Amy Carroll » Uncategorized » Five Minutes from My Heart

Five Minutes from My Heart

In the midst of the crisis around us, I’ve found myself lacking the brain-space or energy to blog like I usually do, but today I sat down to talk to you heart-to-heart for five minutes.

It’s not scripted.

It’s not polished.

I didn’t do preparation (except in my head) or notes.

I simply spoke what I feel for you and what I’d love for us to walk out together.

Listen: Listen = love

Feel: Here are the links to the resources I mentioned. Time with Jesus is the primary place where we deal with our emotions, but both of these have excellent techniques for facing fears.

Do: There are still things we can do, and we’ll feel better when we’re serving others. What ways have you found to serve?

Speak: Let’s listen more than we speak, but when we do speak, let’s let our words be laced with love.

If you haven’t seen the video go to my blog to watch.

Please make sure to leave me a prayer request. I promise to pray and let you know when I do.

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94 Comments

  1. Amy, I would appreciate prayer as I finish up my school semester in my OTA program. We will be doing our Fieldwork IA interventions virtually, plus keeping up with all our other classes. I am 55 years old and this is stretching me! Thank you so much for your prayers! Diane Wenger

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Diane, I just prayed for God’s strength for you and that His Spirit would rush in to fill every gap!

  2. Terri Damron says:

    I am a high school history teacher. During this time please pray for me and my students. I know many of them find safety and love at school. So please pray that our Lord protects them during this time. Also, pray that I would be able to meet their needs as I virtually meet with them.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying now, Terri. <3

  3. Tristina senter says:

    Hey Amy loved this. This is a challenging uncertain time. I could use prayer for clarity, there are so many resources out there I don’t know what I am supposed to be doing. I get distracted and overwhelmed. Thank you for your prayers

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for clarity and peace right now, Tristina. <3

  4. Please pray for broken relationship with my future daughter in law. I am asking God to show me the way through this situation and hoping healing is possible along with conflict resolution on both sides.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for restoration and healing right now, Kimberly. <3

  5. Pam McCall says:

    Amy, thank you so much for sharing. I’ve had a very difficult time getting a handle on all of my emotions these past 3 weeks and in fact had a melt down on Tuesday. This article on grief really helped me to put a name to most of what I’ve been feeling and my feet are standing on The Rock once again. Praying for you as you pray for the many requests that have come in.
    Standing on His Promises (Romans 4:20-21)
    Pam McCall

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Pam, I’m so glad that article was helpful. I didn’t know how to put words around my feelings either. Last night after praying through these requests all day, I had a big, ‘ole cleansing cry. So glad we’re standing on the Rock together!

  6. Hi Amy! Thanks for this video, it is a bright spot in all the chaos going on right now. My prayer request is for my dog. We found out 2 months ago she’s diabetic and these 2 months have been full of ups and downs. It seems like as soon as we get one of her health issues under control, another one pops up. I pray several times a day for her, and I know God hears me and makes her better and I have faith in Him, but sometimes I wonder why as soon as he does make her better, some new concern arises.
    Stay safe and God bless,
    Whitney

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      I’m so sorry, Whitney. Praying for your sweet fur baby right now. I’m sure just petting her is a comfort in the chaos.

  7. Caroline Calvin says:

    Please pray for my 81 year old mother, PJ,who lives alone in an a small apartment. She is dealing with much loneliness which she’s had since her husband passed away 4 years ago, but has increased with the current crisis, due to the closing of any gathering at her Senior Apartment complex. I have her over when I can, but it’s not enough, and I feel guilty because of that. ?

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for your sweet mama right now, Caroline, and peace for your heart. <3

  8. Laura J Hildebrand says:

    Please pray for my ex-husband’s and my daughter’s salvation. Thank you, Amy.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for them right now, Laura. <3

  9. Hi Amy,
    Thanks so much for your transparency and honesty in how you are doing – during this ominous time. I’ve always really appreciated that about you. I also love the 3 points you made: Feel, Do, Speak

    My Prayer Requests:
    Please pray for my daughter’s anxiety during this time (she is now on employment and will not have a job to return to after all this)
    and would you also pray for my marriage – it’s been a struggle for years – but now even more so – the last ember of affection seems to be going out. Please pray that I can continue to show love and to guard my lips.
    I am seeking the Lord for his Love and covering. Deut. 33:27

    I will pray for you as well. It’s always a pleasure to read and I never leave without my spirit being lifted up. Thank you!

