Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. Let me ask you a question. 00:00:01.06\00:00:04.23 When you are talking with God, do you do all the talking? 00:00:04.27\00:00:09.74 Please join us today on "Pressing into His Presence." 00:00:09.77\00:00:12.81 When we will consider 00:00:12.84\00:00:14.48 that prayer should be a two-way communication. 00:00:14.51\00:00:18.15 Welcome to "Pressing into His Presence." 00:00:38.97\00:00:41.47 This is a series that is going to be teaching us 00:00:41.50\00:00:44.74 how to have a more intimate prayer life 00:00:44.77\00:00:47.78 and therefore a more intimate relationship with the Lord. 00:00:47.81\00:00:52.88 If you have joined us for the last two programs 00:00:52.91\00:00:56.18 you know that we've been considering 00:00:56.22\00:00:58.12 the back story so to speak, 00:00:58.15\00:01:00.29 in other words how the Lord led me into this teaching. 00:01:00.32\00:01:04.39 Today we will conclude 00:01:04.43\00:01:06.36 the personal testimony groundwork for this series 00:01:06.39\00:01:09.56 and we are taking this series from a companion book 00:01:09.60\00:01:14.10 that I was blessed to write, 00:01:14.14\00:01:15.87 it's also titled Pressing in to His Presence. 00:01:15.90\00:01:19.31 So many of you are already following along 00:01:19.34\00:01:22.01 and for today we are going to begin on page 25. 00:01:22.04\00:01:26.08 During our last program, I was sharing about my response 00:01:26.35\00:01:31.29 to what I believed was God's call to me 00:01:31.32\00:01:34.62 to pray an hour a day. 00:01:34.66\00:01:36.79 This was to correct my backsliding 00:01:36.83\00:01:39.53 and turn me around 00:01:39.56\00:01:41.16 but it seemed so terribly long and next to impossible to me. 00:01:41.20\00:01:46.77 And on that first morning, 00:01:46.80\00:01:48.57 I sat at my computer at 8 o'clock 00:01:48.60\00:01:51.37 and began, I was gonna type out my prayer to the Lord. 00:01:51.41\00:01:56.18 And something-- this was something 00:01:56.21\00:01:58.38 that I've never done before 00:01:58.41\00:02:00.42 I was gonna type it out like a letter to God. 00:02:00.45\00:02:03.69 So what I did was I covered the clock 00:02:03.72\00:02:06.52 so that I wouldn't be watching it. 00:02:06.55\00:02:08.52 And at the Lord's leading the prayer developed 00:02:08.56\00:02:11.96 that morning in the following order, 00:02:11.99\00:02:15.06 praise was the opening segment 00:02:15.10\00:02:18.67 then it was followed by repentance, 00:02:18.70\00:02:21.67 intersession and supplication. 00:02:21.70\00:02:25.31 And when I finished pouring out my heart to God 00:02:25.34\00:02:28.51 and I couldn't think of another thing to pray 00:02:28.54\00:02:33.11 then I was going to see what God was doing. 00:02:33.15\00:02:38.12 So I thought how much longer 00:02:38.15\00:02:40.69 that I have to go before my hour was complete 00:02:40.72\00:02:44.09 what else was there to talk about at the moment 00:02:44.13\00:02:47.23 and thinking perhaps that 45 minutes had passed. 00:02:47.30\00:02:50.57 I peeked into the sticky note on the clock to check the time 00:02:50.60\00:02:55.44 and it was already a quarter past 10, 00:02:55.47\00:02:58.81 I had spent 2 hours and 15 minutes with the Lord. 00:02:58.84\00:03:03.58 Amazing. 00:03:03.61\00:03:05.05 And as I typed the words in Jesus' name, amen 00:03:05.08\00:03:09.12 that still small voice of the Lord interrupted 00:03:09.95\00:03:13.92 catching me totally off guard saying this, 00:03:13.96\00:03:19.36 "Be still and know that I am God." 00:03:19.39\00:03:24.73 I know the Holy Spirit 00:03:24.77\00:03:26.74 will never impress anything upon our mind 00:03:26.77\00:03:29.44 that is not in perfect agreement 00:03:29.47\00:03:32.01 with God's council in the Bible. 00:03:32.04\00:03:34.08 And those words were a direct quote of Psalm 46:10 00:03:34.11\00:03:39.71 which says, "Be still, and know that I am God, 00:03:39.75\00:03:44.59 I will be exalted among the nations, 00:03:44.62\00:03:49.12 I will be exalted in the earth!" 