Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. Let me ask you a question. 00:00:01.06\00:00:04.36 When you are talking with God, do you do all the talking? 00:00:04.39\00:00:09.84 Please join us today on "Pressing into His Presence." 00:00:09.87\00:00:12.93 When we will consider 00:00:12.96\00:00:14.57 that prayer should be a two-way communication. 00:00:14.60\00:00:18.17 Welcome to "Pressing into His Presence." 00:00:39.09\00:00:41.59 This is a series that is going to be teaching us 00:00:41.62\00:00:44.85 how to have a more intimate prayer life 00:00:44.88\00:00:47.88 and therefore a more intimate relationship with the Lord. 00:00:47.91\00:00:53.00 If you have joined us for the last two programs 00:00:53.03\00:00:56.28 you know that we've been considering 00:00:56.31\00:00:58.22 the back story so to speak, 00:00:58.25\00:01:00.38 in other words how the Lord led me into this teaching. 00:01:00.41\00:01:04.38 Today we will conclude 00:01:04.50\00:01:06.45 the personal testimony groundwork for this series 00:01:06.48\00:01:09.69 and we are taking this series from a companion book 00:01:09.72\00:01:14.22 that I was blessed to write, 00:01:14.25\00:01:15.97 it's also titled Pressing in to His Presence. 00:01:16.00\00:01:19.41 So many of you are already following along 00:01:19.44\00:01:22.11 and for today we are going to begin on page 25. 00:01:22.14\00:01:26.11 During our last program, I was sharing about my response 00:01:26.46\00:01:31.38 to what I believed was God's call to me 00:01:31.41\00:01:34.72 to pray an hour a day. 00:01:34.75\00:01:36.89 This was to correct my backsliding 00:01:36.92\00:01:39.62 and turn me around 00:01:39.65\00:01:41.28 but it seemed so terribly long and next to impossible to me. 00:01:41.31\00:01:46.90 And on that first morning, 00:01:46.93\00:01:48.67 I sat at my computer at 8 o'clock 00:01:48.70\00:01:51.47 and began, I was gonna type out my prayer to the Lord. 00:01:51.50\00:01:56.28 And something-- this was something 00:01:56.31\00:01:58.49 that I've never done before 00:01:58.52\00:02:00.53 I was gonna type it out like a letter to God. 00:02:00.56\00:02:03.80 So what I did was I covered the clock 00:02:03.83\00:02:06.63 so that I wouldn't be watching it. 00:02:06.66\00:02:08.61 And at the Lord's leading the prayer developed 00:02:08.64\00:02:12.05 that morning in the following order, 00:02:12.08\00:02:15.20 praise was the opening segment 00:02:15.23\00:02:18.80 then it was followed by repentance, 00:02:18.83\00:02:21.77 intersession and supplication. 00:02:21.80\00:02:25.43 And when I finished pouring out my heart to God 00:02:25.46\00:02:28.62 and I couldn't think of another thing to pray 00:02:28.65\00:02:33.22 then I was going to see what God was doing. 00:02:33.25\00:02:38.23 So I thought how much longer 00:02:38.26\00:02:40.80 that I have to go before my hour was complete 00:02:40.83\00:02:44.17 what else was there to talk about at the moment 00:02:44.20\00:02:47.35 and thinking perhaps that 45 minutes had passed. 00:02:47.38\00:02:50.70 I peeked into the sticky note on the clock to check the time 00:02:50.73\00:02:55.54 and it was already a quarter past 10, 00:02:55.57\00:02:58.93 I had spent 2 hours and 15 minutes with the Lord. 00:02:58.96\00:03:03.68 Amazing. 00:03:03.71\00:03:05.14 And as I typed the words in Jesus' name, amen 00:03:05.17\00:03:09.14 that still small voice of the Lord interrupted 00:03:10.05\00:03:14.01 catching me totally off guard saying this, 00:03:14.04\00:03:19.45 "Be still and know that I am God." 00:03:19.48\00:03:24.86 I know the Holy Spirit 00:03:24.89\00:03:26.86 will never impress anything upon our mind 00:03:26.89\00:03:29.56 that is not in perfect agreement 00:03:29.59\00:03:32.12 with God's council in the Bible. 00:03:32.15\00:03:34.19 And those words were a direct quote of Psalm 46:10 00:03:34.22\00:03:39.82 which says, "Be still, and know that I am God, 00:03:39.85\00:03:44.67 I will be exalted among the nations, 00:03:44.70\00:03:49.21 I will be exalted in the earth!" 