Praying Christian Women (Praying Christian Women)

Grab your free scripture journal today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal!

Do you ever get "prayer-alysis" ... you know, where you want to pray but just don't know where to start? In today's episode we talk about the A.C.T.S. method of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), which is a fun, versatile, thorough method of prayer that we personally love - and think you will too!

What's your prayer personality? Find out and get some prayer tips just for you at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

This week's guest on the podcast is Kristen Clark from Girl Defined. Kristen  and her sister Bethany (who joined us on the podcast last year in Episode 167) have authored several books including the one we talk with Kristen about today, Not Part of the Plan: Trusting God with the twists and turns of your story. 

During our conversation, Kristen shares about her struggle with infertility and the process of praying through endless disappointments. She talks about the importance of community, and how God actually used her unanswered prayers for a biological baby to launch her and her husband forward into the journey of adopting brothers from Ukraine.

Since recording this episode, the situation in Ukraine has drastically changed. Join us at beginning of this episode for a prayer for Ukraine, and specifically for Kristen's sister Ellissa and husband Andriy who have been ministering in Ukraine and are expecting the birth of their baby girl any day now.

You can connect with Kristen and Bethany at GirlDefined.com, and receive their 30 Day journal of the names and attributes of God at GirlDefined.com/God. 

Our sponsors of this episode are:

Anchor.fm: Anchor is the easiest way to podcast, and the hosting service we use on our podcast!

Simply Earth Essential Oils: A company that changes the world by donating 13% of all profits to end human trafficking. Visit www.SimplyEarth.com/PCW to get a free 80ml essential oil diffuser when you subscribe to their Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box!

Grab your free scripture journal today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal!

This week we're welcoming Christy Wright from the Ramsey Solutions team to the Praying Christian Women podcast. Christy is a well known speaker, author and host of the Christy Wright Show. We talk about her newest book Take Back Your Time: The Guilt Free Guide to Life Balance, which is full of "a-ha!" moments and so many words of wisdom. 

She's also recently released a devotional called Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You, designed to help women take just a little time out of each day to do some self-reflection and to reconnect with God. 

You're going to love this conversation with Christy, so pull up a chair and join us!

You can connect with Christy and find out more about her books at www.christywright.com.

Have you visited the Praying Christian Women store where we sell prayer-themed merchandise? Check us out at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/shop today!

The term "prayer burden" can come with a lot of baggage. If you think you have one, you might feel weighed down by the responsibility of it. If you don't know if you haven one, you might feel guilty that you don't. And if you have no idea what a "prayer burden" is, you might feel like you aren't spiritual enough for not knowing the right Christian jargon.

Today we're here to ditch the baggage and guilt, and discuss the ins and outs of prayer burdens in a way that will bring breakthrough, peace and powerful prayers!

Grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Today's guest on the Praying Christian Women podcast is Amy Upchurch, founder of Pink Stork: a Christian based women's wellness, beauty, and fashion brand that was birthed out of a very difficult season of Amy's life. Amy talks with us about how she managed to keep focused on God during an unexpected health crisis and how it inspired her to create Pink Stork to serve the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of women everywhere.

Connect with Amy at PinkStork.com!

Don’t forget to grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

If you haven’t heard of Bianca Juarez Olthoff, you might be about to meet your new virtual BFF. If you have, you know you do not want to miss this week’s episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast! Bianca’s passion for the Lord and teaching God’s Word permeates everything she does, and our conversation about her new book Grit Don't Quit: Developing Resilience and Faith When Giving Up Isn't an Option is no exception.

Join us as Bianca shares about truly miraculous ways God provided for her family as a child, how to navigate friendships when conflict strikes, and some powerful and practical tools for persevering in your faith when you feel like giving up.

You can connect with Bianca and find her new book at BiancaOlthoff.com. (Her book releases August 29th, but you can preorder today for some really fun preorder bonuses!)

Grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Have you experienced a “divine detour” in your life - a curve ball you didn’t see coming? At the time, it could seem like the end of the world, or at the very least like God took a vacation from looking out for you. But our guest today on the podcast, Lori Ann Wood, has some real encouragement for us. She shares the story of her own “divine detour” and how it actually became the catalyst for a faith she never dreamed possible. Join us to hear her incredible story, including the hard questions she asked and the ways God showed up for her each step of the way (and continues to!).

You can connect with Lori and find her book Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted at LoriAnnWood.com .

What's your prayer personality? Find out at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Do you ever feel like you're too ordinary for God to use you in big ways? If so, you're not alone and you need to stick around to listen to our conversation with Amber Albee Swenson. We talk about some of the hurdles that stand between a woman and finding and fulfilling the purposes God is calling her to. Amber explains how God can (and has!) used past mistakes, failures, and even sin to launch people forward to bear fruit for his kingdom. We talk about the role of spiritual warfare in preventing women from living out God's purposes for us, and she gives some practical first steps to take if you want to discover and walk in God's plans for your own life.

You can connect with Amber at AmberAlbeeSwenson.org

Our sponsors of this episode are:

Anchor.fm: Anchor is the easiest way to podcast, and the hosting service we use on our podcast!

