Welcome to the Truth in Love podcast with your hosts, Kimberly Faith and John Mack. The Truth in Love podcast seeks to present God's timeless truth through the lens of his remarkable love.
Kimberly Faith:Welcome back to the Truth in Love podcast, and I'm here with two of my faves. I mean, mom and dad.
John McLarty:It's great to be here.
Lynn McLarty:One of our faves.
Kimberly Faith:Good to know. Don't but that'll be some intel we don't share with the other sibs. Well, I, I'm glad that mom that you could join us because in our family, you are known as the prayer warrior, and this podcast is about praying powerfully. And, some of you who are listening to this podcast know that this has been for me the the year that, God has laid on my heart to learn to pray powerfully. And, mom has always been a good example of that.
Kimberly Faith:And I think, dad, this is kinda something you've been doing this year too.
John McLarty:I have. I have a new a new energy in my prayer life.
Kimberly Faith:Yeah. Well, I I am ashamed to say that I have never had my my prayer life is prayer life has never been energized like it is now. And it's coming alive in a way that I just think it's so important to share with people because that's why we were actually talking about before the podcast what we should call this, the title. And the reason that I I really wanted to do praying powerfully is because it's something that I'm experiencing, and, dad, you're experiencing. Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:At least for me, it's for the first time. And that's very hard for me to even admit as being having been a Christian for many years.
John McLarty:No. I I would agree with that that's happening in my life.
Kimberly Faith:Okay.
John McLarty:And it's so, I'll just I'll just start off with this. The the Christian life is so amazing. Lynn and I have been saved for around forty nine years.
Kimberly Faith:In
John McLarty:fact, this this summer will make fifty years of salvation till we just had our fifty fiftieth anniversary of marriage. But the Christian life is so deep. I'm just I'm just thinking of the word of God. Everything is in the word as deep as we wanna get. Mhmm.
John McLarty:But when we first are saved, we're just learning maybe the bible stories. Right. But then there's no depth to it. I mean, one of my new depths is the heart of the apostle Paul. So I won't get into it just right now, but my prayer life from being first saved to now is just, you know, been up and down and deeper.
John McLarty:And then, you know, through my college years, I would say it got real weak.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
John McLarty:But it's it's just experiencing this new depth, and it's just like maybe there's no bottom. It's just like you can go as deep with God in his word or in prayer or in service as as we wanna go.
Kimberly Faith:Yeah. It kinda reminds me of, you know, when you're if you're born into a a royal family, right, and you're a baby Mhmm. And you never learn how to converse with the the the power of the throne, your father. Right? Then you never take full advantage of that of that place that you've been given.
Kimberly Faith:And as I feel like I'm growing into that. That's like and it's really powerful Mhmm. To see God answering prayers. And so we wanna talk about that, what that looks like. And, mom, I know you have a lot
Lynn McLarty:to say. I just wanna say one thing that dad's saying that, he's experiencing something new and you are too. Mhmm. But I'll just say for from an a a perspective, an old prayer warrior Mhmm. That I've experienced this close walk with the Lord in this, kind of exuberating prayer life, but there's time still that we go back downhill to our old ways.
Lynn McLarty:And I say I'd say that for me and this is why, this kind of timely, this podcast, because I would say my prayer life has been down the bottom of the pit lately. And this morning, I just thought I am going to grandma's house and get with the Lord. So it took me kinda just kinda reset, a reset. Yeah. And I experienced, I'd say, a tiny, tiny reset this morning of my prayer life, and it kinda it was like an appetizer.
Lynn McLarty:Mhmm. It made me want more. Right? So I'd say that, you know, you think you kinda reach a pinnacle of your prayer life, but just beware. Satan wants to pull us out of that and into the back into the ditch where we're not having any.
Lynn McLarty:Right.
Kimberly Faith:It's like anything else in life, a discipline. It's a discipline. A discipline. Yeah. Well, I, my inspiration, and I think we've mentioned this on earlier podcast was, I think it was also with dad is a sermon we heard.
Kimberly Faith:And, we're both visiting another church and but I'll tell you when I started getting into God's word, the inspiration was magnified by John fourteen three and four, where Jesus said, whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the father may be glorified in the son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. And, you know, what what I kept thinking about and one of the prayers that I pray, it it I call God out on this. Mhmm. You know?
