Nikki Humphrey (00:00)
What have we actually learned about prayer? Not just how to pray, not just what to say, but what happens when we pray? And God seems silent. When the answer looks nothing like what we asked for, when all we can get out is Jesus, help me. Over time we've learned that prayer isn't about finding the perfect words, it's about relationships. It's about showing up, listening, surrendering.
Asking boldly, waiting faithfully, and sometime realizing that the greatest thing God changes through prayer is us. On this episode of the Equip Fellowship Podcast, we're talking about the things prayer has taught us, the beautiful lessons, the hard ones, the ones we're probably still learning. Because prayer isn't just something we do, it's where we learn to walk with God. Hi, I'm Nikki.
Hope Mangiafico (00:58)
Hi, I'm Hope.
Welcome to Equipped Fellowship where friends become family through Christ. We're two Jesus-loving friends on a mission to share personal stories, how we pray, resources, and real talk about our triumphs, breakthroughs, struggles, and setbacks. Why? Because we believe you are called to live victoriously and we are here to equip you with holy
Spirit, let tools and strategies to strengthen your faith. Transform your mindset and walk boldly in God's promises because here is the truth. You have been given great and precious promises by God. So grab your coffee, lean in, and let's grow together.
It's time to step into everything God has for you.
Nikki Humphrey (01:38)
Amen.
Today we're talking about something central to our faith, yet something we're always still learning. Prayer.
we've heard all the verses, praying without ceasing. Cast your cares on him, be still, pray in faith, but over time realize prayer isn't a formula, it's a relationship. And like any relationship, it grows, deepens, and changes us. There are seasons when prayer feels powerful, when we see God move clearly, and there are seasons when we pray the same thing.
Over and over and wonder, God, are you even hearing me? Some prayers are answered exactly how we hoped, and some are answered differently, and some feel like silence. But even in all of it, God is teaching us. One of the biggest lessons we've learned is this prayer isn't about changing our circumstances, it's about God changing us in the middle of
Philippians 4 reminds us to bring everything to God in prayer, and in return, he gives us peace that guards our hearts and minds in Jesus. Sometimes the first answer to prayer isn't a changed situation, it's a changed heart. So today we're sharing what God has taught us about prayer the highs, the lows, and everything in between. And as you listen, ask yourself what has prayer taught me about prayer?
And maybe even more importantly, what has it taught me about myself?
Hope Mangiafico (03:19)
What a powerful intro, like already diving into
Reflecting even more on prayer as we discussed this topic beforehand, the first thing that I felt like I was supposed to jump into, because it's my biggest thing I've learned is, and I know a lot of people have heard this, so it might sound a little cliche, but it's the.
The meat of my prayers these days is just, it's just conversing with the Father.
Not rocket science. I know every person listening has heard that, but I'm noticing a change in my day-to-day life. And I think part of it's because I'm in a pivot season. So I'm having to change what I did. We always talk about the Jesus corners and journaling. Not there right now. And I catch myself just being like, Father, why this? God, why that? I really like that, Lord. And just chit-chatting.
and then it goes into something deeper, but it always just starts, like you said, in the interrelationship, like I'm talking to a friend simultaneously, a super loving father.
There are no special words like you said, Nikki. Literally, I feel like the more simple, the more childlike, the more powerful because we don't have our walls up. We're not defensive. If he does say something that we're, you know, not really wanting to hear, we're already kind of got that heart posture of, well, I came to you with trust already, an open heart.
and it changes everything.
Nikki Humphrey (05:05)
It really does. And I'm in the same kind of season hope right now where I don't have time to do my forty-five minute reading in the morning with God and journaling. I mean, I'm up at four and I'm just like, I just can't sacrifice another minute of sleep. And I'm the same thing. Like my conversations with God have increased. My gratitude for the things that are happening.
