Carissa lived for years with chronic pain, when a friend urged her to seek out the Lord for healing. She was skeptic, but she took a step of faith and her health and life changed forever. In today's episode, my mentor, friend, and favorite counselor-prayer-minister Carissa Hjellming from Patchwork Faith Ministries is going the pod. Carissa covers: 1. How the Lord saved her life after giving birth to her second daughter 2. How the Lord healed her of fibromyalgia 3. Why some people don't get healed 4. How to stay in relationship with God in the face of disappointment      Resources from today's episode: Connect with Carissa Hjellming https://patchworkfaith.podia.com/    Join Relentless Hallelujah (Patchwork Faith Insider Community) https://patchworkfaith.podia.com/relentless-hallelujah-community  Use code: "20ABIDING" at checkout for 20% off!   Join the Practical Abiding Insider Community http://bit.ly/3L03O4J 

Waiting upon the Lord, sitting in His Presence, listening for the Holy Spirit... These things are so beautiful and life-giving, but can be practically challenging. Sitting quietly can feel awkward, intimidating, maybe a little frustrating... So let's get a framework in place to set the table! In today's episode, I share practical tips for building out your silent time with the Lord from before the time even begins, to your physical space, and to what you can actually do during that time. If you want to grow in tolerance of silence and enjoy God's Presence more, let's get practical.   Resources from today's episode: 19 | How Asking for Signs Destroyed My Discernment and How the Holy Spirit Helped Me with My Confusion https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/19-how-asking-for-signs-destroyed-my-discernment-and/id1816381080?i=1000723419976    20 | "I Thought I Was Hearing God" What to Do When You Hear the Holy Spirit Completely Wrong https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/20-i-thought-i-was-hearing-god-what-to-do-when-you/id1816381080?i=1000723860605    Soaking in His Presence (Instrumental Worship) https://spotify.link/K66uACOZMXb    Join the Practical Abiding Online Community http://bit.ly/3L03O4J   

I've been wanting to share my heart behind building this online community for some time, and here it finally is. I really want this podcast to be a resource to y'all who have a burning desire to live a radical life of connection and intimacy with the Lord, especially through tuning into the Holy Spirit. I would love for you to join the free online community hosted by Discord. Join here: http://bit.ly/3L03O4J 

What does it look like to study what God is like? How do we discover His attributes in our Bible study and quiet time? Girl, I got you! In today's episode, I walk through how to study the character of God in your personal Bible study time. This includes simple questions to ask to get you digging deeper. If you want to grow in discernment of God's voice, let's get practical.   Join our free online Practical Abiding Community: https://discord.gg/txh95wPa    Subscribe to the Practical Abiding Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/igC8nL    Related episodes: 2 | 3 Simple Questions That Will Take You Deeper in Your Quiet Time (Bible Study Tools) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2-3-simple-questions-that-will-take-you-deeper-in-your/id1816381080?i=1000712575259    16 | Want More from Your Quiet Time? Simple Bible Study Tools to Go Deeper in Your Relationship with God https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/16-want-more-from-your-quiet-time-simple-bible-study/id1816381080?i=1000721931220 

Ever feel your prayers aren't working? Like you are talking to the air? I think if we are honest, we have all felt this way before when what we ask God doesn't seem to be coming to fruition in our lives. In today's episode, I share three Bible verses to bring encouragement to you as you continue to seek the Lord in daily prayer. This episode is really sweet to me, because I asked the Holy Spirit for three Scriptures, and He gave me some unconventional verses. It was really moving to hear His thoughts on prayer and to ask Him what He wanted us to know.  If you want to grow in your daily prayer life, let's get practical!   Resources from today's episode: Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/    Join our free online Practical Abiding Community: https://discord.gg/txh95wPa 

Have you ever started praying about something only to find yourself MORE stressed after praying than you were BEFORE you even started praying? I have definitely been there! In today's episode, I share my #1 tip for turning our daily prayer time from being anxiety-inducing to faith-filled, hope-building, intimate time with the Lord. If you want to transform your quiet time and get closer with the Lord, let's get practical.   Join our free online Practical Abiding Community: https://discord.gg/txh95wPa    Related Episodes: 30 | Feeling Anxious? 2 Scriptures to Read When Trusting God Feels Hard https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/30-feeling-anxious-2-scriptures-to-read-when-trusting/id1816381080?i=1000729679836  26 | Mentally Spiraling? 3 Ways to Stop Anxiety So You Can Hear the Holy Spirit Clearly https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/26-mentally-spiraling-3-ways-to-stop-anxiety-so-you/id1816381080?i=1000727325592   