00:03:49.16\00:03:52.49 Well, you can imagine I froze in my position 00:03:55.00\00:04:00.37 with my fingers poised on the keyboard 00:04:00.40\00:04:03.17 then I began to doubt was that really 00:04:03.20\00:04:06.17 God's command to be still or was it my imagination. 00:04:06.21\00:04:10.68 And another distant thought came drifting into my mind 00:04:10.71\00:04:14.32 then I frantically asked, 00:04:14.35\00:04:15.98 "Oh, Lord, is this You or is this me?" 00:04:16.02\00:04:18.89 And then yet another thought 00:04:18.92\00:04:20.76 and then again I questioned the source 00:04:20.79\00:04:23.22 "Lord, please, is this You or is this me?" 00:04:23.26\00:04:27.73 And in the past I had often claimed John 10:27, 00:04:27.76\00:04:33.27 which is-- this is where Jesus said, 00:04:33.30\00:04:35.70 "My sheep hear My voice, 00:04:35.74\00:04:38.37 and I know them, and they follow Me." 00:04:38.41\00:04:41.48 And I also claimed John 10:5, where He said, 00:04:41.51\00:04:45.95 "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, 00:04:45.98\00:04:50.22 but will flee from him, 00:04:50.25\00:04:51.82 for they do not know the voice of strangers." 00:04:51.85\00:04:55.29 I had-- I had prayed this saying, 00:04:55.32\00:04:57.36 "Oh, Father, thank You Lord Jesus, 00:04:57.39\00:05:00.10 that I know Your voice thank You Lord Jesus, 00:05:00.13\00:05:03.53 that I'll never follow the voice of a stranger. 00:05:03.57\00:05:08.07 And now the idea that the Lord 00:05:08.10\00:05:10.11 wanted to share a thought with me 00:05:10.14\00:05:12.01 during my prayer time was unbelievable. 00:05:12.04\00:05:16.01 Suddenly the thought flashed into my mind 00:05:16.04\00:05:20.08 "I will teach you to quit interrupting in the 00:05:20.12\00:05:22.92 spiritual realm as well as in the physical realm." 00:05:22.95\00:05:26.35 Write what I speak to you that you may take note of it often. 00:05:26.39\00:05:31.09 Well, with trepidation I typed out the thoughts 00:05:31.13\00:05:35.56 being so strongly impressed upon my mind 00:05:35.60\00:05:38.00 And they only amounted to three sentences. 00:05:38.03\00:05:41.47 And I ended with this command, look it up, 00:05:41.50\00:05:45.44 searching the Bible I found scriptures 00:05:45.47\00:05:47.91 that supported and explained 00:05:47.94\00:05:50.51 what I now believed were His divine thoughts. 00:05:50.55\00:05:53.08 And I sat back in satisfaction 00:05:53.11\00:05:55.12 that my loving Father had given me instruction to heed. 00:05:55.15\00:05:59.19 I didn't really expect this to happen 00:05:59.52\00:06:01.89 in the same manner on the following morning, but it did. 00:06:01.92\00:06:07.30 God again impressed His thoughts upon my mind. 00:06:07.30\00:06:11.00 This time it was only two sentences 00:06:11.50\00:06:14.04 but they were powerful reassurance 00:06:14.07\00:06:17.04 that it was His still small voice 00:06:17.07\00:06:20.88 impressing His thoughts upon my mind 00:06:20.91\00:06:23.31 as we talk about from 1 Kings 19:12. 00:06:23.35\00:06:27.38 Now JD was working out of town 00:06:27.62\00:06:31.19 and we regularly called each other throughout the day. 00:06:31.22\00:06:34.52 And of course I was so excited about this new prayer privilege 00:06:34.56\00:06:39.59 that I just had to share my joy with him. 00:06:39.63\00:06:42.66 He didn't say much about it at first 00:06:42.70\00:06:45.67 but then after several days 00:06:45.70\00:06:47.60 of listening to my bubbling reports 00:06:47.64\00:06:50.27 he made his feelings understood. 00:06:50.31\00:06:52.91 He tenderly said, "Honey, please don't tell 00:06:52.94\00:06:58.38 anyone else that you're hearing from God 00:06:58.41\00:07:01.15 they will think you're crazy. 00:07:01.18\00:07:03.99 Well, within a few weeks JD was convinced 00:07:04.02\00:07:07.99 that God indeed was impressing thoughts upon my mind 00:07:08.02\00:07:11.63 during times at prayer. 