Our Community, Our Mission
Our Community, Our Mission
Ep #303 – The Power of Prayer, Our 2026 Theme
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What if the most powerful prayer you said this week was the messy one you almost didn’t pray? This conversation pulls back the curtain on real-life prayer at the Topeka Rescue Mission—on the streets, in shelters, and in quiet moments when words run out. We name the barriers that keep people silent—unworthiness, doubt, and performance—and reframe prayer as relationship, not ritual. From “pray your distractions” to simple, honest prayers, you’ll hear how we bring our whole selves to God and discover that honesty matters more than eloquence.
We also explore the pause: stepping away from noise to sit with God without an agenda, trusting that stillness can soften the heart and clarify the next step. Along the way, we get real about doubt—not just “can God?” but “will God?”—and practice a humble posture of trust. With stories, scripture, and practical tools for individuals and communities, this episode offers hope for anyone feeling too far gone, too angry, or too busy. Start with one true sentence, let God meet you there, and remember—your honest prayer might be the spark that you or someone else needs.
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Opening Prayer And Theme Reveal
SPEAKER_00Father, I just thank you for another day, another opportunity to not only walk in our purpose that you have for all of us as individuals, but especially as TRM employees. Thank you that you entrust us despite our own brokenness and limitations. But Lord, thank you for all that you reveal to all of us as we serve those in need. Help us to always be shedding your light and sharing your good news. Lord, we just in 2026 want to not underestimate the power of prayer in our own daily walks, the power of prayer for those that we're serving, and just the power of prayer for everything that is related to TRM. Thank you, Lord, that uh despite all of the things uh that are in our lives and the challenges and the sin and the struggle, Lord, that you still want to be in relationship with all of us. And uh that there's none of us that are ever too far gone. Help us as a team at the Rescue Mission to always know how to be vulnerable with those that we serve, to use our own lives as an example of your transformation in us. And Lord, I just pray that every listener that is listening to this would just be reminded to talk to you daily and to fellowship with you, and that none of us have to be a certain way before we can do that. In your name we pray. Amen. Hello, everyone. This is Lamanda Cunningham, the CEO at the Topeka Rescue Mission, on today's episode of our community, our mission, episode number 303 on Tuesday, February 3rd. Wow. That's a lot of threes.
SPEAKER_03303.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Wow.
SPEAKER_00And you were picked, Mike Shaudel.
SPEAKER_03I was actually my favorite number. Is it? No, it's not.
Lighthearted Banter And Team Culture
SPEAKER_00I was gonna say I was about to say that's why we picked you, but that would have been a lie. So um, yes, well, if you are listening today, um we are excited to be talking about the topic um of the power of prayer. And uh Mike Schottel and I, who is the director of spiritual wellness um here at the Topeka Rescue Mission, he goes by a lot of other titles: Spiritual Ninja. What are some other ones?
SPEAKER_02Uh The Triumphant Troubadour of the Trinity. Yeah. That might be my favorite one that Marcus uh Marcus called me that once, and I was like, you know what? The alliteration of that one, I love it.
SPEAKER_03And we all know that you love alliteration.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I do.
SPEAKER_03I am a big fan of alliteration.
SPEAKER_00So Mike Schottle and I um are blessed to be able to spend a little bit of time with you today talking about the power of prayer. And we were actually just saying right before the podcast started, we're not really sure that the direction this podcast is gonna go. We're praying it goes well. We are praying, and we have prayed, and we will continue to pray. Um and then we joked and said maybe we need to start a committee to then know how it's supposed to go. But that's just a little side jab. No, no committees are started for the podcast. Um, it is really just um TRM staff and sometimes community members that are on here really talking about the impact of personal testimonies, but also the impact of a lot of incredible people in our community doing really good stuff uh for people. But today it is internal, and so uh you will be listening to Mike Schottl and I as we just kind of unpack prayer, um, the theme of this year, those kinds of things that we're excited to talk to you about. But first, um we have the very honor of talking about the important research that Alec does week after week. And usually this is when Barry Fieker is on here and really tries to um be mean to me and Miriam about all the stuff we don't know. But he's not on here. So today uh these important things are gonna be fun and lighthearted because bully Barry isn't on here. So the first thing we're gonna talk about is that it is dun dun, National Carrot Cake Day.
SPEAKER_02Yummy. Do you like carrot cake? If it doesn't have raisins, keep that out of the cake.
SPEAKER_00Oh, that's true. I have had it both ways. I'm not a fan of raisins.
SPEAKER_02Disgusting.
SPEAKER_00Like we should start a committee on that.
SPEAKER_02Like, you don't like raisins at all either? No. Like at all. No, I don't like the texture, I don't like the taste. Have you seen the raisin box that the men's side front desk has with Kenny's face on them? Because Kenny hates raisin. That dude is like the poster child of do not give me any raisins.