Kimberly Faith:Because it's like, wait a minute. Anything?
Lynn McLarty:Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:And and and as God has changed the desires of my heart to be more like his desires, meaning that none would perish.
John McLarty:Right.
Kimberly Faith:Right? That people will be discipled.
Lynn McLarty:That's it.
Kimberly Faith:Then I'm calling them out on this. Mhmm. You said, God, that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. So create in me a clean heart. Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:Create it. You know, show me what I need to change. Mhmm. I'm willing to change whatever I need to change, and then you need you need to just take the power of heaven and earth into all these people that I'm listening and send your spirit, plant your word, send a person, and bring them to you. Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:Because you said ask anything in in my name, and I'll do it. You know?
Lynn McLarty:And it's according to his will because his desire is that none should perish.
Kimberly Faith:That's right.
Lynn McLarty:That all should come to repentance. So when we're praying for not only lost souls, but praying for those that we know have served the Lord Mhmm. And maybe they've kind of wandered away.
Kimberly Faith:Or people we don't know if they're saved.
Lynn McLarty:They have a
Kimberly Faith:profession, and they, you know, don't know.
Lynn McLarty:We want them to be fruitful. Yes. I'm praying that all of our brothers and sisters that know the Lord would be fruitful in their life.
Kimberly Faith:That is one of my prayers as well.
Lynn McLarty:And Yeah. Those that don't know the Lord would come to know the Lord. Right. So they can be fruitful. Right.
John McLarty:And that's from the word. The Lord tells us to pray for souls
Lynn McLarty:Yeah.
John McLarty:That he's not willing that any should perish, but he's also he he says pray for laborers.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
John McLarty:And that's what that's what we're talking about. Yeah. It's praying for those that are saved to be laborers. Mhmm. So anything from the word.
John McLarty:I mean, that's that's kind of a guaranteed way to be whatsoever you ask in my name Right. Is if you're praying from the word, and that's something I've been experiencing lately. Some of my best prayers lately have been outside with my Bible open Mhmm. And just where I can talk out loud.
Lynn McLarty:Mhmm.
John McLarty:And sometimes I'm talking out loud, and sometimes I'm not. Sometimes I'm reading the word. Sometimes I just go into prayer. There's kinda that, to me, the combination of the word and prayer.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
John McLarty:And maybe even adding in more out more talking prayer.
Lynn McLarty:Mhmm.
John McLarty:Because, I mean, just for me, if I'm praying silently, the next also, I'm thinking about my to do list.
Kimberly Faith:Right.
John McLarty:And whether, you know, oh, I need to make that phone call today.
Kimberly Faith:Right. Yeah.
John McLarty:But praying out loud adds that, a factor to my prayer life.
Lynn McLarty:But the Lord does direct our way. So not that, you know, to do list like what you're buying at the grocery store necessarily, but that phone call that you can make to encourage a brother or sister in Christ. I've experienced that a lot in my prayer.
John McLarty:Right. No. I'm talking about Yeah. I know. Praying Yeah.
John McLarty:Silently. Yeah. And the next thing, I'm just thinking about paying the utility bill. Yeah. Right.
John McLarty:Right. This this that's when I when I say my to do list,
Kimberly Faith:that's
John McLarty:usually very secular to do list.
Kimberly Faith:Well, I'm thinking about and I agree, mom, with what you're saying. There have been times I've been praying for a particular person, and God says, send me this send them this text. Yeah. Right? In the middle of the prayer.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm. And I just stop and do that. But I also agree with what dad's saying. I have a hard time because my mind goes a million miles an hour with the crazy stuff that he god's got me doing. And there's also the practical stuff like paying utility bill that just pops into your brain.
Kimberly Faith:But I can't get off this this idea that when he says the effectual fervent prayer, that when you're when you're fervent, you're passionate, and you're focused. When I if I wanna run a race and win, I'm not just lackadaisically doing that. I am intense. And I think there's when we understand and ask the Lord just to give us a a a great burden for souls. In other words, to see hell for what it is, to see the anxiety of people for what it really is, to remember our own anxiety that we experienced because we get comfortable.
