Day One of Sobriety | Christian Recovery, Emotional Healing, Overcoming Shame, Spiritual Coaching

21. In This World but Not of It: How to Renew Your Mind and Live Set Apart

Do you ever feel caught between two worlds? You love God, but sometimes it feels easier to blend in than to stand out. In this episode of the Day One of Sobriety podcast, we’re talking about what it truly means to be “in this world but not of it,” why it’s so hard to live differently, and how renewing your mind changes everything. You’ll hear real-life examples, biblical truth, and a practical neuroscience tool to help you live set apart for God’s Kingdom.
🔑 Key Episode Insights
Why trying to live for both sides is like playing on two teams at once—and how it divides your loyalty and peace.
How holidays like Halloween can become powerful reminders of who you represent and what it means to shine as light in a dark world.
Why fear and lack of capacity keep us from living renewed—and how to overcome both with truth and practice.
The neuroscience behind transformation—how the amygdala and neuroplasticity explain why change feels hard but is absolutely possible.
The PURR Tool — a simple, memorable way to Pause, Replace, and Reflect so you can stay calm, confident, and Christ-centered under pressure.
🧠 Why This Matters
Living “in the world but not of it” isn’t about rules—it’s about representation. When your mindset mirrors God’s heart, your life becomes a reflection of His truth and love to everyone around you. Mind renewal bridges faith and neuroscience so you can overcome fear, stop conforming, and live from your God-given identity every day.
🛠 Practice the PURR Tool
Pause and Understand – When faced with pressure to conform, pause and ask, “Is this mindset from the world or from the Word?”
Replace – Replace the worldly thought (“I need everyone to like me”) with God’s truth (“I already have His approval”). Repetition builds new thought loops of truth.
Reflect – Reflect Christ’s light in your words and actions. Radiate peace instead of pressure.
When you PURR instead of panic, your amygdala calms, your prefrontal cortex re-engages, and your thoughts align with truth. Transformation becomes your new default.
👣 Your Next Steps
1️⃣ Become a Day One of Sobriety Insider and get the podcast resources delivered straight to your inbox! This weekly newsletter is a treasure map of tips and tools to keep you moving forward on your mind renewal journey. 📍 Click here to join!
2️⃣ Engage with other Overcomers and access all episode resources at the Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community.
3️⃣ Explore this week’s Day One of Sobriety Blog for more encouragement and reflection tools.
4️⃣ Go Deeper with 1:1 Coaching Support! Get the details ▶ Mind Renewal Coaching.
 
📩 Connect with Me
📧 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org 🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast 📝 Blog: Day One of Sobriety Blog 📘 Facebook: @day1ofsobriety 📷 Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
 
🔗 Related Episodes & Links Mentioned
🎧 Listen to the beginning of the journey: EP 1 — The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
EP 16 — Overthinking Everything? How to Find Peace by Surrendering Control
Join the Day One of Sobriety Insiders to access the weekly newsletter and exclusive resources!
⚠️ Disclaimer The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or licensed counselor for medical or mental health advice.

20. Healing from Church Hurt — Why We Need Each Other to Grow

Have you ever been hurt by someone in church — maybe a pastor, a friend, or a group that didn’t show up when you needed them most? In this episode, Brenda approaches the topic of church hurt with compassion, truth, and encouragement, reminding us that God’s plan for community was never meant to wound us, but to heal us.
 
Using the beautiful imagery of geese flying in formation, Brenda illustrates how interdependence — taking turns leading, supporting one another, and staying close when someone is wounded — reflects God’s perfect design for fellowship. She connects these truths with both Scripture and neuroscience, showing that we are literally wired for connection.
 
You’ll discover why community is vital for spiritual and emotional health, how to take small, prayerful steps toward reentering fellowship after hurt, and how to use the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release technique (from Episode 16) to quiet overthinking and renew your trust in God’s people.
 