00:07:11.66\00:07:13.80 Then my sweet husband questioned me saying, 00:07:13.83\00:07:17.07 "I pray throughout the day, why haven't I ever heard God?" 00:07:17.10\00:07:22.77 And I simply answer him by asking 00:07:22.80\00:07:25.27 "Well, have you ever listened?" 00:07:25.31\00:07:28.71 And a few days later, JD called 00:07:28.74\00:07:31.55 and cautiously shared a new prayer experience. 00:07:31.58\00:07:34.52 Wondering if the thoughts that came to his mind were from God. 00:07:34.55\00:07:38.49 We're going to examine 00:07:38.52\00:07:40.32 what happened to him in our later program. 00:07:40.36\00:07:42.86 But I think when we get there you will agree with me 00:07:42.89\00:07:45.99 God was definitely giving him 00:07:46.03\00:07:48.73 a loving and unexpected word of correction. 00:07:48.76\00:07:53.74 When 1 Kings 19:12 talks about hearing, 00:07:53.77\00:07:57.64 the still small voice of the Lord 00:07:57.67\00:08:00.54 think-- I think of it as describing 00:08:00.58\00:08:04.85 when the Holy Spirit impresses God's thoughts upon our minds. 00:08:04.88\00:08:08.92 I don't believe this type of communication 00:08:09.08\00:08:12.02 is an exclusive privilege offered to just a few. 00:08:12.05\00:08:15.72 JD and I are no more special than anyone else. 00:08:15.76\00:08:19.59 God is a loving Father and He wants to teach His children 00:08:19.63\00:08:25.47 if He could just get their attention 00:08:25.50\00:08:28.40 and their cooperation to listen, 00:08:28.44\00:08:30.71 He wants to teach us 00:08:30.74\00:08:32.51 that prayer is a two-way communication. 00:08:32.54\00:08:36.34 After all, God's purpose is to lead us. 00:08:36.38\00:08:40.32 One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 48:17. 00:08:40.35\00:08:47.42 And this is what it says, 00:08:47.46\00:08:49.92 "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, 00:08:49.96\00:08:53.50 the Holy One of Israel, 00:08:53.53\00:08:55.70 'I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, 00:08:55.73\00:09:01.10 Who leads you by the way you should go.'" 00:09:01.14\00:09:05.17 If this idea of hearing God's voice His still small voice, 00:09:05.21\00:09:11.28 seems a little far fetch to you. 00:09:11.31\00:09:13.01 Please stay tuned for future programs, 00:09:13.05\00:09:15.95 please give me the opportunity 00:09:15.98\00:09:18.25 to prove this is a scriptural teaching. 00:09:18.29\00:09:21.49 If you don't, you won't know what you've missed. 00:09:21.52\00:09:25.36 I've traveled the world 00:09:25.39\00:09:26.76 and I have pulled congregation around the world 00:09:26.80\00:09:30.73 asking how many in the audience 00:09:30.77\00:09:33.50 were just certain that God had on occasion by His Holy Spirit 00:09:33.54\00:09:39.34 impressed His thoughts upon their mind in inaudible words. 00:09:39.37\00:09:45.65 Words that can't be heard with the physical ear 00:09:45.68\00:09:48.95 but it's being heard in your mind. 00:09:48.98\00:09:50.95 And almost always, at least two third's 00:09:50.99\00:09:54.89 of the members in the audience will raise their hand saying, 00:09:54.92\00:09:58.36 "Yes, I know God has impressed a thought upon my mind." 00:09:58.39\00:10:01.83 Now some raise their hands with timidity 00:10:01.86\00:10:04.67 as if they were embarrassed to admit it. 00:10:04.70\00:10:07.57 But before I learned to press into His presence 00:10:07.60\00:10:11.87 those precious occasions happen to me infrequently. 00:10:11.91\00:10:16.61 When I allow this practice of pressing in type prayer 00:10:16.64\00:10:20.62 to be crowded out at my schedule, 00:10:20.65\00:10:22.78 in other words, when I'm shamefully too busy 00:10:22.82\00:10:25.92 to spend substantial time with the Lord in prayer. 00:10:25.95\00:10:29.56 I don't perceive His still small voice 00:10:29.59\00:10:32.59 but it became almost a daily occurrence over the many years 00:10:32.63\00:10:37.57 that I faithfully practiced this teaching. 