WEBVTT 156 00:20:14.306 --> 00:20:17.065 let's pray together. Father, uh, I thank you for this time together. 157 00:20:17.385 --> 00:20:21.865 I thank you for the opportunity to share, uh, in your word today. Father, 158 00:20:22.155 --> 00:20:26.225 would you help me today to hide behind you? 159 00:20:27.465 --> 00:20:29.385 I pray that you would be known today. 160 00:20:29.585 --> 00:20:33.065 I pray that the word of God would go out accomplishing everything that you have 161 00:20:33.066 --> 00:20:36.425 for it to accomplish. And Father God, uh, 162 00:20:36.744 --> 00:20:39.865 with the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, 163 00:20:39.885 --> 00:20:44.185 be acceptable in your sight because none of this is by my might, 164 00:20:44.205 --> 00:20:48.765 nor by by power, but only by your spirit. Get glory in this place. 165 00:20:49.705 --> 00:20:54.645 In Jesus' name. Amen. You know, it's so interesting, uh, 166 00:20:55.205 --> 00:20:58.965 oftentimes, uh, when I start a message or start our time together, um, 167 00:20:59.405 --> 00:21:03.685 I sometimes, uh, don't remember to pray, uh, right before it. 168 00:21:04.145 --> 00:21:05.045 And I think what it is, 169 00:21:05.305 --> 00:21:09.244 is a byproduct of me not necessarily making room for prayer. 170 00:21:10.125 --> 00:21:14.365 And so today I really wanted to make sure that we made room for prayer right as 171 00:21:14.366 --> 00:21:16.005 we start our time together. Uh, 172 00:21:16.006 --> 00:21:19.885 because what I have seen over the past few weeks as God has been working through 173 00:21:19.915 --> 00:21:21.484 Hope Community Church, uh, 174 00:21:21.485 --> 00:21:26.445 in the conduct and the practice and the understanding of prayer has been 175 00:21:26.605 --> 00:21:28.645 a phenomenal time for our church. 176 00:21:28.675 --> 00:21:33.445 Anybody else been really blessed by this series on prayer these last two weeks? 177 00:21:34.315 --> 00:21:38.205 Yeah. I mean, it's been a beautiful thing. Uh, 178 00:21:38.405 --> 00:21:43.365 I have seen God move in some mighty ways and I've been really thankful for 179 00:21:43.366 --> 00:21:47.484 the opportunity at each of our service times and throughout the week and just in 180 00:21:47.485 --> 00:21:51.765 times talking with folks to just spend time focused on prayer. 181 00:21:52.845 --> 00:21:54.484 And I've been reminded of the power of prayer. 182 00:21:54.515 --> 00:21:56.484 I've been reminded that God moves through prayer. 183 00:21:56.785 --> 00:22:00.445 And it's happened in some interesting ways. Some of them not so serious, 184 00:22:00.705 --> 00:22:03.765 but some of them like really serious. Uh, like for instance, 185 00:22:03.766 --> 00:22:05.405 the not so serious one. Uh, 186 00:22:05.605 --> 00:22:10.484 I came to church last weekend and Aaron Nelson shared a word about the posture 187 00:22:10.665 --> 00:22:11.385 of prayer. 188 00:22:11.385 --> 00:22:15.685 And he talked about how even our physical bodies can send a message that we are 189 00:22:15.705 --> 00:22:16.805 in submission to the Lord. 190 00:22:17.025 --> 00:22:20.285 And I remember hearing that message and just thinking to myself like, man, 191 00:22:20.665 --> 00:22:22.565 I'm gonna, I'm gonna go down and just, 192 00:22:22.595 --> 00:22:26.765 just get on my knees before the Lord and lift my hands up and just in an act of 193 00:22:27.085 --> 00:22:28.845 humility, I'm gonna stand before the Lord. 194 00:22:28.865 --> 00:22:33.405 And I did exactly that and tears began to flow from my eyes and I was just like, 195 00:22:33.785 --> 00:22:37.525 God, have your way in me. Uh, help me to be better at this, this, 196 00:22:37.526 --> 00:22:41.445 this life of prayer. Like help our church to be better at this life of prayer. 197 00:22:41.744 --> 00:22:43.085 And it was a beautiful moment. 198 00:22:43.185 --> 00:22:47.285 And then I got to actually practice prayer because I had to pray to get up off 199 00:22:47.286 --> 00:22:50.325 the ground. Y'all, 200 00:22:50.326 --> 00:22:54.405 I'm 48 and my 48 and it's like showed up. I said, Lord, 201 00:22:54.406 --> 00:22:57.965 would you lift these dry bones, uh, from the valley? 202 00:22:58.615 --> 00:23:01.085 Would you help me get up? And he did. He was faithful. 203 00:23:01.305 --> 00:23:02.845 And that was the not so serious moment. 204 00:23:02.984 --> 00:23:06.565 But then there was actually this really serious moment that day. You see, 205 00:23:06.566 --> 00:23:11.045 my wife and I are big basketball fans and my EE state Wolfpack women were 206 00:23:11.046 --> 00:23:15.285 playing Notre Dame. And Notre Dame was the number one team, uh, 207 00:23:15.565 --> 00:23:19.965 in the nation until they met our wolf pack women. Yeah, 208 00:23:19.966 --> 00:23:23.565 they won that game. They did that, they won that game. It was a beautiful game. 209 00:23:23.566 --> 00:23:26.445 We were having an amazing time. It went to double overtime. 210 00:23:26.665 --> 00:23:30.125 And when the game ended, it was a beautiful thing. But during the game, 211 00:23:30.555 --> 00:23:32.405 this thing happened, uh, 212 00:23:32.425 --> 00:23:36.205 as I was sitting in my row that I sit normally, uh, 213 00:23:36.206 --> 00:23:39.405 there was a man who was next to me who happens to attend Hope Community Church. 214 00:23:39.685 --> 00:23:43.725 I saw him when I was coming in and I did not know that the man was a doctor. 215 00:23:44.225 --> 00:23:46.885 And the way that I found out is because during the game, 216 00:23:47.015 --> 00:23:49.845 right as it was getting ready to get really good, uh, 217 00:23:49.846 --> 00:23:54.365 there was an incident that occurred where a man lost the ability to breathe and 218 00:23:54.385 --> 00:23:57.765 had a cardiac arrest. And as this man was laying on the ground, 219 00:23:57.785 --> 00:24:00.045 people began to scream for a doctor. 220 00:24:01.105 --> 00:24:05.325 And the guy who was sitting next to me, he, he walked down there and, 221 00:24:05.326 --> 00:24:07.845 and he began to immediately administer CPR. 222 00:24:07.945 --> 00:24:12.125 And as he's performing CPR on this person, I am thinking to myself, God, 223 00:24:12.395 --> 00:24:15.925 what is it that you want me to do? How can I help in this situation? 