✨ Take the Next Step – Apply What You’ve Learned
🎁 Free Tools for Transformation
Download the Practical Guide for Reentering Church Community — a step-by-step resource to help you prayerfully and safely reconnect with a healthy, Spirit-led church family.
Revisit Episode 16: Overthinking Everything? How to Find Peace by Surrendering Control for a deeper dive into the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release tool.
👥 Join the Community
Become part of our Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community where you’ll find daily encouragement, prayer support, and a safe space to grow.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for uplifting posts, reels, and reminders that help you live renewed in Christ every day.
💬 Go Deeper
Learn how to renew your mind and rebuild trust in community through personalized coaching. Schedule a consultation at Day One of Sobriety.
🎧 Keep Listening
Continue your journey on the Day One of Sobriety Podcast for more faith-filled encouragement and neuroscience-based mind renewal insights.
 
📩 Connect with Me📧 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast📝 Blog: Day One of Sobriety Blog📘 Facebook: @day1ofsobriety📷 Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
 
⚠️ DisclaimerDay One of Sobriety and its host are not licensed mental health professionals. All content shared is for spiritual encouragement, personal growth, and educational purposes. If you are in crisis or need professional counseling, please seek support from a licensed therapist or mental health provider in your area.
 

19. Laughter Heals: How Joy Renews Your Mind and Restores Your Spirit

Do you ever notice how laughter lightens your spirit and shifts your entire mood? In this episode of the Day One of Sobriety Podcast, Brenda shares how laughter heals not only your emotions but also your body and brain.
You’ll discover how joy renews your mind, why laughter is one of God’s best prescriptions for stress, and how choosing joy daily can rewire your thought patterns and strengthen your faith.
You’ll also hear Brenda’s personal story of a day filled with stress and overwhelm—until one laughter-filled conversation reminded her of God’s simple, powerful gift of joy.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why laughter is both scientifically and spiritually healing
How joy functions as a tool for mind renewal
What Scripture and neuroscience say about laughter’s effect on your brain
How to cultivate joy intentionally—even when life feels heavy
Practical ways to bring laughter back into your daily routine
🔗 Episode Resources and Links
Scripture References: Proverbs 17:22, Philippians 4:8, Nehemiah 8:10, Ecclesiastes 8:15, Galatians 5:22
Related Episode: EP 16 — Overthinking Everything? How to Find Peace by Surrendering Control
Blog Post: Laughter Heals: How Joy Renews Your Mind and Restores Your Spirit
Join the Facebook Community: Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
Learn more about 1:1 Mind Renewal Coaching: www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching 
🪞 Your Turn — What Should the Listener Do?
This week, challenge yourself to laugh daily.Find one reason to smile, one funny video to share, or one lighthearted moment to thank God for.
1️⃣ Join the Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook community.2️⃣ Share your laughter moment or favorite joy habit in the group.3️⃣ Reflect on how joy renews your mindset and helps you walk in peace.
📬 Connect with Day One of Sobriety
📧 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast
📝 Blog: Day One of Sobriety Blog
📘 Facebook: @day1ofsobriety
📷 Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
⚠️ Disclaimer: The Day One of Sobriety Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for medical advice and counsel.

18. Rise Above Lies: Discover Your Value and Identity in Christ

In this empowering episode of the Day One of Sobriety podcast, Brenda reveals how to rise above lies, overcome shame, and embrace your true identity in Christ. Drawing from Ephesians 4:22-24, she explains how to put off the old self, renew your mind, and walk confidently in your new creation identity. You’ll discover how biblical truth and brain science work hand-in-hand to transform your thinking—unlocking freedom from anxiety, self-doubt, and destructive mindsets.
Learn how neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change, mirrors God’s design for renewal. Brenda also walks you through the R.I.S.E. Method—a simple, actionable framework to help you Renew, Identify, Scripture meditate, and Express gratitude daily.
Whether you’re battling low self-esteem, people-pleasing, or fear of failure, this episode will equip you with practical strategies rooted in faith and neuroscience to break free and step boldly into your God-given purpose.
Take the Next Step – Apply What You’ve Learned
🎁 Free Tools for Transformation
Identity in Christ Declarations: Available inside the Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook group
The R.I.S.E. Tool Guide: Your daily roadmap to renewing your mind and walking in truth
👥 Join the Community
Connect with others breaking free from destructive thought patterns in the free Facebook community: Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
💬 Go Deeper
Explore personalized support through 1:1 Mind Renewal Coaching to help you apply these principles in your everyday life.
🎧 Keep Listening
Don’t miss more episodes of the Day One of Sobriety Podcast for faith-based and science-backed mind renewal tools.
Connect with Day One of Sobriety
📩 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org
🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast
👥 Join the Community: Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
Facebook: @day1ofsobriety
Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
 
