Podcast Summary: Christ With Coffee On Ice Host: Ally Yost
Episode: How to Make My Prayer Life Stronger
Date: October 11, 2024

Overview

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, host Ally Yost dives deep into strengthening one’s prayer life, focusing on the biblical foundation and practical application of prayer and fasting. Using passages from the Book of Mark, Ally explores spiritual growth, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the reasons why prayer sometimes feels ineffective. The episode combines biblical storytelling, personal revelation, and real-life analogies to offer listeners encouragement and actionable steps toward a more powerful and precise relationship with God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Transformative Power of Prayer and Fasting

(03:40 – 25:10)

• Ally shares how reading Mark 9 (the Transfiguration and the healing of the demon-possessed boy) set the tone for today’s message around prayer and fasting.
• Jesus tells his disciples that some spiritual battles "can be cast out only by prayer" (and "prayer and fasting" in some translations) (24:13).
• Insight: It’s not about the strength of the opposition (demons/difficulties), but rather the clarity and precision gained through prayer and fasting.

“It’s not that these demons are stronger. It’s not that our prayer isn’t enough. It’s actually more about us and less about the demon.”
— Ally Yost (24:43)

2. Practical Analogy: Weapons of Spiritual Warfare

(21:15 – 24:40)

• Ally describes a visual revelation God gave her: prayer as a handgun and fasting as the accessories (scope, silencer, laser) that turn the weapon into a precise sniper.
• This imagery highlights how fasting brings clarity and specificity to prayer, making it more ‘accurate’ against spiritual attacks.

“Our gun is our prayer. Our gun is the word of God. ... But it was the extra accessories brought onto that gun that brought it to a place of more precision where I could really snipe out the enemy.”
— Ally Yost (22:50)

3. When and Why to Fast

(26:20 – 30:10)

• Fast when you feel spiritually foggy, lack clarity, or face major decisions.
• Fasting isn’t only for personal reasons: “You can fast for other people ... and pray for clarity from the Lord of how you can be interceding specifically, fast for that person.” (29:14)
• Fasting sharpens spiritual discernment and helps reveal root causes behind issues (i.e., not just praying against depression but discerning triggers through fasting).

4. Biblical Teaching on Fasting – Mark 2:18

(30:20 – 36:40)

• Ally explains why Jesus' disciples didn’t fast during his earthly ministry, quoting Jesus:
  “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. ... But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (32:17)
• Insight: Fasting is purposeful and timely in the Christian life, not just a religious routine.

5. Fasting Methods & Practical Tips

(40:10 – 41:45)

• Fasting isn’t limited to food—can include abstaining from social media or anything causing spiritual “fog.”
• Ally personally finds the greatest clarity in fasting solid food (sometimes just until evening while still consuming liquids).

6. Lessons on Humility, Service, and Influence

(42:30 – 54:45)

• Reading Mark 9:30-50, Ally discusses:
  • True greatness means being a servant (Mark 9:35)
  • Welcoming children as a model for welcoming Jesus (Mark 9:36-37)
  • “Anyone who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:40)
  • The gravity of leading others astray or causing others to stumble (Mark 9:42)

7. Cultural Reference: Jesus in Pop Culture

(52:22 – 54:00)

• Ally reflects on Sabrina Carpenter’s “Even Jesus Was a Carpenter” t-shirt at Coachella and how even imperfect mentions of Jesus’ name can plant seeds.

“Sometimes, y’all, we gotta just rejoice that the name of Jesus is being said ... that’s a win for Christians.”
— Ally Yost (52:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On starting with prayer before anything else:
  “Before we complain, before we doubt, before we throw a pity party … we are going, okay, we need to actually just pray.” (19:45)

• On misleading others:
  “It is very serious that you are not doing [ministry] out of a place that is not fully set on just the truth of God in Jesus.” (57:24)

• Practical encouragement:
  “Let’s exercise all the things the Lord encourages us to do, including fasting, praying, having faith, seeking his wisdom, getting in the secret place … doing all the things to strengthen our walk with the Lord.” (59:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:40: Opening reflections, mood shift with community and spiritual connection
• 07:10: Mark 9—Transfiguration and context
• 12:00: Story of the demon-possessed boy & discussion of “only by prayer” (and fasting)
• 21:15: The spiritual ‘sniper’ analogy—prayer as a weapon, fasting brings precision
• 26:20: When & why to fast, practical examples
• 30:20: Jesus explains fasting (Mark 2:18)
• 37:40: Practical ways to fast; fasting isn’t just abstaining from food
• 42:30: Mark 9:30-41—servant leadership, children as examples
• 52:22: Pop culture reference—Sabrina Carpenter and the name of Jesus
• 56:10: On not misleading others in ministry
• 59:40: Final encouragements—living out faith, eyes like Jesus

Actionable Takeaways

• Begin with prayer before any reaction—prayer is your “first move,” not last resort.
• If you lack clarity or feel spiritually distracted, consider fasting (food, social media, etc.).
• Use fasting as a way to gain specificity in your prayer life and spiritual discernment.
• Approach every day and every interaction like Jesus—see people, love them, serve them.
• Don’t stress about the imperfections in yourself or others; let God handle the outcomes.
• Be mindful of the responsibility and privilege in sharing Jesus with others, in all you do.

Episode Tone & Style

Ally is warm, conversational, and transparent. The episode is filled with real-life stories, engaging analogies, biblical exegesis, and practical encouragement—making challenging spiritual concepts both accessible and actionable.

Closing Encouragement

“Let’s show somebody how cool Jesus is. Let’s share the word of God, his love, his wisdom with somebody today. ... I want to have eyes like the Lord.”
— Ally Yost (1:00:10)

For anyone wanting to strengthen their prayer life, discern God’s voice more clearly, or understand the connection between fasting and spiritual breakthrough, this episode offers real encouragement and helpful scriptural grounding.