Girl,talk !
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Girl,talk !
Prayer
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Join us as we discuss prayer .
Hey everyone, this is our second episode of the season. I am Serena. I'm Haley. And this is Girl Talk. And before we start, I want to ask you a question, Haley. Oh gosh. If you could travel back in time to the Garden of Eden, would you try to stop Eve from eating the fruit, or would you just grab the popcorn? That is hard.
SPEAKER_01I think I would stop her from eating the fruit.
SPEAKER_03Okay, you would. Is it because now we have to go through like painful childbirth and stuff?
SPEAKER_01So you wouldn't be like, um, uh, I want to see what happens and just grab some popcorn and just oh no, no, I would have liked to be a flop on the wall just to see like how Adam handled this situation. Like, you know, so I could have been like, no, you need to stop mom. No, you lawn. Stop.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's it was this woman that you gave me.
SPEAKER_01No, it was you. Brother.
SPEAKER_03Brother.
SPEAKER_01I'm just kidding, y'all. Yeah, we but no, I would definitely probably stop her from eating the apple simply because all the um other stuff we gotta deal with.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, because it was the apple now sin came into the world. And yeah, it is it's funny because everyone's like, oh, that Eve. But you know what? It says that it happened because of Adam's sin. So I don't know.
SPEAKER_01I have a little compassion for her because how many times are we Eve? Yeah, we take a bite of something that we know we're not supposed to.
SPEAKER_03Oh well, and then he also knew. Yeah, he could have been like, uh-uh, don't do that. Don't do that, don't do that. He could have he could have been helpful in the situation. Okay, one more. Oh gosh. When we get to heaven, do you think we'll instantly understand every language language, or will we have to use cosmic Google Translate?
SPEAKER_00I think our Google uh translate will be, hey God, uh what is what did he say? Well makes you think about it. I don't think he'll be able to say anything really, but holy, holy that's that's fair.
SPEAKER_03That's fair. Like that. Heaven is a whole thought on its own. But what if it was, you know, like Peter when they were all speaking in tongues? It's like every person from every nation heard that person speaking in their tongues.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
unknownI don't know.
SPEAKER_03Maybe I'll finally know Spanish up there.
SPEAKER_01I think maybe we'll be in such of an alignment that maybe we'll just we'll just know.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, because it would be crazy to assume everyone's just gonna speak English just because we do.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, maybe maybe we'll have just a heavenly language and we'll all be just that one. Maybe we'll be speaking in tongues.
SPEAKER_03Oh my god. No one knows what anyone's saying, anyways. Sorry. Uh that's funny. Because um, you know, you can think about the the angels of you know, singing holy, holy, holy to them. But what a language are we just assuming that they sing in the in Hebrew because that was the original biblical language? I don't know.
SPEAKER_01I have I have things I'm probably I don't know, maybe he'll let us ask a little question.
SPEAKER_00Or like a bunch of little questions, you know, like I don't know.
SPEAKER_01The other or maybe by the time we get there, he'll just know what questions we have, and he'll just be like, This is what it was.
SPEAKER_03He's certainly aware. What does it say that there is like a bowl of our prayers? Like where our prayer is just like, and he's just like, So you wanted to know if your dog will be in heaven. Here is your answer. Like, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01Our dog prays before he eats. Get out of here. He does, but he won't eat, he won't eat until we say the prayer. He'll sit down and look at us and we'll pray, and then he'll eat. I don't know. I think he's sanctified.
SPEAKER_03He's sanctified and saved he. I don't know. I don't know. It's not a hill that I'm willing to die on, but I will say one thing. I will say one thing about animals. I don't know if they're gonna be in heaven. That's not up to me.
SPEAKER_01However, and we're not giving you some crazy doctrine.
SPEAKER_03This is just a real human like you know when it says Elijah, uh they were about to go into war, and Elijah, um, his his his fella, like his um assistant guy, I can't think of the word, um, was like, oh gosh, you know, what do we do? What do we do? We're gonna be defeated and killed and whatnot. And Elijah's like, God, please let him see that you're forest. There's more forest than against us. Oh, I love that. And then they open, it says there was chariots of fire on the mountains. There were horses. So there's obviously horses in heaven, yeah. And then it says that Jesus is coming riding on a horse. So why a horse and not a cat? If a horse can be in heaven, can my Simon be in heaven? Who knows? We'll know when we get there. Yeah. Well you probably won't even be thinking about that when you get to heaven, but how great would that be? You're like, oh, it's the dog I ran over when I was six. He's just sitting there waiting. It's like, what what took you so long? I don't know. Ask the Lord. Okay, that's funny. So that's completely not on topic, but actually, kind of it's about praying.
SPEAKER_01Oh, okay.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03With the bowl of incense or the bowl of prayers.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And um Elijah praying. Oh, yeah. Elisha.