⚠ Disclaimer The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.
 

17. Hurting and Need Hope? God’s Presence Is the Place That Heals Everything

Do you know there’s a place that heals everything? Not a counseling office, not a recovery meeting, not even a mountain retreat — but a Person. The Presence of His Company.
In this episode of the Day One of Sobriety Podcast, we’ll talk about why spending quality time with God in His presence is the soil where hope grows, trust is rebuilt, and faith is strengthened. I’ll share my own story of wrestling with dark thoughts, how a gift from a friend — the book The Pleasure of His Company by Dutch Sheets — helped me rediscover intimacy with God, and I’ll guide you through a practical tool I call N.E.A.R. to God so you can step into that healing space right where you are.
✨ What’s Inside This Episode?
Why God’s presence — not performance — is the place of hope and healing.
How cultivating your relationship with God transforms your mind and rewrites despair into hope.
The beautiful exchange: more of God = less hurt, less fear, and more peace.
A neuroscience + Scripture connection: how slowing down, breathing, and worship calm the body and anchor the soul.
A practical tool: the N.E.A.R. to God Reset (Nestle, Enter, Attend, Respond) to help you build quiet, quality time with Him.
🔑 Why This Matters If you’re hurting and feel like hope is slipping through your fingers, God’s presence is your safe place. He doesn’t want shallow religious loyalty — He wants your company. This episode equips you with biblical truth and brain science to move from hurt to hope, one moment in His presence at a time.
🛠 Practice the N.E.A.R. Reset
Nestle into stillness — calm your breath and body.
Enter with Scripture — let God’s Word center your thoughts.
Attend to His nearness — imagine Him with you, because He is.
Respond — thank Him for His presence and share your need.
👉 Get the N.E.A.R. to God Guide inside the free Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community.
🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned
Join the free Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community to access the N.E.A.R. to God Guide.
Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog for deeper teaching and encouragement.
Explore The Pleasure of His Company by Dutch Sheets for practical ways to deepen intimacy with God.
Want help applying the Neurocycle in your own life? Learn more about Mind Renewal Coaching.
Listen to the story that started it all: EP 1 — The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety.
✝️ Your TurnThis week, practice the N.E.A.R. Reset daily — 3, 10, or 20 minutes. Notice what shifts in your heart as you trade hurt for hope. Share your journey in the Facebook community so we can celebrate with you!
📩 Connect with Me 📧 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org 🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast 📝 Blog: Day One of Sobriety Blog 📘 Facebook: @day1ofsobriety 📷 Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
🚶 Next Steps
Join others practicing the N.E.A.R. Reset inside the free Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community.
Dive into this week’s Day One of Sobriety Blog for additional encouragement.
Explore 1:1 support through Mind Renewal Coaching.
⚠ Disclaimer The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

16. Overthinking Everything? How to Find Peace by Surrendering Control

Do you ever feel like worry runs your life?
In this episode of the Day One of Sobriety Podcast, we’re talking about why worry happens in the brain, what God’s Word says about it, and four practical steps you can start using today to break free from the cycle of anxiety. You’ll also hear real-life encouragement, Scripture promises, and a neuroscience tool you can put into practice immediately to shift from fear to peace.
 
