[00:00:00] Wendi: Hey sis, welcome to Beyond the Military Podcast, where faith led military women overcome burnout and create more balance. Just imagine having enough time to focus on your faith family, and have more fun while also serving as a woman leader. In this podcast, you’ll walk away with the tools to help you navigate the busy life of a military woman, organize your mind, overcome overwhelm, create a prioritization playbook, and a balance blueprint for integrating faith, family, and career.

[00:00:28] Wendi: Yeses in that order. Hi, I’m Wendi Wray, woman of God wife, mama of two army veteran and certified life coach, and I’m here to help you create a life of meaning outside of the military, a life of laughter, joy, and intentional free time. If you are ready to overcome burnout and create balance as a faith led military woman, sis, this podcast is for you.

[00:00:50] Wendi: So loosen up your laces and grab your coffee because it’s time to step into freedom and peace.

[00:00:55] Wendi: Hello ladies. And welcome to episode 173. I [00:01:00] am so happy to be here as always. It’s July. I hope that you’re just as excited as I am about a new month. I love the beginning of a new week, a new month and a year. And just, I just love it. And oh, by the way, I take a moment to reflect on the previous month. I don’t know if you do that, but the reason I, that is because it helps me stay motivated for the next month. So that may help just a little quick tip here without even knowing that I was giving it here, but go ahead, take it, receive it.

[00:01:28] Wendi: And so any who today’s episode. We are going to be focusing on how do we continue to praise God versus ourself? And I know, I know, I know. You may not be doing this, but I have found myself doing this more than often, which again, I’m guilty of this. I have, you know, repented about it. And I just wanted to share a little bit more in really what I mean about this and really moving forward, regardless of what circumstance you’re in. [00:02:00] Um, you know, this is something that you will definitely want to do because when I tell you.

[00:02:05] Wendi: You don’t have to worry about doing this alone. You don’t have to worry about. You know, like. Just focusing on you. It’s just definitely takes so much off your shoulders and it really also helps you to just move in the right direction. And so. Before I get into all of that. I just wanted to really also, um, I wanted to say.

[00:02:27] Wendi: If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, I highly recommend that you do, because I truly use this episode at the beginning of this year. To really focus back on what negative emotions I could really do more work on. Right. And really just, um, honestly through like the grief process that I was going through and still going through, you know, it’s still difficult.

[00:02:46] Wendi: Um, but at the same time, still understanding that there was possibly other negative baggage, negative emotion that I was carrying as baggage. And so just to give you an example of that, Just the things that kept coming up for [00:03:00] me, as you know, like, um, these thoughts and these ideas of, you know, what a terrible sister I was being, or, you know, when.

[00:03:07] Wendi: You know, just moments that I would have and you know, why didn’t I address those? Why didn’t I address it? And so I did, and of course I did it through pwnidyer and you know, I’m a human, right. We’re all humans. And we sometimes are so hard on ourselves because of. You know, who we think we are in how we think we should be.

[00:03:23] Wendi: And by that, I mean, this idea that, um, we created on this earth that we should be, you know, this, you know, person that can do everything and that can focus on, you know, a thousand things at a time. And, you know, I was quickly reminded that that’s not who we are as humans. Right. We’re not how many present, like God is. We’re not, um,

[00:03:47] Wendi: God pretty much. And so I was quickly reminded that I cannot do this. I can not do everything and focus on everyone at the same time. And so again, just thinking about it and meditating on God’s word and him reminding me that [00:04:00] I, it’s not up to me. Right. It’s up to him. And he’s the one that makes the decisions. And he’s the one that’s always going to have the better plan than the plan that we have. And so I, I just want to encourage you to take a moment to not only see maybe where maybe there’s some emotional, negative, emotional baggage that you may be carrying that you do not know specifically and are not aware of it.

[00:04:23] Wendi: So I encourage you to go listen to this episode. And this is episode 172. It’s an MVP episode, meaning that there’s been more downloads to this episodes and any other episodes. They’ve been recorded about fillings. Um, and also just the top episodes in general. Right? Like I T I try to do like the top 10 that’s currently trending.

[00:04:44] Wendi: And so that’s one of them. And the reason being is because we all struggle with negative emotions. We all struggle with the mental and emotional load that we sometimes carry and don’t even understand it. And so what I also did, if you didn’t notice. You go to my website. Um, or [00:05:00] really on the link on the show notes on that episode, then you can download the guide to follow along, to help you uncover those thoughts that you’re having to help you uncover the feelings that you are possibly struggling with. And so.

