writing andthen, when I act from my values,
I feel well.

Speaker 1 (29:35):
I think it's cool how you even identified it.
You know, when you startgetting animated and excited and
voice inflections and all ofthis, then you've probably
stumbled on something that youvalue.
There's some connection there,and so when I act from my values
, I feel you said it excited, Ifeel motivated, I feel totally

(29:57):
that heaviness that I shared atthe beginning of the episode.
That heaviness lifts, it's justnot going to hold me back.
I mean, now that may not alwaysbe true, I don't know, but it
is this week.
Well, what about?

Speaker 2 (30:11):
feeling satisfied.
You know what about contentmentand what about?
Well, you talked about yourwant to.
We talk about that a lot.
You know how do I increase mywant?

Speaker 1 (30:23):
to.
Well, here it is, you know hereit is.

Speaker 2 (30:25):
Take a look and see.
It's like what are you valuing?
Also life giving you know whatis life giving to you, what
makes you excited, happy, whatmakes you laugh, what makes you
want to do it.
That's all mixed in there, withyour values to do it.

Speaker 1 (30:40):
That's all mixed in there with your values, exactly.

Speaker 2 (30:42):
Yeah, and I love what you shared, heidi, about the
vacuum, because it's so simple.
It's like, well, you knowthat's so simple, but actually
it's true, it's your.
There is a deeper value.
Yes, you enjoy for you.
And Michael, you want a neat,tidy, not, like you know, crazy
tidy but just peaceful.
You want a peaceful home.

(31:03):
This morning when I got to mydesk on my porch it was like
wrecked.
I mean, there was crapeverywhere.
It's so like cluttered andjunky and it's making me nuts
this morning and I realized Ivalue having a workspace that is
peaceful and I need to takesome time to put things away and

(31:26):
fix this up.
It's like ridiculous.
There's a deeper value there.
You know I long for that peace.

Speaker 1 (31:34):
Right.

Speaker 2 (31:34):
So even that example is is so, so good.

Speaker 1 (31:38):
Yeah, okay.
Galatians five verses 16 and 17says so.
I say this is Paul writing tothe people at Galatia walk by
the spirit and you will notgratify the desires of the flesh
.
This just came home to me in awhole new way when I read this,
because gratifying the desiresof my flesh, that's.

(32:00):
It's like I don't feel likedoing that.

Speaker 2 (32:02):
Or I feel like doing that.

Speaker 1 (32:04):
That's gratifying the desires of my flesh.
It's like whoa.
I never saw myself in thatverse quite so clearly.
The cool thing is, the HolySpirit isn't impulsive.
He leads with love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness,self-control.

(32:24):
It's not denying our feelings,but it's not letting them drive
the bus Right, Exactly.
And so here's kind of where itgets practical.
Let's say, I don't feel likemoving my body today or
preparing food that I know makesme feel good.
If I check in with my feelings,do I feel like doing this?

(32:48):
I'm probably going to stay inthe recliner or stay under the
covers.
I hate to admit that, but it'strue.
If I check in with my values,though, it's okay.
What do I really want?
What do I?
What's deeper than how I feel?
Is this choice consistent withwho God has been forming me to

(33:09):
be?
And it's like it unlocks adeeper kind of motivation which
is huge.
You know, I remember over thecourse of the years that I
coached and whatnot, one-on-one.
A lot of times people had anevent that they were motivated
to lose weight for, and it'slike I remember even back then

(33:30):
thinking, oh, but, but theevent's going to come and go and
it'll be over.
With what then, you know?
And so I am really glad thatit's not about a one time event,
but and it's not even about myfeelings, it's about something
so much deeper that God wants touse in my life to help me say

(33:51):
yes to him.
Really, that's what it boilsdown to.

Speaker 2 (33:54):
Oh, I love that, heidi.
I love that.
So that kind of motivation thatyou're talking about, heidi, is
much more sustainable than,okay, I'm just going to pull up
those bootstraps, I'm just goingto grit my teeth.
How long does that last?
Yeah, it doesn't last, it fallsapart.

