Podcast Summary: The Deep Dish

Episode: Kickstart Your Prayer Life
Date: February 19, 2026
Hosts: Melissa Kruger & Courtney Doctor
Podcast: The Gospel Coalition – The Deep Dish

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode dives deep into the practical “how” of structuring and enriching your prayer life. Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor share personal routines, favorite resources, and honest reflections about the joys and challenges of prayer. Their goal: to encourage listeners—especially women—to develop a sustainable, authentic, and God-oriented prayer life, without offering legalistic or overly prescriptive advice. They also reflect on how prayer forms us, not just our requests, and discuss praying with others, using lists, journaling, and praying Scripture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Importance of Structure – But Not Legalism

• The hosts stress that the intent isn’t to create a “one-size-fits-all” approach or be legalistic.
• “Our goal today is not to be either legalistic or prescriptive about what your prayer life should look like. What we do want to do is just talk about what we've learned over the years of praying and what has worked for us, which might or might not work for you.” (Courtney, 03:23)
• They reference a previous episode with Nancy Guthrie about “why we pray” and position this episode as moving “from the balcony to the dance floor”—getting into the details of “how.”

Finding Time and Space for Prayer

• Melissa regularly prays on her back porch in the mornings, accompanied by tea and her dog Gus.
  • “There is something about it that it's just relaxing to me... it's the place where I go every morning with my tea and I sit out there and I read my Bible and I PR and I tell you my dog Gus, because Gus needs to be a regular part of our conversation as well. I feel like he is my quiet time companion.” (Melissa, 04:21)
• Courtney finds a consistent place in her home—currently a chair in her upstairs family room—and prefers to pray on her knees.
• Both hosts note that having a consistent spot forms a habit and “settles you into it.”

The Value and Shape of Structured Prayer

• Both hosts appreciate having set rhythms, but stress the importance of spontaneous prayer too.
• They discuss the ACTS model:
  • Adoration: Praising God for His character
  • Confession: Admitting our sin before Him
  • Thanksgiving: Thanking Him for what He’s done
  • Supplication: Bringing requests before Him
• Courtney points out the benefit in the order: “Our praise is God’s character. Our Thanksgiving is what he’s accomplished in some sense. But I also think...it's so important to have confession before supplication...after confession, I'm praying for different things.” (Melissa, 10:38–11:09)

Using the Lord’s Prayer as a Structure

• Melissa shares how studying the Lord’s Prayer transformed her approach, causing her to start with God’s name, kingdom, and will:
  • “When I really say it in my own words, ‘may your name be declared holy in the whole world’…I realize if that would happen, my prayer list would be gone.” (Melissa, 12:35)
• The Lord’s Prayer centers our hearts on God’s priorities, not just our own wants.

Prayer as Formative, Not Merely Effective

• They caution against a view that sees prayer as obligating God or presuming power in “declaring” what we want.
• “Prayer is submitting our desires to the Lord’s versus requiring our desires to become the Lord’s.” (Courtney, 14:30)
• “It’s not the faith of the person praying. It’s the object, it’s whom we’re praying to.” (Melissa, 15:18)
• Prayer both forms us and aligns us with God’s will—even when we don’t understand the outcome.

Journaling, Praying Out Loud, and Posture

• Journaling: Melissa has kept prayer journals since age 14–15, sometimes referencing them to praise God for answered prayers. Courtney journals occasionally, finding it helps with reflection and gratitude.
• Praying Out Loud: Both find praying aloud—whether quietly or in the car—keeps them focused.
  • “It really helps me stay engaged. It really helps me stay awake. I do pray out loud.” (Courtney, 23:04)
• Posture: Courtney often prays on her knees and sometimes leans on a chair for support; Melissa admits she rarely kneels but admires the discipline.

The Power of Lists and Categories in Prayer

• Lists help organize requests and ensure consistency, both in personal and family devotions.
• Categories such as family, world events, leaders, and missionaries make prayer more comprehensive and connected.
• Courtney gives a peek into her system: each family member (or family group) is assigned a day of the week.
• They recommend giving prayer cards back at the end of the year as a tangible encouragement to both parties.
  • “When you send those cards back…it really is what Paul and Timothy did.” (Melissa, 28:54)

Recommended Resources for Prayer Structure

• “Five Things to Pray” series (for your kids, spouse, church, etc.)—short, Scripture-based prompts
• “Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans”—for deep, vocabulary-rich prayers
• “I'm Praying for You” (Nancy Guthrie) and “Parenting with Hope” for prayer ideas
• “Every Moment Holy”—liturgy for every aspect of life

Praying with Others and in Community

• Praying spontaneously with others in the moment is a key way the hosts deepen friendship and discipleship.
  • “So often the better thing is to say, can we pray right now? Can we pray right here?...there’s something, the immediacy of it…” (Courtney, 35:43)
• Both share experiences with feeling awkward or distant at times when praying out loud in groups, but emphasize you can grow in this area.