Kimberly Faith:The fact is we God's presence is good, and we get comfortable. We forget what the rest of the world is experiencing. So sometimes when I'm praying, like, just to get that effectual thing going, that fervent thing going, I'll say, lord, make me see the world like you do. Right. Let me perceive people.
Kimberly Faith:These people that I'm praying for is not just a list. Like, the the people that my on my prayer list that are lost. I know they're lost. They they are self professed atheists. You know?
Kimberly Faith:I'll say, man, show them show them their desperate need. Show them the end of their life. Make them see that they're not promised another minute. You know? These are the things that and and, of course, the other big thing I'm kinda doing is before I start praying at all.
Kimberly Faith:Because I kinda have my prayer list in three categories. People who are my fellow laborers, people who I don't know if they're saved or, you know, they just or they need to just be coming back to Christ, and then people who are lost. And so I'm always asking the Lord before I approach each group, holy spirit, guide my prayer. And there are some days he wants me to pray for one person more than another person. Do you know what I'm saying?
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm. And he guides those prayers based on things I don't even know about. So that's what do you do are you guys experiencing that same kind of
John McLarty:I've just learned lately. I I had the same experience as you did at the beginning of the year. Started a prayer list, a written prayer list, and that just helped me a lot Right. Because it focuses my prayer so my mind doesn't just wander off. But, this recently occurred to me.
John McLarty:I just instead of just launching into the prayer list, I need to kind of get my mind right with God. Mhmm. And it's like, Lord, create in me a a a, you know, a clean heart, a right spirit. And then just the verse you read, the fervent prayer of a righteous man. And I just think, you know, not that we to be self righteous or that we're ever perfect, but that to express to the Lord that that's our heart.
John McLarty:Mhmm. Yes. Be, you know, living a a life focused on him and for him and Right. Because, you know, that's contrary to our flesh.
Kimberly Faith:Right.
John McLarty:So, yeah, I've added that to my to my prayer just to you might say a preamble to every to a prayer session.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
John McLarty:Just, Lord, forgive me. I'm a sinner. Mhmm. You know, you're God. Right.
John McLarty:You know, human.
Kimberly Faith:Well, and that's the when Jesus taught us to pray, it was our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Mhmm. And and I think the prayer of Psalms 51, create in me a clean heart, oh lord, and renew right spirit within me. I I do the same thing. It's it's like if I'm coming before a holy god.
Kimberly Faith:And if I really wanna be in his presence so that I am experiencing his presence Mhmm. I need to clean the slate. Mhmm. I need to clean the bugs off the window. Right?
Kimberly Faith:And that way, I'm gonna get his view and his perspective on the prayer. So I I love that, dad, that you, you know isn't it crazy how if we will just ask God to teach us to pray, he he shows us, okay. First thing you need to do is clean the bugs off the window. Right?
John McLarty:That's a good example.
Lynn McLarty:That is a great example. Yeah. So you can see clearly.
Kimberly Faith:That's right. Because if you're if you're like, the other day, I was I was I was really tired. I only had, like, three hours of sleep, and I was trying to pray, and and there and I was just, like, in a in a clog. My brain was just, you know, ugh. And I was like, lord, I want to connect with you.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm. Now if there's something I did yesterday that I just am forgetting, besides the fact that I'm tired, I need you to just show me. He did just like that. He's so faithful. Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:And I'm just like, oh my goodness. I am so sorry, Lord. You know what? That was just so wrong. I am so sorry.
Kimberly Faith:It was like the my brain lit up. Mhmm. It was like like you're saying, well, I could see that the window, and I could see God. And I was like, okay. I'm I'm before the throne.
Kimberly Faith:I'm in the throne room, and let's get to it. You know? It was just, like, so amazing. And then another thing God's been showing me is to praise him and thank him before I start asking for things. You know?
Kimberly Faith:Yeah. That just seems
Lynn McLarty:with a thankful That's right. I I liked what you said about seeing clearly because seeing people go into hell
John McLarty:Mhmm.
Lynn McLarty:I mean, hell is a reality. Right. And to to kind of visualize that if they they're not guaranteed another minute and you're not guaranteed another minute, the per the person that's praying. Right. Well, we need to we need to be serious.