Simply Earth Essential Oils: A company that changes the world by donating 13% of all profits to end human trafficking. Visit www.SimplyEarth.com/PCW to get a free 80ml essential oil diffuser when you subscribe to their Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box!

Have you checked out our prayer-themed merch? Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/shop today!

Do you ever feel guilty for praying for yourself? What is the balance between praying for ourselves and others? Does it make you less "mature" to pray only for one or the other? Join us for this week's coffee break episode to hear about all of these questions and more! Submit your own "coffee break" questions or suggestions for episode topics at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/questions.

Join us today for a time of prayer for racial healing in America and across the globe.

Grab our free COVID-19 devotional today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/bethelight!     

You never know what we're going to talk about next. Today we discuss puppies and even pause (paws?) for a barking dog. We talk decide what we'd do with just one hour of internet each day, and end with a bible reading in Genesis 16 and prayer for the homeless. Grab your coffee and join us!

Grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

It's always helpful as we look forward to a new year to reflect back on the last one. This week, we're going to replay last year's "Praying in the New Year" episode where we reflected on some of the lessons we learned in 2020, then took some time to pray through lots of topics that are just as relevant today as they were a year ago!

Today as you listen to to this episode, think about which of your own lessons from 2020 apply to 2021. In what ways has your perspective changed? What new lessons have you learned?

We hope you'll enjoy this time of reflection and prayer as we pray in the new year together!

Get 30 Days of Prayer for the Unsaved delivered right to your inbox! Sign up at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/unsaved today.

In today's Coffee Break episode, our listener shares about a family history of mental illness that caused "hearing from God" to be something she had to navigate with extra wisdom and discernment. Join us today for a discussion about how family history can affect each one of us in our prayer lives. We can't wait to see you there!

Related podcast episodes: 006 Generational Sins, 038 Is it Me, God, or the Devil Talking and 062 When God Calls You to Step Out in Faith with Cristy Olof

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at https://prayingchristianwomen.kit.com/journal today!

Are you tired of being spiritually weary? You've come to the right place! Join us for a time of prayer, reflection and meditation.

Leave the baggage of your day behind you and come away refreshed, renewed, and reconnected to God as we pray through Psalm 6.

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at https://prayingchristianwomen.kit.com/journal today! Is it selfish to pray persistently for something your REALLY want?

What is the balance between surrender to God and dreaming big?

Does God sometimes punish us by giving us exactly what we ask for? If you can believe it, all of these questions (and some answers) came out of our conversation about the movie A Christmas Story! Join us for another fun but deep discussion about prayer, springboarded by one of our favorite Christmas movies! We hope you have a blessed Christmas full of time with family and friends, and most of all time to focus on the Greatest Gift: Jesus.

Don’t forget to grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

You are going to absolutely love this week’s guest on the podcast. Bethny Ricks is a dynamic speaker and leadership expert, poet, author and founder of the Jesus Led, Bible Fed community on Instagram. Bethny talks with us about her book An Inconvenient Journey which includes reflections along her own faith journey of working through past trauma toward healing and wholeness. She shares about how she worked through difficult questions about God and her faith, some helpful practices that allowed her to heal, and about the importance of allowing God to meet us at our deepest points of pain.

You can find Bethny’s book, sign up for her Pour it Out newsletter, and connect with her at https://www.bethnyricks.com/. You can follow Bethny on Instagram at @jesusledbiblefed and @bethnyricks

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Where do you invest your time and money? In light of the busy world we live in and the economic pinch we no doubt all have been feeling lately, these are important questions! In this week's episode we talk about what it means to invest in prayer, why so many women find it difficult to spend money on themselves when money is tight, and how you can invest in prayer without breaking the bank!

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Note: If you’re listening to this episode with little ears nearby, you might want to use headphones

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Praying Christian Women podcast! This week’s episode is all about Christmas carols: what they get right, what they get wrong, anecdotes about our favorites, and so much more. Join us for a fun celebration of the Christmas season.

We’ve updated our website!

Some old links referenced in past episodes may not be working any more, but we have lots of new things for you!

JUST FOR YOU: use code 2024 to get a discount on our Praying in the New Year online retreat! ⁠https://prayingchristianwomen.com/products/praying-in-the-new-year⁠

Grab your free scripture journal at ⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal⁠ today!

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Award-winning author and journalist Patricia Raybon joins us on the podcast today to expound on some powerful lessons about prayer from her book "I Told the Mountain to Move." Patricia has a gentle, quiet spirit ... and the heart and soul of a warrior. There is so much wisdom in this conversation, you will not want to miss out!

You can connect with Patricia at https://www.patriciaraybon.com.

Grab your free scripture journal today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal! Prayer is a relationship, not just something to check off a list...right? But even in a relationship, if we're not intentional about meeting with the person in question, the relationship can suffer! We need good prayer habits. So take a break and pull up a chair and join us for part 1 of our conversation and learn how to deepen your relationship with God through some "habit hacks" that might surprise you!

In this episode we discuss Atomic Habits by James Clear. 

