1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,280 How's it going guys? Welcome to another episode of 2 00:00:02,280 --> 00:00:05,440 Realism Talks podcast. We are on episode 77 and this is 3 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,600 a great one to click on. And I have a feeling God LED you 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,800 to this episode because you guys click on these episodes for 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,600 specific reasons. And I know a lot of you desire a 6 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,840 stronger prayer life. I know a lot of you desire to 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,560 get closer to God in prayer, to hear him more from his, from 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,840 your prayers and even unanswered prayers and what that means. 9 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,760 But the title for today's episode is when I started 10 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,000 praying like this, everything changed. 11 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,120 And it's certainly true. And I know it's certainly true 12 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,400 with a lot of people in this world and maybe some listening 13 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,640 that have experienced just transformation through prayer. 14 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:42,960 And it's as simple and people ask me all the time, what's the 15 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:44,480 number one way to get closer to Jesus? 16 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:46,400 Like how'd you get so close to Jesus prayer? 17 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,160 How'd you get over alcoholism prayer? 18 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,120 Nah, come on, dude, you went to a a right? 19 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,440 No Jesus prayer. I'm telling you, this changes 20 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:55,640 life. So please, if you're still 21 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:57,960 listening, continue to listen. We're going to get through this 22 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:59,240 episode. This isn't going to be a long 23 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:00,680 one. I'm going to go through 5 quick 24 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,599 points and I'm going to provide plenty of scripture. 25 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,920 And I ask guys that you follow and I ask that you share this 26 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:10,920 episode because it could truly help somebody out today. 27 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,000 Excuse me, allergies are still kicking my booty. 28 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,000 But you know, God is good still nonetheless. 29 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,200 So the first point I wanted to make was in order to have a 30 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,840 prayer life that changes everything for you is to stop 31 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,040 performing, start being real, OK? 32 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:30,280 We got to remember what the Bible tells us. 33 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,520 We got to remember what David even tells us in Psalm. 34 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:37,000 Think about David in first and second Samuel and even kings, 35 00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:39,720 all the stuff he had to endure, all the things, all the wars. 36 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,000 Just imagine that stress. And he prayed through all of it. 37 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:43,680 He trusted that through all of it. 38 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:45,880 I mean, I would trust him, you know, I would trust what David 39 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,400 has to say because of that. And according to Psalm 62, verse 40 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,800 8, it says, O my people, trust in Him at all times. 41 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,560 Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge, OK? 42 00:01:58,560 --> 00:01:59,920 He says pour out our heart to Him. 43 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,440 I wanted to signify that. Pour out your heart to Him, 44 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,560 which means everything guys. I mean, obviously treat Him with 45 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,039 reverence and respect, but, and obviously I wouldn't cuss at 46 00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:13,240 him, but you can even get angry. Pray to him, be honest with him. 47 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,720 He wants your full surrender. He doesn't want some hidden 48 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,280 version of yourself. He doesn't want 50%. 49 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,640 He wants everything you're feeling everything that think 50 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:22,440 about your best friend right next to you. 51 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,280 Think about if you wanted to vent to them about something 52 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,960 happening in your life, you would go all in, right? 53 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:29,760 Like you would tell him everything. 54 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,120 You would be completely honest. Even if it's like a sibling or 55 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,120 your mom, you would be completely honest. 56 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,080 Well, that's what we need to be like with God, even if it feels 57 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,120 like gossiping to him. It's a cry for help. 58 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,600 And this is the kind of connection that he wants. 59 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:44,720 And once you start doing that, you feel his presence more. 60 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,880 And once you feel his presence more than fruit come. 61 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,400 And when fruit come, then joy just eeks out of your life. 62 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,760 And you can't forget another Psalm. 63 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,680 I'm pretty sure David wrote this one too. 64 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,800 We're going to go to Psalm 34. If you ever Bibles, please join 65 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:58,520 me. This is New Living Translation, 66 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,080 Psalm 3417 through 18. Let's see. 67 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,360 Yeah, it was David again. The Lord hears his people when 68 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,240 they call to him for help. He rescues them from all of 69 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,600 their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken 70 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,600 hearted. He rescues those whose spirits 71 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,760 are crushed. OK, this is a reminder, he says 72 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,920 right here when the the Lord hears his people when they call 73 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:24,760 to him for help. So we, we can't, we can't 74 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,720 continue to pray believing and thinking that, OK, one, he, he 75 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,320 might be disappointed in me and he doesn't care what I have to 76 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,400 say until I do this or, or two, I didn't say it the right way. 77 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,160 Or three, just hiding your true, the true version of yourself. 