00:03:49.24\00:03:52.52 Well, you can imagine I froze in my position 00:03:55.12\00:04:00.48 with my fingers poised on the keyboard 00:04:00.51\00:04:03.27 then I began to doubt was that really 00:04:03.30\00:04:06.30 God's command to be still or was it my imagination. 00:04:06.33\00:04:10.79 And another distant thought came drifting into my mind 00:04:10.82\00:04:14.42 then I frantically asked, 00:04:14.45\00:04:16.08 "Oh, Lord, is this You or is this me?" 00:04:16.11\00:04:19.00 And then yet another thought 00:04:19.03\00:04:20.85 and then again I questioned the source 00:04:20.88\00:04:23.33 "Lord, please, is this You or is this me?" 00:04:23.36\00:04:27.83 And in the past I had often claimed John 10:27, 00:04:27.86\00:04:33.39 which is-- this is where Jesus said, 00:04:33.42\00:04:35.82 "My sheep hear My voice, 00:04:35.85\00:04:38.50 and I know them, and they follow Me." 00:04:38.53\00:04:41.60 And I also claimed John 10:5, where He said, 00:04:41.63\00:04:46.06 "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, 00:04:46.09\00:04:50.31 but will flee from him, 00:04:50.34\00:04:51.93 for they do not know the voice of strangers." 00:04:51.96\00:04:55.37 I had-- I had prayed this saying, 00:04:55.40\00:04:57.45 "Oh, Father, thank You Lord Jesus, 00:04:57.48\00:05:00.19 that I know Your voice thank You Lord Jesus, 00:05:00.22\00:05:03.65 that I'll never follow the voice of a stranger. 00:05:03.68\00:05:08.19 And now the idea that the Lord 00:05:08.22\00:05:10.23 wanted to share a thought with me 00:05:10.26\00:05:12.13 during my prayer time was unbelievable. 00:05:12.16\00:05:16.13 Suddenly the thought flashed into my mind 00:05:16.16\00:05:20.17 "I will teach you to quit interrupting in the 00:05:20.20\00:05:23.02 spiritual realm as well as in the physical realm." 00:05:23.05\00:05:26.44 Write what I speak to you that you may take note of it often. 00:05:26.47\00:05:31.20 Well, with trepidation I typed out the thoughts 00:05:31.23\00:05:35.67 being so strongly impressed upon my mind 00:05:35.70\00:05:38.11 And they only amounted to three sentences. 00:05:38.14\00:05:41.59 And I ended with this command, look it up, 00:05:41.62\00:05:45.56 searching the Bible I found scriptures 00:05:45.59\00:05:48.02 that supported and explained 00:05:48.05\00:05:50.62 what I now believed were His divine thoughts. 00:05:50.65\00:05:53.20 And I sat back in satisfaction 00:05:53.23\00:05:55.23 that my loving Father had given me instruction to heed. 00:05:55.26\00:05:59.23 I didn't really expect this to happen 00:05:59.63\00:06:01.99 in the same manner on the following morning, but it did. 00:06:02.02\00:06:07.39 God again impressed His thoughts upon my mind. 00:06:07.42\00:06:11.04 This time it was only two sentences 00:06:11.62\00:06:14.16 but they were powerful reassurance 00:06:14.19\00:06:17.14 that it was His still small voice 00:06:17.17\00:06:20.98 impressing His thoughts upon my mind 00:06:21.01\00:06:23.43 as we talk about from 1 Kings 19:12. 00:06:23.46\00:06:27.43 Now JD was working out of town 00:06:27.70\00:06:31.29 and we regularly called each other throughout the day. 00:06:31.32\00:06:34.62 And of course I was so excited about this new prayer privilege 00:06:34.65\00:06:39.69 that I just had to share my joy with him. 00:06:39.72\00:06:42.77 He didn't say much about it at first 00:06:42.80\00:06:45.78 but then after several days 00:06:45.81\00:06:47.71 of listening to my bubbling reports 00:06:47.74\00:06:50.39 he made his feelings understood. 00:06:50.42\00:06:53.02 He tenderly said, "Honey, please don't tell 00:06:53.05\00:06:58.49 anyone else that you're hearing from God 00:06:58.52\00:07:01.25 they will think you're crazy. 00:07:01.28\00:07:04.08 Well, within a few weeks JD was convinced 00:07:04.11\00:07:08.07 that God indeed was impressing thoughts upon my mind 00:07:08.10\00:07:11.71 during times at prayer. 