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Susan, I just prayed for your sweet daughter and for love to be Divinely reignited in your marriage.

  10. Amy, you are in my thoughts and prayers during this crazy time in our world. You are an amazing “seed sender” for Jesus. My prayer request is for our leaders, and all health care workers on the front lines taking care of sick patients. Also for the first responders. I have been praying for them daily. I ask for prayers that this virus be eradicated sooner than later. I also ask for prayer for my son who has chosen to “social distance” himself from his family before “social distancing” became a “thing”. I don’t know how he is doing and every morning I give him over to the care of my Savior, Jesus, who is in ultimate control.
    Keeping the faith, In love, Jane Ann

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Sweet Jane Ann, praying over every request, especially your son. <3

  11. Elizabeth Richardson says:

    Thank you, Amy for your kindness and how you have shown me the love of Christ today.

    My prayer request is a job for my 32 year old son. He is a new engineer, who was having trouble finding a job before COVID, and now it seems that much more impossible. Yet we know that God is capable of the impossible!

    Blessings of peace and grace to you and your family.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for a job and provision for your son, Elizabeth. <3

  12. You are so awesome. Thank you for this 5 minutes. So great to see you and listen to you. As far as a prayer request goes, we have friends who are going through rough marital issues. I would love for you to pray for them. We will just call them M&E. I pray for God to be in the middle of their marriage and for each to draw close to Him and to remember how they loved each other when they were married. Thank you for taking time to care enough to ask us how you can pray for us. Bless you, Amy for all you are doing to help us stay close to Jesus.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Deanna, thank you for your ever-present encouragement. You’re a treasure to me! Praying now for M & E… a miracle to happen in the time together.

  13. Sue Meland says:

    Please pray for my husband John who is having severe anxiety. Thank you so much! We are in WA state 🙂

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for peace for your husband, Sue. <3 (It's a special gift to get to minister to our husbands, isn't it? My usually calm husband was very stressed about work today, and I got a chance to pray over him. It left us both with greater peace!)

  14. Please pray for my mom who is suffering from severe anxiety from what is going on in our world. Please help her to acknowledge her anxieties and move forward with God to overcome her fears. She insists she is not anxious, but blames it on her physical condition. We know she is physically sound because her anxiety sent her to the ER the other day and she was given a clean bill of health. Now she is even more fearful of the virus because of being in the ER. Please pray for God’s love to wrap her securely in his arms and protect her from her mind that is trying to take control. Thank you, be safe and God bless.

    1. Leigh Ellen says:

      Praying Psalm 94:10 over your mom, Sherry. May God’s consolation bring her joy!

      1. Leigh Ellen says:

        I am sorry, Sherry. – Psalm 94:19

    2. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for peace for your sweet mom, Sherry. <3

  15. Thanks for this quick message of encouragement today! I am really enjoying the Exhale bible study as well (although I am a bit behind!). Please pray for me, as a healthcare professional in a hospital and for my husband who is also essential,pray for our health and safety. Pray for patience and grace as we also figure out how to effectively homeschool our 2 young sons.

    1. Leigh Ellen says:

      Karen, praying Psalm 91:10-11 over your and your family today.

