WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.080 Thanks for listening to the His Hands podcast. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:07.839 Download the His Hands mobile app or check out His Hands.online for tons of helpful content and resources. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:12.400 Everything we do is designed to help you grow closer to the God who created you and loves you. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:12.880 Enjoy. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:14.240 Hi, His Hands family. 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:16.559 I'm Maya and this is Deep Dives. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:25.600 Um, this is where I get the opportunity to sit down with a passionate person from our church where we explore different topics and aspects of our spiritual lives. 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:27.600 Um, and we're just trying to gain understanding. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:33.679 I'm here to gain understanding, you're here to gain understanding, and um I just think it's an amazing opportunity for us to grow together. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:39.039 Um and I have the opportunity to sit down with Irene Stout. 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:44.399 Um, and her passion is prayer, and so let's just deep dive into that. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:49.759 And since our topic is prayer, um let's just open it up and let's start this time with a prayer. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:51.119 Irene, will you lead us in that? 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:51.679 Sure. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:52.880 Love to. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:56.399 All right, Heavenly Father, we just thank you, Lord God. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.560 We thank you for your presence here today. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:00.320 We thank you for your children. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:12.879 We thank you, Lord God, that is your desire for us to come together and to not only worship you, but to have relationship with you, to really get to know who you are. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:20.400 We get to know who we are in the process, and we begin to fulfill all that you have designed for us. 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:27.200 And so, Lord God, we just come and we just bless those who are hearing this message today that we're gonna be talking about. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:46.560 And we just thank you, Lord God, for just inspiring your people, um motivating them to draw closer to you and helping them to make this a normal, um, one-on-one with you, Lord God, because prayer really is about communing with you daily. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:55.840 It's not a set time, it's a time where we just can calm and enjoy you and hear your voice and be led by your spirit. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:01:59.760 So, Father, we thank and we praise you today in Jesus' name. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:00.640 Amen. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:04.560 All right, so let's just dive right into it, Irene. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:06.959 Um, what is prayer? 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:21.680 Like if I if I had to get like this grand idea of something that I'm doing that um like I do for others, um, but if it was just like bullet points of the different aspects, and we'll just expand on that idea if that makes sense. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:22.319 Okay. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:27.039 Well, prayer really is communing with God. 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:29.759 It's a time when you just spend time with God. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:42.639 It's a time where, at least for me, when I got saved, when my said yes to Jesus that moment, I realized at that moment, because I didn't have church background, I didn't have a whole lot of church. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:45.199 I did actually, we were Catholic, but I didn't have a lot of that. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.319 I did not even have the Bible, I didn't know the Word of God. 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:52.800 All I had was my relationship with God from that moment. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:56.479 So prayer for me was instantaneous. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.439 It was like, okay, God, now what? 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:08.240 You know, now that now that I know you're real, now that you have unveiled yourself to me or revealed yourself to me, where do I go from here? 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:12.479 To me, it's an intimacy that I had to develop. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:14.400 Because, man, let me tell you something. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:18.400 When when God opened my eyes, there was no turning back. 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:22.159 Like this is where I'm going, and I'm going all the way. 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:28.479 Um, so I always feel that for prayer, to me, is a very, it's very expressive. 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:33.520 It's what's going on on the inside of me, and I get to share that with him. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:39.199 Um, I notice that in my prayer times, I'll sing or I'll worship him. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:47.520 I'll start telling him how wonderful he is, and I start ministering to him more than me telling him all the things that I need. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:54.719 Like I've noticed that, but I've grown to understand that prayer is a two-way street. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:59.520 It's not just me just saying, okay, God, here's my list. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:04.479 It's it's really about, okay, God, what do you want today? 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:06.479 How do you want me? 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:08.159 You know, like what do you want me to do today? 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:09.520 Where do we go from here? 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:12.479 You know, what do you want me to learn in your word today? 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:22.079 So it becomes more of me inviting him in and allowing him to expand himself in my life. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:23.040 Does that make sense? 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:41.360 Like him just, and it's I I was thinking of this uh one day and I was like, oh man, it's like the more I spend time in that place of just getting to know him, what happens is his who he is begins to be imprinted in who I am. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:53.279 So it becomes like a it's like him imprinting himself on me, then what happens out of that experience, I begin to look more like him in the world. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:56.560 Things begin to drop off of me, like sin and things like that. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:08.800 Things that I and it was so funny because um because I had no church and because I had no um uh no nobody telling me how to do this and how to do that, I I had only God. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:24.000 So Holy Spirit was very opt, you know, big time in my life because he would begin to tell me stuff, like because I was very aware, and I think one of the things that we don't think about is that God is uh very present. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:30.800 Sometimes we have an imagination that God's over there, and hey God, you know, I'm over here. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:34.560 You know, God is very, very present in our midst. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:46.720 So it's really getting to be more aware of that, that the that the kingdom of God is in our midst in the sense that we may not see it, but it's spiritual and we know it's there. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:51.839 And so during my walk at the very beginning, I was like, oh my gosh, I don't know anything. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:06:01.600 You know, I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm gonna but but it was so intense, it's like it was deposited in me in such a way that I just started talking to God and I started to worship. 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:05.199 I didn't know I was singing songs that I I'm not a singer, but guess what? 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:18.879 I was worshiping, yeah, and then I began to, then I needed a Bible, so because I was like, well, how in the world am I gonna pray if I don't, you know, when I say pray, how am I gonna know God and pray more effectively if I don't know how the word of God? 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:20.160 So I was like, I need a Bible. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:24.639 So I get a Bible and start reading, you know, and so then I began to ask God things. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:28.879 You know, that was just beginning of saying, okay, well, what does that mean? 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:31.040 And I was reading King James. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:32.800 Yeah, okay, back in that day. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:38.800 And then I came out because I have scripture memorized with these and thou's. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:53.279 But um, but the funny thing is, is that God just knew exactly what I needed, and he took me, and and and because I was so open, and that's another thing, I wasn't afraid of exploring God. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:07:03.519 I didn't have any hangups or I didn't have any fears or things that people had done in churches and stuff like that, which is really sad because it limits people from exploring God because of those things. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:08.800 Um, but God is a God of breakthrough, so you know, I'm not, you know, they can get free from that, right? 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:22.800 What I say, it's it's like you and I, we just met, we're becoming friends, we try talking, I begin to understand you better because we're developing relationship, you're beginning to understand me better because of that relationship. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:32.160 I begin to um get to a point where I begin to sense things in you, like maybe you're angry that day, and I pick up on that, and I'm like, oh Mia, what's the matter? 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:32.879 Are you angry today? 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.480 You'll be like, Oh, how did you know? 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:41.439 That's the same thing with God in that relationship because He wants to express to what's on his heart. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:42.079 Right. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:54.560 I loved, I loved that you already had that longing, and I've seen like my prayer life has everybody's prayer life is a journey, and it's not some straight line, it's not some steep curve. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:08:10.000 It could have its whys and turns, and it seems like you know, sometimes I don't pray enough that day, but I love that you said it's like an imprinting, it's the community, it's the um coming together of God and you in that moment. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:16.240 And I just wanted to, I guess, elaborate more on uh it not being a laundry list. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:24.560 So what is my what should my I guess bend or approach to prayer be? 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:42.159 Because sometimes it feels like I've got a laundry list, like and I'm like, God, we need to talk about this, this, this, this, and this, and I've got this, this, this going on, and I know that we should be bringing all of that to him, but I don't want it to seem like it's a vending machine where I put in my quarter of problems and I get a king, like a gumball of solutions. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:47.200 So how how is prayer approached different in that in that? 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:48.159 Right. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:51.360 And I just think, okay, so there's nothing wrong with having a laundry list. 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:51.600 Right. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:52.879 You know, because I had mine. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:56.480 At the beginning, you know, even though I had this openness with God, I still had my laundry list. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:09:03.120 And I was like, but I always went to the Lord with that list and say, okay, what do you want to focus on? 