Prayers of REST

We all struggle with feelings of depression and despair from time to time. Some of us may battle depression chronically or be diagnosed even with clinical depression, while others of us dip into short bouts now and then.

If depression is an ongoing struggle, may I encourage you to get help from a medical professional, and get honest with God about it too? Bring your feelings of despair to the Lord in prayer and process this hard emotion with Him.

Even if you aren't struggling with depression right now, take some time to pray along with us so that when you do face times of despair, you'll know how to pray your way through them.

Until we meet again, may you find rest in God’s loving presence.

Have you ever felt so guilty that you didn't know what to pray anymore?

Join me as we bring our guilt before God together, to receive instead His wonderful gift of forgiveness and grace.

Even if you aren't struggling with guilt right now, take some time to pray along with us so that when you do face times of overwhelming guilt, you'll know how to pray your way through them.

I promise you that when you place your emotions in God’s hands, He will take what is hard and turn it into something good. Because that’s the way of our Good Father.

Until we meet again, may you find rest in God’s loving presence.

Are you tempted to judge too quickly or look down on those who make different choices than you?

Let’s bring these feelings of judgement to God and ask Him give us His perspective as we interact with people around us.

Even if you aren't struggling with judgment right now, take some time to pray along with us so that when you are tempted to be judgmental towards others, you'll know how to pray your way through it.

I promise you that when you place your emotions in God’s hands, He will take what is hard and turn it into something good. Because that’s the way of our Good Father.

Until we meet again, may you find rest in God’s loving presence.

Do you ever look at someone and think "I wish I had her ___?" Maybe its her job, house, husband, appearance, or even her faith...

We may not admit it at first, but most of us have battled envy at some point in our lives. And for some of us, feeling envious due to our constant need to compare ourselves with others is a constant struggle. If you can relate, then today's episode is for you! Listen as we pray through envy together.

Even if you aren't struggling with envy or comparison right now, take some time to pray along with us so that when you do face seasons of failure or unmet expectations, you'll know how to pray your way through them.

I promise you that when you place your emotions in God’s hands, He will take what is hard and turn it into something good. Because that’s the way of our Good Father.

Until we meet again, may you find rest in God’s loving presence.

Do you often find yourself angry with God, other people, or angry at the injustice in the world around you?

Then friend, get honest with God about your anger. Bring your frustration to the Lord in prayer and process this hard emotion with Him.

Even if you aren't struggling with anger right now, take some time to pray along with us so that when you do face times of overwhelming anger, you'll know how to pray your way through them.

I promise you that when you place your emotions in God’s hands, He will take what is hard and turn it into something good. Because that’s the way of our Good Father.

Are you excited about this new season? Then text a few friends and start a Prayers of REST prayer group! It’s simple: just invite a few friends, commit to listening to the prayer episode each week, and then share with each other what God is revealing to you in prayer. Pray for each other, encourage each other, and maybe once a month try to meet together for a time of live prayer together. Because we learn how to pray not by reading a book about prayer or listening to a sermon about prayer, but by actually praying together.

Until we meet again, may you find rest in God’s loving presence.

What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you had planned? Do you struggle to reorient your perspective in times of disappointment? 

Then friend, take a few minutes today and cry out to God in the midst of your disappointment. Bring it Him in prayer and fix your eyes Jesus because he is the only one who will never disappoint us. 

Even if you aren't struggling with disappointment right now, take some time to pray along with us so that when you do face seasons of failure or unmet expectations, you'll know how to pray your way through them.

I promise you that when you place your emotions in God’s hands, He will take what is hard and turn it into something good. Because that’s the way of our Good Father. 

Are you excited about this new season? Then text a few friends and start a Prayers of REST prayer group! It’s simple: just invite a few friends, commit to listening to the prayer episode each week, and then share with each other what God is revealing to you in prayer. Pray for each other, encourage each other, and maybe once a month try to meet together for a time of live prayer together. Because we learn how to pray not by reading a book about prayer or listening to a sermon about prayer, but by actually praying together.

Until we meet again, may you find rest in God’s loving presence.

Are you Anxious? Stressed? Overwhelmed? On the brink of a breakdown?

Then you’re invited to bring it all to Jesus today, as we pray through our anxiety.

And even if you aren't struggling with anxiety right now, take some time to pray along with us so that when you do face overwhelming circumstances and feelings of stress, you'll know how to pray your way through them.

I promise you that when you place your emotions in God’s hands, He will take what is hard and turn it into something good. Because that’s the way of our Good Father. 

