WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.340 Hi, welcome to Developing Your Prayer Life. 2 00:00:02.340 --> 00:00:03.720 My name is Josh Floyd. 3 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.840 I'm a prayer pastor, and I've been in prayer ministry 4 00:00:06.840 --> 00:00:08.180 for about 12 years now. 5 00:00:08.180 --> 00:00:11.060 This is more of a practical session. 6 00:00:11.060 --> 00:00:14.300 Today, we're just getting over the principles 7 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:17.020 of a prayer time, just the basic principles. 8 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:24.980 So I wanna encourage you, first of all, 9 00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:26.780 to do prayer daily. 10 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:30.060 Set time aside every day for prayer. 11 00:00:30.060 --> 00:00:34.440 We're actually created to need to hear God's voice 12 00:00:34.440 --> 00:00:35.900 on a daily basis. 13 00:00:35.900 --> 00:00:38.600 In scripture, you might recall that the word of the Lord 14 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:42.360 is often compared to bread, and in the Old Testaments, 15 00:00:42.360 --> 00:00:46.280 the Israelites were given manna on a daily basis 16 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:48.280 that they had to gather, bread from heaven. 17 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:50.040 They gathered the bread every day, 18 00:00:50.040 --> 00:00:53.560 and were not supposed to save any for the next day, 19 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:56.000 and if they did, the manna from the day before 20 00:00:56.020 --> 00:00:58.100 would actually go bad and spoil. 21 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:00.460 So Jesus later said in Matthew, 22 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:03.180 man shall not live by bread alone, 23 00:01:03.180 --> 00:01:07.060 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, 24 00:01:07.060 --> 00:01:10.060 and in the Lord's prayer, he instructed us to ask the Father 25 00:01:10.060 --> 00:01:13.260 to give us this day our daily bread, 26 00:01:13.260 --> 00:01:15.540 and sometimes I jokingly say, 27 00:01:15.540 --> 00:01:17.560 give us this week our weekly bread, 28 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:20.180 but that's really not gonna work for us. 29 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:22.540 We need it daily, and that's what our prayer time 30 00:01:22.540 --> 00:01:23.500 with the Lord is like. 31 00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:26.480 We actually receive life from prayer 32 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:30.680 in the same way that we receive life from food, from bread, 33 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:32.920 and trying to go without food for a while 34 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:36.540 is kind of sketchy sometimes. 35 00:01:36.540 --> 00:01:38.380 You go ahead and try it, let me know how you feel. 36 00:01:38.380 --> 00:01:40.960 So if we're expecting to pray once a week 37 00:01:40.960 --> 00:01:44.680 and receive the same spiritual growth as praying every day, 38 00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:46.880 we're gonna be really disappointed, just like we would 39 00:01:46.880 --> 00:01:48.640 if we were trying to eat once a week 40 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:50.720 and expect to feel good throughout the week. 41 00:01:50.720 --> 00:01:52.760 So if you've never prayed daily, 42 00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:53.820 that's why we're here today. 43 00:01:53.820 --> 00:01:56.980 My advice is just start with a 15-minute appointment 44 00:01:56.980 --> 00:02:01.020 and put it in your calendar, and don't miss it. 45 00:02:01.020 --> 00:02:03.420 Treat it like an appointment, like if you were in sports, 46 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:05.300 you had to show up to football practice every day, 47 00:02:05.300 --> 00:02:06.820 and if you missed practice, 48 00:02:06.820 --> 00:02:08.740 there was pretty severe consequences. 49 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:11.360 Think of this appointment with the Lord 50 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:13.420 as a sacred time that you're meeting with him, 51 00:02:13.420 --> 00:02:15.360 but again, just start with 15 minutes. 52 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.140 A lot of people do their prayer time in the morning, 53 00:02:18.140 --> 00:02:20.820 but I've met a lot of people that never wake up in time 54 00:02:20.820 --> 00:02:21.760 to do their prayer time, 55 00:02:21.760 --> 00:02:23.520 so then they never have a prayer time. 56 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:26.280 So really what's important is that you're awake. 57 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:28.680 It doesn't matter what time of day it is. 58 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:32.360 For younger people, usually a nighttime prayer time 59 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:33.300 works the best. 60 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:35.840 For older people, it's usually the opposite. 61 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:39.120 But if you're still struggling, like you're finding a time, 62 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:41.160 but you're like, man, I just cannot commit to this, 63 00:02:41.160 --> 00:02:43.680 and I can't get myself to follow through on a daily basis, 64 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:46.980 a great place to start is just showing up to a prayer meeting. 