00:10:37.60\00:10:40.50 Occasionally, even when I was being still before the Lord 00:10:40.54\00:10:45.11 He trusted me with His silence. 00:10:45.14\00:10:47.34 To teach me He was still there, 00:10:47.38\00:10:49.34 even though I didn't sense His still small voice. 00:10:49.38\00:10:54.32 Don't be fearful of trying this biblical practice 00:10:54.35\00:10:57.85 of listening for the Lord's voice. 00:10:57.89\00:10:59.85 In today's culture, we aren't accustomed to thinking 00:10:59.89\00:11:03.69 that God wants to communicate with us on a personal level. 00:11:03.73\00:11:07.40 Oh, but He does. 00:11:07.40\00:11:09.33 And we need to know how 00:11:09.36\00:11:11.80 so that we don't get caught up in counterfeit teachings 00:11:11.83\00:11:16.77 or be so fearful that we avoid the true experience. 00:11:16.81\00:11:22.34 In later programs, we will examine much scripture 00:11:22.38\00:11:26.88 to verify the way that the Lord communicates with mankind. 00:11:26.92\00:11:31.75 We will also look at His promises 00:11:31.79\00:11:34.39 that we reveal God wants us to learn 00:11:34.42\00:11:37.23 that prayer is a two-way communication. 00:11:37.26\00:11:41.60 I don't get the impression of His inaudible voice 00:11:41.63\00:11:45.47 when I rush in before Him and try to get an answer. 00:11:45.50\00:11:49.84 In fact, it rarely happens 00:11:49.87\00:11:52.17 if I haven't spent at least an hour in prayer 00:11:52.21\00:11:54.58 pouring out my heart before Him. 00:11:54.61\00:11:56.85 And then sitting still before Him. 00:11:56.88\00:12:00.12 When His thoughts come they are almost always 00:12:00.15\00:12:03.22 something of an extremely 00:12:03.25\00:12:05.12 personal nature and application. 00:12:05.15\00:12:07.49 And they always line up in total agreement with His word. 00:12:07.52\00:12:13.70 The Holy Spirit will not do otherwise. 00:12:13.73\00:12:17.67 John 14:26 says this, 00:12:17.70\00:12:21.40 and these are the words of Jesus, 00:12:21.44\00:12:24.01 He says, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 00:12:24.04\00:12:27.34 whom the Father will send in My name, 00:12:27.38\00:12:29.68 He will teach you all things, 00:12:29.71\00:12:32.88 and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." 00:12:32.91\00:12:38.05 So the Holy Spirit is our helper 00:12:38.09\00:12:40.69 and He's bringing to remembrance the words of God. 00:12:40.72\00:12:45.46 He will never ever contradict God's words. 00:12:45.49\00:12:49.00 So listening to God during my prayer time 00:12:49.03\00:12:52.07 is how I knew He was calling me into full time ministry. 00:12:52.10\00:12:56.17 He also announced 21 months before 00:12:56.20\00:12:59.67 I first appeared on 3ABN that He will open the doors 00:12:59.71\00:13:04.21 for television, radio and publishing 00:13:04.25\00:13:06.98 and that I would speak into all the world. 00:13:07.02\00:13:10.52 A couple of years later, 00:13:10.55\00:13:12.22 He prevented my husband and I from buying a new home 00:13:12.25\00:13:15.32 in Coleman, Texas where we were living 00:13:15.36\00:13:17.69 by telling us that we would move out of town within 00:13:17.73\00:13:21.70 several months but He didn't even reveal the location. 00:13:21.73\00:13:25.57 And you know what, I didn't ask. 00:13:25.60\00:13:27.84 I had already learned 00:13:27.87\00:13:29.37 that God tells me just a little bit at a time. 00:13:29.40\00:13:33.38 This was months in advance 00:13:33.41\00:13:35.74 of our surprise invitation to join the staff at 3ABN. 00:13:35.78\00:13:40.45 There are times when I had been in prayer with Him 00:13:40.48\00:13:45.59 feeling satisfied about myself 00:13:45.62\00:13:48.59 and the direction in which I'm heading. 00:13:48.62\00:13:51.19 When God has stunned me with a word of correction 00:13:51.23\00:13:56.16 and then there also had been times and days 00:13:56.20\00:14:00.30 when I'm just really crestfallen 00:14:00.34\00:14:03.24 and I feel like I'm a dismal disappointment to Him. 00:14:03.27\00:14:07.18 And my loving Father has surprised me with words, 00:14:07.21\00:14:10.58 of encouragement and assurance. 