Made to Pray Podcast

Sometimes we don't need another sermon, another lesson, or more information. We need a fresh encounter with God.In this week's episode of Made to Pray, Karrilee and Lori talk about what it means to pursue the presence of the Holy Spirit in a world filled with uncertainty, distractions, and competing voices.When we've prayed, done what we know to do, and things still don't turn out the way we hoped, how do we continue to stand in faith? How do we move beyond simply knowing about God to actually walking with Him, recognizing His voice, and responding when He invites us closer?Together, we're reminded of the invitation to dwell and abide in God's presence, humble ourselves before Him, and trust that He hears our prayers—even when we can't see what He's doing.In this episode, we talk about:Trusting God when circumstances are disappointing or beyond our control.The invitation to dwell and abide in His presence (Psalm 91).Humility, repentance, and prayer for our homes, communities, and nation (2 Chronicles 7).Learning to recognize the Holy Spirit's voice and follow His leading.Moving from religious routines into a deeper, more personal relationship with God.Making room for fresh encounters through prayer, obedience, worship, and intentional time with Him.Then we pray together. 🙏We invite you to find a quiet place if you can, grab a journal and pen, and join us as we ask the Holy Spirit to draw us closer, awaken our faith, renew our hope, and help us recognize His presence in everyday moments.Our prayer is that this episode would be more than something you listen to—that it would become an invitation to encounter God for yourself.📖 Scriptures Referenced & Reflected On:2 Chronicles 7:12–16Psalm 91Hebrews 11:11 Corinthians 11:1John 10:27Hebrews 4:16James 1:5⏱️ Episode Chapters:00:00 — Welcome & Why We Need the Holy Spirit04:40 — Trusting God Through Uncertainty & Prayer11:23 — Psalm 91: Dwelling & Abiding in His Presence18:05 — Choosing Faith When Outcomes Disappoint22:54 — Hearing & Obeying the Holy Spirit30:24 — Preparing Our Hearts to Pray32:18 — Prayer: Inviting the Holy Spirit to Encounter Us💜 Let's Keep the Conversation Going!Have you ever experienced a moment when you knew God was inviting you to slow down, listen, or take a step of obedience? We'd love to hear about it!If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who could use a reminder that God is near, He hears our prayers, and He is still at work.Thanks for joining us around the prayer circle!~ Karrilee & Lori ~Made to Pray Podcast

Breaking Agreements: Replacing the Enemy's Lies with God's TruthWhat if some of the things holding us back aren't circumstances we can see, but beliefs we've unknowingly come into agreement with?Sometimes a lie doesn't sound like a lie anymore. It sounds like our own voice.I always... I never... I can't...Over time, words spoken over us, past disappointments, fear, insecurity, or promises we've made to protect ourselves can quietly take root. And before we know it, we're living as though those thoughts are the truth. But friends, Jesus has already paid for our freedom!In this episode of Made to Pray, Karrilee and Lori continue the conversation about spiritual growth by exploring the power of agreement—and the importance of breaking agreements with things that don't align with God's Word.We talk about the weight of our words, the importance of renewing our minds, and how to invite the Holy Spirit to reveal the deeper roots of beliefs that may be keeping us from walking in greater freedom.And we share a practical, grace-filled approach to moving forward:Ask for discernment: Invite the Holy Spirit to highlight one or two root beliefs.Name it and release it: Recognize what you've believed and surrender what isn't true.Replace the lie with truth: Allow God's Word to reshape your thinking.Stand your ground with grace: Practice returning to truth when old thought patterns resurface.We also explore the beautiful picture of roots, weeds, seeds, and fruit—and what happens when we intentionally nourish the things God is planting in our lives.This isn't about becoming fearful of every thought or trying to earn freedom through perfect words or perfect faith. It's about learning to recognize His voice, trust His character, and walk more fully in the freedom Jesus has already purchased.And remember: The Father isn't standing far away, waiting for you to figure it all out. He's running toward you with a robe and a ring!💜 FREE Companion Reflection & Journaling GuideWe created a printable Scripture, reflection, and journaling guide to help you take this conversation a little deeper.Inside you'll find Scriptures to study, guided reflection questions, practical steps for recognizing and releasing harmful beliefs, space to journal, and prayers to help you invite the Holy Spirit into the process.Download your free guide here:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BXEvSvBgrx96O2NJ87ICCQc3yNh0JP6w/view?usp=sharingTake your time with it. This isn't another checklist. It's an invitation to let truth take root.Scriptures to ExploreJohn 8:36 — Freedom in ChristRomans 12:2 — Renewing our minds2 Corinthians 10:4–5 — Taking thoughts captiveProverbs 18:21 — The power of our wordsMatthew 15:13 — What the Father has not plantedJohn 15:1–5 — Abiding in Christ and bearing fruitPsalm 23 — Trusting the Shepherd who walks with usLet's Keep the Conversation Going!Have you ever recognized a belief you'd carried for years that wasn't actually true? What helped you begin replacing it with God's truth?We'd love to hear from you.Thank you for listening, praying, and growing with us!With love and expectation,Karrilee & Lori 💜Made to Pray Podcast — We talk a little, and then we pray!

