Prayer In A Noisy World with Valerie Woerner of Val Marie Paper

76: Global Evangelism with Nicole Moses

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 12:05:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered how to pray for missionaries in today's world? In this episode, we speak to a missionary, Nicole Moses, who shares her experiences and insights on global evangelism. We delve into why we sometimes neglect to pray for global missions, and how we can pray more effectively for missionaries by relating to them personally. Join us as we explore the world of missions and gain a deeper understanding of how we can be involved in God's work around the globe.

Nicole Moses and her family live and work in Sierra Leone, West Africa. They left their small-town Texas life for long-term service with unreached people in rural areas. She homeschools her 4 children and works as a pediatric occupational therapist alongside her husband Geoffrey, a family medicine physician. They’ve both learned the power of prayer in difficult and discouraging situations and strive to be a persistently prayerful person, drawn from the parable in Luke 18:1-8.

Highlights from today's episode:

Missionaries are just regular people, too
Why we don't pray more for global evangelism
How can we start praying for missions and the world
The importance are praying for church planters
Nicole's biggest obstacles in prayer
Why prayer is our biggest frontline defense

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Try our monthly format designed to be filled out once at the beginning of the month really intentionally. Then you can pick up daily to pray over several things on your list! Check out our 2024 linen journals in the shop now!

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

75: Next Steps for When God Says No

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:24:06 +0000

Have you ever felt like an unanswered prayer shook your faith? On the podcast today, we are going to talk all about how to persevere in prayer even after hearing a no. Perseverance is the steadfast pursuit of a goal despite difficulties or obstacles. We will explore obstacles that hinder our perseverance in prayer and how to overcome them so that we can deepen our relationship with the Lord and experience the transformative power of prayer.

Val Marie Paper | Instagram

Highlights from this episode:

Things we need to examine in our heart
Asking God for our desires
Reasons God may say no
What to do if you're feeling forgotten
Accepting Reality

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Blog Post
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner
Compose Prayer Journals

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Our journals make great Christmas gifts, so grab one for yourself and your friends using the code 3ORMORE for 20% off when you purchase 3 or more items from our shop!

74: Perseverance with Lisa Whittle

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 11:09:00 +0000

Lisa Whittle is the author of eight books and a sought-after Bible teacher. A pastor's daughter and longtime ministry leader in issues relevant to the church, Lisa is the founder of Ministry Strong and the popular Jesus over Everything podcast, which debuted in the top twenty-five Christian podcasts. Her love runs deep to see people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in the midst of a world that so often seems to have gone crazy. Lisa has done master's work in marriage and family counseling, is the co-founder of Called Creatives, and has been featured on numerous media outlets through the years. She and her family live in North Carolina.

Latest Book: Lisa Whittle pens God Knows, her third and final installment of a trilogy (Jesus Over Everything, The Hard Good), offers readers a path toward rest and calm for anxious times with the book of Nahum as a guide.

Lisa's Website I Instagram

Highlights from today's episode:

1:43 Lisa's current prayer routine
9:44 Info on Lisa's book God Knows
15:53 How knowing God's character effects prayers
23:50 How Lisa's biggest no turned into the best yes
26:35 Ways Lisa longs to grow her prayer life

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Jesus Over Everything by Lisa Whittle
God Knows by Lisa Whittle
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner
The Hard Good by Lisa Whittle

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

73: How to Pray through Grief

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:43:23 +0000

Today, we’re talking all about recognizing the stages of grief. Plus, how to pray through each one. No matter what stage of grief you're in, it's so important to turn to God. Hopefully, these topics will help you put your own words into prayer during your most desperate times.

Highlights from this episode:

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
As we carry on...

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Spingboard Prayers by Valerie Woerner
Suffering Is Never for Nothing By Elizabeth Elliot

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

72: Grief with Ashlee Proffitt

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 11:55:00 +0000

Ashlee helps grieving women find hope and joy, even in the mourning. Ashlee is the founder of The Morning, an organization that provides helpful resources and community for women who have experienced the loss of a baby and she is host of The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Ashlee spends her days in sunny Florida, loving her husband Aaron, mothering their four children here on earth – Andrew, Asher, Adelee & Annie; while remembering and honoring her son in heaven, Aaden Sage Proffitt.

The Morning Website I Ashlee's Instagram

Highlights from today's episode:

6:53 How The Morning is impacting others
11:55 Ashlee's current prayer routine
25:17 How to pray when you are experiencing grief
36:42 What Ashlee tells moms who experience loss
41:40 The importance of other's prayers while grieving

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

PNW Ep: 69 How to make prayer a lifestyle
Prayer by EM Bounds
Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

[Trailer] Season 3 Coming Soon!

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:20:00 +0000

How much would change if we prayed how we really want to pray? We are going to talk this season about what it looks like to invite God into every part of our lives. We are going to figure out how to do it practically this season and tune in to our most important conversation, prayer.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

71: 15 Prayers for Anxiety

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:39:46 +0000

When anxiety hits me, few things can reach my heart like prayer. That seems to be the case for two reasons:

It’s a moment when I get to remind myself of what is eternal because part of anxiety, for me at least, is struggling to grasp a sound mind and being rational.

The other part is not being able to grasp what is rational even though I may know it in my head because anxiety can be very physical. Breaking through this is only possible when I invite the Lord in. Today, I thought I’d share some of the verses like to turn to.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

15 verses to pray through anxiety blog post

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

70: Anxiety with Heidi Lee Anderson

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 18:36:16 +0000

Heidi Lee Anderson is a writer, speaker, and stay-at-home mom. After being diagnosed with cancer, Heidi’s fuel is now to make sure that Christ-followers realize, know, and claim the sure promises God offers—in the mundane, amid the heartache, and on top of the highest mountains. She is the author of P.S. It’s Gonna Be Good releasing April 4, 2023, and currently available for pre-order.

Heidi’s Website | Heidi’s Instagram

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

69: How to Make Prayer a Lifestyle

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 18:44:22 +0000

If prayer is talking to God and listening to God, then what happens during that time could change the trajectory of every decision we make throughout the day, every conversation we have, whether we stop and serve a friend or stranger in need, what thoughts take root in our mind, the attitudes we carry and so much more.

We make roughly 35,000 decisions a day.

Can you imagine if even a fraction of those were decided out of prayer?

In today’s episode, I’ll give you some practical examples of how I pray, talk about how we can make prayer a reality in our day-to-day and share some resources that can help you make it happen.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

A Month in the Life of a Prayer from the blog
Prayer Group Leader’s Guide
30-Minute prayer method
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner
Developing a Fluency in Prayer Course

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

68: A Lifestyle of Prayer with Kara Bryant

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 12:30:40 +0000

Kara Bryant has worked with Val Marie Paper for the past 5.5 years, primarily as an Integrator. She lives in West Texas with her husband and two little ones.

Highlights from today’s episode:

8:12 Kara’s current prayer routine
15:15 What is a lifestyle of prayer?
24:05 How do we cultivate a lifestyle of prayer?
30:00 What does a lifestyle of prayer look like?
35:02 The biggest challenges in Kara’s prayer life
46:00 Kara’s recent answered prayers
49:41 How prayer was modeled for Kara

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Springboard Prayers by Valerie Woerner
Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berndt
A Heart Exposed by Steven James
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Led, Not Driven by Valerie Woerner
Developing a Fluency in Prayer Course
Adagio Evening Prayer Journal
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

67: How to Pray When You Own a Smartphone

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 12:14:28 +0000

Is screen time a problem? Join our Retro Prayer Life Challenge!