SPEAKER_00And they put his face on it?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's it's the sun-kissed raisins or whatever. It's hilarious. Yes. Yep, it's got his face on it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Now I remember when the girls were little, I that was kind of an easy snack that I would put in the diaper bag and it would gross me out. And they liked them. I mean, they don't really anymore because they're older, but even them touching it and it would come out in a wad. Yeah. But okay. Well, what about national carrot cake? Are you okay with carrot cake as long as it doesn't have raisins?
SPEAKER_02As long as it doesn't have raisins, it's it is very, very good, I think. It's I do too. I like And it's healthy.
SPEAKER_00Do you like carrot it carrot cake is vegetables?
SPEAKER_02It's vegetables in a coffee in a cake. I almost had it in a coffee. Gross.
SPEAKER_00You're watching him take a drink of his coffee.
SPEAKER_02Alec was taking a drink of his coffee. Ooh. Veggie coffee.
SPEAKER_00Oh. If you think about it though, if they haven't had something like that, I don't know. Maybe you could invent it.
SPEAKER_03Hmm.
SPEAKER_00Well, carrot cake. I like carrot cake. I'm not sure I'm ever like, whoo-hoo, I'm craving carrot cake. But I eat it. And I have had carrot cake with um like cream cheese icing. And I love cream cheese anything. So if it's carrot cake and cream cheese, I'm all for it.
SPEAKER_02Yes. If if the choices are is like you have you can have a white cake, you can have a chocolate cake, or you can have a carrot cake.
SPEAKER_05Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_02I will definitely choose the chocolate or the white cake. Yeah, me too. Um if it's like I don't even know what kind of other cake I would say, like matcha cake, or carrot cake. Raisin cake, yes. Uh carrot cake, yes. Yeah. Yes. Do you like carrots? Yeah, I do. I mean, call me Bugs Bunny because you know, yeah.
SPEAKER_00What's up, Jack? Oh my word. This is gonna be a really good episode. Um, so National Carrot Cake. You know, when I think about carrot cake, it doesn't necessarily give me the warm and fuzzies, but this next one does. And it's dun dun, National Golden Retriever Day.
SPEAKER_02The best dogs in the whole wide world. The best dogs. They're the best.
SPEAKER_00You know, in the last year I lost both of my dogs, and they were half lab, half golden retriever. Um, but I joked and said really they should be third, a third golden retriever, a third lab, and a third human is what they seemed like. Um but man, golden retrievers are just such good dogs. They're loyal. And I think I don't know, they just make life better.
SPEAKER_02They do. Well, and Alec and I were talking before you came in here, they just look like they're always smiling.
SPEAKER_00I know.
SPEAKER_02And I can't remember which one if it was Coco or if it was kisses that you brought into work that he just sat down right next to me and it like rested his head on my knee. Yes. And I was like, oh, he loves me. And then you were like, Well, he can also tell that you're like stressed. Worried. So I was like, oh, so he's like a service dog.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Great.
SPEAKER_00Well, and on that note, I'm kind of glad that you brought that up because there's been a couple of different partnership meetings um centered around therapy dogs, and we're kind of talking about that right now with a group in in the early stages of seeing how we can implement therapy dogs in our shelters with staff, that kind of thing. Yeah. So I'm excited. But we talked about this a couple of years ago um and have been kind of prepping for it. Um but the group that came showed me some of the little, it almost looked like a baseball card, but it was of the therapy dogs, and so many of them were golden retrievers. Oh my god. It was so cute. So cute.
SPEAKER_02That is adorable.
SPEAKER_00I know, I know. So I feel like I don't know, maybe TRM needs a mascot.
SPEAKER_02Hey. Before it. Godly golden. If we wanted to donate a golden retriever, we would gladly accept.