Lynn McLarty:Yes. Sincere in our prayers because, I mean, if if we visualize our neighbor is going to hell and they could die today Right. We'd be over there talking to them. Right. You know, reaching out to them.
Kimberly Faith:It was like, yesterday, dad and I gone to walk Claire on the neighborhood, and, and we met this lady who was just visiting from Little Rock. And I just was kicking myself because I didn't have a track. They're super sweet. You could tell she was kinda lonely. Didn't you think she was a little bit
John McLarty:Yes.
Kimberly Faith:And and she just wanted to visit. Real sweet lady. And, we got back to the house, and all the way back, I kept thinking, I need to give her a tract. Mhmm. You know?
Kimberly Faith:And I we found the house, and I said, dad, I I need to go back, walk back to her house, and give her a tract. He's like, go ahead. He volunteered to watch Claire by himself. And, and, you know, I went back to her door. They were already inside and rang the doorbell.
Kimberly Faith:And I
John McLarty:was wondering how that worked out.
Kimberly Faith:Yeah. And and I just said and I don't know. She may be saved. I don't know. But this is what the holy spirit was doing, and it's this urgency.
Kimberly Faith:Right? I kept thinking, what if this is the only time we we meet her because she lives in Little Rock. Right? And I just said, hey. I said, I just had to come back, and I needed to share my story with you and give this to you.
Kimberly Faith:And she's like, thank you so much. I mean, she's just so
Lynn McLarty:Wow.
Kimberly Faith:Grateful. And I don't know what the Lord is gonna do with that. I don't have to worry about that, though. That's and you know what? The other thing is when I hand out trucks, those people go on my prayer list.
Kimberly Faith:I have a That's a
Lynn McLarty:great idea.
Kimberly Faith:A section of my prayer list, people I've given tracts to. And some of them are rivers, some of them I don't. Right. Mhmm. But you know what?
Kimberly Faith:How is that seed gonna be watered and Yeah. And everything? We aren't praying. Mhmm.
John McLarty:Well, that kinda brings up a good good question, maybe to explore in that at a different in a different podcast, but prayer being a two way street. Because Lynn and I were talking earlier about Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and then there's one reference where he spent all night in prayer. And you just a lot of times when we're praying, it's a we pray, and then the Lord speaks to us. Mhmm. And then we pray, and he speaks to us.
John McLarty:Mhmm. So just this example yesterday, we felt that you needed to go back. Right. So I think prayer is that two way conversation.
Lynn McLarty:Listening.
John McLarty:When Lynn and I are talking, it's just one of us isn't doing all the talking.
Kimberly Faith:Right.
John McLarty:So it's kind of talking to the Lord and then listening to the Lord. Well, and and you And then he directs us. He does our steps.
Kimberly Faith:He does direct us. And I think this
John McLarty:We let him.
Kimberly Faith:This brings up a a really good point, dad, because a lot of, younger Christians that I just I I disciple, they'll they'll they'll say, how do you hear God speak? And and how do you know it's him? You know? And, I don't know what what I have some thoughts about that, but I'd be very interested to know what your thoughts are about, that question.
John McLarty:I can tell you how the mechanism works in me. Okay. Just using that example, if the lord's speaking to me, like, go back to that person. Mhmm. Lynn and I had an experience where we were driving away from a a guy at a little rest area in a truck, and the lord was telling me to go give him a tract.
John McLarty:And I was This
Kimberly Faith:is where mom was hiding in the truck because she was scared to see what's going on.
John McLarty:Right. And I was resisting. And then I I got this feeling as I was driving away that if I did not turn around and go back and then gave gave him the tract Mhmm. That I would have this awful feeling
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
John McLarty:Of kind of grieving the Holy Spirit
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
John McLarty:And that it would not go away. Mhmm. And that was the Lord speaking to me.
Lynn McLarty:Right.
John McLarty:But it was like this grieving of the Holy Spirit, and it wasn't relieved until I turned around. And I said, I need to go give him a tract. Mhmm.
Lynn McLarty:And I
John McLarty:won't get into the whole story, but we shared it with you. It's this person that we knew forty nine years ago, this kid, this child Thais. Of the people we were close that he used to play with. And he was down on in a little rest area on the White River. There's this amazing connection that God wanted to happen.
