Growing up as a missionary kid in Romania, Asheritah Ciuciu saw miracles nearly every day as Jesus transformed the most unlikely converts into devoted Christ-followers. From that formative season came a passion to reach believers with a life-changing message: you can experience a close, joy-filled relationship with Jesus. That’s the theme behind her ministry, One Thing Alone Ministries, and the 10 books she’s written, including “Prayers of Rest,” “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus” and “Delighting in Jesus.”

Join the conversation below to get an up-close view of Asheritah’s love of sourdough and lattes, the consequences of reading fiction far too late into the night and what she’s learned about experiencing Jesus in the midst of a busy, messy life. You’ll also get a peek at the spiritual habits that help her nurture her relationship with the Holy Spirit and the books and apps that have reshaped how she approaches prayer and Bible study.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

Growing up in a foodie family that traveled often between Romania and the U.S., I’ve inherited my mother’s love of cooking, good food and trying new things. That means that most days find me in the kitchen, whipping up a home-cooked meal with my children at my side or trying out one of the hundreds of recipes I’ve pinned or emailed to myself. Thankfully, my husband often joins me as sous chef, and all three of our kids have learned enough kitchen skills that they’re actually helpful in meal prep.

Like half the world, I dabbled with sourdough baking during the pandemic, and I stuck with it in the years since. Our little sourdough starter lives in the fridge most of the time and is called Queen Victoria. (Queen, corona, get it? That’s our brand of humor over here.) Nothing beats homemade sourdough waffles with maple syrup on a chilly Ohio morning.

But when I need some time alone, I steal away to the locally owned Artisan Coffee. When I need to get work done, you’ll find me at the same coffee shop. And when I’m meeting up with a friend, you bet it’s going to be over seasonal lattes at this singular coffee shop. I didn’t even drink coffee before I tried their Orangeman (housemade orange and chocolate syrups, espresso shots and steamed milk, in case you’re wondering). It’s that drink that converted me into the avid coffee drinker I am today. It’s that coffee shop that served as the backdrop for heartfelt conversations over the past decade. And it’s at those tables that I’ve written most of my 10 books. Thanks for changing my world, Artisan — one mocha at a time.

a trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio — Ally Griffin; Unsplash

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activity (or activities) do you love engaging in, which also helps you find essential spiritual renewal?

Every year, our family participates in our county’s fall hiking spree, exploring eight to 10 local parks as the leaves change colors and gradually fall to the muddy ground.

This tradition is both predictable (we’ve been doing it for five years now) and adventurous (we discover new hiking trails we’ve never been on before), the walks becoming a sacred space to slow the hustle and relearn wonder. For those two or three miles, as long as our little expedition lasts, we put away our phones, leave behind unfinished tasks, and remember that we belong to each other. There’s a sense of camaraderie as we trek up and down hills; we’re in this together, no matter how steep the incline or rough the weather.

But perhaps most lovely of all, our senses come alive to the supernatural hidden in the natural. “Mom, do you hear the bird singing?” one child asks me, pointing up a tree. “Mom, look! It’s a baby snail!” another marvels, bending over a fern leaf. “Mom, do you think I can jump across the stream without getting wet?” yet another tugs on my arm. “Come jump with me!”

And for a few hours, I forget my grown-up responsibilities. I forget to worry about how I look or how much I’ve gotten done or what next week might hold. For that short span of time, I’m a child again, marveling at the Father’s world with my own children beside me.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite, and how do you hide it?

Late-night reading is my kryptonite. It started when I was a kid growing up in Romania, sneaking books under the covers with a flashlight, determined to find out what happened next. (Confession: I always knew which floorboard creaked in the hallway, and I’d listen for the tread of my dad’s steps to snap my night lamp off before he’d catch me up.)

Fast forward to today, and not much has changed — except now it’s not “Anne of Green Gables” but fantasy or cozy mysteries that just happened to show up on my Kindle. I’d tell myself, “Just one more chapter,” knowing full well it was a lie. By the time I’d check the clock, it’d be way too late, and I’d mentally calculate how many hours of sleep I could squeeze in before it was time to wake up the kids for the day.

Of course, I’d pay for it the next morning — dragging myself through the day, running on coffee and sheer determination. And I hated how it affected my patience (or lack thereof) with my family. I kept telling myself I’d do better, but when bedtime rolled around and that book was calling my name, it was a battle I’d rarely win.

So I had to take drastic measures. I disconnected my Kindle from the book subscription so that fun novels stopped appearing in my library. I uploaded some theological tomes and parenting memoirs that have magically cured my insomnia and got me to sleep within minutes. It’s been empowering, locking that kryptonite away and finally getting a good night’s rest. Now, all I need to do is forget my password for my book subscription service so those fun reads don’t end up on my Kindle again. That shouldn’t be too hard, right?

