WEBVTT 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:13.919 Thank you for the opportunity to come in your praise. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:23.600 I think you put your words in my mouth that I will not say anything that you wouldn't want me to say, but I would say what you want me to say in Jesus' name. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:24.480 Amen. 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:30.320 I was thinking about prayer, and prayer is communion with God. 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:33.119 It is so intimate with God. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:41.520 And I was thinking about this when we read the Lord's Prayer, everything is in the Lord's Prayer that we need. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:44.560 Our daily needs, forgiveness. 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:49.600 But I was thinking about this because I don't know if y'all are like me, I get in my head a lot. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:52.960 And the enemy starts lying to me about stuff. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:01:02.560 But I love 1 Thessalonians says, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:13.920 So what I've learned with prayer, if I go and get in prayer, the first few minutes when I wake up, it don't have to be a long time. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.120 You heard that prayer. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:16.560 It was very short. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:20.319 I think sometimes we get religious and think we've got to pray for hours. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:27.840 I'm not saying there's times that you don't need to pray for hours, but our God is so merciful and so kind. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.159 Sometimes all you can do is say, Jesus. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:31.519 That is prayer. 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:37.040 And I love that Hebrews 4, 16, so let us draw near with confidence. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:38.719 Oh, I love this. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:44.239 Draw close to the throne of grace that you may receive mercy. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:47.359 That's another prayer that you can pray. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:50.079 But I love the Lord's Prayer for this reason. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:53.760 It talks about He will give us daily bread. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:54.640 Oh my God. 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:55.359 Daily bread. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.680 I don't know everybody here likes bread, I guess. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:01.040 Okay, that maybe still better. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:03.200 Um, I mean everybody, daily bread. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:04.879 He gives us daily bread. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:09.360 That means whatever we need, he's gonna give it to us for that day. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:14.719 It reminds me of the scripture, he gives us brand new mercy and grace every single day. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:21.039 So when we pray, it helps us not to lean on our own understanding. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.120 Man, is that not a big one? 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:27.680 I mean, man, you lean on your own understanding, you're gonna get in fear. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:32.960 Because when we think in our mind, that's where the enemy works. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:36.159 I mean, he makes something little look so big. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:43.759 So I love that in prayer in Philippians 4, 6 said, this is my favorite scripture. 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:46.960 Do not be anxious about anything. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.000 I dealt with panic attacks for years. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:56.159 And when I talk, I like to tell stories because I think people love to hear stories, real life stories. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:07.039 And um I dealt with panic attacks so bad that one time I was driving and um I had a panic attack at the wheel. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.080 And it was bad. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:13.120 I just blanked out, I was gone. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:18.879 And when I did, I hit this big wall because I had been anxious. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:20.800 I had been worrying about it. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:25.439 Do you know worrying will keep you even from praying? 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:26.400 Because why? 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.960 Worrying causes fear to come in. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:36.719 So that morning I had a lot going on, and when I when I hit the embankment, my car was smashed. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:37.840 It was totaled. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.599 It was totaled. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:45.680 And I remember after the accident was over, it broke my arm, it broke my leg. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:47.120 It was bad. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:51.759 And I remember when I came to and got myself back together. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:56.159 This scripture became something so strong with me. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:58.960 Do not be angels for anything. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:01.599 That's why prayer is so important. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:03.039 Because guess what? 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:04.879 You can talk to God. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:09.360 I was watching a movie the other night and I was thinking things. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:11.599 It wasn't a bad movie, so don't judge me. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:13.680 It wasn't like a bad movie. 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.720 It was a Hallmark movie, everybody, okay? 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:18.079 So get it out of here. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:20.800 And I was thinking something I shouldn't. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:22.639 And I was like, oh, I would. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:25.120 And I just felt not a voice. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:28.959 I felt impressed, the Lord just said, You can tell me about it. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:29.920 It's all right. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:31.040 I done know. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:34.160 So prayer is communicating with God. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:39.360 Prayer will pull you through some of the awfulest times of your life. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:41.759 I've had many challenges with that. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:46.720 One thing I've learned about is this this is a confidence that we have. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:50.959 If we ask God anything according to his will, it will be dying. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:52.720 What are some of those things? 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:58.560 Faith, kindness, love, not having fear. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:02.399 How about just having peace that passes all understanding? 