Faith Fire Freedom | Christian Encouragement for Midlife Women, Find Your Purpose and Calling, Renew Your Mind

What if your relationship with yourself isn't about learning to love yourself more...but learning to see yourself the way God does?
We live in a world filled with messages about self-love, self-esteem, and self-confidence. As Christians, it can sometimes feel easier to avoid the conversation altogether than to sort through what Scripture actually says.
But what if God has something far more beautiful to teach us?
In this episode of Faith, Fire, Freedom, we're exploring what it means to relate to ourselves through the lens of God's truth. Together we'll discover how renewing our minds changes the way we see ourselves, why faithful stewardship includes caring well for the life God has entrusted to us, and how seeing ourselves through our Creator's eyes transforms every other relationship in our lives.
🌿 In This Episode You'll Hear
Why the way you talk to yourself matters more than you may realize
What Romans 12 teaches about thinking with "sober judgment"
How to recognize thoughts you've accepted as true that may never have been true at all
Why mindset work isn't the answer—but how it can help us notice where our thinking has drifted from God's truth
The beautiful perspective David models in Psalm 139
What it means to see yourself the way your Creator sees you
Why Ephesians calls us God's workmanship—and what that reveals about His ongoing work in our lives
How stewardship applies not only to our time, money, and gifts, but to the life God has entrusted to us
Why learning to receive God's grace changes the way we extend grace to others
A simple question to begin each day:"Father, how would You have me faithfully care for the life You've entrusted to me today?"
📖 Scripture Mentioned
Romans 12:1–3
Psalm 139:14
Ephesians 2:10
💌 Join My Love Letters Email Community
A little encouragement from the porch delivered to your inbox each week—featuring reflections from my Substack, podcast updates, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and the occasional surprise.
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☕ Ready to Take the Next Step?
If today's conversation helped you recognize thought patterns that no longer agree with what God says about you, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.
Christian life coaching creates space to gently uncover those beliefs, renew your mind with biblical truth, and continue growing in the freedom Christ has already secured for you.
📧 faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.com
✝️ Dedication
Jesus, this is Yours.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him. (Romans 11:36). 🔥

What if forgiveness doesn't require you to pretend the hurt wasn't real?
When someone has genuinely wronged us, forgiveness can feel complicated—especially when they aren't sorry, can't undo what happened, or may never be able to repay what was taken from us.
In this episode of Faith, Fire, Freedom, we're continuing our Relationships Through Renewal series with an honest, Biblical conversation about forgiveness—what it is, what it isn't, and why God's invitation to forgive is ultimately an invitation toward freedom.
Through the story of Joseph, Jesus' teaching about an unpayable debt, and Paul's words about vengeance and overcoming evil with good, we'll explore what it looks like to tell the truth about the hurt, release the debt, surrender justice to God, and continue allowing Him to heal what was wounded.
🌿 In This Episode You'll Hear
Why forgiveness does not mean pretending the hurt wasn't real or excusing what happened
What Joseph teaches us about acknowledging evil while still trusting God's sovereignty
The powerful question: What do they owe you?
Why we can't cancel a debt we're unwilling to acknowledge
How Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant points us back to the debt Christ canceled for us
Why surrendering vengeance to God doesn't mean justice no longer matters
The important differences between forgiveness, reconciliation, trust, and boundaries
Why forgiveness doesn't require forgetting—and what it can mean to forgive and remember
What happens when you've chosen forgiveness but the hurt or emotion comes back
The difference between processing an offense and continually rehearsing it
How renewing our minds and becoming more like Christ changes what we do with the hurt we experience
A simple practice for naming the debt, bringing it honestly before God, and choosing to release it
Forgiveness leads to freedom. Bitterness leads to bondage.
📖 Scripture Mentioned
Genesis 50:19–20
Matthew 18:21–35
Romans 12:17–21
Ephesians 4:22–24, 31–32
💌 Join My Love Letters Email CommunityA little encouragement from the porch delivered to your inbox each week—featuring reflections from my Substack, podcast updates, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and the occasional surprise.
Join us here:stephaniesekaz.substack.com
🧡 Let's Stay ConnectedFollow on Instagram:@stephanie_sekaz
☕ Ready to take the next step?If you'd like to explore Christian life coaching or learn more about working together, I'd love to hear from you.
I offer both coaching packages and single coaching sessions if you already know the one thing you'd like some focused help around.
📧 faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.com
✝️ DedicationJesus, this is Yours.Created through Him, for Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36). 🔥

