Staying Power

If you struggle with anxiety, this prayer practice is for you. If the idea of getting still with God is daunting, this prayer practice is for you. If you know that there’s science behind meditation being good for you and yet you wrestle with what it looks like to be meditative with God and not veer into something outside of His will or ways, this practice is an invitation to you. When we get still before the Lord, it is an invitation not to emptying, but rather to filling: filling our lives with an awareness of his presence and the truth of his word. He promises that his word will bear fruit and we will bear fruit when we abide in his presence. Let’s do that together today.

In the conclusion of our conversation with Bob Anderson, he shares some very personal anecdotes of how God has come through in answering long-awaited prayers, the fruit of stillness in his walk with God - and what that looks like no matter what season you might be in. Once again, this is a powerful conversation, full of practical encouragement and hope that there IS a way to lead that reflects God‘s heart and is not frantic and exhausting. Breathe deeply, friend, and listen with an open heart to hear what one aspect of Bob’s experience the Spirit might be inviting you to apply to your own life.

Unless you went to my alma mater, Kansas State University, you may not know this name. But I guarantee you that God knows his name and smiles when he notices what this leader is up to. The amount of influence and impact that Bob Anderson’s humble leadership has had is really more than I can fathom. What a privilege to sit and learn from a leader who continues to bear fruit in his current season just as he did when he was in his early 20s and said yes to full-time ministry.

Are you wrestling with uncertainty as you wait on answers and long for a season to resolve in your life? Or perhaps you have a friend or a loved one who finds themselves in a season of an uncertainty. If so, this prayer time is for you! Using Psalm 13 as our outline, we are going to dare to get very honest before the Lord, and allow our honesty to do a work both in our minds and in our hearts. And then, we’re going to explore one of my favorite tools for seasons of uncertainty, curiosity, in our prayer time together. I hope this is a great encouragement to you. If you have anything specific that you’d like to pray with me about, shoot me an email at [email protected].

Last week I introduced Pastor Ron to you all, and I am so excited to dive in this week to the rest of that rich conversation packed with scripture and encouragement specific to how we can find strength in God. This episode is a little longer, but it’s worth every minute of your time. Grab a journal and lean in to both the meaty unpacking of God’s truth and the practical application steps that follow. You will deeply appreciate his prayer over you at the end of this conversation as well. You can find his and Donna’s book ‘Stronger: Seven Portraits of Spiritual Fortitude’ on Amazon here - https://a.co/d/3kb8p58

Today I want to invite you into a prayer practice of dedication. Taking time to dedicate our lives - every aspect of who we are: physically emotionally, spiritually, and relationally and vocationally - is a reflection of a practice shown from beginning to end of scripture. It is an honoring of the gifts God has given us, and a way to remember that we are his coworkers. Every aspect of our lives can bring glory to him and can be empowered by him. If you struggle with shame or discouragement, or are feeling a little insignificant, perhaps this moment of dedication will remind you of how powerful you are as God‘s mighty creation, and how he delights in using every aspect of who you are for his glory. It’s an honor to pray with you today.

I am so excited to step into a series with you with Pastor Ron Prosise. He’s been leading the church for over 30 years now, and has such a depth and breath of experience and wisdom from God‘s word. I know you’re going to be both encouraged, and perhaps, like me, convicted as you listen to him unpack the truth of what is at stake when we lead in God‘s name, and the strength that is available to us through Him when we lead His way.

Hello friends! Welcome back to Staying Power as we head into 2024! I start this episode with a little bit of a life update and then invite you to join me in remembering who Jesus is and who we are in him as a prayerful entry into a new year. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even discouraged in this life, so pausing to remember that the One we serve is a victorious prince, and he calls us His glorious bride, can spur us on to move confidently in the calling that he is placed on our lives. Press on! He says you are glorious, and you are the object of His delight.

Are you discovering the life is simply not going according to your best laid plans? This time of year it seems inevitable that there will be disappointments and disruptions to all of the carefully mapped out plans that we have. What an invitation we have to trust that God knows what he’s doing and that he will redeem all things. Join me in prayer today as we ask God for a fresh perspective on our ruined plans.

Deconstruction: it’s a buzzword and, at times, a bad word in Christian circles. But it’s not going away. It’s not even something new. Finding ourselves in seasons where we remove old ways of thinking, being, and doing in order to embrace a fresh perspective and new season God is calling us into - this is familiar territory in the long halls of faith behind us. So let’s look together at the stages of deconstruction and reconstruction with gratitude, trust, and hope for the future.

Hello friends! Today I want to share a little bit about what’s going on in my family‘s life and would appreciate your prayers as we head into a particularly busy season to finish out 2023! I’m also giving a little update in this podcast on what the plans are for the remaining episodes for 2023 (midweek prayer episodes will continue!). I can’t wait to have you join me in a prayerful, peaceful journey to finish out the year. Share your feedback and prayer requests at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you!

As leaders, we are always looking for the latest and greatest power boost hack. As I recorded today’s prayer, the Holy Spirit met me with reminders that experiencing God‘s love is the ultimate power boost. Taking 15 minutes of quietness before the Lord WILL reap incredible dividends in your day. Join me in a very intimate journey into experiencing the depths of God’s love for you and me. Let’s remember how much He loves us together.

Let’s head to the tropical island of the Dominican Republic today! Though Tyler and Callie’s missionary-lives may look very different from yours and mine, the lessons they share on leadership and leading with family are so applicable for us all! I cannot wait for you to join us - and their kiddos! - for an encouraging and inspiring conversation.