Has increased. If I'm feeling frustrated, I'm talking to God about that. Like those are my prayers right now. And I can do it at any time, any place, even if it's just a couple words, but it's keeping that connection. And I think, like I've talked about in the intro, and like you just mentioned, that relationship is key. But if we're not connected to our Father, that relationship.
slips. So even though my time looks different with him, I'm increasing those connection points throughout the day. And that feels good. Even though sometimes before I go to bed and I'm talking to God, I just wake up the next morning like, I'm sorry, God, I just must have fallen asleep on you. Or
Hope Mangiafico (06:04)
Okay. Okay.
Nikki Humphrey (06:19)
he put me asleep because he's like, girl, you need to you need to rest. Good night.
Hope Mangiafico (06:18)
Yeah.
All right.
Nikki Humphrey (06:26)
But before
I would I would condemn myself if I was in that kind of season. Well, girl, you should be doing this. You have to do that. You didn't say the prayers like you usually do, 'cause my prayers used to be super r ritualistic and followed this formula that I somehow thought that I had to do every single time and if I got out of the formula, I really wasn't praying. Like I was doing something different. But I love what you said, hope is.
Being more childlike in our prayers helps deepen that connection and our relationship with God the Father because we're not holding back. We're not performative. We're just being who He created us to be.
Hope Mangiafico (07:10)
So I want to share a little thing that happened yesterday.
because I think something that I've also learned in not being performative and conversational, I want to give an example because I still think there can be a, I don't want to use the word wall, but we'll just call it a block, where because of long-term being in the church and seeing people go on stage, close their eyes, do the prayer, sometimes reciting the prayer is ritualistic like you said. I was driving yesterday and best.
for a moment, you mentioned the word gratitude. And this, had like a personal light bulb moment yesterday and this was without knowing about the topic today. I'm driving home from my, to my lunch break. It's like a six minute drive, it's so brief. And your girl gets behind a moped.
Historically, I wouldn't be thrilled, right? Like, that's cutting into my time. The first thing I said, I said, God, I notice, I do this a lot more. I literally like, God, God, I think it'd be cool to have a moped. It only goes pretty much one speed. You can't force it to go faster. It makes you be present. Lord, should I get a moped?
I'm not even kidding.
It's like, God, mopeds have a bad reputation. It's usually people that have their driver's license revoked, they can't afford a car. But I would be in the breeze, chatting with you, holding up traffic, not caring, because I only got one speed. Never in a million years would I have expected myself to respond like that. But it's because of the growth that I've had and understanding.
He's there with me always and when I am keeping that connection alive, I observe things, my perspective changes and that was prayer because I'm talking to him and it's like I'm not asking for a moped. A lot of people are like, be specific with your prayers. I'm more of a I want to be aligned with the Father's will kind of prayer gal and I'm just like that statement I made to the Lord was more about like
bored? Is this actually the simplicity to some degree that I need to slow down my life? Like are you highlighting to me that you need to breathe girl, enjoy life? You know like it just, it's just kind of set the tone and snowball effect of him reminding me to breathe, be present, he's so good. I'd be grateful if I had a moped because I get to talk to him like it was just the wildest
very unexpected thing for me.
Nikki Humphrey (10:07)
But like you said, when you're plugged into the father and you got that connection and you're chatting them up all the time, you see things in a different way. It's like you have the God glasses on, so it changes your perspective. You're not automatically thinking that everything's working against you.
Hope Mangiafico (10:27)
amen. Yes, that's so good.
Nikki Humphrey (10:30)
It's like, okay, God is with me, so he's setting me up for success. Maybe he's showing me something. Maybe he's highlighting something to me that I need to consider that I haven't thought of before. Just like you said about the moped. He brought all these things up, and you don't know like what it quite means right now. But the message is slow down, enjoy where you're at. Yeah.
Hope Mangiafico (10:53)
Exactly.
Exactly. And that is the best message ever. And it was in a very short span of time.
Nikki Humphrey (11:02)
Mm-hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (11:03)
In my car when I wasn't, here's the catch that I think everyone needs to hear.
