In the past, I have been deeply troubled by the fact that I have prayed to the Lord for things that I feel align with His will as stated in the Scriptures, yet He has not seen fit to grant my requests, at least not in the way I had hoped for.

This is not a mere theoretical problem of unanswered prayer but a deeply personal and, at times, gut-wrenching struggle that I know many women share. You are not alone in this. But I fully understand that God's "No" is actually to prepare, not punish.

Here is what Jesus says in Matthew 7:7-11: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is...

You may wonder why you should bother praying. After all, God, in His infinite wisdom, has a plan for every woman and will work everything out for our good. You might think the conversation has no real point, as God's plan is already set. However, prayer is not about changing God's plan but about aligning our hearts and minds with His will, a comforting and reassuring act.

Christian prayer is a deeply personal spiritual practice that fosters a unique, intimate connection with God.

It is a way for each woman to express her faith, seek guidance, ask for help, offer gratitude, and communicate with her Divine Creator. As children talk and listen to their father, prayer is their special way of conversing with God. Each woman's conversation with God is unique and precious, making prayer the most intimate communication that connects us to God. 

Throughout the Bible, there are numerous verses and passages that not only encourage us to pray but also highlight the transformative and...

We can look at conversations simply as “sharing” in many ways. Maybe you share how your day went with your kids, spouse, or pet. Perhaps you share about a fight with your co-worker or a funny moment at school.

Tell God about your day.

Let Him know what happened, good and bad. Share your feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams. Ask Him for what you need. You may need wisdom to navigate a challenging project at work or strength to continue caring for an ill family member. At first, it may not feel like God is listening to you.

Remember, patience is a virtue. You may hear only silence. And in that silence, believing that God is ignoring or has forgotten you is tempting. But, when you truly listen to someone else, are you not silent? Do you allow the other person enough space to speak?

You are not ignoring the other party. You still remember them. You are simply respecting their right to speak. God, in His infinite wisdom and love, values your thoughts and feelings, and He...

Prayer, a potent and transformative practice, serves as a conduit for our intimate connection with our Heavenly Father. When we, as women, earnestly seek the Lord in prayer, the transformative power of His presence is unleashed in our lives. As you cultivate an active prayer life, you will witness the transformative responses of God to your requests. This is beautifully illustrated in David's account in Psalm 18.

Psalm 18:6 - "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."

David was surrounded by Saul's forces during a crisis, feeling trapped and hopeless. In his distress, he turned to prayer, seeking help from God. His plea for assistance was answered when the Lord responded to him from heaven.

David talks about God hearing his prayers and then makes another beautiful point in the next verses. He describes how smoke poured from God’s nostrils and His righteous...

Engaging in prayer is considered one of the most powerful and meaningful practices for fostering a deep and meaningful relationship with God. However, there are moments in life where connecting through prayer may seem unattainable or difficult to achieve.

Often, my clients will say that the topic of prayer is well and good. They agree that conversation is wonderful to have with God…but what about the days when your heart is too full to pray? When life once knocked you down, and it feels like you will never rise again, what do you do on those days?

I tell them that in those moments, it can be helpful to remember Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Your prayer life has a major impact on your faith life.

The Holy Spirit, residing within you as a beloved child of God, intercedes on your...

When communicating with God, approach your prayers with assurance and conviction. Express your thoughts, desires, and concerns openly, knowing you are heard and understood. This confidence in prayer is not about arrogance or demanding, but about trusting in God's love and His desire to hear and answer our prayers.

Come to His throne in full confidence.

Do not come as a beggar hoping for scraps of affection. Arrive instead, knowing that you are a beloved child of God. You come not as a beggar but as an heir.

In Hebrews 4:16, Paul instructed the children of God, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Not only should your approach be bold, but so should your prayers. Phillip Brooks said, “Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think of a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches but for wings.” This bold...

Some women set New Year's resolutions every January 1st, while others set goals. Some do it at the end of the year in preparation for the new year, while others choose to set goals throughout the year. Many create quarterly objectives.

It is a familiar experience for many of us to feel our initial enthusiasm for our goals fade over time. This is a shared struggle, not unique to any one of us. Regardless of gender, we all find it challenging to sustain our resolutions or goals.

Does no one want positive change in their lives? 

Of course. Our deep desire for positive transformation in our lives is a common thread that binds us. The issue is not a lack of desire, but often the need for enhanced diligence and commitment.

Often, what is needed is a boost in our diligence, a quality we all possess and can enhance.

Is this not also true of our very faith in Christ? 

If women are not diligent in keeping our eyes on Jesus, we easily grow tired of...

Women all have things that happen in their lives that cause them to lose hope. It could be losing a job or not getting the promotion they were anticipating. You may have to move away from family and friends to start in a new home.

When a cherished dream dissipates, have faith that God has a fresh dream in store for you:

• A different path
• A new journey
• A new calling
• A powerful message
• A renewed passion

Even in the face of your loss, trust that God, the ultimate comforter, can alleviate your pain and develop something innovative within and through you.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV - "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are...

When feeling anxious, it is common to experience Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs), which can make your thoughts and emotions feel out of control. ANTs tend to be negative, inaccurate, and filled with fear and worry. It is important to counter these thoughts with the truth.

Managing your anxiety can be achieved by controlling your thoughts. Your thoughts act like a conductor, directing the orchestra of your emotions. Interestingly, one of the ways God transforms us is by guiding us toward changing our thoughts.

The Bible says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2 KJV). The apostle Paul saw the benefit of this.

In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul advises the Philippians to refrain from feeling anxious, then shifts focus to their thoughts.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,...

 Like many of us, my client Barbara struggled with prayer for years. She longed to be close to God, to hear His voice, and to walk with Him as others did. But when it came to prayer, she felt awkward and unsure what to say.

During our coaching session, I encouraged her to spend fifteen minutes a day trying to pray. I explained, "It feels awkward because God is a stranger to you. You have heard about Him. And you have accepted Jesus. But you do not truly have a relationship with Him...yet."

Many women are like Barbara. They want to develop a relationship with God but struggle with prayer. It might be helpful to consider your early prayers a "blind date." Naturally, you will feel awkward—you do not know God yet. Not personally.

When we persist through the initial awkwardness and continue to 'meet' for regular 'dates' (i.e., prayer time), we will cultivate a relationship—a profound, enduring relationship with God that will carry us through life's trials. This...