What if one of the greatest evidences that your mind is being renewed...is the way you see people?
Over the past several episodes, we've explored manuals, assumptions, boundaries, and people pleasing. But what if those conversations weren't ultimately about relationships?
What if they were revealing the lens through which we see people?
In this episode of Faith, Fire, Freedom, we're exploring how God renews our minds by transforming the way we see others. As we look at the life of Jesus, we'll discover that love isn't just something we do—it's the fruit of seeing people through the heart of Christ.
🌿 In This Episode You'll Hear
Why your relationships may be revealing more about your perspective than the people around you
How Jesus consistently saw beyond behavior and into the heart
What it means that God is love—not simply that He loves
Why God's love is poured into our hearts rather than manufactured through our own effort
The beautiful connection between Romans 5 and Romans 12
How renewing your mind changes the way you see people
Why Colossians 3 is more than a checklist—it's a picture of a life being transformed by Christ
How compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness all begin with seeing differently
A simple prayer that can begin transforming your relationships:"Lord, help me see this person the way You do."
Why becoming more like Jesus starts with seeing people through His eyes
📖 Scripture Mentioned
Romans 5:5
Romans 12:2
John 14:9
1 John 4:8
Colossians 3:12–14
 
💌 Join My Love Letters Email Community
A little encouragement from the porch delivered to your inbox each week—featuring reflections from my Substack, podcast updates, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and the occasional surprise.
Join us here:
https://stephaniesekaz.substack.com/
 
🧡 Let's Stay Connected
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stephanie_sekaz/
 
☕ Ready to take the next step?
If you'd like to explore Christian life coaching or learn more about working together, I'd love to hear from you.
📧 faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.com
 
✝️ Dedication
Jesus, this is Yours.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36). 🔥

Have you ever said yes while something inside of you was quietly saying no?
People pleasing often looks like kindness on the outside, but what if fear is quietly driving it underneath?
In this episode of Faith, Fire, Freedom, we're exploring how people pleasing can become rooted in fear, misplaced identity, and the exhausting burden of trying to earn from people what Jesus has already given us.
🌿 In This Episode You'll Hear
Why people pleasing is often rooted in fear rather than love
The difference between serving others and seeking their approval
How fear quietly shapes our decisions and our "yes"
Why your identity was never meant to be determined by other people's opinions
How the fear of disappointing others can become a burden Jesus never asked us to carry
The simple practice of checking your heart before you answer
What Jesus teaches us about disappointing people while remaining faithful to the Father
How renewing your mind leads to greater freedom in your relationships
Why understanding your patterns with compassion is different from letting them define you
How the Holy Spirit transforms old ways of thinking into Christ-centered freedom
📖 Scripture Mentioned
Galatians 1:10
Proverbs 29:25
Matthew 11:28–30
Romans 12:2
Psalm 139:23–24
💌 Join My Love Letters Email Community
A little encouragement from the porch delivered to your inbox each week—featuring reflections from my Substack, podcast updates, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and the occasional surprise.
Join us here:
https://stephaniesekaz.substack.com/
🧡 Let's Stay Connected
Follow on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/stephanie_sekaz/
☕ Ready to take the next step?
If you'd like to explore Christian life coaching or learn more about working together, I'd love to hear from you.
📧 faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.com
 