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:09.040 I love the story where Jesus tells us in the Lord's Prayer, forgive those. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.839 Forgive those people that have hurt you. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:13.040 How can you do that? 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:14.639 You do it by praying. 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:15.759 You know what? 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:19.600 The more you pray, the more you take on God's character. 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:22.240 You can't help it, you just take on his character. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:26.720 You start thinking, oh my God, that don't bother me like it used to. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:31.199 Or maybe somebody that you didn't like, now you love them. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.360 That's taking on the character of God. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:35.839 I love my own story with that. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.439 I was molested as a little girl for many years. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:41.519 We won't go into that whole story. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.319 It was a horrible time in my life. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:53.120 But as I started praying and getting to know the Father and getting intimate with him, because that's what prayer is. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:57.439 Intimate in to him is how I like to say it. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:01.600 And I remember my stepfather, my molester, was dying. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:07.199 And I had went before God and said, God, I don't want this man to go to hell. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:09.040 And I had been in prayer. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:14.480 When you get in prayer, you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:23.279 Because something inside of us, which is the whole precious Holy Spirit, empowers us to do the right thing. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:30.879 So my stepfather was dying, and I went to the hospital, and I said, Lord, what do you want me to do here? 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:32.800 And I remember I had been praying. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:35.040 God had done something in my heart. 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:36.800 That's what prayer does. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:42.079 God will take your heart that is so hard and he will soften it. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:44.079 That's what prayer does for us. 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.959 So I walked in the room, and there he was. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:48.560 He was laying there dying. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:52.079 He was my molester, the molester that had molested me. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:58.079 And because I had been with Jesus and He had forgiven me for so much. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:00.399 Do you all know that He's forgiven you? 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:04.000 And when you're in prayer, you learn that about God. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:11.600 And I remember leaning over his bed and I said to him, You're dying. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:13.199 He took my hand. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:16.720 He said, Please forgive me for what I've done to you. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:20.079 And immediately I led him to Jesus Christ. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:24.560 And it was a real sorrow, a real repentance. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:30.000 But I could not have done that unless I had learned how to pray. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:33.439 It is so important we learn how to pray. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:39.920 Prayer is not a religious act, it is an intimacy with God. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:43.279 The Holy Spirit lives inside of us. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:46.639 The Holy Spirit will teach us how to pray. 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:53.680 He's our teacher, he's our comforter, he's our helper, and he will help you pray. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:08:02.959 I love this part of the scripture that says, even when we're weak, the Holy Spirit in us can pray through us. 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:04.480 And we won't get into that. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:06.399 That might be for another time. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:13.040 The Holy Spirit is in us, and the Holy Spirit will pray through us to the Father. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:15.839 So I wanted you to be encouraged tonight. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.759 If you don't have a prayer life, it's not a religious act. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:22.639 I have friends I talk to every single day. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:24.800 We can talk for hours. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:38.000 And I have friends that, you know, we may say just a few words together, but with the Father, our Heavenly Father, who hurt in heaven, you can talk to him every single day. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:44.399 You can talk to him when you're hurting, when you're driving to work, or maybe you just don't feel right. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:47.200 You ever woke up one morning go something's off? 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.320 You know, you can talk to him about those things. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:56.240 One thing I've learned in my journey with God is I can be honest with God. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:58.320 I can be so honest with him. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:08:59.519 He's all right. 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:03.279 He done knows what you're facing, he done knows what you're going through. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:08.879 We're living in a time now where we've never been in this time. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.480 I've never seen a time like this. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:11.919 It's very dark. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:21.120 And if you go out into the world and you have not spent time in prayer with the Father, those things are going to affect you. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.240 But if you have spent, I want y'all to get this. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:28.639 If y'all have spent time in prayer, you're going to affect the darkness. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.879 Come on, you're going to affect it. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:32.000 Because guess what? 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:36.080 The Bible says the light is on the inside of us. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:38.240 He is the light in us. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:42.240 And you can walk in, the darkness doesn't have to affect you. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:44.879 The Bible says, let not your heart be troubled. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:46.480 Be of good cheer. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:47.919 You've overcome. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:49.279 But how do we do that? 