Praying Scripture and the Interplay with Bible Reading

• Both hosts are growing in linking their daily Bible reading to their prayers—asking God to bring people or situations to mind as they read.
  • Example: Praying for generosity after reading Deuteronomy 15, not just in finances, but in releasing emotional debts. (Courtney, 39:15)
• They advocate letting the Word guide new categories and specifics in prayer, rather than defaulting to generic petitions.

Teaching and Modeling Prayer for Others

• The importance of simple, habitual prayers with children; regular, small acts build lifelong habits.
  • “Don’t think you have to have these long, beautiful prayers with your kids. Simple prayers given regularly will build habits in them…” (Melissa, 42:22)
• If someone is uncomfortable, start with written or read-aloud prayers. Grow gradually by practicing alone before moving to group prayer.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Our goal today is not to be either legalistic or prescriptive about what your prayer life should look like.” (Courtney, 03:23)
• “If God’s sovereign, why do we pray? Well, because he asked us to. And if God’s not sovereign, why would we pray?” (Courtney & Melissa, 16:35–16:38)
• “Prayer teaches us we’re not God. Thankfully, he is. And he invites us to come and pray and bring all these requests to Him.” (Melissa, 16:38)
• “The power of prayer is the one to whom we’re praying. He is the powerful one, he is the sovereign one, he is the good one, and he is working all things out.” (Courtney, 19:18)
• “Structure…reminds me to not just bring a wish list to our Father.” (Courtney, 08:06)
• “Our confession kind of tills the soil to change our supplication in so many ways.” (Melissa, 11:33)
• “[Puritan prayers] have given me new vocabulary, new things to pray for. And in some ways, I would say just better things to pray for.” (Courtney, 01:49 / 34:33)
• “If you have a list…when I have those cards, I feel so guilty when that year is up. I feel like it’s sacrilegious to throw it away.” (Courtney, 25:49)
• “Send the card back to them at the end of the year—it’s so significant for people to see how the Lord has answered.” (Melissa, 28:54)
• “If you want to incorporate a prayer from someone else that will start a habit of prayer—or write yours out and then read it…” (Courtney, 46:02)
• “What’s one thing I can do over the next six months to maybe improve my prayer life?” (Melissa, 46:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:23 – The “why” and “how” of prayer; intent of the show
• 04:21 – The hosts’ regular prayer routines and spaces
• 08:06 – The value of structure: ACTS model, differences between praise and thanksgiving
• 10:38 – The order of confession before supplication
• 12:35 – Learning from the Lord’s Prayer
• 14:30 – Misconceptions about “powerful” prayer and God’s sovereignty
• 19:18 – God’s role as the effective One in prayer
• 20:04 – Journaling and remembering prayer answers
• 23:04 – Praying aloud, posture, and practical helps
• 25:46 – Using lists and categories, especially in family or group prayer
• 28:54 – The encouragement of returning prayer cards to those for whom you've prayed
• 35:43 – Praying with others: growing in comfort and immediacy
• 37:49 – Connecting Bible reading and prayer; listening for whom to pray for
• 42:22 – Teaching children to pray; small, simple, consistent prayers
• 44:07 – Growing in comfort with public prayer (advice for introverts or newcomers)
• 46:09 – Encouragement to add just one new thing and closing reflections

Conclusion & Takeaways

The episode encourages listeners to:

• Recognize the unique, formational power of prayer—not as a formula, but as communion with God.
• Experiment with structure: morning routines, prayer lists, journaling, set spaces, praying Scripture, kneeling, or praying aloud.
• Embrace both personal and group prayer—leaning into the discomfort to foster deeper community and spiritual growth.
• Use resources (books, written prayers, Puritan prayers, devotionals) to expand vocabulary and depth.
• See prayer as an opportunity to both ask and be formed, while submitting all to God’s wise will.
• Model regular, simple prayer for children and discipleship groups.
• Reflect on “one thing” to add to your prayer life in the coming months.

Memorable note:
“Don't think you have to do all 20 things we discussed. What's one thing I can do over the next six months to maybe improve my prayer life?” (Melissa, 46:09)

For more: Visit TGC.org/women for a newsletter, discussion questions, and more resources.
Suggested books: “Five Things to Pray” series, “Piercing Heaven,” “I'm Praying for You,” “Parenting with Hope,” “Every Moment Holy.”

Summary by [Assistant], utilizing the original warmth, humor, and encouragement of the hosts.