Prayers of REST

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Jude 1:24-25: 24: "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Chr...

What comes to mind when you think about walking with God? Throughout history, God has always desired companionship and friendship with the humans He created in His own image. I like to picture this dynamic of friendship and obedience as Walking with God. Every email, every conference call, every meal prepped, every floor swept has the capacity to hold divine purpose because we are divinely indwell...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Matthew 2:10: "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."  This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of our salvation , and each week we’ll base our prayers on a different Bible passage that...

If you’re super busy, overstimulated, and on the path of burnout, the number one thing that will turn that around is… awe and wonder. Does this surprise you too?! It’s not checking everything off your list – because eventually more will be added in. It’s not a spreadsheet that organizes all the details – because our days often don’t go as planned. Instead, the reminder of greatness and beauty is w...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Matthew 11 and Revelation 3  that talk about the joy in simple earthly pleasures (friendship with Jesus).  This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of our salvation , and each week we’ll base our prayers on a different Bi...

What image comes to mind when you hear the word prayer? What if prayer became less of a regular spiritual chore and more of a conversational friendship with God? What if God invites us to an ongoing exchange of whispers throughout our day—us whispering to Him and Him whispering right back to our hearts? What if our prayer lives reflected equitable amounts of both talking and listening? In those pl...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Luke 2:9-11 that talks about the joy at Jesus' Birth (Mega-Joy for ALL People—You're Prequalified).   This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of our salvation , and each week we’ll base our prayers on a differe...

The way we approach reading the Bible NOW is usually not how Jesus Himself approached the Word of God! Yes, a daily “quiet time” is a beautiful thing. But up until about 400 years ago, Christians did not have personal Bibles in their homes! What can we learn from them, and what can we learn from the ways Jesus  delighted in the Word? As a human, He took on all the limitations of flesh, which means...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Isaiah 61:1-3  that talks about experiencing joy in the waiting.  This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of our salvation , and each week we’ll base our prayers on a different Bible passage that speaks of joy. Together,...

We tend to think of worship as the singing that happens in church on Sunday mornings. Some of us enjoy that more than others, and it’s easy to dismiss worship as something a worship team does. But the biblical view of worship is actually much broader and encompasses all of life, not just the singing parts. For those in the kingdom of God, all of life is sacred, and all of life is worship. How we l...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Psalm 4:6-7 : "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine." And Psalm 36:8 : "You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delig...

God literally created our brains to be wired for joy and delight. It’s not only in Scripture… we see this is true in brain science, too! Today’s behind-the-scenes conversation is practical, fascinating, and truly has the power to change your life. If that sounds like a lofty statement, listen in and don't miss the part about training our new baby neurons to move from the fear center to the JO...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Nehemiah 8:10 : "The joy of the Lord is your strength" This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of our salvation , and each week we’ll base our prayers on a different Bible passage that speaks of joy. Together,...

“Ironically, in suffering I’ve found the presence of Jesus in a way that is delightful… not in exuberant rejoicing, but in quietly being held, supported, and lifted up when I have nothing left to give.” Your heavenly Father delights in you even when you are at your lowest. In your pain, your heartache, your sorrow and your disappointment… yes, even there, you are wanted and wildly loved. Friend, y...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Psalm 30:5 : "Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of our salvation , and each week we’ll base our prayers on a different Bible passage th...

Have you ever read the verse about God delighting in our welfare and thought “Well God, You might want to do a wellness check on your girl because I’m not doing great…”? Or maybe you’ve thought, “I need to get myself in a better place so that God won’t be ashamed of me.” Have you been betrayed or abandoned? Are you navigating a dark night of the soul? Maybe you’re starting to think that surely by...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Psalm 51:12 , which teaches us that God delights in our salvation: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you."  This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of our salvation , and eac...

Read your Bible. Pray. Fast. Be in community. Share the Gospel. Worship. Go to church. Tithe. The list goes on and on! Spiritual disciplines can quickly feel like a burden, like something we’re failing at, or like one more thing on our to do list. Guess what? You won’t find “read your Bible and pray every day” in the Bible! There is no “one right way” to connect with God because God created us one...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on John 15:11 , which teaches us that God delights in our joy: "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!"  This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of our sa...

What is at the *heart* of the Gospel? Would you be surprised if it turns out the answer is… JOY? It’s true… Hebrews 12:2 says that what led Jesus to the cross was the JOY set before Him. Jesus deeply cares about your joy. Grab your Bible and a pack of highlighters because we’re diving into 20+ verses about joy, delight, rejoicing and pleasure! And friend, this only scratches the surface. We challe...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Zephaniah 3:17 , which teaches us that God delights in His people: "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will r...

What’s more important: How we view God… or how God views us? A.W. Tozer and C.S. Lewis disagreed, and their thoughts sparked a powerful conversation about how too many of us have turned the Good News of the Gospel into “sin management.” What actually IS the Gospel? Have we missed something that is wildly and wonderfully true? Listen in… there is very, very Good News ahead. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISOD...

Have you ever desperately wondered: “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” If yes, you’re in good company, friend. Today's prayer of REST is based on Psalm 13:3, which teaches us that God's delights in healing and restoring us: "Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die." This season, we’re asking God to restore to us the joy of...

“Sinners in the hands of an angry God” is one of the most well-known sermons of all time… but from cover to cover of Scripture, from the Garden of Eden to the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation, JOY is central to the Gospel. If you’re afraid or worried that God is angry with you, if you’re anxious because of God’s wrath, there’s really good news in this truth: Scripture says that Jesus came...

A story FIVE years in the making… Have you ever desperately wondered “Where did my joy go? And how do I get it back?” You read your Bible, you pray, you have faith… but you’re in a dark valley and delight has disappeared. Friend, if you can relate to the words “I’m a Christian, but I don’t feel joyful right now”, this conversation kicking off Season 12 of the podcast: Prayers for Joy, is for YOU....