224 00:24:16.385 --> 00:24:18.325 And then I just had a moment 225 00:24:20.885 --> 00:24:24.494 we're dawned on me, I could pray. 226 00:24:26.335 --> 00:24:31.135 And so I walked down the stairs and I got to a place 227 00:24:31.136 --> 00:24:35.255 where I could see what was happening and I didn't want to be in the way. 228 00:24:35.715 --> 00:24:40.415 And so I just stood quietly and I just began to lift up this man before the 229 00:24:40.416 --> 00:24:44.975 Lord. I began to ask God to, to just be with him. And, 230 00:24:45.255 --> 00:24:47.375 and as I watched his wife with tears in her eyes, 231 00:24:47.455 --> 00:24:51.855 I began to ask God to intervene in the midst of this and to give her a sense of 232 00:24:51.856 --> 00:24:54.655 peace. I just began to pray and lift them up before the Lord. 233 00:24:54.835 --> 00:24:59.695 And I'm just so happy to say that I watched right in front of my eyes as this 234 00:24:59.975 --> 00:25:01.935 man began to breathe again. 235 00:25:09.015 --> 00:25:13.215 I felt like with Psalm 18 says that in my distress, 236 00:25:13.494 --> 00:25:16.855 I called up upon the Lord. Uh, to my God, I cried for help. 237 00:25:17.155 --> 00:25:22.095 And from the temple he heard my voice and my cry reached his ears 238 00:25:23.635 --> 00:25:27.175 and he answered. And I'm not sure if it was my prayer, 239 00:25:28.475 --> 00:25:33.415 but I'm so glad that I decided to pray because I watched this man breathe again. 240 00:25:33.695 --> 00:25:35.695 I watched him come back to life again. You see, 241 00:25:35.696 --> 00:25:38.335 this is what we've been talking about for the past few weeks here. 242 00:25:38.505 --> 00:25:41.734 We've been talking about the heart of prayer. And what it's reminded me, 243 00:25:41.735 --> 00:25:43.494 and that I hope it has reminded you, 244 00:25:43.755 --> 00:25:47.455 is that prayer is supposed to be a practice that we walk in, 245 00:25:47.795 --> 00:25:49.295 not just moments in our lives, 246 00:25:50.275 --> 00:25:54.655 but all of the time because the scriptures teach us that prayer 247 00:25:55.315 --> 00:25:58.295 is supposed to be a real part of the rhythm of our lives. 248 00:25:58.475 --> 00:26:01.775 And the importance of that rhythm cannot be understated. Uh, 249 00:26:02.015 --> 00:26:05.535 let me tell you what I mean. Uh, I have a whole lot of rhythms in my life. Uh, 250 00:26:05.536 --> 00:26:08.215 and one of them is that every single day when I come home, 251 00:26:08.535 --> 00:26:10.775 I hang my keys on the hook at the door. 252 00:26:11.195 --> 00:26:12.855 Not because I'm a super organized person, 253 00:26:12.856 --> 00:26:15.135 because my wife put that hook on the door. 254 00:26:16.755 --> 00:26:19.335 She got tired of seeing me lose my keys every single day, 255 00:26:19.715 --> 00:26:22.375 and she put that hook there. And if I put my keys there, 256 00:26:22.376 --> 00:26:26.135 then I know where they're going to be. But if I don't put my keys there, 257 00:26:26.244 --> 00:26:28.535 then I will be late for our coffee meeting that day. 258 00:26:31.045 --> 00:26:33.535 It's become a routine. It's become a fixture. 259 00:26:33.565 --> 00:26:35.775 It's become a part of my regular rhythm, 260 00:26:35.835 --> 00:26:39.734 to leave my keys in the same place I've developed that regular rhythm. 261 00:26:40.035 --> 00:26:44.125 And the beauty of having a regular rhythm, or a regular practice or a routine, 262 00:26:44.425 --> 00:26:48.725 is that it helps us to recognize when something is off or when something is 263 00:26:48.726 --> 00:26:52.045 missing. It keeps us focused on the most important things. 264 00:26:52.265 --> 00:26:55.645 And when you take part in something consistently, what you notice 265 00:26:57.905 --> 00:27:02.045 is that it becomes a real part of how you live. Well, 266 00:27:02.085 --> 00:27:05.525 the inverse is true as well. When you leave something forsaken, 267 00:27:06.195 --> 00:27:10.565 when you don't have a regular rhythm, when you don't do something often, uh, 268 00:27:10.585 --> 00:27:14.645 you start to feel the effects of not having that thing in your life and you 269 00:27:14.646 --> 00:27:18.405 become numb. And what often happens is you forget about it all together. 270 00:27:19.395 --> 00:27:20.484 Well, this is what happens 271 00:27:22.035 --> 00:27:24.565 most of us when it comes to prayer. 272 00:27:26.425 --> 00:27:28.085 If we don't have a regular practice, 273 00:27:28.825 --> 00:27:31.205 if it's not a part of the regular rhythm of our lives, 274 00:27:32.185 --> 00:27:33.965 it quickly becomes an afterthought. 275 00:27:34.955 --> 00:27:37.725 This is why we've been talking about it for the past few weeks. 276 00:27:38.234 --> 00:27:42.605 This is why our whole church has taken a posture towards prayer. Uh, 277 00:27:42.606 --> 00:27:45.565 because what we have seen is over the last two weeks, 278 00:27:45.785 --> 00:27:48.484 God has moved in some mighty ways. I mean, 279 00:27:48.485 --> 00:27:51.925 we have been walking through 21 days of prayer as a church, 280 00:27:51.945 --> 00:27:54.885 and it's been powerful. We've had many opportunities to pray. 281 00:27:54.984 --> 00:27:59.205 And every single week our campus has had midweek opportunities to pray. I mean, 282 00:27:59.445 --> 00:28:02.565 it's been a beautiful thing and we're hoping that you have experienced some form 283 00:28:02.566 --> 00:28:06.885 of breakthrough in your life where prayer has become a part 284 00:28:07.705 --> 00:28:11.365 of how you live. But here's what I know. 285 00:28:12.785 --> 00:28:16.125 If we aren't careful, if we aren't mindful, 286 00:28:18.125 --> 00:28:22.005 then 21 days of prayer we'll just become 21 days of prayer 287 00:28:23.984 --> 00:28:28.605 and quickly we'll have this apathy towards prayer. 288 00:28:29.725 --> 00:28:33.955 We'll move towards this place where it was a cool thing that we did 289 00:28:35.145 --> 00:28:37.715 instead of the way that we actually live our lives. 290 00:28:39.295 --> 00:28:43.635 So how do you create a regular rhythm that becomes a real part of your life? 291 00:28:43.636 --> 00:28:46.755 Well, it's pretty simple. Uh, you just don't stop praying, right? 292 00:28:46.756 --> 00:28:50.155 Like you pray all of the time. And I know that sounds simple, 293 00:28:51.655 --> 00:28:55.515 but in practice it can be incredibly difficult. 