The concept is simple, trade one hour a day on your phone for one hour in prayer. We're joining together to unbury our best prayer life from all the distractions (especially screens!) in our way. Sign up HERE + get a free sample of the challenge that starts January 23rd!

66: Screen Time with Arlene Pellicane

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 12:46:08 +0000

Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, host of the Happy Home podcast, and author of several books including Parents Rising, 31 Days to a Happy Husband and Screen Kids. Arlene has been featured on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, the Wall Street Journal and Focus on the Family. Arlene lives in San Diego with her husband James and their three children. To learn more, visit her website at ArlenePellicane.com and check out her masterclasses at HappyHomeUniversity.com

Arlene's Instagram | Arlene's Website

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Is screen time a problem? Join our Retro Prayer Life Challenge!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

65: Can I pray wrong?

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Today, we’re taking a new approach to the solo episodes for the podcast. We’ve done tons of how to’s to practically help prayer happen in your life but now we want to start tackling some questions you might wrestle with about prayer.

So today we’re going to start with asking if we can pray wrong prayers. And if so, does God ever give us what we want even if it’s wrong? And if so, how do we have any confidence coming to God if we fear messing up?

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

64: Theology with Amy Gannett

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 19:37:09 +0000

Amy Gannett is a writer and Bible teacher passionate about equipping Christians to study the Bible through The Bible Study Schoolhouse. She is also the founder of Tiny Theologians, a line of discipleship tools for children. Amy and her husband, Austin, are church planters in Eastern North Carolina. You can read more from her on her blog and follow her on Instagram.

Amy's Instagram | Tiny Theologians Website

Highlights from today’s episode:

3:20 Amy’s prayer routine
10:30 How she physically prays
15:30 What is theology?
22:40 How does theology affect how we pray
26:30 Truths we should know about God for prayer
35:00 What room is there for mystery as we pray?
40:00 The biggest “no” Amy’s received
44:45 How prayer was modeled growing up
47:30 How Amy wants to grow in prayer

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Fix Your Eyes by Amy Gannett
Prayer Journals by Val Marie Paper

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

63: How to Pray for Your Work

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 15:19:42 +0000

Today, we’re covering 6 specific things we can add to our prayer journals when it comes to work. Plus, I’m adding in a 7th for business owners. No matter what kind of work you do, whether it’s in the home or out of the home, this is for you!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

62: Work with Michelle Myers

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 18:13:09 +0000

Michelle loves reminding women of the gospel-centered purpose for their work - both at home and in their careers. She serves alongside her husband, James, at Biltmore Church in Asheville, NC and loves making family memories with their three kids - Noah, Cole and Shea. She co-leads a ministry for working women called She Works His Way with her best friend, Somer Phoebus. Their book, She Works His Way: A Practical Guide to Do What Matters Most in a Get Things Done World is a great first step to connect with the SWHW mission. You can also join their network at sheworksHisway.com.

Michelle's Instagram | She Works His Way Website

Highlights from today’s episode:

3:30 Michelle’s prayer routine
9:30 What to pray for our work
20:30 How we can rethink our usual prayers
22:00 A practical prayer tip
28:00 How not to get ahead of God

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

She Works His Way by Michelle Myers and Somer Phoebus
Famous in Heaven and at Home by Michelle Myers
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Conversational Commentary on Ecclesiastes by Michelle Myers

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

61: How to Improve Your Prayer Life This Week

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 01:09:45 +0000

Last week, I had Jordan Raynor on the podcast talking about how to redeem our time in prayer. I started thinking about some practical tools to help redeem your time in prayer but many, we’ve shared throughout previous how to’s and ultimately there was one idea that stood out about the rest.

The best way to redeem our time in prayer is to understand what we’re doing when we pray.

Allow me to unpack that super vague and maybe obvious statement.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

60: Redeeming Your Time with Jordan Raynor

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Jordan Raynor helps Christians respond to the radical, biblical truth that their work matters for eternity. He does this through his bestselling books (The Creator in You, Redeeming Your Time, Master of One, and Called to Create), podcast (Mere Christians), and weekly devotional (The Word Before Work)—content that has served millions of Christ-followers in every country on earth.

In addition to his writing, Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup which Jordan previously ran as CEO following a string of successful ventures of his own. Jordan has twice been selected as a Google Fellow and served in The White House under President George W. Bush.

A sixth-generation Floridian, Jordan lives in Tampa with his wife and their three young daughters. The Raynors are proud members of The Church at Odessa.

Jordan’s Instagram | Jordan’s Website

Highlights from today’s episode:

4:00 Jordan’s prayer routine
6:40 How to combat feelings of failure in prayer
8:30 How Jordan prays in his life
11:50 What it means to be intentional in life
16:00 How we redeem our time in prayer
21:05 Jordan’s biggest answered prayer
25:30 Jordan’s biggest “no” in prayer
29:30 Where Jordan learned to pray
32:15 How Jordan wants to grow in prayer

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

59: How to Pray Through Health Anxiety

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 17:29:17 +0000

Health anxiety can feel as common as breathing. Underneath every new sensation in the body is the question, “Could that be serious?” There’s no twitch, sharp pain or symptom that doesn’t cause a bit of uneasiness if only under the surface. It’s hard to be naturally joyful when that headache feels “different” today like it could be a brain aneurysm or something else serious. It’s hard to be optimistic when you feel like a magnetic charge is pulling you to every disease or disorder.

The Lord has taken me on an incredible journey through health anxiety. I’ve conquered many of the things that used to stress me out, like that side pain that lasts a few days, or the blurry vision that’s just a result of a dry contact. I’ve graduated to a new level of learning to trust God through longer term health issues that seem to have no concrete explanation.

Today, I wanted to share how I pray for health anxiety in hopes it will help you too, but I also hope what I share will help those who know someone with it so I can maybe put into words this struggle.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

58: Health Anxiety with Jaime Hampton

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 17:03:22 +0000

Jaime lives in Southcentral Alaska with her husband, three children, one black lab and two lizards.

She is an award-winning Christian author as well as the content producer and co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast. You’ll often find her camping with family and friends during the fleeting Alaskan summer, while winters are spent as a full-time hockey mom of three.

Jaime enjoys roasting and drinking coffee, and is attempting to become an expert at latte art (it’s not as easy as it looks!). She enjoys listening to audio books or podcasts while doing housework, but otherwise cannot multi-task to save her life.

Highlights from today’s episode:

2:30 Jaime’s current prayer routine
5:15 How Jaime prays
8:30 What is health anxiety?
16:15 How prayer impacted her health anxiety
23:20 Where Jaime is at now with her journey
29:00 A starting place when anxious about health
38:00 The biggest obstacles in Jaime’s prayer life
44:00 How Jaime longs to grow in her prayer life

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

57: How to Pray for Healing

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:53:20 +0000

If I’m honest, I want to believe that God will heal every person who has enough faith. In my book, “I’ve got the faith, so bring on the healing.” But as I’ve read Scripture, I’ve come to the conclusion that healing these earthly bodies is not something God has promised us. And the more I’ve studied, the less that scares me and the more I see the purpose in it.