[00:05:11] Wendi: And it also gives you the verses that I mentioned in the podcast. I’m again, I’m a visual person. If you did not know that, I love to see the items. I love to also follow along. If there are questions and answering them on my own. So highly encourage that you do that all you have to do is go to wendiwwnidy.com/resources to get it. Or you can also go to the show notes and just click download free guide and you can get it there. And so. Again, I highly encourage that you do that and you go check it out and please let me know if it’s, you know, if it’s helpful for you. If this is something that you used.

[00:05:45] Wendi: If this is something that you enjoyed, I would love to provide more of this. So please let me know. You can also contact me through my website or you have to do is go to wendiwwnidy.com/contact. And I hope to hear from you. And by the way, now that we’re here. I would really would really [00:06:00] appreciate.

[00:06:01] Wendi: To take a moment and leave me. A review preferably on apple podcasts. All you do is go to my show. Scroll down to the bottom leave review. to leave a rating, you do that and you leave me a comment saying, Hey, I’m enjoying this, or this is what I want to hear more about. I truly, truly love, and it makes such an impact to where I’m going with these episodes to help you also in the focus.

[00:06:26] Wendi: Um, in the area that you want to focus in. So it would be truly helpful and it would really make not only my day, but also it would also help other women find this podcast. It would help other women veterans find this podcast and help them. With their mental and emotional struggles with their productivity, help them with how to start living beyond the military, help them with how to continue to stay focused on what they want on what they truly desire other than their career. Right? Family relationships, business, finances, whatever it may be.

[00:06:56] Wendi: Real estate, whatever hobby, whatever thing that they truly desire. [00:07:00] Other career, they can start doing that here through this podcast. And most importantly, if they want to grow in their faith from the continue to get closer to God, this is their episode. All right, ladies. Thank you so much for that in now.

[00:07:12] Wendi: With that. I want to talk today about how we can continue to not only praise God and focus on praising him. Versus ourselves because listen, it happens. I know it happens. We get so like self centered. Right. And we all do this buyer. Just our fleshly nature, right? Like this is who we are as humans. We want to be able to share how much we can do, how much we can, you have accomplished and, you know, just praise ourselves. Right? Like that’s what we do. But.

[00:07:46] Wendi: We sometimes. Forget that we have to also praise our creator. The one that gave us this goal, the one would like to call the Go-Giver. The gold giver. He has given us this skull. He has [00:08:00] placed this goal. He has placed his career. This passion. In, or even the skills in our inner inner head in our heart.

[00:08:11] Wendi: Right. Like, so when we accomplish things, we sometimes forget to thank him. We sometimes forget to praise him. And listen, if you haven’t praised him. It doesn’t mean you’re a terrible person because trust me, I’ve done it many times where I’m like, yeah, I did that. Congratulations on knee pat in the back.

[00:08:28] Wendi: But it really came up for me, which by the way, I am celebrating. And I actually haven’t really posted this because there’s a couple of things I’m doing behind the scenes that you will. Learn more about here in the next coming weeks. Um, early, more like another month or so. So sometime in August. Um, so I’m doing this behind the scenes, social media stuff that I’m, that I’m getting ready to launch.

[00:08:53] Wendi: And. Um, It really came to me when I noticed [00:09:00] that. Our this podcast right here beyond the monetary podcast. His top 5%. In the world of podcasts. And I’m like, what, 5%? Top 5%. And right. So I needed this information. To share it. With, uh, my social media person, that’s helping me with social media.

[00:09:20] Wendi: And she didn’t ask for this information, but she was pretty much telling me like, Hey, I need to know more about your podcast. And so I figured, you know, she needs to know how we’re ranking. She needs to know how many downloads we have. She needs to know, you know, where we stand, right? Because this is not only going to help me with the marketing, but it’s also going to help me to show it on my website.

[00:09:40] Wendi: To promote it and to. You know, get more people involved, more listeners involved. And so as I’m doing this and oh, by the way, it’s also for data, right? Like I love data. And so when I saw that, I’m like, oh my gosh, This is amazing. Like this is, this is what happens when you’re [00:10:00] committed to when you like a minute. Sorry. I started talking to myself. I don’t know about you, but like, I’m a big talker. I talk to myself when I’m doing my work. I literally have, that’s how I stay focused. I literally have to ask myself.

[00:10:11] Wendi: Okay. All right. When do you, what’s the next step? Okay. You did that now. What’s next. Let’s go check. And I’m literally walking myself through which, by the way, my husband thinks I’m crazy because he’s like, okay, are you talking to someone in there? Are you what’s going on? Are you going to call like, what’s happening?

[00:10:24] Wendi: Um, but I mean, he knows this. And so I literally was praising myself. I noticed that I was literally praising myself only and I was like, oh my gosh, we need, this is what happens when you stay committed, when you stay consistent. You go girl, like you you’re doing it. You’re just, you know, I knew this was going to happen and eaters got to stay committed.

