Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn.
00:00:01.06\00:00:02.57
Did you know
that spiritual apathy
00:00:02.60\00:00:04.82
is a dangerous heart condition
and one that grieves God?
00:00:04.85\00:00:08.41
Please join us today on
pressing into His presence.
00:00:08.44\00:00:12.09
And we will learn how
to correct our backsliding.
00:00:12.12\00:00:16.23
Welcome to
Pressing into His Presence.
00:00:36.59\00:00:39.15
If you tuned in last time
you know that this series,
00:00:39.18\00:00:42.28
we are focusing on prayer.
00:00:42.31\00:00:45.11
And we are excited that
because prayer is the handle
00:00:45.14\00:00:50.11
that opens the
faucet for God's blessings
00:00:50.14\00:00:53.14
when we tap into His
grace pipeline by faith.
00:00:53.17\00:00:56.27
I started sharing last
time a personal testimony
00:00:56.30\00:01:00.06
to establish the
circumstances of my life
00:01:00.09\00:01:02.88
that caused me to seek the
Lord for a deeper prayer life.
00:01:02.91\00:01:07.68
Today we're going to
finish that back story.
00:01:07.71\00:01:10.72
And our companion
book for this series is
00:01:10.75\00:01:14.36
Pressing in to His Presence.
00:01:14.39\00:01:16.52
It is a book that I'm very--
was very privileged to write.
00:01:16.55\00:01:20.06
And today we're
beginning on Chapter 2.
00:01:20.09\00:01:22.09
As we continue to
lay the ground work
00:01:22.12\00:01:24.94
for the upcoming
teaching on prayer.
00:01:24.97\00:01:28.50
Does this sounded all familiar?
00:01:28.53\00:01:31.49
Your priorities
are out of order.
00:01:31.52\00:01:33.28
You know you're sliding God
00:01:33.31\00:01:35.44
and a fog of
frustration has settled in.
00:01:35.47\00:01:38.27
Finally remorse lead
you down one of two pass.
00:01:38.30\00:01:42.18
Either burdened with your
guilt you begin avoiding God
00:01:42.21\00:01:45.55
spending even less
time seeking His presence
00:01:45.58\00:01:49.73
or in your
turmoil you cry out to Him
00:01:49.76\00:01:52.94
for an explanation of why
you are so prone to wander
00:01:52.97\00:01:57.34
from the one you love.
00:01:57.37\00:01:59.26
Perhaps, like I have
experienced in my past
00:01:59.29\00:02:02.39
instead of standing
firm as a spiritual warrior
00:02:02.42\00:02:06.84
you have become a
weak-kneed spiritual vainer.
00:02:06.87\00:02:10.85
It seems our condition
00:02:10.88\00:02:12.52
is not all that
uncommon among mankind.
00:02:12.55\00:02:15.63
There's uncomfort in
knowing this but very little.
00:02:15.66\00:02:19.17
It's rather like
being diagnosed with cancer
00:02:19.20\00:02:21.75
but told not to worry because
many are likewise afflicted.
00:02:21.78\00:02:26.03
Here is the good news
God will provide a way out
00:02:26.06\00:02:30.55
when we get
serious about seeking Him.
00:02:30.58\00:02:34.71
I want you to consider
with me the words of this hymn
00:02:34.74\00:02:38.85
"Come Thou Fount
of Every Blessing."
00:02:38.88\00:02:41.66
Now I'm going to
have to speak this fast
00:02:41.69\00:02:43.75
or I'll break into song
00:02:43.78\00:02:45.08
because this is one
of my favorite hymns.
00:02:45.11\00:02:48.56
Here's the words.
00:02:48.59\00:02:49.75
" Come, Thou
Fount of every blessing
00:02:49.78\00:02:51.71
tune my heart to sing Thy grace,
00:02:51.74\00:02:54.44
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
00:02:54.47\00:02:57.01
call for songs
of loudest praise.
00:02:57.04\00:03:00.01
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
00:03:00.04\00:03:03.31
sung by flaming tongues above.
00:03:03.34\00:03:06.27
Praise the mount
I'm fixed upon it
00:03:06.30\00:03:09.00
mount of thy redeeming love.
00:03:09.03\00:03:11.52
Here I raise my Ebenezer
hither by thy help I come,
00:03:11.55\00:03:15.96
and I hope, by
thy good pleasure,
00:03:15.99\00:03:18.75
safely to arrive at home.
00:03:18.78\00:03:21.37
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
00:03:21.40\00:03:24.35
wandering from the fold of God,
00:03:24.38\00:03:27.00
He, to rescue me from danger,
00:03:27.03\00:03:29.69
interposed His precious blood.
00:03:29.72\00:03:33.05
Oh, to grace how great a debtor
00:03:33.08\00:03:36.44
daily I'm constrained to be!
00:03:36.47\00:03:39.43
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
00:03:39.46\00:03:42.05
bind my wandering heart to thee,
00:03:42.08\00:03:44.72
Now here's the refrain
that captures my attention.
