Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:00.96\00:00:02.46 Did you know that spiritual apathy 00:00:02.50\00:00:04.70 is a dangerous heart condition and one that grieves God? 00:00:04.73\00:00:08.30 Please join us today on pressing into His presence. 00:00:08.34\00:00:11.97 And we will learn how to correct our backsliding. 00:00:12.01\00:00:16.18 Welcome to Pressing into His Presence. 00:00:36.46\00:00:39.03 If you tuned in last time you know that this series, 00:00:39.07\00:00:42.17 we are focusing on prayer. 00:00:42.20\00:00:45.01 And we are excited that because prayer is the handle 00:00:45.04\00:00:50.01 that opens the faucet for God's blessings 00:00:50.05\00:00:53.05 when we tap into His grace pipeline by faith. 00:00:53.08\00:00:56.18 I started sharing last time a personal testimony 00:00:56.22\00:00:59.89 to establish the circumstances of my life 00:00:59.92\00:01:02.79 that caused me to seek the Lord for a deeper prayer life. 00:01:02.82\00:01:07.60 Today we're going to finish that back story. 00:01:07.60\00:01:10.60 And our companion book for this series is 00:01:10.63\00:01:14.24 Pressing in to His Presence. 00:01:14.27\00:01:16.40 It is a book that I'm very-- was very privileged to write. 00:01:16.44\00:01:19.94 And today we're beginning on Chapter 2. 00:01:19.97\00:01:21.98 As we continue to lay the ground work 00:01:22.01\00:01:24.85 for the upcoming teaching on prayer. 00:01:24.88\00:01:28.38 Does this sounded all familiar? 00:01:28.42\00:01:31.39 Your priorities are out of order. 00:01:31.42\00:01:33.19 You know you're sliding God 00:01:33.22\00:01:35.36 and a fog of frustration has settled in. 00:01:35.39\00:01:38.19 Finally remorse lead you down one of two pass. 00:01:38.23\00:01:42.06 Either burdened with your guilt you begin avoiding God 00:01:42.10\00:01:45.43 spending even less time seeking His presence 00:01:45.47\00:01:49.60 or in your turmoil you cry out to Him 00:01:49.64\00:01:52.84 for an explanation of why you are so prone to wander 00:01:52.87\00:01:57.25 from the one you love. 00:01:57.28\00:01:59.15 Perhaps, like I have experienced in my past 00:01:59.18\00:02:02.28 instead of standing firm as a spiritual warrior 00:02:02.32\00:02:06.76 you have become a weak-kneed spiritual vainer. 00:02:06.79\00:02:10.76 It seems our condition 00:02:10.79\00:02:12.43 is not all that uncommon among mankind. 00:02:12.46\00:02:15.50 There's uncomfort in knowing this but very little. 00:02:15.53\00:02:19.07 It's rather like being diagnosed with cancer 00:02:19.10\00:02:21.64 but told not to worry because many are likewise afflicted. 00:02:21.67\00:02:25.91 Here is the good news God will provide a way out 00:02:25.94\00:02:30.45 when we get serious about seeking Him. 00:02:30.48\00:02:34.62 I want you to consider with me the words of this hymn 00:02:34.65\00:02:38.75 "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." 00:02:38.79\00:02:41.56 Now I'm going to have to speak this fast 00:02:41.59\00:02:43.66 or I'll break into song 00:02:43.69\00:02:44.99 because this is one of my favorite hymns. 00:02:45.03\00:02:48.43 Here's the words. 00:02:48.46\00:02:49.63 " Come, Thou Fount of every blessing 00:02:49.66\00:02:51.60 tune my heart to sing Thy grace, 00:02:51.63\00:02:54.34 streams of mercy, never ceasing, 00:02:54.37\00:02:56.91 call for songs of loudest praise. 00:02:56.94\00:02:59.87 Teach me some melodious sonnet, 00:02:59.91\00:03:03.21 sung by flaming tongues above. 00:03:03.24\00:03:06.18 Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it 00:03:06.21\00:03:08.88 mount of thy redeeming love. 00:03:08.92\00:03:11.42 Here I raise my Ebenezer hither by thy help I come, 00:03:11.45\00:03:15.86 and I hope, by thy good pleasure, 00:03:15.89\00:03:18.66 safely to arrive at home. 00:03:18.69\00:03:21.26 Jesus sought me when a stranger, 00:03:21.30\00:03:24.23 wandering from the fold of God, 00:03:24.27\00:03:26.87 He, to rescue me from danger, 00:03:26.90\00:03:29.57 interposed His precious blood. 00:03:29.60\00:03:32.94 Oh, to grace how great a debtor 00:03:32.97\00:03:36.34 daily I'm constrained to be! 00:03:36.38\00:03:39.31 Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 00:03:39.35\00:03:41.95 bind my wandering heart to thee, 00:03:41.98\00:03:44.62 Now here's the refrain that captures my attention. 