WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.279 So in our second week talking about prayer. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:10.800 Now maybe you are here, and maybe, just maybe, prayer has never really made sense to you. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:17.199 And perhaps that because for you, God has always been a little bit of the benevolent policeman. 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:17.839 Right? 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:21.199 Maybe like Barney Fai, if you remember Barney Fai from Mayberry, right? 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:27.839 He was, if you remember him, he was kind, he was he was uh a little naive, he was sweet. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.039 Um I don't know if you could say he was in control. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:35.039 I'm not sure if you would have extreme confidence in him. 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:46.159 So maybe when it comes to the benevolent policeman God, you simply never have really invited God into your real mess or your real issues. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:52.560 It's also possible prayer has never made sense because you actually do believe God is in complete control. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:01:02.079 And if God has a plan, and if God already knows the cares of my heart before I speak them, why should I pray? 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:04.480 Like, why pray if God is sovereign? 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:06.079 So that's the question I want to ask today. 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.319 Why pray if God is sovereign? 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:10.239 Meaning God is in control. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:14.799 So there's a story in Acts 3, Peter and John are headed to the temple to pray. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:17.519 There's a man there who's been lame his entire life. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:21.519 He has never walked a day in his life. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.040 And so this man asks Peter and John for some money. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:28.719 And Peter looks at him and says, Hey, I don't have anything for you. 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:32.239 I have no handout, I have no money, but I don't have any of that. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:34.959 But I have the power of Jesus for you. 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:36.640 And the man's healed. 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:38.640 So that's pretty wild. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:45.599 And so the people are astounded, and all the people come together, and people begin to preach about how amazing Jesus is. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:48.640 And this is why the miracles occur throughout the New Testament. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:52.640 A miracle creates a path for the proclamation of Jesus. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:02:03.920 And so Peter's preaching how amazing Jesus is, and then he tells the religious authorities, he said, By the way, all of you, all of you, you killed them. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:06.640 You killed Jesus. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:12.240 Now, when I was a boy, a very long, long time ago, I used to cut grass in my neighborhood. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:17.680 I'd push my lawnmower to the different, you know, lawns, and I would cut them and get my$25 and go back home. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:34.719 So one day I was cutting a lady's lawn down the street, and I'm cutting about halfway through the front yard, and I feel a sting on my like my shin, and then I then I felt another sting like up above my knee, and then one up by my tidy-whiteys at the time. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:41.599 And I realized I had ran over a yellow jacket nest, and they were just swarming. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:44.240 But I mean I was I was fast. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:45.199 I was 10 years old. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:47.520 And I don't, 10-year-olds, you think you're fast? 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.560 I would love to give a go at you back when I was 10 years old. 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:53.199 I was, and I just took off. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:58.560 And I flew all the way back home, and I was tearing off clothes along the way. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:02.400 I get back home and I get my dad, and my dad and I walk back up there. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:07.840 He very calmly goes and gets the lawnmower out, and is like, oh, okay, that wasn't that big of a deal. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:12.479 Okay, so this is what just happened to Peter. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:15.120 He caused a swarm. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:31.520 He caused a swarm, and they are after thousands of years of organized rules, a system, strict hierarchy, and the people in charge of that system benefited from that system working smoothly. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:36.639 And then Jesus disturbs it, Paul disturbs it, and Peter is disturbing it. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:41.280 So in Acts 4, the swarm is occurring, the religious leaders. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:42.719 It's a swarm. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:46.159 And those leaders arrest Peter and his friends. 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:50.400 So all the believers of Jesus at the time, they get together and they pray. 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:52.560 Just when you think they would form a strategy, right? 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:54.080 My question would be like, who can we call? 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:54.879 Who do we know? 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:55.840 How do we get them out? 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:57.439 They pray. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:03:59.520 They ask for help. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:01.120 Acts 4 29. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:08.719 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:14.560 That term Lord, the beginning of the prayer, Lord, that term means sovereign Lord. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:23.040 So they're saying at the beginning of this prayer, in the middle of a huge difficulty and hardship, they're saying, God, you're in control. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:29.040 Now listen to God's sovereignty, his control over creation. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:31.040 Isaiah 46, 9 and 10. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.000 Remember the former things of old, for I am God. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:35.199 There is no other. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:46.800 I am God, and there's none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times, things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:50.399 God's sovereignty over salvation, Ephesians 1.11. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:59.759 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:12.319 God's sovereignty over suffering, Romans 8.28, and we know that for those who love God all things, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:15.199 God's sovereignty over human life. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:20.800 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:27.680 Here's how the Westminster Confession of Faith summarizes this idea, this truth of God's sovereignty. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:41.680 God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and immutably, that is, without possibility of changing it, ordain whatsoever comes to pass. 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:49.839 Now that's difficult considering how we feel quite free and make decisions. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:50.959 So how do we think about this? 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:54.000 How do we think about sovereignty or how do we even think about like God's will? 00:05:54.399 --> 00:06:01.439 Well, we can think about God's will in three ways: God's sovereign will, God's revealed will, and God's permissive will. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:07.600 God's sovereign will, which ensures that God's purposes are always fulfilled. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:11.759 He will write his story in this world. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:17.439 God's revealed will, which is clear in Scripture and calls us to faithful obedience. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:19.360 How should we live? 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:21.120 That's not even up for a question. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:21.680 We have it. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:23.120 It's written for us. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:31.680 God's permissive will, which reminds us that God uses even failures and sufferings for his glory and our good. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:43.199 Now, these three aspects of God's will, they begin to help us, begin to help us to understand how God is sovereign while we're having experiences and choices. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:47.360 These three aspects of God's will work perfectly together. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:52.800 Now, here's how my mentor, a retired Presbyterian pastor, Presbyterians love God's sovereignty. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:54.079 Amen, Presbyterians. 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:56.240 Just Presbyterians, you're like, this is my sermon. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.279 I was glad I showed up this morning for this one. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.199 Here's what he taught me. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:09.279 The further we get along in faith and life, the more we will hold sovereignty and mystery together. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:18.560 I think that's to say something like somehow our choices are inside of God's sovereignty. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:21.759 Now, don't ask me to explain that too much. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:29.040 But just because I can't explain it or you can't resolve it doesn't mean it's not true. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:34.160 Point number one is this we live in the comfort of God's sovereignty. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:36.079 God's story is at word. 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:42.639 Do you remember in Lord of the Rings, Frodo, he's carrying that ring? 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:48.319 And at a certain point, Frodo he begins to lament carrying the ring, the burden of it, the situation of it. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:51.839 And he says, I wish the ring had never come to me. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:54.079 I wish none of this had happened. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:59.040 And Gandalf, right, the wise elder, so wisely, he responds. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:04.959 So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:09.360 All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:11.360 So Frodo's upset about life. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:14.879 I'm uh it's not going how I want it to go. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:16.399 Anybody anybody else? 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:18.240 Right now or yesterday, right? 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:20.480 Just like at some point, we've been there. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:29.360 Frodo's limited understanding is our limited understanding, yet we still have decisions. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:33.200 Yet we still rest and we live faithfully in the unfolding story. 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:37.919 See, for Gandalf, God in control means everything. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:44.399 They were making decisions, but it was inside of a story that was unfolding. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:51.200 Which means that whatever's going on today, God's story is still being written for you. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:53.679 Which is comforting. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.080 So, what does this mean for your prayer life? 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:57.279 Because we're talking about prayer. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:58.240 What does it mean for prayer? 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:05.519 Point number two, God's sovereignty does not discourage prayer, but creates prayer from a peace-filled heart. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:08.320 Of course, you're anxious. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:09.600 I'm anxious. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:13.200 I mean, God assumes, and the Bible assumes you're anxious. 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.399 Cast all your cares, your anxieties on him. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:18.960 So he's assuming that. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:22.159 But there's good news here, and here's the good news. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:29.279 Our hearts don't have to worry about our security as Christians because it's fully based on Jesus' work for us. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:32.559 So that anxiety is gone if you're a Christian. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:43.759 And how your life's going to unfold and you needing to control it perfectly to get it where it needs to go, that anxiety can be gone also because you live in God's sovereignty. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.519 And that's good news. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:53.039 That gives us the beginning of a piece that we have a God that's incredibly personal and who is sovereign and with us. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:59.679 We are not the author of the story, but rather characters in God's story. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:04.240 See, in Acts 4, they prayed because God was sovereign. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:12.799 Because they wanted to connect with their personal God who was with them and who is working something out even in the difficulty. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:20.399 Point number three is this the profound mystery of God's sovereignty invites our prayers for God to intervene. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.559 Listen to Acts 4. 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:26.879 They've confessed God is sovereign over all events, and yet they're still praying. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.879 Acts 4, 29 and 30. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:41.440 And now, Lord, look upon their hearts and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal and sign, and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:45.200 And God responds to that prayer in Acts 4, 31. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:49.600 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:53.840 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:56.799 So somehow, I can't explain it. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:04.159 Somehow God is sovereign, and inside of that, He uses our prayers. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:06.639 Prayer actually matters. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:13.039 God's sovereignty actually welcomes our prayers and uses our prayers. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:26.399 Is it possible, just possible, that this big chasm between free will and God's sovereignty only exists because we simply don't understand everything about everything? 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:29.120 Could we just begin with a little humility? 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:32.240 That maybe we don't understand everything about everything. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.000 I've accepted this. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:41.840 I've accepted this because some of the worst things in my life have stayed worse things in my life. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:49.279 Okay, but some other worst things in my life over time have become amazing things. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:54.000 Some really, really good things in my life have remained good things. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:58.799 But then some other good things in my life over time have become horrible things. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:08.639 It's simply very difficult for us, for any of us, in the present moment with limited understanding to know how the story will unfold. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:14.080 So we end up back at Proverbs 16, 9. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:19.200 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:25.039 So last thing, three blessings of praying to a sovereign God. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:29.919 The blessing of presence and welcome. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.399 God is always working in us and for us. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:34.159 He's welcoming our prayers. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:38.240 For years I tried to use God's sovereignty to get answers. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:44.080 Well, if you're in control and you're God and I'm talking to you, you're gonna give me an answer for that heartache and that pain and that disappointment. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:45.360 It never worked. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.480 Never worked. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:48.320 I was never at peace. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:50.159 And then I learned. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:50.799 I learned this. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:55.200 God's sovereignty does not give us answers to all things. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:01.919 God's sovereignty gives us a relationship with God in all things. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:06.320 Him being sovereign means that he doesn't run away when life gets hard. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.600 That he's with us. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:09.840 Now, I I can't explain the problem of evil. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.840 I can't explain why every heartache happens. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:15.919 None of us will be able to explain any of that until we get to the next world. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.679 But I do know God's with you in all things. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:23.279 And I know that's a blessing of presence and welcome. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:25.759 He actually cares and moves toward our weakness. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:40.080 And once we're assured of that, if we're assured that in the gospel our sin really is fully forgiven, full forgiveness, and we're fully righteous, so all that, like my status with God and how am I with God today, if all of that's fully handled in Jesus, that anxiety is put to the side. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:48.559 And if I don't have to control and pray every right prayer in the right way to make all that goodness happen in that person's life and that person's life, I mean, that is, that would be crazy. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.519 Imagine that. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:59.519 Just imagine if all the goodness in your children's lives, all the goodness in your friends or your family's life was dependent upon your prayers. 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:03.759 That would be the most anxiety-filled life you could ever imagine. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:09.279 That's why I'm saying God's sovereign over our loved ones and over us. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.919 And inside of that sovereignty, we pray. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:17.039 I don't know how it all works itself out, but I do know it's a release of anxiety. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:21.759 And that God is present with us and for us and welcoming our prayers. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:24.240 Second, the blessing of gratitude. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:27.200 Prayer creates hearts of thanksgiving. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.200 2 Corinthians 1.11. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.679 You also must help us by prayer. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:33.519 Okay, so prayer matters. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:40.480 So that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:46.320 Prayer helps us to become aware, come alive to God's blessings. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:51.840 As we pray, we become aware of the things in our lives to be thankful for. 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:55.360 We become thankful people in this process. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:01.279 Third, the blessing of growth and nourishment. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:05.279 Prayer grows and nourishes our relationship with God. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:08.399 Twenty years ago, Christy and I were married. 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:11.600 Here's a picture of us on our wedding day. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.159 That beautiful skin. 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.559 And I show these pictures. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:21.679 Young men, young men, I show these pictures because look what's possible. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:22.080 Right? 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:30.879 I mean, if prayer and if you don't believe in prayer and miracles, this picture that a woman like that would marry this. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:31.759 Right? 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:34.159 I mean, you're just like, that's amazing. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.240 That's amazing that that can happen. 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:38.080 It's like that, maybe that's the whole sermon. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.200 It's just that picture. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:44.960 So we were fully married that day. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.000 Fully. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:46.960 Sealed. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:47.519 Complete. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.080 We couldn't get more married. 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.759 We're married. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:58.080 And yet we had to learn, still learning how to grow together. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.159 We've not always been good at that. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:03.440 The first couple of years of our marriage, we just lived selfishly. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.320 And we could. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:06.240 Just live together selfishly. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:09.039 And then we had a baby, and that changed everything. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.279 But we became a team and we started to take walks together. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.240 We started to talk more. 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.519 We started to schedule time. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:23.759 We started weekly date nights, and we realized we couldn't just live as roommates, that we actually need to live married, sharing life together. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:29.279 And during all the times we weren't really good at that, we were still completely married. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.960 We couldn't get more married. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:33.519 But on the walks and the dates, we talked. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:35.440 What was good today? 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:37.039 What are you thankful for today? 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.240 What was stressful today? 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.320 What's eating at you? 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.000 Who bothered you today? 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:52.639 And the talking, the sharing, the processing over time grows and nourishes a relationship. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:55.840 So we have the security of the marriage covenant. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:17:02.960 We couldn't get any more married, and yet inside of that security, we're growing together. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.319 You see what I'm saying? 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:21.279 We have security in the gospel, we have comfort in God's sovereignty, and inside of that, we can't get more Christian, we can't get more saved, and inside of that security, there's a comfort that we're fully saved and God is sovereign. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:24.559 And in that, in there, we pray. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:27.039 We share, we ask for things. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:29.039 Our prayers change over time. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.599 We grow. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:37.440 Listen how Pastor Scotty Smith relates this to prayer. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:40.079 He just published a little prayer book. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.160 He wrote this. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:46.240 Prayer doesn't close the gap between us and God. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:49.119 The gospel abolished the gap. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:53.200 Prayer is where we risk believing there is no gap. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:55.200 Just grace upon grace. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:18:02.000 God doesn't love us to the extent we are like Christ, but to the extent we are in Christ, which is already 100%. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:13.759 Prayer is the welcome, oxygen, landscape, surgery, feast, playground, ocean, horizon, and sanctuary where we come alive to the God of love and the love of God. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:20.880 If you have a question about prayer or anything else after the service, there'll be a pastor down front who would love to speak to you. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.079 Let's pray together. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:28.000 Heavenly Father, we're thankful that we don't have to understand everything. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:38.559 We're thankful for that the entirety of goodness in our lives and our loved ones' lives is not based upon the strength and consistency of our prayers. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:42.720 That you are writing a story and you are sovereign. 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:51.039 Thank you for your presence with us in the midst of our sin, our lack of faith, our lack of prayer, that you never leave us and you're always for us. 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:54.160 Thank you that we are invited to pray. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.319 We're invited to grow with you. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.799 We're invited to ask you to intervene. 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:06.480 Would you release us even more of the idols of control, of arrogance? 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:11.519 Would you humble us as children before Heavenly Father? 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.279 And would you grow us in prayer? 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:22.720 Would you grow us in prayer as we ask you for your action and activity in our lives as we grow in our faith and we grow closer to Jesus? 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.160 In His name we pray. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.039 Amen.