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your current obsession? And why should it be ours?

Right now, I’m spending most of my time pouring into my new book, “Delighting in Jesus: Rhythms to Restore Joy When You Feel Burdened, Broken, or Burned-Out.” Honestly, it’s the book I needed a few years ago — when I felt physically exhausted, spiritually dry and relationally spent. I’d become grumpy and cynical, and I didn’t like that version of me.

The turning point came when I read a simple prayer in the Psalms: “Restore the sparkle to my eyes, Lord, or I will die” (Psalm 13:3, NLT). Sure, it sounded dramatic, but it echoed the cry of my heart; I began believing that God could do a miracle in my life. Over the 18 months that followed, God worked to bring healing and restoration (both physically and spiritually), and this foundational truth finally sank into my heart: following Jesus isn’t about trying harder or doing more; it’s about receiving God’s delight in us, learning to delight in him and letting that joy reshape everything else.

This book isn’t a how-to guide for fixing your spiritual life. It’s more like a heart-to-heart conversation, sharing my own experiences and exploring how Jesus invites us into his rhythms of joy — right here, in the middle of our messy, busy lives. It’s practical and personal, and I hope that it helps our generation of Christians awaken to the wonder of God’s delight.

If you’re tired of feeling like you’re falling short or just going through the motions, “Delighting in Jesus” invites you to come back to the heart of what it means to follow him: joy, rest and the rhythms of grace he offers every day. Because when we rediscover that joy, everything changes.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?

Writing has always been something of a mystery to me. On the one hand, there’s the actual work of showing up, opening my laptop, pulling up my outline and typing words on a screen. On the other hand, those words feel lifeless and limp unless the Spirit of God fills me with his creativity and inspiration. The fear that his Spirit might somehow leave me to fend for myself often keeps me from starting.

But I can’t wait for that inspiration to just zap me while I’m scrolling social media or watching a show — most often, it comes while I’m doing the work of clacking on my keyboard. Most of the time, I’m not even aware of where my work ends and where the Spirit’s work begins. He so infuses me with his presence that his whisper somehow seamlessly integrates with my voice on the page.

That said, I’ve learned over the years that creativity can’t be forced, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance doesn’t always show up on a schedule. Some of my best ideas come when I least expect them — while I’m walking in the woods, washing dishes or chopping vegetables. Other times, it’s in moments of quiet when I’m reading my Bible or just waking up in the morning. It’s like God drops these sparks of inspiration into my mind, gently reminding me, “This is what I want you to say.”

It’s still a mystery to me, but it’s a mystery I’ve come to love. God invites us to join him as co-creators, weaving his truth and beauty into the world. And every time I sense his leading, it’s a reminder that I’m not alone in this work — that he’s the true author, and I just get the joy of being part of the process.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied habits that open our hearts to the presence of God. So let us in. Which spiritual practice is working best for you right now?

My favorite spiritual practice has been taking a morning prayer walk with Jesus a few times a week. After I send my son off on the school bus, I keep walking — sometimes around my neighborhood, sometimes in the woods nearby. It’s a time I’ve come to treasure, a way to step into the day grounded in God’s presence.

As I walk, I pull out a notes app on my phone with a few reflection questions that help me tune my heart to him:

In the last 24 hours, where have I seen God’s fingerprints in my life?
What are three things I’m grateful for?
What’s a burden I’m carrying that I need to hand over to Jesus?

I might practice a simple breath prayer, letting the rhythm of my steps match the counts of my breathing, or pause to take in the intricate beauty around me — the sparkling dew on a grass blade, the intricate grooves of a tree trunk, the vibrant colors of the morning sky.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount, listening to it in audio form, and I’ll ponder: “What does this passage teach me about life in God’s kingdom? And what does it reveal about the heart of God?” It’s a quiet, soul-filling way to listen for his voice.

Toward the end of my walk, I’ll think about the day ahead: “What am I anxious about? Where do I need God’s wisdom or presence?” Often, I’ll end with a prayer from Psalm 139: “Search me, o God, and know my thoughts. Test me and know my anxious ways. See if there is any undesirable way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” I’ve been surprised at how often God will give me the answer to something that’s been on my mind or show me the next right step of obedience.

As I step onto my driveway, I thank Jesus for his constant presence with me through his Spirit, and I ask him to help me see others as he sees them and love them as he loves them.

Taking this morning walk with Jesus has been one of the regular rhythms in my healing journey that he’s used to restore his joy in my life. Through this and other rhythms, I’m beginning to view the world as a place brimming with his beauty, power and grace at work all around us — and within us.

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Looking backward, considering the full sweep of your unique faith journey and all you encountered along the way, what top three resources stand out to you? What changed the game and changed your heart? What radically altered your life? What changed your reality?