I wasn't trying to talk to God. I wasn't trying to perform to connect. It's that presence. And he met me in the car. It wasn't, Nikki, you can probably relate to this. I used to be like, okay, my commute. That's my prayer time. It wasn't that. I just wanted to get home and as if anyone's listened to previous episodes, get my feet back in the grass.
But yeah, so it just, it kind of checked all those boxes of things we were talking about beforehand.
and led me into today of having a much more sense of calmness and peace. And I was telling Nikki about strict timelines, if you will, for my job. And I would get really worked up about it, but had the moped thing that happened yesterday, I think I would continue to get worked up about it, but it changed my lens, gave me the god glasses like you're talking about.
And I don't really get credit for that. And that's the most beautiful thing about what I'm learning about prayer. It's not because of what we've done and what we've said.
Nikki Humphrey (12:18)
Right.
It's almost like before in my prayer life I would just be waiting for something like all the time.
Hope Mangiafico (12:25)
Signs. All the signs.
Nikki Humphrey (12:27)
those signs. Like I'm doing my prayer and I'm doing this and I'm checking all my boxes and then I'm like, okay.
Hope Mangiafico (12:35)
trying so hard to hear.
Nikki Humphrey (12:37)
Yes, what is it? I'm ready. I have my pen. Don't worry, God. My notebook is here. Let's go. And sometimes I would because it's, I mean, if he's gonna tell you something, you're not gonna miss it about how you pray. You're still gonna get the download. But again, I thought it was a formula. You do this, you do that.
And then you wait on the Lord, you hear it, okay, you write it down, and then you you're off on your day. And a lot of times I left that not being filled but disappointed, if I'm gonna be really honest with everybody.
Hope Mangiafico (13:20)
Yes, bring the honesty.
Nikki Humphrey (13:22)
Because I'm just like, he didn't show up. Like we talked about in the intro. Like, is he even hearing me? Hello God. Hello. Did you hear my prayer? I'm praying now. And it was so
Sometimes I would just leave negative. But now when I've changed my prayer to more conversational,
Hope Mangiafico (13:41)
Yes.
Nikki Humphrey (13:42)
and some of those when I say conversational, it's not always lighthearted. They you can have serious conversations with the Lord. You can
Hope Mangiafico (13:50)
Right,
I did start us with some lightheartedness, but yes, girl, go deep.
Nikki Humphrey (13:55)
Yes.
It could be light, it could be jovial, it could just be a quick gratitude. That change because I always leave fulfilled. Even if I hear, even if I don't hear, even if I feel it's silent, it's like I feel the presence of the whole Godhead.
It's like they wanna listen, they wanna be in it with me. And I'm like, Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (14:18)
Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (14:20)
And like hope like you're saying, it just changes your perspective. How you look at people, how you look at life, your attitude, how you're treating others.
It's all the expectation is gone. And it's just the connection is there.
Hope Mangiafico (14:39)
What I really liked that you said that goes into my story is it's kind of related about like to people and how you interact and the expectations and things like that and something that has been incredibly interesting and has freed me and helped me grow in understanding the character of God is when someone asks me to pray for them, I go to the father to ask him.
if I'm supposed to first. And a lot of times I get a no. And the reason I'm saying that is because what you just shared, Nikki, it's all built around trusting him and his character. And sometimes because we're human, we'll ask for prayer because we're afraid. We're human. It is what it is.
But I've learned that instead of ritualistic, okay, you ask, I'm gonna do it, I'm an interceder, let me set aside this time. I'll be like, God, am I supposed to? And I have gotten a no many times. And the reason I want to be very clear about this, the reason he says no is he's already got the ball rolling, putting the pieces together. And I am not called to intercede in that moment.