00:03:44.75\00:03:48.73
Prone to
wander, Lord, I feel it,
00:03:48.76\00:03:52.73
prone to leave the God I love,
00:03:52.76\00:03:55.59
here's my heart,
Lord, take and seal it,
00:03:55.62\00:03:59.79
seal it for thy courts above.
00:03:59.82\00:04:03.53
Doesn't that sentiment
kind of calm your heart?
00:04:03.56\00:04:07.24
We're not the
only ones in the boat
00:04:07.27\00:04:09.43
riding a sea of troubled waters.
00:04:09.46\00:04:12.59
There is hope for us
after all. There is God.
00:04:12.62\00:04:16.53
After singing this
hymn in church one day,
00:04:16.56\00:04:19.79
a sweet little lady
sitting next to me whispered,
00:04:19.82\00:04:22.72
what's an Ebenezer?
00:04:22.75\00:04:24.39
And I explained it
meant stone of help
00:04:24.42\00:04:27.20
and refers back
to the Prophet Samuel
00:04:27.23\00:04:29.58
when he was erecting a monument
00:04:29.61\00:04:31.40
for God's divine
assistance in battle.
00:04:31.43\00:04:34.15
In fact, that's for
Samuel 7:12 which reads,
00:04:34.18\00:04:38.02
"Then Samuel took a stone
00:04:38.05\00:04:39.61
and set it
between Mizpah and Shen,
00:04:39.64\00:04:42.58
and he called the
name of it Ebenezer,
00:04:42.61\00:04:45.20
stone of help, saying,
00:04:45.23\00:04:47.22
'Heretofore the
Lord has helped us.'"
00:04:47.25\00:04:51.72
In my personal spiritual battle,
00:04:51.75\00:04:53.91
God intervened in
an interesting way.
00:04:53.94\00:04:56.61
And a teaching
we're sharing this season
00:04:56.64\00:04:58.63
is how the Lord brought me
out of a backsliding condition
00:04:58.66\00:05:02.88
and gave me
victory over the enemy.
00:05:02.91\00:05:05.21
This teaching has been
my Ebenezer since 1999.
00:05:05.24\00:05:09.42
I have shared
it around the world
00:05:09.45\00:05:11.56
and by experience I can tell you
00:05:11.59\00:05:13.81
it contains the power of
God to prevent backsliding.
00:05:13.84\00:05:19.27
Let me share a personal story
00:05:19.30\00:05:22.41
of how God grabbed my
attention in September of 1999.
00:05:22.44\00:05:27.92
I was making my monthly grocery
shopping trek of 60 miles
00:05:27.95\00:05:33.72
from my country home
to the nearest Sam's Club.
00:05:33.75\00:05:36.87
And, if you live
outside the United States
00:05:36.90\00:05:39.53
Sam's Club is
simply a retail outlet
00:05:39.56\00:05:42.20
that sells bulk quantities.
00:05:42.23\00:05:44.60
Anyway, the
breakthrough came to me
00:05:44.63\00:05:47.73
in the prayer closet of my car.
00:05:47.76\00:05:49.75
Shutting out the distractions
00:05:49.78\00:05:51.23
of our new
business in the world,
00:05:51.26\00:05:53.01
I began praying to
understand my backsliding.
00:05:53.04\00:05:56.57
Saying, Lord, I don't understand
00:05:56.60\00:05:59.32
how I-- how I
can love You so much
00:05:59.35\00:06:05.19
and how I can walk so
closely with You at times
00:06:05.22\00:06:08.49
that I sense Your heartbeat
00:06:08.52\00:06:10.40
and then plunge to such
a backsliding condition.
00:06:10.43\00:06:14.44
Please, Lord, I prayed
explained what happens to me
00:06:14.47\00:06:19.19
and my pleadings were
earnest for that hour long drive
00:06:19.22\00:06:22.34
going to Sam's but when
I reached my destination
00:06:22.37\00:06:26.43
there was still no
answer to my dilemma.
00:06:26.46\00:06:29.21
I made an
agreement with the Lord
00:06:29.24\00:06:31.15
to continue the prayer
00:06:31.18\00:06:32.39
after my shopping was completed.
00:06:32.42\00:06:34.32
And this was one day I
didn't doddle all in Sam's Club
00:06:34.35\00:06:37.20
because I was a
woman on a mission.
00:06:37.23\00:06:39.56
I went in there and I
wanted to get back to God.
00:06:39.59\00:06:43.82
I checked out with the register
00:06:43.85\00:06:45.25
tossed my purchased items
into the back of the vehicle,
00:06:45.28\00:06:49.34
I jumped in
buckled up for the ride
00:06:49.37\00:06:52.03
and by the time
the car was in gear
00:06:52.06\00:06:53.96
I was again
pleading with the Lord
00:06:53.99\00:06:56.42
for a solution to my problem.
00:06:56.45\00:07:00.46
Praying out loud for the next,
few, well, 30 miles I guess.
00:07:00.49\00:07:05.87
My tongue became less
winey and more insistent
00:07:05.90\00:07:10.02
on understanding
what I should do.
