Becoming Whole

Send us a textWhat if the missing piece in your recovery journey isn't more discipline or accountability, but specific kinds of rest you've been overlooking? Dr. Sondra Dalton-Smith's concept of "sacred rest" offers a framework for understanding why many of us remain stuck in cycles of unwanted sexual behavior despite our best efforts. Kyle Bowman and I explore how three distinct types of rest—physical, mental, and emotional—directly impact our ability to heal from sexual brokenness.This conversation challenges the subtle Gnosticism that pervades Christian thinking—the idea that physical limitations are spiritual weaknesses rather than divine design. Even Jesus slept! Your recovery journey might transform not through trying harder but through resting more intentionally in the ways your body, mind, and heart truly need.Resources:Sacred RestRest QuizHealthy, Holy Alternatives from Awaken 360Boundaries by Cloud and TownsendLectio Divina For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textRecovery fatigue is a rarely discussed but a common experience for men trying to rebuild after betrayal. What happens when all the meetings, check-ins, and recovery work start to feel overwhelming or—worse yet—like they're not making a difference?Dan Drake, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex addiction therapist with over 20 years of experience, joins us to unpack this challenging reality. He shares insights on how recovery motivation makes all the difference: "If I'm checking boxes trying to do these things to get my wife back and stop her from pestering me, that's going to be a different motivation than 'I get to do these things to thrive and become a better human being.'"Resources:Awaken RetreatThe Intimacy PyramidKintsugi Recovery Partners (Find a Disclosure Guide)Books:Surviving the HolidaysBuilding True IntimacyFull Disclosure (For the Disclosing Individual)Full Disclosure: Seeking Truth After Sexual Betrayal Vol 1 (For Partners)Full Disclosure: Seeking Truth After Sexual Betrayal Vol 2 (For Partners)Full Disclosure: Seeking Truth After Sexual Betrayal Vol 3 (For Partners) For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textCaught between exploding and imploding? You're not alone. This episode uncovers the hidden connection between acting out (through behaviors like porn, alcohol, or overworking) and acting in (through withdrawal, passive-aggression, and emotional shutdown). What looks like self-control on the surface might actually be self-contempt in disguise.Ready for transformation? Join us for the men's Awaken retreat (October 3-5) or the women's Sacred by Design retreat (November 7-8). Space is limited, so reserve your spot today through the link in our show notes.Resources:Retreat linksDr. Nathanson on ShameMinwalla ModelBrene Brown's Ted Talk on Shame For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat if your recovery from unwanted sexual behaviors could be strengthened by simple physical practices you've overlooked? In this episode, we dive into often-forgotten physical disciplines that transform spiritual recovery. From breathing techniques that calm the nervous system during moments of temptation to the profound impact of proper hydration on decision-making, we explore how our bodies are designed to function optimally through specific practices.Whether you're just beginning your recovery journey or have been walking it for years, these physical disciplines offer practical tools for creating the optimal conditions where spiritual transformation can flourish. This is part 2 of this podcast, and we encourage you to listen to part 1 if you haven't already.Resources:Harvard Prof Arthur Brooks For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textHave you ever considered that your body might be your greatest ally—not your enemy—in recovery from unwanted sexual behaviors? Many of us approach healing as primarily spiritual or psychological, overlooking the role our physical existence plays in transformation.Your body isn't just a vessel carrying your spirit through life; it's an integrated part of who God designed you to be. From the very beginning, Genesis shows humanity as formed from dust and brought to life by divine breath—we are simultaneously matter and spirit. This isn't incidental to your recovery journey—it's foundational.In this episode, Josh Glaser and James Craig explore five physical disciplines that God has woven into our design as assets for healing: breathing, hydration, eating, sleeping, and exercise. These aren't merely biological necessities but theological realities that point to our dependence on our Creator. Each discipline, when practiced intentionally, helps regulate our bodies and minds, creating space for healthier choices and emotional stability.Resources:Harvard Prof Arthur Brooks For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat if the solution to overcoming pornography addiction isn't found in behavior modification but in healing your heart? In this episode, Sathiya Sam shares how addressing the root causes of unwanted sexual behavior leads to genuine freedom that behavior-focused approaches simply can't deliver.Sathiya, the architect behind Deep Clean—a program that has helped thousands of men overcome pornography addiction—reveals his personal 15-year battle with porn that began at age 11. His journey from struggle to freedom led him to develop an approach combining biblical wisdom with scientific research that targets what lies beneath the surface of compulsive sexual