The Holy Standard
Welcome to The Holy Standard - the podcast for women who don’t just want to grow, they want to lead. Here, we build spiritual authority, internal systems and bold standards that make you unshakable. If you’re done with watered-down faith, fluffy self-help and surface-level success... you’re in the right room. Let’s raise the bar and our standards.
The Holy Standard
Obedience Over Idols with Cali Arauz
We share a raw story of obedience, idolatry, and identity—how a pro bodybuilder heard “You’re done,” laid down the sport she loved, and found deeper peace, new desires, and a re-ordered life with God on the throne. We also unpack money, business, and the quiet habits that tune your heart to God’s voice.
• obedience as a daily practice over big moments
• when a good thing becomes an idol
• hearing God’s voice and acting fast
• peace that follows surrender
• preparing for motherhood and changing desires
• guarding your heart and reordering loves
• Bible study rhythms that build real hunger
• money, revenue, and worth untangled
• serving first and letting provision follow
• testimony, community, and seeking depth
Thank you for listening and God Bless YOU!
Connect with me here: Instagram
Work with me: chelseatansey.com
What is going on, you guys? I am coming to you today with what I genuinely think might be my best podcast. Like, I'm just foreshadowing it now. I am so excited for the guests that I have on. And I want to tell you like a quick little background because me and her have been popping in and out of each other's world for like a couple of weeks, couple of months. Like she posts something. I'm like, damn, I love this. Then I post something, she's like, oh, you're calling me out. And I actually just hired her as my fitness coach in between us scheduling this podcast. So I am so excited to welcome to the podcast, Callie. Hi, hey, hey, hey, I'm so excited, dude. This is so good. We've just been like so on the same wavelength with just so many things that we've both been going through. Um, and every single podcast starts with people being like, tell me your story and tell me your background. So feel free to pop that and sprinkle that in as we go, but I want to start with a different question. And I just want you to kind of expand on like what is the biggest lesson that you're currently learning in your journey of life? Like, I know that's a broad question, but I know that you've had such a transformative like month. So feel free to share whatever the first thing is on your heart.
SPEAKER_01:Oh man, what's the biggest thing I'm learning right now? Yeah. I think obedience for sure. Um it's I think the hardest part of obedience is it's usually the things we don't actually necessarily want to do, but it's the things we need to do. And I think that's extremely hard because now you're fighting with your ego, your pride, your own desires. And it's hard to zoom out and and realize like you don't know anything compared to what God knows, you know. And I think I've had enough huge events happen in my past where I have obeyed and it's tenfolded that that is enough for me to be like, okay, Lord, if you want me to drop literally everything, I will do that right now. Um, and I can't say I would have done that five years ago by any means. Um, so I think just walking in obedience on a day-to-day um and trusting that his way is better.
SPEAKER_00:I hate mad, like just coming at the gate dropping bars. Because it's so funny. It's like the more you gain spiritual maturity, the more you begin having childlike faith where you almost become like more delusional rather than more guarded, where you're like, okay, this makes no sense, but I'm gonna do it anyway. So, what do you think it's looked like? Because obviously, like I think it's very for me personally, having these huge moments of obedience where it's like, for example, me walking away from fitness coaching, that was such a solid 100%, I know this is what God is calling me to do moment where okay, I'm just gonna be obedient and do it. But I I genuinely feel like in the day-to-day it's harder with the smaller things.
SPEAKER_01:So I'd be interested to hear where that's coming up for you and how that's so I think this is an important piece in my story. Um, so two years ago, two seasons ago, so I'm a professional bodybuilder for anyone who doesn't know. Um, and my first season started like really great. Um, I felt like I was thriving, I was super close to God, like it brought me closer to him through it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:And then when I started winning and I prolonged my season, it started to become just about me. Like I did not care about anything but myself. Um and I had this crazy moment. I had like expanded my season way past what I had intended. And I planned to go to the Yorton Cup, which is like the world championship uh for the OCB. And but because I felt like pressure from the outside too, because they were like, oh, go, go, go, you know. So I thought I should go, regardless of what I knew God had been telling me. And like I do this thing where if I know I'm wrong or when I know I'm being disobedient, I stop talking to God because I I literally know. Like I know that I'm I'm making him mad. Um, and so I started to really distance myself. And I I used to be a psychopath and and wake up at 4 a.m. and go on a walk outside in the dark. And then it got really scary and I stopped doing that. But um I did it every morning and that was my time with God. And I I never brought um, I never had music in. I I literally just prayed the whole walk. Um and it was such a cool way to start my day. Um, and during this uh season of time, I stopped doing that and I started listening to music instead. Um and I again I just got really wrapped up in myself. And it was um, I started getting all these like infections. It was so weird. Like my body was like rejecting everything. Um and the same week, I was on my walk and I, for the first time in my life, I audibly heard God's voice. And he said, Take your headphones out and talk to me. And I remember being on the side of the road, probably looking like a crazy person, but I was like yelling