 
✝️ Dedication
Jesus, this is Yours.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36).  🔥

Have you ever found yourself replaying a conversation, feeling hurt by someone's words, or carrying resentment long after the moment has passed?
What if the greatest freedom isn't found in changing the other person... but in discovering what God wants to do in you?
In this episode, Stephanie continues the Relationships Series by sharing one of the most transformative mindset shifts God has taught her. Through personal stories, biblical truth, and practical encouragement, you'll discover how emotional responsibility protects relationships, why hurt feelings don't have to define your responses, and how renewing your mind looks in everyday life.
If you've ever struggled with feeling "too sensitive," taking offense easily, replaying conversations, blaming others for your emotional state, or simply longing for healthier relationships, this conversation will encourage and equip you.
🌿 In This Episode You'll Hear
Why hurt feelings don't make you weak
How blame quietly hands your peace over to other people
What it means to take emotional responsibility without ignoring real hurt
The difference between reacting from false-self and responding from true-self
Stephanie's personal story of learning she had a choice in what happened after the hurt
A practical example of renewing your mind in a real-life parenting moment
How curiosity can replace defensiveness
Why "the pause" can transform your relationships
Biblical wisdom from James, Romans, Ephesians, and Hebrews woven into everyday life
How God uses ordinary relationships to shape us into becoming more like Jesus
Reflection questions to help you begin practicing these truths this week
📖 Scripture Mentioned
Romans 12:2
James 1:19–20
Ephesians 4:31–32
Hebrews 12:15
☕ Come Join Me On The Porch
30-Minute Virtual Coffee Chat
I'd love to meet you! If you'd like to talk about coaching, ask questions, or explore what it might look like to work together, grab a virtual coffee chat here:
https://calendly.com/stephaniesekaz/30-min-strategy-call
✍️ Pull Up Another Chair
I've also started writing on Substack—a quiet little extension of the porch.
You'll find reflections, God-winks, quotes, stories, and the thoughts I'm pondering throughout the week. Think of it as opening my journal and continuing the conversation beyond the podcast.
I'd love for you to join me there:
https://stephaniesekaz.substack.com/ 
💌 Join My Love Letters Email Community
Receive weekly encouragement, podcast updates, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and occasional surprises delivered straight to your inbox. Hit "subscribe" at:
https://stephaniesekaz.substack.com/  
🧡 Let's Stay Connected
Email: faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.com
Instagram & Facebook: @stephanie_sekaz
⭐ If You're Loving The Show
Would you take a moment to leave a review and share this episode with a friend?
Your reviews help more people discover Faith, Fire, Freedom and encourage someone else who may need this message today.
✝️ Dedication
This episode is for the woman who longs for healthier relationships but finds herself replaying conversations, carrying hurt, or reacting from old patterns.
May you discover the freedom that comes from renewing your mind, responding from truth instead of fear, and allowing Christ to transform your heart one relationship at a time.
Jesus, this is Yours.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36). 🔥