00:07:11.74\00:07:13.87 Then my sweet husband questioned me saying, 00:07:13.90\00:07:17.17 "I pray throughout the day, why haven't I ever heard God?" 00:07:17.20\00:07:22.90 And I simply answer him by asking 00:07:22.93\00:07:25.38 "Well, have you ever listened?" 00:07:25.41\00:07:28.82 And a few days later, JD called 00:07:28.85\00:07:31.66 and cautiously shared a new prayer experience. 00:07:31.69\00:07:34.63 Wondering if the thoughts that came to his mind were from God. 00:07:34.66\00:07:38.59 We're going to examine 00:07:38.62\00:07:40.42 what happened to him in our later program. 00:07:40.45\00:07:42.95 But I think when we get there you will agree with me 00:07:42.98\00:07:46.09 God was definitely giving him 00:07:46.12\00:07:48.86 a loving and unexpected word of correction. 00:07:48.89\00:07:53.85 When 1 Kings 19:12 talks about hearing, 00:07:53.88\00:07:57.76 the still small voice of the Lord 00:07:57.79\00:08:00.64 think-- I think of it as describing 00:08:00.67\00:08:04.95 when the Holy Spirit impresses God's thoughts upon our minds. 00:08:04.98\00:08:08.95 I don't believe this type of communication 00:08:09.17\00:08:12.11 is an exclusive privilege offered to just a few. 00:08:12.14\00:08:15.83 JD and I are no more special than anyone else. 00:08:15.86\00:08:19.67 God is a loving Father and He wants to teach His children 00:08:19.70\00:08:25.58 if He could just get their attention 00:08:25.61\00:08:28.53 and their cooperation to listen, 00:08:28.56\00:08:30.81 He wants to teach us 00:08:30.84\00:08:32.61 that prayer is a two-way communication. 00:08:32.64\00:08:36.45 After all, God's purpose is to lead us. 00:08:36.48\00:08:40.43 One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 48:17. 00:08:40.46\00:08:47.52 And this is what it says, 00:08:47.55\00:08:50.02 "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, 00:08:50.05\00:08:53.59 the Holy One of Israel, 00:08:53.62\00:08:55.81 'I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, 00:08:55.84\00:09:01.22 Who leads you by the way you should go.'" 00:09:01.25\00:09:05.30 If this idea of hearing God's voice His still small voice, 00:09:05.33\00:09:11.37 seems a little far fetch to you. 00:09:11.40\00:09:13.11 Please stay tuned for future programs, 00:09:13.14\00:09:16.04 please give me the opportunity 00:09:16.07\00:09:18.36 to prove this is a scriptural teaching. 00:09:18.39\00:09:21.59 If you don't, you won't know what you've missed. 00:09:21.62\00:09:25.44 I've traveled the world 00:09:25.47\00:09:26.84 and I have pulled congregation around the world 00:09:26.87\00:09:30.85 asking how many in the audience 00:09:30.88\00:09:33.62 were just certain that God had on occasion by His Holy Spirit 00:09:33.65\00:09:39.45 impressed His thoughts upon their mind in inaudible words. 00:09:39.48\00:09:45.76 Words that can't be heard with the physical ear 00:09:45.79\00:09:49.06 but it's being heard in your mind. 00:09:49.09\00:09:51.05 And almost always, at least two third's 00:09:51.08\00:09:55.00 of the members in the audience will raise their hand saying, 00:09:55.03\00:09:58.44 "Yes, I know God has impressed a thought upon my mind." 00:09:58.47\00:10:01.96 Now some raise their hands with timidity 00:10:01.99\00:10:04.78 as if they were embarrassed to admit it. 00:10:04.81\00:10:07.69 But before I learned to press into His presence 00:10:07.72\00:10:11.98 those precious occasions happen to me infrequently. 00:10:12.01\00:10:16.73 When I allow this practice of pressing in type prayer 00:10:16.76\00:10:20.73 to be crowded out at my schedule, 00:10:20.76\00:10:22.87 in other words, when I'm shamefully too busy 00:10:22.90\00:10:26.02 to spend substantial time with the Lord in prayer. 00:10:26.05\00:10:29.65 I don't perceive His still small voice 00:10:29.68\00:10:32.70 but it became almost a daily occurrence over the many years 00:10:32.73\00:10:37.68 that I faithfully practiced this teaching. 