at him. I was like, What? And I took him out and I was like, What? And um he said, You're done. And I literally knew right then that if I kept going, that it would bite me in the butt. Like, you know, when they say like fear the Lord, I actually fear the Lord. Like I fear when I don't obey him, not because he'll punish me or anything like that, but I I just fear to not be obedient, you know? Um, and so I remember right then and there I called my coach bawling, and I was like, I'm done. I was like, God just told me. And she's like, What? You know, trying to explain that to a non-believer. I'm like, nobody's gonna understand this, they're gonna think I'm crazy. I heard God's voice audibly. What? Um, but I did. And anyway, so I I quit and um I was I was really upset about it, and no one understood, and they didn't have to. That's fine. Um, and I actually was going to hang up bodybuilding for good. I thought that was the message he was giving me was like, hey, you took this too far into your own ego that like this no longer glorifies me. Um, and so I did not have plans to do the next season. I I had this inkling that like maybe I could, but I was waiting for a green light from him. Right. And a lot of things happened. I did get the green light, so I decided to do it the next year. But instead of making it all about me, I was like, my mission this year is to glorify the Lord through everything I do and through my business, and like I started to shift. Um and yeah, so so that was like the first time I obeyed him. Um and now walking into my thirds, and then I won last year. I actually I ended up winning that show. Um, and it meant so much more to me, not because of the like of winning, but it was because I felt he rewarded me for my obedience. Like I truly felt that like I I would not have won the the year before. I wouldn't have. Um, but since I walked in obedience, I felt that he honored that. Um, which was really cool and very like powerful for me. Um and then now in my third season, uh walking into that same show in in three weeks, uh in July, um, I had this huge thing happen um where I had like a sequence of events happen because I always ask for clarity. I'll have like an inkling of something, and then I'm like, God, I need like crystal clear clarity right now. And then like he'll give me clarity and I'm like, yeah, but I like need more clarity. Like, can you do this for me? And then he'll do it, and I'm like, can you do that too? Just so I'm clear.
SPEAKER_00:Like it always has to come in threes. That's how I operate. I'm like, I need three, not two, three.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yes. And so um, he made it very clear, and it was really cool. The sequence of events. Um, I listened to a sermon, uh, two in a row. One was about distraction and how like Jesus needs to be like your fixed priority and focus. The next week I watched one about evicting idols and how if anything is in competition with the throne of your heart, then that is an idol. And it was in that moment that I was like, oh my gosh, bodybuilding is an idol. I was like, my body is an idol, and I I it I don't know why that just like all of a sudden clicked for me. Um, and even if I was using the sport for good, because I am, but it's still an idol. When your thoughts, actions, time, energy goes toward something more than it does God, that is an idol. And of course, all of my time and energy and things are going toward the sport because that's what it requires. Yeah. And that was like a hard concept for me to grasp that I was like, oh my gosh, this is actually an idol. Um, and then I had a conversation with one of my favorite clients who's super spiritual, and she has been such a blessing in my life. And um, she came to me, she was one of my best athletes, and she ended up telling me she was quitting bodybuilding for that reason. I hadn't voiced this for anybody to anyone. Yeah, she came to me, said all of this, and I was like, Cora, I think this was a word for me. Like, I like I am with you, and it was crazy. And in the moment, she uh, so literally the day before she talked to me, I I knew that I would one day feel uh the Lord tell me that I was ready to start a family. I have been super resistant for three years. My husband's been ready, he's been ready forever. And I've been the one to be like, no, not yet, not yet. I'm not ready, I'm not ready. Um, and I knew that he would put it on my heart when I was ready. And the day before I felt that all of a sudden I was like battling with it because I'm like, is are because he kept saying, like, preparing you for motherhood. And I'm like, what? Like now? And then during her conversation, she not only was quitting bodybuilding, but it was also because he told her that she was preparing for motherhood. So it was like just another comp, it was just crazy. It was crazy. I was like dumbfounded. And then I had this like resource. So I have like a VA that works for me, and she creates like some of my resources and stuff, and she created this resource that was like uh about hanging up bodybuilding if it's not honoring the Lord, and like how sometimes you like do things for other people and stuff, just like and I read it to like proofread it or whatever, and I was like, oh my gosh, my own resource is speaking to me right now, like this is for me. It was so out, and it just kept happening, like all these things, and the same message, like on Instagram, I'll have like all these like reels pop up or like the text threads or whatever. And the same message was like um leaving behind this chapter and like uh pursuing what the Lord is wanting you to pursue or whatever your work is. It was just like the same theme over and over and over again. Um, and so I was like, okay, like I I'm done, like I have to hang this up. And I don't know what the future holds for me, but all I know is that this season is over for me, and I feel at complete peace with it though. Like part of my life, it's my job, it's my hobby, it's everything. And so to to put that to an end is really scary, but also I feel complete peace with doing it um because I trust that there's something so much bigger for me, you know?