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:53.360 We do that by being intimate with the Father. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:57.600 I'm not saying, please don't look at it as a religious act. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:09:59.039 That's not what it is. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:03.440 The disciples went to Jesus and said, Teach us how to pray. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:05.120 At least think about that. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:09.279 The disciples went to Jesus and said, Teach us how to pray. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:13.440 Jesus didn't give them 10,000 pages how to pray. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:15.679 He gave them a little thing to pray. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:20.399 I think the Lord was showing us in that that we can just be ourselves and pray. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:23.840 I'm very Southern, if y'all didn't know that by now. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:27.759 But um, so I talked to God just just like I do now. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.000 You know, I'm this is who I am. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:31.919 You can be real with Him. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.159 I love the story of David. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:38.240 David was supposed to be in battle. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:40.159 He decided to take a break. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:41.919 Can I give y'all a little clue? 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:43.519 There's no breaks. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:45.200 Did y'all hear what I said? 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:46.879 There's no breaks. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.240 Don't take no break. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:49.919 I didn't say you couldn't have fun. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:51.519 I love to have fun. 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.600 The people that know me know that. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:56.399 I'm not saying that's not what I'm saying. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.960 There's no break in your prayer life. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:01.840 Say something to God every day. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:05.600 So David told his men, you go to battle. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:09.039 He laid back, he just laid back down. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.039 I guess he thought, well, I'm good. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:14.399 Don't ever think you got it together. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.399 I think a word was given on Sunday on humility. 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:24.159 When you have a prayer life, I promise, humility will start coming into your life. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.879 It's a supernatural work. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.639 You cannot do it. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:32.799 So now David is thinking he's got it all together. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:36.080 I've done that before, thinking, I got it together. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:37.519 I can handle anything. 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:38.879 No, you can't. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:43.840 You have to be prepared, and you're prepared by being with him. 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:47.840 So now David is thinking he can handle anything. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:49.360 Remember what the word said. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:52.720 Deliver us from temptation, not I. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:54.480 We are a body. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:57.679 We're all facing the same things. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:59.679 We all face battles. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:05.919 Now David looks out the window and he sees a beautiful woman. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:09.120 He still thinks, Oh, I can handle that. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:11.440 I've done that before. 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:16.240 He should have been out with the people on the battlefield. 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:24.159 He should have been out there because we are in a battle, people, but God has given us a solution in his prayer. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:30.399 Now David goes back, and I'm not going to go on the whole story, but I love the story of David. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:33.120 Now David has fallen into sins. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:36.799 David never once stopped praying. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:38.480 If you'll read the Psalms. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.919 Never once. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:43.679 He was still praying through everything he was going through. 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:50.159 And then all of a sudden, David now realizes he has sinned against God. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.279 Wow. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:53.759 You've ever sinned against God? 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:54.879 Of course you have. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.200 Talked about anybody lately? 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.039 I just done that today. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:02.240 You judged anybody? 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:06.080 We've all sinned and come short of God's glory. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:08.399 But let me tell you something about prayer. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:11.840 When you pray, you release every bit of that. 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:14.720 I like to call it you get clean. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:19.039 I have a saying, get clean before God every day. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:20.000 Because why? 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:22.720 He gives us new mercy and grace for each day. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:27.039 So now David is in, he's he's in a mess. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:28.399 Well, you know the story. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.000 I'm about to go through all that. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:32.159 But David now is in a mess. 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:35.200 David now has a son. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.360 This is the part I love. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:42.080 He still knows God and he has made a mistake. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:43.679 Let me tell y'all something. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:46.799 You're gonna make mistakes until Jesus comes. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:50.799 But God is just and he's merciful, he's kind. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:56.399 Now the baby, he's praying over his son that his son will live. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:59.600 He's praying, he's fasting, he's crying out to God. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.960 God, please let my son live. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:09.200 And now he's weeping, he's crying, and his baby dies. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.120 I've had a son that died. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.480 I know how that feels like it's not fun, it hurts. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:18.559 And now David gets up. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:27.200 He just gets up, he goes there, washes his face, and puts on his clothes, and the men around him thinks he's crazy. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:29.279 What is wrong with you, David? 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.600 Your son has died. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:35.759 But one thing, David had been in the presence of God. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:45.279 Come on, people, he had been in the presence of God, and he suffered a loss, but he'd been in the presence of God and he knew God was in control. 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:55.039 Did you know when you get in prayer and you face a mountain and you know God's in control, you have a peace that passes all understanding. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:15:01.200 You do not know how it's going to work out, but one thing you do know, you are confident of this one thing. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:06.879 You have been in his presence, and he lets you know, let not your heart be troubled. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:12.720 And now, this is what the Lord showed me not long ago because I had lost a son. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:17.279 And David now is a broken man. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:18.879 He is broken. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:21.039 Let me tell you what prayer will do. 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:27.919 Prayer will break you, but it's a good breaking because you come out looking more like Jesus. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:38.879 So now David is broken, and he's put God up, he's ready for the day, and now he's gonna get a revelation. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:44.240 The greatest revelation you will get is when you spent time with him. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.759 You spend time with him, he's gonna speak to you. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:53.120 He's gonna speak something that will just go, oh my God, that's amazing, God. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:55.600 So now David's troubled. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:59.840 Now remember, he's broken, he's been in prayer this whole time. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.159 And here's what the Lord says to him. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.799 And he spoke to me because I've lost a son. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:11.600 He said, My son will not come to me, but I will go to him one day. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:17.519 That was a revelation David got in the midst of his brokenness. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:20.080 But he had walked with God. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:25.039 Come on, people, we are the body of Christ. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:30.639 And when you spend time in prayer, you're gonna love your brothers and sisters. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:32.240 We're all different. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:35.200 I have people tell me I'm crazy all the time. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.360 I think they mean that's a good crazy. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.480 I don't know. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:41.360 But they'll go, she's crazy. 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.879 But I've got used to it now. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.799 I'm like, okay, I am crazy, but it's all. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:49.759 Anyway, I'm just saying, when you spend time in prayer, you're gonna love each other. 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:58.080 You're gonna forgive each other, but you've got to get into his presence, and you've got to have a prayer life. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.399 And remember, I'm not talking about religion. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.000 Um that's not what I'm talking about. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.880 I'm talking about being intimate with him. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.640 I've been through many trials. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.799 I want to end with this little story. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:13.359 I've been through many trials in my life, but we all have. 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:15.680 We've all been through so much. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:20.160 We're all just broken people letting God heal us. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.599 That's what we are. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.119 And how does God do that? 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.240 By praying. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:29.119 This is a confidence that we have if we ask anything according to his word. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.720 What's his word? 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:36.079 Love, joy, kindness, forgiveness, all these things. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:42.240 I started praying for my family over 20 something years ago, probably about 25 years ago. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.400 Dysfunctional family. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.480 Very dysfunctional. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.480 I started praying for them. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:50.880 The more I prayed, the worse it got. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:53.599 Don't quit praying because it looks bad. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.880 Keep praying. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.640 That means something's happening. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.880 That means something's going on. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:02.079 I mean, my mom would get more angry, my siblings. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.000 It looked like all hell was breaking loose. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:06.319 Well, literally, all hell was breaking loose. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:06.799 Why? 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.079 Because you were praying. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:09.920 So don't quit praying. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:22.079 So I kept praying, and about five years ago, my mom came to me and she said, you know, I think I'm going to go back to church, but I'm not coming to your church. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.359 I was okay, that's fine. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:28.960 So she decided to go with my brother, which was fine. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:31.119 And she's been going and going. 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:33.119 So I started praying. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:35.200 Oh my God, you're doing something. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.799 You're doing something. 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:42.000 But because of prayer, I had to release forgiveness toward my mom. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.599 Are y'all getting that? 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.359 And I released her. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:48.640 And when I did, God started dealing with her. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.079 Release people. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:53.759 But you can only do it if you've been in prayer with him. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:56.480 So she kept going to church. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:19:00.160 And now I was seeing happening, something happened with all my siblings. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:02.319 Something just started sprinkling down. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:08.240 And last year, every single family member, we took a picture. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.200 I have the picture. 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:13.839 We took a picture, and every one of us was together serving Jesus Christ. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.920 That's what prayer does, people. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.000 Let's give the Lord a hand right there, man. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:20.480 That's what prayer does. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:23.519 Every person has been restored. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.839 Now they still think I'm a little crazy. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.240 They still think I'm crazy for going to Africa. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:30.880 They're all like saying, Oh, I said, please be quiet. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.920 I'm going to be fine. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:35.119 But I'm saying, this is what prayer does. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:39.200 So I want to encourage each one of us tonight with this. 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:42.240 Ask yourself this question. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:48.240 Each morning you get up, you have a choice. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:49.599 We all do. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.000 You have to choose. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.160 This day, who will I serve? 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.920 Who will I serve? 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:58.319 Who will I serve? 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:01.599 And the enemy's gonna come so quick. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.759 So this is what you have to ask yourself. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.000 I love what Charles Stanley said. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.079 He's with the Lord now. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:14.160 He said every morning when I get up, the first thing I do is hit the floor. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.279 Now I'm not telling you. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:17.599 Sometimes hit the floor, we wouldn't get back up. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.160 I'm sorry, I should have said that. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.200 I was talking about me. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.079 Sorry. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:27.759 He said, the first thing I do is get on my knees. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:30.720 And I say, God, I can't do this today. 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:33.839 But I'll welcome you, Holy Spirit, help me. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:35.519 That's beautiful. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:38.240 That's the posture we need to take. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:41.279 Then at night, he said, This is what he would do. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:51.359 Take the same position again, humble himself, and say, God, if I hurt you in any way today, or if I greet your Holy Spirit, would you please forgive me? 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.880 That's how he lived. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.720 That's a prayer life. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:56.240 That's what I feel it is. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:00.000 We start out with God, then we end up with God. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:02.240 Because we all mess up till today. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:05.279 So I want to leave you with this thought. 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:10.000 You never know what you're gonna say. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:14.720 We are in a battle, but God's done won the battle. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.720 You can't take a break. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.480 You gotta keep praying. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:21.359 But you also can have joy while you're praying. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:24.000 The Bible says the joy of the Lord's our strength. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:28.640 Did you know Psalms 2, 4 says, God sits in the heavens and he lies? 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:31.279 We can have joy, people. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.000 And we get that by praying, being with Him. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:38.880 So I want to end by saying this tonight. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:41.279 Do what David does. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:47.680 Search me, oh God, know me, try me, see if there'd be any wicked way in me, oh God. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.759 And then ask God. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:59.519 If you don't have a prayer life, ask God, God, give me the strength to take away 10 minutes, five minutes, or whatever to spend time. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.559 With you. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:03.759 I promise you it will be worth it. 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:07.920 People will come up and say to you, What has happened to you? 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:14.000 I have people now that used to judge me. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:16.160 We have a tendency to do that. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.119 We have a tendency to judge people before we get to know them. 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:25.920 Once you get to know them, oh my god, I just judge that part. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.240 You know how you quit doing that? 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.920 In prayer. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:37.279 The Lord showed me this yesterday. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:42.000 The Holy Spirit knows every intention of your heart. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.400 And man, he'll go in there and search that out. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:46.720 That's why sometimes we don't want to pray. 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:47.920 You know why? 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:49.920 We're like, I like that. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.440 I don't want to pray right now. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:53.680 I'll just keep that for a few days. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.200 It feels good. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:23:00.400 I'm gonna keep that for a few days until you start feeling his conviction. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:04.880 And you feel the Holy Spirit convicted to saying, Come away with me. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.960 Come away with me. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.880 Because I want to show you something. 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.759