Barb Raveling's Blog

What if clutter isn’t just about having too much stuff—but about what’s quietly pulling us away from the things that matter most to us? In today’s episode of the Christian Habits Podcast, I visit with Joshua Becker, bestselling author and founder of Becoming Minimalist,  about how clutter affects our lives and our faith.

We explore why change feels so hard, how clutter quietly distracts us from spiritual growth, and why Jesus’ teachings on possessions are an invitation—not a burden.

If you’ve e...

Do you ever feel like you’re trying to love someone well—but it doesn’t seem to be working? Maybe you’re putting in effort, but the other person isn’t. Or you both are, but the relationship is stressful anyway. In this episode of the Christian Habits Podcast, we discuss why that happens, how personality and love languages affect relationships, and what actually helps people feel loved. Gary gives practical advice for improving all types of relationships.

Do you ever feel like you’re trying to love someone well—but it doesn’t seem to be working? Maybe you’re putting in effort, but the other person isn’t. Or you both are, but the relationship is stressful anyway. In this episode of the Christian Habits Podcast, we discuss why that happens, how personality and love languages affect relationships, and what actually helps people feel loved. Gary gives practical advice for improving all types of relationships.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’ll never change”?

Maybe it shows up two weeks into the new year, right after your motivation wears off. Or after a binge, a blow‑up, or a day where you did the exact opposite of what you wanted to do. Or maybe it shows up quietly, whispering, “This is just how I am.”

If so, you’re not alone. “I’ll never change” is one of the most common — and most discouraging — lies we believe when we’re trying to grow.

In this episode of the Christian Habits Podcast,...

Every January, we feel it: fresh starts, new motivation, and the quiet confidence that this year will be different. We make lists, set goals, and imagine a better version of ourselves waiting just around the corner.

And yet, for many of us, a few weeks or months later, we’re right back where we started—discouraged, frustrated, and wondering why change feels so hard.

If you’ve ever told yourself “This year will be different” and then watched nothing really change, this post is for you.

A couple of months ago, I sent out a survey asking which lies people struggle with the most—today’s lie came in #1: “It shouldn’t be this hard to change.”  The next two? “I’ll never change” and “I can’t do this anyway, so why bother?”

What’s interesting is that those second two lies come after repeated failure. But today’s lie—“It shouldn’t be this hard to change”—actually causes the failure.

Why? Because if we believe change should be easy, we won’t put in the work required for real transformat...

Have you ever noticed how quickly a desire turns into a justification?

That looks good—so I should eat it.
That sounds fun—so I should do it.
I feel like it—so why not?

This lie shows up everywhere, especially in the habits we struggle with: overeating, overspending, over-scrolling, overworking… basically anything where desire takes the wheel and drives us somewhere we later regret.

Often people tell me, “I don’t know what I’m thinking. I can’t pinpoint the lie I’m believing.” This makes it hard ...

Have you ever wondered how to study the Bible in a way that actually feels approachable—and even enjoyable? In this episode of the Christian Habits Podcast, I had the joy of sitting down with Ellen Krause, Ashley Armijo, and Taylor Mitchell—the inspiring mother-daughter team behind the Coffee and Bible Time ministry—to talk about their new book, The Easy Bible Study Method.

These three women are passionate about helping others connect with God through Scripture in a simple, grace-filled way. Wh...

Do you ever set goals and fail to reach them? I used to do that all the time. The only goals I completed each year were my recreation goals! Over the years, though, I’ve learned some tips to help me be more successful with reaching goals. On today’s podcast, we’ll discuss ten tips about how to achieve your goals this year. I’ve asked my friend and fellow podcaster and writer, Dr. Melanie Wilson, to help me with this podcast as she is the master at completing goals!

Do you ever feel like you’ll never get caught up? I know that feeling because I’ve struggled with procrastination for most of my life. Here’s what I’ve discovered: it’s a two-fold process to break free. First, we need to renew our minds and change the way we think so we actually want to do our dreaded tasks. And second, we need to learn practical strategies and time management tools to help us get caught up. I talk about both in my new course, How to Stop Procrastinating, but today I want to sha...