[00:10:43] Wendi: And I was just, you know, like praising myself, like there’s nobody else involved in what has happened, right? Like the five top 5% of the podcast. And I’m telling you it was the holy spirit. He was like, Nope. this is not about you woman. This is not [00:11:00] only about you. And so it literally took me, I want to say a couple of minutes and I was like, oh my gosh.

[00:11:07] Wendi: I need to pwnidy about this Lord. Thank you. Thank you father for allowing me to be on this platform for allowing me to be at the top 5% globally. Across the world. And then it don’t let me, I’m like, oh my gosh. When was the last time I think them for the last accomplishment. Not to mention, you know, the 13,000 downloads that we’ve had not to mention, like the open rate of my email.

[00:11:30] Wendi: Not to mention. All the great things that are happening with my coaching, with the clients that I’m getting what’s happening here. Right? Like, why am I not praising him more? And so I’m like, okay, got to write this down, got to put it on my, um, topics for the next episode. And it really. Just hit me.

[00:11:48] Wendi: Because I felt like I was not being grateful. It felt like I had been, um, what’s the word kind of like failing myself on. You know, and [00:12:00] feeling God too on. You know how I was showing up. For him, how was showing how I was showing up as his daughter? And so if you’ve done this it’s okay. Like, God’s going to forgive you. God forgives all of us. He loves us more than anything, but I just want to remind you that he is our creator, that he is a goal giver.

[00:12:21] Wendi: Of all the goals that we have of all the accomplishments. That we’ve had. And so I want you to take a moment right now, even if you’re driving, even if you’re cleaning the house or maybe you’re just at work, I want you to take a moment and just praise him. Praise him for all the great things that he’s doing.

[00:12:40] Wendi: And I know you’re probably thinking like Wendi. I don’t have it. You know, I don’t have it all together here or it’s not going well for me. Like, this is what’s happening in my life. I’m going through this negative. Um, transition or this, you know, terrible. Um, Uh, situation that I’m in. [00:13:00] Regardless of what your circumstances.

[00:13:02] Wendi: Regardless of where you are. And your circumstance in your journey. You want to not only give him thanks, but also praise him for putting you there. Praise him for what he’s got. You went and I know it’s hard. Trust me. It’s hard. Oh, it’s I know it’s hard. I know it’s hard because I’ve been in so many circumstances and I’m like, Lord, why.

[00:13:25] Wendi: Why am I here? And then I expect a response, but nothing is happening. I don’t hear anything. I don’t get a response right away. But when I look at it now, In July of 2023. And I go back to 2021. I go back to 2016. I go back to 2013. I’ve been thank him because I’m like, Lord, thank you for. Helping me, not only through that situation for being there for me through that circumstance.

[00:13:54] Wendi: But also for showing me that you are always here. He puts us in [00:14:00] a circumstance for a reason. Got to waste nothing. Okay. He knows what he’s doing. He’s putting you in this circumstance. For a reason. He put you in that circumstance five years ago for a reason. To help you become that person that you are today.

[00:14:16] Wendi: A strong woman. He’s there through the divorce. He’s there through the separation. He’s there through the miscarriage. He’s there. Through not making the promotion. He’s there with you. Through all these negative circumstances, or I don’t want to say negative, but all these circumstances that you were not expecting.

[00:14:38] Wendi: That was not what you wanted. That’s not what you had planned. That’s not what I had planned. But when we think him. And we give them praise. We then open the door. I don’t need the door. We expand. Our perspective, we explained our mind. On who God is. Because he’s always with us. We don’t have to do this alone.

[00:14:59] Wendi: [00:15:00] We don’t have to go through this circumstance that is not. What we wanted alone. We think him, we think him and we praise him. Per allowing us to. Still one, be alive and continue to fight this, this challenge, this obstacle, this fight, whatever it may be. Because he’s always with us. And if you remember when apostle Paul was in prison.

[00:15:24] Wendi: When I, every time I go back to this, like verse to this story, It just, it brings me to tears. I’m like, how could he think him? How could he praise him during those moments? Like how did he find the strength?

[00:15:40] Wendi: And the truth is. It’s because of the foundation that he had, the belief that he had about his God. That he’s always going to show up. He’s always going to come through no matter what. No matter what. So I want to take you to thessalonians five verse 16. [00:16:00] 17 and 18. 1613 always be joyful, never stop pwnidying. Be thankful in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus Christ. So first is be joyful, never stopped pwnidying. And then be thankful. In all circumstances. So the first thing is always be joyful right by this. He means. Regardless of what is happening, like regardless of what is been put upon you. Be joyful because God is always there. Like God is omnipresent. He is.