And what's interesting as you grow, as Nikki's saying, you keep that connection alive, all the connection points, if someone does ask me to pray at another time, I can like feel instantly, let me just do it right now, as Nikki said, like you just, you can do it anytime, doesn't matter. And then I'll just instantly start praying. But what I just know that I know that I know that I've grown so much in and the reason I'm sharing this,
is because through the connection points of prayer, my stance on who God is and His love for me and other people.
is beyond what I think I could have ever imagined and I still have no comprehension of it. But it's all rooted in trusting the Father. Because historically, if I did not pray when someone asked me to pray, I felt like I failed them.
But what would that make me? That would make me God.
Nikki Humphrey (16:53)
That's great that you brought it up because sometimes I felt the same way. And God has imparted to me that you're not supposed to pray because they haven't even brought it to me yet.
Hope Mangiafico (17:05)
Whoa, I have not even, that's so good.
Nikki Humphrey (17:09)
And I feel like because I've done this in the past. So no shade on the people who asked me to pray who hasn't brought it to God, because I've been there too. But I feel like this is too heavy for me to bring to God. Let me, let me pass it on to X, Y, or Z and let them bring it to God for me. Let them petition on my behalf. And God's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You don't
No, this is not your job. It's their responsibility to come to me.
Hope Mangiafico (17:37)
It's
good. That's really good.
Nikki Humphrey (17:43)
And then if he tells me no, it's a no. But then maybe at another point I'll get a prompting to pray for that person. And maybe because
Hope Mangiafico (17:52)
Exactly.
Nikki Humphrey (17:53)
that was the point that they brought it to God and God's like, okay, now you go.
Hope Mangiafico (17:58)
That's the exact thing I left out is someone asked in that moment I might get a no, you better believe at some other point Holy Spirit comes up and brings them to mind randomly.
Nikki Humphrey (18:09)
Hm.
Yes. Always like, okay.
Hope Mangiafico (18:15)
Yeah, so yeah, I'm glad you added that part because they work together very beautifully. And I think it's important being a part of the body of Christ to understand that we often talk about personal prayer life, but we are part of the body. So we do have a role in praying for others and receding and partnering with them. But I said that.
The cool thing is we started this whole conversation about the relationship with the Father and just conversing with Him. And then when you talk about praying for other people, it's more like a partnership.
and they work together as we continue to press in to do exactly what scripture says is on earth as it is in heaven.
And Nicky shared so wonderfully about, and we've referenced it a couple times, that there's no formula. And the only formula in scripture is the Lord's Prayer that Jesus stated. And you know, I've studied that prayer many times, but what's so crazy about that, and Nicky, you sent me forever ago like a sermon on that sucker and it was so good. You can listen to it forever, but it really boils down.
To God be the glory, bring it down here and here I am to help.
I forgive people, I wanna get cleansed, and I wanna glorify you as my father and walk hand in hand with you.
And that's prayer.
Nikki Humphrey (19:51)
And sure has
That's what's great about having a continual conversation with God, a continual prayer life with Him throughout the day. Because at different points of the day, you naturally hit all those points.
Hope Mangiafico (20:05)
Hmm... Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (20:07)
It's like
talking to a friend. You don't just stay on one subject with them like all the time. You share the full
Hope Mangiafico (20:11)
So.
Nikki Humphrey (20:15)
scope of what you're going through.
Hope Mangiafico (20:19)
Yeah. Okay.
Nikki Humphrey (20:20)
And sometimes if you slot in your prayer spot for this time or that time, you forget. We're just net we're just human. We forget those things that we wanted to talk to God about, that we wanted to bring for him to him, that we wanted to ask for forgiveness for. But if we just do it, if we're able to do it right then and there.
It's more natural and it's a more we're giving God a more complete picture of what we're experiencing in that moment.
Hope Mangiafico (20:56)
Well, that goes to what you were saying about sometimes it's not time to pray for someone because they haven't taken it to the Lord yet.