00:10:37.71\00:10:40.62 Occasionally, even when I was being still before the Lord 00:10:40.65\00:10:45.22 He trusted me with His silence. 00:10:45.25\00:10:47.44 To teach me He was still there, 00:10:47.47\00:10:49.45 even though I didn't sense His still small voice. 00:10:49.48\00:10:54.41 Don't be fearful of trying this biblical practice 00:10:54.44\00:10:57.95 of listening for the Lord's voice. 00:10:57.98\00:10:59.94 In today's culture, we aren't accustomed to thinking 00:10:59.97\00:11:03.78 that God wants to communicate with us on a personal level. 00:11:03.81\00:11:07.47 Oh, but He does. 00:11:07.50\00:11:09.45 And we need to know how 00:11:09.48\00:11:11.92 so that we don't get caught up in counterfeit teachings 00:11:11.95\00:11:16.89 or be so fearful that we avoid the true experience. 00:11:16.92\00:11:22.45 In later programs, we will examine much scripture 00:11:22.48\00:11:26.99 to verify the way that the Lord communicates with mankind. 00:11:27.02\00:11:31.84 We will also look at His promises 00:11:31.87\00:11:34.48 that we reveal God wants us to learn 00:11:34.51\00:11:37.32 that prayer is a two-way communication. 00:11:37.35\00:11:41.71 I don't get the impression of His inaudible voice 00:11:41.74\00:11:45.57 when I rush in before Him and try to get an answer. 00:11:45.60\00:11:49.94 In fact, it rarely happens 00:11:49.97\00:11:52.29 if I haven't spent at least an hour in prayer 00:11:52.32\00:11:54.68 pouring out my heart before Him. 00:11:54.71\00:11:56.95 And then sitting still before Him. 00:11:56.98\00:12:00.22 When His thoughts come they are almost always 00:12:00.25\00:12:03.32 something of an extremely 00:12:03.35\00:12:05.23 personal nature and application. 00:12:05.26\00:12:07.60 And they always line up in total agreement with His word. 00:12:07.63\00:12:13.78 The Holy Spirit will not do otherwise. 00:12:13.81\00:12:17.78 John 14:26 says this, 00:12:17.81\00:12:21.53 and these are the words of Jesus, 00:12:21.56\00:12:24.11 He says, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 00:12:24.14\00:12:27.45 whom the Father will send in My name, 00:12:27.48\00:12:29.77 He will teach you all things, 00:12:29.80\00:12:33.00 and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." 00:12:33.03\00:12:38.16 So the Holy Spirit is our helper 00:12:38.19\00:12:40.79 and He's bringing to remembrance the words of God. 00:12:40.82\00:12:45.55 He will never ever contradict God's words. 00:12:45.58\00:12:49.13 So listening to God during my prayer time 00:12:49.16\00:12:52.19 is how I knew He was calling me into full time ministry. 00:12:52.22\00:12:56.27 He also announced 21 months before 00:12:56.30\00:12:59.79 I first appeared on 3ABN that He will open the doors 00:12:59.82\00:13:04.33 for television, radio and publishing 00:13:04.36\00:13:07.10 and that I would speak into all the world. 00:13:07.13\00:13:10.63 A couple of years later, 00:13:10.66\00:13:12.31 He prevented my husband and I from buying a new home 00:13:12.34\00:13:15.42 in Coleman, Texas where we were living 00:13:15.45\00:13:17.78 by telling us that we would move out of town within 00:13:17.81\00:13:21.82 several months but He didn't even reveal the location. 00:13:21.85\00:13:25.69 And you know what, I didn't ask. 00:13:25.72\00:13:27.94 I had already learned 00:13:27.97\00:13:29.50 that God tells me just a little bit at a time. 00:13:29.53\00:13:33.48 This was months in advance 00:13:33.51\00:13:35.86 of our surprise invitation to join the staff at 3ABN. 00:13:35.89\00:13:40.56 There are times when I had been in prayer with Him 00:13:40.59\00:13:45.69 feeling satisfied about myself 00:13:45.72\00:13:48.69 and the direction in which I'm heading. 00:13:48.72\00:13:51.27 When God has stunned me with a word of correction 00:13:51.30\00:13:56.27 and then there also had been times and days 00:13:56.30\00:14:00.42 when I'm just really crestfallen 00:14:00.45\00:14:03.36 and I feel like I'm a dismal disappointment to Him. 00:14:03.39\00:14:07.29 And my loving Father has surprised me with words, 00:14:07.32\00:14:10.68 of encouragement and assurance. 