Why People Avoid Prayer
SPEAKER_00And it needs to stay close to us so that when we're stressed, it just sits on our knee and loves us. Um, okay, well, you know, I'm not really sure what kind of segue we can go from golden retrievers um to the power of prayer, but let's just honestly dive into it. I'm not going to do announcements this morning or anything because um there is something, and I just hope the Lord helps me articulate it, um, where people don't think it's too far left or too far right. Um, but one thing that's really been on my heart is what keeps people from interacting, engaging um in the gospel. And I think that as I look back on my life, there's been a lot of times where I've kind of asked God that, like, why are there some people not saved? Or um, why do why does it seem like some people like struggled their whole life and and those kinds of things? And this podcast, if you're looking for answers to some of those questions, that's not gonna be this. Because I just think that there's some things we will never know this side of heaven, um, and and our world is fallen and broken. Yet, one of the things that has really been um etched on my heart is how do we get people to understand? It sounds simple, but it's not. How do we get people to understand you don't have to be a certain thing? You don't have to be so successful, you don't have to have um all of these things worked out, you don't have to be almost like this perfect thing, right? Before you can have a relationship with the Lord, that it's actually the opposite, that we um all have giftings from the Lord, yes, but we all fall short because of sin. We all fall short because we are human, um, that there are so many things that we are in need of the Lord every day because we are just innately human and fleshly, and those things are not beautiful. And so, um, Shottle, you know, I I won't get us both crying in the first four minutes of the podcast, right? We do, but I have been so grateful that you've been kind of on this journey with me because you personally as a leader have been processing what God's calling you to and how he's equipped you. Um you, with your role here, um, is one of the main heavy lifters of the newsletter and and the writing part of it after you and I meet, and there's all these different things. And so um I think this podcast is so great that we're doing it together because you have heard me be like, Shottle, so many people I think feel like they're too far gone, that their life can't ever turn around, that they're not worthy of being loved by the Lord, or they know some of the stories in the Bible that just seem like it doesn't make sense, and so they don't even know how to even begin to think, well, those crazy stories that are in the Bible, how does that apply to me when I'm in year 2026? Right. So, all that being said, the listeners, um, just this um conviction, but also this passion um that I have and our leadership team has to say the power of prayer changes it all. Yet we have so many people that feel like they can't even go to the Lord in prayer because of unworthiness or because they don't know how, or um, religious stipulations. We have to have all these things in place before we can talk to the Father. And so uh, as the listeners, as you are listening, um, I would say myself, um, the leaders here at TRM, but also the staff, we're on a mission. And um, while our mission stays the same of bringing hope and healing uh to those in need, we are on an additional mission for people to know that transformation and their lives happen also through prayer. Um, and that we don't have to reach a certain level before we can have a relationship with the creator. And so um, Shottle, just thank you. Thank you for everything that you've done alongside me with the newsletters, with the writings. You and I have attended conferences together, um, which we're gonna talk about in just a minute. Um there's just all these different things that I just appreciate, your leadership, your camaraderie, um, and your heart, because I know that you also are sharing this um charge to say we want to share the gospel, and part of it is that everyone has access to believing in the Lord, and we are on a mission to see people as best as we can the way the Lord does. So I want you to know thank you because it's been a couple of years now that we've been co-doing newsletters and um Which is wild to even think of. Yes, we've just blinked. Um and so last year we did a lot of talk about um loving in the gap. And you you did a lot of stuff to communicate to um people that were following our social media page. We did stuff at night of praise, all of those kinds of things. But now the listeners, you're hearing that our 2026 theme uh for the Topeka Rescue Mission is the power of prayer, and you've heard the heart behind it is that we see time and time again, staff, ourselves, people we serve, feel like they don't even have access to prayer or feel these unrealistic things that are not true, that they have to be a certain way before they can even pray. So, Mike, now that we've kind of set the stage and um the cat's out of the bag, our theme is power of prayer, we've set the heart behind it. Um, talk to me a little bit about what do you even think prayer is, and talk to me a little bit about um why do you think that discussing the power of prayer um is important?
Prayer Is Relationship, Not Performance
SPEAKER_02Fantastic question. That was almost like a bunt bump set. Here comes the spike. That's right. Um when I was working on my undergrad, um, I was initially going to minor in um counseling. Uh then what did I get my master's in? Um but while I was in one of the classes, it uh marriage and family, early childhood development, basic psychology, doesn't matter, whatever it was, whatever class it was, one of the things that was discussed in the class is there was a study done, and I can't remember what country it was, if it was the United States or if it was over in Europe, but they took babies, they took children, and they split them up, and for some of them, they went in and just gave them their basic needs. Gave them food, gave them drink, gave them whatever they needed to be able to uh thrive. Let's just say that. Then to the other child, they would take the food in, take everything in, they would play with the child, they would talk with the child, they would love on the child. And through the entire process was the child that they just gave the basic needs to but didn't like discuss with the child, it was a failure to thrive. So one of the things that, and bringing it up with what you were saying, with how we are all human and we have these needs that it's the basis of human function. We have all fallen short, but we all need first and foremost relationship. So uh be in conversation with one another, but also what's more important is to be in conversation with our creator. So, well, I don't feel God. Well, when was the last time, first and foremost, you were in the Word? And how often are you talking to Him when you're feeling these ways? Yes, are your feelings valid? Sure, but what are you basing everything that you are facing in? Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things that aren't seen.
SPEAKER_00So um so when you talk about kind of that study that was done, um basic needs are something we all need. Yes. Like that's a no-brainer. Um, but it's really the companionship that can make a difference, and it did with with those uh babies and toddlers that you mentioned, the interactions. Um I think sometimes we have an unrealistic view, and I'm not sure if it's I don't exactly know why. I think you know there's a lot of reasons it could be, but this unrealistic view that prayer um has to be sacred and that it's you know uh you gotta have a war room, right? And it's beautiful and all of these things. And I don't discount that. Um, I really don't. I think that it is when you talk about are we in the word, are we praying, all of those are absolutely um crucial to our spiritual discipline. And I agree with that. One thing though that has seemed to really hurt my heart is I think sometimes people think um I've heard it on the streets in the shelter. Well, I haven't been to church, so I don't pray anymore. Or no, I did all these bad things, and so I can't even begin to talk to the Lord, those kinds of things. And um, one of the things that I think I just it blows my mind in a beautiful way, but then I'm also trying to find the way to articulate it is right now someone on the streets in a tent can pray to the father, and that prayer is no less special than say mine, if I'm surrounded by a prayer board. How Mike, how do we continue to get the message out that regardless of where you are, regardless of what you have, regardless of the circumstance, that there is power in prayer, first of all, and how do we also then encourage people that feel like they can't pray, they shouldn't pray? How do we begin to help them understand that their prayers matter and that they're being heard?