Today, I want to share with you what I have learned about praying for something as complicated as healing.

Scripture mentioned in today’s episode:

Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:2-4 - Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Romans 8:6 - For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Proverbs 4:23 - Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
2 Corinthians 4:17 - For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
1 Peter 4:1 - Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
Isaiah 26:3 - You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

56: Praying for Healing with Meredyth Fletcher

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 16:54:51 +0000

Our spiritual and physical lives are deeply connected, but how and why does it matter? Val chats with functional nutritionals Meredyth Fletcher of Karpos Wellness about the science behind this connection, how we can practically pray over our bodies and health.

Karpos Wellness is a creative and innovative approach towards holistic health with an emphasis on nutrient-dense whole foods as a foundation towards physical and emotional healing

Meredyth’s Website | Meredyth’s Instagram

Highlights from today’s episode:

3:25 Meredyth’s current prayer routine
7:00 How our spiritual life and physical health relate
15:20 Praying for alignment in our bodies
23:40 How do we not idolize our health
29:00 Involving others in praying for your health
33:40 Encouragement when struggling with health
39:12 Why we may not experience immediate healing

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val has a book on prayer!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

BONUS: My 30 Minute Prayer Method

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 15:57:37 +0000

Want to know a secret? You're not the only one struggling to make prayer a priority. We hear it all the time and we've been there ourselves. Distracted, bored, just another to-do, is how we've heard prayer times described before. You too? I created our 30 minute prayer method when I, too, knew there was more that I wanted to be experiencing in my prayer life. This downloadable PDF details the simple 6-part system that's rejuvenated my commitment to pray daily and made me expectant for what God might do with each prayer time I give him. Imagine that, waking up excited and ready to pray each morning!

30 minute prayer method PDF:

https://valmariepaper.com/method

Prayer in a Noisy World Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Prayer Journal Shop:

https://shop.valmariepaper.com/

55: A Prayer for Your Kids

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Not sure where to start? This short prayer will guide you into a thoughtful prayer for your children.

Reflect on this statement: God loves our kids more than we ever could.
Confess focusing more on our kids’ comfort than their holiness.
Praise God for a joy and hope not dependent on circumstances.
Lift up each child by name and what they are facing right now.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

The Blog at Val Marie Paper
Val’s Monthly Peptalk

I hope you have enjoyed these short prayers! If you haven’t listened to them all, scroll back and you’ll find 20 prayers for different topics and needs.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

54: How to Pray for Your Kids

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 19:20:26 +0000

This is one of those things that we know we can do more of, but besides just forgetting to do it, it’s also hard to know what things to pray for. We either drill down on that one big thing that seems to overwhelm their lives right now, or we think of a million possible things to pray for and get paralyzed.

Today, I hope to share a few tips that remove the paralysis and add some vibrancy to our prayers for our kids.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

How to teach your kids to pray by Valerie Woerner
A practical method for teaching your kids to pray by Valerie Woerner
Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berndt
The Prayer Saturated Family by Cheryl Sacks
Prayer Saturated Kids by Cheryl Sacks
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Kid’s Legacy Prayer Journal

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

53: Praying for Your Kids with Laura Wifler

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 23:26:26 +0000

We long to leave a lasting impression on our kids, but when we partner with the Lord in prayer, it’s actually possible! Val visits with Laura Wifler of Risen Motherhood about her own personal prayer life as well as how she’s prayed for and seen God work in the life of her kids. You’ll walk away from this conversation feeling encouraged that prayer makes a difference, even if it’s not exactly visible from the start.

Laura Wifler is the co-founder of Risen Motherhood and serves as the executive director and co-host of the podcast. She is the co-author of the bestselling book, Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope For Everyday Moments and the author of the children's book, Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer. Laura, her husband, and her three children live in central Iowa.

Laura's Website | Laura's Instagram

Highlights from today’s episode:

[2:20] Laura’s current prayer routine
[7:20] How Laura prays for her kids
[12:09] Praying for the spiritual lives of our kids
[17:30] The difficulty of trusting God with our kids
[21:30] The biggest prayers Laura prays for her kids
[26:00] Laura’s biggest answered prayer
[38:35] How prayer was modeled for Laura as a child
[41:18] How Laura wants to grow in her prayer life

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Risen Motherhood by Laura Wifler and Emily Jensen
Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer by Laura Wifler
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

52: A Prayer for Your Spouse

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 10:40:00 +0000

Praying for our spouse might be the single most important thing you can do for them! Here is a short, guided prayer to get started.

Confess any ways you seek satisfaction from your spouse that can only come from God.
Ask God for wisdom to know when to speak, what to speak and how to speak.
Acknowledge any wounds that still need healing and pray for a heart of forgiveness.
Praise God for how he has knit y’all as one and get excited for how God can use y’all together for his kingdom.

VERSES:

If you enjoyed this prayer, it has been adapted from my book Springboard Prayers. If you were encouraged by it and would like 124 other prayers to read when you don’t have the words, grab a copy at valmariepaper.com.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

51: How to Pray for Your Spouse

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 20:09:27 +0000

What if there was one thing you could do today, that would take just a few minutes, that would have an eternal impact on your spouse and your marriage, would you do it??

I think we’d all say a resounding yes, but intentionally praying for our spouses is something that easily falls through the cracks of our overflowing days.

In this episode, I want to share a few reasons we can’t accept that excuse anymore.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Famous in Heaven and at Home by Michelle Myers

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

50: Praying for Your Spouse with Lisa Jacobson

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 16:01:19 +0000

This interview with author, Lisa Jacobson, will bring a new awareness to the importance of praying for your spouse and give you some inspiration for what to pray for and how to get started. We also get a glimpse into Lisa’s personal prayer life, hearing about her personal routine and how she’s seen God at work as she prays. Listen to the end for bonus encouragement on modeling prayer for our children.

Lisa Jacobson is an author, a podcaster, and the founder of Club31Women.com, an online community of Christian women authors who write on marriage, home, family, and faith--a powerful voice for biblical womanhood. She is the author of the bestselling 100 Ways to Love Your Husband and co-author of the new release, The Flirtation Experiment. Lisa and her husband, Matt, are also cohosts of the popular FAITHFUL LIFE podcast. They live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where they have enjoyed raising their eight children.

Lisa's Website | Lisa's Instagram

Highlights from today’s episode:

[2:20] Lisa’s current prayer routine
[6:00] How Lisa prays for her husband
[7:50] How do you pray God’s will, not your own?
[10:00] A small way to get started praying for your spouse
[12:45] How Lisa has seen God at work in her husband’s life
[14:09] When your spouse isn’t a believer
[16:11] A biggest “no” Lisa has received in prayer
[20:30] How prayer was modeled for Lisa + modeling for others
[30:00] How Lisa longs to keep growing her prayer life

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Praying when you can’t sleep
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
The Flirtation Experiment by Lisa Jacobson

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

49: A Prayer for Intercession

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000

It’s easy to make our prayer time all about ourselves. With this prayer, we’re opening ourselves up to however God may want to use us to pray for others.