Have you ever found yourself replaying a conversation, analyzing someone's tone, or assuming you knew exactly what another person was thinking about you?
Maybe you assumed they were upset.Maybe you assumed they were judging you.Maybe you assumed they misunderstood you.
What if the story you've been carrying isn't actually true?
In this episode, Stephanie continues the Relationships Series by sharing one of the most transformative mindset shifts of her life. Through personal stories, biblical truth, coaching insights, and practical reflection, you'll discover how assumptions can quietly rob us of peace, why trying to manage other people's thoughts leaves us exhausted, and how freedom begins when we stop carrying what was never ours to control.
You'll learn why assumptions often feel true even when they're not, how defensiveness can keep us stuck, what it means to release people to their own thoughts and agency, and how resting in your identity in Christ changes the way you navigate relationships.
If you've ever struggled with criticism, misunderstanding, people-pleasing, defensiveness, or caring too much about what others think, this episode is for you.
🌿 In This Episode You Will Hear
Why assumptions are often not facts
How mind-reading creates unnecessary hurt and frustration
Stephanie's story of discovering she was wrong 95% of the time
The powerful coaching question that changed everything:"Can you allow them to be wrong about you?"
Why trying to control other people's thoughts steals your peace
How Creation Cycles help us release others to their own agency
What it means to stop carrying opinions that were never yours to manage
The connection between identity, truth, and emotional freedom
How Jesus modeled security in His relationship with the Father even when He was misunderstood
Why the pivot from false-self to true-self gets quicker with practice
Reflection questions to help you release assumptions and remain anchored in truth
📖 Scripture Mentioned
John 8:32
Romans 12:2
Psalm 139
☕ Come Join Me On The Porch
30-Minute Virtual Coffee Chat
I'd love to meet you! If you'd like to connect, ask questions about coaching, or simply have a conversation, grab a virtual coffee chat here:
https://calendly.com/stephaniesekaz/30-min-strategy-call
Join My VIP Email Community
Receive weekly encouragement, podcast updates, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and special notes delivered straight to your inbox:
https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1936705/171737099393828190/share
🧡 Let's Stay Connected
Email: faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: @stephanie_sekaz
Facebook: Stephanie Adams Sekaz
Substack: Faith Fire Freedom 
⭐ If You're Loving The Show
Would you take a moment to leave a review and share this episode with a friend?
Your reviews help more people discover Faith, Fire, Freedom and encourage others who may need this message.
✝️ Dedication
This episode is for the woman who is exhausted from carrying conversations long after they're over.
For the woman who has spent too much time worrying about what everyone else thinks and is ready to find freedom in what God says instead.
For the woman learning to release assumptions, trust God with what she cannot control, and rest securely in her identity in Christ.
Jesus, this is Yours.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36). 🔥

Have you ever found yourself frustrated, hurt, disappointed, or resentful because someone didn't do what you thought they should do?
What if the tension you're experiencing isn't actually being caused by the other person?
In this episode, Stephanie continues the Relationships Series by exploring the invisible expectations, unwritten rules, and emotional "hooks" that often create frustration in our relationships. Through personal stories, mindset tools, biblical truth, and practical reflection, you'll discover how manuals, expectations, and control can quietly keep us stuck—and how freedom begins when we release what was never ours to carry.
You'll learn why expectations often lead to disappointment, how trying to control others robs us of peace, what it means to release people to their own agency and the Holy Spirit, and how renewing our minds allows God's love to flow more freely through our relationships.
If you've ever struggled with resentment, people-pleasing, control, disappointment, or carrying emotional burdens that feel too heavy, this episode is for you.
🌿 In This Episode You Will Hear
Why many relationship struggles begin with invisible expectations
What "manuals" are and how they quietly shape our relationships
The connection between expectations, resentment, and disappointment
Why control often feels safe but never produces freedom
How creation cycles and personal agency transform relationships
What it means to release people to their own choices and the Holy Spirit
The difference between carrying people and loving people
How "hooks" keep us emotionally attached to outcomes we can't control
Stephanie's powerful visualization of taking loved ones off the hooks
Why God's Word is the only manual worth following
Replacing hooks with forgiveness, curiosity, and compassion
How Freedom Flow is restored when we release what isn't ours to carry
Reflection questions to help you begin your own journey toward freedom
📖 Scripture Mentioned
Romans 12:2
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
☕ Come Join Me On The Porch
30-Minute Virtual Coffee ChatI'd love to meet you! If you'd like to connect, ask questions about coaching, or simply have a conversation, grab a virtual coffee chat here:
https://calendly.com/stephaniesekaz/30-min-strategy-call
Join My VIP Email Community
Receive weekly encouragement, podcast updates, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and special notes delivered straight to your inbox:
https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1936705/171737099393828190/share
🧡Let's Stay Connected
Email: faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.com
Instagram & Facebook: @stephanie_sekaz
⭐ If You're Loving The Show
Would you take a moment to leave a review and share this episode with a friend?
Your reviews help more people discover Faith, Fire, Freedom and encourage others who may need this message.
✝️ Dedication
This episode is for the woman who is tired of carrying what was never hers to carry.
For the woman learning to release control, surrender expectations, and trust God with the people she loves.
This podcast is dedicated to the One who restores relationships, renews minds, lifts burdens, and leads us into freedom.
Jesus, this is Yours.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him (Romans 11:36). 🔥