(34:15):
But this won't fall apartbecause these are from the
values that God has built in us,like you said, and they line up
with his values, which is life,and so it comes from identity,
not from impulse.

Speaker 1 (34:33):
Right.

Speaker 2 (34:33):
Okay, so let's ask ourselves a few more questions,
just to kind of reflect, andyou're welcome to write these
down and journal about themlater, or just think about them,
take them to the Lord.
So here's the first one whatarea of life have I been waiting
for feelings to change?

(34:53):
Wow, that's powerful.
What area of life have I beenwaiting for feelings to change?
So we're kind of like stuck inthis place.
It's like, well, the feelingshaven't changed, nothing is
changing.
What are we waiting for?
How long have you?
been waiting and where is thatin your life we all have areas

(35:16):
like that.

Speaker 1 (35:18):
We could wait a long time and it might never change.
Yes, that's so good.

Speaker 2 (35:23):
The next one is what values has God already placed in
me that can guide that areainstead?
What are those values that Godhas already placed in me?
And then here's a big,beautiful, open-ended question
what kind of person do I long tobecome?

(35:44):
We get to choose.
Do I long to become?
We get to choose.
We actually get to choose,which is so amazing, and I just
love the way this, the hope thatis in this message today, heidi
.

Speaker 1 (35:58):
Yay, we can turn those questions that Christina
just asked us to ponder intokind of a rhythm.
So one is feel check Okay, whatdo I feel like doing which we
know is probably not the bestway to make decisions
necessarily and then to valuecheck what do I value in this
moment?
No, and that's the cool thing,feelings are going to come and

(36:21):
go and ebb and flow and all thatstuff, but my values are going
to be pretty solid becausethey're rooted in who I am in
Christ and what God has beenkind of working into my life.
And so, first of all, fieldcheck what do I feel like doing,
value check what do I value inthis moment?
And then the decision whataction now reflects my values,

(36:45):
not just my feelings.

Speaker 2 (36:48):
Wow, I was just thinking about my marriage, like
just using this with mymarriage, that would just like.
What do you feel like in themoment?
Feelings Well, okay, well andthen.
But what do I value in thismoment?
Wow, I mean just in onerelationship.
What a, what a change thatcould be good point.

Speaker 1 (37:10):
I'm I'm getting an application for that in my life
too.
Thank you, yeah, good good, goodone of our participants, wanda,
who we love dearly, love, lovedearly.
Yes, she has kind ofestablished a little tool that I
have used recently.
That's really helped me withthis feelings and values thing

(37:33):
and motivation, and she calls itfirst thought, second thought,
I think.
And, christina, can you tell usabout that a little bit, since
I know Wanda is one of yourone-on-one ladies?
I think you can explain thistool way better than I can, even
though I'm using it.

Speaker 2 (37:48):
Yeah, well, we've both been in coaching
relationships with Wanda.
She is just an amazing, amazingperson.
We highly respect her and valueher wisdom and strength.
So, yeah, it's my joy and honorto work with her, that's for
sure.
So this is an idea she came upwith quite a while ago and it's

(38:09):
come kind of in and out of herexperience with her journey with
food, eating, body, all thosethings, and it's just kind of
come up again, so we'll share it.
She calls it first thought,second thought.
So basically, whatever it iswhere you're, you know whatever
decision you're making, whetherit's what you're going to do or
whether it's what you're goingto eat or whether it's you know

(38:32):
what you're going to say or not.
Say you can apply this toanything.
Really, for her, when she firstcame up with it, it had to do
with food and eating.
And so your first thought, thefirst thought that comes into
our mind after years and yearsof thinking a certain way is
likely to be not what you value.