Lift up the things on your mind that make it hard to pray for others.
Ask God for a burden for someone today.
Confess anyone you haven’t forgiven and lift up a prayer for them.
Praise God for the opportunity to pray for others.

VERSES:

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

48: How to Be an Intercessor

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 21:34:29 +0000

If I asked you how much of your prayer time was devoted to prayers for others, would you feel timid to answer?

The reality is, many of us are very good at coming to the Lord in prayer. After all. We have so many personal needs that we can think of with barely a thought. But pray for others? That seems a bit more difficult.

In this episode, we’re breaking down about 4 burdens we need to have as an intercessor and 4 practical ways to start praying for others!

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

The Blog at Val Marie Paper

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

47: Intercession with Jodie Berndt

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:47:54 +0000

In this episode, we’re kicking off a three-episode series on praying for others. Author, Jodie Berndt, helps us introduce this subject of intercession. Listen in for inspiration from Jodie’s own life experiences as well as practical tips on standing in the gap for others.

Jodie Berndt is a popular speaker and the author of ten books, including the bestselling Praying the Scriptures series for Children, Teens, and Adult Children. Jodie has been a guest on shows like Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and the Don’t Mom Alone podcast, and her writing has been featured on Fox News, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and in several family and parenting magazines. A former television producer and on-air personality, Jodie has been married to her UVA sweetheart, Robbie, for 35 years. They have four adult children and live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Jodie's Website | Jodie's Instagram

Highlights from today’s episode:

[5:15] Jodie’s current prayer routine
[11:19] What is intercessory prayer?
[13:04] What’s possible when we pray beyond ourselves
[20:45] How to let someone know you’re praying for them
[22:55] Asking others to pray for you
[29:30] An answered prayer from Jodie’s life
[36:54] A time when God said no in Jodie’s life
[42:35] How prayer was modeled for Jodie
[47:45] How Jodie hopes to grow her prayer life

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Praying the Scriptures book series by Jodie Berndt
Printable prayer calendars by Jodie Berndt
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Moms in Prayer
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner
Prayer by Timothy Keller

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

BONUS: Lament (a free chapter from my new book!)

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 19:28:30 +0000

One of the hardest ideas for me to grasp about prayer is that God wants me to come to him with every complaint, doubt, or lament. Are we sure God wants to hear this? Didn’t the Israelites get in trouble for grumbling and complaining? In this free audio sample from Val's book, Pray Confidently and Consistently, we explore these hard aspects of prayer that aren't often talked about.

Want to pray more in 2022?

Pair one of our prayer journals with Val's new book on prayer and you'll be set up to make prayer a priority.

46: A Prayer for Fasting

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 14:59:48 +0000

After this week’s episodes, we hope you’re ready to give fasting a try. Here is a prayer you can pray as you enter this practice.

Confess why fasting feels like such a sacrifice.
Share with the Lord why you are fasting today.
Pray for eyes to see what the Lord does during your fast.
Lift up to praise God and let Him know why it’s worth it to you to do this.

VERSES:

Want to pray more in 2022?

Grab my recent training all about how to pray more in 2022 at valmariepaper.com/newyear. We’ll talk about what to do so you succeed using our journals and give advice for possible obstacles and tips on how to customize your journal to fit your needs. And if you don’t have a prayer journal, feel free to tune in to see if our format would be a good fit for you!

Click here to get a prayer journal for 2022!

45: How to Pair Prayer and Fasting

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:35:01 +0000

Fasting is a unique and vital way to unplug from the world and plug into the Lord.

Let’s talk through several common questions that come up about fasting.

Can I fast from anything?
Why don’t we fast?
Why should we fast?
In what circumstances should we fast?
How should we fast?

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner
Rees Howells Intercessor by Norman Grubb
God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis
A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting by Valerie Woerner
Springboard Prayers by Valerie Woerner

Want to pray more in 2022?

Click here to get a prayer journal for 2022!

44: Fasting with Asheritah Ciuciu

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 20:56:09 +0000

In this episode, Val talks with author Asheritah Ciuciu about fasting. This is a practice that can seem mysterious or ancient. Through this conversation, we begin to see the purpose of fasting in our modern-day lives and specific examples of what God can do when we’re faithful to obey this command.

Asheritah Ciuciu is a bestselling author, national speaker, and host of the Prayers of REST podcast. A Romanian missionary kid, she’s passionate about helping women all over the world find joy in Jesus through creative and consistent time in God's Word. Asheritah is married to her high school sweetheart and together they raised their three spunky kids in NE Ohio.

Asheritah's Website | Asheritah's Instagram | Asheritah’s Podcast

Highlights from today’s episode:

[1:44] Asheritah’s current prayer routine
[8:29] Why we should fast
[13:26] Important aspects of fasting
[24:30] Things other than food that you might fast from
[32:30] A memorable fasting moment
[40:15] What role feasting plays in fasting

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Full by Asheritah Ciuciu
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Prayers of Rest podcast
A Hunger for God by John Piper
The 40-Day Sugar Fast by Wendy Speake
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

Want to pray more in 2022?

Click here to get a prayer journal for 2022!

43: A Prayer for Vibrancy

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 14:57:57 +0000

Feeling like your prayer life could use a little “oomph”? Pop your headphones in and listen to this short prayer asking God to reignite your prayer life.

Confess how you’ve seen prayer in the past or even how you see it now.
Remember your creative creator and think of how you can reflect that back to God.
Ask the Lord if any prayers have become mindless for you.
Sit in silence and acknowledge the Holy Spirit.

VERSES:

Want to pray more in 2022?

Click here to get a prayer journal for 2022!

42: How to Add Vibrancy to Your Prayer Life

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Intentional, consistent prayer time is hard.

We literally would not be in business if it wasn’t.

So in this episode, let’s talk about 14 practical tips that could add some vibrancy to your prayer life!

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Prayer Journals by Val Marie Paper
Fervent by Priscilla Shirer
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner
E.M. Bounds on Prayer
Jodie Berndt
Stormie Omartian
Springboard Prayers by Valerie Woerner
Episode 14 on Silence & Solitude
House Prayers
31-Day Prayer Challenge

Want to pray more in 2022?

Watch my recent training all about how to pray more in 2022 at valmariepaper.com/newyear. We’ll talk about what to do so you succeed using our journals and give advice for possible obstacles and tips on how to customize your journal to fit your needs. And if you don’t have a prayer journal, feel free to tune in to see if our format would be a good fit for you!

41: Vibrancy with Michelle Myers

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 19:24:29 +0000

In this episode, Val talks with author and She Works His Way founder, Michelle Myers, about what her own vibrant prayer life looks like in real life. She gives specific and practical examples of how praying continually is not passive, but exciting and active.

Some highlights from today’s episode:

5:30 Michelle’s prayer routine
9:45 What she does when she’s in a rut
12:30 How you can pray with someone else
16:30 How you can pray with your spouse or kids
22:10 A refreshing way to pray
28:12 The biggest answered prayers in Michelle’s life
31:07 The biggest “no’s” Michelle has received
36:24 How prayer was modeled for her as a child
39:00 How Michell would like to grow her prayer life

She Works His Way website | She Works His Way Instagram

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Famous in Heaven and at Home by Michelle Myers
She Works His Way by Michelle Myers and Somer Phoebus
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Springboard Prayers by Valerie Woerner
Every Moment Holy
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

40: A Prayer for a New Year

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 18:21:31 +0000

Whether you begin this year with trepidation or excitement, here is a prayer for the journey ahead.

