Busyness, notifications, fights with roommates, insecurities... all of these things can keep us from tuning into the Holy Spirit in our quiet time.

In today's episode, I share four different areas that you can "audit" to figure out areas might be causing distractions for you. These questions may seem obvious, but taking the time to consider and put the Lord first is vastly important for building a life around hearing God's voice. It just takes one step forward to start a more focused, quiet, peaceful like in God's Presence. If you want to grow in discernment of God's voice, if you want to hear the Holy Spirit speak to you, or you want greater spiritual growth in your life, this episode is for you. Let's get practical. Join the Practical Abiding Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/igC8nL Join the Practical Abiding Insider Community: https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y

"Get behind me, Satan" is common spiritual warfare declaration to make, but what if while we are rebuking the enemy, we are actually missing what God is doing in our lives at the very same time?

In today's episode, I have my dear friend and mentor Carissa Hjellming back on the podcast to talk about, well, here are some highlights:

• How to stay in relationship with God when our prayers aren't answered like we expected
• What to do when trusting God is difficult, but we really do want to lean on the Holy Spirit
• Biblical encouragement that we can anchor ourselves in, when the going gets tough

When it comes to discernment, growing in hearing God's voice, and building out a daily prayer life in our quiet time, the conversation we have today is so vastly important, and it really is the heartbeat of this podcast. I am so grateful to Carissa for taking the time to come onto the show to share her wisdom with us.

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

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

If you are struggling to talk to the Holy Spirit in daily prayer... if discernment of God's voice feels elusive because chronic pain or sickness is getting in the way... this is for you. Trusting God can be a battle! Carissa's testimony brings much needed encouragement! Let's get practical.

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 https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y

Waiting upon the Lord, sitting in God's Presence, listening for the God's voice... 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!

Whether you are looking to make time in silence part of your daily prayer time or just want to try it for the first time, this episode has a practical framework to get you started. When it comes to building trust in God, there is nothing quite like sitting in quiet time and hearing God's voice! It takes you to a whole other level with the Lord and in your spiritual growth! It's great for building discernment, practicing hearing God's voice, and just learning to sense the Presence of God. So, how do we do it?

In today's episode, I share practical tips for building out your silent time with the Holy Spirit 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, without being distracted, 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 https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y

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.

Growing in discernment of God's voice can be difficult, especially in this day and age when there is so much noise and so many distractions. Daily prayer is often on our list of things we want to do, but in the busyness of life, it can get pushed to the side.

So, I created this group. Here's just a couple reasons why:

- I want to connect with you all and get to know you better so I can better support you

- I didn't want to create something on IG, because I know we are all trying to spend LESS time there

- A safe community is so encouraging for going deeper with the Holy Spirit

Hear more of my heart in this bonus episode.

I would love for you to join the free online community hosted by Discord.

Join here:

https://discord.gg/73AvrQNB8y

How do you find out what God's voice sounds like? If you've never heard the Holy Spirit speak before, how do you know it's Him? Is there a way to do a Bible study in your quiet time that also sharpen your discernment of God's voice?

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 is one of the first steps -- along with daily prayer -- that can help you grow in discernment of God's voice. My method includes simple questions to ask yourself as you read Scripture to get you digging deeper in your understanding of who God is and what He sounds like, so that you ultimately grow deeper in hearing the Holy Spirit.

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/73AvrQNB8y

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. Sometimes discernment can feel like an issue, where it's hard to hear God's voice, but sometimes it can just straight up feel like prayer itself isn't doing anything either.

In today's episode, I share three Bible verses to bring encouragement to you as wrestle through difficult seasons and circumstances. Trusting God is a battle, and spiritual growth doesn't happen on it's own. So, let's armor up with the truth of God's Word!

This episode is really sweet to me, because I asked the Holy Spirit for three Scriptures that He would like to highlight, and He gave me some unconventional Bible verses! It was really moving to hear His thoughts on prayer and to ask Him what He wanted us to know. I am excited for you to listen!

If you want to grow in your daily prayer life and you're struggling with trusting God, this episode is for you. 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/73AvrQNB8y

Subscribe to the Practical Abiding Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/igC8nL

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 Holy Spirit. This is a method of prayer that keeps our focus on God, instead of our circumstances.

Building out a daily prayer life is so impactful for growing in discernment and hearing God's voice. 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/73AvrQNB8y

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