SPEAKER_00:So I just want to cry. I'm also like two days out from my period, so I've been crying all this morning. But I just like I'm just so touched by the level of obedience because I just think of how many people, and I'm sure obviously in the bodybuilding space, and I could also closely relate it to just like entrepreneurship, like these devotions of our heart that we put so much of ourselves into that we want to so badly say that it glorifies the Lord. And obviously, it hits those moments where I do think that we all at one point have to take inventory and really see, like you said, what has the throne of our heart. And you know, I think transparently for me, like I will say the biggest thing for me was money over the last year, like just and business success. Like that's been the biggest thing over and over. And starting to tithe my 10% and actually fully surrender my finances was so humbling. And I think that there's a wave of women who the Lord is really calling up and like calling into his kingdom in a new way of like boldness is what I feel of like he's like, I'm preparing my kingdom, and I don't know why or where or what his plans are for that, but I do truly feel it in my spirit, and I think that this message is probably gonna relate to so many women in whatever their idol currently is. I would love for you to just like talk through. Obviously, you say that you have peace now. What was that wrestling like? Like, I just think I would love to pick your brain if there's a woman listening to this right now, whether it's bodybuilding, whatever it is, and she's currently wrestling with something in her life, giving up that idol. What was that like for you? And how, like, how did you come to that decision of just ultimate peace?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, it was a two-week period where I was super quiet. I like I didn't really talk, I didn't talk to anybody about this except my husband. Right. I just remember crying to him, and I was terrified to tell my coach. Terrified. Um, and when I did, he like met me with so much grace. Like, he he was like, No, like you want to get pregnant? Like, yeah, well, like that would be our next goal, you know. So he was totally on board, he just had a baby and everything. So I think my biggest thing is the an idol doesn't have to be something inherently bad. Um like you said, like the the success of your business is a good thing, but it shouldn't be the best thing, you know. Um and I think for me, it's like, yeah, bodybuilding is a great asset to my life. Like, there's so much good that has come out of it for me, and just like the people I'm able to work with because of the sport. And like I I love the sport for so many reasons, but when it takes up more time and effort and energy, like I said, then it's just like our God is a jealous God, like He wants all of our attention all the time, and even if the things you're doing and putting attention to are good, it doesn't, it doesn't mean it's not an idol. Um and I think uh my biggest advice is just sitting with it, putting your pride out the door and your ego and seeing reality for what it is, because that's something really hard for me. I convinced myself that like I'm doing good, I'm like, you know, all these things, I'm like, oh, but I'm like impacting all these people, you know, like I'm bringing God into my business, like I'm doing all the right things, but that it the reality still is it's an idol, and like my business has been an idol in the past, like I've had a lot of idols. Um, and so yeah, I think just being like real with yourself and honest, um seeing it for what it actually is, and just like asking for his direction, like asking you will receive, you know, like you can't just expect him to just throw all this in your face. It wasn't until I literally asked for direction that all of this came to the surface, and um I I even had like songs that I've never heard before come on, and I would just weep because I there was one lyric, oh, what was it? It was like, All I want is your eyes, your heart, and your gaze. And I felt so convicted by that. He said, All I want is my bride, and just like those lyrics really sent me over the edge because I'm like, all he wants is my heart and my attention and my eyes and everything, and I'm not even giving him enough of that, you know. Like, what that's literally why we're here. So um, so I don't know, I just felt like super convicted over and over and over again. And when you're convicted, please listen to that, man. Like, if you are convicted, just like your content, like you are literally the reason I stopped watching reality TV. You and so it's like when you're convicted by something, that's for a reason. So listen to that, and that it's hard. I I love reality TV, and so but then I was like, oh my gosh, I'm like so corrupting my brain right now, um, by like this stupid show. Um, so yeah, I just think like listening to those nudges that he's giving you and actually like obey the and give give things up. He loves that, like he loves that, so it just has encouraged me to continue to do that.
SPEAKER_00:So be I have such a feeling like people are gonna be listening to this, being like, yup, yup, yup. Cause I just feel like it's so crazy how listening and hearing other people's testimonies grows your faith insurmountably, right? Like, I think I was always waiting for so much of my walk for like obviously I love my God moments and I love the way he shows up in my life, but just hearing those things, it just is such beautiful confirmation. It's like your testimony applies to my testimony. It's like we all have the same testimony and it just pours into each other. And I just really respect and admire like your submission because I do think for a lot of people it's the hardest part because like I can even speak for myself. It's the giving things up. It's like we white knuckle these things because we have place so much of our identity in them. Like, that's where I'd always get people to look at is like I know it's an idol when you can't be yourself without it. Like, if you're not placing your identity fully in what the Lord says you are, who he says you are, being a child of God. Like, I think of if you go to introduce yourself to someone, how do you introduce yourself? What is the first thing you say about yourself to right? And I literally going into the intensive that I'm currently running, planning my welcome page, and I actually sat there for the first time dumbfounded because I was like, I don't know how to like we're all kind of like feel it's kind of like learning how to walk again, of like, hey, I'm letting go of all these things out of my life, but these were the things that were keeping me upright for the most part. Like, I need to learn how to walk again. And it was so liberating because I just felt the room shifted so much because I started it and I was like, I'm Chelsea Tansy. First and foremost, I'm a child of God. I am your sister in Christ. Like, I am like dutifully and like devoted following the Lord. Like, period. That's all you need to know about me. Like, that is the most important thing that you will ever know from me. And I think like that heart posture is so huge because what I was saying is we white knuckle these things because we think it's our identity, because we think we'll be lost without it, because whatever we think about it, but I think both of us can attest to like the moment you actually let it go, like surrender it to the Lord, like you said, the insurmountable piece that comes after it. We think that there's gonna be pain and we think that it's gonna like destroy part of our lives, but we can often be so blind to really recognizing how much better life gets. Like now that I just like don't need to be constantly obsessing over money, I'm like, I feel free.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, absolutely. And I think that's why I'm like most excited about for in three weeks when I'm like done. Yeah, I'm like, I just can't even imagine what he's gonna do with my life and like the direction. I just I I can't imagine. And I'm very excited about it. Cause like to hang to to surrender something I love so dearly, and who that is such a big part of my identity, which is a problem. Um I I just am super curious to see like where we go from here.