    2. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayers for health, peace and wisdom, Karen. <3

  16. Please pray for my daughter Lynne. Her father and I and family did an intervention two months ago to get her to commit to rehab for her drinking problem. We have had no contact with her. We have one month to go with the professional intervention service. Please pray that Lynne will choose treatment.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for Lynn now, Ann. <3

  17. Terry Wilcox says:

    Thank you for the encouraging note. I was watching a FaceBook video from the women’s ministry director of our church this morning and she was reading Psalm 77. She was talking about it being a Psalm that was a community lament. I hadn’t really equated the feelings of sadness that I have been feeling with those feelings of lament but that was exactly what is going on. Thoughts of God’s judgement being poured out on this earth and how some of my own children have not acknowledged Him as their Lord and Savior. Also, the anxiety that comes from the unknown of what is going to happen. I am home with my husband of 35 years and the youngest of our 9 children who is 14. We had homeschooled up to 2 years ago so I am not worried about that but my husband and I have grown distant and I find that we are still keeping our distance here at home. So my prayer is for God to do a restoring work in our family and for me to see this as a wake up call to action for His Glory.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Terry, just prayed for a full and glorious restoration. <3

  18. Paula Massey says:

    Amy, thank you for your wise words. The timing is perfect- I needed this!
    My prayer request…
    For our daughter Rachel(she’s almost 8 months pregnant and is a Physician’s Assistant in AL) Someone that works at her Madison clinic tested positive for coronavirus ?‍♀️
    Luckily, they were on vacation last week so hopefully only minimal (if any) exposure.”
    ????????????????

    Please pray for her and her family.

    1. Leigh Ellen says:

      Paula, praying Psalm 91:10-11 over your daughter and her unborn baby. May God multiply His peace and protection over them.

    2. Amy Carroll says:

      Paula, prayed for your daughter and sweet grandbaby just now. <3

  19. Amy thank you for this article and video. It gave me permission to just be allowing God to orchestra my moments rather than having the feeling that I should me constantly moving or doing something that should be my normal routine.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Grace and peace, Carolyn. <3

  20. Erika Crawford says:

    My husband and my sister are essential workers, so please join us in prayer for their protection from this and every virus and evil each day as they go to work, and protection over our homes during this season.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayed, Erika. <3

  21. Please pray for my prodigal sons. We are all living together still and I want this time to be more spiritually meaningful instead of just day to day routine. They are quite resistant to spiritual things and walked away 2 ish years ago. Some days my heart feels so broken.

    1. Leigh Ellen says:

      Richelle, praying Jeremiah 31:3 over your boys. May Holy Spirit soften the soil of their hearts and open their ears to hear the tender voice of Father. And, may he multiply comfort to your heart today.

    2. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayed for your sons hearts to soften and open during this time, Richelle. <3

  22. Hello! I would love for you to join me in Prayer for my son Max. That God would lead him and guide him in the direction He wants him to go. Max is a new Christian and is easily confused about his relationship with God.
    Max is trying to start a career in making music and it is a very slow process so he questions himself a lot wether he should continue or not.
    Thank you for your prayers.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for Max now, Debi. I have a son who’s a musician, so I know that hard path well. <3

  23. Melanie Nichols says:

    Hey Amy!

    We are considered “essential” here at work so we are at work each day. Pray for safety for our drivers, warehouse workers and mechanics! Also pray for safety of all or our first responders. My son is part of the Sheriff Department and he is answering more and more calls at homes where everyone are in the midst of anger and fighting! He says everyone just needs to learn to take a walk 🙂 .
    You know me, so you know I am struggling with not being able to spend time with my friends! I can’t wait until the day I can get a hug again! Love ya!

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Praying for Daniel and your whole company, Melanie! Big hugs to you and let me know if you want to Zoom one day.

  24. thanks so much for your video this morning. I already feel better!!! We are in the same situation, a 22 year old back with us and a husband working from home and it is nice, but at the same time, it has disrupted my routine and the house is getting a bit small! I’m still working on reading the Exhale book and keeping up with the study. For me, I realized yesterday, that people on social media, (and really everywhere) if they were “judgy” and critical and not very nice people before this crisis, well… they are probably going to be the same way, in fact worse!! I had already avoided most news and realized that there is SO MANY more positive ways for me to spend my time than on social media. 2 things I started doing.
    1. I’m calling 1-2 friends, cousins, people a day that I wouldn’t normally call on a consistent basis. I’ve had such a blast visiting and getting caught up. This is much better than scrolling through newsfeeds.