Praise God for all the exciting things you are looking forward to.
Confess anything in your future that gives you a reason to worry.
Remove any shame and instead rejoice in God’s mercy.
Share with God your hopes for the new year.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

39: How to Use a Prayer Journal

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 19:42:29 +0000

This episode is for anyone who is tired of having “pray more” on their list of goals or resolutions for a new year. We want to offer you a new way to move the needle in this all-important goal. Praying more isn’t simply a good idea for some. It has the power to change everything. It has the power to change our circumstances, our families and mostly, our heart. Those are no small things.

So because of that, we’re going to be a little obvious today about what we think will help you pray more in the new year. ;)

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Full Focus Planner (affiliate link)
YouTube journal tutorial
VMP Society Facebook group
Our add-on Starter Pack

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

38: Journaling with VMP Customers

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 18:53:41 +0000

In this episode, Val talks with several actual Val Marie Paper prayer journal users. Here are some of the questions we’ll hear answered:

What frustrations led you to want to try a prayer journal?
How long have you been using this prayer journal?
How has using the journal helped you grow in your prayer life?
What has changed in your prayer life over the years?
What is something you're learning right now?
In what ways do you long to keep growing your prayer life?
What would you tell someone who wonders if this could work for them?

Hanna Broom lives in Alexandria, LA with her husband and toy poodle. She is involved in her church and other local Catholic women's organizations and is the marketing manager at a growing agency called Ugly Mug Marketing.

Katie Hilbert is a writer and editor living in Cleveland, Ohio. She loves oat milk lattes, collecting more books than she can ever possibly read, and encouraging women to live lives full of hope and possibility.

Kaytie Rich is the owner of More Than Wildflowers - a small online boutique seeking to make the wonderful Christian resources from the USA more affordable and accessible to those in Australia and New Zealand. She is blessed to raise two beautiful children, Milani and Franklin, with her husband Adam.

Amanda Nevins is a believer, a wife, a homeschool mama of 4. She loves gardening, cooking, reading, beach walks, teaching the Bible, and time with her family.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Join Val for a live training!

On Tuesday, December 27 at 7:30 PM CST, Val will be teaching a class on how to prep your prayer journal and overcome common obstacles. Sign up or catch the replay at www.valmariepaper.com/newyear.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

37: 12 Days of Advent Prayers

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000

We have the best of intentions when the season starts that this will be the year we truly soak up what this season means and mark my words, THIS IS THE SEASON.

In this podcast, you'll find 12 prayers for the days leading up to Christmas. Simply pause between each prayer and come back the next day to continue. I recommend setting a reminder on your phone for the same time each day so that you don't forget!

VERSES

Day 1: Luke 5:31-32 NLT
Day 2: Matthew 5:5 MSG
Day 3: Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV, Psalm 16:11 ESV
Day 4: Psalm 139:5 NLT
Day 5: Psalm 107:9 ESV
Day 6: Romans 12:10 ESV
Day 7: Luke 1:43 ESV
Day 8: Romans 12:11-12 MSG
Day 9: Luke 2:7 NIV
Day 10: Luke 2:7 NIV
Day 11: Isaiah 30:21 NLT
Day 12: 1 Chronicles 16:31-33 NIV

36: A Prayer When You're Distracted

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 18:40:46 +0000

Ever long to pray with focus but the smallest things pull your attention away from what is most important?

Here is a guided prayer to help you fight the distractions:

Share with the Lord your current distractions.
Rest in God’s goodness and reflect Psalm 23.
Ask God to bring awareness.

VERSES:

This prayer has been adapted from my book Springboard Prayers. If you were encouraged by it and would like 124 other prayers to read when you don’t have the words, grab a copy at valmariepaper.com.

Also, if you’d like a prayer on slowing down, check out the end of episode 19 with Diana Kerr. She wrote a beautiful prayer on slowing down that I asked her to share and it has been so encouraging to me!

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

We've designed prayer journals for your bestie, mother-in-law, teachers, friend who's expecting, nieces and nephews, husband and more! Use the code NOISYWORLD for 20% off your purchase of three or more products from our shop.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

35: How to Get Rid of Distractions

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 12:35:37 +0000

It feels like there are so many places to lose steam when it comes to prayer. Making time for prayer is always the first obstacle but often, we can FINALLY make time and then something silly distracts us. We end up carving out time for prayer and still not actually spending it praying. We’ve all been there, so first off, just know you are not alone!!

In today’s episode, I want to share 16 tips to help you get rid of distractions when you are praying.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Episode 2 on Increasing Your Attention Span
7 reasons prayer feels boring

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

34: Growing Slow with Jennifer Dukes Lee

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 19:18:58 +0000

In this episode, we talk with author Jennifer Dukes Lee who has written a book called “Growing Slow”, about the slow growth that is essential to a thriving prayer life. She also gives us a glimpse into her personal prayer life and discusses one of the main concepts in her book, how our spiritual growth relates to the physical seasons.

Jennifer Dukes Lee is the author of several books including Growing Slow and It's All Under Control. She also wrote the forward of my book Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday. She and her husband, Scott, live on the fifth-generation Lee family farm, where they are raising crops, pigs, and two beautiful humans.

Jennifer’s Website | Jennifer’s Instagram

Some highlights from today’s episode:

[1:37] Jennifer’s current prayer routine
[8:11] The benefits of slowing down in prayer
[14:15] How Jennifer has had to be patient in prayer
[20:20] A practical way Jennifer prays for her daughters
[26:00] How seasons relate to our spiritual growth
[34:00] The specifics of our “winter” growth
[37:45] How Jennifer learned to pray
[42:05] Where Jennifer would like to keep growing in prayer

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Growing Slow by Jennifer Dukes Lee

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

33: A Prayer for a Sound Mind

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 18:11:23 +0000

God has given us power over our thoughts. Throughout Scripture, He implores us to be alert and of sound mind because 1) it’s possible and 2) it’s powerful.

Here is a guided prayer to get you started:

Praise God that a renewed mind is possible.
Confess thoughts that have led to destruction in the past.
Think about what would be possible if you intentionally set your thoughts on truth.
Ask God what thoughts are currently sabotaging your sound mind.

VERSES:

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

32: How To Create Biblical Affirmations

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 14:40:31 +0000

There are some truths I hear that I think, I KNOW that, but if I actually lived constantly aware of it, my life would be vastly different. Things like if I remembered God’s purpose for marriage, I would choose to serve my husband instead of nit-pick. If I remembered that God has called me to be an ambassador for my kids, I would take time to address the heart and not just change the behavior.

Truth really does have the power to steer our days in a completely different direction so taking a deeper look at the words we speak to ourselves makes sense but to be honest, this topic feels like it’s been a little hijacked by self-help experts. In today’s episode, we’re taking a look at affirmations from a biblical perspective by defining what they are and exploring how we can create our own!