SPEAKER_00:Well, it's so crazy how he changed the desire of your heart too, where it's like even motherhood. Yes.
SPEAKER_01:So that was another thing during that two weeks. Cora taught me this prayer, but she she kept praying like for a distaste for the things that aren't honoring. Like that was just the prayer. Just God give me a distaste for anything dishonoring. And then so I started praying that, and all I swear, all of a sudden, like, because my whole social media is bodybuilding, okay? Because that's my clientele. Yeah, and I just was like annoyed. I was like, oh, can we like see something else? And then like conversations. I'm like, uh, there's so much more to talk about. Like, I don't want to talk about bodybuilding. And so I just like started to have this like, ugh, I don't even, it's not even an interest anymore. Um, and I got super unmotivated with my own journey. I was like, what am I what? I almost it was two weeks out from my first show this year, and I I almost like totally quit everything. Um, and I I I really battled with that because I was like, God, are you asking me to do that? Because I will. Um, I didn't get like clarity on that one, so I I went ahead and like finished. Um, but I I was tossing that up. I mean, too, I I had prepped 16 weeks, you know, and I was willing, I really was. Um, but I I I didn't have peace about that. So um I just took that as just finish it out. Um but but yeah, I don't know.
SPEAKER_00:So insane. Like, I also think, too, for so many people, it's like you can't consistently ask for clarity if you're not actually open to the answer he's gonna give you. Like, I think so many people, whether it's relationships, big decisions like that, they'll go to the Lord to be like, confirm this for me. And like, and I'm not saying that this happened for you, but I think for a lot of people, they don't hear an answer because they're not actually willing to submit. And he knows our heart. Like, I always have to remind myself of that because sometimes I I pray, and there's honestly times that I pray and I'm like, that was dishonest. You don't want that. Like, he's looking at your heart right now, being like, liar, joke, you know, but I just think I love that you prayed for just like that distaste, and it's crazy because I was talking to a friend today, and she was like, she actually admittedly came to me and she's like, I was scared that you were gonna like judge me for cursing. And I was like, No, like I didn't stop cursing because I'm judging other people for doing it, but I was like, the words started to taste bad coming out of my mouth.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, that was another piece of content that really convicted me too. So my my husband's a firefighter and he has a potty mouth, and then me and him are both military, so like we had a potty mouth when we met, and then like he rubs off on me because I'm only home. So I'm not really around anyone. Um, but it's it's started to make me so mad and disgusted when he speaks, and I call him out on it all the time, every day. I'm like, quit saying that. But I have gotten this big distaste for language, and I'm like, but that it's such a testament, like God will work in your heart and and want he, I mean, he he wants us to have clean mouths and clean hearts and all the things. Um, but yeah, he changes those desires, which is really cool.
SPEAKER_00:Insane. Okay, and I'm also like so curious because I don't think you've shared about this, right? And I don't think that we've talked about it. Like, it's so weird because I feel like I have such a connection to you. Obviously, we've had like our little conversations, hired you as a coach, like all of that, but it's like we've never actually like sat down and chatted like this. So y'all are catching like the this is so candid, but I'm so curious, like, just a little bit of like what has your walk been like? Have you always been a believer? Like, have you always been like kind of getting into discernment? Like, it feels like you're so on fire for the for the Lord, and I have so much respect for you the way that you just like position yourself online, your Bible studies, your resources, and stuff like that. So I'm like so curious just to hear how that's been for you.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, no, I was definitely not raised in a Christian household. Um, I became a Christian when I was 13. Wow. I got forced to go to a church camp in Colorado on a mountain. And forced you. Uh my dad to go with my grandma, who also weren't Christians. So I was just like, why do you want me to go to this camp? And I was mad because it was like I didn't know any of the kids. I was 13, you know. Um, but me and my brother went and we both ended up getting baptized by the end of the week. It was a 10-day thing. And I it was a it was an incredible experience. And I went for the next five years uh to that same camp. And I I even had two of the girls at my wedding. Um, yeah. So it was like those were like crazy, crazy uh experiences for me. Um, but I would say throughout the time 13 to 22 would be like just I identified as a Christian, but I didn't live like one. I chose what scripture to listen to, which ones. Um I I had a relationship with the Lord, but um it was on and off as far as like the strength of it. Um, I would say it wasn't until my senior year of college, right before I graduated, um, he put I was shocked. This was actually the very first time I ever obeyed him ever in my life. And he uh told me, join the military. And I was like, what do you mean? Because I had like everything set up, I was gonna be um a an assistant coach uh for the soccer team at my college. Like I had everything planned, I was dating a guy, like all these things. And I had no desire ever to join the military ever. And when I told everyone, they were like, What? Um, and so I went and uh and then and then that's a whole story in itself. That's a huge testimony in itself, my military experience. But it was it was during that time that I really grew my faith, and I was like, oh my gosh, like you answered ever you, you you fulfilled the promises that you told me. Um and uh I and like right be right before I joined the military, I was like in a deep dark like the college, like not proud of who I was at all, literally. Um, but yeah, I would say ever since then it's just increased every year. Um I yeah, I I'm just at a point right now where I really desire that in every uh relationship now. Like I have I have gone through so many friend breakups in the last two years. It has been heartbreaking how many people I've taken out of my life. Um but for good reason, you know. And um, I think that's been the hardest part is finding community and finding people that, especially women that are going to call you out and actually be a sister uh in Christ and and not just be a yes man. And I'm I don't I don't look for that in a friendship. I um I don't think that's real friendship, and I really crave depth so badly. Um and it like makes me extremely sad that I don't have a lot of that in my life, um, and I'm still like searching for those women. Um but yeah, so I'd say I'd say it's it's gotten very strong this year specifically. And I think the biggest thing was I started a program uh that my life coach offered, and it's one of the projects was like a 30-day challenge, and you could pick anything and do it every day. And I chose to spend time with the Lord, but read my Bible, and because I can spend time with God, like that's not a problem, but I was so at my whole life I've been resistant to reading. Um, and so literally since I think it was April um or May, uh, I've been in the Word every single day since. And it is wild the difference. Because then you can like hear his voice. It's like, oh wow, who would have thought that you just literally have to spend time with him to hear him. Oh, crazy.
