Unlocking Freedom Podcast

Our recovery group meets every Monday night at 7pm CDT online! DM us @unlocking.freedom on Instagram for the link to that group.

We are labeled righteous the moment we receive salvation.
Romans 8:1
We have child of God benefits because of Jesus.

As He is, so are you.
Colossians 2:13-15
Jesus went to hell, grabbed the keys, and publicly shamed the enemy.
Jesus cleared your record.

Your identity is RIGHTEOUS. Refuse to take your identity from your sin and struggles.
Holy Spirit convicts you of your righteousness, not your sin.
Galatians 2:20-21
If you have to work for your righteousness, then why did Jesus go to the Cross?
2 Corinthians 5:21
God is not fair if you still have to work for what Jesus already paid for.

You’re either depending on Jesus or you’re depending on your own strength.
You don’t have a sin problem, you have a sin condition.
Behavior modification is exhausting. Shift your thinking to your righteousness.
Sin-consciousness - guilt, shame, defeat, based on what you can/can’t do
Righteousness-consciousness - victory, authority, based on what Jesus has done

You have to understand that YOU ARE LOVED.
You don’t have to earn God’s love.
Childlike faith is fully walking in your identity and your access as a child of God.
You are God’s favorite. You are the one that Jesus loves.

Seek first the Kingdom and all will be added. — Matthew 6
The Holy Spirit wants to be your helper!

You’re never too far gone.
You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
When your BEING is secure your DOING will follow.

Is your urgency radar out of order? Are you surrounded by urgent people?
If you find yourself turning to quick fixes, urgency may be a root in your life you need to address.

Negative emotion can lead to addiction, but there’s also an urgency addiction.
What comes first, addiction or urgency?? Definitely goes back to impulsivity.

Are your thoughts positive or negative? Hold onto hope, you CAN renew your mind!
Boundaries are so important— they bring accountability.

John 11 — The story of Lazarus
Lazarus was sick and Jesus was sent news about it.
V6 - Jesus is in no rush to get there.
When Jesus gets there, Lazarus is dead and He is approached with so much emotion.
Jesus didn’t give into the urgency, and He also wasn’t bothered by it.
Jesus modeled peace in this situation.

John 16:33 — peace is available to you.
The world’s definition of peace is tranquility/quiet. You may not have that in this world. God’s definition of peace is to be at rest. He has overcome and He’s already won the victory.

We recommend the book: To Hell With The Hustle - Jefferson Bethke

What’s the point? If you aren’t connecting with the Holy Spirit and community, does what your doing have a point??
John 14:25-27 — you have a helper, the Holy Spirit
HS gives you peace, not as the world gives, but HIS peace
420 times peace is mentioned in the Bible; peace is important!
Peace is powerful.
Peace is contagious.

Where are you going when you feel urgency?
Are you running to others or are you running to Jesus?

When emotions are high, clarity of thinking is low.
Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions.

Article:
https://www.promises.com/addiction-blog/negative-urgency-leads-to-impulsiveness-substance-abuse/#:~:text=Impact%20on%20Substance%20Use&text=Of%20all%20these%20influences%2C%20negative,%2C%20family%2C%20and%20legal%20problems

Grace has placed you on the other side of your troubles because you are on the other side of the Cross. Jesus already overcame what you are facing.

Romans 5:8
He doesn’t just love the best version of you, He loves YOU right now.

Mercy - off the hook for your mistakes
Grace - you get what you don’t deserve
Grace is a whole new level beyond mercy.

Put yourself in the circle of people that need grace. YOU deserve grace too.

— Daily Bread from Season 1 Episode 5 —

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 TPT
The evidence of belief is rest. - Creflo Dollar
There is always a portal for God’s power in your life.. Look for the portal!
Grace means there’s always an open door for God to move in your life.

Don’t miss God in your current season of life.
Stand in faith believing His promises and His faithfulness.
Faith requires TRUST.

God wants you to succeed! He is rooting for you! Grace is FOR you.

Sin-consciousness - guilt, shame, defeat, based on what you can/can’t do
Righteousness-consciousness - victory, authority, based on what Jesus has done

Philippians 4:8 - keep your mind on these things
Recognize the lies that you are believing.

Grace changes everything!

