Carrie walks listeners through the deeply personal and spiritual practice of forgiveness — not as weakness, but as a choice to get "unstuck" from what has been holding us back.

• You’re not stuck because of what happened. You’re stuck because of what you believe about what happened.

• Forgiveness isn’t about the other person. It’s about your freedom.

• Forgiveness is a process, not a one-and-done.

👉 Challenge:
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who you need to forgive — even if it’s you. Write their name down. Speak it out loud:
“I forgive ____ for ____________________. I cancel all offense, unforgiveness and bitterness that I hold against them and I release them to Jesus.”

Your healing matters to God — and so does your freedom. Don’t wait for someone to apologize before you move forward. Today is a good day to forgive… and get unstuck.

🔗 Dive deeper into spiritual renewal with these resources:

• 🧘‍♀️ Book your Personal Soul Care Session here: https://CarrieHurley.com/private-dsc-session

• 🌐 https://CarrieHurley.com

• 📖 https://TheVerseThing.com

• 💖 https://Patreon.com/CarrieHurleyRiseUp

• 📱 Facebook.com/CarrieBrownHurley

• 📸 Instagram.com/MrsCarrieHurley

💬 Leave a review on your favorite podcast app so more women can find freedom, too!

📥 Grab your 100 Declarations of Truth & Grace PDF: https://CarrieHurley.com/100

Do you even recognize when the enemy is attacking you?
Spoiler alert: It’s not usually with pitchforks and fire—it’s in your thoughts, reactions, stress triggers, and doubts.

Spiritual warfare is REAL.The enemy can’t read your mind, but he absolutely studies your patterns. Whether it’s fear, pride, perfectionism, or self-doubt, he’ll use it.

Spiritual warfare is personal, not fantasy

But God didn’t leave us defenseless—He gave us armor…HIS armor:
Isaiah 59:17 - "He put on righteousness as his body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.He clothed himself with a robe of vengeance and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion." (Note: I misspoke in the audio and said Ephesians 59:17. *facepalm*)

Let’s walk through each piece of armor found in Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT, and break down how it applies to real life—yes, even when you’re yelling into a pillow or trying not to lose it in traffic.

• Recognizing enemy attacks and emotional triggers

  • The enemy is strategic. But so is our God.

• How to stop fighting people and start fighting the real enemy

  • Recognize people aren’t your enemy

  • You don’t fight for victory—you fight from it.

• • • Armor isn’t optional—it’s essential for daily living.

    • Belt of Truth & Body Armor of God’s Righteousness

    • Feet shod with the Gospel of peace (hobnail boots!)

    • Shield of Faith

    • Helmet of Salvation & Sword of the Spirit

    • Pray in the Spirit at all times - Prayer is a weapon, not just a comfort.

      What each piece of armor represents and how to "put it on"

• Practical ways to stand firm, even when life is a battlefield

  • Intentionally armor up

  • Recognize the real enemy - ask Holy Spirit for revelation

  • Repent of any legal right the enemy may have to you

  • Bind the enemy to the foot of the cross

  • Cover the whole situation with the blood of Jesus

  • Speak and Act in congruence with your identity as a Child of the King

  • REMINDER: Standing firm doesn’t mean never being hit—it means never staying down.
    
    

💥 Challenge of the Week:
Every morning this week, before your feet hit the floor, speak Ephesians 6:10–18 out loud. Visualize putting on each piece of armor. Declare it like you mean it—and watch what shifts.

Sister, you don’t need to stay worn down, discouraged, or caught off guard. God has equipped you, but it’s your job to put the armor on. You’re not fighting alone—and you’re not fighting powerless. Take your stand today.

💥 Ready to go deeper?
Join me inside The Verse Thing: Armor of God for Scripture memory, spiritual strategy, and powerful encouragement! You’ll get bite-sized truth that packs a punch—perfect for busy women who are ready to fight back with the Word of God.

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📄 Download the 100 Declarations of Truth & Grace PDF: https://CarrieHurley.com/100

Have you ever stopped yourself from trying something new because you weren’t sure you’d be good at it? Welcome to the club—and welcome to the latest episode of Rise Up & Roar. Today, Carrie gets real about perfectionism, the fear of failure, and how God calls us to step into progress, not perfection. What if the bravest thing you can do is try…and be bad at it?

Carrie shares personal stories from her younger years where she quit things not because she couldn’t—but because she was scared to fail. From basketball to baking show metaphors to bold faith steps like Peter walking on water, this episode is a freeing reminder that failing doesn’t make you a failure.

With Scripture as the foundation, Carrie challenges the lies of the enemy and invites listeners into a growth mindset rooted in grace and identity in Christ. Whether you’ve quit too soon or never even started, this episode will light a fire under your faith and encourage you to rise again.