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Today's "coffee break" episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast is about how to pray for caregivers of kids with special needs. We had such a great conversation about this that we ended up splitting it into two parts. 

Whether you're a caregiver of a child with special needs or not, these episodes will give you lots of insights into some practical ways to help someone who is caring for a child with special needs, as well as some specific prayers you can pray to lift them up.

If you'd like more encouragement from moms of kids with special needs, check out episode 083 with Shauna Amick from Joni and Friends, and episode 100 with Jamie Sumner!

Our FREE online prayer conference is just ONE WEEK AWAY! You'll hear 23 amazing speakers over 3 days, January 23-25. Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/conference2023 to find out more. 

As we grow in any area of life, we learn to shed what doesn't work just as much as we learn to embrace and build on what does work. On today's episode of the podcast, we talk about some things we don't do anymore in our prayer lives (in addition to going down some rabbit holes pertaining to the end times and alien life). We hope you'll join us!

Grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

It's a pretty universally accepted concept that gratitude is good for you. Good for the spirit, good for the mind, even good for the body! But it doesn't come naturally; it's something that needs to be cultivated. Join us today for a discussion about some practical ways we can develop the discipline of gratitude in our everyday lives. Check out our "Gratitude from A to Z" blog for some prayer points, then try to come up with your own list!

Grab your free prayer journal today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal!

In today's special episode of the podcast, we dive headfirst into the topic of unity in the Body of Christ during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tensions are high, opinions are strong, and we'd love to invite you into a time to talk and pray about how now more than ever it's important for us as believers to approach each other (as well as the rest of the world) from a heart of love, humility and desire to glorify God despite our differences of opinion.

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Our guest on the podcast this week is the author of "Love Because: How to Change the World One Blessing at a Time," Becky Kopitzke. You won't want to miss this inspirational, uplifting episode where we get to talk with Becky about the joy and freedom that comes from blessing others. She offers personal stories as well as practical tips for how you too can change the world...one blessing at a time!

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Do you ever feel unseen or insignificant? Have you ever wondered if God is too big or too busy to care about the day-to-day struggles facing you? If so, we invite you into this week’s conversation with Paige Allen, author of He Knows Your Name: How 7 Nameless Women of the Bible Reveal Christ’s Love for You.

In this fun, uplifting and powerful conversation, Paige talks about messy answers to prayer, attitudes that can block us from effective prayer, the difference between being a “peacekeeper” and “peacemaker”, and so much more!

You can connect with Paige and find her book at PaigeAllen.net.

We're sailing in uncharted territories with this week's episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast as author Sabrina McDonald joins us to talk about a topic we have never discussed before on the podcast: blended families.

Her book "A Home Built From Love and Loss: Coming Together as a Blended Family" delves into the heartache that almost always precedes blending a family, as she shares her own story of navigating the ups and downs of joining two families together.

Sabrina candidly shares the high highs and low lows she and her husband have experienced during the process of blending their own families, and reveals some of the ways God has met them every step of the way to bring healing and beauty out of tragedy and loss.

You can connect with Sabrina and find her books at SabrinaMcDonald.com.

Just a reminder, we're back after a long summer sabbatical full of changes, including moving a couple of our kids to college and one of our families moving out of Alaska (listen to the intro to episode 314 for more details)!

The episodes you'll be hearing over the next several weeks were recorded in the spring, so some of the references might be outdated but the messages are all extremely relevant. Enjoy!*

What do you think of when you hear about "the Proverbs 31 woman"? For some, it conjures up images of an unattainable goal, or even guilt. For others it is weaponized against women who don't fit the mold of what they think a Christian woman should be.

Join us over the next several weeks as we discuss and pray through Proverbs 31. We'll seek to understand this iconic passage of scripture and apply it to our lives in ways that will deepen our understanding of who God is and who he has created us to be... and some of what we uncover might just surprise you!

Grab your free scripture journal today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal!

How do different aspects of your personality impact your prayer life? More than you might think! Join us for the next 4 Wednesdays for a mini-series where we'll explore the 4 different components of the "16 personalities" (MBTI) to help you determine what categories you fall into so you can use that information to pray like you...and nobody else!

Our guest on this week's episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast is Cherrilynn Bisbano, author of Shine Don't Whine. Cherrilynn shares about  some of the ways prayer has been instrumental in her own life to help her press on through difficult times. She talks about the Armor of God, praying out loud in a group, how to locate and remove spiritual "tumors" and so much more! 

You can connect with Cherrilynn at CherrilynnBisbano.com

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Grab our 14-day COVID-19 devotional at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/bethelight today!  

Today we got to talk with Pam Fields from www.tendingfields.net about how God has called her to blog and speak to "less-than-perfect Christian mamas" from all walks of life, and how the pandemic launched her into a new ministry. She shares her story, as well as lots of great prayer tips. You won't want to miss this conversation...pull up a chair and join us!

You can connect with Pam at www.tendingfields.net.

Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/unsaved to have one prayer from 30 Days of Prayer for the Unsaved delivered to your inbox each day!