What if the relationships in your life are revealing more than you realize?
In this episode, Stephanie explores how God uses relationships to shape us, grow us, and reveal areas that still need healing, renewal, and freedom. Building on Episode 15's invitation into a WITH-God life, this conversation explores how time spent with God begins transforming the way we show up in our relationships.
Through personal stories, coaching insights, Scripture, and practical reflection, Stephanie introduces the concept of the Freedom Flow—the way God's love is meant to flow from Him, to us, and through us to others. She also shares how relationships often become the very place where God does some of His deepest work in our hearts.
If you've ever found yourself frustrated by difficult people, wondering why certain relationships seem so challenging, or sensing God inviting you into greater freedom, this episode is for you.
🌿 In This Episode You Will Hear:
Why relationships matter so deeply to God
How Episode 15's WITH-God life naturally leads into healthier relationships
Dr. Lee Warren's insights on renewal, neuroplasticity, and intentional transformation
The Freedom Flow: God's love flowing from Him, to us, and through us to others
How assumptions, expectations, resentment, people-pleasing, unforgiveness, control, and fear can interrupt that flow
Why relationships often reveal what is already happening inside of us
The powerful idea that relationships are often part of God's curriculum for our growth
How curiosity can replace judgment in difficult relationships
What true freedom looks like in relationships
A simple invitation to begin noticing what your relationships may be revealing
🌿 Scripture Mentioned
Romans 12:2
🌿 Come Join Me On the Porch
☕ Schedule a free 30-Minute Virtual Coffee Chat:
https://calendly.com/stephaniesekaz/30-min-strategy-call
💌 Join the Faith, Fire, Freedom VIP Email List:
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🌿 Let's Stay Connected
faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.com
🌿 If You're Loving the Show
Would you take a moment to leave a rating and review?
Reviews help more people discover Faith, Fire, Freedom, and they encourage me more than you know. Thank you for being part of this growing porch community.
🌿 Dedication
Relationships can be some of the greatest blessings in our lives—and some of the places where God does His deepest work. My prayer is that this episode encourages you to become curious about what He may be revealing and renewing through the people He has placed in your life.
This podcast is dedicated to the One who makes all transformation possible.
Jesus, this is Yours.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him. (Romans 11:36) 

Have you ever loved Jesus… but still felt distracted, spiritually dry, or stuck in “doing mode”?
Maybe your mornings feel rushed. Your mind feels noisy. Your phone gets your attention before God does. And before you know it… the day has started, your soul feels disconnected, and shame quietly creeps in.
In this deeply personal episode, Stephanie shares how God met her after one of the hardest seasons of her life—and how slowing down, abiding, and learning to live a with-God life began forming her from the inside out.
This isn’t about creating the perfect quiet time.
It’s about presence.
It’s about union.
And it’s about what happens when we stop striving… and start abiding.
🌿 In This Episode You Will Hear:
Why so many believers love Jesus… but still struggle to slow down
How false-self can resist stillness, surrender, and being seen
What Stephanie’s “porch season” with God actually looked like
How Scripture, prayer, journaling, and intentional presence deepened her walk with Jesus
The shift from living like a Christian… to living like His daughter
Why union with God doesn’t just comfort you… it forms you
Simple questions to help you begin your own “with-God life”
📖 Scripture Mentioned:
2 Corinthians 3:18 — Beholding Him and being transformed
John 15:4–5 — Abide in Me
Psalm 46:10 — Be still and know
Galatians 4:6–7 — Daughtership and identity in Christ
☕ Come Join Me On the Porch:
I’d love to meet you.
Book your 30-minute Virtual Coffee Chat here:
Virtual Coffee Chat with Stephanie
A relaxed, no-pressure conversation for Christian women who are ready to renew their minds, deepen their faith, and walk in freedom.
💌 Join the VIP Love Notes & Letters
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Join the VIP Love Notes & Letters
 