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald
Episode 31 with Alicia Michelle
The Mindset Makeover course from Alicia Michelle
Episode 16 with Gretchen Saffles
The Signature Prayer Challenge

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

31: The Mind with Alicia Michelle

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 19:05:34 +0000

In this episode, we talk with NeuroCoach and Bible teacher, Alicia Michelle about how the science of the mind plays a vital role in our prayer lives. She introduces us to what brain priming is, how it differs from affirmations, and how we can use it to embrace and live out God’s truth in our lives. Alicia also gives us a glimpse into her personal prayer routine and how she’s seen God work through prayer in her own life.

Alicia Michelle is a certified NeuroCoach™, Bible teacher, speaker and host of the Vibrant Christian Living Podcast and YouTube Show. More importantly, she’s a lover of Jesus, a wife of 20 years to her best friend, and mom of four amazing kids ages 18 to 9. Alicia struggled with overthinking, negative thoughts and “being enough” for most of her adult life until God radically transformed her heart after a life-threatening medical crisis. Now through her signature courses and coaching programs she loves equipping women with practical, scientific and biblically-based mindset tools to help them overcome negative thought patterns and discover more confident, joyful lives in Christ.

Alicia’s Podcast | Alicia’s Website | Alicia’s Instagram

Some highlights from today’s episode:

7:00 The difference between brain priming and affirmations
21:30 An exercise to start changing your mind today
28:50 How our Christian faith intersects with the health of our mind
35:20 A story of one of Alicia’s biggest answered prayers
43:00 How Alicia wants to grow in her own prayer life

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

The Mindset Makeover course from Alicia Michelle
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner
Free Workshop with Alicia Michelle

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

30: A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

We’re releasing this episode on Thanksgiving Day, however, this prayer is just about as “every day” as it gets! A heart of gratitude is essential for remembering who we are, who He is, and how we’re meant to live.

Here is a guided prayer to get you started:

Picture yourself kneeling before our Almighty God and reflect on His power.
Confess any ways you’ve forgotten you are His and tried to go your own way.
Meditate on ways the Lord has been good to you.
Pray for your future generations to know and worship God with thanksgiving.

VERSES:

Psalm 100

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

29: How to Track Answered Prayers

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

God is always working, but if we’re not intentional about looking around, we just might miss it. Tracking how we see God work (even if it’s not how we expected) builds our faith and leaves a legacy for those who come after us. In this episode, I’m sharing how you can start tracking answered prayers today.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Prayer Journals by Val Marie Paper

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

Bonus: Leaving Instagram with Lindsay Ayers

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In this follow-up to episode 22, Lindsay shares how she came to the decision to leave her former account, The Faith Feast, after 5 years investing in it. Val also shares her own experience with leaving the app.

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

28: Answered Prayers with Lindsay Ayers

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with attorney Lindsay Ayers, about how prayer is an essential part of her legal career and life in Washington D.C. This conversation is sure to encourage you, whatever your calling, to see where God’s at work and join Him by living prayerfully. Lindsay also shares what obedience practically looks like, discerning God’s voice and pursuing mentoring relationships.

Lindsay Ayers is a believer, daughter, sister and new auntie! She currently resides in Washington D.C. where she works as an attorney at a Christian Legal Aid Organization to serve low-income and homeless residents in D.C.

Some highlights from today’s episode:

1:50 What Lindsay’s prayer routine looks like right now
6:05 How Lindsay prays over her work and her city, Washington D.C.
12:50 What hearing God looks like in Lindsay’s life
24:30 Val’s conviction about interceding for others
33:30 Lindsay’s experience with being mentored

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

27: A Prayer for Passion

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Let’s face it, sometimes we’re just not feeling it. When I feel this way, one of the things I do is pray for God to give me the desire for prayer.

Here is a guided prayer to ask God to restore your passion:

Imagine what it would look like to be more passionate about prayer
Confess how you’ve seen prayer before
Reflect on things that feel more important than praying and ask God to make you aware
Remember the cross and what that means for your present--thank God for it

VERSES:

This prayer has been adapted from my book Springboard Prayers. If you were encouraged by it and would like 124 other prayers to read when you don’t have the words, grab a copy at valmariepaper.com.

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

26: How to Create a Prayer Routine

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 12:26:36 +0000

Some of you love everything about the word routine and others of you are trying not to roll your eyes or hit delete too quickly. Shouldn’t prayer be a bit more romantic than a routine? But here’s the thing, planning your prayer time really just tells God that this matters to you and it’s worth preparing in advance to make sure it still happens. Having a routine that helps us stay consistent can help us overcome that paralyzing feeling that comes when it’s been a while since we’re talked to God. In this episode, let’s get into the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW of creating a prayer routine.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

Prayer Journals by Val Marie Paper

On the Blog: How to Make Time to Pray

On the Blog: 7 Reasons Prayer Feels Boring

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

25: Routine with Hannah Brencher

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 02:11:30 +0000

In this episode, we talk with author Hannah Brencher, about why and how to create a habit of prayer. If you’re wanting more consistency in your prayer life, you’re going to love the practical nature of this episode. Hannah also gives us a glimpse into her prayer closet and the obstacles she’s faced with her own prayer routine, personal answers from the Lord, history with prayer, and goals for the future.

Hannah Brencher is a writer, TED Speaker, and mental health advocate with a heart for building leaders. She is the author of 3 best-selling books-Fighting Forward, Come Matter Here, and If You Find This Letter. She is the founder of More Love Letters--a global organization using the power behind social media to write and mail letters to strangers in need across the world. Named as one of the White House’s “Women Working to Do Good,” Hannah and her work have been featured in publications such as CNN World News, the Wall Street Journal, Oprah.com, and Glamour. Hannah lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband Lane and daughter Novalee.

Hannah’s Website | Hannah’s Instagram

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper

Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson

Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

Give an intentional gift this holiday season.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

24: A Prayer for Wonder

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In this noisy world, taking the time to stand in awe of the Lord feels almost impossible, but as we discussed in episode 22, adoration is essential and so beneficial to our prayer lives.

Here is a guided prayer to kick off your personal adoration practice:

- Share with the Lord the things that help you focus in a noisy world

- Confess any pride that makes us seem bigger and God smaller

- Reflect on God's might and the wonder of His hands

- Take a minute to literally or figuratively kneel before the King

VERSES:

John 3:30

Psalm 145:5

Hebrews 12:28-29

This prayer has been adapted from my book Springboard Prayers. If you were encouraged by it and would like 124 other prayers to read when you don’t have the words, grab a copy at valmariepaper.com.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide, and more!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

23: How (and What) to Read on Prayer

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 12:09:28 +0000

Over the last few years, I’ve made it a point to mostly always have a book in my currently-reading stack about prayer. This means I’m learning about prayer on an ongoing basis, and every few days I'm reminded of the importance of prayer. Today, I’m sharing 10 of my favorite reads + a little preview of what you can expect from each one.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller

The Battle Plan for Prayer by Alex and Stephen Kendrick

E.M. Bounds’ books

What Happens When Women Pray? by Evelyn Christenson

The Prayer-Saturated Church by Cheryl Sacks

Fresh Start Devotional by Valerie Woerner

Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer

Springboard Prayers by Valerie Woerner

Praying Scriptures over … by Jodie Berndt

Love on It’s Knees by Dick Eastman

Adore by Sara Hagerty

Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

If you want to get the first two chapters of Pray Confidently and Consistently for free, head to valmariepaper.com and you’ll see a pop-up. When you drop in your email, you’ll also get our monthly peptalk which includes the current stack of books I’m reading!