    2. I started listening to a fiction book while I was doing tasks at the house. (The Girl’s Still Got It by Liz Curtis Higgs) Well, it isn’t exactly fiction, it’s based on the book of Ruth. But, anyways, WOW… I’ve been smiling and enjoying it so much and again, it is taking my eyes off of the current situation and improving my mood. I had listened to it about a year ago, but Liz is such a great story teller and I’m also learning so much about the Bible. Good Stuff.

    My prayer request is that we believers, us “sisters” might really dig in and be leaders to our sphere’s of influence, to not give in the easy of Netflix and sleep and apathy but to use this time to “sharpen iron” and grow ourselves. I’ve stumbled a bit, but I want to get back on track.

    Lastly, I was thinking of the lyrics in Oceans by Hillsong, “take me deeper than my feet would ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.” We have been taken deeper than we would choose to wander, but we can all make our faith stronger– but we do have to be intentional about it.

    Thanks for your encouragement and leadership Amy!!!

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Such great steps, Joni! Thanks for encouraging all of us! May we leverage this time for God’s glory and see it as a gift.

  25. Please pray for our daughter, Katy, working in a hospital and dealing directly with infected patients. Pray for salvation, provision, protection, strength and encouragement. Thank you for your desire to pray for us. Don’t we all miss our face-to-face fellowship, but I guess this is the next best way.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayed for Katy, Val. <3

  26. Please pray for my friend Michelle who is stuck in Peru and working with the US Embassy to get home. She’s updated us daily with videos and has maintained an amazing calm, but I worry about her. Thank you!

    1. Leigh Ellen says:

      Dana, praying for you and your friend.

    2. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayed for Michelle, Dana. <3

  27. Please pray for my friend Denise. Her 24-year-old son succumbed to the virus earlier this week. My heart is aching for her. She is a faithful Christian and so was her son, but her pain must be beyond what we can imagine. Thank you.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Unimaginably heartbreaking. Prayed for Denise. <3

  28. Christianne McCall says:

    Thank you for praying for all of us. It shows such a loving heart.

    I would ask for prayers to go back to work, for patience with my daughter as we navigate homeschooling and for healing for my husband that suffers with alcohol abuse.

    Amen.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayed, Chstianne. <3

  29. Thank you Amy for this encouraging video. My prayer request is for everyone that has been affected by this horrific virus as well as all the ones on the front lines. However, my heart breaks for the ones that have passed away and their family could not be there. I think that would be so sad not to have your loved one by your side. My prayers are also for the ones that don’t know Jesus as their Savior and they would find him through this crisis. ~Lisa~

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Oh, yes. Prayed, Lisa. <3

  30. Gayle Pfister says:

    My prayer is for us to get our flight to the UK on the 21st of April from South Africa. We are in the process of immigrating and sold everything and are now waiting to leave. Our flights were cancelled due to lockdown in SA. It’s difficult moving never mind moving to a new country but during a pandemic that is extremely overwhelming. At times it makes one rethink everything. Yet we prayed God would open the way and he did then the pandemic and subsequently the lockdown. It’s too late to stop as the little possessions we have left are in storage waiting to be shipped. Just need God’s supernatural peace knowing he is with us during this move.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayed, Gayle. <3

  31. Hi Amy-

    Thank you so much for your heartfelt love and encouragement for us. Please pray for me as I ask God for His wisdom and discernment for how best to care for my mom especially during this time.

    Thanks much, stay well and may God continue to bless you richly.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayed, Marsha. <3

  32. My son and his fiancé have planned their dream wedding. They’ve planned for over a year and a half. The wedding is supposed to be this May. Please pray a prayer for them as they live in this time of anxiety and fear as to whether their wedding can go on as they have carefully planned. Please pray for guidance and peace for them.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Prayed, Michele. <3

  33. Kat Adams says:

    Listen with love – that really spoke to me. My prayer request is for everyone affected by this virus financially and emotionally.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Kat, I just joined my prayers with yours. Lord, please provide for those who have lost jobs and are suffering financially. Strengthen those who are weak emotionally. Help us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us.