In today's episode, your Unlocking Freedom hosts Allison Burke (@allimom) and Kayla Dutton (@kayfergdutton) talk about FOCUS and how important it is to focus on what you are running towards instead of what you are running from if you want to make progress and keep momentum going in your journey. Follow us at @unlocking.freedom so you don't miss the next episode!

Where is your focus?

Titus 2:11-13

Plug into the present.

Philippians 3:13-14
FORGET ALL THE PAST AS I FASTEN MY HEART TO THE FUTURE INSTEAD — our one compelling focus.

Matthew 6:34
Be present in TODAY
Check out our Daily Bread episode (005) from season 1 for more on this topic.

Ecclesiastes 7:10
“the good ole days”

1 Samuel 7:3
Eyes on the prize — your victory comes from your focus.

Be gracious to the people running their races around you! Your lane is YOUR LANE and their lane is theirs.
You are called to obedience.
You can’t be fully obedient to the Lord when you are comparing yourself to others.

Acknowledge what you’ve done, but the past can’t be your focused.
I can’t change the past, I can’t see the future, but I can be in the present. Focus on reality and where you are at right now.
Your perspective is everything.

Gratitude grounds you to the present and centralizes your focus.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Jesus didn’t call you to struggle. He called you to SOAR.
Jesus is not going to let you down. He is going to keep you moving forward.

Colossians 1:12
Live in the light and FOLLOW THE LIGHT.

Sin isn’t the issue, SHAME is the issue.
Shame says “something’s wrong with me”
but Jesus says “you’re worth dying for!”

Psalms 121:7-8
He watches over your coming and going.
He will protect you now and He will protect you forevermore.
Follow peace.

Where is your focus??

We're back for season two! Follow us at @unlocking.freedom so you don't miss an episode.

New Year, New Me? // Goals vs Desires

Like we continually say, PROGRESS is perfect. It’s wise to look back and see what will benefit you moving forward and what you need to let go over and leave behind.
A fresh start brings HOPE. Embrace the fresh start of January and a new year, but bring your TESTIMONY with you.

New year new me? New year UPGRADED me.
Upgrade the iOS of your spirit.

Hebrews 12:1 TPT
What are the wounds that have pierced you?
What are the struggles you keep falling back into?

Desires vs Goals
Are you setting attainable goals or do you just have a list of desires?
DESIRES are great but they aren’t productive unless you have GOALS to help you achieve those desires.
SMART GOALS
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Timely
Desires bring you vision. Goals bring you discipline.

Have you already failed some of your resolutions for this year? Start back up! Reassess every month if you have to, but make your goals attainable. Ask yourself: is this what I want most over what I want now?

Every month, journal these categories:
Personal wins
What you learned
Important goals met
Ways you took care of yourself
Who you connected with
You will remember
Key purchases made
What you are grateful for

Ephesians 4:22-25 TPT
V23 its time to be made new by REVELATION.
Let His revelation transform you.

Psalm 127:1-2 TPT

Let your progress be a blessing to the people around you.
You are gaining ground and building authority by stewarding the season you are in well.

Today your Unlocking Freedom (@unlocking.freedom) co-hosts Kayla (@kayfergdutton) and Allison (@allimom) talk about how to create healthier habits in your life and how to sustain those habits. Reach out to Kayla ([email protected]) if you are struggling with  substance cravings due to addiction and need some support.

Philippians 3:12-16 TPT
Progress is perfect!
You steps may be wobbly at first but those baby steps are crucial.
Your commitment to the process will determine your progress.
Celebrate your little victories!

Focus on establishing new habits! You can improve them as you go. Getting started is the hardest step.
You only have to make 1% progress every day and you will be 37x times better at the end of one year.

“Discipline: what you want MOST over what you want NOW” - Craig Groeschel
2 Corinthians 4:18

Set time aside for YOU. Become the designer of your day instead of the consumer of it. Get out of response mode and tell your day how it’s going to go. Are you on the defense or the offense side of your life?

Plug into a community where your desired behaviors are the normal. There’s accountability there! We mimic the close, the tribe, and the powerful. Who are you surrounding yourself with?

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” - Craig Groeschel

1 John 3:1-2 TPT
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

Link your identity to your habits to find lasting results.
Be the type of person that does whatever habit you are trying to pick up.