When we're doing that continual aspect, we're letting him in in every aspect of our lives. It's not that he's ever withholding, it's how much are we willing to open up and let him in. And as you do that throughout the day, I'll be honest, as I'm just saying this now, I'm thinking about it. I believe, I have no timeframe for this, but I believe the more I have throughout the day just chatted with the Lord,
my walls that I didn't even know were there started falling down because I let him in and then simultaneously my gratitude increases, my peace increases, the fruit of the spirit increase, and he's like, it's been waiting for you.
You got the spirit hope, but you haven't seen the fruit. And that's not to be condemning, know, Nikki, so often, you know, we talk about loving corrections and I think, again, the more you keep those connections alive and that interaction, you realize loving corrections are the best thing to receive. And you say, thank you, Father, for letting me know this, and you repent.
and then you just continue talking to them.
He really is, he's the maker of the universe and all of us and everything more than I can even comprehend. So that's very complex.
But everybody listening, including myself and Nikki, when it comes to our dynamic with the Father, He wants it simple.
It's the desire of his heart.
Nikki Humphrey (22:33)
For all of you who are listening and watching, we don't want you to feel some way to measure your current prayer life against what
Hope Mangiafico (22:40)
Hmm.
Nikki Humphrey (22:41)
Pope and I are doing right now because it's it's a journey.
Hope Mangiafico (22:45)
That's your journey.
Nikki Humphrey (22:47)
Like we like we talked about a couple episodes back, it's okay to stay at Camp Jesus. It's okay to stay in your current prayer life. When you feel that prompting, that nudge to add something different, to try something new, to just experiment and see how that lands for you, then that's the time for you to do it.
Hope Mangiafico (23:12)
Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (23:14)
It may not be the time to do something like this. My my prayer life has evolved in so many different ways over the years. The one of the first aspects that I would call prayer was when I was little, I had this little prayer book. And I would just open it up before bed and just read these different prayers like over and over. I had no idea what it even meant.
But I felt some kind of peace, calm, protection just by reading what was in the book, even though I couldn't understand it. And over the years it's developed into all of these different things.
Hope Mangiafico (23:43)
Okay. Okay.
Nikki Humphrey (23:58)
But knowing but saying that, we want to release you from the fact if you feel like you are you have to do it this same rigid way all the time and it doesn't quite feel like you're hearing from God or it's feeling stressful or you're walking away feeling disappointed like I am, that's the prompting you probably need to
Slot it in your Jesus chair. Start having more conversations with the Father.
Hope Mangiafico (24:30)
Yes. Can you made it?
created, I guess is the word, an invitation earlier about how it's not always lighthearted. It can be the deep things and maybe William called it the ugly stuff and that invitation to maybe converse more. Something I find myself doing in the season of life that I'm in. Nikki and I, before we started recording, we're talking about like life is just hard right now. And so, and I've become more aware
of my not so great reactions that I've historically had, thanks to the Holy Spirit. mean, this is not, I'm learning self-awareness was a detriment more than it was a benefit, to be honest, in my life. And so in these moments where it feels really hard, I literally am just like, God, this is
That's it.
A heart cry is a prayer because it goes back to what we were saying earlier. It's that vulnerability. It's letting him in. I'm call it those connection points, contact points. And he's there. You may not hear him say, I've got you, daughter. I'm right here. But by you just saying that, invites him in.
Nikki Humphrey (25:48)
That just reminded me of something that happened last week. So last week I started this new job and I didn't know anything and nobody really knew what to give me. And I just I just knew, of course, you know, I was taking over for like one of the the favorite teachers at the school. So that's already like, ooh man, like how can I fill this person's shoes? And I was feeling all kinds of overwhelm and like, whoo, how would this person do it? And XYZ and
Hope Mangiafico (26:05)
Okay.
Nikki Humphrey (26:17)
all of that and I was just sitting at her desk and I was just but because I kept that connection open, like you said, hope, with all the connection points, what came into my head was like be still and know that I am God.
And that right there, having that connection, allowed me to let God speak into my identity and who I am and who he created to me to be. And he's like, You are absolute powerhouse of a joy bomb. And that's what those girls are gonna need when they come in tomorrow. So go with that.