SPEAKER_03Was it Elisha or Elijah? You know what was one of them? I think it's the Shah. One took the mantle, so he just they're the same person. How ironic is that? That their names are so close, yeah. Yeah, yeah, that would be like Shermina being like the person that came behind me. I'd be like, where did you come from? This is weird. Oh my gosh. I hope no one's named that, but I'm sorry. Oh man. Okay, so prayer. Today we're talking about prayer. Um, so prayer is in a the simplest of forms, talking to God.
SPEAKER_01That's how we communicate with Him.
SPEAKER_03It is how we communicate with our Father. And um Yeah, so I think that the most important thing that we can do for new believers is to tell them don't stress it.
SPEAKER_01Uh yeah, I think there has been like a pressure put on prayer. Genuiness. Um, main one for me has been how long do you pray?
SPEAKER_03Or what do you say?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know, like why so much pressure on prayer? I think the purity of the prayer is more important.
SPEAKER_03Yes, genuineness. And I think that I think you'll grow with time and everything. Yes, and that's it. Like as you mature, as you get in your word, you will have more conviction. And when I say conviction, what I mean by that is not like conviction of your sin. What I mean is that you will profoundly believe what you are praying. Yeah, so as you grow and you mature, your prayer life is gonna get completely different from the beginning of it. But I think the importance is that you always understand he's always listening, yeah, and he's he's always concerned and he always cares, and there's not a you're not just praying to I don't think his desire was for us to be pressured into anything.
SPEAKER_01Who wants to be pressured into relationship? That's why there's free will. Can you imagine having to make your like spouse talk to like talk to you or want to spend a little bit of time with you? That's yeah, I don't think it was supposed to be pressured. I I think it was supposed to be something birthed out of wanting relationship with him out of a heart that is in pursuit of him. Um, and so don't let all the rules and all the check boxes scare you when it comes to prayer. Just um get get just have communication with him, just make relationship priority, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Like, you know, no, as you grow, you do get like direction from God and assignment from God, and you do like you become like an intercessor for people where you're praying for people specifically, and you there are there is spiritual warfare and there's all these things, and we're not saying that those things don't exist, we're just saying at the smallest, most simplest form of understanding prayer, just know that you are talking to a God that wants to hear from you. Yeah, his word says in multiple places, yeah, seek me and you will be found of me, which means he wants you to find him. He's not elusive, and your prayers are not a waste, they never will be. And that's a beautiful thing. Like, yeah, yes, is he God? No, over universe. Absolutely my goodness, yes, but it's it's not so it's not scary. Um yeah, that's true. Yeah, just I'm sorry. Right. So this is one thing you don't know about Haley. She's actually our our prayer lead for our prayer team and our church. I actually understand the the pressure that you feel. Yeah, and I hate that you do because there actually shouldn't be pressure on prayer.
SPEAKER_01Uh well, I know, because it's not it's not for people, it's for the Lord, but sometimes people put like an expectation.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_01Um, just like if you're the teacher of the college, they expect you, uh like which is I'm not saying is right, to know X, Y, Z. And I mean, and I'm like, well, I gotta pray to the Lord about how to even pray. Right. And that is why and sometimes it's different. Sometimes I get really excited, and sometimes I feel very calm in prayer, you know, and sometimes it's intercession, and sometimes it's prayer. There is a difference in prayer and intercession. Um, and so explain that. Well, prayer, prayer is, you know, I'm coming to the to God to align with him, to just talk with him, to be honest with him. Intercession is I'm between the porch and the altar, life and death. I'm standing in the gap praying for people, praying for people. And um, sometimes I'm interceding for atmospheres to be shifted. Sometimes I'm interceding for nations to be changed.
SPEAKER_03For there's a lot of different things that's why I'm saying as you grow in prayer, you'll know what she's talking about. Like what you're saying.
SPEAKER_01Interception. I I'm at intercession. I always say interception. Um, intercession, interception. That's what you're doing. You're intercepting the plan of the enemy, the flesh of people. I mean, it's it's not always you're not just always praying against the enemy. Sometimes you're praying against someone's flesh, just like, Lord, help them, Jesus. You know, help be help be of benefit to them too. Um, but prayer is coming to him and getting in alignment with him and getting fuel to even go into intercession and coming to him with thankfulness and entering his gates with thankfulness and pray praise.
SPEAKER_03And when we say enter his gates, that is indicative of the tabernacle in the old testament. So if that's not something you technically understand, then that's what we mean, and that is verse, but it's re referring to the tabernacle in the old testament.
