Episode 70 - Stephanie invites you to taste the spices of the gospel today in a live teaching recorded at a women's event about Luke 12-16. It feels a little like traditional Bible Study, with a live audience and all the sounds that accompany it (Bible pages bristling, anyone?).

Most of our lives are spent "in the middle." Not in the deep pits of the darkest valleys, and not in the breathtaking moments of the mountaintops, but in the daily, mundane, normal middle life. So today we talk about life in the middle ground. How do you make it through another day in the middle life--where everything is so, well, mundane?

From Luke 12 to 16, Jesus teaches us about life in the middle. It contrasts last week's episode, spent in healings and transfigurations. These were valleys and mountaintops. Mountaintops are foretastes of our heavenly forever; but middle places are for daily life this side of heaven.

We look at what life in the middle is NOT meant to be, and what is IS meant to be in Christ; we ponder the words "faith" and "commitment" in this context. Stephanie shares some of her favorites quotes, such as "I have a mustard seed, and I am not afraid to use it." Finally, we ponder the "narrow way," the life of commitment in the Christian adventure. We look at the cost of humility, and pain, and trust in the middle ground of daily life.

Life in the middle ground is a prayer for God to level our paths:

Psalm 26:12 - My foot stands on level ground; I will praise the Lord in the assemblies.

Psalm 143:10 - Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.

Isaiah 40:4 - Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.

Isaiah 42:16 - I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.

Persevere today, dear friend. It’s another day in the middle ground, and we’re on our way to the mountaintop.

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You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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