294 00:28:57.075 --> 00:29:01.915 And so today we want to talk about having a regular rhythm of 295 00:29:01.916 --> 00:29:05.435 prayer, and we wanna get into the practical ways that, 296 00:29:05.436 --> 00:29:08.555 that a person can do that, a way that you can actually live that out. 297 00:29:08.775 --> 00:29:12.515 And we find all kinds of ways to do that in the word of God. 298 00:29:12.615 --> 00:29:14.355 So if you have your Bibles, here's what I want you to do. 299 00:29:14.395 --> 00:29:18.195 I want you to go ahead and open up to one Thessalonians chapter five, 300 00:29:18.655 --> 00:29:22.915 and we are gonna talk through the rhythm of prayer that all of us should be 301 00:29:22.916 --> 00:29:24.875 walking through life with. Now, while you're turning there, 302 00:29:24.876 --> 00:29:28.035 we're gonna be in one Thessalonians chapter five, verse 16 through 18. 303 00:29:28.375 --> 00:29:32.195 Let me unpack a little bit of what this verse is talking about. Uh, 304 00:29:32.196 --> 00:29:36.515 the apostle Paul is speaking in one Thessalonians and Paul is writing to the 305 00:29:36.516 --> 00:29:37.995 church in Thessalonika. 306 00:29:38.455 --> 00:29:42.205 And they were a population that was comprised of mostly Greeks. 307 00:29:42.545 --> 00:29:46.445 And the Greeks would've sworn their allegiance to someone called Caesar, right? 308 00:29:46.705 --> 00:29:50.605 And so for them to become a Christian would mean that they had to take their 309 00:29:50.606 --> 00:29:55.325 allegiance off of Caesar and put it on to Jesus. 310 00:29:56.385 --> 00:30:00.005 And in doing so, uh, it wouldn't have just been a simple decision. You see, 311 00:30:00.006 --> 00:30:02.165 they would've become an enemy of the state. 312 00:30:02.565 --> 00:30:05.005 I had a chance to spend a lot of time over in India. 313 00:30:05.345 --> 00:30:09.085 And what is beautiful in India about new Christians that are coming to know 314 00:30:09.086 --> 00:30:09.745 Jesus, 315 00:30:09.745 --> 00:30:13.845 is that the moment that they say that they have put their trust in Jesus Christ, 316 00:30:14.865 --> 00:30:18.885 the truth is, is oftentimes they become an enemy of the state. 317 00:30:21.115 --> 00:30:23.565 It's the place where their family starts to disown them. 318 00:30:24.065 --> 00:30:26.365 It is the place where relationships start to crumble. 319 00:30:26.545 --> 00:30:30.765 And when they take water baptism and stand in obedience before God, boy, 320 00:30:30.766 --> 00:30:33.165 that really sends a message to the people around them. 321 00:30:34.925 --> 00:30:39.905 But yet they step forward by faith and they submit their lives to Christ. 322 00:30:41.455 --> 00:30:46.145 Paul is writing to a group like that who knows that if they move away from 323 00:30:46.146 --> 00:30:48.945 Caesar and onto Jesus, there could be some real problems. 324 00:30:49.085 --> 00:30:50.745 And during their persecution, 325 00:30:50.746 --> 00:30:53.545 Paul writes this letter to them to give them encouragement. 326 00:30:53.645 --> 00:30:58.545 And the key encouragement that he offers them is meant to give them 327 00:30:58.546 --> 00:31:01.065 hope. It is to help them to not give up. 328 00:31:01.545 --> 00:31:03.225 It's to help them to remain faithful to the end. 329 00:31:03.585 --> 00:31:08.065 It is to keep them in the fight. And if the church in Thessalonika is drowning, 330 00:31:08.175 --> 00:31:10.265 Paul is not trying to throw them a rubber ducky. 331 00:31:10.265 --> 00:31:15.025 He's trying to throw them a life jacket. He's trying to keep 'em alive. 332 00:31:15.055 --> 00:31:16.385 He's trying to help 'em survive. 333 00:31:16.935 --> 00:31:21.545 He's trying to give them a way to stay afloat and to have persevere, excuse me, 334 00:31:22.305 --> 00:31:25.145 perseverance in light of all that they are falling victim to, 335 00:31:25.775 --> 00:31:30.665 he's sharing with them a lifeline. And when he does this, 336 00:31:31.145 --> 00:31:34.465 in one Thessalonians chapter five, verse 16 through 18, 337 00:31:34.885 --> 00:31:39.625 he gives encouragement through the form of three ideas. He says, 338 00:31:40.345 --> 00:31:41.905 rejoice, always 339 00:31:43.655 --> 00:31:48.225 pray without ceasing and give thanks in all 340 00:31:48.226 --> 00:31:52.305 circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 341 00:31:53.505 --> 00:31:56.745 For I see He commands them to do three things. 342 00:31:58.105 --> 00:32:01.585 Rejoice always the focus of our time today. 343 00:32:02.015 --> 00:32:06.785 Pray without ceasing and give thanks in all 344 00:32:07.415 --> 00:32:12.105 circumstances. Rejoice, pray, give thanks. 345 00:32:12.895 --> 00:32:16.785 This is Paul's encouragement to a church, uh, a church that's facing difficulty, 346 00:32:17.385 --> 00:32:17.585 uh, 347 00:32:17.585 --> 00:32:22.465 a church that is needing to be in constant awareness of God's power and God's 348 00:32:22.705 --> 00:32:24.665 presence. And he gives them this to say, 349 00:32:24.945 --> 00:32:28.545 this is what will sustain your life of following Jesus. 350 00:32:30.455 --> 00:32:32.345 Pray without ceasing. 351 00:32:33.725 --> 00:32:38.185 And the only way that this is practically possible is for them to stay connected 352 00:32:38.186 --> 00:32:40.245 to Jesus through prayer. And Paul knows this. 353 00:32:40.246 --> 00:32:43.685 So he's not suggesting that they just need to pray all day and all night, 354 00:32:43.686 --> 00:32:46.085 quit their jobs. And the only thing that they do is sit in the, 355 00:32:46.086 --> 00:32:48.365 in a room and pray. What he's saying is, 356 00:32:49.505 --> 00:32:53.805 you need to recognize the Holy Spirit's work, the move of the living God. 357 00:32:54.105 --> 00:32:59.045 And you need to stay in constant with our Lord and Savior. 358 00:33:00.225 --> 00:33:02.485 And he knows that the only way to do that is through prayer. 359 00:33:04.105 --> 00:33:07.405 He knows that they need to continue to take time, to talk to God, 360 00:33:07.625 --> 00:33:10.645 to hear from God, to allow God to transform them, 361 00:33:10.785 --> 00:33:13.645 and to equip them for whatever is ahead of them. 362 00:33:14.625 --> 00:33:19.065 And they know what's ahead of them is persecution. You see, 363 00:33:19.066 --> 00:33:23.465 Paul is encouraging them to live a life filled with the rejoicing and 364 00:33:23.466 --> 00:33:27.465 thanksgiving that only comes through prayer. And at the same time, 365 00:33:29.155 --> 00:33:30.775 that's what we've been talking about here, 366 00:33:32.735 --> 00:33:36.575 staying connected to God through prayer. Uh, speaking to him, listening to him, 367 00:33:36.576 --> 00:33:39.215 having him be a real part of how we live our lives. 