00:14:10.71\00:14:13.32 His response has never been something I have expected, 00:14:13.35\00:14:17.77 I have come to trust these thoughts 00:14:17.80\00:14:19.91 being impressed upon my mind are at divine origin. 00:14:19.94\00:14:23.91 I faithfully kept my daily commitment 00:14:23.94\00:14:26.46 to the Lord for the first 9 years. 00:14:26.49\00:14:28.79 Every day I prayed and in addition to praying 00:14:28.82\00:14:33.32 throughout the day, my normal prayers, 00:14:33.35\00:14:36.64 I mean, I prayed an hour each morning. 00:14:36.67\00:14:40.07 And I'm ashamed to admit it but I must say that 00:14:40.10\00:14:44.16 over the past several years I've let this practice slip. 00:14:44.19\00:14:47.81 Instead of daily pressing into His presence, 00:14:47.84\00:14:51.55 it became a weekly effort. 00:14:51.58\00:14:53.18 In some months it was not even that often. 00:14:53.21\00:14:56.44 You know we work four, 10 hour days 00:14:56.47\00:15:00.10 each week here at 3ABN Broadcasting Network. 00:15:00.13\00:15:03.93 And we travel most weekends to speak 00:15:03.96\00:15:07.14 at camp meetings or church revivals and retreats 00:15:07.17\00:15:10.53 and that has interrupted the rhythm of this practice 00:15:10.56\00:15:14.86 only because of I've allowed it. 00:15:14.89\00:15:16.88 I'm not proud of this fact. 00:15:16.91\00:15:18.90 And don't misunderstand what I'm saying, 00:15:18.93\00:15:20.77 I continue to pray often throughout the day 00:15:20.80\00:15:24.50 but it's different, 00:15:24.53\00:15:25.94 it's not pressing into His presence. 00:15:25.97\00:15:29.82 A 15 minute prayer is just not as satisfying. 00:15:29.85\00:15:33.86 And I don't hear from God 00:15:33.89\00:15:35.74 when I rush in before Him in this fashion. 00:15:35.77\00:15:38.76 And to answer the obvious question, 00:15:38.79\00:15:41.53 yes, I lose ground when I'm not practicing this. 00:15:41.56\00:15:45.60 I think that's called backsliding, isn't it? 00:15:45.63\00:15:49.02 Prior to taping this series, I felt that it was necessary 00:15:49.05\00:15:52.97 to return to the practice of praying an hour in the morning. 00:15:53.00\00:15:57.38 And praise God, He is reawakening 00:15:57.41\00:16:00.87 my passion for His presence. 00:16:00.90\00:16:03.71 Prayer is a vital life source. 00:16:03.74\00:16:07.34 It is the breath of the soul and how refreshing it is 00:16:07.37\00:16:11.58 to be deep breathing again 00:16:11.61\00:16:13.77 rather than just the occasional spiritual gasping 00:16:13.80\00:16:17.28 that I had gravitated toward. 00:16:17.31\00:16:19.96 More importantly, I cannot tell you how joyful it makes me too. 00:16:19.99\00:16:24.71 Once again be hearing the still small voice of the Lord 00:16:24.74\00:16:30.80 like that beautiful hymn, 00:16:30.83\00:16:31.95 "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." 00:16:31.98\00:16:34.80 Oh, it says 00:16:34.83\00:16:36.99 oh, prone to wander from the God I love, 00:16:37.02\00:16:39.98 prone to take His presence for granted. 00:16:40.01\00:16:44.77 To grace, how great a tatter I am. 00:16:44.80\00:16:48.86 Father, take our hearts and seal it, 00:16:48.89\00:16:51.55 seal them for Your courts above as the songs says. 00:16:51.58\00:16:55.10 That's my prayer for every sincere 00:16:55.13\00:16:59.21 hearted seeker of God's kingdom and God's righteousness. 00:16:59.24\00:17:03.89 Let's return our focus to 00:17:03.92\00:17:05.84 what happened that September of 1999 00:17:05.87\00:17:08.18 when the Lord first led me to pray in this manner. 00:17:08.21\00:17:11.08 If someone spends an hour with God each morning, 00:17:11.11\00:17:14.05 and learn to sit at His feet and listen. 00:17:14.08\00:17:17.01 Wouldn't you think that she could expect 00:17:17.04\00:17:20.15 greater spiritual power 00:17:20.18\00:17:21.64 to overcome the obstacles of sinful flesh? 