Going Vertical First

Going Vertical First

What drives someone to seek a life led by God first, especially when facing addictions, emotional wounds, and everyday stress? This episode of *Hope, Healing & Freedom* centres on a simple but challenging idea: "going vertical first"—turning to God before reacting to people or circumstances. Host Lee Whitman walks through how Restoring The Foundations (RTF) ministry is built around repeated, personal encounters with God.

From choosing a minister and filling out the "My Story" questionnaire, right through sessions on generational sins, ungodly beliefs, heart healing and dealing with demonic oppression, the person is constantly encouraged to look up to God before looking out at their problems. As Lee puts it, "When we go vertical before going horizontal, we're bringing heaven into the situation." You'll hear practical examples too.

Lee shares how pausing to seek God’s perspective turned a tense moment with an angry customer at an auto repair shop into a chance to offer compassion and a hot cup of coffee. He also talks honestly about marriage and sex, arguing that both are meant to be about giving, not grasping: you "give in order to get"—whether that’s love, respect, or physical pleasure. The key shift is letting God, not a spouse, meet those deep needs first.

For people wrestling with addiction or painful past experiences, this approach offers a new pattern: respond instead of react, ask God how to speak before you speak, and allow His love to fill your "tank" before you reach for others to do it. Lee points to Jesus as the model, stressing that Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, and suggesting that this same rhythm can shape ministry, relationships and daily choices.

The episode closes with mention of the upcoming Steadfast Conference and its guests, reinforcing that this is a community learning together how to live "vertical first" lives. Could that simple shift change how you handle your hardest moments?