SPEAKER_01Entering into his entering into a pre his presence.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's entering into his presence. Um, I think that's one thing that Jesus did really great for us as he gave us an example of prayer in Matthew.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um, excuse me, like my throat is being goofy, but I want to, well, I want us, of course, to don't talk. It's my turn. I want us to go over um the Lord's prayer. Um, because he did do something wonderful for us. And I will tell you personally, I had prayed for a long time, and it it didn't dawn on me that I should be opening my prayers with acknowledging who God was until after a long time.
SPEAKER_01I do that even before entering into a level of intercession. I'm always gonna pray that he equips me first and that um I I'm I want to express my gratitude because it's not by our power, it's not by us, it's by him alone. So um you always want to go in with it, yeah, acknowledging that it is him. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And prayer is different for everyone. Um, what I've uh begun to do is I have a little space in my living room. Um, obviously, this is not every time I pray because I pray while I'm at work, I pray, you know, in my bed at night. But in the morning, I have made a um like a promise that I will be on my knees and that's how I'm gonna start my day. Because again, back to the tabernacle with the priests, they had the fire, but they stoked it in the morning. Yeah, so I want the Lord to know in the morning that I'm thankful for him, and even if there's times that I wake up and I'm just like, I am not good today. I'm still like, Lord, you are good. You woke me up, but I'm in my own home, and people don't understand how big of a thing that is for me. I'm in my own home. This cat's meelling in my ear, but he's so good and he's so cute, yeah, and you are everything. So that's one thing that Jesus did in his prayer is that the first thing he does, he actually says, I actually want to go. So if we go to Matthew 6, if we start at chapter verse 7, it says, And when you are praying, do not use meaningless reputation repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. And what he's there's a couple things that are going on there. Um, you know, the Gentiles, they were pagan, so they would just throw out any God that they thought that might just grab onto something that they were saying, which is you know, obviously not what we're doing if we pray to God. But he's also saying, like, this is this is relationship. Yeah, you are not just saying whatever, you are connecting to God. Yeah, like this is what we're saying before. Like, if your relationship with God is priority, then even if you say the same thing every time you pray because you're learning how to pray, that's not what he's saying. He's just saying connect, okay, connect to what you're saying and what you're doing, yeah, because it is relationship. So you go to and go to the next verse. Um, so do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him. Yeah, because he's in relationship with you and he knows all things. And it says um, verse 9, pray then in this way, our father who is in heaven, hollow be your name. So holy is your name. So when we start off prayer, we we start off prayer by acknowledging who God is.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and if anytime I'm talking, if you got something he's honored and you're showing your reverence for him, yeah.
SPEAKER_03And it's it actually says his will is for you to come with gratitude. Because there's things that we don't know, I don't know what the Lord's doing in the midst of everything. I mean, I know that he's already answered prayer after prayer after prayer after prayer, and and he's already moving to answer other prayers. Like I'm just gonna be thankful for the breath you've given me because I could have not had breath today, but then there's just like it's just beautiful. It's like that Waymaker song, even though I can't see it, you're working, even though I don't feel it, you're working. Yeah, shout out to Courtney. Um you don't know what that means, but she'll know what I mean. Shout out, shout out to Courtney. I love you, Courtney. Um, so and then we go to um so we want to acknowledge him because he's good and that's who we're speaking to. It would be like me going Haley.
SPEAKER_01I think it also reminds you of who you're talking to. You know what I mean? Not because he is a father, and he's a good father, and he is your friend, and he's for you, but he's he's God. Sometimes it puts you back in focus, and so it puts us in alignment with like who he is, it reminds us okay, this is who I'm praying to, and so it gives you to give that adoration to him.
SPEAKER_03Because holy is his name. There is none like God. Yeah, there is no real rival, there is no equal. I'm look, I'm going to lyrics again. I can't help it.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna say it's okay.
SPEAKER_03Now and forever you reign. Yeah, yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory. Okay, anyways. Okay, it's a good song too. Um, so we go to verse 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I know we both have ideas for this, and I'm thinking, let my desires be aligned with your will, let me seek your kingdom first. Because it says, your, your, your, your kingdom, your will. Like, let me align with what you are wanting on heaven and earth. And go ahead. I know you got something.
SPEAKER_01Our prayer is powerful, and and so, like, our prayer is not to manipulate God and to speak something that's out of his will. Our prayer is um for surrender to his will and to put his will in the in the earth, not for our will, not for us to be like trying to get him to come to us. Um, our prayer should come from a place that's surrendered to his way and his will and not in a place of control.
SPEAKER_03Speak to me, Lord. What what do you want me to do today? What what light do you want me to broadcast and shine today? Who who do you want me to affect in a positive way today?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Like, talk to me, tell me, and um, he will talk to you.
SPEAKER_01Always ask, I'm like, Lord, can I get the insights? Give me the insights. You know what I mean? Like, you know, show me how I'm supposed to align today. Because those are different days, he he he might give me a different assignment, you know? Um, you know, just show me what your will is for this day.
