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Say Goodbye And Imagine!

Say Goodbye And Imagine!

Written by: Rose Ann Forte
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 Welcome to the Say Goodbye And Imagine podcast! In this podcast, we invite you to step into a world where freedom from the psychological slavery of alcohol and other substances isn't just a dream—it's a reality. Through the power of shared stories and unfolding faith, God reveals the amazing gifts and promises waiting for us all when we stop drinking or remove something toxic from our lives. Through Say Goodbye And Imagine you are invited into a Christian community where triumph over alcohol or other substances is not only possible… it's happening every day through faith and the power of God's Word! Feel a profound connection with others who have walked the same rocky path yet found solid ground by putting biblically-based principles and God at the center of their journey to freedom. Imagine replacing the weight of guilt and isolation with the lightness of grace and companionship through a shared Chirstian community seeking alcohol freedom. Through the testimony of our podcast community, you can discover how the Holy Spirit moves powerfully in the lives of those who have surrendered their struggles and embraced a journey of true transformation with God at the helm. Witness the transformative power of Jesus Christ while you gain insight into the lies of the enemy. Through each episode, you'll be equipped with biblically based strategies that others have used to prioritize their spiritual well-being and expose the lies embedded in a toxic habit that is also trying to control your life. Ultimately, each episode guides you to a place where being alcohol-free is just the beginning of your newfound freedom--showing you the amazing world of promise and possibility through God's grace when alcohol is successfully set aside. Say Goodbye And Imagine shares the firsthand victories of those who have broken free from the psychological slavery of alcohol or other substances. Our greatest hope is to share these stories of triumph so you can draw inspiration and courage from their stories. But our podcast doesn't just offer hope—it showcases the real, tangible outcomes of lives transformed by faith and the collective strength of a community that believes in second chances. Warning: our Say Goodbye And Imagine podcast is a little different. We don't use words that create shame or a negative identity. So, in our podcast we don't use vocabulary like alcoholic or alcoholism, alcohol addiction or alcohol recovery, recovery or recovering, sober or sobriety, addict or addiction, powerless or powerlessness, and other words that take away our identity in God. Since we are remade in the image of God, we seek an identity that is empowering through Him. Although we respect & honor groups like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), Celebrate Recovery, and sober rehabilitation centers, our topics tend to be very individual, focusing on the unique journey of each participant. What is not unique is the common thread of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in each episode. If you desire to quit drinking or have been searching for ways to reconnect with God, then please tune in. Hear the amazing success stories of Christians just like you who decided to choose freedom from alcohol or other substances. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Rose Ann Forte is the host of Say Goodbye and Imagine. Rose Ann had reached a point in her own life when she realized that alcohol was stealing from her and understood that God had a much better plan for her. Today she is the bestselling author of The Plans He has for Me Daily Devotional. Through her podcast, blog articles, books, public speaking, Choose Freedom Program, YouTube & TikTok videos, and Choose Freedom coaching and church mentor programs, Rose Ann loves to share her experience of transformation with others & discuss the power of the Holy Spirit and God's foundational principles behind renewing your mind.2023 Christianity Hygiene & Healthy Living Ministry & Evangelism Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality
Episodes
  • How Long, God? The Truth About Waiting

    How Long, God? The Truth About Waiting
    May 11 2026

    Ep 81 - Have you ever cried out "How long, God?" — waiting for healing, freedom, a prodigal child to return, or relief from something that has taken over your life? In this episode, Rose Ann opens a devotional she just finished on Psalm 13 and unpacks David's raw, honest cry to God. She explores the Hebrew word qavah (the true meaning of "wait"), the neuroscience of hope and dopamine, and why your waiting season is not empty — it is where a thread becomes a rope.

    In This Episode:

    • Psalm 13:1–2 and what David's lament gives us permission to do
    • Why Scripture doesn't tell us exactly when David wrote this psalm — and why it doesn't matter
    • The Hebrew word qavah: waiting is not passive — it means to bind, twist, and intertwine
    • Chalaph: the trade — your exhaustion for His strength
    • Isaiah 40:31 and what the original Hebrew actually reveals
    • Ecclesiastes 4:12 — a cord of three strands
    • Lamentations 3:25 — the Lord is good to those who qavah
    • Two kinds of "how long" waiting for people in recovery
    • The neuroscience of hope: why dopamine fires on anticipation, not pleasure
    • David praising before the rescue came — and what that does to the brain
    • Three reflection questions and a closing prayer

    Scripture References:

    • Psalm 13:1–2, 5–6
    • Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
    • Ecclesiastes 4:12
    • Lamentations 3:25

    Resources Mentioned:

    • 📺 YouTube video: "The Promises of God: What the Original Hebrew Actually Reveals"]
    • 🎙️ Previous episode: Willing But Not Yet Ready [INSERT LINK]
    • 📖 The Plans He Has for Me — 12-week devotional for anyone struggling with alcohol or other substances
    • 📖 Prepare to Quit — the eight spiritual keys to finally getting ready, includes personal workbook, Audible version, and three bonus core concepts from the Choose Freedom program not available anywhere else [INSERT AMAZON LINK]
    • 📖 Transformed by His Promises — 12-week companion devotional challenge for life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
    • 💻 Choose Freedom Program — structured coaching journey with a trained coach

    Reflection Questions:

    1. What is your "how long" prayer — the one you have carried so long you have almost stopped saying it out loud?
    2. What lie have you been believing that keeps you returning to the same place?
    3. If this pattern disappeared tomorrow, what would you actually want your life to look like — and what would that hope catalyze in you?
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Willing But Not Yet Ready to Quit: Why You Keep Going Back