368 00:33:39.565 --> 00:33:43.255 What he's sharing with them is what we have been trying to share with our church 369 00:33:43.345 --> 00:33:44.255 every single week. 370 00:33:44.405 --> 00:33:48.735 That there needs to be this real rhythm in how we live our lives. 371 00:33:49.315 --> 00:33:54.095 And he begins to answer questions for them. And if we're honest, 372 00:33:54.096 --> 00:33:58.595 these are the same questions that we always ask. The first one is, 373 00:33:59.695 --> 00:34:01.675 why, like, 374 00:34:01.695 --> 00:34:05.835 why do we even need to have this life filled with consistent and constant 375 00:34:05.836 --> 00:34:09.915 prayer? Why do we need to have this kind of rhythm? Well, 376 00:34:09.916 --> 00:34:14.035 it is pretty simple and it's kind of reflected all throughout scripture. Uh, 377 00:34:14.135 --> 00:34:18.395 the reason why we need to have this life of prayer is because prayer deepens our 378 00:34:18.396 --> 00:34:22.155 relationship with God. Uh, when we spend time with people, 379 00:34:22.695 --> 00:34:26.875 our relationship grows in ways that oftentimes we can't even imagine. Uh, 380 00:34:27.035 --> 00:34:27.868 lemme give you an example. 381 00:34:28.094 --> 00:34:33.075 Now I got a chance to coach my son in basketball from the time he was 382 00:34:33.195 --> 00:34:37.755 a ninth grader until he graduated his senior year. I'm an old basketball player, 383 00:34:37.855 --> 00:34:42.035 and long after my playing days, God gave me an opportunity to coach my son. 384 00:34:42.295 --> 00:34:46.035 His coach had retired and so he was like, dad, who's gonna do it? Can you do it? 385 00:34:46.094 --> 00:34:47.715 And I'm like, man, I don't want to do this. 386 00:34:49.745 --> 00:34:53.195 I've watched basketball dad ruin his relationship with his kids. 387 00:34:54.065 --> 00:34:58.114 He's over there screaming, everybody's watching it. I didn't wanna be that guy 388 00:34:59.655 --> 00:35:03.635 and I was afraid of it, man. I didn't even wanna do it. But what I feared 389 00:35:05.555 --> 00:35:10.435 actually ended up being the opposite. The more I spent time with my son, 390 00:35:11.895 --> 00:35:16.715 the more I built a relationship with him. And so every day for four years, 391 00:35:17.094 --> 00:35:20.835 we rode to practice together and we rode from practice together. And, 392 00:35:20.836 --> 00:35:25.155 and we spent time together and we talked together and I began to hear about his 393 00:35:25.156 --> 00:35:28.395 dreams and his heart and his concerns and his issues. 394 00:35:28.755 --> 00:35:32.635 I began to see what he was really like when everything was stripped away. 395 00:35:32.955 --> 00:35:36.155 I began to see all of the concerns that a young man brings to the table. 396 00:35:36.415 --> 00:35:40.285 And it was this beautiful thing that happened. And what I learned in that time 397 00:35:42.175 --> 00:35:44.275 is that the more we spend time with someone, 398 00:35:45.735 --> 00:35:47.515 the deeper our relationship grows, 399 00:35:49.555 --> 00:35:51.375 the deeper our intimacy grows, 400 00:35:52.875 --> 00:35:55.335 the better our relationship gets. 401 00:35:56.364 --> 00:36:01.295 Because what I've learned is that consistency builds intimacy 402 00:36:02.395 --> 00:36:06.495 and it also builds trust. And that's what it did for us. 403 00:36:06.594 --> 00:36:10.255 It built trust, it built our relationship in this beautiful way, 404 00:36:10.555 --> 00:36:14.375 and we got connected together in ways that I could never imagine. Well, 405 00:36:14.376 --> 00:36:18.015 the same thing is true when we spend time in prayer with God, 406 00:36:18.275 --> 00:36:20.015 it builds that kind of intimacy. 407 00:36:20.155 --> 00:36:24.614 It builds that kind of trust as he hears from us about our real concerns, 408 00:36:24.835 --> 00:36:26.415 the real issues of our lives. 409 00:36:26.605 --> 00:36:29.895 When everything is stripped away and we're just talking to God, 410 00:36:31.344 --> 00:36:35.045 he gets to know us And we get to know him 411 00:36:37.775 --> 00:36:41.975 and our relationship gets better and better. Can I give a quick check in here? 412 00:36:43.225 --> 00:36:45.055 How's your relationship with God right now? 413 00:36:46.695 --> 00:36:46.915 Uh. 414 00:36:46.915 --> 00:36:51.175 Is it deep? Is it, is it, is it shallow? Uh, is it somewhere in between? 415 00:36:51.875 --> 00:36:55.415 How would you classify your current relationship with God? And listen, 416 00:36:55.815 --> 00:36:59.815 I know that prayer, the greatest enemy of prayer, is oftentimes our busyness. 417 00:36:59.995 --> 00:37:03.975 So I'm not trying to get all up in your business. May lemme say it this way, 418 00:37:04.315 --> 00:37:06.175 I'm not trying to get all up in your busyness, 419 00:37:08.935 --> 00:37:09.795 but I love to know. 420 00:37:11.455 --> 00:37:11.875 How. 421 00:37:11.875 --> 00:37:15.275 You're doing with this relationship with God. 422 00:37:17.055 --> 00:37:18.075 Are you talking to him? 423 00:37:19.145 --> 00:37:19.364 Are. 424 00:37:19.364 --> 00:37:20.285 You hearing from him? 425 00:37:21.355 --> 00:37:25.685 Because the word of God affirms that this relationship of prayer is something 426 00:37:25.686 --> 00:37:29.085 that we need to walk in daily. Like for instance, 427 00:37:29.545 --> 00:37:31.725 if you look at James chapter four, verse eight, 428 00:37:31.905 --> 00:37:36.805 the Bible teaches us that we need to draw near to God and that in drawing near 429 00:37:36.806 --> 00:37:40.925 to God, that he will draw near to us. In Hebrews chapter four, verse 16, 430 00:37:41.185 --> 00:37:45.685 the Bible tells us that we should come to the throne of God with confidence and 431 00:37:45.715 --> 00:37:47.405 draw near to that throne of grace, 432 00:37:47.515 --> 00:37:52.245 that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our times 433 00:37:52.585 --> 00:37:55.405 of need. In Philippians chapter four, verse six and seven, 434 00:37:55.655 --> 00:38:00.645 we're encouraged to not be anxious about anything but in everything by 435 00:38:00.646 --> 00:38:05.445 prayer and by supplication with thanksgiving to let our 436 00:38:05.446 --> 00:38:09.285 requests be made known to God. And that the peace of God, 437 00:38:09.286 --> 00:38:10.725 which surpasses all understanding, 438 00:38:10.875 --> 00:38:15.245 will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. You see, 439 00:38:15.246 --> 00:38:19.605 the Bible affirms that we need to have lives of prayer. 