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

22: Adoration with Sara Hagerty

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with author Sara Hagerty about the importance of worshipping God as part of our prayer lives and how we can practically make it happen in even the smallest moments of our days.

Sara is a wife to Nate and a mother of seven whose arms stretched wide across the expanse between the United States and Africa. After almost a decade of Christian life, she was introduced to pain and perplexity and, ultimately, intimacy with Jesus. God met her and moved her when life stopped working for her. And out of the overflow of this perplexity, came her writing, both on her blog and in her books – Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet & Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World that Loves to be Noticed, and ADORE: A Simple Practice for Experiencing God in the Middle Minutes of Your Day, all three published by Zondervan.

Sara’s Website | Sara’s Instagram

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper

Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

You Satisfy My Soul by Laura Hackett Park

Adore by Sara Hagerty

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide, and more!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

21: A Prayer for Transformation

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Time spent in the Lord’s presence changes us, but so often we’re going through the motions, rattling off things we need and not pausing long enough to experience all he has for us.

Here's a simple and quick prayer to get you started:

- Release everything and soak in God’s presence

- Tell God your desire for a life that flows from prayer

- Confess ways you try to get by on your own

- Praise God for his power and that He is with you

VERSES:

Exodus 34:29

John 15:5

This prayer has been adapted from my book Springboard Prayers. If you were encouraged by it and would like 124 other prayers to read when you don’t have the words, grab a copy at valmariepaper.com.

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

20: How to Live from an Outflow of Prayer

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +0000

I don’t want to be a better “pray-er”. You heard me. I don’t want to just get better at saying some prayers. I want it to transform my days and thereby transform my life. What would our days look like if they were an outflow of time we spent in God’s presence? Can you imagine the difference? In this episode, I’m sharing 7 tips to start living a life that is a response to our time in prayer.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Ep. 14 - How to practice silence and solitude

Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order Pray Confidently and Consistently, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

19: Goals & Prayer with Diana Kerr

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 17:43:13 +0000

In this episode, we talk with my personal life coach, Diana Kerr about how setting goals can enhance our prayer lives, how we can formulate goals as believers, as well as Diana’s personal struggles and journey with prayer.

Diana Kerr is a Certified Professional Life Coach on a mission to help go-getter Christian women break free from overwhelm and design their time and life for what matters most. Diana lives in Milwaukee, WI, with her husband, Kyle, and their sons, Harrington and George. Visit dianakerr.com to learn more about working with Diana 1-on-1 or her group program Fight for Margin, and explore her free tips and resources on intentional living.

Get her free 12-page workbook, 3 Lies about Time Christian Women Tell Themselves & 3 Truths That Will Set You Free: http://dianakerr.com/workbook

Coaching with Diana | Diana’s Facebook | Diana’s YouTube

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman
Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper
Adore by Sara Hagerty
Holy Noticing by Charles Stone
Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
PowerSheets Goal Planner
Pray Confidently and Consistently by Valerie Woerner
Eternally Fixed by Natalie Lewis
Diana's health miracle

Val’s new book on prayer is now available!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order, get our no-fail leader’s guide and more!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

18: A Prayer for Wisdom

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 14:22:36 +0000

What a privilege to have access to the living and active Word of God. What would happen if we prayed Scripture instead of filling every moment in prayer with our own words?

Here's a simple and quick prayer to get you started:

- Praise God for Scripture

- Share with the Lord any strongholds around it

- Ask the Lord to point you to a passage to pray

- Ask the Lord for revelation if you’ve taken anything out of context.

VERSES:

Hebrews 4:12

Romans 8:26

SPRINGBOARD PRAYERS

Val’s new book on prayer is here!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order, get our no-fail leader's guide and more.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

17: How to Pray Using the Bible

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 01:16:57 +0000

Sometimes we just don’t know what to say in prayer! Thankfully, God has given us the Bible as a way to learn about prayer and to also hear the prayers of others. In today’s episode, we’re talking about a few techniques to incorporate the Bible into our prayer lives. Have you ever heard of the 3 R’s?

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Val's new book, Pray Confidently and Consistently, is out now!!

Discover the 15 weights holding back your prayer life and how to practically overcome them! Grab your copy from Amazon or a signed copy from our VMP shop!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

16: Bible & Prayer with Gretchen Saffles

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 01:26:40 +0000

In this episode, we talk to Gretchen Saffles from Well-Watered Women about how to incorporate the Bible into our prayer time, her biggest struggles with prayer and how she hopes to grow next in prayer!

Gretchen Saffles is the founder of Well-Watered Women, an online ministry that reaches women worldwide with the hope of the gospel, and the author of The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith. She has written several Bible studies and is also the creator of the Give Me Jesus quiet-time journal for women, a tool to help women study Scripture daily. Gretchen lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, Greg, and her two sons, Nolan and Haddon.

Well-Watered Women shop | Well-Watered Women book

Val's new book, Pray Confidently and Consistently, is out now!!

Discover the 15 weights holding back your prayer life and how to practically overcome them! Grab your copy from Amazon or a signed copy from our VMP shop!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

15: A Prayer for Stillness

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:41:34 +0000

What would happen if we prayed for stillness instead of filled every moment in prayer with our own words? A deep prayer life is so much more than requests to God. Practicing silence and solitude opens us up to an actual two-way relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Here's a simple and quick prayer to get you started.

- Reflect back to God why this time is important

- Surrender what causes distractions

- Share with the Lord why the quiet can feel scary

SPRINGBOARD PRAYERS

Val’s new book on prayer released October 12!

Pre-order 1 copy before release day and get the audio version for free. Pre-order 4 copies and get the free no-fail leader guide to lead a group through the book and launch an actual prayer group! Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order and get bonuses.

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

14: How to Practice Silence & Solitude

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 13:18:20 +0000

Why are these two words so important to our prayer life? In this episode we talk about the 3 reasons it’s hard to practice silence and solitude, 3 reasons why we should keep trying and 5 ways to practically do that!

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Pray Confidently and Consistently book

Hey Kool-Aid Man

Community Episodes # 4, #5, #6

Helpful blog posts:

13: Sacred Rest with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 20:11:03 +0000

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, whose groundbreaking insight on the seven types of rest, changed many things for how Val saw rest. Today we discuss the importance of knowing what rest we need and how that could impact our prayer lives if we discover it!

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a Board-Certified internal medicine physician, speaker, and author. She is an international wellness expert and has been featured featured in numerous media outlets including Prevention, MSNBC, Psychology Today, INC, and as a guest on Dr. Oz show. She is the author of numerous books including her latest book Sacred Rest where she shares ground-breaking insight on the seven types of rest needed to optimize your productivity, increase your overall happiness, overcome burnout, and live your best life.

IChooseMyBestLife.com | DrDaltonSmith.com.