SPEAKER_00:It's like rocket science. What is going on there? That it's so funny because I felt the same way. Like I always laugh at, you know, when people are like, the Bible's written by a bunch of men, like it doesn't hold. Like, obviously, there's all its own judgments, but when you finally actually sit with it and you start like, you know, they say like chew on it, like it's your daily bread. You get fed through it. It is so crazy how different your life feels, how different what you like feels. Like, I think that's where so much of The change in your heart goes is like everyone says, like, okay, you are what you eat. And like, okay, so most of us, like, we're on the same page of like, okay, we're eating whole foods, we're eating healthily, but how often are we looking at, you know, the content that we're consuming, more specifically, the Bible? Like, if I am what I eat, I should want to be eating the word every single day. And just it, you know, I think that there's so much power in it truly being the living word of God. Like, I've never had a like texts or books like put like number one, punch you in the face the way that it does. Like the times you're reading a by the Bible. And I know for me, I've had moments where I'm like, I'm embarrassed reading this because this is convicting me so hard. Like tail between my legs, I'm like, why suck? Like, I never forgot because personally for me, and I'd actually love your opinion on like where to start in the Bible, because that's always everyone's like question to me. But I started reading the Bible. I don't think that I would recommend this for most people, but I started doing the Bible recap, if you've ever heard of that, from like Tara Lee Cobble. And so it's essentially like 365 days of reading the Bible. So every morning I basically committed January 1st. I'm reading the Bible every single morning, but it does it chronologically. So most people are like, start in Proverbs, start in the gospels. I started with Genesis, and then Deuteronomy. And I'm reading those things like as a baby, like I grew up obviously with some faith, but then went new age, was like atheist for a while, like was going all different ways, and then obviously like recently came back to Jesus over the past year or so. Reading the Bible chronologically, I was like, it's going on.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, I I totally agree. Yes. I don't know the right uh way to do it or the one that makes most sense. I got the read the Bible in a year. Okay, yeah, yeah. They told me to start in Genesis, so I did start there. Um, but I I really like Genesis. I think a part of it, some of it was very confusing, but I only read one chapter and then I study it. Like I actually do it, and so I've really gotten a lot out of it, um, versus just trying to read to read, because that's what I've done in the past. I'm like, okay, I need to like actually read my Bible. Let me just read. Yeah. I'm not studying it. Um, and so now I'm like literally taking a scripture, like one scripture, and like real like dissecting every part of the the line, you know what I'm saying? Um, and that's where I feel like I've actually gotten value out of it and I'm understanding and chewing it up. You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_00:A hundred percent. I recently found out what the enduring word is. You know what that is. Uh-huh. It's like a it's an app and a site that you can use. It's called enduring the enduring word. And you can essentially like say, like, I'm in Ezekiel right now, just going through like 15, 16. So like you can literally type like, or in the app, do like Ezekiel 15, 16, and it will have literal breakdowns of like what it's referring to, prophecies fulfilled, like give context because yeah, sometimes you're reading it and you're like, I have no clue what this is, but it's so helpful too, because I personally love doing like full theological breakdowns of even times where some I think a lot of people take the Bible and they read it as it is what it is, but it's like there's so many parables, there's so many, like especially in the Old Testament, how many times they're actually talking about Jesus without talking about Jesus, but you see him in every single book and every single text coming up, and like really being able to chew on that and understand it, it gives you so much more awe for the word of God, where it's like you actually want to go back into it.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yes, absolutely, and that also leads me to like I just kept praying, like, God, give me a desire to want to be in the word, because that was the problem, you know. And like, I I am a full believer that everything kind of starts as a chore, like to build a habit, it's gonna start as a chore, and you're probably not gonna want to do it. You're gonna have resistance for maybe a week, and then you'll increasingly get more interested, maybe, and then and then it becomes something you actually enjoy, um, and something you can stick to. And that's what I've wanted so badly for so long is how can I make this something I can actually stick to? I want this to be something I look forward to, and now I go to bed and I I purposely go to bed 20 minutes earlier than I want to, so that I can go sit in my bed and read the word. So it's just part of my nightly routine and I don't skip it regardless of what time it is, you know. So I just I don't know. I I I think he will continue to give you that desire if you ask for it, you know.
