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?
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    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
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    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
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    14 mins
  • Made in God's Image: Reclaiming Authority Over Life-Interfering Behaviors

    Made in God's Image: Reclaiming Authority Over Life-Interfering Behaviors
    Mar 30 2026

    Ep 78 - In this special episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine, Certified Choose Freedom Coach Anthony Covington steps in to share a powerful reflection on identity, authority, and transformation through God's Word. Rooted in Genesis 1, the episode explores what it truly means to be created in the image of God and how life-interfering behaviors can distort that identity, leaving us feeling stuck, defeated, and out of alignment.

    Anthony walks listeners through the deeper meaning of dominion and authority, reframing it as God-given agency. When we allow substances, habits, or distractions to take control, we move out of position and experience the consequences of that misalignment. But through daily engagement with Scripture and intentional practice, we can return to the identity God originally gave us.

    Drawing from passages like Genesis 1:26–31, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 1:6–7, and James 1:22–24, this episode highlights the importance of not just hearing God's Word, but living it. The Transformed by His Promises devotional becomes a practical tool for renewing the mind, reinforcing truth, and creating new patterns that align with both biblical wisdom and how the brain forms habits over time.

    If you've ever felt like you're saying the right things but not living them, this episode offers a clear path forward. You'll be challenged to reflect on who you are, what you truly want, and how practicing truth daily can lead to lasting transformation. Listen in and begin stepping back into the life God designed for you.

    Rooted in Genesis 1, this episode explores:

    • What it means to be created in the image of God
    • How life-interfering behaviors pull us out of position
    • Why practicing Scripture daily leads to real transformation
    • The connection between biblical truth and rewiring the mind

    Anthony shares how engaging with Scripture is not just reading words, but entering into relationship with God, and how that relationship restores identity, purpose, and direction.

    Scriptures Referenced

    • Genesis 1:26–31
    • Ephesians 2:10
    • 1 Peter 1:6–7
    • James 1:22–24

    Key Takeaway

    The problem isn't just behavior. It's position. When we return to who God says we are, our lives begin to align with how He designed us to live.

    Resources & Next Steps

    • Website: https://choosefreedom.today
    • Transformed by His Promises Devotional
    • Work with a Choose Freedom Coach

    Enjoying the Podcast?

    Follow Say Goodbye and Imagine and leave a review of Rose Ann's books on Amazon to help others find 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
    #FaithBasedRecovery
    #IdentityInChrist
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    21 mins
  • Life Has Direction: Are You Paying Attention to Where You're Going?

    Life Has Direction: Are You Paying Attention to Where You're Going?
    Mar 16 2026

    Ep 77 - Life always has direction. The real question is not whether we are moving — the question is whether we are paying attention to where we are going.

    In this episode of the Say Goodbye and Imagine Podcast, Rose Ann Forte explores wisdom from Proverbs 4:25–27, a passage that speaks directly to the direction of our lives and the awareness we need to stay on the path God has for us.

    Most people do not wake up one day and intentionally choose a destructive path. Instead, we slowly drift away from God's direction through distraction, habits, and small compromises that seem harmless in the moment.

    Rose Ann shares a personal story about a recent season of physical setbacks — from a hernia emergency to surgery, recovery, back pain, and COVID — and how keeping her focus on God changed how she responded to adversity. Instead of falling into discouragement or self-defeating thoughts, she chose perseverance and trust in God's plan.

    This conversation explores the connection between spiritual awareness, the condition of our heart, and the direction of our life.

    Rose Ann also explains how Scripture aligns with neuroscience. The thoughts and behaviors we repeat form neural pathways that influence the choices we make and the direction we take.

    You will also hear how the Armor of God connects to this concept — the belt of truth guiding the mind and the breastplate of righteousness protecting the heart.

    Stay until the end for three reflection questions and a prayer designed to help you examine the direction your life is heading this week.

    Scripture in This Episode

    Proverbs 4:25–27

    "Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
    Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
    Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil."

    Related passage discussed:

    Proverbs 4:23
    "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

    Resources Mentioned

    Choose Freedom Program
    https://choosefreedom.today

    Books by Rose Ann Forte

    Transformed by His Promises
    https://amzn.to/4cGgA41

    The Plans He Has for Me
    https://amzn.to/42Y3E40

    Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol
    https://amzn.to/3EuGTvm

    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
    #ChristianMindset
    #BiblicalWisdom
    #FaithAndNeuroscience
    #ChristianPersonalGrowth
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    16 mins
  • Why Good Intentions Fail: A Biblical and Neuroscience Perspective on Galatians 5

    Why Good Intentions Fail: A Biblical and Neuroscience Perspective on Galatians 5
    Mar 2 2026

    Ep 76 - We all feel it. That internal tug-of-war between what we want in the moment and what we know is right.