78 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,600 Like these things that God wants your, your faith, he wants your 79 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,000 full belief that he can make it happen because he says without 80 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:48,520 faith, it's impossible to please him. 81 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,120 And so if you pray with faith, I'm pretty sure he's going to 82 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,080 bless you for it. I mean, that's what scripture 83 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,360 says all over. And God is a merciful God and he 84 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,040 wants to bless us. A lot of people don't have a 85 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,600 prayer life. They have a performance life. 86 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,040 God already knows your thoughts. He's not waiting for some kind 87 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,440 of impressive vocabulary. He wants honesty. 88 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,640 He wants the truth from you. God is not impressed by fake 89 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,480 spirituality. Spirituality honesty attracts 90 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,760 God more than any polished words. 91 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,880 OK, some people pray to sound holy, and a lot of people do 92 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:23,240 that. They pray to sound holy. 93 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,440 They even do it in front of others to sound holy just 94 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,480 because they want to sound like they're this polished prayer 95 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,280 righteous warrior. But like some people pray to 96 00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:34,160 sound holy, but real prayer sounds human. 97 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,480 It sounds humane. It sounds like I'm not perfect. 98 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,960 It sounds like I need a savior. So let's go to the next point. 99 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,120 The next point, actually, no. Let me give you a few practical 100 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,560 examples that I wrote down here for stop performing. 101 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,920 Start being real. Instead of saying Lord thou 102 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,600 knowest my struggles, just say God I'm struggling bad today. 103 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,880 Lord I'm going through it right now with this. 104 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,600 Specifically praying in your car after failing again instead of 105 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,880 pretending everyone's fine. Admitting jealousy, pride, 106 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,000 anger, addiction, bitterness, laziness, doubt. 107 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,160 Admitting things to him. Saying God I feel distant from 108 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:09,320 you. Being honest. 109 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,880 Just be honest with him if he feels distant. 110 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,960 Talking to God naturally while cooking, driving, editing, 111 00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:18,000 walking, whatever it may be, studying it. 112 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,800 Just involve him in your thoughts. 113 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:24,720 Being honest when you don't feel spiritual, OK, just even just be 114 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,000 completely human to Him with reverence. 115 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,480 God can't heal the version of you that you keep pretending to 116 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,800 be. So let's go to the next point. 117 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,240 Point #2 is consistency matters more than length. 118 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:38,120 OK, that's another thing. It's not these long extended 119 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,280 prayers that the Pharisees like to do, OK? 120 00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:43,600 It's not these long great sounding holy word prayers. 121 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,680 He just wants us to pray without ceasing, according to First 122 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,480 Thessalonians 516 through 17 that Paul talks about, which I'm 123 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:54,240 pulling up right now as soon as I can find where I put it. 124 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,480 But Paul talks about this consistently as well, because 125 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:02,560 prayer helped him tremendously in his walk with Christ, because 126 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,320 he was able to trust in God fully even though he had never 127 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,760 met Jesus Christ in person. He saw him through a vision, 128 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,320 obviously, but he had never met him in person, and he believed 129 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:19,480 fully in what Christ was capable of doing through the power of 130 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,360 prayer and through his faith that he had. 131 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,200 So let's go to 1st Thessalonians. 132 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:35,880 Here we go 516 through 17, which says for the Lord himself will 133 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,800 come down. Oh, this isn't it, my bad. 134 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:42,800 First Thessalonians 516 through 17 says always be joyful, never 135 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,800 stop praying. Be thankful in all 136 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,320 circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to 137 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,960 Christ Jesus. OK, He wants us to be thankful. 138 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,680 He wants us to always be joyful in prayer. 139 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,800 He doesn't want these long extended prayers that are always 140 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:58,800 the same recited robotic prayers. 141 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,720 He wants us to keep praying with with our personality, with our 142 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,480 humane self, He with our full heart. 143 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:06,720 That's what he's trying to say here. 144 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,600 The prayers that changed me weren't always long. 145 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:11,520 They were constant. It was consistency. 