John McLarty:Yeah. And, so
Lynn McLarty:Well, actually
John McLarty:I guess I'm kind of stubborn. Instead of just like this positive Right. Lord's telling me and I'm just glowing with it's like I'm leaving the situation, and the Lord's like, you need to give him a try. You better you better if you don't want this unpleasant, you know, this non path of peace all day long. Right.
John McLarty:You you just go settle this. Again. Yeah. Yeah. Just go settle this right now.
Lynn McLarty:Yeah. Well, I I was thinking how my husband and I have been married for fifty years. Mhmm. We almost can read each other's thoughts. Right.
Lynn McLarty:So I would say the more that you learn to spend time with the Lord Mhmm. And hearing the Lord and being in his word being in his word, you're learning how he thinks. Right. Because that's his letter to us. And then the more you experience that, like, if dad were unhappy with me Mhmm.
Lynn McLarty:I don't know how to tell you how I know that. I just know it. Right. So it's just you just if it's like what, my husband just explained is that he could tell that was the Lord was grieved. Right.
Lynn McLarty:So I I would say the more you engage the Lord Mhmm. And go before the throne, the more you hear his voice because you perfect example. Yeah.
John McLarty:You know? Yeah. It's a very Spending time with anybody Right. Develops the relationship. Right.
John McLarty:And then And you kinda know their mind, how they think. Yeah.
Kimberly Faith:It's almost a nonverbal language sometimes. Right? Mhmm. I I it's it's so interesting, because both of what you've just said are also ways that I hear the Lord. With new Christians, a lot of times, I'll tell them, you don't need to look for the the the precise special revelation.
Kimberly Faith:You need to be in God's word and spending time with him, learning how he thinks.
Jacob Paul:Right.
Kimberly Faith:Because 95% of what we're supposed to do and what he wants to tell us is in his word. He made it real easy for us to know this. Right. And then the other 5% is when we learn to pick up that nonverbal signal across the room to someone we know really well. I think the big problem, at least for my life, was the reason I didn't hear god for so many years like I do now is because I was praying to the wrong god.
Kimberly Faith:And when I say that, when we hang on to any sin and thing gets better, our way is better than God's way, whether it's just be independence from God too Mhmm. Then who are we really praying to? If I for example, if let's just use a real exaggerated example. If I if I say, you know, I am going to shack up with my boyfriend. Okay?
Kimberly Faith:And that's the, you know, that's I think that that rule of the bible about fornication is a bad rule, and I don't agree with that. Right? So I'm just gonna disregard that part of God's word. Well, then I'm praying to the God who thinks it's okay to shack up. Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:And who is that God, and what can he do for me?
John McLarty:That's a good example.
Kimberly Faith:I mean, isn't that what we're really
John McLarty:That's that's not the God of the Bible or the God of reality.
Kimberly Faith:No. And and
John McLarty:It's a manufactured god that
Kimberly Faith:That's right.
John McLarty:Lets you do what you wanna do. And that applies to what
Kimberly Faith:we do. Applies to and even the small things. I mean, if I know that, you know, gluttony is a sin Mhmm. And I continue to imbibe and just, you know, overeating constantly. Yeah.
Kimberly Faith:I'm disobeying God. I'm disobeying his word, and I'm praying to the God who thinks that's okay. And in Christian circles, you know, there's these there are these white sins. I hate to say it that way, but you know what I mean? The sins that we give each other pass on because we're not drinking, we're not, you know, we're not whatever.
Kimberly Faith:Whatever the big sins that any church would think is, you know, sleeping around, whatever. But God doesn't see it that way, and we have got to get his perspective if we are going to hear him.
Lynn McLarty:Yeah.
Kimberly Faith:The God of the universe, the the God that thought we were worth dying for Mhmm. Then we're going to have to do things his way if we want him to answer hit our prayers his way.
Lynn McLarty:I just thought of something, Kim, that is kind of so connected to all of this is to God be glory in the church. Mhmm. So if we're having a ministry that we're not connecting back to the church, We're not giving God glory in the church. In other words, if we're Christian outside of the unit Mhmm. And we're, you know, you see all these radio ministries and these that you know, it all goes back to doing things God's way.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
Lynn McLarty:So we can't be disconnected from the the place he's set up to give glory.