440 00:38:21.405 --> 00:38:22.445 And that's like really the why. 441 00:38:22.715 --> 00:38:25.205 Like if you wanna build a special relationship with somebody, 442 00:38:25.355 --> 00:38:27.165 then you have to spend time with them. 443 00:38:27.425 --> 00:38:32.165 And that time over time makes a huge difference. But here's what I know. 444 00:38:33.685 --> 00:38:38.565 I know that the why is probably not the place where we 445 00:38:38.566 --> 00:38:42.965 get stuck most of the time, and that's not the place where we get stuck. 446 00:38:43.065 --> 00:38:47.925 The place that we normally get stuck is in the how. Uh, 447 00:38:48.205 --> 00:38:51.045 it's in the actual practice of prayer. Uh, if we're honest, 448 00:38:51.685 --> 00:38:53.925 oftentimes the reason why we don't pray, 449 00:38:54.225 --> 00:38:58.565 the reason why we don't have these lives of prayer that is consistent or that 450 00:38:58.566 --> 00:39:02.725 has a rhythm to them, is because truthfully, we don't make room for it. 451 00:39:05.955 --> 00:39:10.805 It's our priorities, it's our plans. I mean, 452 00:39:10.806 --> 00:39:15.525 surely we can find all kind of ways to be busy and we often 453 00:39:15.665 --> 00:39:18.205 do. And when that happens, 454 00:39:18.305 --> 00:39:22.765 prayer takes a back seat. You know, 455 00:39:22.766 --> 00:39:26.364 it's not our busiest even that's the problem. It's what we're busy with. 456 00:39:26.525 --> 00:39:30.364 I love the way Henry David the speaks of our busyness, when he says these words, 457 00:39:30.705 --> 00:39:35.645 he said, it is not enough to be busy. The question is, what are we busy about? 458 00:39:38.825 --> 00:39:43.315 What is the thing that we give our time and our energy 459 00:39:45.015 --> 00:39:48.835 and our hearts to? 'cause, man, 460 00:39:50.835 --> 00:39:53.715 prayer is just an essential part of how we should live our lives. 461 00:39:55.455 --> 00:39:57.875 And I think we get stuck in the how. 462 00:39:58.535 --> 00:40:01.555 And so for the rest of our time together today, uh, 463 00:40:01.556 --> 00:40:04.875 we just thought it would be a really good idea if we got real practical in the 464 00:40:04.876 --> 00:40:05.415 how, 465 00:40:05.415 --> 00:40:09.675 if we began to share some things that will help us to stay anchored in a life of 466 00:40:09.676 --> 00:40:14.555 prayer and to have a consistent rhythm of how we live this life of 467 00:40:14.556 --> 00:40:17.035 prayer. So for the note takers in the room, uh, 468 00:40:17.055 --> 00:40:20.835 let me start with the first thing that I believe will help us to cultivate a 469 00:40:20.836 --> 00:40:22.235 life of prayer. And it's simply this, 470 00:40:22.344 --> 00:40:26.715 that we need to be the kind of people who pray the scriptures. 471 00:40:27.735 --> 00:40:31.594 We need to be the kind of people who pray the scriptures. You know, 472 00:40:31.595 --> 00:40:36.395 there are some very practical reasons why we need to pray the scriptures. Uh, 473 00:40:36.396 --> 00:40:39.915 and the first and the strongest argument that I think that will help to support 474 00:40:40.025 --> 00:40:44.195 this idea of us praying the scriptures is simply because Jesus prayed the 475 00:40:44.355 --> 00:40:48.305 scriptures. Like if you go to the word of God, 476 00:40:48.325 --> 00:40:52.864 and even if you look at the cross and you look at what Jesus experienced on the 477 00:40:52.865 --> 00:40:57.425 cross, uh, both Matthew's gospel and Mark's gospel given account. 478 00:40:57.605 --> 00:40:59.265 And when they talk about Jesus on the cross, 479 00:40:59.415 --> 00:41:02.705 they say that Jesus used these words. He said, Ilio, 480 00:41:02.825 --> 00:41:05.625 I ilio ak box. My God. 481 00:41:06.125 --> 00:41:11.105 Why has thou forsaken me? Now, you may have heard that before, 482 00:41:12.285 --> 00:41:16.905 but what you may not know is that Jesus is actually quoting a 483 00:41:16.955 --> 00:41:20.344 psalm. He's quoting Psalm 22 484 00:41:22.205 --> 00:41:25.545 and he's praying the scriptures. That's right. 485 00:41:26.275 --> 00:41:29.505 Jesus is praying the scriptures. And, and if we're gonna follow Jesus, 486 00:41:29.725 --> 00:41:33.325 it would make sense that we would pray like Jesus. Uh, 487 00:41:33.565 --> 00:41:36.085 let me give you another reason why we would pray the scriptures is simply 488 00:41:36.086 --> 00:41:40.565 because praying the scriptures keeps us focused on what's important. You know, 489 00:41:40.566 --> 00:41:43.685 one of the most challenging things that you experience when you first become a 490 00:41:43.686 --> 00:41:47.165 new believer is when somebody says, brother Dwayne is gonna pray for us. 491 00:41:49.655 --> 00:41:54.375 And you're like, I'm not. I I ain't never, I don't never done that before. 492 00:41:55.575 --> 00:41:59.375 Uh, you don't know what to say. You're not sure what to, what to move towards. 493 00:41:59.376 --> 00:42:04.215 You're not sure what to do. And it creates a lot of fear and anxiety in folks. 494 00:42:05.945 --> 00:42:10.715 When we pray the scriptures, all of the things that we pray for, 495 00:42:11.575 --> 00:42:14.275 all of the things that we want to lift up to the Lord, 496 00:42:14.905 --> 00:42:19.875 they are found in God's word. You see, 497 00:42:19.876 --> 00:42:24.675 praying the scriptures keeps us focused on what's important. You know, 498 00:42:25.075 --> 00:42:28.955 oftentimes our prayers can be filled with all kinds of things. Uh, 499 00:42:28.956 --> 00:42:31.235 they can be filled with our own requests. 