Welcome to our new Wednesday "minisodes"! We wanted to complement our Monday full-length episodes with some quick and easy segments with a prayer tip followed by prayers for the unsaved.

Join us today to learn about the power of praying on location.

*Just a reminder, we're back after a long summer sabbatical full of changes, including moving a couple of our kids to college and one of our families moving out of Alaska (listen to the intro to episode 314 for more details)!

The episodes you'll be hearing over the next several weeks were recorded in the spring, so some of the references might be outdated but the messages are all extremely relevant. Enjoy!*

What do you think of when you hear about "the Proverbs 31 woman"? For some, it conjures up images of an unattainable goal, or even guilt. For others it is weaponized against women who don't fit the mold of what they think a Christian woman should be.

Join us over the next several weeks as we discuss and pray through Proverbs 31. We'll seek to understand this iconic passage of scripture and apply it to our lives in ways that will deepen our understanding of who God is and who he has created us to be... and some of what we uncover might just surprise you!

Do you want to read the entire Bible, but feel like it’s just too much of a challenge? If so, look no further - Mary DeMuth can help! Mary is the founder of a literary agency, author of too many books to count - including 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge: Read the Whole Bible, Change Your Whole Life. In this episode of the podcast, Mary shares a method of reading the Bible in its entirety in just 90 days that is practical and doable, whether you consider yourself a reader or not. Mary is always full of biblical knowledge and wisdom, and this conversation is no exception (and might even change your life)! You can connect with Mary and take her 90 day challenge at MaryDeMuth.com/bible. You can also find Mary’s gorgeous scripture-focused artwork at MaryDeMuth.com/art (you absolutely have to see this shop!).

Grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Forgiveness is an essential part of our spiritual lives, and more than that - it's a command! But it's not always easy. Join us today for a practical, hands-on episode about how you can invite God into a ten step process of forgiveness. 

Here are the ten steps: 

1.Acknowledge your anger 

2.Acknowledge your hurt & disappointment 

3. Admit what your fear is 

4. I’m sorry that I....(what you’re missing) 

5. What I really wanted was... 

6. Gratitude (things surrounding the issue or “even though” prayers) 

7. Love (prayers - I love ___ - even if you have to add an “even though”) Power in stating it before God. Go deeper: what do you love about this person? 

8. Compassion - try to empathize with their side/where they’re coming from. 

9. Forgiveness itself - review the last steps and move forward and saying I forgive ______. 

10. Appreciation : the debrief - note if you feel different, appreciate the release, appreciate Gods forgiveness. The lid you put on this process.

Get your free scripture journal today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal!

The holidays are coming at us fast ... ready or not! 

For some, the holidays are the highlight of the year. But for so many, the holidays are a source of deep grief and anxiety. That's why we think it's so important for you to join us for this week's episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast. We got to talk with Nancy Hicks about how to navigate the deep waters of grief during the holidays. 

Whether you're experiencing grief yourself or not, this episode is full of helpful tips not only for how to handle grief during the holidays, but how to truly see those who are struggling and how to more effectively offer support, love and prayers. 

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

This week's episode of the podcast is all about prayer lessons from gardening! We both love plants, and there are so many analogies from horticulture in scripture that can be applied to our faith. Join us for a fun exploration of some of our favorite prayer lessons from plants.

Want to take our new quiz to find out your prayer personality? Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Our guest this week is Reina Rose, a TV host and author of Sin Tastes Good: Nourishing Your Soul in An Empty-Calorie World.

We get to talk about the parallels between spiritual and physical nutrition, and how we can assess what we consume spiritually. Reina introduces us to "mind sparring" and how it can feed your soul, teaches us how to recognize toxic influences, and so much more. Pull up a chair and join us!

You can connect with Reina at Reina-Rose.com

Our sponsors for today's episode are:

Abide, the #1 Christian meditation app. Visit Abide.co/praying to get 25% off a premium subscription today!

Anchor.fm, the easiest way to podcast, and the podcasting host we use for Praying Christian Women.

Get our  free downloadable 14-day devotional: Praying Christian Women's Guide to Praying Through the COVID-19 Crisis today! Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/bethelight.  

Today was just a fun, lighthearted look at what makes us laugh, some stories of everyday heroes and we close with prayer for the Church as Christians all over the globe navigate the COVID-19 crisis.

Do you ever struggle with the fine line between giving generously and being taken advantage of - or even being a poor steward of your finances? Believe it or not, Proverbs 31 prompted an eye-opening discussion about this topic.

We also talk about balancing preparation for our homes and families with faith in God's provision. We hope you'll join us today for all of this and much, much more!

Grab your free scripture journal at http://www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

We love answering listener questions on the podcast in our “Coffee Break” episodes! This week we’re discussing how to know when you’ve emptied yourself out in prayer, or when you’re “prayed out.” We have lots to say on this topic because it’s something we've experienced as we've prayed together over the years. We'd love for you to join us for a behind-the-scenes look into how "praying it out" has been a big part of our prayer partnership.

Grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

This week’s guest on the Praying Christian Women podcast is Mary DeMuth, author of Love, Pray, Listen: Parenting Your Wayward Adult Kids with Joy. In our conversation, Mary speaks honestly about the struggles that come with praying for our adult children, particularly those who have strayed from faith. She shares from her own experiences and gives advice about how to deal with feeling envious of the perceived successes of your friends' children, releasing a prodigal and “praying from a distance”, when to speak truth in love (and when to stay silent!), and SO much more.

Whether you have a wayward child or loved one in your life or are looking not too far down the road at launching a child or loved one into adulthood, you absolutely must listen to this conversation with Mary! She is so full of wisdom and encouragement.

You can connect with Mary and find her books, podcast, artwork and links to her literary agency (she does all the things!) at https://www.marydemuth.com/ . You will also find a signup for a personalized prayer delivered right to your inbox every single Monday for TWO YEARS!

Our guest on this week's episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast is Mimika Cooney, author of Mindset Make Over: How to Renew your Mind and Walk in God's Authority.

In our conversation, Mimika talks about how to deal with recurring negative thought patterns and negative self-talk. She shares about why faith is the key to unlocking your mind, highlights some of the most common battles women face today, and reveals how mindset can be a secret weapon to fight them. We discuss the difference between spiritual warfare and our thought life, and some very practical (and powerful!) ways to wage war on the enemy.

You can connect with Mimika and find all of her books at www.MimikaCooney.com

Grab our free COVID-19 devotional today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/bethelight!   

In today's COVID Conversation, we talk about fixing plumbing and other things we never thought we'd do pre-quarantine, as well as what we'd do with one whole day quarantine-free! Don't forget to listen to the end when we'll pray for financial burdens during this difficult time for so many.

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

This week we're celebrating 4 years of the Praying Christian Women podcast! We can hardly believe how fast the time has gone by, and how much has happened in our lives and in the world in 4 years. Our first episode aired in September of 2018 (you can watch & listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcbqe3rzKhk) and we've never looked back! 

Join us for an episode where we discuss the unique challenges of being praying Christian women in 2022, as well as some fun reflections on the last four years of podcasting!

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

This week's guest on the podcast is Lisa Appelo, author of Life Can Be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After It All Falls Apart. When her husband died suddenly, Lisa found herself left with the unimaginable task of explaining what had happened to her children, then picking up the broken pieces of their world and trying to put it all back together. Lisa shares her story with honesty and transparency, recounting her journey through grief and brokenness, and how she found hope and healing through rooting herself in the truth of scripture and processing the hard emotions with God through prayer.

You can connect with Lisa at LisaAppelo.com

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Happy Thanksgiving week to our friends in the U.S.! Whether you observe American Thanksgiving or not, there’s no better time to celebrate the power of gratitude.

Here at Praying Christian Women we have a lot to be thankful for. We’ve been making some changes behind the scenes that include adding a new member to our team, Becky Kopitzke! In this week’s episode we bring Becky on to introduce herself, and each of us takes time to share our testimony and reflect on answered prayer and gratitude.

Grab your free scripture journal today at http://www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal !

Join us for the next few Wednesdays for a mini-series exploring some of the prayers of the New Testament. In each “minisode” we’ll read the prayer straight from the Bible, discuss some key takeaways we find and end with some practical applications in our own prayer lives!

This week we talk about the importance of prayerful remembrance: both remembering events and things God has done, and remembering the process and patterns in our prayer lives to strengthen us and prepare us for the tough times. By the end of the episode we’d both aired some of our deepest struggles and stressed the importance of remembering we are all flawed and human, but that each of us can be used in mighty ways by God - so be prepared for a very candid conversation!

Grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

We all have pet peeves that drive us crazy. But nobody ever seems to talk about "prayer peeves" - those prayer-related practices or sayings that just rub us the wrong way.

Join us today for a lighthearted look at some of our own "prayer peeves," as well as a discussion about the importance of showing grace to ourselves and others in our prayer lives regardless of our differences.

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Countless people are walking around with unresolved childhood trauma, and many may not even realize it.

In this week's interview episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast, we sit down with Patrick Morley, author of From Broken Boy to Mended Man: A Positive Plan to Heal Your Childhood Wounds and Break the Cycle.

In our conversation, Patrick shares his own story of turning to God for healing after realizing he had been unknowingly living with the burdens and consequences of a traumatic childhood. He wrote From Broken Boy to Mended Man in hopes that the lessons he has learned from years of work through therapy, prayer and introspection can help others to recognize and heal from childhood trauma.

You can connect with Patrick and find his books at PatrickMorley.com

Grab your free scripture journal today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal!

How do different aspects of your personality impact your prayer life? More than you might think! Join us for the next 4 Wednesdays for a mini-series where we'll explore the 4 different components of the "16 personalities" (MBTI) to help you determine what categories you fall into so you can use that information to pray like you...and nobody else!

Make sure to grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Many of us are gearing up for another school year, so we wanted to devote an episode to talking about transitions, new beginnings, and how to go about praying in this new season. Whether you find yourself sending a child to kindergarten for the first time, dropping a child off at college or simply ushering in a new season of work and family this fall, we would love for you to pull up a chair and join us!