Kimberly Faith:His bride.
Lynn McLarty:Right. His bride. Right. And I'm here listening to all these other voices. It's kinda like listening to things outside of the god's word.
Lynn McLarty:Right. You know? Anyway, that's just a thought. Well, I
John McLarty:That's a good example because it's it's, you know, the Bible says forsake not the assembly of yourselves together. Right. So it's a lot of, you know, Christian done today. Just I mean, I I just hear this. So I'm gonna go have church Uh-huh.
John McLarty:On the lake today.
Lynn McLarty:Right.
John McLarty:Let's just so and then they're gonna have prayer and
Kimberly Faith:And there's nothing wrong with having gatherings with people and doing things like that. It's not that at all. It's it's we are commanded to do certain things, to be baptized, which is to identify with the body of Christ. Right? And to be, in a true New Testament local church
Lynn McLarty:Uh-huh.
Kimberly Faith:Where we are serving the Lord in community, which is so important. Right. You know, how are we gonna learn, how to lead a prayer with somebody else if we've never prayed with somebody or been taught by somebody how to pray? Right. It's discipleship that happens in the church.
Kimberly Faith:Right. And and, you know, I mean, we and that doesn't mean it all looks the same. You know, my ministry, I go to church and my church is in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and I have a complete discipleship ministry in 200 miles away in Yeah. Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. You know?
Kimberly Faith:And then all over the world through this website. Right. But it's like, it it's that's a unique and wonderful thing about God. He has a plan that's so far above our plan.
Lynn McLarty:Yes. I agree.
John McLarty:It goes back to the effective, fervent prayers of a righteous man. I just wanna be so careful. We're not you know, it's not self righteousness or holier than now, but we can't just be blatantly, knowingly violating
Lynn McLarty:Right.
John McLarty:God's obvious, you know, the word. Right. His And then, like, expect our prayers to be answered. Right.
Kimberly Faith:Well, it's like it's like, you know, if I came in to your house
Lynn McLarty:Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:And violated all your house rules
John McLarty:Yeah.
Kimberly Faith:And then said, hey. Would could you fix me a nice
Lynn McLarty:meal? Uh-huh.
Kimberly Faith:Man, it's just dumb. Who does that? Nobody wants that. Nobody want you know? And God's got his rules Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:And his rules are for our benefit Right. And for his glory. Mhmm. I think about, first Peter. It says, the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers.
Kimberly Faith:But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Man, you you wonder why God isn't answering your prayers? Mhmm. You know, which God are you praying to?
Lynn McLarty:Yeah.
Kimberly Faith:You know, because the God that created everything is righteous, and you bring up this thing about righteousness, and it's not self righteousness. It's self righteousness is sin, and Jesus made that very clear. You the way he talked to the Pharisees and the scribes. I mean, he was a he was downright rude to them, you know, because he hated their hypocrisy, and they were trying to make themselves gods. Right?
Kimberly Faith:And and that's what we do when we become self righteous. Yeah. You know? It has to be god's righteousness. Like, you know, this lady came to me today, and she goes, how do you do, practice law?
Kimberly Faith:I knew this podcast and those other stuff and blah blah blah. And I'm like, I don't. Mhmm. I totally don't. Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:This is all God. Mhmm. I just am the tool. Yeah. You know?
Kimberly Faith:And that is true. And when we even in prayer, so often when it when when Jesus said, our father who art heaven, that means we're coming to him like a child. Mhmm. You know? And and and if we don't come to him like a child, we're coming to him with in our own self righteousness to hear ourselves talk.
Kimberly Faith:Yeah. You know?
John McLarty:I love something you told us the other day once you started this prayer list.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
John McLarty:And it it's just so helpful, but you see prayers answered. And you see them on your list Yes. And you get to, oh, cross that one out. So exciting. And that's such a blessing.
John McLarty:It feeds Yeah. Kind of feeds itself to be
Kimberly Faith:It's such a great cycle.
John McLarty:Praying and seeing God answer prayers and then Yeah. Like, Lynn's first prayer was that I get saved.
