Get Your Hopes Up with Christy Wright

Four Ways to Have More Fun with Annie F. Downs   0:55 Want to have more fun? Do this. 11:26 Watch Rachel Cruze and me surprise Annie F Downs! 37:12 How to Live an Abundant Life Resources Christy's Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You. It will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. https://bit.ly/2MIBpSt   Christy's 5-Day Confidence BoostSign up for my free 5-Day Confidence Boost. You'll receive five days of encouragement focused on helping you become a more confident you! https://bit.ly/3hSBL4k     You only get one life on this earth. It should be fun! On today's show, we're talking about how important it is to just play and be silly and feel like a kid again. And I get to talk to my good friend and "fun expert," Annie F. Downs, about practical ways we can add more fun to our lives. To wrap up, we'll journal about a powerful verse from the Book of John about living an abundant life.   Want to have more fun? Do this. In today's teaching, I'll share a few simple steps you can take to bring fun back into your life.  If we're intentional, we can create unforgettable moments for ourselves and the people we care about. Fun is a big deal. I'll shoot you straight: If you don't make time for fun in your life, you won't be any fun to be around. You have this one life to live-so make joy a priority.   Watch Rachel Cruze and me surprise Annie F Downs! I always have fun when I spend time with my good friend Annie F. Downs. She's an author, a speaker, a Bible teacher, and the host of the That Sounds Fun podcast. We'll talk about how to take breaks from the busyness and responsibility of life to simply enjoy the beauty and innocence of fun. And by the way . . . this interview comes with an extra fun surprise.   How to Live an Abundant Life The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)   This is such a beautiful verse about the abundant life that we enjoy as we follow Jesus. It's easy to think about this promise only in the future tense-that someday we'll experience full life. But there's a real practical implication for our lives right now. To help apply today's topic on fun, here are a few journal questions: What does an abundant life mean to you? What do you do for fun? Do you make time for fun? If not, what gets in the way? What's one fun thing you're going to commit to this week?

Are You Ready to Take Control of Your Money in 2021? with Chris Hogan   0:55 How to Win With Money in 2021 8:14 Why It's Time for a Money RESET! with Chris Hogan 28:48 What the Bible Says About Your Money . . . Resources Reset LiveStart fresh on your financial goals for 2021. Text RESET to 33789 to reserve your seat for our free digital event Reset Live on January 12 at 7 p.m. CT. Ramsey+ Get on a plan to help you win with money with Ramsey+: https://bit.ly/3op6xnY We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   Today, we're talking about something that affects every area of life: money. I get to interview my good friend Chris Hogan-who will help us dream big and invest for our financial futures. Finally, we'll wrap up with a few journal questions to help us better understand what the Bible says about money.   How to Win With Money in 2021 How do you feel about the word budget? Whether it makes you want to yawn, or run away, or pull out your spreadsheets and get to work, I want to convince you of one important truth today: A budget it not a killjoy. Sure, it doesn't sound very exciting at first, but do you know what is exciting? Paying for your vacation with cash. Saving for your kid's college. Feeling a sense of peace and contentment in your life because you have what you need. This teaching segment focuses on how to use the power of a budget to move your money goals from dreams to reality.   Why It's Time for a Money RESET! with Chris Hogan I get to sit down with my good friend and bestselling author Chris Hogan to unpack some of the common obstacles that keep us from making progress with money. If we want to actually make some changes in 2021, we need the right mindset, the proper tools and a spirit that's willing to give it a try. Chris sums it up so well: "Don't let pride get in the way of your progress. Ask for help and believe that you can get better."   What the Bible Says About Your Money . . . "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.'" Luke 14:28-30 (NIV)   God's word is full of practical wisdom about money. Today's passage teaches us that we are called and commanded to plan-to sit down and estimate the cost of what we feel God leading us to do. If you want to get married this year, or have a baby, or buy a house, or build wells in Africa, you need a budget! Here are a few journal questions to help you process today's verse: How do you feel about the word budget? Be honest! What dreams do you have for this year? Write down all the hopes and goals you have of things you'd like to buy, invest in, and save for this year. Have you budgeted for the things you wrote about in number two? What is one thing you're going to do this week to start working on your plan?