  34. Debbie Bogosian says:

    I read an article on grief last week and it helped me realize what I had been feeling. Losing our ability to go when and where we want has been an especially hard pill to swallow. Trying to get myself to find things to do in my home has been hard because my energy level is down. I too find it hard to focus and look forward instead of feeling lost and confused. My husband and take at least one good walk a day (even took plastic bags and gloves on Monday to pick up trash). I have a daughter who just became a nurse in January so she is on the front lines and I am concerned for her and her family. Please pray for my energy and my daughter’s protection. Thank you Amy for this video and the Bible study Exhale we are doing right now.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Debbie, I just prayed for your requests now. Lord, strengthen Debbie in her grief. Please protect and bless her daughter who is caring tender for others.

      I’m so glad you’re part of the online study. The group has been such an encouragement to me too!

  35. Great video, I always need reminders to listen. People want to tell their story and my best gift is to listen. Your resources were interesting but my soul yearns for more spirit based resources. Not pray and “it will all go away“, but how to settle in on my foundation of God, which will give me sure footing. I am in such a state of shell shock I am having trouble reaching to God, I know He is there but I am just unable to reach out to him. I just trust He has me, that He is sovereign and that this is a brief moment in my eternal picture.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Kris, I completely understand about the need for a Rock to stand on. The First 5 app has been a constant source of sound teaching and structure for me. If you want to find out more about it, you can visit https://first5.org/

      Also, music is something that’s reaching deep into my soul and comforting me. This is the beautiful song I listened to from the Getty’s right before I went to bed earlier this week. https://www.facebook.com/selahmusic/videos/290052355296271/UzpfSTEyMjc0NzU3ODk6MTAyMTc0MTU3MzMxNjUwODY/ It reminds me of my key verse for the year, “He tends his flocks like shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” Isaiah 40:11.

      1. Thanks for the links. I love the Getty’s, have been listening to their concerts from home with the girls. Music does speak to my heart, I will check this one out. I was doing the First5 for a few months but am doing two others right now, maybe I should wander back.

    2. Leigh Ellen says:

      Praying for you, Kris.

  36. Please pray for me as I attend a virtual conference called Lift that it will help me in my business ventures.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Lord, fill Susan with wisdom and inspiration at her conference. We ask for practical help with her business.

  37. We own a business that is doing COVID cleaning. Please pray for safety and health and protection for our employees and us. Thank you!

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Lord, thank you for Andrea and her business! Bless them as they serve others during this hard time and protect their health. Lord, please keep them safe.

  38. Hi Amy,

    Thank you for taking five minutes to share your heart. I’m doing a lot of listening and I just want prayer that I’ll have clarity, courage and obedience to “do”.

    And I’ll be praying that your words are soft and tender ?

    All my best,

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Lord, thank you for Rita and her heart to serve. Lead her to where you want her to be and show her what you want her to do.

      Thanks for your prayers for me too!

  39. Amy, thank you so much for this message this morning! I have my moments of anxiety and therefore excited to check out the resource on anxiety. That would be my prayer request to calm my anxious heart. I am making the masks and finding comfort that I am ‘doing something’. Thank you for the reminder to listen more than speak! Blessings.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Lord, flood SueAnna with your peace today. In this time when we’re all feeling anxious, give us the supernatural peace that you promised that isn’t dulled by circumstances.

    2. Leigh Ellen says:

      SueAnna, praying for God to multiply his consolation and joy to you today. Psalm 94:19

  40. Hi Amy, great video. I love how you were honest about not having the feelings to back up a blog. That helps me personally too. 🙂 ❤️

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Love to you always, Mara!

  41. Polly Tabor says:

    Thank you for your five minutes and the reminder to be a good listener. I am not sure how to tell you to pray for me. I have a lot of things to unlearn and just really need to hear a fresh word from the Lord and want to know that in this dark season I am walking on the right path. It doesn’t feel like it at the moment but as I write this as I reminded that his ways are not necessarily understood by me I am just to be obedient! I need clarity for this season, less of me more of Him.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Lord, in this time of less activity, I pray that you’d speak to Polly in the silences. Give her a passion for reading her Bible and spend time being quiet before you. As she does, I pray that You’ll meet her there in ways she’s never experienced before!