Lynn McLarty:Right. That was my first prayer.
John McLarty:And I was we were saved the same day.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm. And, you know, you you went to God, I'm sure, like a like, in a very childlike way.
Lynn McLarty:Because you didn't know anything.
Kimberly Faith:I
Lynn McLarty:didn't even know how to pray. Right. And she said, well, just pray like you're talking to me. Right. And I and I so I did.
Lynn McLarty:And I thought, well,
Kimberly Faith:it's it's funny. My heart
Lynn McLarty:was that my husband were to get set. I mean, he want I wanted him to experience what I just experienced. Right. So it was like, oh, lord. You know?
Lynn McLarty:And and it was trusting him.
Kimberly Faith:Yes.
Lynn McLarty:When I was praying, I was trusting that he would hear me.
Kimberly Faith:And it's and it's it was so easy because it was like, oh, yeah. You know, I I I believe this because I just did. Yeah. I just was born again. Yeah.
Kimberly Faith:You know, and you were set free from the the crust bucketness of not believing. Right. That's is that what
John McLarty:So this was so interesting. So there's the prayer of a new believer and it's like a child. Right. And you're just believing. But then there's that whole discipline and struggle and Satan knocked us off our game.
John McLarty:And here we are, you know, forty nine years later, still exploring the depths of prayer. Right. And just seeing, like, maybe chaotic circumstances or some bad you know, we get an unexpected bill or car re you know, car repair and knocks us off our game. And there's just so much to stay and
Kimberly Faith:Right. You
John McLarty:know, like Paul said, I fought the good fight.
Kimberly Faith:Yeah. You know, you said it knocks us off our game. You know, I one of the prayers that I I really have been just drilling home is I give God every day 100% of my law practice, 100% of my resources, 100% of my love. I have this list. Mhmm.
Lynn McLarty:I
Kimberly Faith:wanna give the all this to you, Lord. It's yours. And, oh, when the problems come up today, those are yours too.
John McLarty:That's good.
Kimberly Faith:And so
John McLarty:and then
Kimberly Faith:there's a discipline though when the problem actually does come up. Okay. Wait. Wait. I'm not gonna no.
Kimberly Faith:Stop, Kim. Stop trying to solve this problem. Lord, this is your problem, and you tell me what I need to do next. And you know what? He gives us that huge space of grace where we can just go out and do whatever else he's got for us without letting that problem derail us.
John McLarty:And I think that's kind of tied into a powerful prayer life is a surrendered life. Not that they're wherever once we say we're we're we're done, we're totally surrendered, we're lying to ourselves.
Kimberly Faith:Right. And
John McLarty:that's, you know, a sin of pride. But it's that's our if that's our heart, then God wants to direct our prayer life.
Lynn McLarty:Mhmm. If
John McLarty:our heart is in, oh, so you're telling me to do this, I'll go do it.
Kimberly Faith:Right. Yeah. It's just it it's so you know, this podcast about praying powerfully, I'm sure this isn't the only podcast we're gonna do on this because I'm excited. I'm excited to see that list of answered prayers are growing, and there's nothing like success to fuel more success and especially when it's God producing the success and not you. Yeah.
Kimberly Faith:I I had a a prayer request. I've been praying for a particular person in my life. Well, actually, this person's on our team and very specific prayer, very specific. And this week, it was answered. And I didn't know I didn't hear from this person that it was answered.
Kimberly Faith:I heard from somebody else what had happened. And I mean, my spirit was just rejoicing. I knew and so I called the team member. I said, hey. I heard this happened.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm.
Lynn McLarty:She goes,
Kimberly Faith:oh, yeah. She goes I said, when did that happen? Mhmm. And, she told me, and I I was like, did you know that day I had been praying specifically for this? Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:And she goes, oh my goodness. I didn't know that. I was like, I'm writing this one down. This is a big answered prayer. Man, you know, that makes me wanna do is just put God to the test some more.
Kimberly Faith:Look. This is because what I was praying for was something that was really hurting her ability to minister, that it would be removed. And it wasn't anything she was doing. It was just something of circumstance in her life. And I was just like, wow.
Kimberly Faith:God. That was big. What else you got?
John McLarty:It's good.
