This is Your Nudge to…Deepen Your Relationship with God with Monica Ritchie

Have you ever turned your relationship with God into another thing on your to-do list? Read the Bible. Check.Pray. Check.Go to church. Check.Serve. Check. And somehow, all the things that were meant to draw you closer to Jesus start feeling like things you have to accomplish to prove you’re doing faith *right*. If you’ve ever been there, this episode is your nudge to put down the checklist and remember: **God loved you before you ever did a single thing for Him.** Today I’m talking with my wise friend **Monica Ritchie** about what it looks like to grow in our faith without slipping into legalism or performance. Monica Ritchie is a Bible Teacher & Theologian. She’s passionate about bringing you accessible theology that you can embody in real life. She says, “I’m your friend that went to seminary,” and she means it! Her heart is to share more of who God is so that you are better equipped to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Monica also shares her own unexpected journey from fashion influencer to Bible teacher and theologian—and I love the way she reminds us that faith, creativity, beauty, and theology don't have to live in separate boxes. We talk about spiritual disciplines like prayer, Scripture, worship, silence, rest, and community—not as rules we have to follow, but as rhythms that continually turn our hearts back toward God. And those rhythms? They might look completely different depending on your life and the season you're in. - Spiritual disciplines are meant to lead us toward **freedom, not pressure**. - Your relationship with Jesus was never supposed to be a checklist. - Prayer, Scripture, worship, silence, and community can look different for different people and in different seasons—and that's okay. - Rest isn't something we have to earn. God invites us into it. - We need community, but sometimes building it means being brave enough to take the first step. - Vulnerability allows us to experience deeper, more authentic relationships. - Slowing down creates space for us to actually hear what God might be saying. - Faith and creativity don't have to compete with each other. Friend, we don't obey God so He'll love us more. We don't read enough Scripture, pray the right prayers, or accomplish enough good things to finally earn our place with Him. **We start from the truth that we are loved by God. Not for anything we’ve done. But just because He always has and always will love us.** And when we really believe that? Our time with the Lord stops being something we *have* to do and starts becoming time with Someone we long to spend time with. So if you've been exhausted from trying to be a “good enough” Christian, this is your nudge to: **stop performing and start receiving.** You are already loved. Let's live from there. 💛 *Make sure you're following This Is Your Nudge so you don't miss the conversations that help you stop making excuses, step out of someday, and into the promises and goodness God has for you today.* **Links:**  Laura L. Smith:  Website https://www.laurasmithauthor.com/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laurasmithauthor/ Brave Woman, Mighty God book**:** https://amzn.to/4qSiW4r Monica Ritchie links**:** Fashioned by Faith book  Website: https://monicaritchie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmonicaritchie/ Nuuly: $30 off your first month, cancel or pause your subscription at any time: https://share.nuuly.com/laura5845  **Here’s what you’ll take away from this episode:**