{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"FA Church","title":"Just Ask, When Prayer Feels Hard - Ben Johnson | First Assembly Church","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2190,"description":"This past Sunday, our Lead Pastor, Ben Johnson, preached a message entitled “Just Ask, When Prayer Feels Hard.” Pastor Ben walked us through Matthew 7, reminding us to first examine our own hearts before judging others, and to approach God with humility and sincerity. He emphasized that prayerlessness often reveals a heart that feels self-sufficient, rather than dependent on God. Drawing from Jesus’ words—“ask, seek, knock”— he encouraged us to admit our need, pursue God’s direction, and persist in prayer with urgency and faith. Pastor Ben reassured us that God is near, attentive, and eager to respond, giving good gifts to His children. This message invites us to move toward God in honest, humble prayer, trusting that He hears us and responds according to His will.✍️ Notes Title: Just Ask, When Prayer Feels Hard -  Ben Johnson “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.Matthew 7:1–5 (NIV)Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.Matthew 7:6 (NIV)The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.Psalm 145:18God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too — your...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/2rS6CncygjSrU4_eAytDXGn13c_aC8wKWWeu0LjCRnQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS81OTgy/MDQxMzg5MTZiY2M3/MzMxYjY2OWU4N2U0/ZTA0Ni5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}