500 00:42:31.255 --> 00:42:36.195 But praying the scriptures reminds us of what is important to God because God's 501 00:42:36.196 --> 00:42:40.915 word is God, breathe. And everything in God's word is profitable for correction, 502 00:42:40.916 --> 00:42:45.315 instruction, and training and righteousness. When we pray the scriptures, 503 00:42:46.295 --> 00:42:48.915 we communicate the heart of God, 504 00:42:50.665 --> 00:42:55.635 praying the scriptures anchors us in the right perspective on the things that we 505 00:42:55.636 --> 00:43:00.075 pray for. And there's all kind of ways to pray the scripture. Uh, 506 00:43:00.076 --> 00:43:03.395 you could read a psalm a day, you could pray the promises of God. 507 00:43:03.735 --> 00:43:08.155 You can just use the scriptures as a way to instruct and inform this powerful 508 00:43:08.156 --> 00:43:08.989 life of prayer. 509 00:43:09.215 --> 00:43:13.635 And so my first example of a way that we can have a great rhythm of prayer is 510 00:43:13.636 --> 00:43:16.755 that we need to pray the scriptures. Let me give you another one. 511 00:43:18.055 --> 00:43:21.275 We need to establish daily anchors for prayer. 512 00:43:22.364 --> 00:43:26.475 Lemme say that again. We need to establish daily anchors for prayer. Now, 513 00:43:26.476 --> 00:43:28.475 if you have ever been on a cruise ship, 514 00:43:28.695 --> 00:43:32.195 one of the things that you notice when you walk up is that you see the anchor 515 00:43:32.265 --> 00:43:35.835 kind of hanging off the edge of the boat. And you may not know what that's for, 516 00:43:36.094 --> 00:43:37.915 but that's meant to anchor the ship. 517 00:43:38.344 --> 00:43:42.155 It's meant to keep the ship in a place that when storms arise or when something 518 00:43:42.156 --> 00:43:42.989 crazy happens, 519 00:43:43.455 --> 00:43:47.715 the ship can stay focused on what it matters what's important. 520 00:43:47.735 --> 00:43:52.395 It can stay still, it can stay steady, it can stay where it's supposed to be. 521 00:43:53.844 --> 00:43:57.844 And anchors are a big piece of gear. They're pretty important. 522 00:43:58.875 --> 00:43:59.965 They matter a whole lot. 523 00:44:01.344 --> 00:44:04.925 But what I know is that it's not enough to just have an anchor. 524 00:44:06.344 --> 00:44:08.805 You have to actually use the anchor. 525 00:44:10.225 --> 00:44:12.325 And when I talk about prayer anchors, 526 00:44:13.114 --> 00:44:15.965 what I'm talking about is an anchor that helps to keep you grounded. 527 00:44:16.605 --> 00:44:20.045 A prayer anchor helps to keep you connected to what matters most. 528 00:44:20.165 --> 00:44:25.005 A prayer anchor reminds you daily that God is bigger than us and it needs 529 00:44:25.006 --> 00:44:27.445 to be something that's a real part of our lives. 530 00:44:27.965 --> 00:44:32.005 A prayer anchor can consist in a lot of ways. Like for me, 531 00:44:32.225 --> 00:44:33.925 one of the anchors that I've always had, 532 00:44:34.105 --> 00:44:38.844 the prayer anchor that I use the most was that as I drive through school 533 00:44:38.975 --> 00:44:41.925 zones, I pray for the school, 534 00:44:43.445 --> 00:44:48.405 I pray for the kids inside, I pray for the teachers. See my wife's a principal, 535 00:44:49.545 --> 00:44:52.725 and she would come home and tell me about all the amazing things that our 536 00:44:52.885 --> 00:44:56.605 children do. Some of them were good, 537 00:44:58.745 --> 00:45:03.325 but I thought to myself, how could I help? And so as I rode through prayer, air, 538 00:45:03.525 --> 00:45:04.405 or excuse me, school zones, 539 00:45:04.525 --> 00:45:08.805 I just decided that I was gonna pray and I was gonna lift up everybody in that 540 00:45:08.965 --> 00:45:11.285 building and ask for God's blessing on them. 541 00:45:11.585 --> 00:45:14.165 And it became an anchor in my life. 542 00:45:16.235 --> 00:45:19.765 What are your anchors? Do you pray in the morning? 543 00:45:20.705 --> 00:45:24.005 Do you pray at midday? Uh, do you pray when you're with your family? 544 00:45:24.185 --> 00:45:27.885 Do you pray at the table? What are the anchors of prayer in your life? 545 00:45:27.995 --> 00:45:31.925 What are the things that can't be moved no matter what the circumstances of your 546 00:45:31.926 --> 00:45:32.759 life are? 547 00:45:33.515 --> 00:45:38.205 Because prayer anchors can be a beautiful way to establish a life of prayer. 548 00:45:38.705 --> 00:45:42.405 We have a family at our apex campus that prays at double digits on the clock. 549 00:45:42.745 --> 00:45:47.605 So they pray at 3 0 3 and at 1111 and 550 00:45:47.625 --> 00:45:48.605 at 8 0 8. 551 00:45:50.385 --> 00:45:55.315 And it's become a way of them staying focused on prayer. You see, 552 00:45:55.316 --> 00:46:00.235 prayer anchors can be a real powerful tool. So what's your anchor? 553 00:46:02.455 --> 00:46:07.075 And the anchors are a beautiful thing because they help to keep us grounded in 554 00:46:07.076 --> 00:46:07.909 prayer. 555 00:46:08.495 --> 00:46:12.675 But what I've seen is that oftentimes when we walk into situations where things 556 00:46:12.695 --> 00:46:15.515 get difficult, like the one that I experienced at the stadium, 557 00:46:15.885 --> 00:46:17.475 we're not always sure what to do. 558 00:46:17.614 --> 00:46:20.675 And while we have these regular rhythms of prayer that are anchors, 559 00:46:21.235 --> 00:46:22.068 they're really good to have. 560 00:46:22.375 --> 00:46:26.155 But there are times when we need to just pray in the moment. And so for that, 561 00:46:26.225 --> 00:46:30.515 another tool that I believe will help us to have this fervent life of prayer is 562 00:46:30.516 --> 00:46:34.355 that we need to be the kind of people who simply pray now, 563 00:46:36.455 --> 00:46:37.288 who pray Now 564 00:46:39.085 --> 00:46:43.705 you ever talk to somebody and they ask you to pray and you say yes to it, 565 00:46:43.706 --> 00:46:45.065 and you commit to it in the moment. 