00:17:21.67\00:17:26.06 Well, in my case it just wasn't happening 00:17:26.09\00:17:28.24 at least not for the first two weeks. 00:17:28.27\00:17:30.93 And on the 15th morning of my new prayer experience, 00:17:30.96\00:17:33.87 I awoke rather late and I opened the windows 00:17:33.90\00:17:37.11 to the best weather of September can muster. 00:17:37.14\00:17:39.91 The air was crisp and golden leaves 00:17:39.94\00:17:42.59 were on the ground moist with dew 00:17:42.62\00:17:45.15 and they reflected the sun's sparkling rays. 00:17:45.18\00:17:47.99 Now normally this scene would have exhilarated me 00:17:48.02\00:17:52.03 but I was feeling down in the mouth, 00:17:52.06\00:17:54.67 dissatisfied with my spiritual progress. 00:17:54.70\00:17:57.94 After opening my prayer with praise, 00:17:57.97\00:18:00.77 I began my ritual of repentance. 00:18:00.80\00:18:03.70 And as I confess my sins, 00:18:03.73\00:18:05.74 I pleaded with God for more spiritual power. 00:18:05.77\00:18:09.07 And the still small voice of the Lord broke through saying, 00:18:09.10\00:18:13.42 "All of My promises are yours in Christ." 00:18:13.45\00:18:16.58 Isn't that what 2 Corinthians 1:20 says? 00:18:16.61\00:18:21.40 It says, "All of the promises of God in Him, 00:18:21.43\00:18:25.96 in Christ are Yes, and in Him Amen, 00:18:25.99\00:18:30.55 to the glory of God through us." 00:18:30.58\00:18:34.75 Hallelujah. 00:18:34.78\00:18:36.14 These words struck like a thunderbolt. 00:18:36.17\00:18:39.37 Of course, God had proven to me several years earlier 00:18:39.40\00:18:43.91 how affirming His word, in other words, 00:18:43.94\00:18:46.71 how claiming and confessing His promises. 00:18:46.74\00:18:50.06 Praying them back to Him, speaking them over my life, 00:18:50.09\00:18:53.56 that was the way to plug into His power source. 00:18:53.59\00:18:57.02 So, that September morning, 00:18:57.05\00:18:59.13 I added a generous portion of life affirmations 00:18:59.16\00:19:02.62 from scripture to my daily prayer. 00:19:02.65\00:19:05.05 And immediately I was transformed, 00:19:05.08\00:19:08.13 endued with power from on high. 00:19:08.16\00:19:10.71 The struggle of my flesh was banished. 00:19:10.74\00:19:13.73 God thrust out the enemy from before me, 00:19:13.76\00:19:17.06 just as He promised 00:19:17.09\00:19:19.13 in Deuteronomy 33:27, let's read that. 00:19:19.16\00:19:23.67 It says, "The eternal God is your refuge, 00:19:23.70\00:19:27.79 and underneath are the everlasting arms, 00:19:27.82\00:19:30.75 He will thrust out the enemy from before you, 00:19:30.78\00:19:33.94 and will say, 'Destroy!'" 00:19:33.97\00:19:37.63 Hallelujah. That prayer prevailed. 00:19:37.66\00:19:41.25 My day was dramatically different. 00:19:41.28\00:19:44.34 Before I went to bed that night I reviewed the prayer 00:19:44.37\00:19:47.50 and I decided to label the various segments 00:19:47.53\00:19:51.39 of the portions that had been produced 00:19:51.42\00:19:54.63 that or that had produced such a powerful pattern. 00:19:54.66\00:19:58.36 These are the segment labels. 00:19:58.39\00:20:01.34 First was praise then repentance, 00:20:01.37\00:20:05.12 affirmation, intercession, supplication 00:20:05.15\00:20:10.03 and the last one I titled, enter and be still. 00:20:10.06\00:20:14.37 Please note that if you take the first letter of each word 00:20:14.40\00:20:20.21 we develop an acronym praise, P-R-A-I-S-E. 00:20:20.24\00:20:26.63 I alternately referred to this teaching 00:20:26.66\00:20:29.24 as pressing into His presence or the praise prayer. 00:20:29.27\00:20:33.11 And I may be over estimating this 00:20:33.14\00:20:35.16 but I believe that God had a reason 00:20:35.19\00:20:37.66 for directing the segments 00:20:37.69\00:20:39.56 in the special order that He did. 00:20:39.59\00:20:41.94 And in upcoming programs, you will learn 00:20:41.97\00:20:44.15 why I think this is true you can decide for yourself. 00:20:44.18\00:20:48.49 You know I've never been a fan of prayer formulas. 