Simple Prayers And Honest Faith
SPEAKER_02I've got two quotes. I was hoping you're gonna ask something like that. Um the first one, I don't want to jump the gun, but it has to do with City Gate. Okay. Um, so the first one that I would really just like to answer with that question how do we let people know even where to begin? Brother Lawrence, and I've used I've said this quote on the podcast before in the past, but he was a 17th century monk. Not even a monk, he wasn't even a uh a priest, he was a brother. He didn't go through everything to follow through with being a priest, but he was in France and wrote these letters, and these letters got turned into books. But this is one of my absolute favorite quotes that Brother Lawrence wrote, and he says, He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for his grace, sometimes to offer him your sufferings, at other times to thank him for the graces past and present he has bestowed on you. In the midst of your troubles, to take solace in him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to him during your meals and in the company the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to him. One need not to cry out very loudly. He is nearer to us than we think. So it's not the elaborate, you know, fast for fast forwarding, not really. It's kind of rewinding back to Luke chapter 18, verses 10 through 14, when Christ is teaching, like you've got uh you've got two far ends of the spectrum. You have a Pharisee who has it all together, he is a man who knows scripture inside and out, he's got high accolades in the entire community, and he is in the temple and he is praying, Dear God, thank you so much for who I am, and that I'm not like these cheaters and other people who are greedy and everything, and especially not like that tax collector that's over there. And I tithe every single week and I give ten percent. Lord bless me. And then what does Christ say? Then That tax collector who is standing in the shadows in the very back is beating his chest, saying, Crying, God have mercy on me. A sinner. Which is going to be the one that the Lord hears more. The tax collector. So you don't have to be good at your prayer. It is just a conversation. You don't have to have the eloquent words and all the elaborate, you know, your entire prayer is outlined. No. It is not that. It is just, hey God. Thank you so much for today. Thank you for the laughter that my daughter gave to me today. It's something so simple. And I don't know where it came from, aside from being pride or just the enemy trying to get the fight out of us. But we don't have to be very well-versed in said to offer a prayer to the Lord. It is as little as a remembrance of thank you, God. And that is more most pleasing to him, and that's what Brother Lawrence is getting at. You don't need to cry it out very loudly. He is here. So just say it. Say your things.
SPEAKER_00You know, I that was actually part of our um sermon on Sunday at church as well. And um there's just so much we could dive into, you know, what keeps us from prayer and how sometimes we're so hard on ourselves. Was that prayer good enough? Well, I think anytime we're engaging with the Lord, authentically going before him, saying, I'm gonna pause out of my day, regardless if that day is filled with board meetings or if that day is filled um in an encampment somewhere, right? If we are taking time out of our own life to just refocus on the Lord um and acknowledging um struggles and acknowledging what we need, acknowledging um heartaches, all of that. There's there's beauty in that. And um, I think they've released it now. Uh, and I don't normally do plugs because I guess sometimes some people might not like certain groups or whatever, but um, I'm a fan of Unspoken, you know, the Christian group, and they do a lot um to promote rescue mission work and all of that, but they have a new um song that they have kind of been leaking out. I'm not sure if it's fully been released, but it's called Big Shoulders. And um the song basically is talking about like just keep talking to the Lord because he's got big shoulders, he can handle it. And uh that's what I think, you know. I hope that in December of 26 or in January of 27 that we can look back and say, we really tried diligently to reach people for people to realize that one, God wants to hear from you. Um, two, that there's nothing that we can't bring to him, whether it's our own sin or our own issues, or maybe what others things that others have done to us, he has big shoulders. I mean, he's he's uh God of the universe, right? And wants to hear all of that. And so um I do. I hope that as we write each newsletter this year, I hope um in each of our um transformation classes that you do with guests and the connect groups that we're doing with staff and all of that, I hope that we really are able to communicate. God always wants to be in fellowship with you, and that there is nothing wrong when and if you have um beautiful devotions and Bible study time and prayer rooms and things like that. That there is nothing wrong with that. And I think there's seasons where um God actually calls us to those moments. But I hope that we do a good enough job to everyone that that the Lord allows us to be in contact with to say all of those things aren't necessary to talk to the Lord every day privately, to cry out to him. Sometimes it might be loudly because of the hurt we're experiencing, um, but that everybody has the ability to pray and that the Lord wants fellowship, he's wanting people to turn to him. And so I'm just so desperate for that, Mike. Um, so desperate for that. So when we're talking about the power of prayer, taking it a little bit deeper level, and I'll answer this too, but Mike, when you struggle with prayer, what is normally your struggle? Is it timing? Is it doubt? Is it um there's so much to pray for? Like what what would be your struggle? Because the other thing that I think is important is sometimes people could look at a Mike Shaudel and be like, I can never pray like Mike, or I can't ever have a prayer life, or those kinds of things. Again, unrealistic expectations. So I think it's important for listeners to hear from you, to hear from me. Um prayer isn't always uh a fancy and um it's not always consistent at, you know, 3 p.m. or whatever it is. Prayer can be messy. Yep. So what is difficult for you, Mike, personally as a leader in regards to prayer?