[00:16:35] Wendi: W he’s just. Everything like he is. Always going to be there through your situations, no matter what. So be joyful that he’s there never stopped pwnidying. Never stopped pwnidying, asking him. And by that, I mean, asking him and asking him to help you asking him to guide you, asking him, to give you the wisdom that you need. The patience, because that’s another [00:17:00] thing for me. Like I.

[00:17:01] Wendi: Needed the patients. To understand why I’m in this, like in the middle of it, right? Like when you’re like, you know, you feel like there’s nothing that you can do. And you just feel powerless. And that’s really what I think God wants us to feel. He wants to feel powerless because we’ve always felt like we can do it. All right. Like we can just fix any problem. Like that’s, that’s my thinking. That’s.

[00:17:27] Wendi: How I’ve been showing up and he’s like, teaching me, like, no, Wendi. You are not me. You cannot do at all. You cannot save everyone. You cannot rescue anyone. You do not have that power. I have that power. I’m your creator. And I love them more than you love them. And I’m like, ah, Why is this happening? Why? Right. And again, it’s my primitive brain. Just trying to like.

[00:17:52] Wendi: You know, fight for, or really just respond and fight to what’s happening in the moment. But then your, [00:18:00] your prefrontal cortex has to jump in the part of the brain that. Is really there to help you. You know, move on to what is really happening, right? Like to the truth. And so that part is what’s guiding you.

[00:18:15] Wendi: To pwnidyer, the parts what’s guiding you to the word. That part of the brain is the one that’s going to help you pwnidy. And to help you be thankful in all circumstances. Because God’s will for you. It’s got Wolf for you for you who belong to Christ? Jesus. And so. Again, like. Regardless of where we’re in. Right.

[00:18:38] Wendi: Even if we’re like, you know, Making rankings through the charts, right? Like you’re number one or you’re like, you know, making A’s on all your tests or you’re getting promoted every year, whatever it may be. Continuing to praise him, or maybe you’re going through a divorce or maybe you’re going through this family separation, whatever it may be, this transition that you were not expecting.

[00:18:59] Wendi: Praise him, [00:19:00] even when it sucks.

[00:19:03] Wendi: Because here’s the truth. He’s going to show up. God is going to show up. So when you praise him, Or don’t praise him. He still going. To show up. And here’s what I know shoe too, that when we take a moment, Regardless of where we’re in. To just acknowledge him, acknowledge his presence. And ask him for help. He’s definitely going to come through. I mean, he’s always.

[00:19:35] Wendi: Always come through. He will never fail you. Trust me. He will never fail you. He loves you no matter where you are. Even if you’re like far away from the faith that you had before. Maybe you grew up without having faith. I want you to take a moment and really just ask yourself, is this something. That you’ve lost. Is this something that you’ve kind of like ran away from rightly cue, not understanding [00:20:00] God’s word. You’re not understanding him.

[00:20:02] Wendi: And if that’s the case, I want to encourage you to simply just. In this moment, just talk to him in this moment, just without it being a formal pwnidyer. Just ask him to be there with you, to help you, to guide you, to guide you, to maybe lead you into. Um, someone that can help you continue that journey.

[00:20:23] Wendi: And maybe this podcast, it may be someone else, but I just encourage you to take a moment and praise him regardless of where you’re at. Worship him, regardless of where you’re at. Because when I tell you. It not only. Really blesses, um, where you’re at in this moment. But it really gives you a different perspective on where you can go.

[00:20:47] Wendi: On how you can continue. To push through this fight with this help. Because here’s the thing. He’s the only one. The only one that can continue to push you and guide you. Even [00:21:00] when you think you have no more in you to continue this fight, he’s the only one that is going to get you out of it, no matter what, and yes, there are things.

[00:21:09] Wendi: That we’re doing right. That we can physically do. But again, you have to remember. He’s the one allowing you to do that. You having a great jump. You having a great career. You waking up this morning, you literally being healthy right now. Is because of his glory. So praise him, take a moment. All right, ladies. I hope that this podcast.

[00:21:32] Wendi: Not only helped you and encouraged you and continues to give you hope, but also. To help you move closer into knowing who God is and keeping you close to his presence and keeping you close to his word, because his word is all the wisdom and the only wisdom that you need. All right. have a beautiful rest of your week talk to you soon bye

[00:21:55] Wendi: Hey lady. If this podcast helped you, challenge you or inspired you in some way, [00:22:00] please leave me a written review for the show on Apple Podcast and share it with another military sister. Helping you integrate balance, prioritization and growth in your relationship with God is my ultimate calling. I’m so blessed that you are here, and please join us in the faith led military women community on Facebook at Bit.ly/beyondthemilitarygrp

[00:22:22] Wendi: again, it is. Bit.ly/beyondthemilitarygrp. All right. Talk to you soon. Bye.