• The perfectionism trap: tying your identity to performance and productivity

• The lie of “I failed, so I am a failure”

• How the enemy keeps us living small by keeping us afraid of failure

• What it means to “fail forward” in faith

• The difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset

• Biblical encouragement for when life (or water skiing) gets messy

• How to embrace God’s grace in the learning process

• Declaring truth over your identity, even in the awkward places

• Failure is not your identity.

• God invites us to keep going, not give up.

• Grace is for the mess, not just the masterpiece.

• You can’t grow if you’re not willing to start.

• Faith starts where our expertise ends.

🔔 Challenge of the Week:
Take one bold, messy, imperfect step toward something you’ve been avoiding because you were afraid to fail. Bonus points if you can laugh at yourself in the process.

Need a little extra encouragement on your brave, messy journey?

👉 Book your Personal Soul Care Session - https://CarrieHurley.com/private-dsc-session
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✨ If this episode spoke to you, please leave a review! Your words help other women rise up and roar in their God-given purpose. 🙌

• Why Paul’s “one final thing” is the ultimate focus reset

• How your thoughts shape your reality—and your peace

• Carrie’s heartfelt prayer over you (grab a tissue)

• An invitation to The Verse Thing community for Scripture memory and meditation

• A sneak peek at what’s coming next

• Your focus feeds your faith. What you dwell on determines your peace.

• The world may be a mess, but your mind doesn’t have to be.

• Memorizing Scripture isn’t just for kids—it’s your spiritual armor.

• You are powerful for the Kingdom of Heaven and dangerous to the system of darkness.

• Challenge of the Week: Choose one of the words from Philippians 4:8—true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy—and actively seek to focus on that throughout your day. Journal what you notice shifting in your heart and mind.

You’ve come this far, and God’s not done with you yet.
Your thoughts matter. Your words matter.
And your next step might just be the roar that shakes the enemy’s camp.

So go on, daughter of the King...
Fix your focus. Fuel your faith. And rise up & roar.

👉 Join The Verse Thing to memorize Scripture with support and joy — https://TheVerseThing.com
🎉 Use coupon code: TVT5 for $5 off your monthly membership
🛡️ Explore topics like Philippians, Armor of God, Foundations of Prayer, Renewing Your Mind, and the brand-new Victorious Thinking in Jesus
🙌 Need personal support? Book your Private Soul Care Session: https://CarrieHurley.com/private-dsc-session
📜 Grab your 100 Declarations of Truth & Grace PDF: https://CarrieHurley.com/100

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• 📸 Instagram.com/MrsCarrieHurley

💥 Leave a Review! It helps others discover the podcast and join the journey. Share what this Philippians series has meant to you!

• Confession time: My lifelong obsession with the destination. Goals, checklists, and getting there fast—rest stops were for the weak, right?

• God’s gentle correction: Learning that He is the God of the journey, not just the breakthrough.

• Celebration as worship: When we stop to celebrate, we honor the One who brought us through.

• The moment it hit me: My friend Noelle asked, “So what needs to be celebrated for you right now?”

• What I realized: 103 podcast episodes... and I hadn’t even taken a minute to let that settle into my soul.

• God’s invitation to YOU: What if your pause is actually His applause?

• The tension between striving and savoring

• Why we struggle to celebrate milestones (hello, comparison)

• Biblical examples of celebration and remembrance

• Practical ways to pause and celebrate with God

• Encouragement for listeners to stop minimizing what they’ve overcome

1. Ecclesiastes 3:13 (NLT) → Celebration is not a luxury—it’s a gift from God.

1. Luke 15:22-24 (NLT) → God throws a party when something is redeemed. Shouldn’t we, too?

1. Joshua 4:6-7 (NLT) → Every milestone deserves a marker.

1. Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)→ Even small steps are worth celebrating.

• God is not just interested in your destination—He's present in the process.

• Celebration is a holy habit that guards against burnout and breeds gratitude.

• You don’t have to “earn” celebration—it’s already yours.

• Pausing to reflect isn’t lazy, it’s life-giving.

Ask yourself:

1. Are you about the destination or the journey?

2. What needs to be celebrated for you right now?

Maybe it’s getting out of bed on a hard day.
Maybe it’s showing up 103 times.
Maybe it’s simply saying yes to God again today.

🎉 Whatever it is—let’s celebrate together.

💌 I'd love to hear from you!
DM me or comment on today’s post with your celebration moment.
Let’s build a community that rejoices on the way, not just at the end.

🧡 And if you haven’t yet:

• Book your Personal Soul Care Session (https://CarrieHurley.com/private-dsc-session)

• Download your free 100 Declarations of Truth & Grace PDF (https://carriehurley.com/100)

• Join the conversation and support the show on Patreon (https://Patreon.com/CarrieHurleyRiseUp)

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💬 Don’t forget to leave a review if this episode blessed you. Every kind word helps someone else find hope too.