00:14:10.61\00:14:13.21 His response has never been something I have expected, 00:14:13.25\00:14:17.69 I have come to trust these thoughts 00:14:17.72\00:14:19.82 being impressed upon my mind are at divine origin. 00:14:19.85\00:14:23.83 I faithfully kept my daily commitment 00:14:23.86\00:14:26.36 to the Lord for the first 9 years. 00:14:26.39\00:14:28.66 Every day I prayed and in addition to praying 00:14:28.70\00:14:33.20 throughout the day, my normal prayers, 00:14:33.23\00:14:36.54 I mean, I prayed an hour each morning. 00:14:36.57\00:14:39.97 And I'm ashamed to admit it but I must say that 00:14:40.01\00:14:44.05 over the past several years I've let this practice slip. 00:14:44.08\00:14:47.72 Instead of daily pressing into His presence, 00:14:47.75\00:14:51.45 it became a weekly effort. 00:14:51.49\00:14:53.09 In some months it was not even that often. 00:14:53.12\00:14:56.36 You know we work four, 10 hour days 00:14:56.39\00:14:59.93 each week here at 3ABN Broadcasting Network. 00:14:59.96\00:15:03.80 And we travel most weekends to speak 00:15:03.83\00:15:07.04 at camp meetings or church revivals and retreats 00:15:07.07\00:15:10.41 and that has interrupted the rhythm of this practice 00:15:10.44\00:15:14.74 only because of I've allowed it. 00:15:14.78\00:15:16.78 I'm not proud of this fact. 00:15:16.81\00:15:18.78 And don't misunderstand what I'm saying, 00:15:18.81\00:15:20.68 I continue to pray often throughout the day 00:15:20.72\00:15:24.39 but it's different, 00:15:24.42\00:15:25.85 it's not pressing into His presence. 00:15:25.89\00:15:29.72 A 15 minute prayer is just not as satisfying. 00:15:29.76\00:15:33.76 And I don't hear from God 00:15:33.80\00:15:35.63 when I rush in before Him in this fashion. 00:15:35.66\00:15:38.63 And to answer the obvious question, 00:15:38.67\00:15:41.40 yes, I lose ground when I'm not practicing this. 00:15:41.44\00:15:45.47 I think that's called backsliding, isn't it? 00:15:45.51\00:15:48.91 Prior to taping this series, I felt that it was necessary 00:15:48.94\00:15:52.88 to return to the practice of praying an hour in the morning. 00:15:52.91\00:15:57.29 And praise God, He is reawakening 00:15:57.32\00:16:00.79 my passion for His presence. 00:16:00.82\00:16:03.63 Prayer is a vital life source. 00:16:03.66\00:16:07.23 It is the breath of the soul and how refreshing it is 00:16:07.30\00:16:11.47 to be deep breathing again 00:16:11.50\00:16:13.67 rather than just the occasional spiritual gasping 00:16:13.70\00:16:17.17 that I had gravitated toward. 00:16:17.21\00:16:19.84 More importantly, I cannot tell you how joyful it makes me too. 00:16:19.87\00:16:24.61 Once again be hearing the still small voice of the Lord 00:16:24.65\00:16:30.69 like that beautiful hymn, 00:16:30.72\00:16:31.85 "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." 00:16:31.89\00:16:34.69 Oh, it says 00:16:34.72\00:16:36.89 oh, prone to wander from the God I love, 00:16:36.93\00:16:39.89 prone to take His presence for granted. 00:16:39.93\00:16:44.67 To grace, how great a tatter I am. 00:16:44.70\00:16:48.74 Father, take our hearts and seal it, 00:16:48.77\00:16:51.44 seal them for Your courts above as the songs says. 00:16:51.47\00:16:54.98 That's my prayer for every sincere 00:16:55.01\00:16:59.11 hearted seeker of God's kingdom and God's righteousness. 00:16:59.15\00:17:03.79 Let's return our focus to 00:17:03.82\00:17:05.75 what happened that September of 1999 00:17:05.79\00:17:08.09 when the Lord first led me to pray in this manner. 00:17:08.12\00:17:10.99 If someone spends an hour with God each morning, 00:17:11.03\00:17:13.96 and learn to sit at His feet and listen. 00:17:14.00\00:17:16.90 Wouldn't you think that she could expect 00:17:16.93\00:17:20.04 greater spiritual power 00:17:20.07\00:17:21.54 to overcome the obstacles of sinful flesh? 