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today!

Is there something you'd change about yourself if you had the opportunity? What if that annoying personality trait could actually be the key to discovering your praying superpower?

In this episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast, we discuss how our new book She Prays Like a Girl: Discover the Joy and Power of Praying Like You (and No One Else), helps women to not just come to terms with perceived weaknesses, but actually use them as a springboard for a more powerful prayer life.

If you haven't already, grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

This week's guest on the podcast is the amazing Bunmi Laditan, author of "Dear God: Honest Prayers to a God Who Listens". This book is filled with authentic prayers from Bunmi's journals chronicling as she puts it, "a spiritual journey from questioning, wandering, despair, to (mostly) trusting a God who I now know sees me, hears me, and for reasons I still don't understand, loves me." 

Join us for a truly uplifting conversation about Bunmi's journey of faith and about taking off the mask and talking to God.

You can connect with Bunmi at BunmiLaditan.com

Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/unsaved to have one prayer from 30 Days of Prayer for the Unsaved delivered to your inbox each day!

Welcome to our new Wednesday "minisodes"! We wanted to complement our Monday full-length episodes with some quick and easy segments with a prayer tip followed by prayers for the unsaved.

Join us today to hear about some ways you can incorporate scripture into your prayer life.

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at

⁠https://prayingchristianwomen.kit.com/journal⁠ today!

How do you receive compliments? You probably fall into one of three camps: acceptance with grace, deflection due to discomfort, or false humility. Understanding how we respond to praise from others can give us a window into how we view ourselves and even our relationship with God.

This week’s deep dive into Proverbs 31 features the first part of the grand finale of this song praising the virtuous woman and celebrating womanhood. We expose some reasons why many of us struggle to accept compliments, talk about some practical exercises you can do to overcome the discomfort of praise, and as always, relate this passage to our prayer lives and relationship with God.

We invite you to join us today!

Grab your free prayer journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Do you know someone struggling to find their purpose in life, or calling from God? Join us today for a discussion about how you can pray for that person, as well as some practical ways to support your friend or loved one in their search for peace and purpose.

Here are some topics and verses from the episode to supplement your prayer time:

1. Pray for your own heart and motives, for objectivity.
2. Isaiah 30:21: That the person you're praying for would hear God's voice above all others
3. Pray for them to know when to wait and when to move forward, and trust that God will redirect accordingly.
4. Jeremiah 29:13: For a heart that seeks after God.
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17: A spirit of prayer and thanksgiving is God's will and calling on any life.
6. Colossians 3:23: To recognize that what they are doing right now is part of their journey and calling.
7. 1 Corinthians 12: For others around them to recognize and point out their God-given gifts and talents to use in the kingdom.

Take our quiz to find out your unique prayer personality at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

This week's "coffee break" episode contains not just one but several common questions about prayer. Some of these are a natural continuation of our conversation about prayer and predestination (episode 204), and some came out of conversations with our kids. Wherever you are on your prayer journey, we think you'll love this episode!

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/unsaved to have one prayer from 30 Days of Prayer for the Unsaved delivered to your inbox each day!

Welcome to our new Wednesday "minisodes"! We wanted to complement our Monday full-length episodes with some quick and easy segments with a prayer tip followed by prayers for the unsaved. 

Join us today for a prayer tip that will help you to pray more thoroughly for the people in your life!

Don't forget to pick up your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

How much time do you spend thinking about spiritual warfare? If you're like most of us, the busyness of life probably prevents you from focusing too much on the spiritual realities the Bible talks about in Ephesians 6:12. So today we're taking some time to use an outline of "Satan's Battle Plan" from Lysa TerKeurst as a launchpad to create an offensive (and defensive) strategy to combat his plan with prayer. Pull up a chair and join us!

To listen to the episode of "Chrystal's Chronicles" where Lysa TerKeurst explains her perspective on Satan's battle plan, visit https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chrystals-chronicles/222-seeing-god-at-work-in-zQyW4L53oCg/#

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Happy Thanksgiving week to our friends in the U.S.! This seemed like the perfect week to spend an entire episode on the topic of gratitude. Join us as we discuss the benefits of living a life of thanksgiving, some barriers to gratitude and how to overcome them, and lots of really simple, actionable steps you can take today to infuse your prayer life with gratitude. 

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

How honest do you get with God? Even though you know God sees it all, is there a part of you that holds back in prayer, or attempts to conceal motives and desires, hopes or dreams because you’re not sure they’re good enough for a holy God?

The problem is, when we don’t feel comfortable being totally transparent with God it can keep us from being honest with ourselves, uncovering who we truly are, and even stunt our spiritual growth.

That’s why we’re really excited to welcome Jennifer Dukes Lee onto the podcast to talk about her amazing new journal Stuff I'd Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery. In our conversation Jennifer shares about some of the deeper reasons that keep us from being honest with God, gives some helpful advice for how to open up more in our prayer lives through journaling (even if you don’t consider yourself a journaler!), and talks about the importance of honesty beyond our prayers and journals.