Are you excited about this new season? Then text a few friends and start a Prayers of REST prayer group! It’s simple: just invite a few friends, commit to listening to the prayer episode each week, and then share with each other what God is revealing to you in prayer. Pray for each other, encourage each other, and maybe once a month try to meet together for a time of live prayer together. Because we learn how to pray not by reading a book about prayer or listening to a sermon about prayer, but by actually praying together.

Until we meet again, may you find rest in God’s loving presence.

Have you ever experienced an emotion that you felt you couldn't share with God or any one else around you? Then Season 5 on the Prayers of REST Podcast is for you!

To kick off our season of Praying through Hard Emotions, we’re switching seats and I’m actually being interviewed by my friend Jannelle Nevels! Jannelle is the co-host of the Brian and Jannelle morning show on WCRF Moody Radio Cleveland, and she invited me to share with our listeners why we chose to focus on hard emotions this fall season on the podcast. I also share some hard news that caused me to practice what I’m preaching, and take my own hard emotions to God in prayer.

Are you excited about this new season? Then text a few friends and start a Prayers of REST prayer group! It’s simple: just invite a few friends, commit to listening to the prayer episode each week, and then share with each other what God is revealing to you in prayer. Pray for each other, encourage each other, and maybe once a month try to meet together for a time of live prayer together. Because we learn how to pray not by reading a book about prayer or listening to a sermon about prayer, but by actually praying together.

Until we meet again, may you find rest in God’s loving presence. 

There's a myth that good Christians shouldn't struggle with hard emotions, that we should always be joyful and at peace. But the truth is that we live in a broken world where bad things happen to good people. We all struggle with hard emotions.

That’s exactly why this season on the Prayers of REST podcast we’re Praying Through Hard Emotions.

So often we’re embarrassed to admit that we struggle with anger, anxiety, or depression, but when we bring these emotions to God, when we’re honest with Him about the hard things we're facing, that's when He starts working.

When was the last time YOU talked with God about the hard emotions you're experiencing? If you’re dealing with guilt, anger, envy, loneliness, or any of dozens of hard emotions, then join us on October 11 as we:

• Recite God's Goodness
• Express Our Neediness
• Seek His Stillness, and
• Trust His Faithfulness 

I promise you that when you place these emotions in God’s hands, He will take what is hard and turn it into something good. That’s the way of our Good Father. 

So are you ready? Here we go.

Can something as simple as praying in the car change your life? Listen to this 10-minute episode to hear the story of a multi-generational story of the power of prayer. Today’s episode is especially close to my heart as I share the multi-generational story of prayer that starts with my great-grandmother all the way through to my children.

This episode is the last in our mini-series Refresh Your Prayer Life. If you missed any of the previous episodes on using your nose in worship, praying through the news, and more, you can go back and catch up on those creative prayer ideas while we take a little break. Our next season of the Prayers of REST podcast starts October 4.

If you’d like to support this podcast and join us for live prayer calls every month, join us in our Prayer Partner Community at prayersofrest.com/patreon.

Have you ever gone on a school prayer walk? Would you like to pray for the children in your life more but don't know where to start? This episode in our Refresh Your Prayer Life series is for you! 

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a review on iTunes, tag me @asheritah on Instagram, or leave me a voice message at prayersofrest.com. Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

Have you ever thought of using your nose in prayer? When God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle, He included a custom blend of spices to be diffused in God’s courts every day. Just think: every time worshipers came to pray, they smelled this distinct fragrance that would always make them think of God. 

Recent scientific research reveals that our sense of smell is closely linked with memory! Just like whipping up a batch of grandma’s cookies brings her face to mind, so connecting a specific smell with our prayer time will also remind us of God’s faithfulness. 

So try lighting a scented candle or diffusing an essential oil while your pray. You might just be surprised how you come to treasure the smell of God’s presence in your life.

Thanks for listening! If you try this creative prayer idea, I’d love to hear about it! You can leave a review on iTunes, tag me @asheritah on Instagram, or leave me a voice message at prayersofrest.com. Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

If your prayer life feels like it's stuck in a rut, here's a creative prayer idea that I found in Jennifer Duke Lee's new book and Bible Study: Growing Slow. The 3 R's are Remember, Reflect, and Return. It's like a modern take on the ancient practice of the Examen, but with a focus on Scripture.

I’m hoping that this mini-season will help Refresh Your Prayer Life as we head into a new school year. If you try out any of the creative prayer ideas in this mini-season, please let me know! You can go to prayersofrest.com and leave me a voice message, or tag me @asheritah in your Instagram stories!

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to Refresh Your Prayer Life with six creative prayer ideas that will get you out of a rut and seeking God’s face in new and fun ways.

We’ll talk about how to incorporate your five senses in prayer. We’ll talk about some ancient practices that are surprisingly relevant to our 21st century lives. And we’ll do all this in three minutes or less each week.

