In times like these, we all need a word of encouragement. From pastor and best-selling author Max

Lukato comes the Max Lucato encouraging Word podcast with over 40 years of ministry and more than

145 million books sold in 50 languages. Max shares the greatest story ever told, the living

savior who brings hope for a lifetime through rich, biblical insight, heartfelt storytelling.

You'll be reminded that god is

always near always for you and always in you listen to the max lucato encouraging word podcast

where hope meets your day subscribe now wherever you get your podcast life audio welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling podcast, inspired by topical themes from Sarah Young's seasonal prayer devotional Jesus listens prayers for every season.

Today, we are featuring guests who share stories of renewal, restoration, and the vibrant hope that comes with starting anew.

Just as spring wakes the world from winter, you'll hear from previous Jesus Calling podcast guests about how they found strength, peace, and restoration after periods of darkness and struggle.

Our first thoughts are from certified neurocoach, podcaster, and author, Alicia Michelle.

I love being able to take what we know about science and neuroscience

and integrate it together with biblical truth,

because when we as Christians can understand the beautiful ways that

God has made our bodies and made our minds, it really helps us get in a place where we can

choose to embrace those truths in a different way. Let me give you an example. So a lot of us

struggle with emotions throughout a day, up and down,

all the time, right? That's normal being a human. We sometimes get in these patterns where we beat

ourselves up because we think, I got angry at them again. I know I shouldn't. I always fall on this

pattern. In the moment, we're just reacting, but afterwards we're beating ourselves up about it. Well, in the moment,

our entire body, when we're in the middle of an emotion, the sympathetic nervous system is

turned on, which that side of our body is, many of us have heard of the term fight or flight.

That is the side of our body that is in its state. So the blood is being pumped to

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