    Willing But Not Yet Ready to Quit: Why You Keep Going Back
    Apr 27 2026
    Ep 80 - Many people reach a point where they want to change, yet find themselves stuck in the same patterns. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine, Rose Ann Forte explores the critical gap between willingness and true readiness—and why understanding that gap can change everything. Drawing from both personal experience and her work with clients, Rose Ann explains why repeated attempts to quit often lead to frustration and shame. She reframes the struggle through both Scripture and neuroscience, showing how patterns form in the brain and why this does not mean you are broken—it means your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do. Through powerful biblical insight, including John 8:34, Romans 12:2, and 1 Timothy 4:15, this episode reveals that transformation is not a single decision but a refining process. Just like testing gold or running clinical trials, real change requires repeated testing, awareness, and intentional practice over time. Listeners will walk away with a renewed sense of hope, a deeper understanding of their patterns, and a practical pathway forward—one that removes shame and replaces it with clarity, truth, and the possibility of lasting freedom. In this episode, Rose Ann Forte addresses a common but often misunderstood experience: wanting to quit a habit or behavior but not being able to follow through consistently. She explores the difference between willingness and readiness, and why recognizing this distinction can remove shame and accelerate real change. Through a combination of biblical truth and neuroscience, Rose Ann explains how repeated behaviors create neural pathways, why relapse does not mean failure, and how preparation—not just action—is the key to lasting transformation. Key Topics Covered: The difference between desire and readinessWhy repeated attempts to quit are part of the processThe role of neural pathways in habit formation"Psychological slavery" and John 8:34Romans 12:2 and the refining process of transformationThe Transtheoretical Model of ChangeWhy action alone doesn't work for most peopleThe three keys: awareness, exposing the lie, and choosing a new path Key Scriptures: John 8:34Romans 12:21 Timothy 4:15 Core Takeaways: Wanting to change is not the same as being ready to changeYour brain is not broken—it is operating as designedTransformation requires testing, practice, and repetitionShame delays progress; awareness accelerates itPreparation is the foundation for lasting change Reflection Questions: What if going back to the pattern isn't a failure, but evidence of how your brain has been trained?What is the repeated thought or belief that shows up right before the behavior?If this pattern disappeared, what would you truly want your life to look like? Resources Mentioned: Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol: https://amzn.to/3EuGTvmChoose Freedom® Program: https://choosefreedom.today Recommended Resources and Links Choose Freedom Program and Resources - https://www.choosefreedom.today The Plans He Has for Me Devotional - https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 Transformed by His Promises Devotional - https://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJPodcast Episodes with Dr. David Jenkins (Stages of Change) Part 1 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36124190 Part 2 - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/a83a9895-40f1-4af3-8039-a87d76b13196/id/36335480
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Why We Wait for Pain to Change: The Story of Manasseh

    Why We Wait for Pain to Change: The Story of Manasseh
    Apr 13 2026
    Ep 79 - Why do we wait until life falls apart before we finally change? In this episode, Rose Ann Forte explores the powerful story of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33—a king whose life was marked by extreme rebellion, yet ultimately transformed through repentance. Despite repeated warnings from God, Manasseh ignored truth until severe consequences forced him to see clearly. This episode unpacks the deeper pattern behind that behavior. From both a biblical and neuroscience perspective, repeated actions become automatic, making it difficult to change even when we know better. Often, it takes pain to interrupt those patterns and create awareness. But what if you didn't have to wait for the "brick wall"? This episode challenges you to recognize early warning signs, interrupt destructive patterns sooner, and respond to God before consequences take hold. No matter how far you've gone, restoration is always available—but the decision to turn can happen today. Key Takeaways We often don't change when we hear truth—we change when pain gets our attentionManasseh ignored God's warnings until consequences forced awarenessRepeated behaviors become automatic in the brain, making patterns hard to breakPain interrupts patterns—but awareness can interrupt them earlierYou don't have to wait for a "rock bottom" moment to changeGod responds to a repentant heart with mercy and restorationEarly awareness and intentional response create a pathway to freedom Faith and Neuroscience Insight The brain becomes efficient at whatever we repeatedly do. Over time, behaviors—whether helpful or harmful—become automatic. Even when we know something isn't right, that knowledge alone may not be strong enough to interrupt the pattern. Pain often becomes the interrupter. But awareness can be trained before consequences occur—creating space to choose differently without needing a crisis moment. Reflection Questions Where in your life have you been continuing a pattern you already know is not aligned with what God is asking of you?What are the early signals—thoughts, feelings, or behaviors—that show up before that pattern takes over?What would it look like for you to respond differently this time, not waiting for consequences, but choosing to turn now? Recommended Resources and Links Choose Freedom Program and Resources https://www.choosefreedom.today Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm The Plans He Has for Me Devotional https://amzn.to/42Y3E40 Transformed by His Promises Devotionalhttps://amzn.to/3Qwh8QJ Related Episode: Forgiveness of Self (Core Concept 7, September 1, 2025) Suggested Scripture 2 Chronicles 33:12–13 (NLT) 2 Chronicles 33:6 2 Chronicles 33:9 Romans 12:2 John 8:34 Connect and Next Steps If this episode encouraged you: Follow the podcast so you don't miss upcoming episodes Share this episode with someone who may need it Leave a review of the podcast or one of the books you've read—this helps others discover a path to freedom Rose Ann Forte is an international best-selling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and the creator of the Choose Freedom® framework. She is the co-author of Transformed by His Promises, a faith-based devotional integrating biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help individuals break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Her body of work focuses on preparation, renewal of the mind, and compassionate, practical pathways to lasting change without shame or performance-based faith. #ChooseFreedom #ChristianPodcast #RenewYourMind #FaithAndScience #BreakThePattern #BiblicalWisdom #PersonalGrowth #FreedomInChrist #AddictionRecovery #MindRenewal
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
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