Hope Mangiafico (26:53)
Amen.
Nikki Humphrey (26:54)
But always having the conversation allowed me to hear that thought, allowed God to speak to me and then have a conversation with Him about identity and leave all that nonsense of comparison behind and be like, Yes, you created her to be her and do her things her way, but you also created me to be me. And if you brought me here, I'm gonna bring the full version of my authentic self that you created me to be to help these girls.
Hope Mangiafico (27:24)
Amen. So good. That's something I'm also learning is, I'm praying through, guess you could say, how to do a job and still be yourself. And like what I'm learning, this feels very kingdom-like, because it's like Jesus came, it's an upside down thing, right?
Is in a job, yes, I have tasks to do. Nikki has tasks to do. Anyone listening that does, I mean, doesn't even really need to be a job, it be anything. We have tasks to do, but the priority of the kingdom is bringing out who we truly are and by us tapping into who we truly are, which comes through that connection point and the relationship with the Father, the tasks fall into place. But the most important part of the kingdom is bringing us out.
because only through our identity and knowing it can we then actually have long-term effect. And I'm starting to understand that in my job and it's brought me so much peace.
And through that piece, I then can actually perform better.
and do what I need to do. I hear more clearly as well. You know, we're not in the frantic states in these unknown arenas. speaking of my job and what Nikki has said from the beginning, and we keep saying it, the connection, contact points, I'm my job. My manager was talking to me and
To be frank, I've learned so much in the last month, I can't even tell you context of this, but it doesn't matter, this is the important part. But he was talking about, and we know this, think, as well in entrepreneurship, that if you have a customer, you want to have contact points as much as touches, if you will. Touches. So if you can send a follow-up email, send a text, check in, these are different touches to say, hey, I care.
we can think the same way to maybe simplify it a little bit too with our relationship with the father. He's trying to give us touches all the time, but what about if we try and just check in?
here and there. mean, it doesn't have to be a set time like we said, but if you view it from that perspective, of more touches at the end of the day and intentionality simply shows your heart posture. And that's what he's after. And the companies that have the most touches are usually the most successful.
God's not trying to make one person more successful than the other. He wants to rise everyone up to the top. But the only way to do it is to increase our touch points to the Father.
Nikki Humphrey (30:15)
Okay, so let's talk about the converse of it and then wrap it up. What happens when you don't keep those touch points?
What do you think about that?
Hope Mangiafico (30:22)
Personally, my personal story, he doesn't go anywhere, but I feel more depressed and darker and more overwhelmed. Hopeless. So it's not a matter of I need to perform, I need to do something. It's more of, you know, there's a song that's like, he's the breath in our lungs, you know?
So we pour out our praise to him. If he's my breath of life and I'm not pouring out my praise to get filled up, and praise being prayer in this situation, my life will feel like it's being taken away from.
Nikki Humphrey (31:04)
I think for me when I start to lose the
Connection when I just stop talking to God as much, when I stop sharing my day with Him.
t for me it kicks up anxiety, it kicks up
Hope Mangiafico (31:19)
Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (31:20)
more stress and I find myself trying to take the place of God.
Hope Mangiafico (31:26)
Hmm
Nikki Humphrey (31:27)
'Cause I'm just like, nope, I can do it. I got it. It's not gonna be a problem. Yep, just load it on. Don't don't worry. It's fine. And then I get so busy and I'm just spiraling out of control that I'm not even my conversation just goes silent.
And that is a reminder to me. It's just like, hey, Holy Spirit's like, hey, girl, remember us. Remember, we're on your team. You're not tapping in into your team. And so we really stress connection and touch point and keeping that going always with the Father. Because it causes you to take those moments to pause, like Hope said, to reflect.
To reset to think about things in a different way.
When we're disconnected from anybody that we love, there's a void.
And Satan would like nothing more when that void is there to sneak in and to fill it.