146 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,480 It was constantly involving him through work, through car 147 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,200 drives, through the beginning of my day. 148 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,080 Praying for him to cover the blood of Christ over my home and 149 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,960 my family. Praying for other people you 150 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,440 start as you develop sanctification with Christ, you 151 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,560 start developing love more and kindness more. 152 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,160 And then you start praying for other people more. 153 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,320 And even the fact that you start praying for more people means 154 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,440 you feel God's presence more. Think about praying for others 155 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,440 more. Short prayers throughout the 156 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,960 day. Keep your mind connected to God. 157 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,080 I mean, you could pray before opening social media. 158 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,760 I mean help, Lord, I know I'm about to scroll, but like, show 159 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,360 me the things that you maybe want me to see and you can pray 160 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,720 while you're walking into work. You can pray, whisper, give me 161 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,440 wisdom, Lord. Lord, I can do all things to 162 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,320 Christ who's training to me. Please, Lord, help me have that 163 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:57,840 strength during any kind of stress. 164 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,400 Thanking God randomly through the day when He does things for 165 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,800 you, even small things, little things you're worried about. 166 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,840 Oh, I hit those lights. I just hit all green lights. 167 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,280 I was running, running behind. Thank you Lord for giving me 168 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:09,080 green lights. I mean, whatever it may be, even 169 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,160 if it didn't directly come from Him, you're still showing Him 170 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:12,520 praise for good things happening. 171 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,760 Your relationship with God grows faster through daily connection 172 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,120 than just in occasional intensity. 173 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,600 Like, just be completely honest with Him. 174 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,400 It's not about the length of prayer. 175 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,040 It's not about the certain times of day you do it, but it's just 176 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,080 going to Him with your heart whenever you feel the need to 177 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,760 connect with connect to Him. Praying for 20 seconds before 178 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,240 opening TikTok like I said or Instagram asking God for 179 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,440 patience before responding to someone who's annoying you know. 180 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,600 Go to him before you send. Ending the day with even a 181 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,679 simple thank you for getting me through today. 182 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,760 Thank you for keeping me alive through today whatever it may 183 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,760 be. Most strong Christians weren't 184 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,520 built in one prayer nights. They were built in thousands of 185 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,320 just ordinary moments and prayers with God. 186 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,800 Point #3 stop only asking God for things. 187 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,000 That's another huge one guys that a lot of people have heard 188 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:03,480 before. It's just we, we, He's not some 189 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:04,920 kind of genie. He's not a vending machine. 190 00:09:05,680 --> 00:09:09,040 According to Psalm 100 verse 4, which I'll pull up right now. 191 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,240 Actually, I want to read. I, I think I, I had it 192 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:15,840 memorized. But then, you know, sometimes 193 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,040 things happen. Psalm one O 100 verse 4. 194 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,240 We're humans, we tend to forget things, y'all? 195 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,960 That's why we need to be constantly reminded. 196 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:31,920 We need to be constantly reminded so Psalm 100 verse 4 197 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,280 says enter his gates with Thanksgiving, go into his courts 198 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:37,880 with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name. 199 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:39,520 So where am I getting at with this? 200 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,600 I'm trying to tell you that instead of asking so much, be 201 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,600 grateful. Thank him for things. 202 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,400 Most of my prayers and a lot of people that I know who are 203 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,480 strong with Christ and this isn't this isn't boasting. 204 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,040 This should be encouraging is a lot of thank you in prayer, a 205 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:56,880 lot of thank you Lord for this. Thank you Lord for that. 206 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:58,720 And and of course, ask for things. 207 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,640 According to Philippians 4/6 through seven, it tells us do 208 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,040 not be anxious about anything. Instead, pray about everything. 209 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,000 Tell God what you need, tell him what you need and thank him for 210 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,080 what he has done. Then you will experience the 211 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,120 peace of God, which transcends all understanding. 212 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:14,600 OK, he says, tell him what you need and thank him. 213 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:17,200 So don't forget to be thankful about all the things in your 214 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,640 life, even the small things, the big things, the small things. 