00:07:10.05\00:07:13.02
I prayed, please Lord,
00:07:13.05\00:07:14.87
show me the way out of this pit.
00:07:14.90\00:07:17.46
Teach me how I can prevent
this from happening again.
00:07:17.49\00:07:21.51
And suddenly--
the still small voice
00:07:21.54\00:07:23.95
of the Lord
whispered to my heart.
00:07:23.98\00:07:25.98
This is the voice
spoken of in 1 Kings 19:12,
00:07:26.01\00:07:29.85
when Elijah was
running from Jezebel
00:07:29.88\00:07:31.79
and had come to Mount
Horeb, the mountain of God.
00:07:31.82\00:07:34.84
Let's look at that passage.
00:07:34.87\00:07:36.18
We're going to
begin with 1 Kings 19:9.
00:07:36.21\00:07:40.24
"And there he
Elijah went into a cave,
00:07:40.27\00:07:43.06
and spent the
night in that place,
00:07:43.09\00:07:45.30
and behold, the word
of the Lord come to him,
00:07:45.33\00:07:47.92
and He said to him,
00:07:47.95\00:07:49.82
'What are you
doing here, Elijah?'
00:07:49.85\00:07:51.93
So he said,
00:07:51.96\00:07:53.01
'I have been very zealous
for the Lord God of hosts,
00:07:53.04\00:07:56.03
for the children of Israel
have forsaken Your covenant,
00:07:56.06\00:07:58.91
torn down Your altars,
00:07:58.94\00:08:00.19
and killed Your
prophets with the sword.
00:08:00.22\00:08:02.69
I alone am left, and
they seek to take my life.'
00:08:02.72\00:08:06.87
Then He God said,
00:08:06.90\00:08:08.95
'Go out, and stand on the
mountain before the Lord.'
00:08:08.98\00:08:12.27
And behold, the Lord passed by,
00:08:12.30\00:08:14.54
and a great and strong
wind tore into the mountains,
00:08:14.57\00:08:17.80
and broke the rocks in
pieces before the Lord,
00:08:17.83\00:08:20.97
but the Lord
was not in the wind,
00:08:21.00\00:08:23.05
and after the
wind an earthquake,
00:08:23.08\00:08:24.97
but the Lord was
not in the earthquake,
00:08:25.00\00:08:27.01
and after the earthquake a fire,
00:08:27.04\00:08:28.68
but the Lord
was not in the fire,
00:08:28.71\00:08:30.39
and after the fire
a still small voice.
00:08:30.42\00:08:34.51
So it was, when Elijah heard it,
00:08:34.54\00:08:37.21
that he wrapped
his face in his mantle
00:08:37.24\00:08:39.75
and went out and stood
in the entrance of the cave.
00:08:39.78\00:08:43.20
Suddenly a voice
came to him, and said,
00:08:43.23\00:08:46.05
What are you
doing here, Elijah?'"
00:08:46.08\00:08:50.92
I have come to believe
that the still small voice
00:08:50.95\00:08:54.18
spoken of here in verse 12,
00:08:54.21\00:08:56.66
represent times
when the Holy Spirit
00:08:56.69\00:08:59.58
impresses God's
thoughts in our minds
00:08:59.61\00:09:02.93
with inaudible words.
00:09:02.96\00:09:05.68
So there I was praying in my car
00:09:05.71\00:09:07.68
when suddenly the
still small voice of the Lord
00:09:07.71\00:09:10.70
whispered to my heart saying,
00:09:10.73\00:09:13.34
"Child, if you will come to Me
00:09:13.37\00:09:17.04
and spend an hour
in prayer each morning
00:09:17.07\00:09:20.76
I promise you will
never backslide again.
00:09:20.79\00:09:24.59
What? I was so flabbergasted.
00:09:24.62\00:09:27.27
I did not respond to
Him. My mind was churning.
00:09:27.30\00:09:30.80
An hour a day in
prayer, who could keep that up?
00:09:30.83\00:09:35.22
Well, of course,
00:09:35.25\00:09:36.90
that would keep
anyone from backsliding
00:09:36.93\00:09:39.35
because even if we
lost ground during the day
00:09:39.38\00:09:43.00
we'd be starting over
again the next morning.
00:09:43.03\00:09:46.26
You know, one of my
favorite promises of God
00:09:46.29\00:09:49.09
is found in
Lamentations 3:22, 23.
00:09:49.12\00:09:53.58
And it says,
00:09:53.61\00:09:55.46
Though the Lord's mercies
or "Through the Lord's mercies
00:09:55.49\00:09:59.03
"we are not consumed,
00:09:59.06\00:10:01.15
because His
compassions fail not.
00:10:01.18\00:10:04.51
They are new every morning,
Great is Your faithfulness.
00:10:04.54\00:10:10.74
Isn't that a wonderful promise?
00:10:10.77\00:10:13.35
God has such empathy for us.