Do You Know Your TRUE IDENTITY? with Matthew West   0:58 The First Step To Being Yourself 9:45 How To Embrace the Plan That God Has For You with Matthew West 42:47 This is Who You Are in God's Eyes... Resources Christy's New Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, that will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. Get your copy today: https://bit.ly/3nsUTbm Christy's 5-Day Confidence Boost Sign up for Christy's free 5-Day Confidence Boost. You'll receive five days of encouragement focused on helping you become a more confident you! https://bit.ly/3mjEmVz We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   We're kicking off the new year with an important topic: Where does your identity come from? Do we take our cues from Pinterest or Instagram influencers or what our boss says about us? We'll get some life-changing answers from God's Word. Plus, I get to sit down with award-winning songwriter Matthew West to talk about his new book on identity: Hello, My Name Is.   The First Step to Being Yourself When we're feeling lost, we cling to our titles and our roles, and we hold on to what we can accomplish or what others say about us. But there's a deeper truth to keep us grounded, even when people and circumstances change around us. In today's teaching, I'll share a story about one of the first times I ever heard God speak to me and the powerful truth he taught me about identity.   How to Embrace the Plan That God Has for You with Matthew West Y'all, I am so excited to sit down with award-winning musician Matthew West to talk about his new album, Brand New, and new book, Hello, My Name Is: Discover Your True Identity. We get all sorts of labels from the world around us-from what we've done or failed to do, from what we wear, drive or eat, from where we work, or who we hang out with. But, as Matthew points out, discovering who you are starts with knowing whose you are. On your best and your worst day, you can know that God loves you. You can choose to believe what He says about you instead of creating an identity for yourself. This is the foundation for the greatest confidence in the world.   This Is Who You Are in God's Eyes . . . But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. . . Because you are precious in my eyes, And honored, and I love you." - Isaiah 43:1, 4 (ESV) Precious and honored probably aren't the words you'd normally use to describe how you're feeling. But regardless of how you feel, what you've done or haven't done, or what's been done to you, you are a child of God-if you have chosen to enter into relationship with Him. He loves you. So, to help us really grasp our identity as children of God, here are a few journal questions to think about: Where do you normally find your identity? How does it feel to think that God is all yours, all the time? How does it feel to imagine that you never get on God's nerves? In what areas of life do you need God to remind you who you are?

Why You Should Stop Trying to Be Perfect with GiGi Butler   0:47 Three Ways to Let Go of the Pressure to Be Perfect 13:38 The Importance of Being Original with GiGi Butler 25:54 Are You Under A Lot of Pressure? Resources Christy's New Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, that will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. Get your copy today: https://bit.ly/3gS8xSw Christy's 5-Day Confidence Boost Sign up for Christy's free 5-Day Confidence Boost. You'll receive five days of encouragement focused on helping you become a more confident you! https://bit.ly/384CLxO We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   The pressure to live a picture-perfect life is everywhere, isn't it? We're always chasing impossible standards for the perfect body, business, spouse, kids and family. Today, we're going to talk about how to let go of the pressure to be perfect and embrace our missteps and mistakes. It's time to move past the fear of imperfection and live an authentic life.   3 Ways to Let Go of the Pressure to Be Perfect Today, we're talking about how to let go of the pressure to be perfect. I don't know about you, but I feel this pressure on an almost daily basis. We're always chasing some perceived idea of the perfect body, the perfect mom, the perfect house, or the perfect job. But when we choose to let go of our own impossibly high standards and stop focusing on our weaknesses, we can actually live an authentic life. We'll unpack three main ways to let go of perfection: Focus on what's right. Laugh about what's wrong. Redefine "good."   The Importance of Being Original with GiGi Butler "Life isn't about being perfect: It's about being original." These powerful words are from my friend Gigi Butler, entrepreneur and founder of GiGi's Cupcakes. Gigi and I talk about how waiting to make a move until everything is perfect will leave you stuck. Because first of all, perfection doesn't exist. And more importantly, God did not create you to be average or to try to pattern your life after someone else's version of perfect. He created you for a unique purpose that only you can accomplish.   Are You Under a Lot of Pressure? "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original." - Galatians 5:25-26 (The Message) I love this passage of Scripture because it reminds us that God has big plans for each one of us. We can choose to spend our lives missing out by constantly comparing ourselves to someone else's version of success. But as this verse reminds us, "We have far more interesting things to do with our lives." Here are a few journal questions to help you think and pray through today's teaching on perfection: What's going right in your life right now? What's good? What's going wrong that you can laugh about? How can you redefine "good"?