When life feels chaotic and confusing – like we are functioning in a whirlwind when what we long for is clarity and next steps – God gives us a promise that carries us even when the whirlwind doesn’t stop… even when He invites us right back into the chaos. Today let’s find strength and courage by bringing our burdens to the God Who Sees Us and Looks After Us.

Leadership as a creative has its own unique challenges and this conversation with musician and coach Lee Baker is filled with such wisdom for creative leaders. But Lee also shares very honestly and vulnerably about his journey towards burnout, what he chose to do to address those red flags, and how he continues to use his gifts and leadership in a fresh new way. What a valuable conversation. You can find Lee on Instagram @leetbaker where you can sign up for his myfi podcast and weekly newsletter. Share this one with all your creative friends!

Are you nurturing a long-held dream with fading hopes that you’ll ever see it come to fruition? Ah, friend, then, this episode is for you. Desree is so wise, I literally got out my journal as we talked to take notes as God spoke encouragement to me through her story. This woman can preach! Get a nice cuppa and lean I close. I promise you’ll find fresh energy and encouragement here today.

If you’re exhausted, you’re not alone. Take a few moments to sink into this beautiful poem-prayer by John O’Donahue. Have a prayer request? Email me at [email protected].

30 years in ministry! I can only imagine the stories - the joys and the sorrows - that Pete Youlden has experienced as he’s faithfully served college students and staff at Cru. With just a few moments to share, there’s no way to hear them all, but Pete wisely shared some choice truths for all of us to learn from. Enjoy this conversation and share it with a friend who needs the encouragement too!

‘It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You.’ I refer today to these lyrics of the first song on the 2020 album ‘Peace’ produced by Bethel Music. The presence of God is a powerful strengthening tool for us when life gets heavy. Let’s take a moment to remember in prayer: He.Is.Near.

What happens when you uproot your family for a new ministry position, and just a few months later, face a life-altering cancer diagnosis? We know that as Christian leaders, we are not immune to crisis - but leading in the midst of crisis requires a serious set of supernatural and practical tools. Natalie's story will encourage and inspire!

Are you ready for battle? Or maybe feeling a little battle-weary? Today we are diving into a prayer full of Scripture-declarations around fire. This is for the one who needs to be reminded that the God we serve, who lives within us, is greater than any battle before us. Let’s fight fire with fire together today.

Join me in a conversation with my wise and thoughtful friend JR Harris. He has seen a lot and done a lot of ministry in the name of Jesus. The two potent practices he shares in today’s episode are applicable to every one of us no matter where we wear the hat of Christian Leader in our lives, and critical for us to apply in a time when Christian leaders’ catastrophic falls from grace are on painful display all around us. Bonus: if you’re curious about just what an Air Force chaplain does, JR does a great job of unpacking that role at the beginning of our conversation. Who knows? Maybe God is calling you to explore using your gifts in that context!

How do you pray in the waiting rooms of life? Today I want to share a prayer practice that anchored me as I waited on a test whose results could have altered the course of my life. My hope is that this time of prayer can be an encouragement for you personally, and a resource for you as you come alongside others in their waiting rooms.

We'll laugh our way through some powerful, ready-to-implement concepts that will strengthen your ministry and protect you from burnout. Join my friend Melodie who quite literally has spent her entire life engaged in Christian ministry, whether as a pastor's kid or as a leader in the church, as we reminisce over her parents' effective long-haul ministry approach and how she has taken that into her own life. Let's learn from a over a century of Frazier-family-experience of doing ministry well today.

Today as we pray together, I'm thinking of the image of a jar filled with sand and water, so shaken that it is completely opaque from top to bottom. Sometimes life can feel like a constant shaking. As we get still before the Lord, let's invite Him to settle the sediment that's clouding our perspective and bring His fresh clarity once more. This is a prayer of stillness. A couple of references in the prayer: "Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side" is from a classic hymn; you can hear it beautifully rendered by Kari Jobe here: Be Still My Soul, in You I Rest Elijah's encounter with God in stillness: And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice. (I Kings 19:11-12 AMPC) His power within us: Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 NASB But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

Christian leaders are pouring their lives out in many contexts beyond the walls of a church. Join me in conversation with Jason Skjverem who has served in college campus ministry for 19 years now with his wife Kassidy. My prayer is that Jason's thoughtful and humble approach to wise decision making in order to stave off burnout and stay committed in ministry is as inspiring to you as it was to me.

You might consider popping in your headphones and going for a walk as you join us today; it will make sense why while you listen! The tender and vulnerable storytelling in this episode will bring hope to your hurting heart. Lisa shares with candor and love how God has met her in times of illness and wounding to discover the joy of adventuring with Him in all seasons.

As we pause in the middle of our busy week to find fresh energy from the Lord, join me in reflecting on this powerful character trait of our God: he listens to us. Create some quiet space for yourself to be able to reflect deeply on the short passage from Psalm 10 that we will pray through together, I am cheering you on!

Staying Power has a twice-weekly rhythm: Starting the week with a story of a fellow Christian leader's staying power recommendations. Midweek, a pause for a brief encouragement followed by prayer just for you. This is the first midweek prayer, from my heart to yours: be encouraged. You are prayed for today.

Let’s journey together to discover where we, as Christian leaders, can find our staying power in ministry and in life.