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:09.360 Is there anything on here that you want to highlight to me that I need to really spend some time in prayer? 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:16.799 Because sometimes we have a lot, but we tend to kind of like go, okay, God, I need you to, I need to pay, I need to help to pay my bills. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:22.879 I need this, I need that, my kids, or I have whatever the case, but you have a list, and then you're done and you walk away. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:30.320 That to me was what I you, you know, used to think that that was a that was good, and it was okay, right? 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.919 Because you like, you say, Hey God, your Lord says, you know, you know my thoughts, and I, you know. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:38.879 But I really think God wants to journey with you on that list. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:45.279 So it's like, okay, if I'm having issues with my finances, um, Lord, how what do I need to do? 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:47.679 What are some things that I need to apply here? 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:50.399 Because why am I always in debt, let's say? 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:53.919 Why do I find I don't want to be in debt, but yet I find myself in debt. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.120 Is there something that I'm, you know what I mean, that I'm stuck in? 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:01.120 Do I have a problem in this area where I have to spend money? 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.919 So show me what that is. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:09.200 But see, sometimes we have to dig deeper in that scenario, let's say. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:13.039 So it could have been because you grew up very poor. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.320 And you you always wanted to have things, but you couldn't. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:22.320 So sometimes that stuff is in, you know, in you, and you, and then so of course you have to have these things. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:28.960 So then what happens is that if you don't have them, you're like, oh my gosh, I'm gonna be poor again, but yet you're in debt. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:31.039 But to you, everything looks okay. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:38.879 Right because you have stuff that makes you feel good, but God is like saying, no, no, no, no, let's let me let's let's let's find. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.840 And I love what God does because we always everybody talks about the onion. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.960 It's it's one of those things that people it's easy for people to understand. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:53.039 He says, no, no, no, let's peel back a layer and let's dig into this area of your life that you need healing and deliverance from. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:54.799 Because I am your provider. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:57.840 I will take care of you. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:04.720 But it's hard when you've been in a, if you've lived in a life of poverty, to know that to be real. 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:12.000 So that would have to be a very God moment experience because I can tell you, God's gonna do this for you. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:16.240 The word of God says this, and you look at me like, uh, yeah, uh-huh. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:26.000 We know knowledge-wise, I know this, but God doesn't want to just stick up here and say, okay, this is your what you think it is. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:29.360 He wants it to become reality within your heart. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:31.679 And he wants to be your daddy. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:39.840 God wants to dig deep into that area of your heart to see where the problem is because he's healing us from the inside. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:43.200 So prayer takes us to that place in our hearts. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:49.200 You know, I love when Justin talks about, you know, you got the house and you got all these rooms, and do we want to let God in that room? 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:49.919 You know. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:53.679 But see, God is not going to force himself into that room. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:55.600 You know, I love that. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:12:10.559 Yeah, it's just like when you praise like the invitation for people to come over, you're more inclined to like clean up and let's make sure that this ducks in a row and you want people to tour, you know, your house, and then they'll probably ask about, like, what's up with that room over there that I need? 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:17.360 And then he kind of wants to navigate to those uh nooks and crannies, but you've gotta allow him to come in. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:19.440 So yeah, that visual is amazing. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:20.960 Yes, it is amazing. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:30.720 And so, so, so a list to me is not an issue because I I believe that Baba said, bring your petitions to the Lord, bring and ask him for these things. 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:37.600 But part of that is, Lord, is what I'm praying for, your will in my life. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:45.279 A lot of times we have a list, but maybe third three things on that list is not the will of God in your life, but you don't know that. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:48.159 So what you do is you go, okay, God, why didn't you do this for me? 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.360 Why isn't this happening? 00:12:49.519 --> 00:13:07.200 Why, you know, I'm I'm I'm praying your word, I'm doing this, but God is probably saying, if you got allow me to give you some insight into that area, then you'll understand why I am not, because the Bible does take in James, it talks about, you know, you don't want to be praying amiss. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.080 So what does that mean? 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:09.120 I don't want to pray amiss. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:12.080 I don't want to be praying something that isn't God's will. 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:19.440 I want to pray what is the will of God, and we all know that God's desire for us is to do well. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.480 He really does. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:32.159 Body, soul, and spirit, all three parts of us, he wants it to be flourishing and very um, how about Jesus says, I can't I came to give you life and give it to you more abundantly. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:35.279 So all those areas God wants to restore, right? 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:38.080 Because you're saved, your spirit man is restored. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:44.080 But your soul, your mind, and your emotions, all that has to come into a place of restoration. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:51.600 But you're not gonna get it by just giving God uh your list and then walking away. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.000 Right. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:57.200 So, really, part of that list is, uh, okay, God, I do have a list. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:59.440 In this list, what is your will? 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.960 Where do you want to focus on? 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:02.480 He shows you something. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:05.519 Oh, yeah, yeah, I struggle with fear. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.600 Okay, well, let's talk about that. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:11.039 So, God, show me, you know, why am I fearful? 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:15.919 Where do you where do I need to get to a place where in my heart I no longer fear? 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:19.039 And that a lot of times is a God moment. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:24.960 Because in order for someone to be set free from fear, Jesus has to step in. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:26.080 Does that make sense? 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:32.480 Like the power of God would have to step in because some people are so tied to that fear that they can't let go themselves. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:34.000 But God is good. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:37.360 Because his desire is to set you free. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.240 He came to destroy the works of the devil. 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:43.120 So whatever is going on in your life, he came to destroy that. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:47.840 And then he's given you the power and the authority to take authority over the devil. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:57.919 So once you gain the understanding of what he is doing and how he is for you and not against you, then the devil is under your feet at that point. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:58.399 You know what I mean? 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.360 Because then you are going, no, no, no, no, that is not of God. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.320 Fear is not of God. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.120 You see what I'm saying? 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:07.840 Yeah, I love how you like when we accept him, we already have gained that power. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.240 Like we're instantly changed in that moment. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:15.360 But there comes the knowledge part of really understanding and walking in that. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:19.840 And I think that that is what a healthy prayer life kind of is. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.759 Can you elaborate more on that? 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:27.279 Like, it's not um, it's not, it's not waking up always at 4 a.m. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:29.600 to like have a little set prayer time and do this. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:33.440 I mean, it's a you know, we're supposed to pray without ceasing. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:36.799 And so how does that like tie in to each other? 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:42.960 Well, the beautiful thing is that Jesus says that we worship God spirit to spirit. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.279 You know, there, you know, it's spirit and truth, right? 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:52.320 So our spirit is very much aware of what's going on all the time. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:53.440 24-7. 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:59.679 Our soul, which is our mind and emotions, tend to be in charge a lot because that's where you're operating. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:04.320 But really, your spirit man is supposed to be the one operating all the time. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:11.039 To get to that place of allowing your spirit man to be the lead, we have to spend time with God. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:16.399 When I say that, knowing him, knowing his word. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:20.799 You know, I will not get to know God unless I spend time in his word. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.759 And really ask God, you know, what is salvation? 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:25.039 What does this really mean? 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.759 What, you know, what did that look like back then? 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:33.279 You know, you you you explore the word of God with God, who is the word made flesh, right? 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:40.639 So Jesus did all that for us to learn and to understand where his heart is for humanity. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:54.720 And the beautiful thing is is that he he's always pursued man from the beginning of the of Genesis and to the end has been all about God pursuing man and having that intimacy with man. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:17:00.240 So a lot of that has to do with spending, yeah, like really knowing God's word for yourself. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:13.119 You know, I can read it, I can hear it, but until it becomes alive inside me and it a yeah, like all of a sudden there's this awakening, and I'm like, oh my gosh, God will supply all my needs according to his riches and glory. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:16.160 He just revealed to me that he's going, that that's who he is. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:21.119 He's a good daddy, and he's going to take care of my needs, because this is where I'm at right now. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:21.599 Right, right. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:31.359 Um like um I was just thinking about Jesus and the and the and um and the disciples, you know, the disciples were like, How do we pray? 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:31.920 Right? 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.599 So how do we do this stuff? 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.359 You know, he's seeing they're seeing Jesus. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:38.160 He would go up to the mountain, he would do things right. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:42.079 And he that was he was separating himself and spending time with God, right? 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:52.079 But the cool thing is is that and I I'm not gonna go back to the that because we were just talking about how do we pray ceasingly, is more of being aware of God. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:57.440 And the only way we do that is by practicing that in our daily life. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:02.559 Like, okay, I go to the grocery store, I'm talking to God. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.720 Oh my Lord, do I really need this? 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.839 Do I really need that? 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:06.640 You know? 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:12.720 Um I'll talk to him or see somebody in the store, and I say, and I feel moved, I start praying for them, right? 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:22.559 Um, so it's a continual uh flow from him to me because I have learned to stay connected to the source. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.079 He's my source. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:27.519 Right, and so and that takes that takes practice. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:59.680 When I say practice, getting with God, allowing him to enter your world, allowing him to correct you when he has to, believe me, I had a lot of corrections and I'm still learning, but allowing him to um dismantle things in your in your heart where maybe you have put like um like let's say you were um abused in some way, you have you have a structure erected because you're not gonna let anybody hurt you. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.640 But now Jesus wants to come in there. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.759 You know what I'm saying? 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:09.279 So so but in your spirit to spirit with God, there is this constant communication. 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:15.039 It says in the scriptures and in Corinthians, it says that you know the spirit searches the deep things of God. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:18.319 Your spirit is seeking and searching God. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:20.000 You just may not even be aware of it. 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:20.400 Exactly. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:20.720 Yeah. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:28.400 We're constantly trying to seek truth while also tangibly trying to hold on to the lives that we've thought were truth. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:33.519 And he's constantly trying to show us that this is not, this is not real, this is not truth. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:36.319 Let please just let it go so that we can move forward. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:20:00.000 And that I feel like that's the whole process of, like you said, like it should be a daily thing where I'm I am allowing him to come into every aspect of my life, whether it be the grocery store or me driving or whatever it is, and it should be that building of a relationship where it's not something I switch of turn on and off when it's convenient, it's something that's always on and I can always just plug up to the spirit. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.200 Exactly. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:03.440 And your spirit is always in connection with God. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:11.920 So that to me is exciting because I am constantly without being aware getting downloads from God. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:18.799 So that's why sometimes you might be somewhere and you might have this feeling of, oh god, I gotta pray for this area. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.559 Like, you know, there I feel heaviness. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.480 Well, your spirit picked it up. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:22.880 Yeah. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:26.160 Your soul's going, wait a minute, what's going on here, right? 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:29.839 And it and then your mind said, Okay, we gotta do something about this, we gotta pray. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:37.200 So I think that's pretty cool because we never get disconnected from God unless you choose to be disconnected. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:37.519 Okay. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:40.240 God is not gonna and you know, push himself on you. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:46.000 He wants to develop the relationship, but it's up to you to want to develop that relationship. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:49.839 And it's up to you to be open enough to allow him to come in. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:57.119 You know, um, one of the things I think is pretty cool, and I was um I was talking about uh the disciples when they said, Oh, how do we pray? 00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:02.079 And every and God gave him a beautiful, you know, way of how do you pray. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:06.640 And um, one of the the first, the beginning one was he goes, go to your father in heaven. 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:26.079 That I thought that was pretty interesting because he was like, Go to your father, which is your daddy, who's going to provide these things for you, because I am forever, Jesus is saying, He didn't say this now, but in later on the gospel in the gospel, I mean not in the gospels, but later in the letters, he says, Um, I am forever making intercession for you. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.680 So Jesus is our mediator and he's already making intercession. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:34.640 So I think it's a really cool thing, because Jesus, you know, when you're coming to God and the Lord's saying, Yeah, I paid for that. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.400 Yeah, I did that, Father. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.680 You know what I mean? 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:43.440 So when Jesus said, He goes, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:47.680 Okay, so that to me is very powerful because he says, Hallowed be thy name. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:53.839 And part of getting to really know God is to know the names of God, to know who He really is. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:59.599 And I feel like we don't spend enough time allowing God to deposit. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.759 That truth in our hearts. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:05.440 Because if we really believed, then we would not fear. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:10.319 If we really believed, then we will not be shaken because things are going crazy in the world. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.200 See what I'm saying? 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:18.240 Because if I believe that my God is a good, good God, and there's no evil in him, right? 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:23.119 Then I know that he's got the best for me, even though I'm in the midst of a crazy situation. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.400 Let's put it that way. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:29.839 And so knowing the names of God, I was thinking about Abraham. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:33.759 Because Abraham, you know, he had no kids, he was 99 years old. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:37.119 He God steps into, you know, he's he's doing something here. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:39.839 God shows up and he says, I am God Almighty. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:47.440 That word means I am El Shaddai, which means that I am the all-sufficient one, the sustainer of all life. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.759 Oh my gosh, can you imagine that revelation? 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.160 Because Abraham is 99 years old. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:55.119 And then God is telling him, This is who I am. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.119 Okay, I'm right here. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.079 And this is what you're gonna about to do. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:15.039 And he's like, Lord, you know, and so for him to experience God in that manner, that is why it was so cool for Abraham because it said that he was not, he knew that no matter what, that what God said was going to happen. 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:22.720 He had that type of intimacy with God that it did not shake him, you know. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:37.200 And if God came up to you and says, Ah, hey, I am the all-sufficient one, I'm gonna take care of you, I'm gonna provide for you, you're gonna do the things that I said you're gonna do, you'd be like going, Okay, hey, I've got the creator of the universe. 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:37.519 Right. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:39.599 And he's got my back, right? 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.400 So for Abraham, I thought that was really interesting. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:50.799 And I remember um there was a time in our life where I needed God to show up and to reveal himself, and we were we both lost our jobs. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:57.519 My husband, we were both, we had a we moved to Wyoming, and I call that the nowhere land because you know, there ain't a whole lot of people over there. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:08.240 But um God showed up in such a way for me back then that it has been my anchor in this area for my life forever. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:12.640 I mean, I think it's forever, because I am not moved because of this moment. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:16.240 And I feel like that with Abraham, you know, he never got didn't get moved. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:20.319 So um, so we were without jobs, we're still looking for jobs. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:23.440 We're talking about we're like six months into this situation. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:30.400 I'm in this area that I'm not, I'm from Miami, so a whole lot of different people in Miami, a lot of places, but oh here it was nobody. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:36.160 But God is faithful and he took me through that, and we sometimes people call it the desert. 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:41.599 Because, you know, when you say I'm in the desert, people use that in terms and prayer circles. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.279 That means it's like nothing's happening. 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:48.640 I'm not on the mountaintop right now, I'm in the desert, you know, and I'm dying over here, okay? 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:50.799 Um, sometimes you feel like you're dying, okay? 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.920 Uh, but you're not. 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:54.319 But I was feeling like, where are you at? 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.279 What's going on? 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.240 And this is early on. 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:58.559 We're talking early on in my in my walk with God. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:03.680 But God was so cool because I I cried that day. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.960 I haven't cried. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.480 I'm not a crier. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:06.720 Yeah. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:09.519 It takes me a lot to cry, but I'm not a crier. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:14.079 So God, I cried, I broke down that morning. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:19.359 We went to our little job that was like a part-time thing, and God takes me. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:22.640 As soon as I walk in the building, my husband and this other guy left. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:27.119 I walk, he gets this guy, the innkeeper comes by and he goes, Hey, I want to show you something. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.000 I was like, Okay. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:32.880 Takes me outside, and all of a sudden, he goes, Look up in that tree. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:39.920 And there was this beautiful nest, and he and they were very close, and there was a gorgeous nest, and I'm I forgot about what I just prayed, okay? 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:42.000 I was I was like past, like I was done. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.480 Yeah. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:46.160 I'm looking at this, and I'm like, oh my gosh, that is so cool. 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:54.480 And I'm looking at the birds, and I see the mom come and feeding, then there's the little beaks coming up, and then you got the daddy, you know, and I was like, oh my god, that is so awesome, right? 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:58.640 So I'm just really excited about the whole bird thing. 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:02.960 Because I'm from Miami, and we don't got a lot going on in Miami except cement, okay? 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:09.839 So I'm in awe, and then all of a sudden, the guy goes, Well, I thought you enjoyed that. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.160 Okay, and then all of a sudden I go in the house, that because it had a little house office. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:25.759 I go in, and oh Lord, he just downloaded about don't I not take care of the birds, don't I not take care of the flowers? 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:47.920 And that whole Matthew scripture just went and I'm over there like and I had this moment of you are my provider, and your word says that if I keep seeking your kingdom, keep following you, right, then you're gonna take care of all of my needs. 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:56.880 Man, every concern, every uncertainty, everything that was kind of like, what are we gonna do? 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.880 Where are we gonna do was gone. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:07.039 And I had the peace that Jesus, when Jesus talks about peace, I had this peace in me that you can tell my husband. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:13.920 But my husband's like, yep, because you know I'm a talker, and I'm like, oh he was like, she was peaceful. 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:16.559 I was like, God's got this. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.799 I don't know how, believe me, I have no idea. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:19.839 I'm still in Wyoming. 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:23.680 Yeah, God's got it, He's gonna do it, you know what I mean? 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:45.119 So it was amazing, and um, but see, that did something inside me that nobody could take away because it was a reality of God showing himself as faithful, as provider, you know, letting me know, just keep your eyes on me. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.480 I've got you. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:48.000 I'm not gonna let you go. 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:52.960 And then he teaches me the picture with the birds, you know, they're taking care of, I mean, we're talking, God's taking care of those birds. 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:55.599 I'll say, if God's taking care of those birds, Lord, you're taking care of me. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.880 Okay, we got this, you right? 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:59.839 Because you're like, you look at that, you're like, they're birds. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.200 I'm his kid. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.480 He's got me, you know? 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:08.000 Yeah, and I bet the person that showed you the birds had no idea of the impact that that was gonna have on that. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:13.039 And I just love how, you know, prayer with I I feel like those are my biggest breakthroughs. 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:25.599 And when I'm going through the the desert season, when I finally break down and I'm just like, I submit to whatever you've got coming, because clearly um my way is not the best way, and I've got to let that go. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.039 Whatever that looks like. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:29.759 Um, but I know that, like you said, you're gonna be faithful and provide. 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:40.559 When that moment happens, he it like it seems like almost immediately I get the sign of just like, yes, that peace that just I'm gonna walk with you, it's gonna be okay. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:44.319 And it it's it's definitely a faith builder and prayer. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:51.359 I love how those things go kind of go hand in hand of building that of a remembrance of you remember this time. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:53.279 Do you remember this time when I was faithful? 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:58.720 Do you remember when this happened and you couldn't see away, and now we're years past that? 00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:07.440 It it's it's an amazing experience, and it's a humbling experience to know that he knew that when I prayed the first time and had no idea. 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:10.480 He knew that, you know, right before it was gonna happen. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:30.880 He and he just he like holds me like those mama birds, like, or like you know, like keep trying to come back to me and trying to just be like comforting and loving in those moments, and it's just when you finally feel that, when you finally, I guess, click into that, there is that peace that you know it's like the scripture says surpass us all understanding. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.200 Right, yeah. 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:37.200 Because people are looking at you, they're going, You're still in that store, you're still in that store, but you're like okay with it, you know, like that is awesome. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:50.400 And one of the things I really feel like we need, you know, we need to do more of, you know, when we come to prayer is really getting to know the heart of God in a situation and getting to know the heart of God for your city, or getting to know the heart of God, like even at his hands. 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:54.160 You know, really coming in alignment with God and what he's doing. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:59.039 Because now you're now it's not just you over here, and you, you know, this is your world. 00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:02.960 No, we are a body and we're very interconnected. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:07.599 And I'm not talking about just a his hand's body, I'm talking about the body of Christ. 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:11.039 You know, Jesus said, and I just love it because it's something we have to think about. 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:23.519 See, we don't, we're not very we tend not to think of ourselves when Jesus says stuff, we don't think of ourselves like we're in that picture, you know, and we really need to start looking at ourselves as Christ sees us, right? 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:31.359 So part of that whole thing, even with Abraham, was you know, he had this relationship, but he knew who he was in God. 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:40.240 So that to me is important because if you, you know, you can know God, but do you know what God sees about you? 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:50.720 Do you know in Psalms 139 talks about that God, you know, we're wonderfully, you know, made, you know, but it also talks about that he wrote a book of life for you. 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:52.880 So part of, see, all that is prayer. 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:58.240 All of that is is God is excited and saying, I wrote stuff for you. 00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:02.559 Like I've got, and I'm like, oh, give me your book, because your book is much more awesome than mine. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:05.279 Yeah, I can my story could be like bad. 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:10.240 But God has a story that he already had in mind. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:19.359 And so part of the prayer is really getting to know, not only getting to know God, getting to know who you are, getting to know your purpose. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:22.799 Like, God, I know I am designed for specific things. 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:29.279 And understanding that so that you can follow into those steps with God and they're walking together, you know. 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:40.799 But that takes time, but it but but it takes us to stop and allow us to spend that time with God, to discover God. 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:47.599 You know, there's a discovery, and um, and God does enjoy revealing himself to us. 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:52.160 We just have to make the time to allow him to do that. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.119 Does that make sense? 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.000 Yeah, that makes sense. 00:31:54.480 --> 00:32:01.279 Okay, because um another scripture is um um understanding position of where we are as Christians. 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:05.759 So as a child of God, I mean let me say child of God, because child of God is really who we really are. 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:07.039 We're children of God. 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:10.720 He's called us to be kings and priests, right? 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:16.079 He's also says in Ephesians that we're seated in heavenly places. 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:26.960 So if you're a king and you are a priest, right, and you're seated with Christ in heavenly places, I can easily see myself seated with Christ. 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:36.960 So another portion of prayer is getting the mind of Christ, is seeing things in God's divine perspective. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:43.839 But if we're down here hanging out in the world, just getting the feed from the world, right? 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:54.079 Social media is number one, you know, you get all that feed, you get all that stuff, and you only hear you cannot pray effectively until you get up here. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:56.160 Oh, sorry. 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.039 No, you go up. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:12.720 That's like because our words have that power that sometimes we forget that it does, and we have the power to influence, like you said, like the king, like we have the power to decree and speak over that rather than just relaying the same muck that is down there. 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.279 Right. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:19.279 Right, and so his desire is for us to come up, and he's he's already given us that invitation. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:22.559 I mean, Jesus already split that veil. 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:36.000 So there is no, how would I say, there's nothing blocking us from being able to gain God's perspective in a situation, being able to come from a heavenly perspective. 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:41.440 I love that word heavenly because it is above all of the chaos, right? 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:48.160 And so when I when I get this perspective from heaven, I am joining with God. 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:52.640 So when I pray, I'm praying the will of God. 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:58.640 So I uh so in other words, whatever's going down here has to submit to that will of God. 00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:04.720 So in my life, if the enemy's messing down here, I'm like, nope, I'm on my I'm on my throne. 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.880 Where are you, devil? 00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:12.960 You're down here, and you have no authority or power, you have nothing. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:15.760 You know, the devil is your accuser, right? 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.840