Are You Owning Your Story? with Mary Marantz   0:56 It's Time for a New Christmas Tradition! 10:24 From Trailer Life to Yale Law School with Mary Marantz 23:00 Can You Answer These Three Questions About Yourself? Resources Christy's New Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, that will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. Get your copy today: https://bit.ly/3mxoa3T Christy's 5-Day Confidence Boost Sign up for Christy's free 5-Day Confidence Boost. You'll receive five days of encouragement focused on helping you become a more confident you! https://bit.ly/3fZh71w We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   Merry Christmas! This time each year we celebrate and remember one of the greatest stories ever told. So, today, we're going to talk about the importance of your story. My new friend Mary Marantz joins us to talk about her story and how she's using it to help others (and how you can too). And then we'll take some time to pause, reflect and journal. Let's dive in!   It's Time for a New Christmas Tradition! We all have Christmas traditions. My husband and I have this Christmas tradition where we write a letter of everything that happened during the year-major events, prayers, goals and dreams. We pack up the letters with our ornaments, then read them the following year when we open our boxes to decorate again. It's always amazing to see just how much can happen in one year's time. But when you're writing a letter like this, you don't know what the next year will hold. Your perspective is so limited from where you're sitting. You might feel like there are pieces of your story that have no purpose. But what I love is that God works all things together for your good-even the hard things. Even those wilderness seasons where you're wondering if God has forgotten you. God can even use those for your good.   From Trailer Life to Yale Law School with Mary Marantz I'm so excited because my new friend Mary Marantz is joining us to talk about her new book, Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful. Mary is a podcaster, author and speaker, and she has an incredible story that I know you'll love. Mary and I talk about running from failure (and stumbling into success), speaking life over yourself and others, and the beauty and importance of our stories.   Can You Answer These Three Questions About Yourself? "'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Then the angel left her." - Luke 1:38 (NIV) This verse is such a great reminder for you and me. God can speak to us in ways that seem crazy, impractical, illogical or impossible. But when God gives you a dream or prompts you to go in a certain direction, you can still faithfully and obediently say, "You're God, and I'm not. And I trust what you're doing in my life, even though it doesn't make sense to me right now, and even though I might not like it." So, I want to give you some journal questions to process as you think about what this means for your life and where you are right now-especially in this Christmas season. Where do you sense God leading you right now? How have you felt about your own personal story in the past? Where have you seen God's faithfulness in your story?