What if spiritual discipline isn't about trying harder or doing more—but about making room for God? This week on Made to Pray, Karrilee and Lori revisit Richard J. Foster's book Celebration of Discipline and explore twelve spiritual disciplines that can help us deepen our relationship with God. From prayer, meditation, and fasting to simplicity, solitude, service, and celebration, we're talking about how these practices can shape our hearts, strengthen our faith, and help us become more like Jesus.We also get honest about how difficult it can be to find quiet in a noisy world, why authentic Christian community matters, and how spiritual growth often begins with small, consistent steps. This isn't a bossy To-Do (or Not-To-Do!) list! It's an invitation to slow down, listen for the Holy Spirit, and discover which practices God may be highlighting for your current season.💜 FREE DOWNLOAD: Making Room for GodWe've created a companion guide featuring all twelve spiritual disciplines, Scripture references, practical exercises, reflection questions, and encouragement from our conversation.📖 Download your free guide here: [Making Room For God]Our encouragement this week? Don't try to master all twelve disciplines. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight just one or two, and begin there.🙏 Thanks for joining us as we talk a little and then we pray!Scriptures to explore: Psalm 1:2, Matthew 6:16–18, Mark 1:35, John 15:5, James 5:16, Psalm 18:32.#MadeToPray #SpiritualDisciplines #MakingRoomForGod #ChristianPodcast #Prayer