00:03:44.65\00:03:48.62 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 00:03:48.66\00:03:52.63 prone to leave the God I love, 00:03:52.66\00:03:55.46 here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, 00:03:55.50\00:03:59.67 seal it for thy courts above. 00:03:59.70\00:04:03.41 Doesn't that sentiment kind of calm your heart? 00:04:03.44\00:04:07.14 We're not the only ones in the boat 00:04:07.18\00:04:09.31 riding a sea of troubled waters. 00:04:09.34\00:04:12.48 There is hope for us after all. There is God. 00:04:12.51\00:04:16.42 After singing this hymn in church one day, 00:04:16.45\00:04:19.69 a sweet little lady sitting next to me whispered, 00:04:19.72\00:04:22.62 what's an Ebenezer? 00:04:22.66\00:04:24.29 And I explained it meant stone of help 00:04:24.33\00:04:27.10 and refers back to the Prophet Samuel 00:04:27.13\00:04:29.46 when he was erecting a monument 00:04:29.50\00:04:31.27 for God's divine assistance in battle. 00:04:31.30\00:04:34.04 In fact, that's for Samuel 7:12 which reads, 00:04:34.07\00:04:37.91 "Then Samuel took a stone 00:04:37.94\00:04:39.51 and set it between Mizpah and Shen, 00:04:39.54\00:04:42.48 and he called the name of it Ebenezer, 00:04:42.51\00:04:45.08 stone of help, saying, 00:04:45.11\00:04:47.12 'Heretofore the Lord has helped us.'" 00:04:47.15\00:04:51.62 In my personal spiritual battle, 00:04:51.65\00:04:53.82 God intervened in an interesting way. 00:04:53.86\00:04:56.52 And a teaching we're sharing this season 00:04:56.56\00:04:58.53 is how the Lord brought me out of a backsliding condition 00:04:58.56\00:05:02.76 and gave me victory over the enemy. 00:05:02.80\00:05:05.10 This teaching has been my Ebenezer since 1999. 00:05:05.13\00:05:09.30 I have shared it around the world 00:05:09.34\00:05:11.44 and by experience I can tell you 00:05:11.47\00:05:13.71 it contains the power of God to prevent backsliding. 00:05:13.74\00:05:19.18 Let me share a personal story 00:05:19.21\00:05:22.32 of how God grabbed my attention in September of 1999. 00:05:22.35\00:05:27.82 I was making my monthly grocery shopping trek of 60 miles 00:05:27.86\00:05:33.63 from my country home to the nearest Sam's Club. 00:05:33.66\00:05:36.77 And, if you live outside the United States 00:05:36.80\00:05:39.40 Sam's Club is simply a retail outlet 00:05:39.43\00:05:42.07 that sells bulk quantities. 00:05:42.10\00:05:44.47 Anyway, the breakthrough came to me 00:05:44.51\00:05:47.61 in the prayer closet of my car. 00:05:47.64\00:05:49.64 Shutting out the distractions 00:05:49.68\00:05:51.11 of our new business in the world, 00:05:51.15\00:05:52.91 I began praying to understand my backsliding. 00:05:52.95\00:05:56.48 Saying, Lord, I don't understand 00:05:56.52\00:05:59.22 how I-- how I can love You so much 00:05:59.25\00:06:05.09 and how I can walk so closely with You at times 00:06:05.13\00:06:08.36 that I sense Your heartbeat 00:06:08.40\00:06:10.27 and then plunge to such a backsliding condition. 00:06:10.30\00:06:14.34 Please, Lord, I prayed explained what happens to me 00:06:14.37\00:06:19.07 and my pleadings were earnest for that hour long drive 00:06:19.11\00:06:22.24 going to Sam's but when I reached my destination 00:06:22.28\00:06:26.31 there was still no answer to my dilemma. 00:06:26.35\00:06:29.12 I made an agreement with the Lord 00:06:29.15\00:06:31.05 to continue the prayer 00:06:31.09\00:06:32.29 after my shopping was completed. 00:06:32.32\00:06:34.22 And this was one day I didn't doddle all in Sam's Club 00:06:34.26\00:06:37.09 because I was a woman on a mission. 00:06:37.13\00:06:39.46 I went in there and I wanted to get back to God. 00:06:39.49\00:06:43.70 I checked out with the register 00:06:43.73\00:06:45.13 tossed my purchased items into the back of the vehicle, 00:06:45.17\00:06:49.24 I jumped in buckled up for the ride 00:06:49.27\00:06:51.91 and by the time the car was in gear 00:06:51.94\00:06:53.84 I was again pleading with the Lord 00:06:53.88\00:06:56.31 for a solution to my problem. 00:06:56.34\00:07:00.35 Praying out loud for the next, few, well, 30 miles I guess. 