(38:52):
It's likely to be driven byfeelings.
It's likely to be driven by oldpatterns, destructive patterns.
It's like a default.
It's.
You know, something you havethought for a long, long time,
something, yeah, that's thefirst thought, and it's usually
not life-giving.
So, especially when you'reworking on something that you're

(39:13):
trying to get out of, a certainpattern, stronghold, that kind
of thing.
So that's the first thought.
Then you take a moment, invitethe Holy Spirit to give you
wisdom, just a quick littlepause.
It's so quick, lord.
What do you think Basically?
That's kind of what it is.
And then the second thoughtcomes in.

(39:35):
The second thought is going tobe life-giving.
It's going to be something thatlines up with your deeper
values, like what we're talkingabout.
It's going to line up with whatGod wants for us.
It's something good.
It might not be something easy,but it's going to be something
good.
So then, going with that secondthought, and more and more as

(40:00):
you do, that it becomes easier.
You know, over time, it becomeseasier to choose what's better.
And so those first thoughtsbegin to change as well.
Those old patterns begin tobreak down, and it's just so
exciting to see and this is whatI've seen in Wanda, this is
what I've seen in her.
Those first thoughts havechanged, those old patterns have

(40:23):
been broken and those secondthoughts are coming and it's
easier and easier.
It's just a beautiful process.
So that's first thought, secondthought, and you can grab that
and use it later today.

Speaker 1 (40:38):
Yeah, thank you so much.
I know that right before Iheard about that I had
experienced a first thought,second thought moment, even
independent from hearing aboutthat tool.
So it's fun because we can takewhat we're talking about with
motivation and values andfeelings and recognize that
feelings are going to be rightthere.

(40:58):
That's going to be my firstthought a lot of times for now,
until I've trained myselfotherwise, and then inviting the
Holy Spirit in.
I want to be making decisions,even things that seem maybe
trivial.
They may not be.
They may not be.
I want to make the decisionsthat I live from from a place of

(41:20):
the my value system.
God has worked long and hardwith me on developing this value
system and I am blessed by youknow, having these values and
knowing that it's rooted in him,and I want to live from that
place.
So, you don't have to be ruledby your feelings either.
You too are anchored in Christ,and God has been forming and

(41:43):
shaping his values for you inyour life as well.
And why not live from thatplace?
If you're struggling at all,like I have been, with letting
my emotions not even emotions,but just the instantaneous
feeling I have drive me, thenyou know living from the values
that you hold is going to be amuch richer, more meaningful God

(42:08):
honoring, body honoring.
I mean it's going to be a greatplace to live from, and it's
what truly matters.

Speaker 2 (42:15):
As you're talking, Heidi, all these ideas are going
through my mind about areas inmy life where I could, you know,
use this kind of thinking about.
What are you feeling and thenwhat are the values?
I love it, you know we don't.
We don't have to wait to feelready.
That's a pretty powerfulstatement.

(42:35):
We don't have to wait to feelready.
We already have values that areworth acting on, because God
has lovingly placed them insideof us.
He's already given those to usas a gift.

Speaker 1 (42:51):
Yeah, listener, if you want support walking that
out and having a group of peoplerally around you who are of the
same mind, we have a privateonline community for that and
you are welcome to try us outfree for one month.
Just visit revelationwithinorgto learn more, and we would love

(43:12):
to have you, even if you bailafter a month.
That's fine.
We just want to have a chanceto support you and encourage you
.

Speaker 2 (43:20):
Yes, come and join us .
Come and join us.
We'd love, love, love to seeyou there.
So I'll go ahead and close inprayer.
All righty, lord Jesus, thankyou for not leaving us stuck in
feelings.
Thank you, god.
Thank you for our feelings, yes, but we don't want to be stuck
there.
Thank you, Lord.
Thank you for anchoring us inidentity, in truth and in your

(43:44):
spirit.
Lord, show us what matters mostand help us to move forward in
that.
We trust you, lord, we love youIn Jesus' name, amen.

Speaker 1 (43:55):
Amen, until next time .
Live loved, live grounded andlive from your values.

Speaker 2 (44:02):
All right, we are so glad that you've been here today
and we would love to invite youto join us for our next episode
of Revelation Within on the go.
Yay, see you next time.
See you next time, bye-bye, bye.
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.