As I look back on the last five years of my faith journey, a few resources stand out for having radically altered how I understand life with God. The first is “Gentle and Lowly” by Dane Ortlund. This book helped me see a whole new side of Jesus in the Gospels, revealing him as compassionate, tender and deeply understanding of our human struggles rather than distant or disappointed in us. It stirred a hunger in me to know Jesus more deeply, personally and intimately. His kindness became something I could rest in, and that shift has reshaped how I approach him in prayer and in my everyday life.

Another resource that has been life-changing for me is The Bible Project. I can’t even count how many times I’ve turned to their videos and podcasts to better understand the context of Scripture. Most recently, their yearlong exploration of the Sermon on the Mount was particularly transformational for me. I’ve been trying to memorize it for over 15 years, but it wasn’t until I started engaging with The Bible Project content that I truly began to understand the heart of Jesus’ teaching in a way that clicked. Suddenly, the words weren’t just lines to memorize — they became hyperlinks all over the Bible that illuminated a new way of living in God’s kingdom here and now!

Lastly, I’ve got to mention “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer, which I read the month before the pandemic shut our world down (how ironic). It helped me see how the solution to my overbusy life wasn’t more time — it was learning to slow down and simplify my life around what really matters. To live where my feet are planted, as cliché as that sounds. This has meant cutting down on projects, reprioritizing time with my family and modeling for my children what it looks like to cheerfully miss out (rather than live in constant FOMO). I’m still learning what this looks like, but each season has brought more pruning, as Jesus describes in John 15, and I’m starting to enjoy life at the pace of slow.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or even thrive) in tough times — times like these! Name one resource you’re savoring and/or finding indispensable in this current season, and tell us what it’s doing for you.

In this current season, one resource that’s been absolutely indispensable for me is the Dwell Bible app. I’ve been using it for years now, ever since I joined their Kickstarter before it became the go-to audio Bible for many, and it’s only grown on me with every update they roll out. Honestly, I can’t imagine life without it now. The app makes it so easy to listen to Scripture while doing household chores, going for a walk or even as I’m winding down at night. I’ve listened to the Bible cover to cover several times, and each time, I get something new from it.

This year, I’ve been focusing on the Sermon on the Mount. I try to listen to it every day (although, let’s be real, life sometimes gets in the way). But by letting Jesus’ words wash over me repeatedly, I’ve found that they sink deeper into my heart. They even pop up in conversation when I least expect them! And the beauty of Dwell is that it’s not just a passive experience.

Its different reading plans and new “Dwell Kids Daily” plans make it easy to dig into God’s Word every day, and I love that the app has an audio Bible that’s read by children, making it fun for my kids to listen to too! The app makes it easy to meditate on Scripture even when I don’t have time for a deep-dive inductive study, and it keeps God’s Word in my heart and mind throughout the day, no matter how busy or overwhelming life gets.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

OK, this might feel like a wild curveball, but what’s been stirring in my heart recently is a turn toward fiction — specifically fantasy that reawakens the evangelical imagination to the wonder of our Creator God and his work in the world.

For most of my life, I’ve lived firmly in the rational side of my brain, always seeking logical explanations for everything — becoming adept in apologetics and defending my faith. But over the past decade, I’ve come to realize that God doesn’t just want my thoughts — he wants my whole self. He desires my creativity, my imagination, my dreams and my energy. And he invites us (you and me and all who belong to his family) to partner with him in the work he is doing in this world.

This vision of God’s kingdom come here on earth is so different from what I once believed was possible, but it’s firmly rooted in God’s commission to humans in Genesis 1-2; it’s redeemed in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection; and it’s reiterated in his commissioning of his disciples. Somehow, I want to capture the wonder of what this all means by writing stories, and the thought is both exhilarating and terrifying. It’s exhilarating because I’ve always wanted to write fiction, even as a teen hiding under the covers, reading far too late into the night. But it’s also terrifying because fiction demands a different set of skills than nonfiction. What if I’m bad at it?

I’m not sure what this journey into fiction will look like, but I sure am excited to discover what sub-creation with God (to borrow Tolkein’s phrasing) might look like in this next season of my life!

For some people, connecting with God emotionally is one of the harder aspects of spiritual growth. After all, it’s one thing to ask him for provision, salvations or miracles, but it’s another thing entirely to open your heart and emotions to the Holy Spirit.

If that’s something you’d like to grow in, consider taking some time — perhaps on a long walk or sitting in a quiet place alone — to focus specifically on connecting with Jesus. Asheritah’s three questions are a great place to start:

In the last 24 hours, where have I seen God’s fingerprints in my life?
What are three things I’m grateful for?
What’s a burden I’m carrying that I need to hand over to Jesus?

Asheritah Ciuciu