SPEAKER_03Right. Well, and even in a broader sense, show us what we're supposed to do with girl talk. Show me what I'm supposed to do with this Bible college. Show me what we're supposed to do this Sunday when both of us have to open on service.
SPEAKER_01Who was it in the Bible? He said, I don't want to go if you don't go with me. But he's can he's communicating to the Lord, talking to him, telling, like, fair, Lord, don't let me go, you're not going with me. Right. And that I feel like that's what prayer does for us. Like, Lord, if it's not your will and you're not, because if it's not his will, he's not going with you. And so I'm like, Lord, if it's not your will, don't let me go because I don't want to be going without you.
SPEAKER_03You know, it's a good example, too, because Moses, he God actually tells him I'm gonna go for you. And then Moses still is like, Hey, I'm telling you, yeah, I'm not going if you don't go. So there are some times we're just like, you need to double confirm for me, please. And I think that the Lord's fine with that. Yeah, because again, it's relationship. We're not being offensive by asking of our father. Because he's telling us good to verify.
SPEAKER_01I'd rather verify. I'm getting how to fleece I'd rather go to him in prayer and verify rather me act in my own flesh.
SPEAKER_03Yes, yes, yes. We don't want to be out of obedience. So, yes, Lord, genuinely, if you're not in it, just take it away. Um if you're not gonna go before us, then don't even let us move. Yeah, no, thanks.
SPEAKER_01Um, and that's a genuine heart posture, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, because I could do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but not if you stepped out of his will, you know what I'm saying? Like, not that he's not still there, but you have to, you know what I'm saying. There is a we can't just use verses that only uh make us have confidence, but not confidence in the Lord. So um, verse 11 give us this day our daily bread.
SPEAKER_01I want to go back to your kingdom come. Okay, go for it. Because I think that's important. Um, because it goes, your kingdom come and then the one we just did. Um, right?
SPEAKER_03Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
SPEAKER_01So your kingdom come puts his kingdom in you first. Um I think before we go do anything, he should be established in us first. You know, like Lord me first, correct me first. I repent, you know, I want to be in in alignment with you. Yes, you know, and I j I just think that we acknowledge him and then we acknowledge him again. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just like double up. Yeah. It's good.
SPEAKER_03And then when we learn on the next verse in first. You're okay. Verse, give us this daily this day our daily bread, which also already signifies we're supposed to be praying every day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Because I need something new from you every day. So we were talking about this just a minute ago. I can't live off of my prayer from yesterday. Yeah. I can't live off. And the point was not for us too.
SPEAKER_01Go ahead and say that it reminds me of like the Israelites with the manna. Um, he he gave them it, it was daily, but also he only allowed them to gather a certain amount, like they were allotted a certain amount. And so, because you know, I'll gather what I'll pray for five hours today and gather, and then I won't come to you for and it just teaches us to um be in daily prayer to him and be consistent and be consistent, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, because the manna was what full of worms and nasty the next day because he wasn't he wasn't like I'm not trying to give you today what I gave you yesterday. I want to give you something new and fresh today.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and how beautiful is that it is that's super beautiful that he thinks of even the you know, I want to give you something fresh that's and this is Jesus' own word.
SPEAKER_03So he's like, This is what you're supposed to be doing.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So um, and then the next one, number 12, says, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So I think that repentance is also a part of our prayer. I think that, and then one thing that I found beautiful about this is that um it shows that the forgiven become agents of forgiveness to others. So we have been forgiven. Yeah, so we forgive others, and it's a cycle of like um, it's just a cycle of forgiveness. So we're saying, you know, I I need to repent and I need I need your forgiveness. But it's almost like also like I think that there's spaces where we it's hard to forgive other people. So I'm asking for your repentance, but then I'm also asking for you to help me, Lord, and my shortcomings as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03What do you think about that verse?
SPEAKER_01No, I'm just like there's it takes me back to the podcast we did on forgiveness where you said there's no loopholes. There's not.
SPEAKER_03You know, I read all those verses and there's nothing.
SPEAKER_01The forgiven, they forgive. And that's just a blank that's a blank. It's not, but it's important to realize it's not that you're earning forgiveness, it's that you're walking in alignment with forgiveness. It's that you experienced it, so you want to give it. It's not that I am my it's not that my motive is I'm forgiving, so I can be forgiven. Yeah, no, you're forgived, but want to give it to others. Let your heart posture be after Christ and want to forgive others too.
SPEAKER_03I mean, the d the word does say you had to forgive to be forgiven, yeah. But it's a heart posture. Yeah. It's reciprocal.
SPEAKER_01It's not um the heart of God wants to forgive others, you know what I mean? And so but it's not that we're earning it, right? You know, right.
