In this episode of Anchored by the Sword, I’m joined by author, speaker, and former corporate executive Ava Pennington to talk about what it truly means to flourish—not by striving harder, but by surrendering more deeply to the Holy Spirit.

Ava shares her journey from the corporate world to full-time writing and teaching, her powerful testimony of faith shaped over decades, and the sacred grief of losing her husband of 40 years to cancer. With honesty and wisdom, she reminds us that grief is not linear, seasons change, and God remains our anchor through it all.

We dive into her newest book, Flourish: Grace-Centered Practices to Protect and Grow a Fruitful Life in Christ, and unpack the Fruit of the Spirit—why we often feel like we “don’t have enough,” and how God grows fruit in us through surrender, not self-effort.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Leaving the corporate world to follow God’s call

• Walking through grief with hope and eternal perspective

• Why the Fruit of the Spirit is grown through surrender, not striving

• Recognizing seasons and giving ourselves grace within them

• Learning to draw strength from God instead of ourselves

This conversation is rich, grounding, and deeply encouraging for anyone navigating loss, calling, or a longing for deeper spiritual growth.

Bio:

Ava Pennington is an accomplished author, speaker, and Bible teacher whose previous work, Reflections on the Names of God, won third place in the 2023 Golden Scroll Awards. Her passion for helping believers live abundantly in Christ shines through in Flourish, making her an engaging guest for podcasts, radio shows, or written features.

Anchor Verses:

Proverbs 18:10

Ephesians 6:10

Connect with Ava:

Website: https://avapennington.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1By4whU6i9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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