00:10:13.38\00:10:17.29
He loves us so much
and His mercies are new
00:10:17.32\00:10:21.19
toward us each
and every morning.
00:10:21.22\00:10:23.54
He is the God of new beginnings.
00:10:23.57\00:10:26.58
And if we begin each day
by spending an hour with God,
00:10:26.61\00:10:31.50
how could we stay backsliding?
00:10:31.53\00:10:34.46
As I was driving
alone, I thought,
00:10:34.49\00:10:37.15
if only I could
practice this advice,
00:10:37.18\00:10:40.48
if it would be--
00:10:40.51\00:10:42.68
it just seemed that it
would be impossible though
00:10:42.71\00:10:45.75
if I did to lose touch with Him.
00:10:45.78\00:10:48.49
But who am I
kidding? I couldn't do that.
00:10:48.52\00:10:52.06
Suddenly I protested loudly.
00:10:52.09\00:10:53.95
But, Lord, you know
I'm not that disciplined.
00:10:53.98\00:10:57.64
My life so... I don't know.
00:10:57.67\00:11:01.91
My life is just so fractured.
00:11:01.94\00:11:03.89
There's just too
many demands on my time.
00:11:03.92\00:11:06.68
I can't promise You I'll spend
an hour in prayer each morning.
00:11:06.71\00:11:11.26
Father God, I'm
not disciplined enough
00:11:11.29\00:11:13.71
to make that commitment to you.
00:11:13.74\00:11:15.70
Lord, it would have to be
You empowering me to do this.
00:11:15.73\00:11:21.34
And then my voice trailed
off because the clear truth
00:11:21.37\00:11:24.17
of that last
statement arrested my attention.
00:11:24.20\00:11:27.54
Of course it would
have to be God's prompting
00:11:27.57\00:11:30.44
and God's
enabling to help me keep
00:11:30.47\00:11:33.54
such an overwhelming commitment.
00:11:33.57\00:11:35.82
I had voiced
what God knew already.
00:11:35.85\00:11:39.71
He was just
waiting for me to recognize
00:11:39.74\00:11:42.01
how much I needed His help.
00:11:42.04\00:11:44.58
In first--
excuse me, in John 15.
00:11:44.61\00:11:47.37
Jesus declared that He is vine
00:11:47.40\00:11:51.34
and that we must abide in Him
00:11:51.37\00:11:53.84
for without Him,
we can do nothing.
00:11:53.87\00:11:58.15
He also promised the
apostle Paul something
00:11:58.18\00:12:01.42
that still applies
to you and me today.
00:12:01.45\00:12:04.07
Let's look at that
promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
00:12:04.10\00:12:09.45
Here's what Jesus
said, or Paul saying,
00:12:09.48\00:12:12.51
"And He Jesus said to me,
00:12:12.54\00:12:14.93
'My grace is sufficient for you,
00:12:14.96\00:12:18.44
for My strength is
made perfect in weakness.'"
00:12:18.47\00:12:23.51
Hallelujah.
00:12:23.54\00:12:24.85
And then Paul concludes,
00:12:24.88\00:12:26.46
"Therefore most gladly I will
rather boast in my infirmities,
00:12:26.49\00:12:31.91
that the power of
Christ may rest upon me."
00:12:31.94\00:12:36.54
The reminder of my time
00:12:36.57\00:12:39.24
while I was driving home
was spent in astonished silence.
00:12:39.27\00:12:44.14
I was wrestling not with God,
but with my own days thoughts.
00:12:44.17\00:12:48.41
There had been so
many occasions in my life
00:12:48.44\00:12:51.52
when I prayed for
an hour but everyday,
00:12:51.55\00:12:55.23
how could I
consistently practice that?
00:12:55.26\00:12:57.78
I'm always on the run,
too busy for my own good.
00:12:57.81\00:13:01.23
What would I say to
Him everyday for an hour?
00:13:01.26\00:13:05.04
Wouldn't my
prayers become repetitious?
00:13:05.07\00:13:09.16
Deuteronomy 30:19,
20 string on my mind.
00:13:09.19\00:13:14.23
God said there.
00:13:14.26\00:13:17.79
"I have set before
you life and death,
00:13:17.82\00:13:21.09
blessing and cursing,
therefore choose life,
00:13:21.12\00:13:24.71
that you may live,
00:13:24.74\00:13:26.26
that you may love
the Lord your God,
00:13:26.29\00:13:28.27
that you may obey His voice,
and that you may cling to Him,
00:13:28.30\00:13:32.32
for He is your life and
the length of your days."
00:13:32.35\00:13:37.59
This was the familiar
voice speaking familiar words.
00:13:37.62\00:13:41.09
I knew it was from God.
00:13:41.12\00:13:43.30
In 1995, he had set another
spiritual life and death choice
00:13:43.33\00:13:49.34
when He called me
00:13:49.37\00:13:50.61
into a more intimate
relationship with His word.
00:13:50.64\00:13:53.96
God explained how
His word was life to me.
00:13:53.99\00:13:56.68
And that if I choose
to cling to His promises
00:13:56.71\00:13:59.05
I was choosing life.