✨ What’s Inside This Episode?
Why worry is like running the “What-if Olympics” in your mind — and how it exhausts your brain and body.
What happens in the brain when worry becomes a habit, and why you actually can rewire it.
Key Scriptures that show how God calls us to cast anxiety on Him and receive His peace.
The illusion of control — why clinging tighter breeds more fear, but surrender brings peace.
A practical 4-step tool: Catch–Shift–Thank–Release to break destructive worry loops and anchor your mind in God’s promises.
🔑 Why This MattersWorry doesn’t prevent tomorrow’s problems — it only steals today’s peace. When you learn to renew your mind with truth and science-backed tools, you trade fear for freedom.
 
🛠 Practice the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release Strategy
Catch the thought — say aloud, “This is fear talking, not truth.”
Shift the focus — move from “what if” to “even if” with Scripture.
Thank — speak gratitude out loud to rewire your brain for peace.
Release — surrender control to God with a spoken prayer of trust.
👉 Want the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release Tip Card? You’ll find it inside the free Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community.
 
🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned
Join the free Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community to access the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release Tip Card.
Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog for deeper teaching and encouragement.
Learn more about applying the Neurocycle with Mind Renewal Coaching.
Listen to the beginning of the journey: EP 1 — The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety.
✝️ Your Turn This week, practice the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release strategy daily. Speak it out loud, pray it through, and watch God replace worry with peace. Share your experience in the Facebook community so we can celebrate with you!
 
📩 Connect with Me 📧 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org 🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast 📝 Blog: Day One of Sobriety Blog 📘 Facebook: @day1ofsobriety 📷 Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
 
🚶 Next Steps
Download the Catch–Shift–Thank–Release Tip Card in the Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community.
Explore this week’s Day One of Sobriety Blog for more encouragement.
Coaching 1:1 support through Mind Renewal Coaching.
⚠ Disclaimer The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

15. Break Free from Stress Eating: Stop Numbing and Start Healing

Do you ever find yourself standing in front of the fridge or pantry, not even hungry, just searching? Stress eating is one of the most common ways we numb our emotions. But here’s the truth: food can never fix what only God can fill.
In this episode of the Day One of Sobriety Podcast, we’re uncovering why stress eating is so powerful, how the food industry engineers “hyper-palatable” foods to hook us, and how both science and scripture reveal the path to freedom. Together, we’ll discover how to HALT before we snack and invite Christ into our true needs.
✨ What’s Inside This Episode?
Why stress eating is more common than you think (25–40% of people do it monthly).
How sugar and fat temporarily soothe the brain — but deepen the shame cycle.
The hidden way processed foods are engineered to hijack your appetite.
The biblical HALT method — Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired — with truth anchors for each struggle.
A practical action step to help you “HALT and ask what you really need” before turning to food.
🔑 Why This MattersStress eating doesn’t just affect your body — it impacts your brain, your spirit, and your identity. God never designed food to carry the weight of your soul. By renewing your mind with biblical truth and neuroscience tools, you can rewire cravings, find lasting satisfaction in Christ, and break destructive cycles.
🛠 HALT with Truth Anchors Tool
Hungry (Emotionally Empty): Psalm 107:9; John 6:35 — Only Jesus satisfies.
Angry (Stuffing Emotions): Psalm 62:8; Ephesians 4:26-27 — Pour your heart out honestly.
Lonely (Relational Gap): Psalm 68:6; Hebrews 13:5 — God is present; He places you in community.
Tired (Quick Fix): Matthew 11:28-29; Isaiah 40:29-31 — Rest and strength are found in Him.
👉 Get the HALT with Truth Anchors Resource when you join the free Mind Renewal Made Simple Facebook Community.
🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned
Join the free Mind Renewal Made Simple Facebook Community to access the HALT with Truth Anchors resource.
Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog for deeper teaching on this episode.
Want help applying mind renewal principles in your own life? Learn more about Mind Renewal Coaching.
Listen to the story that started it all: EP 1 — The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety.
📩 Connect with Me📧 Email: brenda@day1ofsobriety.org🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast📝 Blog: Day One of Sobriety Blog📘 Facebook: @day1ofsobriety📷 Instagram: @day1ofsobriety
🚶 Next Steps
Join others breaking free from stress eating inside the free Mind Renewal Made Simple Facebook Community.
Dive into this week’s Day One of Sobriety Blog for additional encouragement.
Explore 1:1 support with Mind Renewal Coaching.
⚠️ DisclaimerThe Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