00:07:00.38\00:07:05.79 My tongue became less winey and more insistent 00:07:05.82\00:07:09.92 on understanding what I should do. 00:07:09.96\00:07:12.93 I prayed, please Lord, 00:07:12.96\00:07:14.76 show me the way out of this pit. 00:07:14.83\00:07:17.33 Teach me how I can prevent this from happening again. 00:07:17.37\00:07:21.40 And suddenly-- the still small voice 00:07:21.44\00:07:23.84 of the Lord whispered to my heart. 00:07:23.87\00:07:25.87 This is the voice spoken of in 1 Kings 19:12, 00:07:25.91\00:07:29.74 when Elijah was running from Jezebel 00:07:29.78\00:07:31.68 and had come to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. 00:07:31.71\00:07:34.75 Let's look at that passage. 00:07:34.78\00:07:36.08 We're going to begin with 1 Kings 19:9. 00:07:36.12\00:07:40.16 "And there he Elijah went into a cave, 00:07:40.19\00:07:42.96 and spent the night in that place, 00:07:42.99\00:07:45.19 and behold, the word of the Lord come to him, 00:07:45.23\00:07:47.83 and He said to him, 00:07:47.86\00:07:49.70 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' 00:07:49.73\00:07:51.80 So he said, 00:07:51.83\00:07:52.90 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts, 00:07:52.93\00:07:55.90 for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, 00:07:55.94\00:07:58.81 torn down Your altars, 00:07:58.84\00:08:00.08 and killed Your prophets with the sword. 00:08:00.11\00:08:02.58 I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.' 00:08:02.61\00:08:06.78 Then He God said, 00:08:06.82\00:08:08.85 'Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.' 00:08:08.88\00:08:12.19 And behold, the Lord passed by, 00:08:12.22\00:08:14.46 and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains, 00:08:14.49\00:08:17.69 and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, 00:08:17.73\00:08:20.90 but the Lord was not in the wind, 00:08:20.93\00:08:22.93 and after the wind an earthquake, 00:08:22.96\00:08:24.87 but the Lord was not in the earthquake, 00:08:24.90\00:08:26.90 and after the earthquake a fire, 00:08:26.94\00:08:28.57 but the Lord was not in the fire, 00:08:28.60\00:08:30.27 and after the fire a still small voice. 00:08:30.31\00:08:34.41 So it was, when Elijah heard it, 00:08:34.44\00:08:37.11 that he wrapped his face in his mantle 00:08:37.15\00:08:39.65 and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. 00:08:39.68\00:08:43.08 Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, 00:08:43.12\00:08:45.95 What are you doing here, Elijah?'" 00:08:45.99\00:08:50.83 I have come to believe that the still small voice 00:08:50.86\00:08:54.10 spoken of here in verse 12, 00:08:54.10\00:08:56.53 represent times when the Holy Spirit 00:08:56.56\00:08:59.47 impresses God's thoughts in our minds 00:08:59.50\00:09:02.80 with inaudible words. 00:09:02.84\00:09:05.57 So there I was praying in my car 00:09:05.61\00:09:07.58 when suddenly the still small voice of the Lord 00:09:07.61\00:09:10.58 whispered to my heart saying, 00:09:10.61\00:09:13.25 "Child, if you will come to Me 00:09:13.28\00:09:16.95 and spend an hour in prayer each morning 00:09:16.99\00:09:20.66 I promise you will never backslide again. 00:09:20.69\00:09:24.49 What? I was so flabbergasted. 00:09:24.53\00:09:27.20 I did not respond to Him. My mind was churning. 00:09:27.23\00:09:30.67 An hour a day in prayer, who could keep that up? 00:09:30.70\00:09:35.10 Well, of course, 00:09:35.14\00:09:36.77 that would keep anyone from backsliding 00:09:36.81\00:09:39.24 because even if we lost ground during the day 00:09:39.27\00:09:42.88 we'd be starting over again the next morning. 00:09:42.91\00:09:46.15 You know, one of my favorite promises of God 00:09:46.18\00:09:48.98 is found in Lamentations 3:22, 23. 00:09:49.02\00:09:53.49 And it says, 00:09:53.52\00:09:55.36 Though the Lord's mercies or "Through the Lord's mercies 00:09:55.39\00:09:58.93 "we are not consumed, 00:09:58.96\00:10:01.03 because His compassions fail not. 00:10:01.06\00:10:04.40 They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness. 00:10:04.43\00:10:10.64 Isn't that a wonderful promise? 00:10:10.67\00:10:13.24 God has such empathy for us. 00:10:13.27\00:10:17.18 He loves us so much and His mercies are new 00:10:17.21\00:10:21.08 toward us each and every morning. 