00:13:59.08\00:14:00.68
I made the right choice then,
00:14:00.71\00:14:02.89
now it was time to make another.
00:14:02.92\00:14:05.40
Let me make this clear,
00:14:05.43\00:14:07.84
God did not command me to
pray an hour each morning.
00:14:07.87\00:14:12.85
That isn't one of the
requirements for salvation.
00:14:12.88\00:14:16.11
May be I was just in greater
00:14:16.14\00:14:17.57
spiritual
jeopardy when I realized.
00:14:17.60\00:14:20.48
If I had fallen overboard again,
00:14:20.51\00:14:25.22
and He was throwing a
new lifeline to his child
00:14:25.25\00:14:27.80
who is in danger of
going down for the third time.
00:14:27.83\00:14:31.70
It was up to me to choose
00:14:31.73\00:14:34.04
whether I grabbed
and hold of it or not.
00:14:34.07\00:14:36.48
He had set before me
another life and death decision
00:14:36.51\00:14:39.99
so to speak.
00:14:40.02\00:14:41.60
And I really wanted to
choose His abundant life.
00:14:41.63\00:14:46.76
I was weary of
my spiritual stupor
00:14:46.79\00:14:50.15
and my spirit was willing,
00:14:50.18\00:14:52.61
but the weakness
in my flesh trembled.
00:14:52.64\00:14:54.95
I didn't want to disappoint Him
00:14:54.98\00:14:56.78
as the disciples
had in the garden.
00:14:56.81\00:14:59.21
When, at Gethsemane
when Christ innercircle
00:14:59.24\00:15:02.95
Peter, James and John
00:15:02.98\00:15:04.81
demonstrated so
little commitment
00:15:04.84\00:15:08.14
in watching and
praying with Him for an hour.
00:15:08.17\00:15:11.50
Christ reaction is
recorded in Matthew 26.
00:15:11.53\00:15:16.31
Let's look at
that. Matthew 26:40, 41.
00:15:16.34\00:15:21.04
"Then He came to the
disciples and found them asleep,
00:15:21.07\00:15:24.93
and said to Peter, 'What?
00:15:24.96\00:15:27.77
Could you not
watch with Me one hour?
00:15:27.80\00:15:31.31
Watch and pray, lest
you enter into temptation.
00:15:31.34\00:15:36.43
The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.'"
00:15:36.46\00:15:42.78
Reaching home, I parked the car
00:15:42.81\00:15:45.57
and I sat in stun
silence for a few minutes.
00:15:45.60\00:15:49.56
Finally, a
whisper escaped my lips
00:15:49.59\00:15:53.18
then I said, okay, Father,
00:15:53.21\00:15:55.03
I will make a commitment
to pray one hour each day.
00:15:55.06\00:15:58.58
It's not a promise, but I'll
commit to cooperate with You.
00:15:58.61\00:16:02.94
Of course, Lord, I'm
relying on Your help.
00:16:02.97\00:16:05.90
You will have to motivate me
and You will have to teach me
00:16:05.93\00:16:10.56
how to pray
everyday for an hour.
00:16:10.59\00:16:13.32
We will start first
thing tomorrow morning.
00:16:13.35\00:16:16.31
Well, the next morning,
00:16:16.34\00:16:17.95
I rouse at my
usual hour at 5 A.M..
00:16:17.98\00:16:20.99
And it seemed wise
to eat breakfast first,
00:16:21.02\00:16:24.01
that would surely
increase my concentration power
00:16:24.04\00:16:26.91
for the upcoming hour.
00:16:26.94\00:16:28.61
And naturally I
watched the morning news
00:16:28.64\00:16:31.27
during breakfast
as that was my habit.
00:16:31.30\00:16:33.73
And being an
obsessive housekeeper,
00:16:33.76\00:16:36.11
I washed the
dishes, tidy the kitchen,
00:16:36.14\00:16:38.55
took out the trash and
made the bed before praying.
00:16:38.58\00:16:42.54
That would purge
those pesky distractions.
00:16:42.57\00:16:45.92
And soon I opted
to shower and dress
00:16:45.95\00:16:48.42
before meeting with the
Lord reasoning it would make me
00:16:48.45\00:16:51.57
a more bright eyed
and bushy tail disciple
00:16:51.60\00:16:54.40
unlike, Peter, James and John.
00:16:54.43\00:16:56.70
In the shower the fact of
the matter washed over me.
00:16:56.73\00:17:00.56
My old familiar pattern of
procrastinating had surfaced
00:17:00.59\00:17:04.86
and ashamed, I determined
to quickly ready myself
00:17:04.89\00:17:08.67
and to keep my appointment
with God without further delay.
00:17:08.70\00:17:12.69
So grabbing my Bible,
00:17:12.72\00:17:14.45
I descended the
stairs to the family room
00:17:14.48\00:17:17.31
and I choose a comfy
chair for our meeting spot.
00:17:17.34\00:17:20.59
I've had back surgery and I'm
fused from the waist down side.
