From Discipline to Delight: Madi Prewett Troutt on Building a Powerful Prayer Life
In this episode, Madi Prewett Troutt joins Candace for an honest conversation about prayer. Fresh from a Unite ministry event where thousands of college students gathered for worship and baptisms, Madi shares how she's witnessing a hunger for authentic faith among young people today.
A Generation Hungry for Truth
Madi describes the Unite events as powerful nights where 6,000 to 8,000 college students come together. Students have been fed so many opinions that they're desperately asking: What can I trust? What's real? They want hope, purpose, and to know what's true about God and eternity.
Navigating Passions Without Discouragement
When listener Nicole asks how to pursue her passions without becoming discouraged, Candace offers practical wisdom: finish what you start. You need to stay with something long enough to know if you're truly not gifted in that area or if it's just harder than expected. Madi adds that this generation struggles with commitment issues, constantly fearing there might be something better. Instead, be faithful with what you start and don't live led by fear of missing out.
Prayer: From Awkward to Essential
Madi describes prayer as her favorite way to connect with the Lord. Her breakthrough came during a 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting event that started at 6:00 AM. Initially, she wondered what she could say to God for a full hour. The first days felt awkward, but as she continued showing up, something shifted. By the end, an hour wasn't enough. "It starts out as a discipline before it turns to delight," Madi explains. She encourages people to pray out loud to avoid distraction.
Madi shares her prayer formula: start with worship, thanking God for who He is. Move into thanksgiving for what He's done. Pray over personal needs and requests. Then intercede for others—those who don't know Jesus, those in broken situations, and leaders making important decisions. She also encourages praying scripture over yourself and your family.
When Prayer Feels Empty or Attacks Intensify
When listener Jess asks what to do when prayer feels like talking to an empty room, Madi encourages her to embrace prayer as a discipline, knowing she's not talking to an empty room. She suggests praying scripture when you don't know what to say. When Tiffany asks why the devil seems at full strength when she's most faithful, both Candace and Madi affirm this is a sign she's doing something right. "You're a powerful weapon against him," Candace explains. "Anyone actively seeking God has a target on their back."
Sponsors mentioned in this episode: Grand Canyon University (gcu.edu/myoffer), International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (ifcj.org), Van Man (vanman.shop/bure, code bure for 15% off), 316 Financial (bank316.com/candace, code CANDACE), Lovebird Cereal (lovebirdfoods.com/bure, code bure for 25% off)