The Power of Praying Together: A Faith That's Waking UpWhat happens when thousands of people gather for one purpose—to pray? And what could happen if we brought that same expectation into our homes, churches, and communities?In this episode of Made to Pray, Karrilee and Lori reflect on the recent ACCESS prayer gathering at AT&T Stadium and the encouragement of seeing so many believers come together to worship, pray, and believe God for more.But you don't need a stadium full of people to experience the power of praying together!Whether it's a few friends around a kitchen table, a prayer meeting at church, or an unexpected moment of prayer over coffee, there's something powerful about joining our faith with others.Together, we're talking about the bold access we have to our Heavenly Father, the strength we find in praying in agreement, and the growing sense that God is awakening His people to a renewed passion for prayer.We're also getting honest about unanswered prayers, seasons of waiting, and what it means to keep believing when we haven't yet seen the answers we're hoping for.Because no prayer is wasted. And prayer was never meant to be just another thing we go through the motions of doing.In this episode, we're talking about:The recent ACCESS prayer gathering and why it stirred our faithThe bold access we have to God through JesusHow praying together strengthens and encourages our individual faithWhy no prayer is wasted—even when answers seem delayedMoving beyond religious routines into authentic conversations with GodFinding or creating small pockets of prayer in our everyday livesPraying with renewed boldness, expectancy, and unityScriptures we exploreEphesians 3:12–21 — Bold access to God through faith, being strengthened in our inner being, and trusting the One who can do exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or imaginePsalm 91 — Dwelling and abiding in the shelter of the Most HighIsaiah 29:13–14 — Honoring God with more than our lips and making room for His marvelous workIsaiah 29:18–24 — God's promise of restoration, understanding, and renewed joyMatthew 18:19–20 — The encouragement of agreement and gathering in Jesus' nameA little encouragement for your weekYou don't need to organize a huge prayer meeting to make room for God to move.Start with one person.Ask the Lord to bring someone to mind. Invite them to coffee, take a walk together, gather around your kitchen table, or simply ask, “How can I pray for you?”And then pray.You have access to the Father. You don't need perfect words. You don't need all the answers. You just need a willing heart.Let's be people who don't simply talk about prayer, but who make room for it in our everyday lives.Mentioned in this episodeACCESS Prayer Gathering — We discuss the recent large-scale prayer gathering at AT&T Stadium and the encouragement of believers coming together in worship and prayer.While 2819 church has not yet released a video of the full gathering, we did watch a recording of the meeting from someone in the arena on YouTube.  It was unofficial and we're sure 2819 Church will publish a higher quality, full-length video soon.  But DayStar released a livestream video this morning... if you, like us, want to taste and see a bit of it now, here is that video: [ACCESS 2026]💜 Thanks for praying with us!If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone you'd love to pray alongside. And if you're enjoying Made to Pray, we'd be grateful if you'd follow the podcast and leave a rating or review wherever you listen.Until next time, keep praying!

When God's Word Becomes Your PrayerWhat if spending time in God's Word became more than something we check off our daily to-do list? What if Scripture became so rooted in our hearts that it naturally shaped our thoughts, strengthened our faith, and even became the words we pray?In this episode of Made to Pray, Karrilee and Lori talk about the beauty and power of getting God's Word into our everyday lives. Whether you've been reading the Bible for years or you're trying to rebuild a consistent habit, there's an invitation here to start where you are and let Scripture become part of who you are.We're talking about practical ways to engage with the Bible—listening to Scripture, reading it aloud, memorizing verses, worshiping through Scripture-based music, and even writing notes and prayers in the margins of our Bibles.Karrilee shares how a prayer written in her Bible more than 25 years ago still reminds her to pray for someone today, and together we reflect on how God's Word has a way of rising to the surface when we need truth, encouragement, or direction.Then we move from talking about praying Scripture to actually doing it!Together, we read and pray through Psalm 84, asking God to deepen our hunger for His presence, strengthen us through difficult seasons, and remind us that our truest home is found in Him.Whether you're walking through a dry valley, longing for a fresh encounter with God, or simply wanting to grow deeper in your relationship with Him, we hope this conversation encourages you to open your Bible, slow down, and let His Word lead you into prayer.Because time spent in God's Word is never wasted.📖 Scriptures to Spend Time With This WeekPsalm 84 — Our main passage this week! Read it slowly, pray through it, and consider reading it in more than one translation.Psalm 119:11 — Hiding God's Word in our hearts.Psalm 119:105 — His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.2 Timothy 1:7 — Remembering God's truth when fear tries to take hold.Psalm 23:4 — Trusting God's presence as we walk through difficult valleys.A little invitation for this week: Open your Bible to Psalm 84. Read a few verses aloud, pause, and turn what you're reading into a personal prayer. There's no formula and no pressure to get it perfect. Simply make room for God to meet you in His Word.💜 We're so glad you're here!At Made to Pray, we believe prayer doesn't have to be complicated. We're simply two friends learning to walk with Jesus, listen for His voice, and make room for His presence in our everyday lives.Each week, we talk a little... and then we pray!If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to follow or subscribe, share it with a friend, and join us again next week.Let's keep making room for more of Him. 💜