00:17:20.62\00:17:23.53
I knew my back could not
endure an hour on my knees.
00:17:23.56\00:17:26.88
But clasping my
hands and bowing my head
00:17:26.91\00:17:30.87
I enquired of the
Lord, how to begin.
00:17:30.90\00:17:34.70
Suddenly I was
strongly impressed
00:17:34.73\00:17:37.35
to journal my prayers,
00:17:37.38\00:17:39.20
to write it out as
a love letter to God.
00:17:39.23\00:17:42.17
Now I had never
written a prayer before
00:17:42.20\00:17:45.30
but thought about the Psalms.
00:17:45.33\00:17:47.22
Isn't that what they are really?
00:17:47.25\00:17:49.71
The written prayers of David,
which were later set to music.
00:17:49.74\00:17:55.23
Was it God
impressing me to do this
00:17:55.26\00:17:58.08
or did the
thought originate from me?
00:17:58.11\00:18:00.37
Glancing at the
open Bible on my lap
00:18:00.40\00:18:03.58
my eyes fell on Habakkuk 2:2, 3.
00:18:03.61\00:18:09.02
"Then the Lord
answered me and said,
00:18:09.05\00:18:11.24
'Write the vision and
make it plain on tablets,
00:18:11.27\00:18:14.10
that he may run who reads it.
00:18:14.13\00:18:16.93
For the vision is yet
for an appointment time,
00:18:16.96\00:18:20.19
but at the end it will
speak, and it will not lie.
00:18:20.22\00:18:24.54
Though it tarries, wait for it,
00:18:24.57\00:18:27.37
because it will surely
come, it will not tarry.'"
00:18:27.40\00:18:32.80
Well, that was a
sufficient answer for me.
00:18:32.83\00:18:35.96
But handwritten
prayer presented a problem.
00:18:35.99\00:18:39.98
You know, we think so much
faster than we write, don't we?
00:18:40.01\00:18:43.09
And when I'm writing hurriedly,
00:18:43.12\00:18:45.33
my penmanship
could rival any physician
00:18:45.36\00:18:48.86
whose noted for
chicken scratch handwriting.
00:18:48.89\00:18:52.51
I've often tried to
decide from my own notes
00:18:52.54\00:18:55.24
scribbled in
haste and it's much like
00:18:55.27\00:18:57.82
trying to decode
ancient hieroglyphics.
00:18:57.85\00:19:01.46
But I thought truly impressed
by God to try journaling.
00:19:01.49\00:19:05.34
And before we continue,
00:19:05.37\00:19:06.69
I need to make
a disclaimer here.
00:19:06.72\00:19:09.34
Journaling is not for everyone.
00:19:09.37\00:19:13.00
It isn't required
to journal your prayers
00:19:13.03\00:19:16.52
by writing them as a letter.
00:19:16.55\00:19:18.18
In fact, my husband J.D.
is a mighty man of prayer.
00:19:18.21\00:19:22.14
And if someone told J.D.
that he must write his prayer
00:19:22.17\00:19:26.30
to press into God's presence,
00:19:26.33\00:19:28.60
I doubt he would
ever give it a try.
00:19:28.63\00:19:32.18
And there was a precious saint
00:19:32.21\00:19:34.79
who experimented with journaling
00:19:34.82\00:19:38.33
and she reported back
to me and she said that,
00:19:38.36\00:19:41.47
it was actually diminishing
the intimacy of her prayers.
00:19:41.50\00:19:44.41
So I quickly
exclaimed then don't do it.
00:19:44.44\00:19:48.20
Still I want to encourage
everyone to try at least once.
00:19:48.23\00:19:52.83
For many people
journaling increases focus
00:19:52.86\00:19:57.38
and the results are
increased intimacy with God.
00:19:57.41\00:20:02.91
What do I mean?
00:20:02.94\00:20:04.06
Well, have you
ever experienced this?
00:20:04.09\00:20:06.30
You're on your knees
praying to the God you love
00:20:06.33\00:20:10.49
and midstream of a
sentence your mind wanders.
00:20:10.52\00:20:14.67
Oh, I must remember
to pick up the dry clean.
00:20:14.70\00:20:18.23
So ashamed, you apologize to God
00:20:18.26\00:20:21.32
only to find that your
mind is wandering again.
00:20:21.35\00:20:24.98
Oh, I forgot to return
David's phone call last night.
00:20:25.01\00:20:27.67
I hope it wasn't important.
00:20:27.70\00:20:29.80
And then you think
oh, Lord, forgive me.
00:20:29.83\00:20:32.84
I don't mean to get off track.
00:20:32.87\00:20:36.24
So with added
urgency you purpose to focus
00:20:36.27\00:20:39.60
on what you're
praying and then abruptly
00:20:39.63\00:20:42.07
another wayward
thought interrupts.
00:20:42.10\00:20:44.66
Is my doctor's
appointment this afternoon?
00:20:44.69\00:20:48.21
Who will pick up the
children from school?
