Have you ever wanted to pray with more confidence but wondered if you were doing it “right”? Or maybe you’re walking through a transition or watching someone you love struggle through one and you’re tempted to step in and fix everything.

 

Today, I’m talking with someone very special to me: my daughter, Ashton Jones Weber. Ashton shares how leaving home for college deepened her faith, transformed her prayer life, and taught her to depend on God in a whole new way. We talk about why hard seasons can actually grow us, how to pray Scripture when you don’t know what to say, and why your prayers matter more than you may realize.

 

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 - Formed by Prayer: Ashton's Story Begins

0:04:27 - From Fasting to a Decision

0:09:36 - Transition as Formation, Not Something to Be Rescued From

0:12:21 - The Bench, the Bible, and a Stranger's Invitation

0:18:50 - Taking the Pressure Off Prayer


What We Talk About
How transitions can deepen our relationship with God
What our children learn by watching how we handle decisions, prayer, and faith
Why helping someone through a struggle can be better than rescuing them from it
Ashton’s lonely first day of college—and the simple decision that changed everything
Why prayer doesn’t have to sound polished or perfect
How a 21-day season of prayer and fasting transformed Ashton’s prayer life
Practical ways to begin praying Scripture
How to personalize Romans 8 when praying for yourself or someone you love
Ashton’s “boxing coach” analogy for listening to God’s truth
What it means to pray with confidence and authority in Christ
Why we need people around us who elevate our faith and expectation


Praying Scripture: Let God’s Word Guide Your Prayers

When you don’t know what to pray, you don’t have to invent the perfect words. Start with what God has already said.
 Choose a passage of Scripture.

Romans 8, Psalm 139, and Ephesians are great places to begin.
 Make it personal.

Put your name—or the name of someone you love—into the truth you’re reading.
 Turn the truth into a prayer.

For example, Romans 8 says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Pray that truth over yourself or someone you love, asking God to replace shame, fear, or defeat with the truth of their identity in Christ.
 Believe what you’re praying.

Let Scripture—not your circumstances, feelings, or the voices around you—shape what you believe.

The Boxing Coach Picture

Think of life like rounds in a boxing match. When you’re tired and catching your breath between rounds, don’t listen to the crowd. Listen to your Coach.

Romans 8 reminds us:

You are not condemned.

You are victorious in Christ.

Nothing can separate you from God’s love.

You don’t have to live controlled by fear.

Life and peace are found in walking by the Spirit.

Take those truths into your next round.

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.


Let’s Connect:

Instagram: @donnaajones    

Website: www.donnajones.org    

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

Have you ever wanted to pray with more confidence but wondered if you were doing it &ldquo;right&rdquo;? Or maybe you&rsquo;re walking through a transition or watching someone you love struggle through one and you&rsquo;re tempted to step in and fix everything.
&nbsp;
Today, I&rsquo;m talking with someone very special to me: my daughter, Ashton Jones Weber. Ashton shares how leaving home for college deepened her faith, transformed her prayer life, and taught her to depend on God in a whole new way. We talk about why hard seasons can actually grow us, how to pray Scripture when you don&rsquo;t know what to say, and why your prayers matter more than you may realize.
&nbsp;
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 - Formed by Prayer: Ashton's Story Begins
0:04:27 - From Fasting to a Decision
0:09:36 - Transition as Formation, Not Something to Be Rescued From
0:12:21 - The Bench, the Bible, and a Stranger's Invitation
0:18:50 - Taking the Pressure Off Prayer
 What We Talk About
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">How transitions can deepen our relationship with God</li>
<li aria-level="1">What our children learn by watching how we handle decisions, prayer, and faith</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why helping someone through a struggle can be better than rescuing them from it</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ashton&rsquo;s lonely first day of college&mdash;and the simple decision that changed everything</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why prayer doesn&rsquo;t have to sound polished or perfect</li>
<li aria-level="1">How a 21-day season of prayer and fasting transformed Ashton&rsquo;s prayer life</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practical ways to begin praying Scripture</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to personalize Romans 8 when praying for yourself or someone you love</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ashton&rsquo;s &ldquo;boxing coach&rdquo; analogy for listening to God&rsquo;s truth</li>
<li aria-level="1">What it means to pray with confidence and authority in Christ</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why we need people around us who elevate our faith and expectation</li>
</ul>
 Praying Scripture: Let God&rsquo;s Word Guide Your Prayers
When you don&rsquo;t know what to pray, you don&rsquo;t have to invent the perfect words. Start with what God has already said.
<ol>
<li> Choose a passage of Scripture.</li>
</ol>
Romans 8, Psalm 139, and Ephesians are great places to begin.
<ol>
<li> Make it personal.</li>
</ol>
Put your name&mdash;or the name of someone you love&mdash;into the truth you&rsquo;re reading.
<ol>
<li> Turn the truth into a prayer.</li>
</ol>
For example, Romans 8 says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Pray that truth over yourself or someone you love, asking God to replace shame, fear, or defeat with the truth of their identity in Christ.
<ol>
<li> Believe what you&rsquo;re praying.</li>
</ol>
Let Scripture&mdash;not your circumstances, feelings, or the voices around you&mdash;shape what you believe.
The Boxing Coach Picture
Think of life like rounds in a boxing match. When you&rsquo;re tired and catching your breath between rounds, don&rsquo;t listen to the crowd. Listen to your Coach.
Romans 8 reminds us:
You are not condemned.
You are victorious in Christ.
Nothing can separate you from God&rsquo;s love.
You don&rsquo;t have to live controlled by fear.
Life and peace are found in walking by the Spirit.
Take those truths into your next round.
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.
 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 to Pray with Confidence: Finding God in Life’s Hard Transitions with Ashton Weber

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/1c9c4882-98f4-4ccf-a563-b4c6011e0bc6/transcript