Reading Recommendations:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Abstinence Myth by Dr Adi Jaffe
Winning The War In Your Mind by Craig Groeschel
Soundtracks by Jon Acuff

Part 1 of conversations on vulnerability with your Unlocking Freedom hosts Allison Burke (@allimom) and Kayla Dutton (@kayfergdutton). Reach out to us at @unlocking.freedom on Instagram! We want to hear how you liked this episode and any questions you have.

Society says vulnerability is weakness, but we say you are STRONG when you are vulnerable!
You can’t have true community without vulnerability, and you can’t have true freedom without community.
To love is to be vulnerable.

“We may impress people with our strengths, but we connect with people through our weaknesses.” - Craig Groeschel
We transform the world by transforming ourselves.
Vulnerability starts with you!

The importance of vulnerability is HEALING.
“Shame happens between people and it heals between people.” - Brene Brown
Shame’s narrative is that you can’t talk about your weakness and have to keep it locked up, but sharing and shining light on your shame is where healing can come in.
Someone else’s healing lies in your vulnerability.

“You’re either going to talk it out or act it out.” - Terri Cole
Don’t be afraid to rumble with your emotions. Just acknowledging your true feelings is most of the work!
“There are strengths and opportunities.” - Brene Brown
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 TPT — My weakness is a portal for God’s power.
Your weaknesses are a place for God to move in your life.
I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted!
Be thankful for the open door for God to move in your life.

Recommended books in this episode:
Boundary Boss by Terri Cole
Rising Strong by Brene Brown

Everybody has a vice.. but are you serving that vice or is it serving you?? Is your vice benefitting your life? Does your vice fuel you?
Your vice should be your fuel! What fills your tank?

1 Cor 10:23 NLT & TPT
You can do all things, but not everything is good & beneficial for your life.
You have influence! What are your actions showing others?

Addiction = Bonding. You’ve just bonded with the wrong thing.

It’s okay to be uncomfortable! EMBRACE THE SUCK. Instead of numbing, feel the feels. Search your discomfort and find the root of the lie you are believing.

“You can’t selectively numb.” - Brene Brown
You can’t numb bad emotions without numbing out the good emotions as well. As deep as you can feel sorrow, you can feel joy.

Find a better vice! You can’t just drop a bad habit, you have to replace it. Bond with something beneficial.

Alcohol —> kombucha, tea, flavored sparkling water
Shopping/Over spending —> cash envelope budget
Sex —> work out
Sweets —> fruit, dates, dried fruit
Stay busy/Getting high —> meditation, yoga
Binge watching shows —> read a book, list to podcast

Your sin issue was dealt with on the Cross — this is a heart issue. You are what you do most.

2 Cor 3:17 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!”
Where is the Spirit of the Lord? IN YOU! Freedom is in you!

Is your vice helping you create the life you love?

Rising Strong by Brene Brown is a GREAT resource. We highly recommend reading it!

Today we are talking about God’s love with Pastor Jennifer Miller (@dodomiller) who is the co-pastor of Hope City Dallas (@iamhopecity) and co-host of The Awake Podcast (@the_awake_podcast). She is an incredible wife, mom, and friend and we are so thankful to have her on this episode!

John 3:16 doesn’t say that God was so disappointed in the world that He sent His only Son, it says that God so LOVED the world that He sent Jesus. Jesus died for you because He loves you, not out of condemnation, disappointment, or shame.

Hebrews 4:11 — run to rest as fast as you can!

Ephesians 3:17-19 TPT — “By constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!”

1 Corinthians 13

You are a human being, not a human doing.

You can “do” all day long, but if you are not living and BEING in God’s love, none of it matters.

Love gives the benefit of the doubt — even in knowing our heart and our motives, God chooses to give us the benefit of the doubt. that’s agape love!

Soundtracks by Jon Acuff is a book we mention and we highly recommend!

Having a revelation of God’s love can pull up the roots of shame in your life.

Jude 2 MSG — Love is on the way!

You have the grace you need to face today.

Maybe you can’t wrap your head around forever in your recovery journey. Guess what?? THAT’S OKAY. You don’t need to wrap your head around never drinking again, never using again, etc.. You don’t have to worry about tomorrow, and you surely don’t need to worry about forever. You can just wrap your head around TODAY because God has given you the grace you need to face today.

You have everything you need!