215 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,360 We, we get so excited about these things that happen in our 216 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,600 life and we don't stop to think, Oh, I should thank God for this. 217 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,760 This isn't of my own doing. This is something that's a 218 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,600 blessing from God. All, all good things come from 219 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:33,760 God. Most people only pray when they 220 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,480 need rescue. But gratitude, it changes your 221 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,160 heart completely. I'm telling you it, it 222 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:41,440 transforms your life. Gratitude protects the heart 223 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,880 from bitterness. Thankfulness shifts your focus. 224 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,560 It does. Instead of being complaining all 225 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:52,200 the time about and being grouchy about all the things that go 226 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:56,720 wrong in your life, you start, it changed your focus from fear 227 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,280 to trust you trust that everything's happening and God's 228 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,000 got it in, got a plan and God's going to get me through anything 229 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,840 that's happening. I mean, anxiety, it shrinks 230 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:09,600 guys, when gratitude comes in. It's like the cure to anxiety is 231 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:11,880 gratitude. It's secure to laziness 232 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,680 gratitude because if you're lazy and you sit on the couch all the 233 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:16,680 time, you don't really accomplish much each day. 234 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,200 If you become more grateful, think about it, and then you're 235 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:20,520 going to start doing more things. 236 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:22,720 You're going to be motivational because you're just in a good 237 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,520 mood for being grateful. So let's go to the next point. 238 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,680 Actually, some more practical examples for point #3 that I 239 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:31,000 wrote down. Thanking God for your family 240 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,480 before asking for success. I mean, think about your family, 241 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:34,840 guys. Thinking for the friends in your 242 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,240 life who encourage you. Thanking him for prayers He 243 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,840 already answered years ago. Even if it happened years ago, 244 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:41,400 just still remember. Like, hey Lord, I just 245 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:42,560 remembered. I never thanked you for this. 246 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:43,880 Thank you so much. Like he loves the 247 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,240 acknowledgement. He gets all giddy worshipping 248 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,760 even when life feels confusing, praising him through it. 249 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,320 What did Job do? He got everything taken away. 250 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,680 And what did God do? He, he allowed Satan to do all 251 00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:59,640 this stuff to Job because he knew Job was going to continue 252 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,320 to praise God through it and have faith through it. 253 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:02,960 And what did God do? He gave him twice as much as 254 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,440 than he had before. I mean, God's that kind of God. 255 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,000 He's so merciful, and you don't obey him to be blessed. 256 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,320 You obey him and then he blesses because of his grace. 257 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,760 It's hard to understand saying thank you during hard seasons 258 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:17,720 instead of only asking why? Because gratitude changes what 259 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:21,760 your mind magnifies. OK, last point. 260 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,720 No, no, no, we got two more point #4 pray with expectation. 261 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,840 You got to pray and expect him to answer. 262 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,160 You got to look at a lot of people just pray and then 263 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,360 they're not like intensively looking for him to answer in in 264 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,320 ways of their life. They're not praying to him 265 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,040 through waiting for a answered prayer. 266 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,360 Like Lord, show me if what you want me to do. 267 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,600 Like consistently keep asking. He wants us to pray over and 268 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:45,280 over. Paul tells us pray without 269 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,960 ceasing, and then Matthew tells us in Matthew 21 verse 22, he 270 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,440 says whatever you ask for in prayer, you shall receive if you 271 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,600 have faith. The whole Bible centers around 272 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,160 faith, guys. It's the core message of Jesus. 273 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,520 It's faith in forgiveness, those two things in love. 274 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:07,520 That's the core message. So we have to stay constant in 275 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:10,920 prayer, believing what God can do, praying with expectation 276 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,400 because the prayer of a righteous person has great 277 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,560 power. Guys, according to James 5 verse 278 00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:19,760 16, it's the prayers of a righteous person can literally 279 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,840 do incredible things like I don't know if you guys heard, 280 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:26,360 but I have social media accounts with God is blessed the ministry 281 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,320 with over 6,000,000 followers on social media. 282 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,880 It's just absolutely incredible. And we did worldwide prayers 283 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,280 over the last couple months. We did 1-2 months ago and 284 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,520 another one last month and just the effectiveness like I know 285 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,160 God works through so many believers. 