SPEAKER_03But we're also asking, like, Lord, if you see in me like anything wicked, like you know, like when you it is important to pray back scripture to God, like create in me a clean heart. Um because sometimes if I do have an issue with forgiveness, it here's the reality. I can't pray for other people to be changed, but I can pray for me to be changed, yeah. And I can pray for other people to be changed, but I think my concern is okay, help me to forgive. Because this actually falls back on me. Forgiveness falls back on me, not on the other person. Yeah, if I'm in Christ. Yeah, oh fun.
SPEAKER_01I think there he's speaking to like a heart posture, you know, and yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um number 13, verse 13, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Um, so I was thinking that is protection from evil, and that's also guidance.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because the Lord doesn't he doesn't tempt us, you know. Um so yeah. It's it's teaching us um dependence on the Lord to depend on him.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and then it's asking for guidance, but there are um you know, we spiritual warfare is a whole another intense uh discussion, but we're not in this fight alone.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, stay in staying like covered in the Lord.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Um and yeah. I don't it the scripture does say he doesn't tempt us. No, there are situations that happen um to move us, to mature us, yeah. But he's never a a tempter, he's not like trying to make a sin or something like that. That would be a good thing. He's not trying to be a stumbling block, do you?
SPEAKER_01That's that's crazy. Um like sin and stuff like that. I do think sometimes he'll keep us from doing something. I do think he'll put like roadblocks in the way of like, nope. And that's his love. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um, and I forgot that number 14 says, For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly father will also forgive you. So that's actually, but if you do not forgive others, then your father will not forgive your transgressions. I forgot. That was literally in the same chapter. Yeah. So and then so we know in the the word it also says we can pray amiss, which means we kind of missed it. Yeah, like because we're praying, like, Lord, give me a Mercedes instead of Lord, what is your will? Or Lord, let them fall in a hole. I don't know. That's not the Lord that you know, there's people that fall in holes, and that's but um the Lord doesn't answer prayers like that. Like um also it says the vengeance is the Lord's, so we're not supposed to see things like that. But if we're if we're praying things that we know that are truly just kind of ridiculous, he's he's not going to even lend an ear to that, I'm sure. Yeah, um, but it says we're never wrong if we pray in his will.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03So I know from scripture we know that his will is for all men to be saved, to be sanctified, to do good, um, for um love and obedience to him, and then to trust in him and to have gratitude.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03We know that that is the will. So if I'm praying for someone to be saved, I am praying in the will of God. That's that prayer is never gonna be something that you're you're praying and amiss, or you're you're wasting your time on.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Because that's his will. That's why Jesus came and died on the cross for us, you know. But then also says in Romans 12 and 2 that you have to renew your mind to know the will of God. So sometimes we are just we've got we're in a space, we're in a place where we just cannot see things correctly, and maybe we are praying amiss.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And also there's new will as you progress in relationship with God, or um, He reveals new will to you personally. So I have to be in the right space to receive that. Right.
SPEAKER_01And not distort it and twist it in my own way to benefit me, but in a way that benefits heaven.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, yeah, I think for to simplify prayer and to put it, it's just communicating with the Lord and um bringing yourself into his will and not him coming into yours. I think that's what prayer does, it builds a relationship. Um, because it's hard to host something you don't communicate with. You know, if you're in the Lord and you don't communicate with him, it's you know, all wonky.
SPEAKER_03Abide in me and I'll abide in you, which means he lives.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. If you're not I think we get our instruction from him when we pray, but like praying is also not me just babbling on, it's me listening for him too. Um, so even if you pray for five minutes and you listen for an hour, praise God. That's praying. You know, it's it's uh communication is two-way. Like, if I just talk and you never say anything, you're gonna be like, okay, is it my turn yet? You know, and so that's why I say like it's hard to host something that you don't communicate with. Communication is a two-way and that's also a part of renewing your mind because a lot of times we can't hear him because we've got so much going on, too much of our distracted by everything going on with ourselves, yeah.
SPEAKER_03And God does speak to us, he speaks, we we do hear him in our spirit, and sometimes he speaks audibly. Um, and that's I don't think that's a a lot of cases, but he does speak to us if we will try to tune down the rest of what's swirling, just constantly swirling in our minds. And I know in a later video, we'll be talking about strong holds. So that'd be the topic for that. But um, I think that for the new believer, just prayer is not intimidating. Yeah, um, it's it's beautiful, and you can come to God with all of your issues. Yeah, you really can go read Psalms with Him, listen to David, because he's like, Well, God, why don't how long will you be distant? And God is like, I'm not distant, but that's how David felt. So we can still bring that to God.
