Walk With God Through Intentional Prayer and Trust

Have you ever stopped to think about how you're actually praying?

Not whether you're praying enough or saying the right words, but whether you're really bringing your heart to God and making room to listen to Him. Because sometimes prayer becomes so familiar that we find ourselves going through the motions without even realizing it.

We pray for our families, our circumstances, the people around us, and the things weighing on our hearts. But are we being intentional about those conversations? Are we asking God for specific things? And are we taking time to recognize what He's doing throughout our day?

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my new friend Donna to talk about what God has been teaching her about prayer, trusting His answers, and growing closer to Him in everyday life.

Donna shares how she's been rediscovering something that made a difference in her relationship with God years ago.

A group of women called The Fives, who committed to praying five days a week, at 5 a.m., for five weeks.

Now, before you decide this episode isn't for you because 5 a.m. sounds absolutely terrible, stay with us!

Because one of the things we talk about is that growing closer to God isn't about getting up at a particular hour.

It's about making intentional time to be with Him.

For Donna, those early mornings have become a place where she can slow down, spend time in God's Word, pray with other women, and actually listen.

And what started years ago as something that felt like an obligation has become something she genuinely looks forward to.

But that's not the only thing God has been changing.

Donna shares how she's learning to move away from those broad, blanket prayers we can so easily fall into and begin bringing specific requests to God.

Not because we can somehow convince Him to give us everything we want.

But because He invites us to come to Him, to ask, to seek, and to knock.

And because He cares about the things that matter to us.

We talk about what it looks like to pray boldly while still trusting that God's answer might be different from what we were hoping for.

Because sometimes the answer is yes.

Sometimes it's no.

And sometimes we don't understand what He's doing until we're looking back years later.

But even when His answer isn't what we wanted, we can trust that He sees what we cannot.

And I love how Donna is learning to carry that relationship with God beyond her morning prayer time.

She's even started setting alarms throughout the day to remind herself to stop, pray, give thanks, and recognize His presence.

And friend, if you need to set an alarm to remind yourself to talk to God, that's okay!

Sometimes we need practical reminders while we're building new habits.

The point isn't to make prayer another obligation.

It's to grow in a relationship where talking to God becomes a natural part of our everyday lives.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How to grow closer to God through prayer

• Learning to pray boldly and specifically

• Moving beyond routine prayers and religious checklists

• Why God wants a relationship with us, not perfect words

• Trusting God's answers when they aren't what we hoped for

• Praying with faith while surrendering the outcome

• What it means to ask, seek, and knock

• Recognizing God's faithfulness when looking back on difficult seasons

• Making intentional time for prayer and Bible study

• Finding a prayer routine that works for your season of life

• How praying with other women can strengthen your faith

• The Fives, praying five days a week at 5 a.m. for five weeks

• Why you don't have to wake up at 5 a.m. to have a meaningful prayer life

• Using phone reminders to develop a habit of praying throughout the day

• Recognizing God's presence in ordinary moments

• Practicing gratitude and noticing the little things

• Finding a Bible translation you can understand

• Beginning a quiet time with God when you don't know where to start

• Connecting with God through Scripture, journaling, music, and nature

• Learning to slow down and listen instead of only talking

• Being fully present with God and the people around you

One of my favorite things Donna shares is how she began setting reminders on her phone throughout the day. Not because she doesn't love God. Not because her prayers don't count unless she has an alarm. But because life gets busy!

We can spend an entire morning talking with God and then get so caught up in everything happening around us that we forget to stop and recognize Him in the middle of it all. And sometimes a simple reminder is exactly what we need.

Donna also shares some practical encouragement for anyone who wants to begin spending more intentional time with God but doesn't know where to start.

Start where you are. Find a time that works for you. Open a Bible you can understand. Talk to God like you're talking to someone who loves you. And don't worry about making it sound perfect. Because He's not waiting for an eloquent prayer.

He wants your heart. As we wrap up our conversation, Donna shares a perspective that's been meaningful in her own life: Be where your feet are.

Whether you're sitting in your favorite chair spending time with Jesus, talking with your family, or having a conversation with someone at the grocery store, be fully present. Because those moments matter. And you never know how God might use an ordinary moment to encourage someone else.

You can learn more about Donna Kirkwood and connect with her at www.DonnaKirkwood.com.

Friend, maybe today is an opportunity to look at your own prayer life.
Are you bringing your actual heart before Him? Are you making room to spend time with Him? And are you willing to trust Him even when His answers don't look like what you were hoping for? You don't have to wake up at 5 a.m. You don't need the perfect words. And you certainly don't have to wait until you have an entire hour available.
You can begin right where you are. Just talk to Him, open His Word, and make room to listen.

If you're looking for a place to grow in your faith and walk alongside other women who are doing the same, I'd love to invite you into The Story Haven. It's our free Christian community where we're learning more about God, spending time in His Word, praying for one another, sharing what He's doing in our lives, and building genuine relationships along the way.

Join us at TheStoryHaven.net or download The Story Haven app on your phone and take the community with you wherever you go.

And if God is doing something in your life right now that you feel called to share, I'd love to hear about it. You don't need a platform, a ministry, or a perfectly finished testimony. Visit PerspectivesIntoPractice.com to learn more about becoming a guest on the podcast.