WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:05.040 It is a joy and a pleasure to be here. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:08.720 You know, one of the things we recognize is that this is the day the Lord has made, amen. 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.119 And we will rejoice and be glad in it. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:20.719 As many of you are aware, Pastor Russ and Jill are out because they married off Abigail yesterday, and so we're proud and happy about that, amen. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:27.519 And so uh they need some time to recuperate, and so uh when I talked to Pastor Russ, he said, Hey man, I want you to come and preach. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:29.760 I'm like, you're setting me up, man. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:31.920 You setting me up. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:39.439 But I'm so grateful for Pastor Russ, his heart, his passion, and just him being a friend. 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:41.920 He's a man after God's own heart. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:54.159 And so to you who sit under his leadership with all the other pastors, um, you guys are well gifted with a man that loves the Lord. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:54.799 Amen. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:55.439 Amen. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:58.079 And so we're grateful for Pastor Russ. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:09.840 And this morning, um, I'm actually finishing up this uh this sermon series that they started, and I'm excited about it as we just kind of delve into God's word. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:27.599 Um this morning, if you would turn with me into the book of Psalms, and we're going to read verses chapter 27, and we're gonna begin reading at verse 4, and that's gonna be the only verse that we're gonna read. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:37.680 Again, um, if you would turn with me with uh into Psalms 27, and we're gonna begin reading at verse 4. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:40.959 If you can stand, if you will stand for the reading of God's word. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:45.519 Hear the word of the Lord. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:02:08.719 One thing I desire of the Lord that I will seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:10.319 Let us pray. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:13.680 Holy Spirit, speak to our hearts today. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:18.879 We need to hear from you. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:29.280 Open up our hearts, open up our minds to receive what you're going to say to us. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:33.280 It is in Jesus' name we do pray. 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:34.240 Amen. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:42.479 Well, for the last three weeks, you've been in this series of prayer. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:48.080 Week one, you focused on talking to God. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:56.639 Kind of having a conversation, just kind of sharing what's on your heart and just opening up. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:57.680 What is prayer? 00:02:57.840 --> 00:02:59.360 Is this talking to God? 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:05.199 The same way that you talk to individuals is the same way that you have a conversation with God. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:08.800 Next one is talking with God. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:16.080 Last week, Russ preached about listening to God. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:18.080 Listening to God. 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:25.439 A lot of times we have a hard time and a difficulty doing that because we always have something else going on. 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:30.159 We're busy, we're always turning the corner, going to the next thing. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:33.360 So it is important for us to listen to God. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:41.439 This week we're rounding to home plate, week four, and I'm tasked with focusing on being with God. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:52.159 So you had talking to God, talking with God, listening to God, and this week we're going to focus on being with God. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:58.240 Have you ever had kind of a needy friend, right? 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:06.879 All of us probably had that friend that always calls us or talks to us when they need something, right? 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:17.279 They're the ones that when the phone rings and we see their name on a caller ID, we we kind of inwardly and outwardly roll our eyes. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:21.439 Like, oh my God, it's them who's coming. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.680 It's them who is calling. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:30.000 They're constantly in a position, in a posture of wanting something or needing something. 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:37.920 And so when you hear from them or talk to them, they're always in a need position, in a need posture. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:49.199 And if we're not careful, those people, those friends, and I use friends very loosely, those friends begin to drain you. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:53.839 Because they're always after something. 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:57.839 They're always needing something. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:12.240 Now understand, I know that the Bible reminds us, and Paul reminds us in Galatians 6.10, that therefore we should have, when we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, especially those in the household of faith. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:31.040 So it's not the fact that when they call that we're trying to ignore them or ignore their need because we are people of God that want to help, but there's a there's a there's a there's a limit that we can we can do and a place limit that we can go. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:52.560 And if we're really honest, some of us have been the person that has been the needy person that we would call and that we would be the ones who need help. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:06:07.600 The beauty of this is that being a friend is a person that is willing to go the extra mile, to go the distance, to help. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:11.680 Friendship is a two-way street. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:27.439 And while we have probably friends like this, we have to be honest with ourselves and recognizing that it's about us as well. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:34.800 While this is true in our human relationship, it is also true in our relationships with the Lord. 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:42.800 Oftentimes, unconsciously, our relationship with the Lord is based on consuming. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:07:00.480 Although we may not want to say it out loud, the reality is that when we go to the Lord in prayer, we're typically in a posture of wanting something from him. 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:10.639 It's not just us going to the Lord just because he's our Father. 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:19.759 We're typically going to him, asking him for something that we need, something that we want, wanting him to do something for us. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:27.759 We rarely just go to God and just sit and not want anything. 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:38.079 Today we're talking about the ultimate goal of prayer, which is simply being with God. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:44.480 Last week, Russ told the story of Mother Teresa, but he didn't finish the story. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:52.800 Before Mother Teresa died, there was an appearance with Dan Rather when he was talking to her and asked her a question. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:59.759 When you're praying to God, what do you say to God? 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:04.720 And she answered, I don't anything, I listen. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:18.240 But the story goes on that Dan Rather was thrown off by this answer and asked a follow-up question, and he said, Okay, when you pray to God, what does he say to you? 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:21.920 She got quiet for a minute. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:27.680 And she answered and said, He doesn't say anything. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:34.399 Then there was kind of an awkward moment. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:40.720 And then she said, if you don't understand it, I can't explain it to you. 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:49.360 Mother Teresa was talking about the beautiful picture of being with God. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:56.720 Just simply being in his presence. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:08.000 When was the last time that we, that you individually went to God. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:17.039 Not wanting anything, not desiring anything, just just just wanting to be in his presence. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:32.799 Being quiet, being still, just listening, not having any music going on, not having a to-do list, a task ready, but just sitting in the presence of the Lord. 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:37.840 You know, I'm asking you that question because I have to ask myself that question as well. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:53.279 The same way that it is difficult for many of us just to sit in the presence of the Lord and not want anything is the same thing that I wrestle with as a minister of the gospel. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:57.200 Because we have things that we have to do. 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:04.000 We have people that we have to see, we have prayers, we have visitations, we have messages that we have to prepare for. 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:08.720 So the same wrestle that you wrestle with is the same wrestle that we wrestle with. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:17.039 And as I was preparing this message, I stopped and I asked the Lord, when was the last time that I really, for real, for real? 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:24.320 Not not being in your presence because I need you to give me a word to prepare for a message. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:40.879 But when was the last time that I actually sat, turned the music off, forgot the phone, left everything, and just was in your presence. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.679 And I sat there. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:51.440 And I realized that it had been a minute. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:58.000 But I was practicing the presence of the Lord at that very moment. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:03.840 Just being in his presence. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:16.960 One way to measure maturity in a relationship and the intimacy is how comfortable are you when you're alone together in silence. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:30.320 You know, we're conditioned to move on to the next thing. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:42.000 We feel as though we have to be doing something or having conversation or just talking or just hearing noise. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:46.799 But the reality is maturity happens when there's simply silence. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:53.840 Not having to say anything, not having to do anything, not just just being there. 00:11:53.919 --> 00:12:04.960 You know, one of the things that I love that I realize that I'm maturing into my marriage is that when my wife and I were dating and early on in our years, we were in conversation. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:20.639 But but it but it's just as good now to be able to ride in a car together and simply be present with each other. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:26.879 Some people may say, man, they don't have a conversation, they don't have anything, they don't communicate. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:36.240 No, we we communicate, we talk very often, but the reality is that we are just comfortable with just being together. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:42.000 Walking, eating, driving. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:49.759 And that's a picture of how our Lord desires our relationship to be with him. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:13:01.919 It is to simply be in his presence, simply being willing to just be with the Lord in silence. 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:09.519 I want to look at three components of this type of prayer. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:16.159 Looking, yielding, and resting. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:21.440 Looking at God, looking at you in love, number one. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:28.559 Looking at God, looking at you in love. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:40.799 In 2 Corinthians 3, 18, it says, so all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:50.720 And the Lord, who is the Spirit, makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 00:13:54.639 --> 00:14:03.600 When the veil is removed, we can see, we see and reflect the glory of the Lord. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:15.759 Paul is speaking here and giving us an imaginary image of a bride and the intimacy she has with her husband. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:24.879 And the original Greek is to look at, is to gaze, to see, to just stare into. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:37.279 When we just stare into the beauty of the Lord, that's what David was saying. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:51.679 One thing I desire of the Lord, that which I will seek out, that I would look, that I would gaze, that I would dwell in the house of the Lord and behold the beauty. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:08.639 When we are just simply gazing, looking into the presence of God, it changes things. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:11.120 Why does it change things? 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:19.919 Because what happens is we begin to see the presence of God dwelling on the inside of us, and we begin to see the beauty. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:23.840 We begin to thank God just for who He is. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:32.559 Thank you for loving me even in my unlovable state. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:40.799 Thank you for providing for me even beyond things I can even I can even ask or think or imagine. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:44.480 God, thank you for just being my Savior. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:46.320 Thank you for loving me. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:50.080 Thank you for protecting me. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:53.759 Thank you for just allowing me to see another day that you have made. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:54.960 God, just thank you. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:08.799 When we are able to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, it changes everything because we see the beauty of the Lord and we begin to see how much he loves us. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:19.679 When we talk about beholding God, we don't mean consuming him. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:22.559 We mean admiring him. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:28.159 Admiring Him. 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.320 A.W. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:43.279 Tolger, an author and pastor, says, faith is not a one and done act, but a continuous gaze of the heart at a triune God. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:49.759 Believing then is directing the heart's attention to Jesus. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:17:01.279 It is lifting up the mind to behold the Lamb of God and never ceasing to be holding rest of our lives. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:12.799 At first, this may be difficult, but becomes easier as we look steadily at His wondrous person quietly and within. 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:21.920 When we begin to practice this, it becomes easier. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:31.920 Because scripture just doesn't become something that we read, it becomes something that we live, we see, we experience. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:45.680 It takes on a whole different form because it's different when we're moving, when we're looking to get something, but when we're looking to just understand, it changes the dynamic. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.160 Why? 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.640 It's because we're not asking for anything. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:54.160 You know, one of the things that we as parents, I mean, parents, we have you raise your hand, raise your hand, raise your hand, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:58.319 All of y'all, I can say this that your kids come to you and ask you for something all the time. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:03.119 And that's the beauty of it, because we're parents. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:11.359 God gave them to us to care for, to nurture, to disciple, to grow. 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:15.359 But it's something when they just come and sit next to you. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:18.960 Just want to hang with you. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:24.559 Not asking for anything because they don't have to say anything, just being there. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:29.680 One of the things I recognized when my mother was living is that I didn't have to go and ask her for anything. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:35.680 It was just simply going and sitting in her presence, watching TV. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:44.720 It may not have been something that I wanted to watch, but it was simply being there. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:53.279 Looking at God, looking at you in love. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:57.279 Number two, yielding to his love. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:03.759 After we look at look to the Lord, we yield to his love. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:12.640 As Jesus was praying in a garden, not my will, but let your will be done. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:22.720 He was yielding to God's love. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:35.279 Yielding to God's love is whatever the Lord desires. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:40.319 I say yes, Lord. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:46.720 Lord, it's not what I desire to do. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:50.559 God, I want to do this, but it's hard. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:20:09.440 But the reality is when we stop and yield to the Lord's will, what he desires, it changes our mindset. 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:21.119 Because as I said earlier, there are times where we go with our list of things that we want to give, what we need, what we want. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:24.240 It's almost like we treat God as Santa Claus. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:27.680 Giving him our list. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:34.880 As a matter of fact, if we're really honest, we go to the Lord telling him what we want him to do for us. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:38.720 Now, as parents, I don't think that ever worked. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:43.119 There was no way that I was going to tell my mom and my dad what y'all gonna do. 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.359 How does that work out for him? 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:49.279 That didn't work out too well. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:21:05.279 So we treat them differently, but but but when we realize that when we just simply yield to the will of God, Jesus demonstrated it in the garden when he said, Father, not my will. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:09.440 But let your will be done. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:19.680 It isn't just an act of mission, but it's a surrender of love. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.519 God, I love you. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:26.559 We sang the song, I love you. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:32.160 We sang, we we but but but but do we live it out? 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:37.119 It is surrendering to his love. 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:43.279 Number three, resting in God's love. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:46.640 Resting in God's love. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:54.079 This type of prayer shouldn't feel like work, but it should feel more like rest. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.920 It is less. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:06.400 Something that we do for God instead of something we do with God. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:19.920 When we rest in God's love, when we're practicing the presence of the Lord, it is simply just being able to relax. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:27.759 Not having any pressure, not having any anxiety, it's resting in the Lord. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:33.440 That's why the Bible says, cast all your cares upon me because I care for you. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:43.039 When I'm resting in the Lord, I can just lay my head back. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:49.920 And know that in my resting time I'm protected. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:23:02.480 That I'm being filled, I'm being refilled, I'm being replenished, I'm being strengthened, I'm being healed when I'm resting in God. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:08.880 When we're in the presence of God, all of this happens because we're not asking for anything. 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:12.559 We're just in the moment. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:21.759 And in that moment when we're resting, God begins to restore everything that we would think we need, and even more so. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:29.759 This is difficult sometimes. 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.720 Why is it difficult? 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:38.880 Because we we we we we're we're so conditioned to move to the next thing. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:45.920 I'm pretty sure that after you leave here, you didn't have plans of what you're going to do. 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:51.200 As a matter of fact, at a certain time point, you're gonna look at your watch, look at me. 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:56.240 Look at your watch again, and look at me. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:00.079 Because you got something to do. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:09.359 But have we realized that the Lord will restore the years, the time that is taken from us when we are just being still in him? 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:18.079 Things that we think that we have a hurry for and a need for and a rush for, God says, don't worry, it'll be there. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:30.079 Trouble will be there, bills will be there, your job will be there, your children will be there, but the most important thing is just being in the presence of God. 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:44.079 When we look at God, yield to God, it allows us the confidence to rest in the love of God. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:25:02.000 Resting in God's love means finding peace, comfort, and purity, and the knowledge that you are unconditionally loved and cared for by God. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:12.640 It involves surrendering our worries and burdens to Him and trusting His guidance and provision. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:25.039 It's resting, it's finding peace. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:37.440 I don't know about you, but we live in a world that's trying to suck our joy and our peace. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:51.039 Every time we turn on the news, we're hearing how joy, how peace is being sucked out of the world. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:54.880 And if we're not careful, we can allow it to affect us. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:01.680 That's why we have to stop and turn it off. 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:07.920 And understand that when you turn it back on, it's going to be there. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:15.039 If you got DVR, you can go back and listen to it, watch it, whatever it is, put it on pause, it'll be there. 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:25.119 But what won't be there is the precious time that God desires us to be with him. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:40.240 There are some distractions that we know of. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:49.359 And the main distraction that we that we overlook is us. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:08.400 We prevent us from being with the Lord. 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:14.240 We'll blame it on our jobs. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:21.519 We're blaming on our work and tasks that we have to do. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:24.319 We'll blame it on other things. 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:30.640 But the reality is if we were turn the mirror to reflect us, we will see the biggest distraction. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:36.240 That's why we have to fight. 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:43.759 That's why we have to look to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:49.519 Look to him, because if we look to him, everything else becomes obsolete. 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:55.039 Distraction keeps us from him. 00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:58.960 Hurry keeps us from him. 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:05.759 And the most important thing is fear keeps us from him. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:17.200 Because the fear that happens is that when we're silent, the fear is that the Lord is going to show us us. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:24.640 That's one thing we don't want to see is us. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:29.920 But that's the one thing that the Lord wants us to see is us. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:38.880 He wants us to see that we are in need, desperate need for Him. 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:53.920 It's not about what we are trying to accomplish, but it's about us being in His presence now. 00:28:57.039 --> 00:29:04.000 The fear is that if I'm alone, the Lord is going to talk to me. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:10.640 And if He talks to me, He's going to tell me something that I really don't want to do. 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:23.680 That I know is right, and that I know I'm supposed to be doing, and I know that I'm supposed to be, but if I listen, I got to obey. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:32.400 And that's the part that I don't want to listen because I'm scared about what's going to happen. 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:38.319 And if we listen, God is going to speak to us. 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:50.880 But the fear and the distraction and the result of hurry keeps us from being with the Lord. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:30:00.480 Practicing beholding prayer in the silence of just being with God. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:21.599 When Mother Teresa said, God doesn't say anything is a great picture of us being still and knowing that He's God. 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:33.039 Throughout these past three weeks, Russ has been getting some action steps. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:36.640 And I want to make sure that I follow suit. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:47.920 This week, make a daily practice of spending a few moments in beholding prayer. 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:55.279 In the morning, in the afternoon. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:01.519 Just just beholding God. 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:15.200 If you don't, I would encourage you to do so. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:20.480 Just just carve out a moment and just spending time with God. 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:29.680 Not asking him for anything, not expecting him to do anything for you, but just simply loving and being in his presence. 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.519 Beholding God. 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:47.200 And I guarantee you that if you are still before the Lord as you're driving, as you're sitting, as you're waking up in the morning before you move, just just keep your mind focused on him. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:57.680 I guarantee you, and I don't guarantee a whole lot of things, but one thing I will guarantee you is that if you haven't heard the Lord clearly in the past, you will begin to hear him clear now. 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:04.000 He desires to speak to you. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:08.400 Not only speak to you, but to speak to all of us. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:23.359 But the only way that we're going to hear, the only way that we're going to experience is that we have to be willing to yield to him by surrendering ourselves. 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:30.799 One of the things I do know is that we can do it. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:37.599 I know that it will be difficult at first. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:55.039 But the more we put in practice, the more that you do it, the more that you carve out the time to, as Henry Nown would say, wasting time on God. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:06.319 When we're constantly in a mindset of realizing that I can waste my time on other things. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:11.039 But what matters most is spending time with God. 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:25.200 When we carve out that time and behold God, our lives, our perspective, our walk, our conversation, our prayers, our hearing, our discerning will change radically. 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:34.160 Because what we don't do is spend enough time with God. 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:38.079 I'm guilty. 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:42.160 I'm guilty. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:54.400 I thought that as I began to pastor and as I began to walk in ministry, I'm just going to be true with you. 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.079 Can I be true with you for a second? 00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:59.039 That I thought that this would be easy. 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:03.440 But I realized that I have to fight for it. 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:09.119 As a minister of the gospel, I have to fight for it. 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:22.239 And it's worth the fight because I realized that gives me life. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:41.760 Because the world is hectic. 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:50.480 But encouraging people in this position to face the world is a lot more burdensome. 00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:55.760 Because our desire is for you to get it. 00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:01.440 But reality, the Lord has showed me. 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:18.559 He said it's not for you to make them get it, it's for you to present it and allowing the Holy Spirit to touch our hearts and give them the desires to want it. 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:22.559 Do you want it? 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:25.519 That's the question. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:31.679 If you want it, here's what Jesus says. 00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:40.320 In Revelations, Revelation 3 and 20, Jesus says these words. 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:46.880 He says, though I stand at the door and knock. 00:35:48.239 --> 00:36:04.639 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, he says, I will come in and be with him, dine with him, dwell with him, and he with me. 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:20.320 The decision that you have to make is do you want him to come in and speak to you, dwell in you, and change you. 00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:28.480 That's the beauty of beholding him. 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:41.199 I don't need anything. 00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:44.960 But I desire one thing. 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:48.800 And that will I seek after. 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:53.519 That I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:57.599 And behold your beauty. 00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:09.199 Father, thank you for your word. 00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:15.119 Thank you for being there for us. 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:26.559 Thank you for desiring us as children to be with you. 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:46.239 Father, I pray today that as the challenge and action was presented, God, that we would be willing to open up the doors of our hearts. 00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:50.079 To let you in. 00:37:51.679 --> 00:38:00.639 God, that we would be willing to surrender, yield to not our will, but your will. 00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:12.559 And Father, that we would be able to listen to you loving on us. 00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:23.360 Our rest, our peace, our confidence is in you. 00:38:28.480 --> 00:38:33.679 This morning, Holy Spirit, speak to our hearts. 00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:44.480 Not just in this service, but even as we're driving home, that you are still speaking to our hearts. 00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:47.760 And that we would listen. 00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:56.400 Remove distractions, remove fear, remove us out of the way. 00:38:58.400 --> 00:38:59.920 Lord, we love you. 00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:05.039 And we thank you in Jesus' name. 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:06.239 Amen.