1KHO 759: When Worry Stops Running the Show | Addison Bevere, Words With God

In this powerful episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, host Jenny Ertz sits down with Addison Bevere, author of *Words With God* and its accompanying 40-day prayer journal, to explore the transformative journey from performative prayer to authentic, relational connection with God. Addison shares his personal story of burnout, insomnia, and spiritual disintegration—driven by the pressure of being the firstborn in a high-achieving family and the belief that productivity equaled worth. A pivotal moment came during a silent retreat when he experienced a breakthrough after reading Psalm 127, realizing he had been feasting on anxiety. His encounter with Ivan, a man with terminal cancer, deepened his understanding of prayer not as a transactional tool for miracles, but as a pathway to intimacy, surrender, and presence. Addison challenges the common misconception that prayer is about getting what we want, instead reframing it as a sacred space of listening, resting, and being known by God. He emphasizes that true prayer is not frantic striving but a posture of rest, presence, and surrender—what he calls 'praying without ceasing' from a place of stillness. The episode also highlights practical spiritual disciplines, such as protecting the first hour of the day from screens, embracing the 'theta state' of waking, and using nature as a gateway to God’s presence. Through stories, neuroscience, and Scripture, Addison reveals that prayer is not about controlling outcomes but about being transformed by the One who holds all things. The conversation culminates in a profound message: faith is power, worry is anti-power, and the antidote to anxiety is a life of prayerful presence.