Doug McKelvey on Every Moment Holy, Prayer, & Finding God in Ordinary Life (Part 1 of 2)

'Reader's Digest Condensed' Show Notes

Katie welcomes Every Moment Holy creator Doug McKelvey to discuss the surprising story behind one of the most beloved Christian book series of the past decade.

Doug shares how a simple prayer written to help him focus on writing fiction eventually became Every Moment Holy, why Christians from many traditions have embraced written liturgies, and how ordinary moments — whether changing diapers or repairing a water heater — can become opportunities for worship.

Together, Doug and Katie explore beauty, language, prayer, creativity, and what it means to believe that God is at work in every moment of everyday life.

Unabridged Show Notes

Katie sits down with author Doug McKelvey, creator of the bestselling Every Moment Holy series, to explore how written prayers can help Christians recognize God's presence in the ordinary moments of life.

Doug shares his journey from a non-liturgical church background to discovering the beauty of historic prayers through The Book of Common Prayer. He explains why thoughtfully written prayers aren't a replacement for spontaneous prayer but a companion to it — often giving believers words when they don't know how to pray.

The conversation traces the unexpected birth of Every Moment Holy, which began as a personal prayer during a season of creative frustration. Doug recounts how a simple conversation with Andrew Peterson quickly grew into a vision for a beautifully crafted book of liturgies covering everything from changing diapers to repairing a home.

Along the way, Katie and Doug discuss creativity, storytelling, theology, and the importance of seeing every ordinary task within God's larger story of redemption. Doug also reflects on the overwhelming success of the series, why it has resonated across denominations, and how these prayers help reorient believers toward God's kingdom in everyday life.

The episode concludes with Doug sharing the scripture that has sustained him throughout the writing process and a preview of Part 2, where he and Katie will discuss one of Doug's favorite classics.

In This Episode

Discovering liturgical prayer

•  Growing up in a non-liturgical church 
•  Encountering The Book of Common Prayer
•  Why written prayers can strengthen personal prayer 

The birth of Every Moment Holy

•  A prayer written for fiction writers 
•  Andrew Peterson's unexpected encouragement 
•  How one prayer became an international bestseller 

Finding God in ordinary life

•  Why changing diapers and doing laundry matter 
•  Seeing everyday work through the lens of eternity 
•  Reframing ordinary tasks as acts of worship 

Writing, creativity, and calling

•  Doug's unfinished science fiction novel 
•  Why artistic constraints can increase creativity 
•  Trusting God with the work He's given us 

Looking ahead

•  The new Every Moment Holy Prayer Songs
•  Preview of Part 2 of our conversation, where we'll discuss one of Doug's favorite classics

Books Mentioned

• Every Moment Holy — Doug McKelvey 
• The Book of Common Prayer

Who This Episode Is For

•  Christians seeking a richer prayer life 
•  Readers who love thoughtful Christian books 
•  Writers, artists, and other creatives 
•  Anyone who feels overwhelmed by ordinary responsibilities 
•  Fans of The Rabbit Room and Andrew Peterson 

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A Question to Reflect On

What ordinary part of your daily routine might look different if you truly believed God was present in it?