Ever wonder is this the Holy Spirit or am trying to people please? Or you feel like God is asking you to do something, but the overwhelming feeling accompanying what you're hearing is shame/guilt? It's been quite a journey for me discerning what is legalism or me trying to be a "good Christian" vs what the Holy Spirit is actually asking me to spend my time on. I haven't quite arrived yet in terms of getting it right every single time, but I've come a long way.  In today's episode, you'll jump into a clip of an un-aired episode that my husband Jason and I did together. You'll hear a story where I wasn't sure if it was God or not, and I actually put myself into a dangerous situation because of feeling like I needed to be a "good Christian". As always, we've got practical takeaways for you as well, so you can grow in deeper relationship with God. If you want to grow in discernment and hear the Holy Spirit more clearly, let's get practical.   Join the online Practical Abiding community! https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y 

Girl, I get it. Sometimes we just really don't feel like sitting down for our Bible study time. So let's talk about it. In today's episode, I share why regular time in Scripture is so important for our inner man, discernment, and for hearing God's voice. I also share practical tips for building out a regular routine of spending time in the Word. If you want to grow in relationship with God and hear the Holy Spirit more clearly, time in Scripture is a non-negotiable. So, let's get practical!   Join the Practical Abiding community! https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y 

Sometimes people will claim to have a timely word from the Lord. How do we know if it's true of not? I've got a really awesome discernment nugget for you today from my quiet time studying the book of Nehemiah. This will help you grow in the fear of the Lord and better follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Let's get practical.   Join the Practical Abiding community! https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y   

The anxious thoughts can feel so real sometimes! So, how do we take mastery over our minds? In today's episode, I share about a time in my life when I had a really difficult time trusting God that everything was going to work out for my good, and how the Lord taught me how to partner with Him to renew my mind. I share with you two key Scriptures that are really helpful for lifting our eyes back to the Lord. If you want to throw off anxiety and fully trust the in the Lord with all your heart, then this episode is for you. Let's get practical.   Join the Practical Abiding community! https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y

Ever feel like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place and the only thing to do is trust the leading of the Holy Spirit, but that feels IMPOSSIBLE? Girl, you're not alone. In this episode, I share about a time when I really wanted to believe the Lord for provision, but I just didn't feel like I could muster up the faith. And, you know what? The Lord met me where I was! We serve an incredible God. He taught me something really profound from this experience, and I am excited to share it with you. Let's get practical.   Let's connect! Practical Abiding Discord Community: https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y    Resources from today's episode: 5 | How to Pray God's Will: What I Wish I Had Known https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5-how-to-pray-gods-will-what-i-wish-i-had-known/id1816381080?i=1000715589396 

I know the feeling. Hard to get out of bed... Don't want to be alone, but don't want a lot expected of you... Feeling unmotivated... I get it. In today's episode, I share encouragement and a practical framework for how to bring your depression in daily prayer to the Lord. We will spend time in Ephesians 6 together, looking at what the Bible says about standing strong, all while taking a gentle approach -- because depression is a tough thing to wrestle with. If you're looking to get free and want to walk through depression with the Holy Spirit, let's get practical.   Join the Practical Abiding Discord Community https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y    Resources: 23 | What is Speaking in Tongues? What the Bible Says About Prayer in the Spirit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/23-what-is-speaking-in-tongues-what-the-bible-says/id1816381080?i=1000725498061  14 | Nervous About Praying in Tongues for the First Time? Demystifying Praying in the Spirit -- Jason Hwang https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/14-nervous-about-praying-in-tongues-for-the-first/id1816381080?i=1000721024256 

Sometimes daily prayer feels hard. There I said it! Let's just be real. Sometimes daily prayer feels forced, feels awkward, and just plain feels hard to do. So let's talk about. In this episode, I share the #1 hindrance to the "pray without ceasing" exhortation from Paul. Often we can feel that God is distant from us or that He doesn't want to talk to us. But, today, I share how doing a little heart work on our own can make all the difference. If you want to pray without ceasing, make daily prayer a part of your regular walk with Jesus, or you just want to feel closer to God when you pray, then this episode is for you. Let's get practical.   Related content: 1 | How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Daily Prayer https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-how-to-pray-a-simple-guide-for-daily-prayer/id1816381080?i=1000709671102 