SPEAKER_00:Amen. That's so good. I love how, like, I think it's so funny because I always overcomplicate my prayers, and that's the season I'm moving through. Is how like you're like, give me the distaste, give me the desire, like just give me this. Like, I think so many of us, like when you're like, okay, I'm gonna go in the secret place. Like, I personally have really tried practicing. How can I actually like go sit in my dark closet, like door closed, sit, like just fully know distractions and actually have those conversations? And I really do think that's where the biggest breakthroughs come. And I mean, or you know, on your walks, like you kind of have like your secret places on the road, I guess, you know. Um, but yeah, just so crazy how like when you ask for those things, like he literally will give it to you. Um, I think especially obviously with like bodybuilding, but I'd be curious, like, do you feel like this is the first time that he's kind of like stripped those idols away? I know you talked about business, and I would love for you to talk about how that came up for you because a lot of the people that listen to this are entrepreneurs. And I think even for me, is like a conversation I have over and over again, especially on my podcast, is where do we balance obviously going after things, running our business, doing our actual work, and when it starts to come into idolatry, how do we find the balance? Where do you find the warning signs? Like, I would love to know your opinion because that's still something like me and my audience are all working through.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Um first thing that comes to mind is when I feel less worthy based on how much money I make for the month. That was like a point where I realized it was an idol. It was like I was putting all of my self-worth into it. Um I do think your business is a reflection of you, like 1000%. But it shouldn't like dictate your worth. Um, I think the second thing is ever every single time I hire a business coach, that's why I've been so resistant to do it again, is it becomes about money. Um, and like that's the point, I guess, to like level up in business. And yeah. Right. Then I get hyper focused and and then and then I'm not actually serving with my heart in the right spot. Um, so I have felt because I've done this for six years now, so it's like I've gone through a lot of phases where yeah, I'll I'll be super money focused and and then my quality of work declines or my heart posture does or whatever. Um and then and then I realized uh when I just serve to serve and to actually just do it because I love to do it, money will come. God will bless that. And that is why I've rode this way for so long without trying to level up because I don't really care to level up. I don't. I'm completely content with where I'm at. I I I know that he will always provide, and I I really have peace in that. Um, and I just feel like the um the more I steward my money better, the more he gives me. Um and if I can because greediness was something I really struggled with in the beginning uh because I grew up extremely poor. Um, and I've always had a lack mindset. So to break out of that lack mindset was very hard for me, and it took years. Um, but I can officially say I'm I no longer have that at all. Um and once I broke out of that and I started to just give money where it needed to be given or where I wanted to give it um or where he told me to give it, then it just amplified from there. Um, and I think that's a really cool place to to be at, you know.
SPEAKER_00:It's so insane. Like something that I always laugh about too is I feel like if you look at the Bible, like obviously, if it says to do it in the Bible, do it. Like point blank period, it's that simple. But what I always have thought is so interesting is the number one topic that you will see in scripture is about money. Like, I'm pretty sure that's like the number one thing that it talks about. And I just think that there's something to that, there's so much weight to to money in itself, and I think especially in the entrepreneur space, like that is the war that I'm currently up against because what we see so often with so many like coaches, especially, because like let's just be honest, like making money as a coach is easy, like but like if you have like good people, like once you get going, like you could be making 30, 40, 50, like you can the there's no cap on the money you can make. And as beautiful as that can be, especially when you're using your business as ministry, if you are, I see so many coaches kind of like you said, falling into the trap of well, then it's all about the income, especially if, like, for me, you go into masterminds, and what's every single win about? Money, and that's I don't like that.
SPEAKER_01:That's why I like don't I I I have a lot of resistance toward the business side of it because I'm like, it's not about that, you know? Like, uh, can we celebrate something else?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and it's fine because what it's really is like I always remind myself too, because it's like God judges you based off of if he knows that you know better. Like, if you're just like doop-do-doo walking through life, like he's obviously gonna place less responsibility on how what you're doing, like obviously he wants all of us to like be obedient, but I we carry so much more weight because we do know better. And so he's obviously looking to us to follow his word on that. And it's so funny because I actually personally, every single time I have a client come to me with scarcity or income isn't going the way that they want, because of course, okay, now we're recognizing it's becoming an idol, like you said. Now we're not making enough money. Now my worth's wrapped up into it. The first thing I always ask them is how's your prayer life? Every time, literally, Callie, every single time they're like, Oh, like I've fallen off or I'm not prioritizing it. Or, and I'm like, go out there, love on your people, actually serve them, be a ministry first, and then you come back and tell me in a week and tell me how your numbers are. Yeah. Every time, every time.