When Prayer Feels Hard Or Silent
SPEAKER_02I think for me, and I just kind of started laughing because it it was a incredible wake-up call because I mean I've dealt with this my entire basically my entire life. I mean, I've been a uh believer for almost 30 years. Um so gosh dang it. That's when you know you're getting old. Um I'm glad you're having the moment right now. But one of the thoughts it's like, is what am I is what I'm saying making any sense? Like there is no structure to it, and there's no uh, you know, being a writer, you know, I I want to have an outline to make sure that I'm covering all the bases, that I'm saying what needs to be said. So it's like, is what I'm saying to you, Lord, does it make any sense to what I'm asking for, what I am needing, or what I just want to talk to you about? And when I thought that, like, you know, I'm praying for one thing, and then all of a sudden my mind goes, boop, hey, you remember, you know, and last year with the Citigate conference, when you came back and you're talking about Megan Fate Marshman, which anybody who's listening, like you will notice that we do bring up Megan several times in the newsletter. But she shares that she shares this is the quote that she said prayer is not a place to be good, it's a place to be honest. If you want a boring prayer life, spend time being good at it. So it shouldn't be something that is structured, and then like C.S. Lewis also said that God sometimes seems to speak to us most intimately when he catches us as if it were off our guard. Our preparations to receive him sometimes have the opposite effect. So if I'm going to outline how I think I should be praying, maybe sometimes, and this is what Megan got at, when your mind veers to what you think is a distraction, pray for that distraction. Then you can allow the Lord to really start working in you because kind of paraphrasing what Brother Lawrence also said was is there's nothing more beautiful than intimately speaking to your creator, and it's hard to describe to those who don't put it to practice. So it is a discipline, and that's I think what is still for me being, you know, I've got a master's degree. I'm the director of spiritual wellness. People come to me and ask for, hey, what would you recommend my spiritual well-being to do this, to do this? Hey, I need prayer on this. I struggle with it. Just say it like it is and get that thought out of your head that you sound stupid or you sound like you're not making any sense, or you stutter over your words. So what? The Lord wants to hear what's on your heart.
SPEAKER_00So And he knows Mike Shoddle.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_00And so Mike Shodel's prayer life and fellowship with with the Lord is going to look different than mine. Yes. Because I'm a different person, I'm a different being, you know, and not to put God in the same category as our loved ones, but when you think about it, I have a lot of people I love, but those friendships, the relationships, it's different. Um you know, you have different conversations or different comfort levels and all of that kind of thing. And so I absolutely think that sometimes, I keep using this word, but it's what keeps coming to me, we just have an unrealistic understanding. And sometimes I think we think, oh, I need to be like this and I need to pray like that. When in actuality, if we were just praying how we are, the Lord meets us right there where it where we are, because that's the relationship. And if there's ever changes that need to be made in who we are, God does that. That's the sanctification process, which is a whole different podcast. Um, but that comes through prayer. So yeah, I love that. Um, you know, I think sometimes if we're praying and our mind wanders, I think I've been kind of legalistic on myself, like, well, I got distracted or I did that. And maybe that does happen. But I loved how Megan was kind of like, but even if it is a distraction, what are you distracted with? And be really then praying about that as silly as it sounds. So one of the things that kind of bubbled up in my own life was a lot of times I can be praying, and then the next thing I know, my mind wanders to my kids. Um, or like dinner time and things like that. Well, when I really spent time looking at that, those were things that I was supposed to be praying for. Or it was things that I was worried about. Um, or it was my priorities. Like I love feeding my kids. It's something I don't take for granted. And more working with food and security, you just realize what a blessing it is to make a menu. I no longer have to make a menu, I get to make a menu, those kinds of things. Um, and so I love that Megan challenged us on that because not saying that my mind doesn't ever wander just to wander, like I'm guilty of it. Yet when she really had a stop to think about what are you thinking about, those things that were taking me away from whatever I planned on praying were actually things that were just so heavy on my heart. Right. And I didn't even realize it. Right. So I'm glad that you you brought that up because I think there's sometimes people get out of the habit of praying because they're like, Well, I start and my mind just wanders or I get distracted. Right. But I hear you challenging them per what we learned from Megan of whatever you're wondering about, pray about that.