Hope Mangiafico (32:25)
Mm hmm.
Nikki Humphrey (32:36)
And he has unknowingly done that to me in the past. So keeping that touch points in place, to me, it just feels like a force field. Doesn't mean he's not gonna try to sneak in somewhere else if you have an open door or window somewhere. But having a consistent prayer life is like putting on bug spray, a repellent for the enemy.
Hope Mangiafico (33:01)
Amen. Well, and when I think about the enemy,
of going back to linking our two examples together, everything that's not in alignment with the Father's kingdom is basically in alignment with Satan's little shindig circus over here. And so I see God as life in connection with him as life, everything else that's sin, which is Satan's the father of sin, of lies, all of those things, that is death. And it's why you feel that anxiety and that angst and that void.
is because you're no longer filled with life. So that's where that he's the breath in our lungs. Because as soon as we stop turning to him and that connection point, we can start losing that life. Anxiety takes your breath away. The stress takes your breath away. Give me more, give me more, give me more. You can't sustain that.
And to Nikki point, the enemy knows that. And he feels like he's winning.
So yes, talking out loud, that connection point is like the bug spray. It's an armor. It protects you so that you can live. And the Father wants us to live. It's the greatest glory to Him. I feel like someone needs to hear this, that you're just alive today. He's so happy that you're alive today.
he wants to pour out more life into you or pour more life into you.
He just wants to have that connection so he can do it.
Nikki Humphrey (34:37)
He just wants to hear your voice.
Whatever you have to say. I promise you, when you hold back from God, it blocks all the goodness He has for you. It's the
Hope Mangiafico (34:50)
It does.
Nikki Humphrey (34:51)
ultimate holy exchange that you can have through a prayer conversation with the Father. You can dump all that shame, all that condemnation, all that guilt, all that stuff that you don't want anybody to know. You can tell God.
And he's gonna take it and he is going to take it off of you for good, once and for all.
Hope Mangiafico (35:13)
That's the truth. And one last thing to compliment that as you do that and you converse with him and you come to him, my invitation and encouragement to you is, know that he can take all things he wants to, he wants to fully be there for you. And just be mindful of putting your own expectations of what that looks like.
That has kept me more stuck in my prayer life than anything else, was expectations. And when I finally was like, okay Lord, help me, again, this is prayer, not intentionally, Lord, help me, stop that, because I know you're good, and I know you love me and you want me. So whatever this looks like, it can only be good. He's the giver of all good gifts.
So be careful with expectations because that leads to disappointment. And we kind of started our whole episode with that. And disappointment gives an entryway for life to be taken out of us.
I think that'll do it, Eel.
Nikki Humphrey (36:23)
I think that'll do it.
Hope Mangiafico (36:24)
As we wrap up today, the biggest thing we want you to take away is this. Just keep talking to God. When you have beautiful words, pray them. When you're angry, tell him. When you're confused, tell him. When you're grateful, tell him. When you're just in a funny mood, tell him. When your heart is broken, bring him the pieces. And when you don't know what to say, sometimes the most honest prayer is simply,
Jesus, I need you. Prayer doesn't have to be polished to be powerful. You don't have to perform for a God who already knows your heart. You don't have to understand what he's doing to keep coming back to him. Maybe you've been praying for a long time. Maybe you're discouraged. Maybe God answered differently than you hoped. Or maybe you've just stopped praying altogether. Today's an invitation to begin again. Now with the perfect prayer, but an honest one.
It can be as simple as, here I am as your child. Because prayer isn't just about getting answers. It's about knowing the one we're praying to. It's where we learn his voice, surrender our plans, and are reminded of who he is, and in return, who we are. And sometimes we realize that while we were waiting for God to answer our prayers,
He was using the prayer to transform us. Thank you for spending this time with us today. Until next time, keep showing up, keep talking to Jesus, and keep letting Him equip you for what He's calling you into. And we will see you in the overflow.