286 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,000 He says where two or three are gathered, he is there. 287 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,760 So many believers, so many of his children crying for help. 288 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,320 Think about the Old Testament, how many times he answered those 289 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:47,920 prayers. He's the same God. 290 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,520 Today, a lot of Christians just pray like they're leaving 291 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,360 voicemails, you know, like here's your message and then I'm 292 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,480 running away, you know, like it's, it's not personal. 293 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:58,920 It's just like, what can you do for me? 294 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,480 Peace out. Prayer changed my life, guys. 295 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,080 When I started believing that God actually listens, that he'll 296 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,720 actually respond and that things that happened in my life came 297 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,000 from him acknowledging that kind of stuff. 298 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,880 I mean, it's not always immediate answers and we got to 299 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,360 be patient. Not always the answer we want 300 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:20,520 either, but he hears us and he's got a plan for our greater and 301 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,400 our good and for to give us a hope in the future. 302 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,440 According to Jeremiah. I mean, prayer becomes powerful 303 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:29,320 when you truly believe that God is listening because many people 304 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,040 stop praying right before a major breakthrough. 305 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,800 Listen to this. Imagine this, imagine somebody's 306 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:36,880 mining and they're, and they're about to, they're looking for 307 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:39,240 diamonds, just diamonds or gold or whatever. 308 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:41,760 And they've been mining and mining and mining for like 2 309 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,240 weeks. They didn't that they give up 310 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,120 and they just stop, they turn around and they leave and they 311 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:51,240 were two feet from a massive hole full of $200 million worth 312 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,080 of diamonds if they had just kept going. 313 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,840 That's the kind of lifestyle that we need to keep our 314 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,160 perspective on is to just keep going. 315 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,600 Pray with expectation, Pray knowing your God will answer. 316 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:09,160 Pray knowing your God will give you some kind of hope or peace 317 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:13,200 or comfort. If God can raise dead people, 318 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:15,280 why do you? Why do we act like he can't 319 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:18,800 handle our situation? If God can literally split an 320 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,960 ocean, the Red Sea, why do we act like he can't heal our 321 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:25,240 addictions? We got to know what our God is 322 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,160 capable of, and some practical examples are actually believing 323 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:29,800 God can free someone from addiction. 324 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,200 You got to believe praying for wisdom before making decisions 325 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,640 instead of panicking first expecting God to give peace 326 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,200 during your anxiety. You should know the equation of 327 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,120 peace is Philippians 467. I said it earlier, that's your 328 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,080 equation. Thanksgiving plus prayer equals 329 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,080 the peace of God which transcends your understanding. 330 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:48,640 You don't get it. That's why it says it transcends 331 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,480 your understanding. Continuing to pray even when the 332 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:53,680 answers take time. Like consistently. 333 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,400 Some people pray like God is distant, but scripture says His 334 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:58,160 Spirit literally lives inside of us. 335 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,920 He's there, but where's our faith? 336 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,960 The last point I wanted to make is point #5 let prayer change 337 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:11,480 you first, OK? It's not, it's not, it's not our 338 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,320 will, but it's His, OK? We need to let it change us. 339 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,360 It says in Luke 22, verse 42 that it's literally not my will, 340 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:24,000 but yours be done to the Father. And then in Romans 12, verse 2, 341 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,000 actually, let me read this one for sure. 342 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,560 I think it's verse two. I thought I had that one 343 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,880 memorized too, but I forget. It's easy. 344 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:35,000 It's easy to forget y'all Romans 12 verse 2 but it's alright. 345 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:36,640 The Holy Spirit reminds us of scripture. 346 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,640 It says do not copy the behavior and customs of the world, but 347 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,520 let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you 348 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,680 think. This is what I mean by let 349 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,760 prayer change you. Let it change the way you think. 350 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:50,960 Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is 351 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,680 good and pleasing and perfect. According to Romans 12 verse 2. 