About the Author

Anna works full-time for DaySpring from Minnesota, where she lives with her husband and four kids. Anna is the author of A Moment of Christmas and Pumpkin Spice for Your Soul, and she shares the good stuff of the regular, encouraging you to see the ordinary glory in your everyday.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Anna,
    What beautiful thoughts on prayer…He hears us…listens intently….when we pray. And, when we can’t even pray the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf with groans that God understands. God “gets” us and there is, thankfully, no prayer too small or too big for God. He is able. He sees. He hears. And, He cares. Needed this reminder this morning.
    Blessings,
    Bev

  2. Great devotional to start my week! Thank you, Anna, for your passionate words. Reminded me of “Miss Clara’s war room.” Pray out loud. Anywhere. Blessings to you and your precious family as you walk with Him this week.

  3. I love your story! I was just thinking about writing a post on praying using the ACTS format but it can be changed up: CAST would be more of a Lutheran (I was in church when the idea came, interrupting the sermon for a split second) order and following the example of prophets who come before the Lord. But CATS would be great, blending Adoration and Thanksgiving perhaps. Anyway, that’s what I was thinking about and your message on praying constantly and boldly is a good encouragement, thank you.

    • CAST makes sense coz it would be nice (or proper) to Confess/ say sorry before anything else, right? Your fresh re-organization of CAST, it inspired me to do another new version, CATS. I’d like to make my thanksgiving first before petitions. Cats also is symbolic to me as like a cat animal, having lived many times over calls of near death. Glad I’m still here!! Another thing is if anyone is not familiar with this prayer format, anything that comes from the heart is so welcome to God. I, too, sometimes skip this structured praying.

  4. Yes, I think we have to break the “sound barrier” with God – get over our reticence to pray for one another on the spot – by JUST DOING IT. I love hearing about your sweet communion with Him through prayer.

  5. My own prayer life has evolved and become so life-giving as I have grown and experienced some complicated parts of life and especially as I’ve become a mama, too. Love reading about your experience with this as well. And yes- God’s totally got this!

  6. Anna, thank you for this beautiful post this morning. I love how you talk about talking to the Lord in words and silence. I have found there are times I have no words and I ask the Holy Spirit to intercede, who is so gently faithful. I praise the Lord for your sharing your prayer journey and pray the He blesses you and hugs each beautiful person here today 🙂

  7. So, He hears how often we pray, what we pray but don’t forget to listen for His answers! So often I miss His blessing because I’m fixated on my, not His answer! Thankfully, He under-
    stands me and you so we get His message!

  8. It is great to teach children to pray and more than a blessing or bedtime prayer. I had one little blonde boy, Brandon, I kept and when he sang What A Mighty God We Serve at one, I was a puddle of mommy goo and I wasn’t even his mother, God bless those dimpled hands and knees.

  9. Anna, what a sweet post. I loved reading of your growing up experiences, and how God really spoke to you about prayer. This topic has been a tough one for us to help our boys learn. As I work on being more intentional about praying throughout my days, maybe my boys will learn to walk in this too. 🙂

    Such wonderful thoughts on prayer!

  10. I’ve never heard from God OR talked to God, really expecting to carry on a conversation until I read “Walking With God” by J. Eldridge. So much real talk there that we don’t get into unless closely walking with a pal who really walks with Him! I can’t wait to read your book of prayers for Mommas, cause you know we offer up more than we remember in an hour’s time :).
    Jen

  11. Appreciated your comment about our prayers changing over the years. As we become better acquainted with God and practice his presence, our communication does indeed change. One time I heard a radio-show guest begin his prayer with a softly-spoken, “Hi, God.” I’d never heard God addressed like that! But instead of communicating disrespect, it sounded tender, familial, and friendly. I greatly appreciated that pastor’s tone, the simple words, and his up-close-and-personal attitude. That was one catalyst for change in my prayer life.

  12. Anna,
    I loved your story. Great insights and wisdom on prayer. After watching the movie “War Room” (3 times) I have become a more fervent prayer warrior. In my car I listen to quiet praise and worship music & pray to God while driving. I find myself praying more. I have even gone so far as to rebuke the devil from my house-like Elizabeth in the movie.
    Blessings 🙂

  13. Thanks for the encouraging post! I think the biggest change in my prayer life has been when I started praying like He was really listening and believing that He both had the power and the love to respond to my prayers. So often I think we just pray small prayers because we don’t really believe He is listening. I now thank Him in advance for hearing me! Good reminder!

  14. I love this Anna!! Especially these closing tender words that my heart needed to hear: “No matter where you walk today, let Him hear you. Whisper a prayer and, if you simply cannot, know that He even understands what’s in the silence. He’s got you, friend.” xoxo