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

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/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.