Wholehearted Pursuits

Cheri Cochran

Wholehearted Pursuits is a podcast for anyone who longs to experience God more deeply, know themselves more truly, and connect with others more meaningfully in everyday life. Hosted by Cheri Cochran, each episode offers practical and spiritual encouragement for the ongoing work of bringing your whole self to your whole life, as Jesus did. It's a space grounded in the belief that we are each made for a deeply connected, wholehearted life with God, ourselves, and others. Whether you're just beginning to ask questions about wholehearted living or have been on the inner journey for years, you are welcome here. www.wholeheartedpursuits.org

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    When You Think You Already Know What God Will Say

    It’s possible to love God deeply and still find yourself putting off time with Him because you think you know how the conversation will go (and it isn’t good). You may expect to receive a scolding, a sigh of disappointment, or a performance improvement plan. In this episode, we talk about how the hidden beliefs we may hold about God and ourselves create patterns of “already listening,” when we imagine the conversation with God in our minds before we ever have it. I share a story from my college years where a meeting didn’t go as I thought, along with looking at a few common pictures of God that can take root in us and how we can return to Who He really is. We also spend a few moments imagining Jesus beside you, glad to be with you, and noticing which of His loving words are easy to receive and which ones feel harder. If this episode helps you breathe a little easier, please subscribe, share it with a friend who could use some encouragement, and leave a review so more people can find the podcast! ................................................ Subscribe to our newsletter and learn more about the ministry of Wholehearted Pursuits at www.wholeheartedpursuits.org. When you subscribe, you'll receive a free devotional ebook by email, Listening for God: Noticing His Whispers in Everyday Life. Stay connected with Wholehearted Pursuits on Instagram. Wholehearted Pursuits Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that helps leaders cultivate healthy, integrated lives through deeper connection with God, self, and others.

  2. Aug 10

    Becoming People Who Notice

    Most of us walk through life with a kind of "noticing blindness", missing everything from the birds nearby, an ache in our chest, or a personal belief running the show underneath a conversation. In this episode, Cheri introduces noticing as a foundational skill of a wholehearted life: the practice of offering a moment of attention to what's actually happening in us and around us. Drawing on Ephesians 5:15, she explores the difference between reactive living and responsive living, and why noticing is the first step from one to the other. Topics covered: •       What "noticing" actually means, and how to start with the outer world before moving inward •       Five things we can learn to notice: emotional experiences, relational experiences, self-talk, core beliefs, and deeply held values •       Why curiosity and compassion (not fixing or problem-solving) are essential to this practice •       What to do when you're "not good at noticing," and why that's still a good place to start •       How noticing leads to naming, and naming leads to greater wholeheartedness Cheri closes with the invitation to ask God for the grace to notice a little more today than yesterday, and bring what you find to Him with confidence in His love.  ................................................ Subscribe to our newsletter and learn more about the ministry of Wholehearted Pursuits at www.wholeheartedpursuits.org. When you subscribe, you'll receive a free devotional ebook by email, Listening for God: Noticing His Whispers in Everyday Life. Stay connected with Wholehearted Pursuits on Instagram. Wholehearted Pursuits Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that helps leaders cultivate healthy, integrated lives through deeper connection with God, self, and others.

    Becoming People Who Notice
  3. Jul 7

    What is Wholehearted Living?

    You can be sincere, faithful, and still feel split in two. One version of you shows up for work, another for home, another for church, and somewhere underneath all of it is a tired heart trying to hold everything together. I’m Cheri Cochran, and this first conversation introduces Wholehearted Pursuits, a podcast for anyone who wants deeper connection with God, themselves, and others, and who is done mistaking striving for spiritual growth. We start with Jesus’ words about the greatest commandment, because it names the goal with simple clarity: love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. From there, we get honest about what wholehearted living is not. It’s not white-knuckle willpower. It’s not “trying harder” Christianity. It’s not perfectionism with a Bible verse taped on top. Wholeheartedness means moving toward healing and wholeness, and bringing your entire self forward instead of living a compartmentalized, fragmented life. We also talk about a timeless trap: calling raw reactions “authentic.” If we never pause to discern what’s underneath our words and behaviors, we can confuse what feels natural with what’s merely familiar. Using stories from everyday life and years of communication coaching, I unpack how growth often begins at the edge of discomfort, and why the Holy Spirit’s gentle work helps us respond instead of react. The most comforting foundation is this: God goes first. Our wholehearted pursuit is always a response to God’s wholehearted pursuit of us, revealed in Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ongoing presence. If you’re hungry for spiritual formation, emotional health, and a faith that integrates your real life, let's walk this together. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the journey. ................................................ Subscribe to our newsletter and learn more about the ministry of Wholehearted Pursuits at www.wholeheartedpursuits.org. When you subscribe, you'll receive a free devotional ebook by email, Listening for God: Noticing His Whispers in Everyday Life. Stay connected with Wholehearted Pursuits on Instagram. Wholehearted Pursuits Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that helps leaders cultivate healthy, integrated lives through deeper connection with God, self, and others.

    What is Wholehearted Living?

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Wholehearted Pursuits is a podcast for anyone who longs to experience God more deeply, know themselves more truly, and connect with others more meaningfully in everyday life. Hosted by Cheri Cochran, each episode offers practical and spiritual encouragement for the ongoing work of bringing your whole self to your whole life, as Jesus did. It's a space grounded in the belief that we are each made for a deeply connected, wholehearted life with God, ourselves, and others. Whether you're just beginning to ask questions about wholehearted living or have been on the inner journey for years, you are welcome here. www.wholeheartedpursuits.org