00:10:21.12\00:10:23.45 He is the God of new beginnings. 00:10:23.49\00:10:26.49 And if we begin each day by spending an hour with God, 00:10:26.52\00:10:31.39 how could we stay backsliding? 00:10:31.43\00:10:34.36 As I was driving alone, I thought, 00:10:34.36\00:10:37.03 if only I could practice this advice, 00:10:37.07\00:10:40.37 if it would be-- 00:10:40.40\00:10:42.57 it just seemed that it would be impossible though 00:10:42.60\00:10:45.64 if I did to lose touch with Him. 00:10:45.67\00:10:48.38 But who am I kidding? I couldn't do that. 00:10:48.41\00:10:51.95 Suddenly I protested loudly. 00:10:51.98\00:10:53.85 But, Lord, you know I'm not that disciplined. 00:10:53.88\00:10:57.55 My life so... I don't know. 00:10:57.59\00:11:01.82 My life is just so fractured. 00:11:01.86\00:11:03.79 There's just too many demands on my time. 00:11:03.83\00:11:06.59 I can't promise You I'll spend an hour in prayer each morning. 00:11:06.63\00:11:11.13 Father God, I'm not disciplined enough 00:11:11.17\00:11:13.60 to make that commitment to you. 00:11:13.64\00:11:15.57 Lord, it would have to be You empowering me to do this. 00:11:15.60\00:11:21.24 And then my voice trailed off because the clear truth 00:11:21.28\00:11:24.08 of that last statement arrested my attention. 00:11:24.11\00:11:27.45 Of course it would have to be God's prompting 00:11:27.48\00:11:30.35 and God's enabling to help me keep 00:11:30.39\00:11:33.46 such an overwhelming commitment. 00:11:33.49\00:11:35.72 I had voiced what God knew already. 00:11:35.76\00:11:39.63 He was just waiting for me to recognize 00:11:39.66\00:11:41.90 how much I needed His help. 00:11:41.93\00:11:44.47 In first-- excuse me, in John 15. 00:11:44.50\00:11:47.27 Jesus declared that He is vine 00:11:47.30\00:11:51.24 and that we must abide in Him 00:11:51.27\00:11:53.74 for without Him, we can do nothing. 00:11:53.78\00:11:58.05 He also promised the apostle Paul something 00:11:58.08\00:12:01.32 that still applies to you and me today. 00:12:01.35\00:12:03.99 Let's look at that promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9. 00:12:04.02\00:12:09.36 Here's what Jesus said, or Paul saying, 00:12:09.39\00:12:12.43 "And He Jesus said to me, 00:12:12.46\00:12:14.83 'My grace is sufficient for you, 00:12:14.83\00:12:18.33 for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'" 00:12:18.37\00:12:23.41 Hallelujah. 00:12:23.44\00:12:24.74 And then Paul concludes, 00:12:24.77\00:12:26.34 "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, 00:12:26.37\00:12:31.81 that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 00:12:31.85\00:12:36.45 The reminder of my time 00:12:36.48\00:12:39.15 while I was driving home was spent in astonished silence. 00:12:39.19\00:12:44.06 I was wrestling not with God, but with my own days thoughts. 00:12:44.09\00:12:48.30 There had been so many occasions in my life 00:12:48.33\00:12:51.40 when I prayed for an hour but everyday, 00:12:51.43\00:12:55.10 how could I consistently practice that? 00:12:55.14\00:12:57.67 I'm always on the run, too busy for my own good. 00:12:57.71\00:13:01.11 What would I say to Him everyday for an hour? 00:13:01.14\00:13:04.95 Wouldn't my prayers become repetitious? 00:13:04.98\00:13:09.05 Deuteronomy 30:19, 20 string on my mind. 00:13:09.08\00:13:14.12 God said there. 00:13:14.16\00:13:17.69 "I have set before you life and death, 00:13:17.73\00:13:20.96 blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, 00:13:21.00\00:13:24.60 that you may live, 00:13:24.63\00:13:26.13 that you may love the Lord your God, 00:13:26.17\00:13:28.17 that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, 00:13:28.20\00:13:32.21 for He is your life and the length of your days." 00:13:32.24\00:13:37.48 This was the familiar voice speaking familiar words. 00:13:37.51\00:13:40.98 I knew it was from God. 00:13:41.02\00:13:43.18 In 1995, he had set another spiritual life and death choice 00:13:43.22\00:13:49.26 when He called me 00:13:49.29\00:13:50.53 into a more intimate relationship with His word. 00:13:50.56\00:13:53.86 God explained how His word was life to me. 00:13:53.90\00:13:56.56 And that if I choose to cling to His promises 00:13:56.60\00:13:58.93 I was choosing life. 00:13:58.97\00:14:00.57 I made the right choice then, 00:14:00.60\00:14:02.77 now it was time to make another. 