Kimberly Faith:So, I guess I guess, you know, we're this is good. I I don't wanna make this a really long podcast. I just I wanted to kinda share some of the things that God is doing for us in in prayers and and how he's answering our prayers and how he's working through his word to, to really help us engage.
Lynn McLarty:This could be like an appetizer.
Kimberly Faith:It Could be like an appetizer. Yeah. Because I think I think sharing these experiences and sharing, you know, I I I have a very deep desire to the to to share people the things that like, my prayer list even, how I'm praying, and how God's working through these prayers. But there's really not one way to communicate to God.
John McLarty:Right.
Kimberly Faith:It all comes back to what you said, dad. Surrender. Mhmm. When we're surrendered a % to God, then you know what? He just does it all.
Kimberly Faith:Yeah. I mean, we don't make the universe run.
Lynn McLarty:And we don't have to worry about the results.
Kimberly Faith:That's right.
Lynn McLarty:Because in control.
Kimberly Faith:Right.
Lynn McLarty:You know, I even think about our children. You know, God has given them to us. They're not ours. Right. They're his.
Lynn McLarty:So he's responsible for the outcomes. I mean, we're responsible to do our part in raising them, but then if we if we wanna take credit for the good outcome of one of our kids, we better take credit for the bad outcome of our kids
Kimberly Faith:too. Right.
Lynn McLarty:So we we can't pat each other on the back pat ourself on the back. We just trust God for the outcome. It's in his hand.
Kimberly Faith:That's right. And that goes back to, you know, the verse in first Corinthians. It's so whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. Yep. We cannot I cannot take credit for painting the Monet.
Kimberly Faith:I didn't paint it. Mhmm. I cannot take credit for my own life. Mhmm. God gave it to me.
Kimberly Faith:Mhmm. He gave me my life. He gave me eternal life. He get he's given me breath. He's given me resources.
Kimberly Faith:He's given me time. He's given me people. Mhmm. He's given me ministry, and it's not mine, and it's not my responsibility. I just surrender and then watch him do it.
John McLarty:That's a great point. I was just thinking his mercies are renewed daily. Mhmm. And anything any of us has said today that that sounds good
Kimberly Faith:Yeah.
John McLarty:That That sounds we're we're doing something good. We're handing somebody a tract or surrendering to it's because of him. Yeah.
Kimberly Faith:That's right.
John McLarty:It's because of we have his new nature.
Kimberly Faith:Right.
John McLarty:And so he gets all the glory. Right.
Kimberly Faith:And that's what For sure. The attitudes of Christ absolutely teach us. Right. You know, starts with poor in spirit. I am nothing without you.
Kimberly Faith:And, to quote one of Jeanne Champagne's song, Jesus reduced me to love. Right? I am nothing. Jesus reduced me
John McLarty:to love.
Lynn McLarty:Mhmm.
Kimberly Faith:So it it's it's really just so incredible to pray powerfully. And I you know, if you're listening to, this podcast and you are struggling with your prayer life, I hope that there's something that we've said, that helps you to engage because I know for me, for years, it was because I was praying to the wrong god. I was holding on to things I knew were wrong. And so it was just a sense of omission, laziness, you know, with my prayer life. Well, just being lazy in my prayer life when the Bible says pray without ceasing.
Kimberly Faith:I mean, who what kind am I praying to? You know? So, mom, dad, last words.
John McLarty:So a blessing doing this with you, Kim.
Kimberly Faith:Yeah. Well, I
John McLarty:to do more.
Kimberly Faith:I appreciate you, mom joining us on this this podcast. And, mom, you're you're you're the example in my life of powerful prayer, and I appreciate that.
Lynn McLarty:You Well, you're an answer to my prayer.
Kimberly Faith:I love that. Well, it's good to be the answer to. And you've been listening to the truth in love podcast, and I, I hope that you that if if you need any help with prayer, that you'll reach out to us at gofaithstrong.com. But, pray that your week is amazing and that, God just gives you all the fruit all the fruit that you were intended to bear this week as you live for Jesus.
Jacob Paul:You've been listening to the Truth in Love podcast with your hosts, Kimberly Faith and John Mack. To discover more answers to the big questions in life, visit us at gofaithstrong.com.