How to Find Restoration This Year With Lecrae   0:51 Feeling Lost and Broken? Watch This. 9:33 Why You're Never Too Messed Up for a Restoration with Lecrae 25:30 What Healing Do You Need? Resources Christy's New Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, that will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. Get your copy today: https://bit.ly/3fBB6TN Christy's 5-Day Confidence Boost Sign up for Christy's free 5-Day Confidence Boost. You'll receive five days of encouragement focused on helping you become a more confident you! https://bit.ly/39dOsoi We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   This year has left so many people hopeless and wondering if things will ever change. So, today on the show, we're talking about how we can have hope that things can change, even if it feels impossible. Then, I'm so excited because bestselling author, rapper, recording artist and businessman Lecrae is joining us to talk about restoration. Finally, we'll take some time to pray and journal. It's going to be so good!   Feeling Lost and Broken? Watch This. Our God is a God who restores. He cares about the big things and the small things and everything in between. There have been so many times when God's displayed that in my life. Let me give you an example: When I was 23 years old, I moved to this little house that backed up to the Harpeth River. I decided it was the perfect opportunity to get a canoe, and my mom had a friend who owned a canoe company. So, I got an old, beat up yellow canoe that didn't have seats and even had some holes in the bottom, and it was perfect. I fixed it up and enjoyed it the entire summer. One day, I was so exhausted after canoeing that I decided not to pull the canoe all the way up the hill into my backyard and just flipped it over on the hillside. When I came out the next day, it was gone. Someone had stolen it. I felt so guilty for leaving it outside the fence and told myself I didn't deserve another canoe. But a year and a half later, I moved to another house surrounded by the same river and decided it was time for another canoe. I asked my mom to call her friend again, and a few days later she pulled down the old gravel drive of my farmhouse with the same yellow canoe. I couldn't believe it. Turns out, someone had stolen the canoe, and the store owner's wife saw it propped up on someone's porch. Listen: God cares. So, if you're questioning if God sees you, if He cares about you, or if He cares about the little things . . . He does.   Why You're Never Too Messed Up for a Restoration with Lecrae Y'all, I'm so excited because I get to sit down with bestselling author, rapper, recording artist and businessman Lecrae to discuss the work he's doing with his brand-new album and book. We cover a lot of ground, but here are some highlights: Reigniting hope during hard times Separating your identity from your circumstances Finding restoration despite brokenness   What Healing Do You Need? "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5:1-11 (NIV) I love this promise and reminder that God knows everything and can do anything. If God said it, He will do it. He doesn't make broken promises. He can and will restore you when you trust Him with your deepest wounds and brokenness. He will make you steadfast and strong. Take some time to pray and write down the answers to these questions: Where do you need God to restore something in your life? What have you given up on in your...

What Your Money Habits Say About You   0:53 Why Learning About Money Is So Important 8:05 The Secret to Understanding Money with Rachel Cruze 27:49 Why You Should Be Asking God for Wisdom Resources Christy's New Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, that will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. Get your copy today: https://bit.ly/3mfo3Kt Christy's 5-Day Confidence Boost Sign up for Christy's free 5-Day Confidence Boost. You'll receive five days of encouragement focused on helping you become a more confident you! https://bit.ly/3nKRGUa We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   There's something that you need to do and you may not even realize it: Learn how to manage your money. That's right, today my good friend and New York Times bestselling author Rachel Cruze is joining me to talk about all things money and her new book, Know Yourself, Know Your Money. Then we'll dive into Scripture and spend some time journaling.   Why Learning About Money Is So Important So many of us never learned how to manage money growing up. And if you never learned how to manage money growing up, then you don't know how to manage your money now. You might be living paycheck to paycheck, barely getting by, and trying to pay your bills. You might be dreading those bills coming to your mailbox or inbox and struggling to keep your head above water. And you might just think, This is as good as it gets. There's more for you than just getting by. You can learn how to manage your money. You can learn how to live on less than you make so you can actually have some money. The trick to having money isn't just to make more money-it's spending less money. And that's hard, but when you learn about it, you can do it. You'll feel more powerful, more in control, more proud of yourself and more hopeful about the future because you realize that the person in control of that future is you.   The Secret to Understanding Money with Rachel Cruze My good friend and bestselling author Rachel Cruze is joining us on the show today to talk about her new book, Know Yourself, Know Your Money. Y'all, this isn't just another money book (although it will help you in that area too). It's all about the "why" of why you handle money the way you do. In her book, Rachel helps you really dig into your spending habits and values.   Why You Should Be Asking God for Wisdom "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." - James 1:5 (NIV) You and I are so good at trying to fix things ourselves, aren't we?  Oftentimes, when I face a problem in my life, I immediately go into problem-solving mode. And time after time, I run into dead ends and keep coming up empty-handed. After days or weeks of this, I'll have an epiphany: Why don't I ask God about this? I'm so quick to try to pull myself up by my bootstraps and fix everything. And sometimes that works out for me, but a lot of times it doesn't. Here's the reality: If you're in a place where you're struggling financially or in any area of your life, there are things that you can do to fix it. But you also can seek wisdom and ask God (who gives generously without finding fault) to meet you there. He will provide for you. He will provide information, resources, steps. He will provide discipline. And if you need it, He will provide discernment and correction. I have a few journal questions to help you process and pray through this: In what area of your life do you need wisdom and help right now? What do you wish was different about your financial situation? What are you going to do to learn...