SPEAKER_01Well, uh, something that changed my prayer life is I seen a guy, um, was it two two a one nine church? Is that how you say it? Is that his is that the name of the church? It's the church with the number. Um, the number church. True. That's what I'm gonna call it. He said, you know, ring your heart out before Christ. You know what I mean? Tell him what's going on. And I've always heard don't the Lord doesn't want your junk, don't tell him all of that, you know.
SPEAKER_03And I was like, okay, in a relationship with someone if you can't be honest.
SPEAKER_01What do we what do we talk about? You know what I mean? Because I've just I've just heard that before, you know, and so like that put a filter on my prayers that I don't feel like was supposed to be there. And so, do I think we should be reverent to him? Absolutely, but I also think that part of being reverent to him is being honest with him. Yeah, like reverence isn't just quietness, it's how I show love to people, it's how I communicate with him, it's how I live for him. That's also reverencing the Lord. And so also I just think it's important to tell him the truth. What's really going on, you know, even though he knows he already knows.
SPEAKER_03How does he answer a question that you don't ask?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, but it it puts us, um, it puts us before him in an honest way. And it shows that Lord, I do recognize my weakness, I do recognize that who I am without you, I do recognize who you are. I in a way that I'm willing to talk to you about this because I know that you're the only one who can fix this for me. You're the only one who can come in and change this. And Lord, I want to be in your will and I want to be in your way. But I'm struggling right here. Or Lord, um, or just asking him for direction. Lord, I don't want to go in this direction if you're not gonna go with me. Lord, what what is your will for this day? You know, what what would you have me to do today?
SPEAKER_03I've had a lot of prayers that were like, reveal what's wrong inside of me. Yeah, because I don't like the way I'm responding to this, and reveal what you say about me, Lord. Yes, yes, and that's why we have to be in our word too, because he's like, I have spoken, I've spoken for thousands of years, and it's literally in that book. So if you don't hear me, put your nose in that thing, yes, sir. Absolutely, 100%.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and sometimes I also find it helpful to write your prayers. Um, sometimes I'll write them, um, like a little letter to the Lord, and I'll start at dear God, and I'll be like so thankful, and then I'll just write a letter to him. And I think that's beautiful, and then I can go back and like when he answers or when he I can write in like what he said, and I can um it just helps me um really focus. Yeah, and it really just be like, okay, and then I can go back and be like, oh my gosh, the Lord answered that. And I can put like a little testimony of how the Lord answered that, and it just reminds me when I go back, you know, he is who he says he is, yeah. Um, because people will come and the enemy will come, and your brain, your own flesh will come and try to convince you that you're just praying amiss, and that your prayers are just hitting the wall, and that what he said to you wasn't true, and that you don't really hear from God. But if you sometimes if you just take the time and write down and you do get to put the little testimony, you can go back and be like, No, the devil is a lie, my flesh is a lie. The Lord does hear me, and I'm not I my prayers are a reach in heaven, they're not just hitting the wall, and I think that's important too, just to have a little thing where you can see like he is who he says.
SPEAKER_03I have a book that where I've written down when the Lord's spoken to me, but haven't written out prayers. That's a good idea. Um, what I was gonna say earlier too, as I forgot, that that place in my living room where I kneeled down in the morning to pray, I have a corkboard in front of it and I have like scripture pinned up. So it's it's so helpful to it helps you renew your mind and it also helps you to not pray amiss. But even Lord, if I don't have anything to say right now, let me believe this prayer and this prayer and this prayer and let me remind my soul, oh soul, oh soul, why are you like why are you down? Why are you downcast? Let me remember this the scripture of God, because this whole thing, every time the Lord spoke is a is a promise. Every one of them, you know, and um even I have prayers that are just like um the scripture about renewing your mind and everything. Think on what's pure and lovely and good and of good repute, and like um especially in the morning, let me wake up and not um not just like run out of the day with a bad nasty attitude.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and about the forgiveness thing, I'm reminded of class where she said that um because I said you're not earning it, but I I think this is where I'm going. Well, like what it's I'm trying to say is she said like he loves us unconditionally, but his blessings have conditions. And I believe that forgiveness is a gift and a blessing from the Lord, and so in your obedience, you open the blessing that's already there.
SPEAKER_03Yep. Yep, that's what she was saying. So um, he's always gonna love. I mean, he's always gonna love everybody, but to be blessed, yeah, you had to be in obedience with him.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, which is like a sorry, I just uh had that hit me and I wanted to explain that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, no, no, that's a good point because even in relationship with someone, your real father is going to probably punish you when you need punishing, but then he will he'll be delighted in you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And when you are obedient to him, yeah. I think the uh um here's another song, like the you know the verse where it's like your goodness is running after you know the bridge. I think like his goodness does come with chastisement. That's good. Yeah, like I'm thankful for that. I am the person who's like, Lord, show me how to change in every way. Yeah, and I'm thankful, even if you have to if you have to tell me the hard things, because he has so his goodness is always his response, no matter what his response is. Yeah, and we do know sometimes when we pray, it is it's a no, but sometimes it's a not yet, and sometimes it's yes.