566 00:46:45.885 --> 00:46:49.705 And then you see 'em a week later and they tell you how God has moved in a 567 00:46:49.706 --> 00:46:54.065 mighty way, and they say, thank you for praying for me. And you're like, Uhhuh, 568 00:46:55.575 --> 00:47:00.105 because you know you ain't praying at all and you don't want to tell 'em. 569 00:47:00.245 --> 00:47:03.545 But then you finally tell 'em, I'm so sorry, I forgot to pray. Oh, listen, 570 00:47:03.825 --> 00:47:07.545 I have had so many moments like that, and because of those kinds of moments, 571 00:47:07.825 --> 00:47:12.305 I have learned to live a life that says that we are going to instead choose 572 00:47:12.645 --> 00:47:15.465 to pray. Now, when somebody asks you to pray, 573 00:47:15.675 --> 00:47:20.145 don't you let 'em get outta your sight, You pray. Now, 574 00:47:21.785 --> 00:47:26.695 Could you imagine what our churches would look like if we 575 00:47:26.696 --> 00:47:27.895 just decided to pray? Now, 576 00:47:28.235 --> 00:47:31.005 if when people began to unpack the issues in their lives, 577 00:47:31.265 --> 00:47:34.605 if we just grabbed a hold of them and said, you know what? Let's pray right now. 578 00:47:34.785 --> 00:47:38.285 If our kids came to us with the problems of their lives and we grabbed their 579 00:47:38.286 --> 00:47:40.005 hands and said, let's pray. Now, 580 00:47:40.185 --> 00:47:44.125 if every time we got a phone call and there was a person in the hospital on the 581 00:47:44.126 --> 00:47:46.405 other end, we said, let's pray right now. 582 00:47:46.785 --> 00:47:49.805 And we locked arms and we burned it to the ground in prayer. 583 00:47:51.825 --> 00:47:55.775 Could you imagine what our churches would look like? 584 00:47:57.305 --> 00:48:01.614 Could you imagine what our world would look like? You see, 585 00:48:01.615 --> 00:48:06.055 if we are gonna live these fervent rhythmic lives of prayer, 586 00:48:07.515 --> 00:48:09.775 we need to be the kind of people who are willing to pray. Now, 587 00:48:11.245 --> 00:48:14.935 when somebody asks you to pray for them, don't wait till later, 588 00:48:16.405 --> 00:48:20.895 pray. Now, prayer is not meant to be a last resort. Uh, 589 00:48:20.896 --> 00:48:22.935 it's meant to be our first line of defense. 590 00:48:23.395 --> 00:48:26.335 And we often tend to use prayer as a last resort, 591 00:48:26.355 --> 00:48:30.015 but God wants it to be our first line of defense. And so when we pray, 592 00:48:30.275 --> 00:48:32.495 we should pray. Now we should pray all of the time, 593 00:48:32.795 --> 00:48:36.975 we pray when there's nothing else we can do. But when God wants us to pray, 594 00:48:39.675 --> 00:48:43.094 It should be our first, our first priority. 595 00:48:46.425 --> 00:48:46.645 We. 596 00:48:46.645 --> 00:48:48.045 Should be the kind of people who pray. Now, 597 00:48:50.665 --> 00:48:52.844 you don't have to wait till church meeting to pray. 598 00:48:54.305 --> 00:48:57.205 You don't have to wait till it's prayer time to pray. Uh, 599 00:48:57.206 --> 00:49:00.965 you can pray in the moment and the enemy would love nothing more for us to wait 600 00:49:01.094 --> 00:49:05.685 until later. But what if every time Instagram or Facebook, 601 00:49:05.864 --> 00:49:10.125 or every time we got a voicemail or an email that was concerning to us and we 602 00:49:10.155 --> 00:49:14.885 felt the urge from the Holy Spirit to pray, we chose instead to pray. Now, 603 00:49:17.995 --> 00:49:18.828 I believe our churches. 604 00:49:19.575 --> 00:49:20.335 And. 605 00:49:20.335 --> 00:49:24.525 Our families and our communities would be in a better place. 606 00:49:27.575 --> 00:49:31.335 Lemme give you another tool that can help us to live fervent lives of prayer. 607 00:49:32.835 --> 00:49:36.335 And that tool is something that we share all the time here at hope, 608 00:49:36.955 --> 00:49:40.055 and we often share it through the lens of our small groups. Uh, 609 00:49:40.056 --> 00:49:42.415 because small groups are a place to be, uh, 610 00:49:42.445 --> 00:49:45.575 seen and known and loved and cared for. Uh, 611 00:49:45.594 --> 00:49:49.295 you just get to hang out with some cool folks and spend time with them talking 612 00:49:49.296 --> 00:49:53.735 about Jesus, living like Jesus, living missional lives in our communities. 613 00:49:54.875 --> 00:49:56.695 And the reason why we think that's so important, 614 00:49:56.696 --> 00:50:00.135 because it's really important to walk in relationship with other people. 615 00:50:00.594 --> 00:50:04.335 And so one of the greatest tools that you can use when it comes to a fervent 616 00:50:04.336 --> 00:50:09.055 life of prayer is that you can find a person or a group of people to pray with 617 00:50:09.056 --> 00:50:11.775 you that will hold you accountable to pray. 618 00:50:14.185 --> 00:50:16.405 You can get some people to walk with you through this. 619 00:50:17.965 --> 00:50:18.155 You. 620 00:50:18.155 --> 00:50:19.585 Don't have to pray alone 621 00:50:21.945 --> 00:50:25.545 like you can reach out to a person and and pray for them and, 622 00:50:25.546 --> 00:50:29.925 and they can pray for you. And I've seen this work some miracles. Uh, this week. 623 00:50:30.165 --> 00:50:34.965 I had a guy call me who I've been praying with for 25 years on Wednesday, 624 00:50:34.966 --> 00:50:38.245 he called me that morning and I had had a particularly challenging day 625 00:50:39.965 --> 00:50:41.525 and he just prayed for me. 626 00:50:43.265 --> 00:50:47.205 What's been so interesting about that relationship is oftentimes when we look 627 00:50:47.206 --> 00:50:50.085 for a prayer partner, we look for somebody who's just like us, 628 00:50:50.344 --> 00:50:54.325 who thinks like us, who acts like us. This guy don't think like me at all. 629 00:50:55.825 --> 00:50:57.085 He doesn't act like me at all. 630 00:50:58.335 --> 00:51:03.114 And I've watched how God has used our differences for his glory 631 00:51:03.745 --> 00:51:07.315 through prayer. You see, 632 00:51:07.316 --> 00:51:11.995 finding somebody to help hold you accountable to prayer is a game changer. 633 00:51:13.795 --> 00:51:17.594 You, you know, where we can find some really good prayer partners. Uh, 634 00:51:17.595 --> 00:51:21.795 it's a place that probably a lot of us aren't looking to our homes. 635 00:51:24.215 --> 00:51:28.205 Could you imagine if your prayer partner was your wife 636 00:51:29.385 --> 00:51:30.218 or your husband, 637 00:51:31.225 --> 00:51:34.765 or one of your children or your college roommate? 638 00:51:36.344 --> 00:51:40.015 And rather than simply praying by yourself, 639 00:51:41.594 --> 00:51:46.135 You chose to hear what is on their heart and lift them up to the living 640 00:51:46.395 --> 00:51:49.175 God. You know, 641 00:51:49.176 --> 00:51:53.575 praying for a person that you know says to them that you care so deeply about 642 00:51:53.576 --> 00:51:58.575 them, that you are willing to go to God on their behalf. 