Grab your free scripture journal at PrayingChristianWomen.com today!

Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/unsaved to have one prayer from 30 Days of Prayer for the Unsaved delivered to your inbox each day!

Welcome to our new Wednesday "minisodes"! We wanted to complement our Monday full-length episodes with some quick and easy segments with a prayer tip followed by prayers for the unsaved.

Join us today for a tip about all the benefits of writing out our prayers for others.

Want to know your prayer personality? Take our free test (and get some great prayer tips to boot!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz.

Today we're sharing an extra special episode celebrating 500,000 downloads of the Praying Christian Women podcast!

We recorded a live episode inside our Praying Christian Women Community on Facebook last week and wanted to share it with everyone. So join us for a fun-filled hour of reflection, celebrating our listeners (that's YOU!), and thanksgiving for all God has done over the last three years of podcasting. 

Our sponsors for today's episode are:

Abide, the #1 Christian meditation app. Visit Abide.co/praying to get 25% off a premium subscription today!

Anchor.fm, the easiest way to podcast, and the podcasting host we use for Praying Christian Women.

Grab your free Praying Christian Women scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Do you have unresolved hurt in your life? Or maybe areas you know you need emotional healing in, but just don't know where to start? If so, you've come to the right place. This week's guest on the podcast is spiritual growth coach and author of the book Face Off With Your Feelings, Jessica Hottle. 

Jessica talks about how to recognize and name emotional hurt, how to honor your feelings in the process, and how to ultimately heal from your hurt from a Biblical perspective. She takes us through a 3 step process to help you set up space to heal with intention. You won't want to miss our conversation!

Visit JessicaHottle.com to connect with Jessica and find out more about her book, podcast and coaching!

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at

⁠https://prayingchristianwomen.kit.com/journal⁠ today!

What’s so bad about being charming? Is it intrinsically wrong for a Christian woman to focus on outward appearances? And what exactly does being a woman who “fears the Lord” mean, anyway?

For a conversation about all of these questions and more, join us for another lively discussion about what it means to be a Proverbs 31 woman. We can’t wait to see you there!

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Figuring out God's will for our lives can feel hard enough. But what do you do when you think God is calling you out of a season he had previously called you into? And how do you navigate relationships if some people don't agree with the transition? In this "coffee break" episode we discuss these listener questions and more!

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Visit www.prayingchristianwomen.com/unsaved to have one prayer from 30 Days of Prayer for the Unsaved delivered to your inbox each day!

Welcome to our new Wednesday "minisodes"! We wanted to complement our Monday full-length episodes with some quick and easy segments with a prayer tip followed by prayers for the unsaved. 

Join us today for a prayer tip that will revolutionize the way you pray!

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal today at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal!

Today's guest on the podcast is Sunday Burquest (a.k.a. "Grit Girl"). You might know Sunday from her appearance on Survivor: Millenials vs. Gen X as the faith-filled friend to everyone who wouldn't give up. But Sunday's story of grit goes much deeper. After beating breast cancer, appearing on Survivor and establishing her "Grit Girl" ministry, Sunday was told her cancer had recurred and spread. Join us today to hear Sunday's amazing story of staying focused on God and full of joy and hope despite facing some of life's biggest challenges. Sunday also answers a listener question from Natalya about how to embrace the nearness of God throughout the journey of cancer patients and their families.

You can connect with Sunday and find out more about her story and her book at www.iamgritgirl.com.

Sunday also has a Go Fund Me page at https://gf.me/u/yjzph4.

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Today's "coffee break" episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast is about how to pray for caregivers of kids with special needs. We had such a great conversation about this that we ended up splitting it into two parts. 

Whether you're a caregiver of a child with special needs or not, these episodes will give you lots of insights into some practical ways to help someone who is caring for a child with special needs, as well as some specific prayers you can pray to lift them up.

If you'd like more encouragement from moms of kids with special needs, check out episode 083 with Shauna Amick from Joni and Friends, and episode 100 with Jamie Sumner!

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

We're really excited about this special episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast as we welcome our friend (and author of The Living Table) Abby Turner back to the show to talk about the unique ins and outs, struggles and benefits of being a "praying single woman". We've heard from listeners who feel like many resources for Christian women speak primarily to married women, so we wanted to dedicate an entire episode to talking about how singleness can affect your prayer life. Our hope is that this episode will be an encouragement to the single ladies out there, and will give non-singles some insights into how to pray for and support the single women in their lives more effectively.

You can connect with Abby at ATableTopAffair.com. And if you're not following her on Instagram, you will not want to miss any of her amazing food prep tips, recipes and inspiration! You can find her at @atabletopaffair. 

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/journal today!

Join us for part 2 of our conversation about prayer and toxic relationships. In Episode 141 we talked about some generally toxic relationships that can be drains on your physical and spiritual energy, but in this coffee break episode we answer a listener question about what to do when those toxic relationships happen to be family members. 