SPEAKER_01Um, and also when you pray, um, sometimes you're not gonna feel like you're not gonna feel anything sometimes. Sometimes it's not gonna be like crying and like snot running out of the nose, hooping and all because sometimes I do get really excited, okay? Even at home, like I'm like my neighbors are probably like I don't know. Um, but sometimes I do get excited and sometimes I feel absolutely nothing. And then those times the Lord teaches me, like, hey, Haley, seek my person. Seek my character. And that that means like I'm not I'm not seeking a feeling, I'm not seeking a hype, I'm not seeking a um, oh my gosh, a big drawn-out thing. I'm seeking him, the person, his character, his ways, his will, even if it comes with no hype, no feeling, no tinglies, no chill bumps, no um because a lot of times it won't.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, but you still have to know you're doing something eternal. Yeah, he's still hearing you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and there was one time I literally my prayer was I laughed. I've never had that happen to me before. And so I'm like, I went to pray and whatnot, and then I just I just started laughing, and I was like, Lord, what is going on? And I could I it was joy, it was just a laugh that I could not even, I don't know. Um I'm still asking the Lord for like what was that?
SPEAKER_03So if you know listen, I used to be on stage with my mom while she was singing and she would break out in laughter, and they're like, It's a spirit of laughter, but I think it's if it's a spirit of laughter, that means it's joy. Yeah, so you come into his presence and he's giving you what was it say that the joy of the Lord is my strength? He's giving you strength through laughter and joy.
SPEAKER_01So it's stuff like that, and I think we put we just put a lot of filters on prayer when it was always supposed to be between you and the Lord. You know, when you come to the Lord, it's personal, but you also come into a family. But when it comes to your prayer life, it has to be it has to be between you and the Lord and what he says for you to do. Um if he tells me to sit there and laugh for an hour, that's what I'm gonna say. If he tells me just to sit there, I'm gonna do that. And I think he laid out a perfect example for us. And um, it's a helpful to get to start there, you know. Um, but don't feel so pressured about prayer that you don't even want to do it because sometimes we can pressure ourselves so much that our we just we don't even try.
SPEAKER_03And prayer is start small if it helps. It is your lifeline, it is your lifeline because it's it's up aga us against the world.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's how you get his instruction, it's how you just build your relationship with him. Honestly, it's also how you renew your get his thoughts, get his mind, get his heart. It's um, it's so much. And so being in prayer is important. Um, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so that is prayer.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Oh, and another thing that is really hype is um people say, Don't pray in public or like um, but don't let your prayer it that it means like don't Pharisees. Don't let your prayer don't try to look holy. Yeah, don't let your prayer be like, oh, this is me being holy, and like I'm so righteous and this. And no, he is. I'm his filthy rags, but he is, and if he tells me to pray out loud, I hope, I hope and pray that it's out of a place that can instruct other people how to pray and gives them a holy boldness to do the to just pray and to just start communing with him and to intercede on behalf of a service, on behalf of someone who is lost or whatever. I hope that anytime we pray out loud, it's for his kingdom purposes and for him to be glorified and honored in that way and for others to learn a good example of prayer.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and that's genuine. So yeah, so he's like the Pharisees would come and pray loudly in front of people to look holy. And he's like, that is your only reward.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03That people thought you were holy. Congratulations, because you did not affect me whatsoever.
SPEAKER_01So let your prayer flow from a um, I bring that up just to say, like, let your prayer flow from a genuine place, not a place of or even even it can be like, oh, because I pray, it's gonna make me so no, no, not at all. It's not about you like that. Honestly, the more time you spend with him, the more human like humility you're gonna have because it your heart is gonna be transformed into um and then also that conviction because someone asked me the other day, you'll be gut-wrenched every time you uh act in a way that's not the Lord because you're gonna be sensitive to him.
SPEAKER_03Yes, that's why someone asked me the other day, it's like I know she was trying to be funny, it was like on the video when she talked to me. But she was like, Would you rather like randomly have to pray or read read your scripture in front of everybody? And it was like both, because I am in prayer, so I should know how to pray. Like, yeah, because I have a conviction that says when I pray, the Lord hears me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And when I say Lord please come, that he's wanting to come.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So it's it's it's out of like a yeah, it is actually I respect that and I'm thankful to be able to pray.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03You know what I'm saying?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I love him.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I'm just very thankful.
SPEAKER_01I'm thankful that he gave us um a phone line to him that did it that I can call him up. Call him up. Call him up. Tell what you want. Jesus saw the meaning.
SPEAKER_03I don't even know any other words of that song.