Make sure you’ve hit that “Follow” or “Subscribe” button so new episodes get automatically updated on your phone.

And if YOU have a fresh, creative, or unique prayer idea that you’ve been doing and enjoying in your own life, leave me a voice message and share that with me! You can go to prayersofrest.com and hit that microphone on the side to leave your message.

I’m SO EXCITED about this, and I’m hoping that this mini-season will help REFRESH YOUR PRAYER LIFE as we head into a new school year.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

This week, we’re wrapping up our season of The Fruit of the Spirit with a conversation with Angie Elkins, a dear friend and the producer of this podcast! We talk about what it looks like to live a fruitful life, sharing personal stories from our own journeys with Jesus, as well as a few stories from listeners like you.

And yes, of course, we spend some time praying too! This week Angie prays with me through John 15:5-8, meditating on how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all work together to bear much fruit in our lives.

As you look back on this summer, do you look a little more like Jesus than you did at the start? If you answered “I think so. Yes, I can see a little (or a lot of) growth!” I would love to hear your story! How is God working the Fruit of His Spirit in you and your family? Did you go through this season with some friends? Go to www.prayersofrest.com and click the microphone on the side of the page to leave me a quick voice message. I want to celebrate with you what God is doing in your life! 

If you'd like to hear more from Angie, connect with her at https://www.chatologie.com/.

And if you want to support the work of Prayers of REST and help us reach all 196 countries and regions around the world with the Good News of Jesus, go to www.prayersofrest.com/patreon to become a Prayer Partner and get access to our extra-long monthly prayer calls, printed prayer journals, and more.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

This is the last episode we’re praying through the Fruit of the Spirit, and I’m wondering: how has God worked in your life this summer? Would you take a moment to leave a rating and review on iTunes or wherever you listen to your podcasts?

This week, we’re wrapping up the Fruit of the Spirit, praying through Titus 2:11-12 and meditating on how Jesus showed SELF-CONTROL and wants to produce His self-control in us too. Spend 10 minutes praying with me for God to work the Fruit of His Spirit in our lives, as we:

• Recite God's Goodness

• Express Your Neediness

• Seek His Stillness, and 

• Trust His Faithfulness

And if you want to support the work of Prayers of REST and help us reach all 196 countries and regions around the world with the Good News of Jesus, go to www.prayersofrest.com/patreon to become a Prayer Partner and get access to our monthly live prayer calls, printed prayer journals, and more.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

Would people who know you describe you as “gentle”? Ugh. That’s a tough question, isn’t it? But Jesus described Himself as "gentle and lowly in heart," and the fruit of the Spirit is... yep... GENTLENESS.

This week, we’re praying through Philippians 4:5 and meditating on how Jesus showed GENTLENESS and wants to produce His gentleness in us too. Spend 10 minutes praying with me for God to work the Fruit of His Spirit in our lives, as we:

• Recite God's Goodness

• Express Your Neediness

• Seek His Stillness, and 

• Trust His Faithfulness

Join me here each week as we REST in prayer for God to work in us His… Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-Control. Each week, a new invitation. Each day, new fruit.

Grab a few friends, start a group text, and subscribe to the Prayers of REST podcast to get weekly prayer episodes straight to your phone: www.prayersofrest.com/fruit. 

And if you want to support the work of Prayers of REST and help us reach all 196 countries and regions around the world with the Good News of Jesus, go to www.prayersofrest.com/patreon to become a Prayer Partner and get access to our monthly live prayer calls, printed prayer journals, and more.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

Do you ever wonder if your work matters? Like, you do the same thankless tasks day after day, and no one seems to notice or care? It’s easy to get discouraged, and even more, to stop doing the thing. Because who cares, right?

God cares.

Scripture tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is… faithfulness. This week, we’re praying through Matthew 25:21 and meditating on how Jesus showed FAITHFULNESS and wants to produce His faithfulness in us too. Spend 10 minutes praying with me for God to work the Fruit of His Spirit in our lives, as we:

• Recite God's Goodness

• Express Your Neediness

• Seek His Stillness, and 

• Trust His Faithfulness

You can also join us for our monthly live prayer call on July 15 where we get to see each other and hear each other as we practice Prayers of REST together live. Find all the details at www.prayersofrest.com/patreon.

And this month, for the first time ever, we’re shipping out Prayers of REST prayer journals to our Prayer Partners at the $10 giving level and up. These quarterly prayer journals follow the REST format and will allow you to write out your prayers on any given passage—whether you’re praying along with the weekly podcast episode, praying through your pastor’s sermon text, or praying through the verse of the day on your favorite app. You’ve been asking for it, and now it’s here! Find it on Amazon (search for “Prayers of REST Journal”) or sign up to get it shipped to you each quarter when you join the Patreon Prayer Partner community this week at the $10 and up giving level.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

When God created the world, He called it “good.” …Is it still good today? Does His goodness live in you and in me?