Val’s new book on prayer released October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

12: A Prayer for Consistency

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:16:35 +0000

What would happen if we prayed consistently instead of just when the next big crisis happened? A deep prayer life is so much more than emergency calls when we’re stressed out. Praying consistently opens us up to an intimacy with God we never imagined possible.

Here's a simple and quick prayer to get you started.

Praise him for the opportunity to pray to him
Confess inaccurate assumptions
Discover what consistent prayer could look like
Share your hope for what’s possible

Loving the idea of guided prayers? Check out Springboard Prayers, our book of 125 pre-written prayers for different circumstances!

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

11: How to Pray Confidently and Consistently

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:13:59 +0000

Why are these two words so important to our prayer life? In this episode we talk about why we want these things as well as 6 steps to get you unstuck and help you praying confidently and consistently.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

10: Confidence and Consistency with Valerie Woerner

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 16:24:13 +0000

Kara turns the mic on me (Valerie Woerner) and asks me all those questions we’ve been asking our guests.

We talked about prayer and my health journey this year, what my prayer routine actually looks like every day, the next ways I’m hoping to grow my prayer life and the question that got me emotional to talk about.

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

9: A Prayer for When God Feels Distant

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 15:41:27 +0000

Sometimes when we feel that distance between us and God, the hardest is part is simply starting a prayer. I pray this quick and simple prayer helps you enter into a sweet reinvigorated conversation with the Lord. In this prayer you’ll:

- Share why you desire to draw near

- Confess any sins causing separation

- Acknowledge the things grabbing your attention

- Commit practically to more time with Him

Rinse and repeat as needed when you long to draw nearer to God.

SPRINGBOARD PRAYERS

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

8: How to Close the Gap with God

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 15:39:43 +0000

Feeling distant from God. We’ve all felt it. It’s that dull ache we can’t totally explain. All we know is we don’t like it and we know the answer is drawing near to God again. Maybe you’re feeling it right now. You attempt to pray but it feels like there’s this wall. You wish you felt some emotion talking to God but instead, it just feels like talking to the ceiling. The door is closed. The window’s glued shut.

Well today, I want to share some tips to help close the gap with God so you can experience more intimacy with him.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

6 Things That Distance from God
Beginner’s Guide to Fasting
Pray Confidently and Consistently - Val’s book includes a whole chapter on distance and one on fasting too!

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

7: Drawing Near to God with Ruth Chou Simons

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 15:36:20 +0000

Ruth Chou Simons is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several books, including her newest book When Strivings Cease. She is an artist, entrepreneur, speaker and owner of the online shop GraceLaced. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys. In today's chat we talk about taking the pressure off of prayer and enjoying the presence of the Lord. Here's our conversation.

When Strivings Cease | Gracelaced | Ruth on Instagram

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

6: A Prayer for Community

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 15:54:51 +0000

We were all created for community, and what if we PRAYED to experience the beauty of God’s gift of relationship? Here's a simple and quick prayer to get you started.

- Recognize obstacles

- Seek opportunity to join others

- Root out any harbored unforgiveness

- Remember the fruit of God’s faithfulness

SPRINGBOARD PRAYERS

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

5: How to Start a Prayer Group

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 15:53:03 +0000

If you’re anything like most believers, this idea of leading a prayer group is terribly intimidating. So let’s take the pressure off. In this episode, Val’s focusing on the logistics of leading a prayer group. She’ll share 7 tips to help you lead, with a super practical action step to take today!

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke
The Main Reason Church Attendance is Slipping by Trevin Wax
Benefits of praying together blog post (Coming Soon)
Preorder Bonuses

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

4: Prayer in Community with Megan Gonzalez

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 15:42:42 +0000

For the last 13 years, Megan Gonzales, founder of MaeMae & Co. has used her creativity to design paper products, branding and photos, has had an insanely impressive client list, and been recognized by many of her style heroes including Vogue, Martha Stewart, and Rachel Zoe. She's also styled photos for Val Marie Paper for years.

When she’s not supporting her clients' brand and marketing, she and her husband can be found in their kitchen picking rice off their dog’s head, generously put there by their son.

Her story of faith and community has been such an encouragement to Val! Hear about Megan’s prayer routine, the role community has played in her prayer life, and how she longs to keep growing her prayer life.

Megan’s website | Megan on Instagram

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

3: A Prayer for Focus

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:03:31 +0000

We all want focus in prayer but what if we PRAYED for it? Here's a simple and quick prayer to get you started.

- Recognize what distracting you

- Fixate on God's magnificence

- Remember our neediness before the Lord

- Stay aware of God's presence

Rinse and repeat as needed to find more focus as you pray.

SPRINGBOARD PRAYERS

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

2: How to Improve Your Focus in Prayer

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:02:19 +0000

Distractions are single-handedly sabotaging our prayer lives. Is there anything we can do about it? In this episode Val talks about 14 (yes 14!) ways to improve your focus. She shares 8 ways that improve our general attention span (#7 is surprising but takes less than a few seconds) and 6 more ways specifically relating to prayer!

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Give it a listen and let us know which 2-3 you’ll be trying this week!!

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

1: Focus in Prayer with Phylicia Masonheimer

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 19:58:21 +0000

Phylicia Masonheimer is an bestselling author and podcast host teaching Christians how to know what they believe and live it boldly. She holds a degree in religion from Liberty University and lives in northern Michigan with her husband and three kids.

She’s also one of the most focused gals Val knows! Hear about Phylicia’s prayer routine, biggest prayer obstacles and how she finds focus in prayer.

Phy’s website | Phy’s weekly newsletter, Conlectio (one of Val’s favorite newsletters she subscribes to!) | Phy on Instagram

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Want a journal designed to help you focus in prayer?

Bonus: A Prayer for Evening

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:06:26 +0000

Quiet your mind and sleep in peace after spending a few moments of debriefing the day with God.

• Survey the land to see what God did in your day that may have gone unnoticed.

• Surrender the un-done to-do’s and present worries to the Lord

• Share sins and confess them to God

• Spot the areas that you can do something different tomorrow

Rinse and repeat nightly as needed to create the habit of evening prayer.

Grab a copy of Val's book, Pray Confidently and Consistently

Shop Val Marie Paper formatted prayer journals.

Bonus: A Prayer for Morning

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:03:47 +0000

Jumpstart your day with a few moments of focus with the Lord.

• Reflect on who He is

• Release your biggest struggles for the day

• Request His help

• Remember all He’s done

Rinse and repeat daily as needed to create the habit of morning prayer.

Grab a copy of Val's book, Pray Confidently and Consistently

Shop Val Marie Paper formatted prayer journals.

[Trailer] Introducing Prayer in a Noisy World

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 13:32:59 +0000

Can a podcast help you pray more? Valerie Woerner, the creator of Val Marie Paper prayer journals and author of Pray Confidently and Consistently sure thinks so! You'll get interviews that get you excited for prayer, how-to's that give you the practical tools, and guided prayers that bring the actual space. This is your offramp from the noise when it feels impossible to choose quiet!

Val’s new book on prayer releases October 12!

Pre-order 1 copy before release day and get the audio version for free.

Pre-order 4 copies and get the free no-fail leader guide to lead a group through the book and launch an actual prayer group!

Go to valmariepaper.com/pray to order and get bonuses.

Shop Val Marie Paper formatted prayer journals.