643 00:52:00.635 --> 00:52:01.295 You know, 644 00:52:01.295 --> 00:52:06.175 reengage started last week at our Apex campus and our pastor who 645 00:52:06.176 --> 00:52:08.335 leads the reengage is a man named Dave Lanu. 646 00:52:08.515 --> 00:52:12.575 And he challenged the couples to just every single day while reengage is going 647 00:52:12.835 --> 00:52:15.255 to lock hands and just to pray for each other. 648 00:52:17.105 --> 00:52:19.325 And if they do that for the next several weeks, 649 00:52:20.415 --> 00:52:22.725 could you imagine the strength of their relationship? 650 00:52:25.785 --> 00:52:30.364 The old saying, the family that prays together stays together is true. 651 00:52:32.145 --> 00:52:36.205 And we need to be the kind of people who are accountable to each other when it 652 00:52:36.206 --> 00:52:40.285 comes to prayer. Well, let me give you one last tool, 653 00:52:42.465 --> 00:52:47.005 and this tool is a really strong one. You see, 654 00:52:47.025 --> 00:52:50.565 the last few weeks we have seen God move in some mighty ways here at Hope 655 00:52:50.566 --> 00:52:53.245 Community Church and every single one of our services, 656 00:52:53.295 --> 00:52:57.885 we've created an opportunity at the end of the service to just spend time and 657 00:52:57.886 --> 00:53:00.844 prayer right there in the room. And today is no different. 658 00:53:00.845 --> 00:53:02.245 At the end of our service time today, 659 00:53:02.246 --> 00:53:06.165 there's gonna be an opportunity for you to come down front and to pray if you're 660 00:53:06.364 --> 00:53:10.045 watching online, to kneel right before the Lord where you are and to pray. 661 00:53:10.505 --> 00:53:13.885 And what we have seen is God answer a lot of those prayers. 662 00:53:14.135 --> 00:53:17.605 We've seen responses in moments where God has moved. 663 00:53:18.065 --> 00:53:20.765 And we have a whole lot of tools here at church. Like for instance, 664 00:53:20.825 --> 00:53:21.685 we have the app. 665 00:53:21.705 --> 00:53:25.445 And the app allows you to pray for people to see the prayers of others, 666 00:53:25.745 --> 00:53:28.844 to submit prayers on your own. And those tools are great. 667 00:53:29.025 --> 00:53:31.405 But I told you earlier, the tools are not the problem. 668 00:53:33.844 --> 00:53:38.825 The problem is often that we choose everything else over prayer. 669 00:53:42.955 --> 00:53:47.855 And these moves of God that we've seen at our church have nothing to do with 670 00:53:47.856 --> 00:53:50.695 our savviness or with our our ideas. 671 00:53:51.114 --> 00:53:55.455 It is not our ideas that is making the move of God move. God is moving. 672 00:53:55.555 --> 00:53:59.255 And I believe that the reason why he's moving so much right now in the midst of 673 00:53:59.256 --> 00:54:02.575 this series is because we have made room for him. 674 00:54:05.275 --> 00:54:08.735 We focused our hearts and our minds on prayer. 675 00:54:12.445 --> 00:54:14.785 And God has hurt our cries. 676 00:54:17.645 --> 00:54:20.985 And I think the greatest tip that I could leave you with is we close this 677 00:54:20.986 --> 00:54:21.819 series, 678 00:54:23.375 --> 00:54:25.995 is that we need to make room for prayer. 679 00:54:29.614 --> 00:54:33.795 We need to make room. We need to make room in our lives. 680 00:54:35.495 --> 00:54:38.635 We need to make room in our families. We need to make room in our church. 681 00:54:40.655 --> 00:54:42.235 You know, a few weeks ago, uh, 682 00:54:42.955 --> 00:54:47.594 Aaron Nelson shared with us that prayer is talking to God and giving him space 683 00:54:47.695 --> 00:54:51.815 to talk to us. It's making room for him. 684 00:54:53.395 --> 00:54:57.015 Key word, giving him space. 685 00:55:03.695 --> 00:55:05.835 See, we could get through this whole 21 days of prayer 686 00:55:08.855 --> 00:55:12.955 and it could just become 21 days of prayer. 687 00:55:16.555 --> 00:55:18.114 And our deepest desire 688 00:55:19.965 --> 00:55:22.165 is that it wouldn't be just another thing that we did, 689 00:55:24.075 --> 00:55:27.335 but that prayer would permeate every area of our lives. 690 00:55:30.805 --> 00:55:31.638 That prayer 691 00:55:33.895 --> 00:55:38.594 will become a real part of the rhythm of our lives. 692 00:55:41.945 --> 00:55:44.765 In just a moment, the man is gonna come and sing. 693 00:55:46.145 --> 00:55:50.325 And as they do that, We wanna make room for you to pray. 694 00:55:51.305 --> 00:55:54.844 So if you need to grab your family and bring 'em in close and pray, do that. 695 00:55:55.185 --> 00:55:58.765 If you're at home and you just need to fall in your knees before the Lord inpost 696 00:55:59.005 --> 00:56:00.085 your prayer, do that. 697 00:56:00.425 --> 00:56:04.165 If you need to walk down to the front and lay on the ground, do that. 698 00:56:04.585 --> 00:56:09.085 If you need to just sit there silent and listen for God to speak into your life 699 00:56:09.225 --> 00:56:11.325 or to give him praise for what he's already done, 700 00:56:11.625 --> 00:56:14.285 do that whatever it is right now, we wanna make room for prayer. 701 00:56:16.844 --> 00:56:20.065 We are gonna trust that God can move 702 00:56:21.685 --> 00:56:25.844 and that he will move as we make room. 703 00:56:27.455 --> 00:56:31.205 Let's pray together. Father God, I thank you for this time together. 704 00:56:32.605 --> 00:56:33.438 I thank you so much. 705 00:56:35.045 --> 00:56:38.405 I thank you so much for your grace and mercy, for your love towards us. 706 00:56:38.605 --> 00:56:43.245 I thank you for this time of prayer. 707 00:56:44.825 --> 00:56:49.645 Father, may it position our hearts and our minds towards you. 708 00:56:50.665 --> 00:56:52.725 May it reorient our priorities. 709 00:56:57.025 --> 00:56:59.565 May it become a real part of how we live our lives. Uh, 710 00:56:59.566 --> 00:57:02.565 may the rhythm of our lives be full of prayer. 711 00:57:05.385 --> 00:57:08.165 And Father, may you be glorified in all of it. 712 00:57:11.305 --> 00:57:14.645 We need to talk to you. We need to hear from you. 713 00:57:16.075 --> 00:57:20.575 We need you to direct our path. So we choose 714 00:57:22.275 --> 00:57:26.735 to make room in Jesus' name. 715 00:57:28.845 --> 00:57:29.678 Amen.