SPEAKER_01Hey, call him up. The phone is, you know, the phone is always there. But are you gonna are you gonna pick it up? You know, and just know that phone is a two-way street. So when you pick it up, he's gonna tell you is part of it. And uh be ready for that. If it's if it's correction, it's not rejection. Correction is not ready. No, no, no, that's what I was saying earlier. It's good, it's his goodness chasing after if it's um instruction, you know, be obedient to him, which is awesome, and let your love be built and let your relationship be built with the Lord, because prayer and intercession builds your relationship with him, because intercession will um comes from a place of I know the Lord's gonna do what he said he's gonna do. So it that builds your trust a lot, and then you get to see it happen in other people's lives.
SPEAKER_03And if you don't feel that way, be in your word. Yeah, if you need to know more about there's this thing in Christianity which is weird because it's like how good was the Lord to speak through men over thousands of years and give us a book that tells us his heart, that tells us everything about him, tells us who we're supposed to be, tells us that we have purpose, tells us always, and the amount of people that just don't even read this is kind of wild to me. Because how do I explain what I believe if I don't know what I believe? Yeah, do you believe all this if you don't you don't, you know, you know. So there's like a we don't want to be nominal, we don't want to be just by a word, and I that's one reason why the Pharisees prayed, and that's why they were whitewashed tombs, because it meant they look good on the outside, but there was all just dead bones inside of them. There's just something dead inside of you, but this gives you access to know everything about the Lord. And I'm my Bible, I'm not hovering over the um over the desk, but um yeah, like take advantage of it. Pray back his word to him.
SPEAKER_01Prayer is worship, confession, thanksgiving, and petition, and listening.
SPEAKER_03That's what it is, and I mean there are some mornings I wake up with a song in my head, and that's literally my prayer for that morning. Yeah, I just sing the song to him.
SPEAKER_01And there's sometimes that even like you're a beautiful singer, okay?
SPEAKER_00That there's sometimes the Lord will um give me a song and I'm lying. And I'm sure it's beautiful. It's beautiful that he did that, okay? The way it comes down and not so. Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_03He said make a joyful noise.
SPEAKER_01So he's really not a respectful person.
SPEAKER_03Because he's uh he's like he's really listening to what you're singing to him. Like it's good lord. Yeah. And there's another thing too, there's no comparison in the body of Christ. So there shouldn't be comparison in the body.
SPEAKER_01No, I just think he has a sense of humor. I think it's funny um that he would ask someone who's not a singer to be like, Here's you a song. And he'll sing it over you. And like, I don't know, there's sometimes I'll be in my prayer closet and it'll be a song, but I will sense that he's singing it over me.
SPEAKER_03Well, Zephan says that he dances and he sings over us, and I've had that too. A few months back, um I was going through some stuff, and all there's this one song by um Darlene Zech or Zech or whatever you say. I love her, she is old school, and it the the words go, God is fighting for me, pushing back the darkness, fighting back the kingdom. I can it is I think I just got the words wrong, but that literally was in my head for like a week straight. And I could it wasn't me singing it, it was like the spirit singing it over me, yeah, like over and over and over and over again, because sometimes I just didn't have the the fortitude, yeah, to to pray. Yeah, and it does say that in in the word when we don't have the words, the Holy Spirit prays for us, yeah, and that's beautiful too, because he's like, even if you can't pray, even if you can't pray, I know what you need. Yeah, so that song just like over and over again, because it was like this is spiritual warfare, but I've got you because he does say that he's you know Jehovah Sabyoth, he's the king of angel armies, like he's not we that's one thing too.
SPEAKER_01If you could ever do a study on the words of like the names of God, yeah, you understand his character, then you really would know that his prayer to God is not just ho-hum things, it's um it's the first and the last hearing you so um say a new believer asks you just the overall question of what is prayer? Prayer communication with God. So that is prayer. Um, and we love you guys. And again, if you have any um if you have any questions about prayer or you need help um with anything or have any questions, you can comment. You can message us, and we will pray with you. And we don't mind providing some type of tool to help you learn prayer. Um, but just know that it doesn't have to be an overwhelming thing. It can just be you going and communicating with the Lord and don't um don't not start, just start with something small if you have to. Just start with maybe five minutes a day. If that's what you can give, start with that um and then let the Lord grow you to where you need to be or wherever he wants you to be. Um, but just don't get overstimulated with it and let him do what he wants to do and let him have his way. We hope this blessed you and um we love you guys. You're praying out this time, Lord. Thank you for this opportunity, Lord. Thank you for all that you're doing, Lord. Thank you for who you are. And I ask that this word just goes forth and it glorifies your name and it brings the people to yourself and it helps them learn how to communicate with you, Lord, and it helps them grow in relationship with you, Lord, and that you go before them and that you go behind them, Lord. Bless them and keep them throughout their week in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Bye.