65 00:02:46.980 --> 00:02:49.240 If you know a prayer meeting at your church, 66 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.560 or you know a couple other people 67 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:52.140 that are trying to grow in prayer, 68 00:02:52.140 --> 00:02:54.660 just get together once a week with other believers 69 00:02:54.660 --> 00:02:57.360 and pray together, and they're gonna inspire you 70 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:59.140 and give you a hunger for prayer 71 00:02:59.140 --> 00:03:01.540 that will eventually lead you into a daily prayer time. 72 00:03:01.540 --> 00:03:03.660 So as we're embarking on this journey 73 00:03:03.660 --> 00:03:05.340 to develop your prayer life, 74 00:03:05.340 --> 00:03:07.180 this is one thing I really want you to remember, 75 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:08.940 and I'm probably gonna say it more than once, 76 00:03:08.940 --> 00:03:11.180 but prayer should be enjoyable, right? 77 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:14.740 In Isaiah 56, God said that I'm gonna bring people 78 00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:17.940 to my holy mountain and make them joyful 79 00:03:17.940 --> 00:03:19.460 in my house of prayer. 80 00:03:19.480 --> 00:03:23.360 So God has knitted prayer with joy. 81 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:25.360 So if you're going into your prayer time 82 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.440 and you're not energized and excited 83 00:03:27.440 --> 00:03:29.160 coming out of your prayer time, 84 00:03:29.160 --> 00:03:32.200 there's something wrong going on. 85 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:34.200 And you might not be super excited 86 00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:35.760 every single day at first, 87 00:03:35.760 --> 00:03:38.960 but the more diligent we are in keeping our daily prayer time 88 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.360 the more joy we're gonna receive from prayer in our lives. 89 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:44.280 So I love to say this sentence 90 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:46.520 to people that are learning how to pray, 91 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:51.520 diligence in prayer transforms it from duty into delight. 92 00:03:52.260 --> 00:03:53.100 I'll say that again, 93 00:03:53.100 --> 00:03:57.860 diligence in prayer transforms it from duty to delight. 94 00:03:57.860 --> 00:04:00.100 So I wanna talk about three main types of prayer. 95 00:04:00.100 --> 00:04:03.180 The one that we probably all are the most familiar with, 96 00:04:03.180 --> 00:04:06.300 but maybe not the most comfortable with is petition. 97 00:04:06.300 --> 00:04:08.580 Petition just means to pray for yourself 98 00:04:08.580 --> 00:04:10.860 or to ask God for something for you. 99 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:15.180 Lord, help me, give me wisdom, give me strength, 100 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:16.360 help this headache go away. 101 00:04:17.200 --> 00:04:18.380 Those are all petition prayers. 102 00:04:18.380 --> 00:04:21.000 And much like petition is intercession. 103 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:23.800 Intercession is praying for somebody else. 104 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:26.680 So it's to intervene on someone else's behalf. 105 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:28.040 And this is an extension 106 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:31.360 of Christ's intercession on the cross. 107 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:33.360 That made him the great intercessor 108 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.440 that he died on the cross in the place of us. 109 00:04:35.440 --> 00:04:37.040 So when we intercede for others, 110 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:40.920 we're actually an extension of Christ's work 111 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:41.980 in his crucifixion. 112 00:04:41.980 --> 00:04:43.160 And then the last type of prayer, 113 00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:45.960 which I wanna spend the rest of this session on 114 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:47.600 is devotional prayer. 115 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.320 And all that that is is prayerfully seeking 116 00:04:50.320 --> 00:04:52.360 the experiential knowledge of God. 117 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:56.160 We wanna know God, but we also want to experience him. 118 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.760 My dad always says, it's great to know a lot about God, 119 00:04:59.760 --> 00:05:01.760 but it's even better to know God. 120 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.560 even better to know God a lot. 121 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:06.680 And devotional prayer is how we grow in knowing God 122 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:11.680 as a person, as a friend, as a leader, as a pastor. 123 00:05:12.200 --> 00:05:14.680 So I think this is the most important type of prayer 124 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:16.960 we can engage in, which is why we're gonna start here. 125 00:05:16.960 --> 00:05:19.200 If you're not regularly seeking 126 00:05:19.200 --> 00:05:21.280 the experiential knowledge of God, 127 00:05:21.280 --> 00:05:23.900 don't worry about intercession or petition just yet. 128 00:05:23.900 --> 00:05:25.180 We'll cover that later. 129 00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:29.520 But start with diligently seeking the Lord. 130 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:31.920 If we continue diligently, 131 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:34.680 our prayer times are gonna naturally develop 132 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:37.880 from devotion into petition and intercession. 