00:17:21.57\00:17:25.94 Well, in my case it just wasn't happening 00:17:25.97\00:17:28.14 at least not for the first two weeks. 00:17:28.18\00:17:30.81 And on the 15th morning of my new prayer experience, 00:17:30.85\00:17:33.78 I awoke rather late and I opened the windows 00:17:33.82\00:17:37.02 to the best weather of September can muster. 00:17:37.05\00:17:39.82 The air was crisp and golden leaves 00:17:39.85\00:17:42.49 were on the ground moist with dew 00:17:42.52\00:17:45.06 and they reflected the sun's sparkling rays. 00:17:45.09\00:17:47.86 Now normally this scene would have exhilarated me 00:17:47.93\00:17:51.90 but I was feeling down in the mouth, 00:17:51.93\00:17:54.57 dissatisfied with my spiritual progress. 00:17:54.60\00:17:57.84 After opening my prayer with praise, 00:17:57.87\00:18:00.68 I began my ritual of repentance. 00:18:00.71\00:18:03.58 And as I confess my sins, 00:18:03.61\00:18:05.65 I pleaded with God for more spiritual power. 00:18:05.68\00:18:08.98 And the still small voice of the Lord broke through saying, 00:18:09.02\00:18:13.32 "All of My promises are yours in Christ." 00:18:13.36\00:18:16.49 Isn't that what 2 Corinthians 1:20 says? 00:18:16.52\00:18:21.26 It says, "All of the promises of God in Him, 00:18:21.30\00:18:25.83 in Christ are Yes, and in Him Amen, 00:18:25.87\00:18:30.44 to the glory of God through us." 00:18:30.47\00:18:34.64 Hallelujah. 00:18:34.68\00:18:36.04 These words struck like a thunderbolt. 00:18:36.08\00:18:39.28 Of course, God had proven to me several years earlier 00:18:39.31\00:18:43.82 how affirming His word, in other words, 00:18:43.85\00:18:46.62 how claiming and confessing His promises. 00:18:46.65\00:18:49.96 Praying them back to Him, speaking them over my life, 00:18:49.99\00:18:53.46 that was the way to plug into His power source. 00:18:53.50\00:18:56.90 So, that September morning, 00:18:56.93\00:18:59.00 I added a generous portion of life affirmations 00:18:59.03\00:19:02.50 from scripture to my daily prayer. 00:19:02.54\00:19:04.94 And immediately I was transformed, 00:19:04.97\00:19:08.01 endued with power from on high. 00:19:08.04\00:19:10.61 The struggle of my flesh was banished. 00:19:10.65\00:19:13.62 God thrust out the enemy from before me, 00:19:13.65\00:19:16.95 just as He promised 00:19:16.99\00:19:19.02 in Deuteronomy 33:27, let's read that. 00:19:19.05\00:19:23.59 It says, "The eternal God is your refuge, 00:19:23.63\00:19:27.66 and underneath are the everlasting arms, 00:19:27.73\00:19:30.63 He will thrust out the enemy from before you, 00:19:30.67\00:19:33.84 and will say, 'Destroy!'" 00:19:33.87\00:19:37.51 Hallelujah. That prayer prevailed. 00:19:37.54\00:19:41.14 My day was dramatically different. 00:19:41.18\00:19:44.25 Before I went to bed that night I reviewed the prayer 00:19:44.28\00:19:47.38 and I decided to label the various segments 00:19:47.42\00:19:51.29 of the portions that had been produced 00:19:51.32\00:19:54.52 that or that had produced such a powerful pattern. 00:19:54.56\00:19:58.26 These are the segment labels. 00:19:58.29\00:20:01.23 First was praise then repentance, 00:20:01.26\00:20:05.00 affirmation, intercession, supplication 00:20:05.03\00:20:09.90 and the last one I titled, enter and be still. 00:20:09.94\00:20:14.28 Please note that if you take the first letter of each word 00:20:14.31\00:20:20.12 we develop an acronym praise, P-R-A-I-S-E. 00:20:20.15\00:20:26.52 I alternately referred to this teaching 00:20:26.55\00:20:29.16 as pressing into His presence or the praise prayer. 00:20:29.19\00:20:33.03 And I may be over estimating this 00:20:33.06\00:20:35.03 but I believe that God had a reason 00:20:35.06\00:20:37.53 for directing the segments 00:20:37.57\00:20:39.43 in the special order that He did. 00:20:39.47\00:20:41.84 And in upcoming programs, you will learn 00:20:41.87\00:20:44.04 why I think this is true you can decide for yourself. 00:20:44.07\00:20:48.38 You know I've never been a fan of prayer formulas. 