00:20:48.52\00:20:52.13 There's always the possibility of developing 00:20:52.16\00:20:55.22 mechanical and meaningless practices. 00:20:55.25\00:20:58.02 But I don't think of this teaching as a prayer formula, 00:20:58.05\00:21:01.02 it's just prayer patterns. 00:21:01.05\00:21:03.77 And over the many years of practicing this type of prayer 00:21:03.80\00:21:07.97 as I've said before it's never become mechanical for me. 00:21:08.00\00:21:11.75 I often use this pattern 00:21:11.78\00:21:13.70 in a much shorter prayer as well. 00:21:13.73\00:21:16.61 Please understand I'm not trying to advocate 00:21:16.64\00:21:19.74 that this is the only manner in which to pray. 00:21:19.77\00:21:22.93 Prayer is an intimate communication 00:21:22.96\00:21:25.88 with an intimate being of love 00:21:25.91\00:21:28.54 and it will naturally take on various forms of expression. 00:21:28.57\00:21:32.57 I send up many different types of prayer daily 00:21:32.60\00:21:36.37 before His throne of grace. 00:21:36.40\00:21:38.60 But still the praise prayer pattern 00:21:38.63\00:21:41.09 has been the most successful I have used 00:21:41.12\00:21:43.84 for pressing into His presence. 00:21:43.87\00:21:46.93 Please don't become discouraged and tuned out this teaching 00:21:46.96\00:21:50.36 because the thought of praying an hour a day seems impossible. 00:21:50.39\00:21:54.24 This is not a commandment, 00:21:54.27\00:21:55.79 yes, it will absolutely correct backsliding if you do it. 00:21:55.82\00:22:01.41 But God doesn't insist that we pray an hour a day. 00:22:01.44\00:22:05.80 And I know that so many of our lives 00:22:05.83\00:22:08.44 are so very over schedule. 00:22:08.47\00:22:11.17 I really do appreciate the challenges facing you. 00:22:11.20\00:22:15.01 In fact, that's my problem, I experienced the same. 00:22:15.04\00:22:19.66 Is your to-do list just to demanding 00:22:19.69\00:22:23.02 to accomplish this daily? 00:22:23.05\00:22:25.02 Well, make some time on your day's off from your job 00:22:25.05\00:22:29.53 and at least you will be pressing into His presence 00:22:29.56\00:22:32.85 at least on a weekly basis. 00:22:32.88\00:22:35.61 And I guarantee you once you have tasted 00:22:35.64\00:22:38.91 the sweetness of praying this way, 00:22:38.94\00:22:41.62 you very well might see that it's easy 00:22:41.65\00:22:44.58 to make time for it more often. 00:22:44.61\00:22:47.80 Martin Luther, the priest who initiated 00:22:47.83\00:22:51.41 the protestant reformation in 1517 A.D. 00:22:51.44\00:22:57.03 he was known as a devout man of prayer. 00:22:57.06\00:23:01.18 And he reportedly said this, "Tomorrow I plan to work, 00:23:01.21\00:23:07.18 work from early until late. 00:23:07.21\00:23:09.63 In fact, I have so much to do 00:23:09.66\00:23:12.32 that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." 00:23:12.35\00:23:20.06 This testifies that Luther recognized 00:23:20.09\00:23:23.76 his absolute dependence on the Lord. 00:23:23.79\00:23:26.62 And did you know that is God's plan? 00:23:26.65\00:23:29.34 It is something that-- it took me the longest time 00:23:29.37\00:23:33.82 to learn that that's what it's all about. 00:23:33.85\00:23:37.96 God wants us to come to Him 00:23:37.99\00:23:40.69 and recognize our absolute total dependence upon Him. 00:23:40.72\00:23:45.64 It is God who works in us to will and to do. 00:23:45.67\00:23:50.54 It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:23:50.57\00:23:54.87 that is sufficient. 00:23:54.90\00:23:56.29 That He makes His power perfect in our weakness. 