00:14:02.80\00:14:05.27 Let me make this clear, 00:14:05.31\00:14:07.74 God did not command me to pray an hour each morning. 00:14:07.78\00:14:12.75 That isn't one of the requirements for salvation. 00:14:12.78\00:14:16.02 May be I was just in greater 00:14:16.05\00:14:17.49 spiritual jeopardy when I realized. 00:14:17.52\00:14:20.39 If I had fallen overboard again, 00:14:20.42\00:14:25.13 and He was throwing a new lifeline to his child 00:14:25.16\00:14:27.66 who is in danger of going down for the third time. 00:14:27.73\00:14:31.57 It was up to me to choose 00:14:31.60\00:14:33.94 whether I grabbed and hold of it or not. 00:14:33.97\00:14:36.37 He had set before me another life and death decision 00:14:36.40\00:14:39.87 so to speak. 00:14:39.91\00:14:41.48 And I really wanted to choose His abundant life. 00:14:41.51\00:14:46.65 I was weary of my spiritual stupor 00:14:46.68\00:14:50.05 and my spirit was willing, 00:14:50.09\00:14:52.52 but the weakness in my flesh trembled. 00:14:52.55\00:14:54.86 I didn't want to disappoint Him 00:14:54.89\00:14:56.69 as the disciples had in the garden. 00:14:56.73\00:14:59.13 When, at Gethsemane when Christ innercircle 00:14:59.16\00:15:02.83 Peter, James and John 00:15:02.86\00:15:04.70 demonstrated so little commitment 00:15:04.73\00:15:08.04 in watching and praying with Him for an hour. 00:15:08.07\00:15:11.37 Christ reaction is recorded in Matthew 26. 00:15:11.41\00:15:16.21 Let's look at that. Matthew 26:40, 41. 00:15:16.24\00:15:20.95 "Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, 00:15:20.98\00:15:24.82 and said to Peter, 'What? 00:15:24.85\00:15:27.69 Could you not watch with Me one hour? 00:15:27.72\00:15:31.23 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. 00:15:31.26\00:15:36.30 The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.'" 00:15:36.33\00:15:42.67 Reaching home, I parked the car 00:15:42.70\00:15:45.47 and I sat in stun silence for a few minutes. 00:15:45.51\00:15:49.44 Finally, a whisper escaped my lips 00:15:49.48\00:15:53.08 then I said, okay, Father, 00:15:53.11\00:15:54.92 I will make a commitment to pray one hour each day. 00:15:54.95\00:15:58.49 It's not a promise, but I'll commit to cooperate with You. 00:15:58.52\00:16:02.86 Of course, Lord, I'm relying on Your help. 00:16:02.89\00:16:05.79 You will have to motivate me and You will have to teach me 00:16:05.83\00:16:10.43 how to pray everyday for an hour. 00:16:10.47\00:16:13.20 We will start first thing tomorrow morning. 00:16:13.23\00:16:16.20 Well, the next morning, 00:16:16.24\00:16:17.84 I rouse at my usual hour at 5 A.M.. 00:16:17.87\00:16:20.88 And it seemed wise to eat breakfast first, 00:16:20.91\00:16:23.91 that would surely increase my concentration power 00:16:23.95\00:16:26.82 for the upcoming hour. 00:16:26.85\00:16:28.52 And naturally I watched the morning news 00:16:28.55\00:16:31.19 during breakfast as that was my habit. 00:16:31.22\00:16:33.62 And being an obsessive housekeeper, 00:16:33.66\00:16:36.02 I washed the dishes, tidy the kitchen, 00:16:36.06\00:16:38.46 took out the trash and made the bed before praying. 00:16:38.49\00:16:42.43 That would purge those pesky distractions. 00:16:42.46\00:16:45.80 And soon I opted to shower and dress 00:16:45.83\00:16:48.30 before meeting with the Lord reasoning it would make me 00:16:48.34\00:16:51.47 a more bright eyed and bushy tail disciple 00:16:51.51\00:16:54.28 unlike, Peter, James and John. 00:16:54.31\00:16:56.58 In the shower the fact of the matter washed over me. 00:16:56.61\00:17:00.45 My old familiar pattern of procrastinating had surfaced 00:17:00.48\00:17:04.75 and ashamed, I determined to quickly ready myself 00:17:04.79\00:17:08.59 and to keep my appointment with God without further delay. 00:17:08.62\00:17:12.59 So grabbing my Bible, 00:17:12.63\00:17:14.36 I descended the stairs to the family room 00:17:14.36\00:17:17.20 and I choose a comfy chair for our meeting spot. 00:17:17.23\00:17:20.47 I've had back surgery and I'm fused from the waist down side. 00:17:20.50\00:17:23.41 I knew my back could not endure an hour on my knees. 