    In today's episode, Rose Ann explores Galatians 5:17–18 and the internal battle between the sinful nature and the Spirit. Why are good intentions often not enough? Why does willpower fail us? And what does it actually mean to live Spirit-led instead of self-reliant?

    Drawing from her own journey of choosing sobriety and renewal, Rose Ann unpacks:

    • The difference between willpower and Spirit-led transformation
    • How repeated behaviors create neural pathways that feel like truth
    • Why dopamine-driven relief can slowly form psychological slavery
    • The connection between John 8:34 and modern neuroscience
    • How Romans 12:2 reveals the process of testing and renewing the mind

    This episode will help you recognize where you may be choosing short-term relief over long-term alignment—and how to begin forming new pathways rooted in obedience, wisdom, and grace.

    Scripture Covered

    • Galatians 5:17–18
    • Psalm 51:5
    • John 8:34
    • Romans 12:2

    Key Takeaways

    • The internal battle is normal. Awareness removes shame.
    • Relief is not the same as righteousness.
    • Repeated behaviors shape the brain and reinforce patterns.
    • Transformation requires testing, not just trying harder.
    • Spirit-led living changes desire, not just behavior.

    Reflection Questions

    1. Where do you feel the internal battle between personal relief and Spirit-led righteousness?
    2. What behavior have you repeated that now feels normal but may be pulling you out of alignment?
    3. What would it look like this week to pause and ask the Holy Spirit before responding to stress or triggers?

    Resources Mentioned

    • Transformed by His Promises
    • The Plans He Has for Me
    • Prepare to Quit
    • The Choose Freedom® Program
      ➜ choosefreedom.today/self-study

    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
    #OvercomingTemptation
    #RenewYourMind
    #SpiritLedLife
    #ChristianGrowth
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    16 mins
  • The Danger of Thinking We Know Better - Trusting God Over Our Own Judgment

    The Danger of Thinking We Know Better - Trusting God Over Our Own Judgment
    Feb 16 2026

    Ep 75 - In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte explores 1 Samuel 15:22 and the powerful confrontation between obedience and self-justification. When King Saul adjusted God's instruction to fit what "appealed to him," he revealed a pattern that is still common today — redefining wisdom according to our own desires.

    This episode examines:

    • Selective obedience
    • Rationalization and self-deception
    • The danger of trusting personal judgment over God's instruction
    • How modern culture normalizes compromise
    • The neuroscience behind self-preservation and justification

    Rose Ann connects biblical wisdom with brain science, explaining how cognitive dissonance and reward-seeking pathways influence our decisions — and how obedience restores clarity and peace.

    The episode concludes with three reflection questions and a prayer designed to help listeners examine where they may be trusting themselves more than God.

    Scripture Referenced:
    1 Samuel 15:22–24
    1 Samuel 15:9
    Ephesians 2:2

    • https://www.choosefreedom.today
    • Link to Choose Freedom Program page
    • Amazon links for:
      • The Plans He Has for Me: https://amzn.to/4aRxKdy
      • Prepare to Quit: https://amzn.to/4bVIR6m
      • Transformed by His Promises: https://amzn.to/4rirDoj

    #ChooseFreedom #GodlyDecisionMaking #BiblicalWisdom #ChristianLiving #FaithAndLife

    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.
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    14 mins
  • The Treasure of God's Wisdom - Receiving the Wisdom God Freely Gives

    The Treasure of God's Wisdom - Receiving the Wisdom God Freely Gives
    Feb 2 2026

    Ep 74 - In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte continues the Wisdom series with a reflection on Proverbs 2:6–7 (NLT), a passage that reminds us that wisdom is not earned through experience or effort—it is granted by God.

    Rose Ann walks listeners through a devotional reflection on why so many of us admire biblical wisdom yet struggle to access it when making real-life decisions. She explores how wisdom comes directly from God's Word, how listening for His voice requires intentional pause, and why integrity activates the protection Scripture promises.

    This episode invites listeners to rethink obedience—not as control, but as a desire to live free from unnecessary consequences—and to see wisdom as a treasure God longs to give. Rose Ann closes with three reflection questions and a prayer designed to help listeners slow down, listen, and walk forward with confidence and peace.

    Scripture Referenced:

    • Proverbs 2:6–7 (NLT)
    • Ephesians 2:2 (NLT)

    Key Themes:

    • Wisdom as a gift, not an achievement
    • Truth, integrity, and discernment
    • Accessing God's wisdom through Scripture and listening
    • Protection that comes from walking in truth
    • Freedom from repeated consequences

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Books: The Plans He Has for Me, Prepare to Quit, Transformed by His Promises www.choosefreedom.today/books
    • Coaching and resources: https://www.choosefreedom.today

    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 #GodlyDecisionMaking #BiblicalWisdom #ChristianLiving #FaithAndLife
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    15 mins