00:20:48.41\00:20:52.01 There's always the possibility of developing 00:20:52.05\00:20:55.12 mechanical and meaningless practices. 00:20:55.15\00:20:57.92 But I don't think of this teaching as a prayer formula, 00:20:57.95\00:21:00.92 it's just prayer patterns. 00:21:00.96\00:21:03.69 And over the many years of practicing this type of prayer 00:21:03.73\00:21:07.86 as I've said before it's never become mechanical for me. 00:21:07.93\00:21:11.63 I often use this pattern 00:21:11.67\00:21:13.57 in a much shorter prayer as well. 00:21:13.60\00:21:16.50 Please understand I'm not trying to advocate 00:21:16.54\00:21:19.64 that this is the only manner in which to pray. 00:21:19.67\00:21:22.81 Prayer is an intimate communication 00:21:22.84\00:21:25.78 with an intimate being of love 00:21:25.81\00:21:28.45 and it will naturally take on various forms of expression. 00:21:28.48\00:21:32.49 I send up many different types of prayer daily 00:21:32.52\00:21:36.29 before His throne of grace. 00:21:36.32\00:21:38.49 But still the praise prayer pattern 00:21:38.53\00:21:40.96 has been the most successful I have used 00:21:41.00\00:21:43.73 for pressing into His presence. 00:21:43.77\00:21:46.80 Please don't become discouraged and tuned out this teaching 00:21:46.84\00:21:50.24 because the thought of praying an hour a day seems impossible. 00:21:50.27\00:21:54.14 This is not a commandment, 00:21:54.18\00:21:55.68 yes, it will absolutely correct backsliding if you do it. 00:21:55.71\00:22:01.32 But God doesn't insist that we pray an hour a day. 00:22:01.35\00:22:05.69 And I know that so many of our lives 00:22:05.72\00:22:08.36 are so very over schedule. 00:22:08.39\00:22:11.09 I really do appreciate the challenges facing you. 00:22:11.13\00:22:14.93 In fact, that's my problem, I experienced the same. 00:22:14.93\00:22:19.53 Is your to-do list just to demanding 00:22:19.57\00:22:22.90 to accomplish this daily? 00:22:22.94\00:22:24.91 Well, make some time on your day's off from your job 00:22:24.94\00:22:29.41 and at least you will be pressing into His presence 00:22:29.44\00:22:32.75 at least on a weekly basis. 00:22:32.78\00:22:35.52 And I guarantee you once you have tasted 00:22:35.55\00:22:38.82 the sweetness of praying this way, 00:22:38.85\00:22:41.52 you very well might see that it's easy 00:22:41.56\00:22:44.49 to make time for it more often. 00:22:44.53\00:22:47.66 Martin Luther, the priest who initiated 00:22:47.73\00:22:51.30 the protestant reformation in 1517 A.D. 00:22:51.33\00:22:56.91 he was known as a devout man of prayer. 00:22:56.94\00:23:01.08 And he reportedly said this, "Tomorrow I plan to work, 00:23:01.11\00:23:07.08 work from early until late. 00:23:07.12\00:23:09.52 In fact, I have so much to do 00:23:09.55\00:23:12.22 that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." 00:23:12.25\00:23:19.96 This testifies that Luther recognized 00:23:20.00\00:23:23.63 his absolute dependence on the Lord. 00:23:23.67\00:23:26.50 And did you know that is God's plan? 00:23:26.53\00:23:29.24 It is something that-- it took me the longest time 00:23:29.27\00:23:33.71 to learn that that's what it's all about. 00:23:33.74\00:23:37.85 God wants us to come to Him 00:23:37.88\00:23:40.58 and recognize our absolute total dependence upon Him. 00:23:40.62\00:23:45.55 It is God who works in us to will and to do. 00:23:45.59\00:23:50.46 It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:23:50.49\00:23:54.76 that is sufficient. 00:23:54.83\00:23:56.16 That He makes His power perfect in our weakness. 