00:17:23.44\00:17:26.78 But clasping my hands and bowing my head 00:17:26.81\00:17:30.78 I enquired of the Lord, how to begin. 00:17:30.81\00:17:34.58 Suddenly I was strongly impressed 00:17:34.62\00:17:37.25 to journal my prayers, 00:17:37.29\00:17:39.09 to write it out as a love letter to God. 00:17:39.12\00:17:42.09 Now I had never written a prayer before 00:17:42.12\00:17:45.19 but thought about the Psalms. 00:17:45.23\00:17:47.13 Isn't that what they are really? 00:17:47.13\00:17:49.60 The written prayers of David, which were later set to music. 00:17:49.63\00:17:55.10 Was it God impressing me to do this 00:17:55.14\00:17:57.97 or did the thought originate from me? 00:17:58.01\00:18:00.28 Glancing at the open Bible on my lap 00:18:00.31\00:18:03.48 my eyes fell on Habakkuk 2:2, 3. 00:18:03.51\00:18:08.92 "Then the Lord answered me and said, 00:18:08.95\00:18:11.15 'Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, 00:18:11.19\00:18:13.99 that he may run who reads it. 00:18:14.02\00:18:16.83 For the vision is yet for an appointment time, 00:18:16.86\00:18:20.10 but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. 00:18:20.13\00:18:24.43 Though it tarries, wait for it, 00:18:24.47\00:18:27.27 because it will surely come, it will not tarry.'" 00:18:27.30\00:18:32.67 Well, that was a sufficient answer for me. 00:18:32.71\00:18:35.84 But handwritten prayer presented a problem. 00:18:35.88\00:18:39.88 You know, we think so much faster than we write, don't we? 00:18:39.91\00:18:42.98 And when I'm writing hurriedly, 00:18:43.02\00:18:45.22 my penmanship could rival any physician 00:18:45.25\00:18:48.76 whose noted for chicken scratch handwriting. 00:18:48.79\00:18:52.43 I've often tried to decide from my own notes 00:18:52.46\00:18:55.13 scribbled in haste and it's much like 00:18:55.16\00:18:57.70 trying to decode ancient hieroglyphics. 00:18:57.73\00:19:01.34 But I thought truly impressed by God to try journaling. 00:19:01.37\00:19:05.24 And before we continue, 00:19:05.27\00:19:06.57 I need to make a disclaimer here. 00:19:06.61\00:19:09.24 Journaling is not for everyone. 00:19:09.28\00:19:12.88 It isn't required to journal your prayers 00:19:12.91\00:19:16.42 by writing them as a letter. 00:19:16.45\00:19:18.09 In fact, my husband J.D. is a mighty man of prayer. 00:19:18.12\00:19:22.06 And if someone told J.D. that he must write his prayer 00:19:22.09\00:19:26.19 to press into God's presence, 00:19:26.23\00:19:28.46 I doubt he would ever give it a try. 00:19:28.50\00:19:32.07 And there was a precious saint 00:19:32.10\00:19:34.67 who experimented with journaling 00:19:34.70\00:19:38.21 and she reported back to me and she said that, 00:19:38.24\00:19:41.38 it was actually diminishing the intimacy of her prayers. 00:19:41.41\00:19:44.31 So I quickly exclaimed then don't do it. 00:19:44.35\00:19:48.08 Still I want to encourage everyone to try at least once. 00:19:48.12\00:19:52.72 For many people journaling increases focus 00:19:52.75\00:19:57.29 and the results are increased intimacy with God. 00:19:57.33\00:20:02.80 What do I mean? 00:20:02.83\00:20:03.93 Well, have you ever experienced this? 00:20:03.97\00:20:06.17 You're on your knees praying to the God you love 00:20:06.20\00:20:10.37 and midstream of a sentence your mind wanders. 00:20:10.41\00:20:14.58 Oh, I must remember to pick up the dry clean. 00:20:14.61\00:20:18.11 So ashamed, you apologize to God 00:20:18.15\00:20:21.22 only to find that your mind is wandering again. 00:20:21.25\00:20:24.89 Oh, I forgot to return David's phone call last night. 00:20:24.92\00:20:27.59 I hope it wasn't important. 00:20:27.62\00:20:29.69 And then you think oh, Lord, forgive me. 00:20:29.72\00:20:32.76 I don't mean to get off track. 00:20:32.79\00:20:36.13 So with added urgency you purpose to focus 00:20:36.16\00:20:39.47 on what you're praying and then abruptly 00:20:39.50\00:20:41.97 another wayward thought interrupts. 00:20:42.00\00:20:44.54 Is my doctor's appointment this afternoon? 00:20:44.57\00:20:48.11 Who will pick up the children from school? 00:20:48.14\00:20:51.08 You sigh and throw a leash around that thought 00:20:51.11\00:20:54.25 and direct your mind to God once again. 