We’re all being formed by something. The question is: Are the things shaping us making us more like Jesus? In this conversation with Monica Ritchie, author of Fashioned by Faith, we talk about how simple spiritual practices like prayer, fasting, Scripture, rest, and community can deepen our relationship with God. Monica shares practical ways to make these disciplines part of real life, not as another spiritual checklist, but as space for God to transform us. We also talk about social media’s influence, letting go of control, wrestling honestly with God, and learning to trust Him even when we don’t have all the answers.

Remember, I'd love to connect more on Instagram, where you'll find me at @donnaajones or on my website at www.donnajones.org. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode!

Xo,

Donna

Key Takeaways:

0:00:02 - Fashioned by Faith: Monica’s Story Begins

0:02:30 - From Fashion Influencer to Seminary

0:07:10 - Social Media as a Forming Force

0:17:45 - Spiritual Disciplines as Whole-Person Formation

0:32:20 - Fasting, Control, and Trusting God in the “No”


What We Talk About
How social media and algorithms quietly shape us
What spiritual disciplines are and why they matter
Bringing our head, heart, and whole self into our relationship with God
Practical ways to deepen your prayer life
Monica’s “wandering prayer” practice
Why fasting is about more than giving up food
Monica’s three-month “no-buy” fast and what it taught her about trust
Letting go of control and making room for God to provide
Practicing spiritual disciplines without shame or perfectionism
Why spiritual formation requires endurance rather than quick fixes
How our spiritual practices can change with different seasons of life
Why wrestling with God can be part of a healthy, growing faith
Learning to live with unanswered questions while trusting God


Spiritual Formation Starts with What Is Forming You

Monica reminds us that we are always being shaped by what we repeatedly give our time and attention to. Instead of allowing our culture or our social media feed to do that work without our awareness, we can intentionally create rhythms that form us into greater Christlikeness.

Some of the practices Monica highlights include:
Prayer
Fasting
Scripture
Rest
Community
Lament
Mystery, wonder, and wrestling well with God

The goal isn’t to do every discipline perfectly or even to do them all at once. The goal is to practice them from a place of knowing we are already loved by God and allow Him to transform us over time.

The reminder I love: Spiritual formation is less about a quick fix and more about endurance faithfully turning toward God again and again.

Donna’s Resources:

Order a copy of my latest book - 

Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret. 

It is available anywhere books are sold– here is the link on Amazon. 

If you need a helpful resource for someone exploring faith and Christianity or simply want to strengthen your own knowledge, you’ll want a copy of my book, Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God.

It’s a must for seekers, new believers, and those who want to deepen their faith.


Connect with Monica:

Monica’s Website :https://monicaritchie.com/

Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmonicaritchie/

Let’s Connect:

Instagram: @donnaajones    

Website: www.donnajones.org    

Donna’s speaking schedule: https://donnajones.org/events/

We&rsquo;re all being formed by something. The question is: Are the things shaping us making us more like Jesus? In this conversation with Monica Ritchie, author of Fashioned by Faith, we talk about how simple spiritual practices like prayer, fasting, Scripture, rest, and community can deepen our relationship with God. Monica shares practical ways to make these disciplines part of real life, not as another spiritual checklist, but as space for God to transform us. We also talk about social media&rsquo;s influence, letting go of control, wrestling honestly with God, and learning to trust Him even when we don&rsquo;t have all the answers.
Remember, I'd love to connect more on Instagram, where you'll find me at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/donnaajones/?hl=en">@donnaajones</a> or on my website at <a href="http://www.donnajones.org">www.donnajones.org</a>. And don&rsquo;t forget to subscribe so you don&rsquo;t miss a single episode!
Xo,
Donna
Key Takeaways:
0:00:02 - Fashioned by Faith: Monica&rsquo;s Story Begins
0:02:30 - From Fashion Influencer to Seminary
0:07:10 - Social Media as a Forming Force
0:17:45 - Spiritual Disciplines as Whole-Person Formation
0:32:20 - Fasting, Control, and Trusting God in the &ldquo;No&rdquo;
 What We Talk About
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">How social media and algorithms quietly shape us</li>
<li aria-level="1">What spiritual disciplines are and why they matter</li>
<li aria-level="1">Bringing our head, heart, and whole self into our relationship with God</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practical ways to deepen your prayer life</li>
<li aria-level="1">Monica&rsquo;s &ldquo;wandering prayer&rdquo; practice</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why fasting is about more than giving up food</li>
<li aria-level="1">Monica&rsquo;s three-month &ldquo;no-buy&rdquo; fast and what it taught her about trust</li>
<li aria-level="1">Letting go of control and making room for God to provide</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practicing spiritual disciplines without shame or perfectionism</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why spiritual formation requires endurance rather than quick fixes</li>
<li aria-level="1">How our spiritual practices can change with different seasons of life</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why wrestling with God can be part of a healthy, growing faith</li>
<li aria-level="1">Learning to live with unanswered questions while trusting God</li>
</ul>
 Spiritual Formation Starts with What Is Forming You
Monica reminds us that we are always being shaped by what we repeatedly give our time and attention to. Instead of allowing our culture or our social media feed to do that work without our awareness, we can intentionally create rhythms that form us into greater Christlikeness.
Some of the practices Monica highlights include:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Prayer</li>
<li aria-level="1">Fasting</li>
<li aria-level="1">Scripture</li>
<li aria-level="1">Rest</li>
<li aria-level="1">Community</li>
<li aria-level="1">Lament</li>
<li aria-level="1">Mystery, wonder, and wrestling well with God</li>
</ul>
The goal isn&rsquo;t to do every discipline perfectly or even to do them all at once. The goal is to practice them from a place of knowing we are already loved by God and allow Him to transform us over time.
The reminder I love: Spiritual formation is less about a quick fix and more about endurance faithfully turning toward God again and again.
Donna&rsquo;s Resources:
Order a copy of my latest book -&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Conflict-Peaceful-Life-Communicating/dp/1400243998">Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret.&nbsp;</a>
It is available anywhere books are sold&ndash; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Conflict-Peaceful-Life-Communicating/dp/1400243998">here is the link on Amazon.&nbsp;</a>
If you need a helpful resource for someone exploring faith and Christianity or simply want to strengthen your own knowledge, you&rsquo;ll want a copy of my book, <a href="https://seekmeetinggod.com/">Seek: A Woman&rsquo;s Guide to Meeting God.</a>
It&rsquo;s a must for seekers, new believers, and those who want to deepen their faith.
 Connect with Monica:
Monica&rsquo;s Website :<a href="https://monicaritchie.com/">https://monicaritchie.com/</a>
Monica on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itsmonicaritchie/">https://www.instagram.com/itsmonicaritchie/</a>
Let&rsquo;s Connect:
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/donnaajones/?hl=en">@donnaajones</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Website: <a href="http://www.donnajones.org">www.donnajones.org</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Donna&rsquo;s speaking schedule: <a href="https://donnajones.org/events/">https://donnajones.org/events/</a>

If you’ve ever had a conversation where you’ve walked away thinking, “Wow! That was just what I needed”, you know you felt encouraged, learned a thing or two, laughed, and maybe even felt a bit challenged.

Author, national speaker, and pastor’s wife, Donna Jones provides life-giving “that’s just what I needed” conversations to help you know, love, and follow God in the midst of real-life--the one with daily demands and crazy cultural chaos. Sometimes she’ll welcome a guest we can learn from; sometimes the conversation will be just her and you.

 But, Donna’s hope is that each conversation will be exactly what you need.

That's Just What I Needed Podcast

If you’ve ever had a conversation where you’ve walked away thinking, “Wow! That was just what I needed”, you know you felt encouraged, learned a thing or two, laughed, and maybe even felt a bit challenged. Author, national speaker, and pastor’s wife, Donna Jones provides life-giving “that’s just what I needed” conversations to help you know, love, and follow God in the midst of real-life--the one with daily demands and crazy cultural chaos. Sometimes she’ll welcome a guest we can learn from; sometimes the conversation will be just her and you. But, Donna’s hope is that each conversation will be exactly what you need.

If you&rsquo;ve ever had a conversation where you&rsquo;ve walked away thinking, &ldquo;Wow! That was just what I needed&rdquo;, you know you felt encouraged, learned a thing or two, laughed, and maybe even felt a bit challenged. Author, national speaker, and pastor&rsquo;s wife, Donna Jones provides life-giving &ldquo;that&rsquo;s just what I needed&rdquo; conversations to help you know, love, and follow God in the midst of real-life--the one with daily demands and crazy cultural chaos. Sometimes she&rsquo;ll welcome a guest we can learn from; sometimes the conversation will be just her and you. But, Donna&rsquo;s hope is that each conversation will be exactly what you need.

That's Just What I Needed

How Spiritual Disciplines Help Us Grow Closer to God with Monica Ritchie

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/d416d04e-0813-4a62-a803-b4bf0122a746/transcript