00:20:48.24\00:20:51.20
You sigh and throw a
leash around that thought
00:20:51.23\00:20:54.36
and direct your
mind to God once again.
00:20:54.39\00:20:58.08
It would surprise me,
if you had never suffered
00:20:58.11\00:21:01.15
this common prayer time trend.
00:21:01.18\00:21:04.05
Our minds are prone to wander.
00:21:04.08\00:21:07.15
Keeping our thoughts contained
00:21:07.18\00:21:09.34
is like trying to
keep puppies in a box.
00:21:09.37\00:21:13.69
Journaling is a more deliberate
activity than merely thinking
00:21:13.72\00:21:19.68
and it engages
more of your senses.
00:21:19.71\00:21:22.41
It involves
writing and consequently
00:21:22.44\00:21:24.86
seeing your
meditations on paper.
00:21:24.89\00:21:27.42
The more of your senses engaged,
00:21:27.45\00:21:29.53
the greater your focus
and the greater your focus,
00:21:29.56\00:21:32.69
the greater the
intimacy of prayer.
00:21:32.72\00:21:35.25
You know at 3ABN's
2009 Spring Camp Meeting,
00:21:35.28\00:21:39.72
I presented an abbreviated
version of this teaching.
00:21:39.75\00:21:43.35
And my pastor John Lomacang
00:21:43.38\00:21:45.08
drop by my office
several days later
00:21:45.11\00:21:47.75
to say that he had tried
journaling for the first time
00:21:47.78\00:21:50.91
and he was delighted
00:21:50.94\00:21:52.55
by the increased prayer
dynamics, that he shared
00:21:52.58\00:21:56.48
and he said that
he was going to--
00:21:56.51\00:22:00.05
he intended to
continue writing his prayers.
00:22:00.08\00:22:03.16
Now, I don't
know if he did or not
00:22:03.19\00:22:05.35
but that's what he said.
00:22:05.38\00:22:06.92
So on with my
story, I'm a fast typist,
00:22:06.95\00:22:12.78
so I asked the
Lord if typing my prayer
00:22:12.81\00:22:16.04
to computer was acceptable.
00:22:16.07\00:22:18.15
How do you think He responded?
00:22:18.18\00:22:20.25
Does it seem like
something God would frond up on
00:22:20.28\00:22:23.08
spending an hour at the computer
00:22:23.11\00:22:25.30
writing Him a love letter?
00:22:25.33\00:22:27.63
Of course not.
00:22:27.66\00:22:29.68
I bolted upstairs to my office,
00:22:29.71\00:22:32.13
I opened a new word
file on my computer,
00:22:32.16\00:22:35.27
I typed the date
at the top of the page
00:22:35.30\00:22:38.28
and I glanced to the
clock to confirm the time,
00:22:38.31\00:22:41.44
it was already 8 A.M.
00:22:41.47\00:22:43.57
and I had a lot to
accomplish that day.
00:22:43.60\00:22:46.55
I didn't want the
temptation of checking the clock
00:22:46.58\00:22:50.68
for every 10
minutes for the next hour.
00:22:50.71\00:22:53.48
So what I did is, I
took a little sticky note
00:22:53.51\00:22:56.37
and I covered the
face of the clock,
00:22:56.40\00:22:59.76
then I said, Father,
please teach me how to pray.
00:22:59.79\00:23:05.11
How do You want me
to pray the next hour?
00:23:05.14\00:23:08.24
I need Your help.
00:23:08.27\00:23:10.22
So in the following
programs in this series
00:23:10.25\00:23:14.35
I'm going to take you
through what I learned
00:23:14.38\00:23:17.32
from the Lord that day
and in the weeks ahead.
00:23:17.35\00:23:22.23
God taught me how to press
in to His presence in such a way
00:23:22.26\00:23:27.75
that the practice could
be sustained daily with joy.
00:23:27.78\00:23:33.03
I've never been a
fan of prayer formalist.
00:23:33.06\00:23:36.83
There's always the
possibility of developing
00:23:36.86\00:23:39.88
a mechanical and
meaningless practice,
00:23:39.91\00:23:43.90
but I don't think of this
teaching as a prayer formula
00:23:43.93\00:23:47.94
but rather as a prayer pattern.
00:23:47.97\00:23:51.11
Over the many years
00:23:51.14\00:23:52.34
that I've been
practicing this type of prayer,
00:23:52.37\00:23:54.77
it has never
become mechanical for me.
00:23:54.80\00:23:58.40
Now I want to share
a couple of thoughts.
00:23:58.43\00:24:02.15
First, right now
don't worry like I said,
00:24:02.18\00:24:06.71
praying for an hour
is not a requirement.
00:24:06.74\00:24:10.56
But, boy, is it a
solution to backsliding?
00:24:10.59\00:24:13.97
And you're going to see
how God totally changed my life
00:24:14.00\00:24:18.09
by teaching me how to do this.
00:24:18.12\00:24:20.58
And secondly, if
you're not all that familiar
00:24:20.61\00:24:23.61
with the process of journaling,
00:24:23.64\00:24:25.52
don't worry we'll learn it
as we go through this series.