Sometimes discerning God's voice isn't even the biggest hurdle to hearing God. Sometimes the biggest hurdle to hearing God is all the fear, anxiety, confusion, and the big question: "Can I hear the Holy Spirit at all?" It's that big mountain of swirling thoughts that can come before we even reach the discerning stage of hearing God. In today's episode, I share 3 things that you can do in the moment when that accusation and mental spiraling comes to CUT IT OFF.  We often think that we can pick through each accusation and lie and come to a place of peace after untangling all the swirling thoughts. But, today, I am going to show you a quicker, better way. These tips get right to the heart of the matter, the root of the issue. If you're ready to throw off confusion and hear the Holy Spirit in your daily prayer life with clarity and joy, let's get practical.   Resources: 8 | How Does God Speak to People? (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 1) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/8-how-does-god-speak-to-people-how-to-hear-gods-voice-part-1/id1816381080?i=1000717691658    9 | Is that God, Me, or the Enemy? (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 2: Discernment) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-is-that-god-me-or-the-enemy-how-to-hear-gods-voice/id1816381080?i=1000718295142    10 | Remove Confusion and Confidently Discern God's Voice (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 3) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/10-remove-confusion-and-confidently-discern-gods/id1816381080?i=1000718837488    11 | No More Self-Doubt: 3 Simple Ways to Hone Your Discernment (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 4) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/11-no-more-self-doubt-3-powerful-discernment-tools/id1816381080?i=1000719481170   24 | Hard Time Hearing God's Voice? 5 Things Hindering Your Ability to Listen  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/24-hard-time-hearing-gods-voice-these-5-things-may/id1816381080?i=1000726147763  

Feeling accusation that you're too young to make a difference in the Kingdom of God? Feeling like you were born into the wrong generation? I remember being in my early and mid 20s feeling like I couldn't do anything of meaning until I reached 30. Where that lie came from, I can't tell you! But, let me tell you, girl, you are not too young. Amazingly, this episode was recorded and scheduled long before Charlie Kirk's assassination. It's amazing how God moves like that! He gave what is now an extremely timely message. In this episode, I share from 1 Timothy 4 and 2 Chronicles 34 about how God can use us in our youth, in our teen years, and in our 20s. There is no such thing as "too young" in the Kingdom of God. It is the blood of Jesus that qualifies us and cleanses us to be a pure home for the Holy Spirit to dwell on the inside. You're not disqualified from hearing God's voice in daily prayer, and you are equipped to do something of meaning in this world. If you've got dreams on your heart, and you want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, ministering to the lost and broken, then this episode is for you. Please share it with a friend who needs to be encouraged. And, let's get practical!   Resources: 8 | How Does God Speak to People? (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 1) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/8-how-does-god-speak-to-people-how-to-hear-gods-voice-part-1/id1816381080?i=1000717691658    9 | Is that God, Me, or the Enemy? (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 2: Discernment) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-is-that-god-me-or-the-enemy-how-to-hear-gods-voice/id1816381080?i=1000718295142    10 | Remove Confusion and Confidently Discern God's Voice (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 3) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/10-remove-confusion-and-confidently-discern-gods/id1816381080?i=1000718837488    11 | No More Self-Doubt: 3 Simple Ways to Hone Your Discernment (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 4) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/11-no-more-self-doubt-3-powerful-discernment-tools/id1816381080?i=1000719481170  