00:23:56.32\00:24:01.40 And if we are relying on self, if we are being independent, 00:24:01.43\00:24:08.78 we're actually insulting God. 00:24:08.81\00:24:12.17 Luther knew to be dependant upon God. 00:24:12.20\00:24:17.31 And what Luther did was he finally recognized 00:24:17.34\00:24:22.09 that by His-- keeping this appointment 00:24:22.12\00:24:26.46 he would leverage his productive time. 00:24:26.49\00:24:30.84 You know, I guarantee you 00:24:30.87\00:24:33.12 that if you will spend an hour a day in time with God, 00:24:33.15\00:24:39.26 if you'll make this your highest priority, 00:24:39.29\00:24:42.60 God will increase your productivity 00:24:42.63\00:24:45.74 and He will make certain that you accomplish everything 00:24:45.77\00:24:50.78 that you need to do. 00:24:50.81\00:24:52.79 Speaking from experience I can say that you will be 00:24:52.82\00:24:56.67 much more productive after pressing into His presence. 00:24:56.70\00:25:00.59 That's why Luther, oh, he found this out. 00:25:00.62\00:25:03.10 That's why he said, "I've got so much to do, 00:25:03.13\00:25:05.50 I'm gonna spend three hours in prayer." 00:25:05.53\00:25:10.38 Well, what I would like to do right now 00:25:10.41\00:25:13.95 is to say a prayer for you. 00:25:13.98\00:25:16.39 And what I'm going to do is show you how you can pray 00:25:16.42\00:25:21.72 the praise pattern in a very short way. 00:25:21.75\00:25:26.08 So bow your heads and let's pray. 00:25:26.11\00:25:29.84 Father, we thank You for Your love and Your grace toward us. 00:25:29.87\00:25:34.67 Thank You for the indescribable 00:25:34.70\00:25:37.16 gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. 00:25:37.19\00:25:40.63 We praise You for Your goodness, 00:25:40.66\00:25:43.33 Your holiness, Your mercy in power. 00:25:43.36\00:25:46.55 We ask in the name of Jesus for you to forgive our sins. 00:25:46.58\00:25:51.42 That we may come before You 00:25:51.45\00:25:53.12 with clean hands and a pure heart. 00:25:53.15\00:25:56.25 We are Your beloved sheep, we hear Your voice. 00:25:56.28\00:26:00.54 And we will follow You only 00:26:00.57\00:26:02.35 and will never follow the voice of a stranger. 00:26:02.38\00:26:05.47 I pray for my brothers and my sisters right now, Lord, 00:26:05.50\00:26:10.29 that anyone who's listening or watching this series 00:26:10.32\00:26:13.81 that You will send Your spirit to be their teacher. 00:26:13.84\00:26:17.34 Lead them in the way everlasting. 00:26:17.37\00:26:20.12 Teach them, teach me 00:26:20.15\00:26:22.06 how to truly press into Your presence, 00:26:22.09\00:26:24.77 cause us to seek Your face. 00:26:24.80\00:26:28.82 Give us a passion for Your presence. 00:26:28.85\00:26:32.59 Help us to be still and know that You are God. 00:26:32.62\00:26:38.66 Give us ears to hear Your still small voice 00:26:38.69\00:26:42.30 and obey knowing that we can be confident it is Your voice. 00:26:42.33\00:26:47.79 If what is impressed upon our hearts 00:26:47.82\00:26:50.03 is in perfect agreement with Your word. 00:26:50.06\00:26:52.96 Oh, Father, here we raise our Ebenezer 00:26:52.99\00:26:57.18 and we come in confidence of Your empowering help. 00:26:57.21\00:27:01.75 In the name of Your only begotten son, 00:27:01.78\00:27:05.43 Jesus Christ, amen. 00:27:05.46\00:27:09.14 Well, I hope that today has challenged you. 00:27:09.17\00:27:15.72 I hope that today has peeked your curiosity. 00:27:15.75\00:27:19.94 And I hope that you will be joining us for the next time 00:27:19.97\00:27:24.41 because what we're going to do on our next program 00:27:24.44\00:27:28.09 is we are going to learn how to enter into His gates, 00:27:28.12\00:27:33.34 the heavenly gates above with Thanksgiving 00:27:33.37\00:27:36.86 as we approach His throne of grace boldly 00:27:36.89\00:27:41.44 just as He asked us. 00:27:41.47\00:27:43.61 Thank you so much for joining us. 00:27:43.64\00:27:46.66 And I pray that next time 00:27:46.69\00:27:49.40 we're really gonna get started on the teaching. 00:27:49.43\00:27:52.58 So when you tune in next time, 00:27:52.61\00:27:54.81 have a pen and your paper and your Bible handy. 00:27:54.84\00:27:59.18 Until then, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:27:59.21\00:28:03.14 the love of the Father and the fellowship 00:28:03.17\00:28:05.30 of the Holy Spirit be with you always. 00:28:05.33\00:28:08.26