SPEAKER_01:Believe that. I really believe that. And I think back to the six years and like when business was going really well, and it was it's always been when I have been absolutely, I do not care about numbers. I'm a terrible CEO in the way of I am not like I don't track, like I'm I'm I have no KPIs, I don't even know what that word stands for. Um, like anytime I've gotten on a call with like a business coach, they're like, How do you how are you like successful? I'm like, I don't know. Honestly. I don't know. But I I really feel like it it if if your heart is in in the right spot, like you will naturally attract people. You know what I'm saying? Like that's how you make money is by being a good person. Like, literally, it's really that simple. Entrepreneurship is is personal develop with personal development with a paycheck, you know, and it's like as much as I continue to pour into growing myself and my faith and all these things, then that that just shows up naturally and that attracts my dream clients, actually. You and it's like it's crazy though. Like in this year alone, I would say 85% of our team's roster are Christian women. Crazy. And I don't even like I don't really call that out. I don't, I don't even, I never have said that ever. But it's like those are the people that choose to work with us, which is that's exactly who I want to work with. So it's just really cool. Um, it's just so cool.
SPEAKER_00:It's so like just seeing how you operate. And like I truly run with, and you can probably attest to this with probably the people you've been getting, because I really do think every single client is assigned by God. Like it's so crazy to me because obviously, like deep in my prayer, like I was really sitting with, do I hire a coach? Do I really need it? Like, I could technically coach myself, like you know, all of that. And like, I could you not three days in a row, it was like Callie, Callie, Cali, Cali. And I literally was like, Okay, God, like, is this what you want? And like, if you guys are listening to this right now, is the funniest thing. So I literally messaged her. I wasn't like at it about to go to bed, like sick of myself. I was like, Are you taking on clients? You're like, Yes, I am. Who's asking? I was like, send me the link. I and I just like I say that to reflect to like how easy business gets to be when you are truly living in God's favor, instead of like, because every time someone's in scarcity, every time someone's primarily like looking at their monetary get gain as their worth, is it not always the time that you're like tooth and nail clawing for that extra client? Like it's always such a struggle bus. And here you are living in God's favor. And I'm literally like, hey, here's my card, like do whatever you want with it. Absolutely though.
SPEAKER_01:It's that's so encouraging to I hope to everyone listening, like it really is like that. It really is.
SPEAKER_00:It really is. Every single time. I'm so proud of just like your obedience, and like obviously, like we're just getting to know each other, like you get this literally our first conversation. And like, yes, but I like one thing that I did actually wanted to say, like, when you're going back in the military, and I I think just for everyone listening to this, is with just this whole conversation, especially around idolatry. Is I think all of us just need to consistently remind ourselves that God does not bring you closer to what you put on your vision board, he's gonna bring you closer to what puts dependence on him. And sometimes, like, you know, it's you joining the military. I think for me personally, obviously it could be stripping away idols. I also think sometimes it's giving you such huge goals that you cannot possibly fathom to do them without him. But I just like for so many of us, I think women either short themselves or they completely go so left field or they're disobedient and they don't recognize like God operates. Obviously, he wants you to have a good life. He came to give you life and life abundantly, and also he's not gonna give you a life that doesn't need you to rely on him for it. Yes. And I think that you're just like such a like poster child for that. Like, it's so inspirational though, because there's so many people I think that try to be so self-sustaining. That's what culture teaches us to just like do it on your own. You're your own God, manifest, do it yourself, and then like ask him if like you feel sick one day. You know what I mean? And so I really think that that's like the huge lesson that I keep hearing through every single thing that you're saying is like he more than anything wants your eyes, like you said, wants your heart and wants your dependence on him. And the second you're living a life that doesn't require that, like, I think not only is that idolatry, but it's like he can't give you everything that he wants. Because for me, idolatry for the longest time was there was this one morning, actually, this one night after work, and I started sobbing. And I was like, take it all away. I'm done. Because idolatry is so heavy. I think that's the biggest thing. When your blessings start to feel like a burden, like that for me is always when I know it's idolatry. And I was sitting in, you know, the money in the business and trying to work towards these goals and all this. It felt heavy. It didn't feel fun anymore. It didn't feel expansive, it felt contractive because I was constantly looking at why I wasn't there yet. And I remember just sitting on my chair in my office and I started sobbing. I said, take it all away. I'm done. Like, I don't want it anymore. Like, I just want you, like everything else. I kid you not, Callie. The next day I walk into my office and my vision board was taped together because I didn't have all the tax. So I taped the pictures together. It had fallen off of the board.
SPEAKER_01:That was joke. Whoa, that's really cool. That gave me chills.
SPEAKER_00:I was like, and I've been up there for two years. Like, it wasn't like, oh, just put it up, I didn't do it right. That's crazy. And like, I think that just consistently, like, for all of us, is just the reminder of like he number one, more than anything, wants to be close to you. If you have anything that's getting in the way of that, like you have to be willing to submit it. Point blank, period. So I just feel like this was such a good conversation about idolatry and uh and just like how to live your life in that pure submission. And you also said like fear of the Lord, and I just think that's so beautiful. I actually had someone ask me a while ago of like, what is fear of the Lord? And I I had to sit with that because they were like, I don't want to be scared of him. And I think you described it so beautifully of like it's just that reverence and that awe, and like, how can we consistently live in being like, no, I love him and I'm so submitted to him that what he says goes. It's not because I'm afraid of his wrath, it's because he is such a good God and I know what he has for me.