How to Have the Best Christmas   0:45 What People Really Want This Christmas 7:59 Always Running Out of Time? This Is Why. 17:07 Why Slowing Down Is So Important Resources Christy's New Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, that will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. Get your copy today: https://bit.ly/2UEwRgM Christy's 5-Day Confidence Boost Sign up for Christy's free 5-Day Confidence Boost. You'll receive five days of encouragement focused on helping you become a more confident you! https://bit.ly/2UAMpC0 We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   The very best gift that you can give others and yourself this Christmas is your presence, your attention and your eye contact. So, today on the show, I'm talking about one of the biggest distractions we all struggle with: our phones. Then, I want to unpack some wisdom from John Mark Comer's book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Finally, I'll leave you with a few questions that will help you really apply this to your lives. Let's jump in.   What People Really Want This Christmas Every single human being has a need to feel seen. That's why the very best gift you can give others and yourself this Christmas is simply your presence, your attention and your eye contact. And let's be honest. We all struggle with how much time we spend on our phones. It steals our moments and our ability to be present for the people who matter the most. When you start intentionally putting your phone down and engaging the person in front of you, you start to realize the gift is not just for the other person-it's a gift for you as well. If you want a great Christmas, you have to show up for it and actually experience it yourself. Believe me: You won't be disappointed.   Always Running Out of Time? This Is Why. I've been reading an incredible book by John Mark Comer called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. In the book, John talks about the impact our technology is having on our lives and even our attention spans. So, I want to share some of that research with you: In the year 2000, before the digital revolution, our attention span was 12 seconds. It has dropped to eight seconds, to put things in perspective. A goldfish has an attention span of nine seconds. Yeah-we're losing to goldfish. If we can understand the dangerous, addictive nature of technology, screens, apps and notifications, we can guard against it. We can put boundaries and guardrails around our use of technology to help us focus on what matters most. So, if your phone isn't the most important thing in your life, then stop acting like it is. Stop giving it that much of your attention, your eye contact, your energy and your time. What if you just let yourself live in the moment and experience things in real time? What if you looked up, made eye contact, and were actually present for the people and the moments that mattered the most to you? I think, if you'd do that, you'd completely change how you experience your own life.   Why Slowing Down Is So Important "Be still, and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10 (NIV) A lot of us have this inner drive-this pull-to be everything to everyone. And if I'm honest, a lot of my hurry and rushing and activity and need to do all the things all the time for all the people comes from this deeper need to be the hero and to save the day. I have this Mother Teresa complex. Like, Well, if I don't do it, who will? If I don't do it, it won't get done. As if, somehow, the world hangs on my shoulders (which is laughable). We're busy, we're burned out, and we're running ragged. We're running ourselves to the ground. This verse doesn't ask...