14. Breaking Free from Comparison: God's Antidote to Anxiety

13. Finding True Rest in a Busy World -- 4 Tools That Eliminate Stress

Do you feel the pace of life quickening as summer fades and fall ramps up? 🍂 School is back in session, calendars are filling fast, and the holiday season is just around the corner. In this busy season, rest often feels impossible—but it’s actually essential.
In today’s episode, we’re diving into faith-rest: God’s invitation to step out of striving and into His peace. Together we’ll explore three types of rest—physical, soul, and spiritual—and uncover how rest is not laziness, but worship.
You’ll learn:
Why rest is critical for your body, soul, and spirit
The brain science behind how rest rewires your mind and lowers stress
What Hebrews 4 calls the “faith-rest life” and why unbelief blocks us from entering it
Practical steps to pause, redirect, anchor in Scripture, and build faith over fear
Friend, true rest is not about quitting—it’s about trusting. When you enter God’s faith-rest, you’re breaking the destructive habits of worry and striving, while renewing your mind in His truth. Grab your notebook, and let’s step into freedom together!
Ready to break free from destructive choices?
Join Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple—our free Facebook community of listeners where knowledge moves to application and transformation. Every week we share challenges, encouragement, and accountability that calm the chaos.
✝ Join now: Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
🎙 Hear about the miracle that started it all – EP 1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
🔗 Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
Contact & Connect
📩 Contact ➡ brenda@day1ofsobriety.org🎧 Podcast ➡ Day One of Sobriety Podcast👥 Facebook ➡ @day1ofsobriety📸 Instagram ➡ @day1ofsobriety
Next Steps
Step 1: Join others who are breaking free from toxic thoughts and painful pasts at our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple.
Step 2: Do you have an overcomer story you’d like to share? Email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.org.
Step 3: Get more personalized support with 1:1 mind renewal coaching at www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching.
DISCLAIMER
The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.

12. Do I Really Have the Holy Spirit? Facts, Faith, and Freedom

Not feeling the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean you don’t have Him. Many believers wrestle with doubt, uncertainty, and feelings that don’t line up with their faith. In today’s episode, we dig into three powerful words—Facts, Faith, Feelings—and discover how this order can help you renew your mind, break destructive habits, and walk in confidence with the Spirit of God.I’ll share part of my own winding faith journey and the breaking point that shifted me from knowing about God to actually walking with Him. Together, we’ll explore how science and scripture beautifully agree that your brain can be rewired, and that the Holy Spirit is your partner in the process of transformation.You don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thoughts. You can wire out whatever you’ve wired in. Freedom is possible when you anchor to God’s facts, choose faith, and let feelings follow.Grab your notebook and let’s walk this out!
Ready to break free from destructive choices?
Join Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple—our free Facebook community of listeners where knowledge moves to application and transformation. Every week we share challenges, encouragement, and accountability that calm the chaos.✝️ Join now:  Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
 
🎙️Hear about the miracle that started it all – EP 1: The Story Behind Day One of Sobriety
🔗Read the Day One of Sobriety Blog
 
Contact & Connect
📩 Contact ➡ brenda@day1ofsobriety.org🎧 Podcast ➡ https://www.day1ofsobriety.org/podcast👥 Facebook ➡ @day1ofsobriety📸 Instagram ➡ @day1ofsobriety
 
Next Steps
Step 1: Join others who are breaking free from toxic thoughts and painful pasts at our free Facebook group Mind Renewal Solutions Made SimpleStep 2: Do you have an overcomer story you’d like to share? Email me at brenda@day1ofsobriety.orgStep 3: Get more personalized support with 1:1 mind renewal coaching at www.day1ofsobriety.org/coaching
 
DISCLAIMER
The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.