00:24:25.55\00:24:29.45
And remember, you
don't have to journal.
00:24:29.48\00:24:32.60
And one thing that I
will tell you is that
00:24:32.63\00:24:35.37
praying this way,
00:24:35.40\00:24:37.42
at the time that God
was teaching me this,
00:24:37.45\00:24:40.05
I was pretty much
an average Christian,
00:24:40.08\00:24:42.99
a pew warmer if you will
with average Bible study habits.
00:24:43.02\00:24:48.57
But when God really taught me
how to press into His presence,
00:24:48.60\00:24:52.86
He taught me how to
make prayer or the word
00:24:52.89\00:24:58.13
I should say as part of prayer
00:24:58.16\00:25:02.25
so that there was a
two-way communication going on
00:25:02.28\00:25:06.64
and really that's
what it's all about.
00:25:06.67\00:25:10.24
When we are praying to God,
we're communicating with Him.
00:25:10.27\00:25:15.07
And sometimes we're so
busy doing all the talking
00:25:15.10\00:25:17.65
that we don't do any listening.
00:25:17.68\00:25:20.13
But if you will make the
word part of your prayer time
00:25:20.16\00:25:24.33
then actually that's how you
hear the echo of God's voice,
00:25:24.36\00:25:29.32
you're hearing His council.
00:25:29.35\00:25:31.27
He is there speaking
with you if you will.
00:25:31.30\00:25:35.76
So all of this is coming
up in our upcoming programs
00:25:35.79\00:25:40.17
and we're just so
glad that you joined us
00:25:40.20\00:25:42.01
and I really believe you're
gonna enjoy this teaching.
00:25:42.04\00:25:44.77
Right now I feel led
to have a prayer for you,
00:25:44.80\00:25:47.45
so let's pray.
00:25:47.48\00:25:49.84
Heavenly Father, we come
in the name of Jesus Christ
00:25:49.87\00:25:54.73
and we praise You
holy and righteous, Father.
00:25:54.76\00:25:58.66
Lord, we're so thankful to you.
00:25:58.69\00:26:01.51
Oh, You have blessed us
with every spiritual blessing
00:26:01.54\00:26:04.81
in the heavenly
realms through Christ Jesus.
00:26:04.84\00:26:07.80
Father, we are so
thankful to you for everything
00:26:07.83\00:26:13.65
that you are doing in
our life even those things
00:26:13.68\00:26:16.55
for which we are unaware
and we praise Your power.
00:26:16.58\00:26:21.49
Lord, yours is the
glory and the majesty.
00:26:21.52\00:26:25.32
You're an awesome God.
00:26:25.35\00:26:27.41
You are not only the creator God
00:26:27.44\00:26:29.54
but the one who recreates
us in the image of Jesus.
00:26:29.57\00:26:34.33
And Father, we come this
day asking in the name of Jesus.
00:26:34.36\00:26:38.75
Oh, Lord, please forgive us.
00:26:38.78\00:26:41.42
Forgive us, Father,
for spiritual apathy.
00:26:41.45\00:26:45.67
Forgive us, Father, for
being Laodicean for being lazy.
00:26:45.70\00:26:51.83
And I pray in the name of Jesus,
00:26:51.86\00:26:53.63
change us oh God,
00:26:53.66\00:26:55.18
we give You permission
to do a work in our heart.
00:26:55.21\00:26:58.45
Lord, as Sister White once said,
00:26:58.48\00:27:02.50
"Take my heart, take our hearts,
00:27:02.53\00:27:06.01
for we can't give them."
00:27:06.04\00:27:08.12
Oh, Lord, we're prone to wander,
00:27:08.15\00:27:10.37
but I thank you
Father, for teaching me
00:27:10.40\00:27:13.42
and for allowing
me this time to share
00:27:13.45\00:27:16.57
how we might draw closer to You
00:27:16.60\00:27:19.68
that we might draw near to You
that You can draw near to us.
00:27:19.71\00:27:23.76
And I pray for my brothers
and sisters at home, Father,
00:27:23.79\00:27:27.06
that and for myself that
You will increase our desire
00:27:27.09\00:27:31.45
to press into Your
presence, to seek Your face.
00:27:31.48\00:27:35.14
Thank you, Father,
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:35.17\00:27:39.63
Well, our time is gone.
00:27:39.66\00:27:41.93
Remember, next time
00:27:41.96\00:27:43.17
we're going to be talking about
00:27:43.20\00:27:45.02
how we can make prayer
a two-way communication
00:27:45.05\00:27:49.28
And our prayer right now is
that you will be joining us.
00:27:49.31\00:27:54.72
May the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit,
00:27:54.75\00:27:58.44
the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ
00:27:58.47\00:28:01.30
and the love of the
Father be with you always.
00:28:01.33\00:28:05.02
And remember,
00:28:05.05\00:28:06.19
God is calling you to
press into His presence.
00:28:06.22\00:28:09.81