How do we figure out what God’s will is for our life? How do we know how to carry that will out? And what do we pray when we’re not sure what to pray for? Today we’re looking at what the Apostle Paul prayed for the believers at the church in Colossae. And it’s as relevant today as it was then! 

I love this Scripture because I can pray it when I don’t have the words to pray. It serves as a guide I can trust, and helps me think God’s thoughts about my circumstances. It also reminds me of the many blessings we have in Christ: strength, joy, gratitude, redemption, forgiveness, and inheritance… And last but not least, It’s a go-to prayer I often pray for others.  

Don’t forget to sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.

To order the Encountering God Bible study, visit Lifeway.com

We’re celebrating Thanksgiving this week with the spiritual discipline of thankfulness! (Look at how that worked out). The Cultivate podcast is back at my kitchen table, and I’m ready for you to pull up a chair. As we prepare our Thanksgiving menus, this is a week to also prepare our hearts.

We’re looking at 1 Thessalonians and how Paul specifically gives thanks to God for the PEOPLE in his life and ministry. And also his reminder for us to give thanks in all situations. As we approach this holiday season surrounded by friends and family, how much more meaningful it will be if we give thanks for how the Gospel is working in those we love. 

Sign up here for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.

To order the Encountering God Bible study, visit Lifeway.com

This week we’re looking at the spiritual discipline of service. Serving others and looking outside of ourselves is just good medicine. But if you’re anything like me, when you’re tired, discouraged, or feeling hopeless, the last thing you want to do is think about how you can help others. We want to turn inward, not outward. But Jesus constantly modeled giving His life away for others and He never lacked joy, peace, or contentment. 

I couldn’t be more excited to have my pastor and friend, Jeff Simmons, on the podcast today. He is one of the most servant-hearted people I know. We’ll be unpacking Matthew 20:20-28 where Jesus talks about what it means to be great in His kingdom—and, no surprises, it has to do with being a servant. Jeff and I will share from the heart and give practical examples of what it looks like to serve others in our modern, busy world. This episode is a breath of fresh air you don’t want to miss. 

Sign up at Lifeway.com for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.

To order the Encountering God Bible study, visit Lifeway.com

For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast.  

We often think of the spiritual discipline of simplicity as a life of lack or being in constant want. But, actually, living simply is about living freely. It’s about greater availability to Jesus. And when we’re available to Him, when we’re not weighed down by all of our stuff, we’re free to live the greatest adventure of our lives. There is positively nothing on earth like following Christ. 

I can’t wait for you to meet my friend Sarah Rodrigues, one of my dearest friends and a co-worker with Justice & Mercy International. She lives in the Amazon and serves the people of the river, many of whom live very simple lives. And, yet, their joy is boundless. She’ll be walking us through Jesus’ miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes, reminding us that when we offer Jesus the little we have, this is when He often does His greatest miracles. 

Sign up at Lifeway.com for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.

Order the Encountering God Bible study.

For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast.  

Who is ready for the one and only Kristi McLelland? Today we’re talking sabbath rest, and few know this discipline like Kristi. She’s a biblical culturalist who studies the Scriptures through a middle eastern perspective. In this episode she uncovers beautiful truths about how the Jewish people practiced Sabbath, how we’re to practice it today, and how when we choose rest it’s an active way of choosing Christ. 

While we live in a world of busyness and rush, setting aside time to rest is a way of renewing our souls, telling the Lord we trust Him to handle all of life’s worries, and celebrating our redemption in Christ! Who doesn’t want more of this? If you’re tired, worn down, and living without margin, this is an episode that will be so encouraging for your soul. 

Sign up at Lifeway.com for the Encountering God Online Bible study, starting January 13, 2022.

Order the Encountering God Bible study.

For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast.  

Get ready for a blast of an interview with the one and only Lisa Harper. No one brings the joy or laughter like Lisa. This week we’re talking about the spiritual discipline of worship and the many forms that worship takes. We discuss Jesus’ encounter with the woman from Samaria and the heartfelt ways she worshipped in spirit and truth—even after years of being discarded by men who didn’t love her. 

Lisa shares from her own places of past heartbreak and how she’s found healing and renewal through the spiritual practice of worship. Plus, Lisa’s just as real and fun as they come. Don’t miss this episode and be sure to share it with a friend. Your spirit is sure to be lifted! 

To pre-order Kelly’s new Bible study, visit lifeway.com/encounteringgod and use the code CULTIVATE at checkout for 30% off. For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast.

Prayer is one of the most needed practices in our lives, but how often do we get distracted when we pray, or give up hope when we don’t feel like God is answering? We have so many questions about prayer—does God really hear us, is He good, and how do we know if we’re praying God’s will? Also, how do we pray when we’re absolutely heartbroken? 

Dr. Knut Heim and I touch on these important questions in this week’s podcast. Dr. Heim is one of my seminary professors at Denver Seminary and, oh my goodness, does he bring an absolute word for us this week! If you’re discouraged, wondering if God hears your prayers, or trying to figure out how to make prayer part of your daily rhythm, do not miss this episode!!!! 

To pre-order Kelly’s new Bible study, visit lifeway.com/encounteringgod and use the code CULTIVATE at checkout for 30% off. For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast. 

We all struggle with wanting to draw closer to God while feeling like we don’t have the time. Our lives are busy. We want a more powerful prayer life, richer Bible study, more heartfelt worship, but we’re not even sure if this is possible. In anticipation of the release of Kelly’s new Bible study, Encountering God: Cultivating Habits of Faith through the Spiritual Disciplines, we’re focusing on 6 spiritual disciplines over the next 6 weeks of the Cultivate podcast. Each week, we’ll help you engage in these life-giving habits, while taking the fear and intimidation out of the way. 

Today, we’re looking at the spiritual discipline of Bible study. And we’re so excited about this next part—Kelly is interviewing Amanda Bible Williams from She Reads Truth to talk about this essential habit of the Christian faith. You won’t want to miss any episode of this 6-episode collection!

For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast. 

And to pre-order Kelly’s new Bible study, visit lifeway.com/encounteringgod and use the code CULTIVATE at checkout. 

We often wonder if our lives have a specific purpose in our specific place and time. Does God want to use our positions, backgrounds, giftings, personalities… for such a time as the one we’re living in? In this week’s episode we’ll look at the life of Esther, a woman whom God providentially used to save an entire population of Jews. God used her heritage, upbringing, relationships, and position to bring this to pass. But, mostly, I believe that God used Esther’s trust in Him to bring deliverance however He saw fit. 

We’ll talk about facing our fears, how to determine if something is God’s will, executing plans within community, and trusting the sovereignty of God. You don’t want to miss this episode! 

For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast

Sometimes we feel like our less than perfect pasts disqualify us from being used by God. Or, we want our lives to have impact and meaning but we wonder how and when God is going to produce fruit in our lives. Perhaps we remember when God spoke a promise to us through His Word, but we haven’t seen it come to pass yet. I can’t wait for today’s episode as we trace through Genesis God’s promise for our lives to bear fruit. We’re going to discover that while we get to participate with God, having a life of impact and meaning is something He’s responsible for! 

So often in the Old Testament men and women felt like God had forgotten them or their lives didn’t matter. They tried to “help” God fulfill His promises to them, like Abraham and Sarah did. We’re going to see that no matter what, our fruitfulness is based on God’s faithfulness. And how resting in that truth makes all the difference. 

For the full show notes visit kellyminter.com/podcast