133 00:05:37.880 --> 00:05:41.600 For example, if we receive revelation from God 134 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:43.780 about his heart for the lost, 135 00:05:43.780 --> 00:05:46.080 we're gonna find ourselves praying for the lost 136 00:05:46.080 --> 00:05:47.620 without even intending to. 137 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:50.480 When we receive a revelation of his heart for us, 138 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:52.160 his affections toward us, 139 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:54.160 we're gonna naturally begin to ask him 140 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:56.140 to help us love him in the same way. 141 00:05:56.140 --> 00:05:59.740 Just start with being diligent in devotional prayer. 142 00:05:59.740 --> 00:06:00.580 And you're gonna find 143 00:06:00.580 --> 00:06:02.980 that your most powerful intercessory prayers 144 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:05.780 are gonna be birthed from that intimate friendship 145 00:06:05.780 --> 00:06:08.400 with Christ and partnering with his heart. 146 00:06:08.400 --> 00:06:09.900 So that's where our primary goal 147 00:06:09.900 --> 00:06:10.940 in developing a prayer life 148 00:06:10.940 --> 00:06:14.300 is really not so much about getting answers to our prayers, 149 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:15.860 although that is really important, 150 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:19.180 it's more about growing in friendship with God. 151 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:21.740 That's what makes prayer so important. 152 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:23.660 And really, friendship with God 153 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:26.020 is just growing in loving intimacy with him 154 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:28.100 and becoming close with him. 155 00:06:28.100 --> 00:06:30.160 We wanna be seeking him 156 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:32.860 more than we're seeking what he can do for us. 157 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:35.220 And the more we seek him, 158 00:06:35.220 --> 00:06:37.460 the more he's going to reward us 159 00:06:37.460 --> 00:06:39.420 as we're diligent in our seeking. 160 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:40.860 Hebrews 11, six. 161 00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:44.140 Without faith, it is impossible to please him. 162 00:06:44.140 --> 00:06:46.940 For he who comes to God must believe that he is 163 00:06:46.940 --> 00:06:51.900 and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. 164 00:06:51.900 --> 00:06:54.300 So you can really take that to the bank. 165 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:56.780 If you're diligent in seeking God in prayer, 166 00:06:56.780 --> 00:06:58.580 he's going to reward you. 167 00:06:58.580 --> 00:07:01.220 And the greatest reward we can receive 168 00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:02.860 is actually knowing him. 169 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:04.620 There's many rewards he gives us, 170 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:06.740 but that's the best reward. 171 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:09.540 I love what God said to Abraham in Genesis 15. 172 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:13.020 It says that the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision 173 00:07:13.020 --> 00:07:16.220 saying, do not be afraid, Abram. 174 00:07:16.220 --> 00:07:17.740 I am your shield. 175 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:20.900 I am your exceedingly great reward. 176 00:07:20.900 --> 00:07:24.940 So actually God himself is the reward that we gain 177 00:07:24.940 --> 00:07:27.220 from our diligence in devotional prayer. 178 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:29.180 So again, prayer has got to be enjoyable. 179 00:07:29.180 --> 00:07:32.240 And that's because prayer, which is simply talking to God, 180 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:35.460 is the primary way that we grow in friendship with God. 181 00:07:35.460 --> 00:07:37.980 And friendship with God is the primary way 182 00:07:37.980 --> 00:07:39.660 that we receive joy in our lives. 183 00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:41.580 That's why prayer is so enjoyable. 184 00:07:41.580 --> 00:07:44.780 Because we actually grow in friendship with the Lord. 185 00:07:44.780 --> 00:07:47.580 John 3, 29, one of my life verses. 186 00:07:47.580 --> 00:07:48.980 John the Baptist is saying, 187 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:50.820 he who has the bride is the bridegroom. 188 00:07:51.660 --> 00:07:52.500 He's talking about Jesus. 189 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:55.140 But the friend of the bridegroom, that's you and I, 190 00:07:55.140 --> 00:07:59.120 who stands and hears him rejoices greatly 191 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:01.840 because of the bridegroom's voice. 192 00:08:01.840 --> 00:08:03.900 Therefore, my joy is fulfilled. 193 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:05.780 So John the Baptist is saying, 194 00:08:05.780 --> 00:08:08.700 my joy is fulfilled by hearing Jesus. 195 00:08:08.700 --> 00:08:10.580 And as we grow in friendship with God, 196 00:08:10.580 --> 00:08:12.580 that's gonna be true for us as well. 197 00:08:12.580 --> 00:08:15.060 We're gonna receive joy from hearing 198 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:17.340 and knowing the voice of the Lord. 199 00:08:17.340 --> 00:08:20.340 And I love what Jesus said in John 15. 200 00:08:20.340 --> 00:08:22.140 He said, no longer do I call you servants, 201 00:08:22.140 --> 00:08:24.180 for a servant doesn't know what his master's doing, 202 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:26.500 but I have called you friends. 203 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:28.660 Do you know that you're a friend of Jesus? 