This summer, we’re praying through the Fruit of the Spirit, one trait each week, and today we’re praying through James 3:13 and meditating on how Jesus showed GOODNESS and wants to produce His goodness in us too. Spend 10 minutes praying with me for God to work the Fruit of His Spirit in our lives, as we:

• Recite God's Goodness

• Express Your Neediness

• Seek His Stillness, and 

• Trust His Faithfulness

Join me here each week as we REST in prayer for God to work in us His… Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-Control. Each week, a new invitation. Each day, new fruit.

Grab a few friends, start a group text, and subscribe to the Prayers of REST podcast to get weekly prayer episodes straight to your phone: www.prayersofrest.com/fruit. 

And if you want to support the work of Prayers of REST and help us reach all 196 countries and regions around the world with the Good News of Jesus, go to www.prayersofrest.com/patreon to become a Prayer Partner and get access to our monthly live prayer calls, printed prayer journals, and more.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

We could all use a little more kindness in our lives, right? But you don’t have to be Mr. Rogers to live a supernaturally kind life. That kindness can be cultivated in each of us, because the fruit of the Spirit is… kindness.

This summer, we’re praying through the Fruit of the Spirit, one trait each week, and today we’re praying through Matthew 25:40 and meditating on how Jesus showed KINDNESS and wants to produce His kindness in us too. Spend 10 minutes praying with me for God to work the Fruit of His Spirit in our lives, as we:

• Recite God's Goodness

• Express Your Neediness

• Seek His Stillness, and 

• Trust His Faithfulness

Join me here each week as we REST in prayer for God to work in us His… Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-Control. Each week, a new invitation. Each day, new fruit.

Grab a few friends, start a group text, and subscribe to the Prayers of REST podcast to get weekly prayer episodes straight to your phone: www.prayersofrest.com/fruit. 

And if you want to support the work of Prayers of REST and help us reach all 196 countries and regions around the world with the Good News of Jesus, go to www.prayersofrest.com/patreon to become a Prayer Partner and get access to our monthly live prayer calls, printed prayer journals, and more.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

Would you consider yourself to be a patient person? 

This summer, we’re praying through the Fruit of the Spirit, one trait each week, and today we’re praying through James 5:7-8, meditating on how Jesus showed PATIENCE and wants to produce His patience in us too. 

Spend 10 minutes praying with me for God to work the Fruit of His Spirit in our lives, as we:

• Recite God's Goodness

• Express Your Neediness

• Seek His Stillness, and 

• Trust His Faithfulness

Join me here each week as we REST in prayer for God to work in us His… Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-Control. Each week, a new invitation. Each day, new fruit.

Grab a few friends, start a group text, and subscribe to the Prayers of REST podcast to get weekly prayer episodes straight to your phone: www.prayersofrest.com/fruit. 

And if you want to support the work of Prayers of REST and help us reach all 196 countries and regions around the world with the Good News of Jesus, go to www.prayersofrest.com/patreon to become a Prayer Partner and get access to our monthly live prayer calls, printed prayer journals, and more.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.

We're still on break between seasons, but to celebrate our upcoming one-year anniversary of the Prayers of REST podcast, we're giving away a pair of AirPods. To enter to win, all you have to do is complete a quick 3-minute survey at www.prayersofrest.com/survey to help us better serve you in the coming year.

We're grateful to be a part of your prayer lives, and so excited to bless one of you with these AirPods!

Christ has risen! If I live to be 100, I'll never tire of the good news that Jesus conquered sin and death through His own death and resurrection! And because He lives, we also live as victorious conquerers through Him who loved us, and gave His life for us. I hope this week's Prayers of REST episode helps you rest in Jesus' love today--because Jesus' love NEVER fails!


Today’s scripture reading is Matthew 28:5-6. Our prayer acronym is REST:

Recite God’s Goodness

Express Your Neediness

Seek His Stillness

Trust His Faithfulness

If you’re trying to start a prayer habit in your own life, try listening to this episode every day this week, personalizing each part of the REST prayer with what’s on your heart that day.



This episode wraps up this season of prayers for Lent based on Uncovering the Love of Jesus. You can get your own copy of Uncovering the Love of Jesus at Uncoveringthelove.com if you would like to dive deeper into different aspects of Jesus' love.


If you enjoyed today’s prayer podcast, remember to subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review so others can find this podcast too.

Until we meet again, may you rest in God’s loving presence.



Benediction from Jude verses 24-25. Music by Colby Taylor. Editing and Production by Angie Elkins Media.


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