Say Yes To God: Preparing Hearts For Christ’s Return

A new year is more than a fresh calendar—it’s a holy invitation. We open 1 Thessalonians 3 and listen to Paul pray for a straighter path, an overflowing love, and hearts established in holiness. That prayer becomes our pattern: ask God to direct our way, embrace love that spills beyond our circle, and live with steady, practical obedience that makes God’s will visible in daily steps.

We talk candidly about the detours that pull us off mission and the simple habits that realign us: Scripture that speaks, prayer that persists, and choices that consistently say yes to God. Holiness emerges not as deprivation but as a fruitful life—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—formed in us by the Spirit. We press into what it means to be firmly set in dedication, not stiff but rooted, so that our lives carry weight and witness in every season.

All of this points forward without letting us escape the present. Christ is coming, and that promise teaches us how to live now: hearts unblameable, relationships tended, work offered for the kingdom, and a readiness that looks like hope in action. If you’re ready for a year marked by direction, generous love, and a deeper yes to God, this conversation will steady your steps and expand your vision.

If this speaks to you, follow the show, share it with a friend who prays with you, and leave a quick review telling us where you need God to direct your path next.

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Transcript

What Grace Is And How God Works

Turning To 1 Thessalonians 3

Praying For A Straighter Path

SPEAKER_00 0:42

God has blessed us to come into a new year and uh we give him praise. We call it the Bible call it grace, and grace is mentions quite a bit in the Bible, in both all in New Testament, God is at work. God has been work at work all our lives. Coming into the world, he was there. As we have passed through the world, he is there. Grace. Grace is about what God has done, what God is doing, and what he shall do. He reveals himself to us through scripture, praise God. Nothing spiritual sourced from us. Spiritual things are given to us, but they do not come from us. Praise God. Christ, remember, Christ under the new covenant lives within us. Christ in you, the hope of glory. Tonight we want to look at uh subject matter earnest prayer. We'll look at our apostle Paul as he speaks and see if we can better understand prayer. Speak to God through prayer. He speaks to us through scripture and through the Holy Spirit that he has given us. I praise him because he works within. I appreciate the scripture, appreciate his revelation. Praise God. I want to call your attention to First Thessalonians, the third chapter. I want to read a few verses and we come in, we're gonna meditate. You need a deeper prayer life. We're gonna be looking at the simple things about the prayer tonight. First Thessalonians, the third chapter. We'll be looking at a few verses. Beginning at verse 11. Now God Himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you. Verse 12, and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men, even as we do toward you. To the end, he may stablish your hearts, unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Let's meditate upon scripture tonight. An earnest prayer. This passage gives us an opportunity to listen in on the prayer life of the Apostle Paul. He prays for the believers in Thessalonica, suggesting as we meditate, he's suggesting here the elements of our intercession for one another. Remember, in the Christian life, the Christian family is about one another.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

We are to love one another, it is a one another concept.

Obedience Over Mystical Guidance

SPEAKER_00 5:12

But we do, we are doing together one another. Verse 11. In his prayer, he prays for a straight, a straighter path. We all need a straighter path in our service to our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 11. Now God. God has a perfect plan for our lives, and we should ask him to direct our path toward fulfilling his purpose. Now, keep in mind it's God's purpose we are concerned about, not our purpose. Satan places obstacles in our way and attempts to force detours. It is sad when people waste time and wander for miles pursuing a crooked path. How are we to know God's path for us personally?

SPEAKER_01 6:35

God promises, I want you to notice the promises of God.

Praying For Greater Love

Holiness As Active Dedication

The Fruit Of The Spirit Explained

Saying Yes To God’s Promises

Prepared Hearts For Christ’s Return

A Call To Fervent Prayer In 2026

Blessing And Closing Amen

SPEAKER_00 6:41

God promises to bless us and direct us as we walk obediently in his word. Praise God. So his will becomes evident as we persevere in following his precepts. Knowing God's death for us is not then a merely mystical experience. It is sheer obedience. Second thing I want you to notice in our earnest prayer life: greater love. Verse 12, and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we do toward you. Love and overflowing love makes life abundant, and it spills over the flow into and bless the lives of others. Genuine love is more clearly understood as action rather than empty sentiment. Greater love we pray for. Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward another and toward all men, even as we do toward you. All of us who have come to Christ and gotten into Christ through his will, we become dedicated. Holiness means separation for service to God. We become established. Notice it carefully. Verse thirteen. I say it again. Listen, holiness means separation for service to God. Established means firmly set. Paul suggests we pray for one another to be firmly set in our dedication to living out God's purpose for us. Dedicating our lives to holiness does not mean having a spirit of deprivation. Holiness is actively taking on the fruit of the spirit. Let me say it again. Holiness is actively taking on the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5, 22. Read, meditate upon God's word. He speaks to us individually. It doesn't source from us. It is given to us through the Holy Spirit. That is why it is called the fruit of the Spirit. And conscientiously embracing righteousness, not evil. Holiness then does not simply mean saying no to sin. It means saying yes to God. Praise God. I hope we understand it. Let me say that again. Holiness does not simply mean saying no to sin. It means saying yes to God. Remember, all the promises of God are yes. And amen. When we pray, ask God to help us. We need help in our daily living. Jesus talks to you and me through his word. Follow me. I will make you officials of men. And then I want you to notice in this prayer life. We have a fuller preparation. Notice verse 13. To the end, all is coming to them. He said, To the end. He wants God that he may establish your hearts, unblameable, in holiness before God. Even our Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all his things. Praise here for a full of preparation. Jesus is coming again. I know you've heard it for years and years, but he has all eternity to work out his plan. Jesus is coming again, and we need to be constantly prepared to welcome him. Our lives need to be in order, and we need to be expanding his kingdom on this earth to celebrate his victorious return. Think about it, Christians. The year 2026, let it be a new year of dedication and preparation for a better life of holiness. May God remind us to pray more frequently and fervently for one another, asking for a straighter path, a greater love, a deeper dedication, and a fuller preparation. May God bless and help each one of us as we start this new year that He has given us. Give Him the praise and do what He commands is our prayer. May God help us all.

SPEAKER_01 14:46

Now and forever let us all say Amen.