SPEAKER_02Right. Well, and with that too, like the the prayer initiative that you and I have discussed of potentially doing, when you're in that group setting of prayer, because where two or more are gathered, there I am too. But with the prayer, and one of the things that I just loved, like trying to plan it out and everything of how we're gonna do this and when we're gonna do this, and why we're going to do this, sometimes the reality is that when your mind starts getting distracted and you are out loud praying this distraction in front of people who are around you that you trust that you love, then what's the next step? They then pray for what is pray for what is distracting you and just continue to pray until you feel like, you know what? The Holy Spirit's saying, let's move on. Because that's the beauty of it too. Romans chapter 8 says that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. He prays for the things that we don't even know we need. Right. So it it's a beautiful thing.
Praying Together And Following The Spirit
SPEAKER_00Yes. So and you know, for some, I think it is beautiful. And I think for some, they're like, that's so weird. Right. How does that work? You know. Um, and I think that there was a season of my life um for several years, I needed everything to make sense. Prayer, unanswered prayer. If there was answered prayer, I needed to make sure I was checking off the checkboxes with gratitude and thankfulness and all of these things. Um, and what I've just kind of come to terms with is in talking about the spirit knowing what we need when sometimes we can't even say it and those kinds of things. Instead of me trying to make sense of everything, I just want to be grateful that it's true. Um, and that there is so much pressure that I can really just relieve off of myself because I'm not God. I'm not the Holy Spirit. Um, I don't have to have all of the answers, even being a CEO here. Um, listen, my wisdom comes solely from the Lord. And if not, I can't do this job. And recognizing that. And so, yeah, I think if you're listening and you're like, man, so much of this I can relate to, but it still doesn't make sense. Maybe be okay with that, make not making sense. Tell the Lord that. Yes. And that's how we all are, right? Um, which kind of leads me to, I almost said my confession, but that might be a little dramatic. My thing of uh struggle with prayer. Um is I feel like I am in this different season where I am okay with what doesn't make sense. Um I know that the Lord is calling me to trust on him more, which is weird for a type A O C D work person like Alec. No, I'm joking, like myself. Um but yet I'm learning how to that I'm not the Alpha the Omega, right? So I love the season I'm in in that I'm okay with what doesn't make sense, and I can tell that the Lord is pruning pressures off of me, but it's a different pressure than to trust. My struggle with prayer, and Megan said this too. Um I don't know, I may need to start getting permission from her because I'm using her like she's my bestie, and she's not but um I think we would be if we knew each other. Right. Um, but one of the things that I still can almost hear her saying, just as now loud now that a year, two years ago, was um that a lot of times our problem with prayer is not us not knowing um if God can do it, it's will he do it.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00That's an oucher for me right now. And um I wish I could be telling the listeners like, oh, and this is a lesson I learned, and here's how I changed it. Nope, I'm still in the thick of the lesson. Right. That there are often times where my prayers um, man, it can become emotional. I can almost get to a place of annoyance where I don't even want to pray it again. Like I feel like, man, I've prayed about this so much, I don't even want to say it again. Um sometimes the prayer is is hurtful to keep praying about, to keep talking about it. Um and the root of all of that is not in a season that I used to be in of, hey, I don't know if God can do this, and was really questioning like who he is and and all of those things related to today's world. But it really is a God, I know you can do this, but I'm not sure you will. And I'm not out of that season yet, Shottle. I I'm still in it. And so what I can say is as I'm praying for things that I often have uh for years, um, whether it's about uh specific people, topics, circumstances, uh personally, professionally, those we serve, when we see people relapse, just all those things, right? Is um I'm praying for those things. And I've now told the Lord, God, I don't know how you're gonna answer this. And I don't, I don't know what this is gonna look like. Um, but I do know that you can work it all out. Just help me if I don't understand how you are.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_00And sometimes that brings me a piece, especially if it's someone who maybe has been in the midst of struggle and I just want them to have a breakthrough, or maybe it's something about myself that I just want to change and I want to be better. Um, and so there are times when now that I'm praying that and I say, God, I know you can. I just don't know how you're going to, and I don't know how it's gonna look, and I don't know if it's gonna be on my timeline. That never happens. Um, sometimes it does make me feel better, shottle, and just to be honest before the Lord. But then there's some times where I pray that prayer and I don't feel any better after I prayed it. Yet the reason I continue to pray is because of what I believe, not necessarily what I know.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_00And that's where I think there's a lot of people that are hung up right now is we we want all the facts and we want everything to logistically happen, and we um want it to happen on our timeline, and it would be great if there's no heartache in it and no brokenness in it, and it was just like fun lessons to be learned. That is not how life is, that's not how relationships are, that's not how addiction is. Right. It's just not so I hope that that helps somebody um to know that I've walked with the Lord for decades. I love the Lord, I've made a lot of mistakes, I've done a lot of really strong things spiritually, I think, that were led by the Lord. Yet um I'm standing here at, you know, almost 40 years old to say that sometimes I still struggle with um faiths, uh concepts, and sometimes I still struggle with just going, God, will you do this? Um but my advice to everyone is don't let that deter you from still praying. And we can still continue to pray even if we don't know what he's doing.