352 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,760 The biggest miracle of prayer isn't always changed 353 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:01,000 circumstances. Sometimes it's just a changed 354 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,280 heart. So look to see if it's changing 355 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:07,440 you, let it change you. Ask him to help you pray 356 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,119 differently. Like Lord, if I'm praying in a 357 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:15,079 way that isn't faithful, isn't selfless, if it's selfish, Lord, 358 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:17,720 let me know, help direct me, maybe show me scripture, show me 359 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:19,240 somebody else who's going to pray for me soon. 360 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,800 And I hear it. And I mean, speak to me, help 361 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,680 me, transform me, change me. Prayer slowly kills pride, guys. 362 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,359 It softens bitterness and increases patience. 363 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,440 And it aligns us with God in His will. 364 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:35,120 Sometimes God changes your heart before He changes any of your 365 00:17:35,120 --> 00:17:37,520 situations. Sometimes He needs you to have a 366 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,680 different perspective because it's not always about 367 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:41,960 circumstances. It's about perspective. 368 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:44,520 It's about what God's doing in your heart. 369 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:48,320 So let him change your heart. And then your prayer becomes 370 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,280 powerful because you become more and more righteous. 371 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,800 That's what He tells us. The prayers of the righteous are 372 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:57,440 powerful. Prayer is less about getting God 373 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:01,760 onto your plan and your page and more about getting onto His. 374 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:04,360 Let Him change the way you think. 375 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,040 Let Him change your perspective. And some practical examples of 376 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,840 this are praying for humility or humbleness instead of always 377 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,920 praying to be praised. Asking God to help you forgive 378 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:17,920 someone instead of replaying anger in your head over and over 379 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:19,760 and over again. How many times do we just keep 380 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,600 replaying it in our head instead of going to God and be like, 381 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,120 Lord, help me release me of this. 382 00:18:23,120 --> 00:18:25,280 I forgive him. You do what you need with this. 383 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,280 I forgive him. I release this stress this, this 384 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,760 anxiety off of me. I want freedom from this. 385 00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:32,840 I mean, because of what they did to me. 386 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,640 And pray for self-control before temptation hits. 387 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,400 Asking God to expose pride in your heart and he will he's 388 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,080 he'll humble you. I know it's scary, but like it's 389 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:43,240 going to help you so much and then it's just you'll feel so 390 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:45,880 much blessing. I mean, you got to learn to be 391 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,160 patient and when you are going through trials, learn from that. 392 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:52,560 Patients learn from unanswered prayer because the greatest 393 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,480 evidence of prayer is not always a change situation. 394 00:18:55,480 --> 00:19:00,520 Like I said, sometimes it's just a changed heart or a changed 395 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:04,960 person and we have to be aware of what God is capable of doing. 396 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,360 Like I said, we have to understand that He is exactly 397 00:19:08,360 --> 00:19:13,320 who He says He is and He will completely answer prayers that 398 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,000 we cry out to Him. And as you get closer to Him 399 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,400 through these prayers, your life will change because your prayers 400 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,040 will change and you'll start praying selflessly and for 401 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,120 others more and your perspective will change. 402 00:19:24,120 --> 00:19:25,160 And that's what it's talking about. 403 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,480 If your prayer, if that's what He's talking about, if your 404 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,240 prayer life feels dead right now, start simple, OK? 405 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:34,280 Stop trying to impress God. Talk to him, thank Him, be 406 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:38,360 honest and be consistent. The prayers that changed my life 407 00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:39,960 usually weren't the loudest ones, guys. 408 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:43,440 It wasn't the firmest like the most obvious answers. 409 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,280 The one the ones that changed my life were the were the real ones 410 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:51,160 or even some unanswered prayers were the ones that humbled me 411 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,600 were the ones that gave me perspective instead of 412 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,880 circumstantial change. God is not looking for perfect 413 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,160 prayers. He's looking for a heart that 414 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,280 actually wants him, that actually seeks Him. 415 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,640 He wants all of you. And you know, that's probably 416 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:05,560 all I have to say about this. And I really hope that that's 417 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:08,120 really helped you with these five points that I made. 418 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:10,600 And I'll, I'll include the scripture in order and the 419 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,480 caption of this episode. But guys, please share this 420 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:14,600 episode. It'll be really great. 421 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,360 It's transformative for people. And stay tuned for more 422 00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:18,720 episodes. I'm going to do one with Jay 423 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,960 Pharaoh, the SNL dude from years ago with King of impressions. 424 00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:23,480 He's going to be on my podcast soon. 425 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:25,920 And a couple other big, big, big time names. 426 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:27,440 Guys. I'm, I'm really excited about 427 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,880 what God's doing in this ministry and I love you guys and 428 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,000 I'll see you guys next time. Peace out.