SPEAKER_01:Yes, yes, absolutely. Yeah, I uh it was like three or four months ago there was a sermon at church that was just about the fear of fear of the Lord, and it was the first time that I it clicked for me because I've never understood that either. I was like, what does that mean? And then the way he preached it, I was like, oh, like it just made so much sense to me. And I'm like, no, yeah, like that is fearing the Lord, yeah, yeah, yeah. He makes the Bible go off when they need to. Yes, yeah, exactly. Um one scripture that kept popping up to me, like um during this phase two was guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life. Again, I've heard that that scripture thousands of times, but for some reason it it hit me different while I was in the season because I'm like, oh my gosh, like if whatever's on your heart literally dictates everything. So if bodybuilding is the most important thing to me, then all I'm gonna talk about, do, whatever is gonna be bodybuilding. If it's food, you know, because a lot of people yeah, um it food is a struggle, so it's like you're I don't know, it just dictates the course of your life, and so I'm like, of course I want God as the throne of my heart, because then He's who dictates the course of my life. So it that I don't know if it just like clicked for me um for the first time. Um and I think it's I forgot to mention this part too. Um, it was really cool because I think it was it was the the same week that I started my 30-day challenge, so back in the April May period, and I just felt the Lord say like and I just felt it in my soul. I was like that it was about to be a transformative phase of life for me, and I didn't know what that looked like. But this is back, I mean, this is months before all of this happened, but I felt like I was like, and I told Alan, I told my two uh friends from Bible study, and I told Alan, and I was like, I just feel this shift about to happen. I feel this big shift, and then it was like all of a sudden my career's changing, my sports changing, the the desires in my heart are changing as far as speaking, what I'm watching. Like I just felt, and what was crazy too was uh it was a few weeks after that I went to church, I went to the altar because I felt the Holy Spirit tell me go up there, and I'm usually very resistant, but I've just learned to just if he nudges me, just freaking go, just go. Um and I went up and it was crazy what happened. But anyway, this one guy that I actually ended up knowing from like four years ago, I worked with him at a uh a job, and he chose me, like he found me, and I didn't even know he went to that church. Anyway, he prayed he was the one that prayed over me, and he said this prayer. I was crying the whole time, but he was like, uh, he was basically saying, like, Lord, uh, from the tip of her head to the uh bottom of her feet, God just like wash her clean and and start over and like uh and said something about a transformative, like it just all has come together, and and it's really cool when you start tapping in to the Holy Spirit. Like if you I mean I don't know, like it's a feeling you can't really describe, but I have really tapped into that where I I I feel him all the time, and like I know when it's him, and and it has given me such um encouragement to just continue to follow those nudges and to even if that's going up to somebody in the gym that you just feel the Holy Spirit nudge you to go talk to, you have no idea where that can go, and then I've watched those relationships tenfold, and I I think back to like when I met them, you know, and it's it's just super cool, man. I don't know.
SPEAKER_00:It's like I always think I'm like, how do you describe that feeling to a non-believer? Like that for me was what completely took me over because the first time I ever walked into church and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, I was like, no, a mushroom journey ain't never gonna give me this. Like, this is above anything I've ever felt. And like just the first time you truly feel the fullness of God's love. Like, I just like sobbed, like I was wrecked. Like to be like, oh, like there's actually love that's so big and so vast, like you literally can't even comprehend it. You have no choice but to sit there and just cry like a baby. Like, that's all that's all you can really do. Um, I just like can't help but feel like for you two, it's like, you know, you mentioned losing so many friends over the last two years and just like this huge period you're going through of like your words and TV and stuff. And I'm just like, I'm so excited to see where it goes because we know our God and like his refinement periods are always to prepare you for something bigger, like he's pruning you. And I'm just so excited to see where it goes. And I I'm so excited and I feel so honored that I get like a behind the scenes of like closeness with you through it too. I'm so grateful. This was so fun. If you had let's just say, like, if you had any last, if there's anything on your heart, any last words or any last piece of advice that comes up for you just through sharing your testimony. Is there anything that just comes up for you?
SPEAKER_01:I think this was like just a word for myself, too, of like just I don't know, every time you share your testimony, you just get that like childlike faith all over again. Amen. Goodness of God. Um yeah, I don't um to share your testimony more, to to go out of your way to find depth in relationships. Like, I don't know, I don't know how many people even know my like barely even anybody that I talk to on a daily basis know anything really deep about me, you know? So it's like that's it's encouraging to to to go find those relationships and because like you're hearing other people's encourag like strengthens your own. And so I think the more we can like share this with the world and share this with people in our circles, and I just think the the stronger our faith is gonna be. And you can't not believe in God after hearing it, you know. Like, I I really don't get that, and don't get it at all. I'm like, how can you not? Like, there's a way, I don't get it. So I don't know, just hearing I love hearing other people's stories too, because it yeah, it lights a fire in me, really.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, amen. That's so good. Like, boldly proclaim your freaking testimony. And I'm sure, like, we can do like part two, you can get into the military part three. We can bring up like where you end up at the end of the season, like, just have a whole Cali series on the podcast. So for it. I'm so grateful for having you on and being able to hear your story. So just thank you for your vulnerability and all your wisdom.
SPEAKER_01:Uh, thanks for having me. Of course. I love you, dude.
SPEAKER_00:I'll catch you. Bye.