SPEAKER_01Right.
Trusting God Beyond Understanding
SPEAKER_00So I know tied to this job, um gosh, my heart just goes out for uh family members of individuals who are suffering from mental illness, family members of people who are um family of someone in the middle of addiction. Um we know a lot of people right now that are searching for loved ones who are on the street and they can't find them. Um and I just hope that I can say to those people, um, continue to pray because the Lord hears it, the Lord sees it, and even what we don't know this side of heaven, um we can absolutely bring everything to him and he cares, he cares about that individual more than we care, right? Because he's God. But I also pray for people that are on the opposite side of that. If it's the person who is struggling with mental illness, or the person who is in the middle of addiction, or someone who is just in the middle of life right now that may be in a suit and tie and look very successful but seems so um hollow inside. Um I just also want you to know that there is nothing that you have done that prevents you from engaging in prayer and going before the Lord like the rest of us, saying we're a sinner, saying we need him, saying we don't understand this life, saying that things are hard, um, but also loving him, being frustrated with the Lord at times. Um I just want to really speak to everyone who's listening who has ever hurt someone or who's ever been hurt by someone that really um tapping into prayer unleashes a power that sometimes we don't even see. Shuttle, you see staff struggle sometimes. And um I there's no way we could probably even keep account of people that you pray with. Right?
SPEAKER_01I right. Um yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00What would your job look like if you did your job but you did it without prayer?
SPEAKER_02I would die.
SPEAKER_00Why?
SPEAKER_02Great question, again. Um yesterday, actually, when we got home, uh when Amanda and I both got home from work, um we just both sat down, we'd put we'd put our daughter to bed, and I just sat down and just let out a sigh. And she said. What was that all for? And I try to keep count just to just so for my documentation to make sure that I can follow up with staff and guests. And Amanda said, What was that? And I said, I was just thinking about how many staff members I met with today. She said, What? And I said, four. And she went, That's a lot. I said, Yeah, when you're talking with them for a half hour to an hour, yes, that is a lot when you're putting in an eight eight and a half hour day. And it's just an incredible reminder that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God in the bod, ministered for three years, and after he did something as minor as healing a lame a lame man brought him to walk. What what does scripture say he did? He went and he prayed. He spent more time in prayer than he did actually going out to heal, to feed 5,000 people, to walk on the five, he had to be in contact with the father. So if the son of God is modeling the fact that I need to be in contact with the Father, why do I think that I shouldn't? And why do I think that even in the circumstances of Christ praying in Gethsemane, he knew what was going to come. And sometimes our model of prayer needs to be what is prayed in Gethsemane. Not moving a mountain. But Lord, what I am going through right now absolutely positively sucks. But it's not my will. It is your will that I want to be done. Because it is your glory that is going to come out of this.
SPEAKER_00And his strength that's needed.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_00We're just not built like that humanly to do it.
SPEAKER_02And if it was good enough for Jesus, then it's gotta be good enough for me because thank God I'm not him.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um it's it's a really imp there it it's three words. And I think with being a follower of Christ and being in the position that I'm in, I need to be okay with these three words, and uh the people that I minister to and shepherd and love on need to be okay with this too. When you're coming to me and asking for questions, I'm even dealing with it too, and I'm diagnosed obsessive compulsive since I was 12 years old. Holla at you, boy. Um these three words are I don't know. Uh-huh. Because that shows the humility, that shows the the weakness side of who I need to be as a humble, totally un non-powerful human being, because then I will lean on the Lord. Yes. And it's his strength that carries me through it. Yes.
SPEAKER_00So I was gonna call you a bonehead when you were describing yourself, but I will oh shoot, I just did. It's fine, I'll take it. I receive it. It's a threat. We're working on compliments around here where people don't have to argue the compliment, they just say I receive it. But you know, Shaudel, I'm I'm glad that you bring up that point because um I do think sometimes people are um nervous about prayer or have a different view of what prayer is because they're not getting the answers or um they've gone to someone and maybe the person said the right thing, or maybe they didn't, and it was wrong answers. And then that leaves a bad taste in their mouth. But yeah, there there is power in um not knowing everything, but there is also beauty and relief and sometimes frustration in being able to rest in the fact that we don't have to know it all.
SPEAKER_03Right.
