Abby McDonald

Finding the Hope of Christ in a Messy Life

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When You Don’t Know What to Pray

January 30, 2020 by Abby McDonald

I was eight seconds into my response to a friend’s question when I realized she was no longer listening to me. Her eyes were on everything but me, and then she walked away while I was still speaking.

As much as I tried not to let it bother me, I was a little hurt by her obvious disinterest. Listening friends are gold, aren’t they? And in a world if endless distractions, whether it’s our phones or an overactive brain, a good listener is hard to come by.

After this interaction, I thought about how in my prayer life, I’m often like my friend. My mind wanders. I forget what I was talking to God about in the first place. If it’s close to bedtime, I may even drift off to sleep.

I used to wonder whether God was annoyed these prayer habits, and then I realized something. While God wants me to come to him and seek him, it’s not for his benefit. It’s for my own. And any time I’m making an honest effort to carve time out of my day to communicate with him, it’s worth it.

Recently, someone asked me if there was a right way to pray. It was an honest question, and I was glad she thought enough of me to ask it. I used to flounder around in my own prayers, wondering if I was doing it the right way or if there was another something else I should be saying.

Talking to someone who is invisible can feel awkward, can’t it? Most of us can admit to that, even if it’s not out loud.

Then, I realized the desire to pray effectively wasn’t unique to me. If we look in the gospels, we see the disciples asking Jesus the same question. They could have asked him how to heal the sick or to perform a specific miracle, but instead they asked him about one specific discipline: prayer.

Most of us are familiar with what follows. Jesus provides a blueprint, saying one of the most famous prayers in scripture, the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer provides a beautiful illustration of this gift we all have, and how we can use it. He also shows that having a model to follow can be an effective tool for our wandering minds.

But have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t know what to pray, or how to start?

Maybe you’re running low on hope, and you’re out of words. Friend, I get it, and I’ve been there too.

In desperate seasons of my life, the only prayer I could muster was, “Jesus, help.” And you know what? He heard me. Saying the name of Jesus is powerful without eloquent sounding words or additives.

While God heard those prayers, he lead me to more. Prayer was an endless treasure, and he wanted me to enjoy it in all its fullness. And what I discovered is that scripture is full of truths I can apply directly to my prayers. As I do so, my prayers align my heart with his.

Instead of feeling constant anxiety, I feel peace. Instead of feeling insecurity, I feel secure in my identity as his child.

When discouragement hits, I pray biblical truths that fix my focus on his character and his love. My faithlessness turns to trust, even if I have to come back to the same truth again tomorrow.

Do you feel like you need some direction in your prayer life? Do you sometimes feel like you’re groping around in the dark, wondering if your prayers are making a difference? I get it. That is why I created a free resource for you: The Live Free Prayer Cards.

These prayer cards address five specific areas of our lives where we often need to remind ourselves of God’s truth and renew our minds: identity, perseverance, focus, future, and thanks.

If you preorder a copy of my new book, Shift: Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God, these prayer cards will be sent to your inbox.

Just hop on over to my book page to enter your order information, and viola! You will receive them automatically.

There are also several other fun gifts for you to grab, and there are all free! You can find the other gifts right here. Friend, we are less than one week away from the release of Shift, and I can’t thank you enough for your support and encouragement on this journey. I pray this book blesses your socks off.

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Filed Under: faith, prayer Tagged With: #spiritualgrowth, prayer

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Hi! I'm Abby and I'm so glad you're here. I am a wife and a mom of two very energetic boys and one sweet baby girl. When I'm not chasing them around I love to write about my love for a God who relentlessly pursued me, even during my darkest times. READ MORE...

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Friend, if you are in a season of waiting right no Friend, if you are in a season of waiting right now, I encourage you to look back on the ways God delivered you in the past. Repeat promises about his character out loud and write them in places where you will see them throughout the day. 

Doing these things may feel silly at first, but here’s what you’re doing: You’re rewiring your brain. When your mind is tempted to believe the negative, you are building a neural pathway to truth. You are creating a pattern, and as you do, it will begin to become more natural.

No matter what, remember God goes with you, even on the days it feels as though you’re alone. He is reaching out for you through the waves of chaos. Reach for him, and grab hold.
A few weeks ago, I had a heart to heart with God w A few weeks ago, I had a heart to heart with God while walking our dog in the cold. There were a few areas in my life where I was beyond weary. My honest confession didn’t leave me with any answers, but the release made me feel the weight lift a little. But still, I longed for some type reassurance. Like Moses before the burning bush, my heart whispered, “Show me your glory.”

That night my husband and I were sitting in our back yard, and I witnessed an unexpected gift I’d never seen: a meteor shower. Every few moments, a streak of light would illuminate the sky, and the magic of it left me awestruck. It was unlike anything I’d experienced in a long time.

As I put my head on the pillow that night, I sensed God saying, “I know you don’t always see it, but I’m protecting you in more ways than you know.”

There are fires He puts out that we never see.

Destructive masses flying toward us that are struck down before they reach us.