• Carrie opens by clarifying what joy is not—it's not based on circumstances or fleeting emotions. It’s a fruit of the Spirit and a gift from abiding in God’s presence.

• Personal testimonies bring the lesson home: from worshiping through tears during a family crisis to witnessing the joy of the Lord in a 25-year-old grieving widow.

• Four foundational truths about joy are unpacked with humor, raw honesty, and a whole lot of Scripture.

• Carrie shares a hysterical-yet-holy parenting moment (yes, there was a Duplo block fight), illustrating how joy can shift the whole atmosphere.

• She closes with encouragement to start a joy journal, share your joy with others, and most importantly, ask the Lord to restore your joy if it’s been lost.

• The difference between happiness and true joy

• How joy is rooted in God’s presence—not your present situation

• Using joy as a weapon against bitterness, anger, and burnout

• Abiding in Christ to unlock overflowing, Holy Spirit-produced joy

• Why joy is meant to be shared and how it multiplies in community

• 💡 Joy is not a feeling—it’s a fruit. Cultivate it by staying connected to the Vine (Jesus).

• 🛡️ Joy is a weapon. Use it to combat exhaustion, anger, and cynicism.

• 🌱 Joy grows when you abide. Don’t let a “kink in the hose” block the flow of God’s goodness.

• 💧 Joy is contagious. Splash it around. Let others catch what you've got!

• 📖 Challenge: Start a Joy Journal this week. Write down joyful Scriptures, moments of choosing joy in difficulty, and testimonies of God's faithfulness.

Are you feeling joy-adjacent but not joy-filled? Ask the Lord to restore your joy. Start that Joy Journal. Text a friend. Send a coffee invite. Be a joy bringer. And if you’re in a season where you just can’t, reach out to Carrie for prayer or schedule a free 15-minute call. You are never alone.

Remember, Sister:
🦁 You are powerful for the Kingdom of Heaven.
🛡️ You are dangerous to the system of darkness.
👑 It's time to Rise Up & Roar in your power, place, privilege, rights & responsibilities as a Daughter of the King!

https://TheVerseThing
https://Patreon.com/CarrieHurleyRiseUp
https://CarrieHurley.com
https://CarrieHurley.com/100

In this “Brief Devotional” episode of Rise Up & Roar, Carrie Hurley invites listeners into a powerful reflection on Philippians 4:8—specifically on what it means to “fix your thoughts.” Drawing on real-life humor, southern colloquialisms, and the majesty of eagle-like focus, Carrie unpacks how choosing what we dwell on can change everything. If you’ve ever felt like your thoughts were spiraling, this episode offers practical and Spirit-led encouragement to redirect and refocus.

Carrie opens with the beloved Scripture from Philippians 4:8 and immediately draws us into a personal and relatable dialogue: Do we naturally see the good, or do we lean more toward the gloom of Alexander's “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”? Through vivid wordplay and Southern charm, she explores the three definitions of “fix”:

• “Fixin’ to” (preparing with intention),

• “To fix” (repairing what’s broken),

• And “to fix” (locking in with laser-sharp focus like a hunter).

Each metaphor carries spiritual significance—highlighting how our thoughts must be intentional, at times repaired, and ultimately steadfast. Carrie reminds us that we often need to command our souls, just as David did, to bless the Lord despite our emotions. The episode ends with a heartfelt prayer, a gentle challenge, and a reminder of your powerful identity as a daughter of the King.

• Three spiritual applications of the word “fix”

• Why emotions cannot be trusted as rulers of our actions

• The importance of intentionality and course correction

• Eagle-like determination in thought life

• Scriptural examples of commanding the soul

• How to recognize when you’ve “stuffed cotton” in your ears to the Holy Spirit

• Fixing your thoughts takes action. You must decide and prepare to think differently.

• Sometimes thoughts need repairing. Ignoring the Holy Spirit dulls our hearing; repentance reopens the channel.

• Stay focused like a hunter. Once you know what God calls you to dwell on, don’t let distractions steal it.

• Your emotions aren’t in charge. Command your soul to align with God’s truth.

• Your thought life is sacred ground. Guard it intentionally.

🔧 Challenge:
Identify which "fix" you're in—are you getting ready to refocus, needing repair, or zeroing in with fierce determination? Journal your response and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you through Philippians 4:8.

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Are you fixin’ to fix your thoughts? Whether you're preparing to redirect, in need of spiritual repair, or laser-focused like an eagle—this episode offers you hope and a way forward. To go deeper, check out Carrie’s Fix Your Thoughts mini-course linked in the description.

💬 Leave a comment and let Carrie know where you are in your process.
🛡 And always remember: You are powerful for the Kingdom of Heaven and dangerous to the system of darkness.

It’s time to rise up and roar, Daughter of the King. Go in power today.

https://TheVerseThing
https://Patreon.com/CarrieHurleyRiseUp
https://CarrieHurley.com
https://CarrieHurley.com/100