It can be so difficult to sit still before the Lord, to wait quietly for Him to speak... I know, because I really struggled with this myself when I was first trying to hear God's voice. After some time, I was able to unpack some of the culprits, and I want to share those with you today. In today's episode, I will unpack five things in our life that are creating extra noise, and how that noise is actually making it hard to sit down and hear God speak. These things not only make it hard to sit and listen, but they can also hinder our discernment, which can reaaaally negatively impact how accurately we hear the Holy Spirit. After taking care of these things, I saw a lot of improvement in my ability to hear God in the moment, AND I had a LOT more peace in my life. If you want to be able to sit down and ask God questions and hear Him speak, let's get practical.   Referenced in today's episode: 8 | How Does God Speak to People? (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 1) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/8-how-does-god-speak-to-people-how-to-hear-gods-voice-part-1/id1816381080?i=1000717691658    9 | Is that the Holy Spirit, Me, or the Enemy? (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 2: Discernment) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-is-that-the-holy-spirit-me-or-the-enemy-how-to/id1816381080?i=1000718295142    10 | Remove Confusion and Confidently Discern God's Voice (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 3) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/10-remove-confusion-and-confidently-discern-gods/id1816381080?i=1000718837488    11 | No More Self-Doubt! 3 Simple Ways to Hone Your Discernment (How to Hear God's Voice - Part 4) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/11-no-more-self-doubt-3-simple-ways-to-hone-your-discernment/id1816381080?i=1000719481170    Related Topics: 19| How Asking for Signs Destroyed My Discernment and How the Holy Spirit Helped Me with My Confusion https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/19-how-asking-for-signs-destroyed-my-discernment-and/id1816381080?i=1000723419976    20 | "I thought I was Hearing God!" What to Do When You Hear the Holy Spirit Completely Wrong https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/20-i-thought-i-was-hearing-god-what-to-do-when-you/id1816381080?i=1000723860605 

Speaking in tongues, praying in tongues, praying in the Spirit... all of that can sound intimidating if you've never experienced it before. I know that I had a LOT of questions about praying in tongues when I was in my early to mid 20s. I spent years asking God to give me the gift and then being really terrified that He might actually give it. And what would it be like!? What was it even?! In today's episode, we'll peel back the layers and get into what Scripture actually says about praying in tongues. I hope this answers your questions and takes away some of that nervous-ness so that you can confidently ask the Lord for this incredible gift. If you're ready to dive into God's Word and seek the beautiful gift that is praying in tongues, let's get practical.    Referenced in this episode: 14 | Nervous about Praying in Tongues for the First Time? Demystifying Praying in the Spirit -- Jason Hwang https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/14-nervous-about-praying-in-tongues-for-the-first/id1816381080?i=1000721024256 

Ever feel like God is distant? Does it seem like God showers love on other people while you feel like you're in a dry and weary land? A couple years ago, I discovered that there were 3 key components to falling in love with a person and accepting their love, and I realized that those same components could be copied and pasted into our relationship with God. In today's episode, I'll share 3 super simple daily prayer prompts to help you notice more of God's love in your life. These are also great prayer journal prompts for those of you who love to prayer journal! If you're ready to grow in confidence of God's love, let's get practical!   Referenced in this episode: 21 | Finding Confidence in God's Love and Trusting God in Hard Seasons -- Esther Chen Bowell https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/21-finding-confidence-in-gods-love-and-trusting-god/id1816381080?i=1000724365182 

Ever find yourself questioning if God really loves you, sees you, or cares about you? Do you second guess the decisions you made in faith when things get hard? Well, girlfriend, THIS EPISODE IS LOADED!! My dear friend and mentor Esther Chen Bowell joins the Practical Abiding fam today to share some absolute GOLD. She shares how she grew in seeing God's love notes to her -- the little kisses from heaven -- and how her spiritual growth took off in a really difficult season. We talk about experiencing God's love, taking leaps of faith into the unknown, filling our bodies with His Light, and so much more. If you wrestle with trusting that God loves you, this episode is for you! Let's get practical.

Misheard the Lord? Did you follow a prompting you thought was the Holy Spirit, only to discover that it wasn't. The wake from that can be so painful and confusing. It can disrupt our daily prayer life and make us not want to sit with the Lord in our quiet time. And that, sis, is why I created this episode. In today's content, I cover what to do step by step to stay in relationship with God after mishearing Him. This can be a time where the enemy can really try to attack your identity as a child of God, so it is imperative that you stay anchored in the Lord.  As we love the practicals on this podcast, I'll cover hands-on ways that you can anchor yourself in the Lord, how to tangibly keep communication open with the Lord, and how to start the conversation back up when it feels like "discerning God's voice" is difficult to do. If you're ready to keep reaching for the Lord and to grow in constant communion with Him even after a mistake, let's get practical.