The Pause: Rest, Presence, And Surrender
SPEAKER_00And I would say as we we wrap up, um, you know, that's one thing that I'm really want to get the message across, but also something that I'm going through too is sometimes prayer and maybe even worship, um, you don't even have to say anything at all. And um, you know, I did this um week of guided prayer back in October. And one of the things that bubbled up in that is that this will shock you, I know, that I don't just sit well. Can you believe that? I know you'd never think that. Um, but that just being able in my mind, if I'm giving time to the Lord, I am doing a devotion, I'm writing a devotion, I'm um listening to praise and worship music, I'm watching a um sermon, those are all great things, right? And that is part of our spiritual discipline that helps us um just become stronger in Him and things. Yet I have completely overlooked this rhythm of rest and completely overlooked that sometimes I can just say, I'm not gonna have my phone right there. No, I'm not gonna have praise and worship music. I'm just going to sit here and I'm gonna say two things. I'm gonna say, Lord, um, I want you in this presence. Um, and I'm also gonna say, and God, I want to be with you. And um I don't know if I'm doing it often enough. I don't know if I'm doing it beautiful enough. I don't know. But what I do know is that carving out time with nothing else, even if it is five minutes, ten minutes, um, where I don't do anything that quote unquote Lamanda needs to do, but just tell the father, I'm here, I want your presence here, and I want to be in your presence. Um, because then what I have seen bubble out of that is sometimes do I leave there going, Well, nothing happened. Yes, right? We can't put God in a box and say, Oh, he's gonna meet us there every time and he's gonna speak in a burning bush and all of these things, right? I wish he would still do that sometimes. But there is um this beauty in carving time and stopping and just acknowledging. And there are some times where I walk away and I'm like, Yep, I'm I'm not sure if that was productive. And then there are other times where an idea comes to me or um just a tender feeling of like, Lamanda, forgive yourself for that or forgive them for that, whatever the case may be. And so I would encourage listeners too, if you're like, I don't even know where to start, I would say start by stopping and pausing and telling the father, I don't know what this is supposed to look like, but I'm hearing everybody tell me that you love me. Yes. Um, that this is where I need to start. Um, and just invite the father to be in your presence, tell him you want to be with him, and just see what all he does on his timeline. Final thoughts, Shottle, on the power of prayer. I feel like we could go like on and on and on.
SPEAKER_02There was a lot that you just said that I am like writing down, like, ooh, we could totally do that.
SPEAKER_00Be looking for it in the May newsletter. No.
SPEAKER_02Um No, it just, yeah, you're you're you're preaching to the choir because it just yesterday you told me, you know, Shottle, I think your your word for 2026 is pause. And the guilt that I honestly sometimes feel where I'm in my office or I'm over at the main shelter or hope center. It's like, I need to remove myself and just pray for what the Lord has put on my heart. Yes. And I feel guilty because it's like I'm not up front, I'm not doing anything that I feel would be quote, productive, unquote. But there is the power in that pause of okay, Michael, it's time to remove yourself. It is time to seek me, and it is time to give whatever it is that I have put on your heart, whether it is a guest's addiction or the anxieties that a staff member at one of the buildings is dealing with, or the imposter syndrome that you yourself are dealing with. Give it to me. And there is power in that. And it's just a wonderful r reminder that it doesn't matter. Paul says it in Philip in Philippians, I'm saying it now. It doesn't matter what all I have together. Doesn't matter the family that I came from, the education that I have, the the papers that I have written, the newsletters that I write. All of that is rubbish. But what I do count is what is the glory that lies ahead that is in Christ Jesus. And I will strive and I will reach towards that onward goal that is in him.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Even when we don't know.
SPEAKER_02Yes. I don't know.
SPEAKER_00Even um even if you're listening right now and you're just thinking, I I don't know. I don't know where to start. I I still feel like I'm too far gone. I just don't even know. Um exciting. Because there's many of us that feel the same way. Yep. And so let's just take that feeling to the Lord right now. If you're listening and you are a prayer warrior and you're like, woo-hoo, I'm so glad that they're doing a podcast on this, pray with us. If you're someone that's saying, you know what, I'm doubting the Lord and I have been going to him and I haven't seen him do any of it, pray with us now. If you're someone that's like, I don't even know where to start, um, start with us. We're gonna pray right now for you. And if you're someone who says, I am so angry and I am so bitter at God and my circumstances and what have happened, we're gonna pray for you as intercessors right now and join us in prayer. Father, I just pray, Lord, that um you were honored today during this time. And I pray that you use um what Shaudel and I said, what we didn't say, um, Lord, in a way that only you can to reach the heart of every listener right now. Lord Shottle and I are not perfect. Uh, we are human, we are broken, we have worries just like everyone else. But Lord, we are trying to be forward-facing as much as we can to everybody we come in contact with, just like other leaders and staff in this ministry. Lord, we want to continue to do this because we realize that you have not called the equipped, you equipped the called. And we know we are called to share this about you for you, but also for the transformation of others. So, Lord, we come to you right now believing in the power of prayer, knowing the power of prayer works, knowing that people are struggling with it, knowing that sometimes we struggle with it. But Lord, we come right now believing that you will transform lives just like you have, just like you are, and that you will continue to do. God, please be with everyone listening in a way that only you can tenderly bringing justice lovingly and convicting us in ways that a father, a beautiful, beautiful father, does not to shame, but to change. And Lord, we give that to you. Lord, thank you for TRM. Thank you for not only what we get to bring to it because of you, but what you bring to us through TRM. And we just ask for you to continue to engage in fellowship with all of us when we so desperately don't deserve it. We love you, Lord. In your name we pray. Amen.