✨ Let’s Stay Connected
Email: faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.comInstagram: @stephanie_sekazFacebook: Stephanie Adams Sekaz
🎧 Share the Show
If this episode encouraged you…would you share it with a friend who might need it too?
And if you haven’t already, leaving a written review on Apple Podcasts helps this message reach more women who are walking through hard seasons and need hope.
Thank you for being here… it truly means so much. 💛
✨ Dedication
Jesus, this is Yours.
May every word, every breath, and every woman who listens experience Your peace, Your presence, and the freedom that comes from placing it all in Your hands.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him. (Romans 11:36)

Hey friend 🤍
This week on the porch, we’re celebrating something really special.
My son, Caleb, is graduating high school… and we are coming to the end of our homeschool journey.
Twelve years. Countless memories. So many prayers, decisions, laughs, and quiet moments with God woven all throughout.
And as I’ve sat with this season, reflecting back over “all those years”… one truth keeps rising to the surface:
God was there.
Year after year.Decision after decision.In the ordinary, the uncertain, the stretching, and the beautiful—
He was faithful.
This episode isn’t just about homeschooling.It’s about saying yes to God… even when you don’t have the full picture.
It’s about who you become in the process.And what it looks like to trust Him… and eventually, to let go.
Whether you’ve homeschooled or not, I have a feeling you’ll find yourself somewhere in this story.
So grab your coffee, come sit with me… and let’s remember together what God does over time.
 
🌿 In This Episode, You’ll Hear:
What it really looks like to say “yes” to God over a long season
The internal struggles of doubt, pressure, and perfectionism—and how they began to shift
How renewing the mind and surrendering control changed everything (not just homeschooling)
The quiet, steady faithfulness of God in everyday decisions, provision, and guidance
The unexpected joy, connection, and relationship built along the way
A powerful moment of reflection while writing a graduation bio
What it means to release your child into God’s hands with trust and peace
A gentle invitation to reflect on your own “long yes” season
 
📖 Scripture Mentioned
Romans 8:11“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you…”
 
☕ Come Sit With Me on the Porch
If this episode resonated with you…and you’re in a season where you need support, clarity, or someone to walk alongside you…
I’d love to invite you to a 30-minute Virtual Coffee Chat ☕
This is a relaxed, no-pressure space where we can talk about what’s going on in your life and see if coaching might be a good fit for you.
👉 Book your coffee chat here:https://calendly.com/stephaniesekaz/30-min-strategy-call
 
💌 VIP Love Notes & Letters
If you’d like more encouragement like this—personal reflections, behind-the-scenes moments, and weekly “porch” notes—
you can join my VIP email list here:
👉 https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1936705/171737099393828190/share
 
✨ Let’s Stay Connected
Email: faithfirefreedompodcast@gmail.comInstagram: @stephanie_sekazFacebook: Stephanie Adams Sekaz
🎧 Share the Show
If this episode encouraged you…would you share it with a friend who might need it too?
And if you haven’t already, leaving a written review on Apple Podcasts helps this message reach more women who are walking through hard seasons and need hope.
Thank you for being here… it truly means so much. 💛
 
✨ Dedication
Jesus, this is Yours.
May every word, every breath, and every woman who listens experience Your peace, Your presence, and the freedom that comes from placing it all in Your hands.
Created through Him, for Him, and to Him. (Romans 11:36)