00:23:56.20\00:24:01.27 And if we are relying on self, if we are being independent, 00:24:01.30\00:24:08.68 we're actually insulting God. 00:24:08.71\00:24:12.08 Luther knew to be dependant upon God. 00:24:12.11\00:24:17.22 And what Luther did was he finally recognized 00:24:17.25\00:24:21.99 that by His-- keeping this appointment 00:24:22.02\00:24:26.36 he would leverage his productive time. 00:24:26.39\00:24:30.73 You know, I guarantee you 00:24:30.77\00:24:33.00 that if you will spend an hour a day in time with God, 00:24:33.03\00:24:39.14 if you'll make this your highest priority, 00:24:39.17\00:24:42.48 God will increase your productivity 00:24:42.51\00:24:45.65 and He will make certain that you accomplish everything 00:24:45.68\00:24:50.69 that you need to do. 00:24:50.72\00:24:52.69 Speaking from experience I can say that you will be 00:24:52.72\00:24:56.59 much more productive after pressing into His presence. 00:24:56.62\00:25:00.50 That's why Luther, oh, he found this out. 00:25:00.53\00:25:02.96 That's why he said, "I've got so much to do, 00:25:03.00\00:25:05.37 I'm gonna spend three hours in prayer." 00:25:05.40\00:25:10.27 Well, what I would like to do right now 00:25:10.31\00:25:13.84 is to say a prayer for you. 00:25:13.88\00:25:16.28 And what I'm going to do is show you how you can pray 00:25:16.31\00:25:21.62 the praise pattern in a very short way. 00:25:21.65\00:25:25.99 So bow your heads and let's pray. 00:25:26.02\00:25:29.76 Father, we thank You for Your love and Your grace toward us. 00:25:29.79\00:25:34.56 Thank You for the indescribable 00:25:34.60\00:25:37.03 gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. 00:25:37.07\00:25:40.50 We praise You for Your goodness, 00:25:40.54\00:25:43.20 Your holiness, Your mercy in power. 00:25:43.24\00:25:46.44 We ask in the name of Jesus for you to forgive our sins. 00:25:46.47\00:25:51.31 That we may come before You 00:25:51.35\00:25:53.01 with clean hands and a pure heart. 00:25:53.05\00:25:56.15 We are Your beloved sheep, we hear Your voice. 00:25:56.18\00:26:00.46 And we will follow You only 00:26:00.49\00:26:02.26 and will never follow the voice of a stranger. 00:26:02.29\00:26:05.39 I pray for my brothers and my sisters right now, Lord, 00:26:05.43\00:26:10.17 that anyone who's listening or watching this series 00:26:10.20\00:26:13.70 that You will send Your spirit to be their teacher. 00:26:13.74\00:26:17.24 Lead them in the way everlasting. 00:26:17.27\00:26:20.01 Teach them, teach me 00:26:20.04\00:26:21.94 how to truly press into Your presence, 00:26:21.98\00:26:24.68 cause us to seek Your face. 00:26:24.71\00:26:28.72 Give us a passion for Your presence. 00:26:28.75\00:26:32.49 Help us to be still and know that You are God. 00:26:32.52\00:26:38.56 Give us ears to hear Your still small voice 00:26:38.59\00:26:42.16 and obey knowing that we can be confident it is Your voice. 00:26:42.20\00:26:47.67 If what is impressed upon our hearts 00:26:47.70\00:26:49.90 is in perfect agreement with Your word. 00:26:49.94\00:26:52.84 Oh, Father, here we raise our Ebenezer 00:26:52.87\00:26:57.08 and we come in confidence of Your empowering help. 00:26:57.11\00:27:01.65 In the name of Your only begotten son, 00:27:01.68\00:27:05.32 Jesus Christ, amen. 00:27:05.35\00:27:09.06 Well, I hope that today has challenged you. 00:27:09.09\00:27:15.60 I hope that today has peeked your curiosity. 00:27:15.63\00:27:19.83 And I hope that you will be joining us for the next time 00:27:19.87\00:27:24.31 because what we're going to do on our next program 00:27:24.34\00:27:27.98 is we are going to learn how to enter into His gates, 00:27:28.01\00:27:33.25 the heavenly gates above with Thanksgiving 00:27:33.28\00:27:36.75 as we approach His throne of grace boldly 00:27:36.79\00:27:41.36 just as He asked us. 00:27:41.39\00:27:43.53 Thank you so much for joining us. 00:27:43.56\00:27:46.56 And I pray that next time 00:27:46.59\00:27:49.26 we're really gonna get started on the teaching. 00:27:49.30\00:27:52.47 So when you tune in next time, 00:27:52.50\00:27:54.70 have a pen and your paper and your Bible handy. 00:27:54.74\00:27:59.07 Until then, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:27:59.11\00:28:03.04 the love of the Father and the fellowship 00:28:03.08\00:28:05.18 of the Holy Spirit be with you always. 00:28:05.21\00:28:08.22