00:20:54.28\00:20:57.99 It would surprise me, if you had never suffered 00:20:58.02\00:21:01.06 this common prayer time trend. 00:21:01.09\00:21:03.96 Our minds are prone to wander. 00:21:03.99\00:21:07.03 Keeping our thoughts contained 00:21:07.10\00:21:09.23 is like trying to keep puppies in a box. 00:21:09.26\00:21:13.57 Journaling is a more deliberate activity than merely thinking 00:21:13.60\00:21:19.57 and it engages more of your senses. 00:21:19.61\00:21:22.31 It involves writing and consequently 00:21:22.34\00:21:24.75 seeing your meditations on paper. 00:21:24.78\00:21:27.32 The more of your senses engaged, 00:21:27.35\00:21:29.42 the greater your focus and the greater your focus, 00:21:29.45\00:21:32.59 the greater the intimacy of prayer. 00:21:32.62\00:21:35.16 You know at 3ABN's 2009 Spring Camp Meeting, 00:21:35.19\00:21:39.63 I presented an abbreviated version of this teaching. 00:21:39.66\00:21:43.23 And my pastor John Lomacang 00:21:43.26\00:21:44.97 drop by my office several days later 00:21:45.00\00:21:47.64 to say that he had tried journaling for the first time 00:21:47.67\00:21:50.81 and he was delighted 00:21:50.84\00:21:52.44 by the increased prayer dynamics, that he shared 00:21:52.47\00:21:56.38 and he said that he was going to-- 00:21:56.41\00:21:59.88 he intended to continue writing his prayers. 00:21:59.91\00:22:03.05 Now, I don't know if he did or not 00:22:03.08\00:22:05.25 but that's what he said. 00:22:05.29\00:22:06.82 So on with my story, I'm a fast typist, 00:22:06.86\00:22:12.69 so I asked the Lord if typing my prayer 00:22:12.73\00:22:15.93 to computer was acceptable. 00:22:15.96\00:22:18.03 How do you think He responded? 00:22:18.07\00:22:20.14 Does it seem like something God would frond up on 00:22:20.17\00:22:22.97 spending an hour at the computer 00:22:23.00\00:22:25.17 writing Him a love letter? 00:22:25.21\00:22:27.51 Of course not. 00:22:27.54\00:22:29.58 I bolted upstairs to my office, 00:22:29.61\00:22:32.01 I opened a new word file on my computer, 00:22:32.05\00:22:35.18 I typed the date at the top of the page 00:22:35.22\00:22:38.19 and I glanced to the clock to confirm the time, 00:22:38.22\00:22:41.36 it was already 8 A.M. 00:22:41.39\00:22:43.49 and I had a lot to accomplish that day. 00:22:43.53\00:22:46.46 I didn't want the temptation of checking the clock 00:22:46.49\00:22:50.57 for every 10 minutes for the next hour. 00:22:50.60\00:22:53.37 So what I did is, I took a little sticky note 00:22:53.40\00:22:56.27 and I covered the face of the clock, 00:22:56.30\00:22:59.64 then I said, Father, please teach me how to pray. 00:22:59.67\00:23:05.01 How do You want me to pray the next hour? 00:23:05.05\00:23:08.15 I need Your help. 00:23:08.18\00:23:10.12 So in the following programs in this series 00:23:10.15\00:23:14.26 I'm going to take you through what I learned 00:23:14.29\00:23:17.23 from the Lord that day and in the weeks ahead. 00:23:17.26\00:23:22.10 God taught me how to press in to His presence in such a way 00:23:22.13\00:23:27.64 that the practice could be sustained daily with joy. 00:23:27.67\00:23:32.91 I've never been a fan of prayer formalist. 00:23:32.94\00:23:36.71 There's always the possibility of developing 00:23:36.75\00:23:39.78 a mechanical and meaningless practice, 00:23:39.81\00:23:43.79 but I don't think of this teaching as a prayer formula 00:23:43.82\00:23:47.86 but rather as a prayer pattern. 00:23:47.89\00:23:51.03 Over the many years 00:23:51.06\00:23:52.26 that I've been practicing this type of prayer, 00:23:52.29\00:23:54.66 it has never become mechanical for me. 00:23:54.73\00:23:58.27 Now I want to share a couple of thoughts. 00:23:58.30\00:24:02.04 First, right now don't worry like I said, 00:24:02.07\00:24:06.61 praying for an hour is not a requirement. 00:24:06.64\00:24:10.45 But, boy, is it a solution to backsliding? 00:24:10.48\00:24:13.88 And you're going to see how God totally changed my life 00:24:13.92\00:24:17.99 by teaching me how to do this. 00:24:18.02\00:24:20.49 And secondly, if you're not all that familiar 00:24:20.52\00:24:23.53 with the process of journaling, 00:24:23.56\00:24:25.43 don't worry we'll learn it as we go through this series. 00:24:25.46\00:24:29.33 And remember, you don't have to journal. 