And while the struggle and the weariness remain, somehow I feel held right here in the middle of it. I know I’m seen. I know His love reaches places that go beyond those streaks of fire.

#faithhopelove #hisloveenduresforever #prayermatters #keepgoing
Have you ever heard a message that breathed new li Have you ever heard a message that breathed new life into a passage? This happened to me today, and I couldn’t believe the ways this psalm opened up before my eyes, even though I’d read it hundreds of times.

A valley of darkness is not a place where I’d want to sit down and have a meal. My focus would be on getting out. I can see myself asking God, “Can’t you see all these shadows lurking? Really, God?” And yet there David is, right in the middle of the shadow of death, eating. The Lord doesn’t wait until he gets to the other side to prepare the table. He prepares in right there in front his enemies. Enemies who are likely taunting. Whispering lies. Asking what he’s doing there and if he thinks he’ll really make it through. 

But God isn’t intimidated by the darkness that trembles in his presence. He wants to take David to higher ground. And you know what? He won’t get there by staying comfortable.

So instead of letting the voices of evil defeat him, David declares victory. His cup overflows. His path is secure. And ours is too, friends. Keep praising him in the midst of the battle today.

#authorsofinstagram #hopewriters #sundayscripture #hisgrace #victoryisyours #christianwriterscommunity #scriptureoftheday
We make thousands of choices each day, but not all We make thousands of choices each day, but not all of them are life altering. If you’re anything like me, when those big ones come 
you can go to God and expect an answer right then, even when you’ve done little to even connect with him.

But connection to God will always precede the direction of God. 

To enjoy the limitless benefits that come from this relationship, we must first take time fostering it. Wisdom, joy, love, and a sound mind are all at our fingertips. If we take the time. If we seek him before simply seeking his plans.

When we do, we find this:

1. God will open the doors he wants us to walk through. 

2. We often complicate what God has already instructed us to do. 

3. The right decision does not mean there are no bumps in the road.

Friend, I don’t know what decision fatigue you’re facing today, but know you face decisions that need to be made. This is the life we live. Whether they’re big or small, fear-inducing or not, know God is there with you, and he gives wisdom to whoever will ask.

#dailydevotional #decisionmaking #hisgrace #seekhimfirst
Sometimes the first sentence is the hardest to wri Sometimes the first sentence is the hardest to write. That’s why nearly every time I write, I ask myself these two questions:

1. What is my reader’s biggest struggle right now?
2. If I could tell my reader one thing, what would it be?

Asking these two questions not only clarify my writing, but keep it focused. The less rabbit trails, the better. 😉

What other questions would you add to this list?

#writingcoach #amwriting #writeyourstory #writingonwednesdays
This man gives selflessly of his time, love and en This man gives selflessly of his time, love and energy and teaches me so much about what it means to serve others with a humble heart. Today is his birthday, and I’m grateful that I get to celebrate another year of his life! Happy birthday, Chris! 🎉💗 We love you so much.

#birthdaylove #43yearsyoung #birthdaywishes
I am a visual processor. It always helps ingrain t I am a visual processor. It always helps ingrain things in my mind to see them laid out this way. That’s why I’m my book, Shift, I included several charts similar to this one to help transform our mindset. To shift our focus from what’s seen to what’s unseen.

One of the beautiful truths I learned through writing is that we get to control our narrative. We may hear words that aren’t true and even say them to ourselves, but they don’t have to get the final say.

We can:

1. Speak what’s true out loud. Matthew 12:35 says the mouth speaks what the heart is full of, but the opposite is also true. Speaking truth gets it into our heart.

2. Set boundaries on the toxicity we let into our lives. Whether it’s people, the news, social media or tv, we control what goes in. And what goes in matters to our mental health.

3. Write it down. We saw the Jews do this in the OT. It is a tried and true method and it works. 

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➡️ Learn more via link in bio.

#shiftbook #shiftyourmindset #hopewriters #authorsofinstagram #christianauthors #bookstagram
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2. Pray about it and dedicate your writing to God. God is the author of creativity. His Spirit is an endless source of beauty, inspiration, and fresh fire.

3. Move around. A blank computer screen is not very inspiring, is it? Movement and blood flow can spark a brain that’s tired and foggy with fresh ideas. 

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#writingtips #writingonwednesdays #writingcoach #keepgoing
I often forget that the middle of a new endeavor o I often forget that the middle of a new endeavor or opportunity is just as important as the beginning. When new beginnings and expectancy turn into endless days of the same, the transition can be grueling. Each day I must make the choice to get up and be present. I must be intentional about finding those new moments and opportunities for joy, even when they seem hidden.

While there are times in life when God calls us to leap or make a bold move for him, there are other seasons when he asks us to keep our feet firmly planted. In these seasons, our faith is stretched in different ways. 

Don’t let the messiness of the middle keep you from finishing the work God has for you. Keep looking for his presence in the details. Because one day, you will see the fruit he brought forth from that place.

➡️ Adapted from my book, Shift

#bookstagram #shiftbook #shiftyourmindset #faithfulness
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