Remember, "toxic relationship" is different from abuse. If you believe you are in an abusive relationship or feel unsafe in your home, visit: https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/get-help or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-994-9662

This week's guest on the Praying Christian Women podcast is Rachel Ridge, author of The Donkey Principle: The Secret to Long-Haul Living in a Racehorse World. You're not going to want to miss this extra-fun, inspirational and wisdom-filled episode where Rachel shares lessons for living life she's learned from her adorable pet donkeys.

Rachel talks about how to come up with your own definition of success, the role of prayer in pursuing our goals and dreams, how to uncover your own gifts and God-given abilities, and so much more!

You can connect with Rachel at www.RachelAnneRidge.com

Grab our 14-day COVID-19 devotional at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/bethelight today!  

It's been a while since we've talked! Join us today as we discuss family tension, days when you have the "blahs," and Alana gets back to us about a pressing question she's been mulling over since the last time we met up. Don't forget to listen to the end when we go through Day 12 of our COVID devotional, praying for spiritual revival!

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Should we spend time praying for a specific candidate to win an election? Are we really supposed to pray for all leaders (even the ones you absolutely can't stand, or whose values don't align with God's)? And what on earth should we do when politics are destroying some of our relationships? Join us today for part 2 of our two part episode all about prayer and politics, where we'll discuss these questions ... and much more!

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

When you hear the words "strength" and "dignity," you don't always associate them with laughter - but could Proverbs 31 suggest they go together like peas and carrots? And what are the biggest barriers to strength and dignity?

Listen to this week's episode to find out, as we dive into Proverbs 31 once again (and find so many hidden gems in verse 25 that we devote an entire episode to it!).

What's your prayer personality? Find out at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today and receive feedback on your unique prayer "superpowers," as well as some prayer tips tailor made for you!

Have you ever wondered exactly what role prayer plays in decision-making?  Join us today for a discussion about the importance of prayerful decision-making, as well as some pitfalls to avoid. We bring up some hard questions and personal stories of how God has worked in some of the decisions we've faced in our own lives. 

Our sponsor for this episode is Simply Earth Essential Oils: A company that changes the world by donating 13% of all profits to end human trafficking. Visit www.SimplyEarth.com/PCW to get a free 80ml essential oil diffuser when you subscribe to their Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box!

Got Mom guilt? If so, you are certainly not alone. There might be no better topic so close to Mother’s Day than this week’s “Mom Guilt and Prayer” episode!

In it we discuss what Mom guilt is, how it can specifically rear its ugly head in the lives of all women (regardless of Mom status), make some candid confessions about our own experiences, and of course offer plenty of hope and encouragement!

In case that isn’t enough inspiration for you, we are offering a special Praying Mom Bundle of digital resources for over 50% off in honor of Mother’s Day! This bundle makes a great gift to treat yourself or another Mom in your life just in time for Mother’s Day!

Check it out here!

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Have you ever been tempted to pray curses on your enemies? If so, we're guessing you've wondered whether it's something God is okay with. There are many imprecatory psalms that express a desire for God to bring justice to pass...and in some cases the author goes into great detail about how he'd like to see his enemies suffer! So does that mean it's something we should do as Christians? Join us today for an in-depth conversation about what the Bible has to say (and some of our own thoughts) about praying curses on your enemies.

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

Find out what your unique prayer personality is (and receive prayer tips tailor made for you!) at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

Are you feeling the financial pinch many have been experiencing recently as a result of the increased cost of gas, food and other everyday necessities? Feeling unsettled or even anxious about finances is something most of us have experienced at one time or another, so we thought now would be as good a time as any to devote an entire episode to the topic of praying through financial stress. 

Join us for a conversation about some of the contributing factors to financial stress, as well as some practical (and creative!) tips to help you take the burden of your finances to God.

This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Visit www.faithfulcounseling.com/praying to receive 10% off your first month!

What's your prayer personality? Find out at www.prayingchristianwomen.com/quiz today!

If you're a longtime listener, you know we love to highlight the importance of embracing the unique ways God made you and using them to your advantage in your prayer life. Prayer is a relationship, not a cookie-cutter activity.

So today we're bringing you one more tool to help you identify your strengths: the VIA Institute on Character Strengths test. 

Take it here: https://viacharacter.org/surveys

We'll talk about our own results, and walk you through some ways to capitalize on some of these values in your own prayer life!

Our sponsors of this episode are:

Anchor.fm: Anchor is the easiest way to podcast, and the hosting service we use on our podcast!

Simply Earth Essential Oils: A company that changes the world by donating 13% of all profits to end human trafficking. Visit www.SimplyEarth.com/PCW to get a free 80ml essential oil diffuser when you subscribe to their Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box!

Note: This episode contains references to suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, contact the Suicide Hotline: dial or text 988, call 800 273 8255, or visit 988lifeline.org.

We’ve talked a lot on this podcast about longing for answered prayer, celebrating answered prayer and everything in-between. But we don’t often talk about the prayers we look back on and thank God he didn’t answer the way we wanted!

This week we share some times we prayed for something that in retrospect wouldn’t have been the best thing. Then we springboard into an exercise that can help when things don’t go as planned, to help us keep in mind that God really does know best!

Grab your free scripture journal at PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal today!