00:24:29.36\00:24:32.47 And one thing that I will tell you is that 00:24:32.50\00:24:35.27 praying this way, 00:24:35.30\00:24:37.31 at the time that God was teaching me this, 00:24:37.34\00:24:39.94 I was pretty much an average Christian, 00:24:39.97\00:24:42.88 a pew warmer if you will with average Bible study habits. 00:24:42.91\00:24:48.48 But when God really taught me how to press into His presence, 00:24:48.52\00:24:52.75 He taught me how to make prayer or the word 00:24:52.79\00:24:58.03 I should say as part of prayer 00:24:58.06\00:25:02.13 so that there was a two-way communication going on 00:25:02.16\00:25:06.53 and really that's what it's all about. 00:25:06.57\00:25:10.14 When we are praying to God, we're communicating with Him. 00:25:10.17\00:25:14.98 And sometimes we're so busy doing all the talking 00:25:15.01\00:25:17.55 that we don't do any listening. 00:25:17.58\00:25:20.02 But if you will make the word part of your prayer time 00:25:20.05\00:25:24.22 then actually that's how you hear the echo of God's voice, 00:25:24.25\00:25:29.22 you're hearing His council. 00:25:29.26\00:25:31.19 He is there speaking with you if you will. 00:25:31.23\00:25:35.63 So all of this is coming up in our upcoming programs 00:25:35.66\00:25:40.07 and we're just so glad that you joined us 00:25:40.10\00:25:41.90 and I really believe you're gonna enjoy this teaching. 00:25:41.94\00:25:44.67 Right now I feel led to have a prayer for you, 00:25:44.71\00:25:47.34 so let's pray. 00:25:47.38\00:25:49.74 Heavenly Father, we come in the name of Jesus Christ 00:25:49.78\00:25:54.62 and we praise You holy and righteous, Father. 00:25:54.65\00:25:58.55 Lord, we're so thankful to you. 00:25:58.59\00:26:01.42 Oh, You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing 00:26:01.46\00:26:04.73 in the heavenly realms through Christ Jesus. 00:26:04.76\00:26:07.66 Father, we are so thankful to you for everything 00:26:07.73\00:26:13.54 that you are doing in our life even those things 00:26:13.57\00:26:16.44 for which we are unaware and we praise Your power. 00:26:16.47\00:26:21.38 Lord, yours is the glory and the majesty. 00:26:21.41\00:26:25.21 You're an awesome God. 00:26:25.25\00:26:27.32 You are not only the creator God 00:26:27.35\00:26:29.45 but the one who recreates us in the image of Jesus. 00:26:29.48\00:26:34.22 And Father, we come this day asking in the name of Jesus. 00:26:34.26\00:26:38.66 Oh, Lord, please forgive us. 00:26:38.69\00:26:41.30 Forgive us, Father, for spiritual apathy. 00:26:41.33\00:26:45.57 Forgive us, Father, for being Laodicean for being lazy. 00:26:45.60\00:26:51.71 And I pray in the name of Jesus, 00:26:51.74\00:26:53.51 change us oh God, 00:26:53.54\00:26:55.08 we give You permission to do a work in our heart. 00:26:55.11\00:26:58.35 Lord, as Sister White once said, 00:26:58.38\00:27:02.38 "Take my heart, take our hearts, 00:27:02.42\00:27:05.92 for we can't give them." 00:27:05.95\00:27:08.02 Oh, Lord, we're prone to wander, 00:27:08.06\00:27:10.29 but I thank you Father, for teaching me 00:27:10.33\00:27:13.33 and for allowing me this time to share 00:27:13.36\00:27:16.46 how we might draw closer to You 00:27:16.50\00:27:19.57 that we might draw near to You that You can draw near to us. 00:27:19.60\00:27:23.64 And I pray for my brothers and sisters at home, Father, 00:27:23.67\00:27:26.94 that and for myself that You will increase our desire 00:27:26.98\00:27:31.35 to press into Your presence, to seek Your face. 00:27:31.38\00:27:35.05 Thank you, Father, in Jesus' name, amen. 00:27:35.08\00:27:39.52 Well, our time is gone. 00:27:39.55\00:27:41.82 Remember, next time 00:27:41.86\00:27:43.09 we're going to be talking about 00:27:43.12\00:27:44.93 how we can make prayer a two-way communication 00:27:44.96\00:27:49.16 And our prayer right now is that you will be joining us. 00:27:49.20\00:27:54.60 May the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, 00:27:54.64\00:27:58.34 the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:27:58.37\00:28:01.18 and the love of the Father be with you always. 00:28:01.21\00:28:04.91 And remember, 00:28:04.95\00:28:06.08 God is calling you to press into His presence. 00:28:06.11\00:28:09.78