How to "Deal" With Your In-Laws   0:53 Five Rules to Have the Best Relationship With Your In-laws 15:46 Why Relationships Are So Hard with John Delony 42:07 Let's Talk About Your In-Laws Resources Christy's 5-Day Confidence Boost Sign up for Christy's free 5-Day Confidence Boost. You'll receive five days of encouragement focused on helping you become a more confident you! https://bit.ly/3njJgTC Christy's New Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, that will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. Get your copy today: https://bit.ly/2IxPW12 We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   Today, we're talking about how to "deal" with your in-laws so you can have the best relationship possible. I'm so excited because my friend (and fellow Ramsey Personality) Dr. John Delony joins us to talk about navigating relationships in our lives. Then, we'll spend some time journaling about what we can do to apply this truth to our lives.   5 Rules to Have the Best Relationship With Your In-laws There's one particular relationship that research shows is the hardest of all: the relationship between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law. I've even done some reading on this because I'm asked about it so much. People really struggle with their relationship with their in-laws. That's why I worked with my own mother-in-law to come up with five rules for improving your relationship. If both people do this, the relationship will improve: Appreciate everything. Invest in the relationship. Communicate. Be confident. Put yourself in their shoes.   Why Relationships Are So Hard with John Delony I'm so excited because Dr. John Delony joins us in studio to talk about navigating our relationships with our in-laws. Y'all, this is good stuff. We cover everything from marriage and setting boundaries to learning how to communicate well so we can have the best relationships possible. I hope you lean in and take away some great tips that will help you navigate and pour into the relationships in your own life.   Let's Talk About Your In-Laws "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." - 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) How many things would be solved if we just loved each other? How many things would be easier if we just thought of how we could show love? It's so easy to get frustrated with family and take them for granted, but family's also a sacred relationship and a role that no one else gets to fill. That's why it's on us to lead the relationship. Don't sit back and take a passive approach. We have an opportunity to love first. So, I've got a few questions for you as you process this and think about how to apply it to your own life: What are 10 things you're grateful for about your in-laws? What's one healthy boundary you want to set and communicate with your in-laws? What's one way you're going to show love to your in-laws this week?

The Key to Knowing Where You're Going: Getting Back to You Part 4   0:55 Why You Should Get Your Hopes Up About the Future 9:52 Is Fear Holding You Back with Patsy Clairmont 39:44 Stop Guarding Your Heart Resources Christy's New Devotional - Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to YouGet back to you with my brand-new devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, that will help you break through the busyness of life and build the confidence you need to embrace the person you want to be. Get your copy today: https://bit.ly/2I4LAif We want to hear your feedback about The Christy Wright Show! Email us at hello@christywright.com to let us know what you think of the show.   We're continuing our journey to get back to you today with Part 4: Knowing Where You're Going. We're going to dive into what God says about your future. Then the always amazing and hilarious Patsy Clairmont joins us to share her valuable wisdom. Finally, we'll take some time to journal and work through what this means for our lives. Let's go!   Why You Should Get Your Hopes Up About the Future "You don't have to guard your heart with me." That's what God told me one Sunday morning in church as I kept trying to push back something I wanted so badly. It felt selfish, and it felt greedy. So, I kept pushing it away. And there, as I was worshiping in church, I felt this gentle whisper: "Get your hopes up? I'm the God of hope." In the middle of that moment, I was truly transformed. And it wasn't about getting what I wanted. It was about understanding how God feels about me, my heart and my desires. So, get your hopes up. He created your heart. He knows what to do with every desire He's given you. And He knows what to do with every broken piece when you're disappointed. He's the God of hope. There's something so powerful that happens when you own your desires, open your heart, and are honest with God about who you are and what you want.   Is Fear Holding You Back with Patsy Clairmont I'm so excited because today, I'm sitting down with one of my favorite authors, speakers, and Bible teachers, Patsy Clairmont. I love her, and I know you will too. Patsy and I covered a lot of ground, but here are some highlights: Getting our hopes up with God Owning your disappointment Being obedient in the small things   Stop Guarding Your Heart "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13 (NIV) Our God is a God of hope. Of course, we should get our hopes up because our hope isn't in ourselves. It's not in our circumstances or our situation. Our hope is in God, who is the God of hope. You don't have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. You don't have to be a good Christian, check all the boxes, or do your Bible study every day for God to meet you where you are and fill you with hope. You and I have every reason to get our hopes up because our God is the God of hope. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can actually overflow with hope. Take some time to sit and pray and answer these questions: How have you been guarding your heart from God? What dreams and desires do you have right now? Write down a prayer of trust and faith and hope and give those desires to God.