behavior.Ready to move beyond surface solutions? Listen now to discover how true freedom begins below the waterline.Resources:Man Within Podcast For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textThe world has a plan for your formation—are you consciously designing your counter-strategy? In this episode, we continue our conversation about developing a "rule of life" that helps us resist the powerful current of cultural formation pulling us away from Christ-likeness.We tackle one of the most common obstacles to spiritual disciplines—the subtle belief that these practices earn God's favor rather than create space for relationship. When morning prayer becomes an obligation rather than a connection, we've missed the point entirely. Instead, we explore how disciplines function as training exercises that prepare us for lives of love.Resources from this episode:Rule of Life WorkbookCelebration of Discipline by Richard FosterSacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley BartonDaily examen For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textFreedom doesn't happen by accident. Whether we realize it or not, our daily routines, habits, and patterns are shaping who we're becoming—either drawing us deeper into wholeness or reinforcing cycles of brokenness.The practice of a "rule of life" offers hope and structure for those struggling with unwanted sexual behaviors. From scripture reading and prayer to solitude, fasting, and physical exercise, we discuss practical disciplines that support recovery from sexual struggles. Rather than one-size-fits-all prescriptions, we discuss how to personalize these practices to match your unique needs, personality, and circumstances.Jesus himself demonstrated a pattern of spiritual practices: early morning solitude, regular community worship, and intimate relationships with close disciples. His example invites us to consider what practices might create space in our busy lives to be with Him, become like Him, and do what He did.Resources from this episode:Rule of Life WorkbookCelebration of Discipline by Richard FosterSacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley BartonDaily examen For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat happens when a seminary-educated lesbian pastor encounters the Holy Spirit in an unexpected way? Elizabeth Woning never planned to question her gay identity or theology. As a gay-affirming Presbyterian minister, she believed the church needed to change, not her sexuality. Then came the moment that shattered everything. During an awkward visit to a Pentecostal youth service, a teenage boy approached her with a prophetic word that answered a private prayer she'd never shared. "Does God know me specifically?" she wondered. "And if He does, I have no idea who He is."This realization launched Elizabeth on a years-long journey of reexamining Scripture without her postmodern filters. What she discovered challenged everything she believed about identity, sexuality, and the human body. As co-founder of The Change Movement, she now offers a provocative perspective on why labels like "gay Christian" might actually limit our human experience and separate us from the full work of redemption God wants to do.Elizabeth's story raises several questions: Can same-sex attraction be viewed more like depression - something experienced but not identity-defining? How does Christ's incarnation speak to the unity of body and spirit in ways our culture misses? What happens when we stop letting our desires define us and instead allow God's love to become our primary identity?Episode resources:https://changedmovement.com/https://changedmovement.com/navigating-lgbtq For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)

Send us a textWhat if your sexual struggles aren't merely obstacles to overcome but doorways to deeper healing? In this episode we welcome our guest Marco Casanova as he shares his story and journey of wholeness. As Associate Director of Desert Stream Ministries and coordinator of their Living Waters program, Marco brings a fresh perspective to one of our culture's most polarizing topics. Having left the Catholic seminary after eight years when he realized his same-sex attraction made him uncertain about celibacy, Marco shares how discovering Living Waters transformed his understanding of his sexuality and ultimately his destiny.For anyone struggling with unwanted sexual attractions, addictions, or desires—or for those who love someone who does—this conversation offers both challenge and hope. The church, Marco suggests, should be a place where people have "the freedom to struggle" without shame but with a vision of who they're becoming in Christ.Resources:Desert Stream MinistriesLiving WatersOur Bodies Tell God's Story by Christopher WestMan and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by John Paul IIA Meditation on Givenness by John Paul II For more information or to join click one of the links below.Manna - Men seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Oasis - Women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, temptation, and shame.Compass - Wives seeking healing from betrayal and broken trust. Awaken Men's Retreat 2025 - Register Today! Free Resources to help you on your journey to Becoming Whole 👉Men's Overcoming Lust & Temptation Devotional👉Women 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Women overcoming unwanted sexual Behavior)👉Compass 21-Day Prayer Journal & Devotional - (Wives who are or have been impacted by partner betrayal)