204 00:08:28.660 --> 00:08:31.180 And he says, for all things that I have heard 205 00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:34.020 from my father, I have made known to you. 206 00:08:34.020 --> 00:08:35.580 So as you grow in prayer, 207 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:38.740 Jesus is gonna grow in giving you secrets. 208 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:42.340 He's gonna share things and reveal things about himself 209 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:44.580 that you didn't know about before. 210 00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:47.020 So I love this sentence, success. 211 00:08:47.020 --> 00:08:49.500 Like what measures our success in prayer? 212 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:51.540 Well, success in the place of prayer 213 00:08:51.540 --> 00:08:54.820 is not really measured by how many answers 214 00:08:54.820 --> 00:08:57.500 we get to our prayers, or how loud our prayers are, 215 00:08:57.500 --> 00:08:59.140 or how eloquent our prayers are. 216 00:08:59.140 --> 00:09:01.140 Success in the place of prayer is measured 217 00:09:01.140 --> 00:09:03.740 by the growth of our friendship, 218 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:06.380 which is loving intimacy with God. 219 00:09:06.380 --> 00:09:10.100 That's how we succeed as people that pray. 220 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:12.340 So my favorite way to get started, 221 00:09:12.340 --> 00:09:14.580 I'm gonna teach you a biblical meditation model. 222 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:15.780 And this is really easy. 223 00:09:15.780 --> 00:09:18.100 Anybody can do it with your Bible and your journal. 224 00:09:18.140 --> 00:09:20.780 And the reason that we're gonna use the Bible to help us 225 00:09:20.780 --> 00:09:23.220 is because in John 5, 39, 226 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:26.860 Jesus said to the Pharisees, who were biblical experts, 227 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:29.300 he said, you search the scriptures, 228 00:09:29.300 --> 00:09:31.980 for in them you think you have eternal life, 229 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:34.460 but these are they which testify of me. 230 00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:38.560 So Jesus is saying the scriptures actually testify of him. 231 00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:41.740 So if we wanna know him, we should know the scriptures. 232 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:45.120 If you love Jesus, show me that you love Jesus 233 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:47.620 by how you engage with the scriptures. 234 00:09:47.660 --> 00:09:49.580 Because that's really the primary way 235 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:51.100 that he testifies of himself. 236 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:52.460 And then he says in verse 40, 237 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:55.420 but you are not willing to come to me 238 00:09:55.420 --> 00:09:56.580 that you may have life. 239 00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:59.700 So really, we see that it's not just reading the Bible, 240 00:09:59.700 --> 00:10:01.260 it's coming to you. 241 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:04.080 coming to Jesus by having conversations with him 242 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:05.120 about the Bible. 243 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:06.820 So when you're reading a scripture, 244 00:10:06.820 --> 00:10:09.720 don't read it like you read a normal book. 245 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:11.600 Don't read it like it's a textbook 246 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:15.080 or don't read it like it's some fantasy novel, 247 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:18.960 but read it to fuel your conversation with God. 248 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:21.240 And I'm gonna show you my favorite way to do this. 249 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.600 So if you, you can do this at home 250 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:25.680 when you have your 15 minute prayer time, 251 00:10:25.680 --> 00:10:26.920 you can take your journal out, 252 00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:29.000 and there's six steps. 253 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.600 And they're kind of easy to remember 254 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:32.160 because they're alliterative. 255 00:10:32.160 --> 00:10:34.880 So the first two steps are read it, write it. 256 00:10:34.880 --> 00:10:35.960 Read it, write it. 257 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:37.640 You're just gonna pick one verse, 258 00:10:37.640 --> 00:10:39.680 or maybe two, but no more than that. 259 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:41.920 John 3 16 is a great one to start with. 260 00:10:41.920 --> 00:10:44.480 And you're gonna write that verse word for word 261 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.680 at the top of the page as you read it. 262 00:10:46.680 --> 00:10:48.280 Read it, write it, super simple. 263 00:10:48.280 --> 00:10:51.360 And from this point on, take the rest of the page, 264 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:53.360 and you're gonna write all of the thoughts 265 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:54.780 that the Lord gives you. 266 00:10:54.780 --> 00:10:56.560 Like everything that pops into your head 267 00:10:56.560 --> 00:10:58.000 while you're doing this process, 268 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.320 that's what you're gonna write down 269 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:00.760 on the rest of the page. 270 00:11:00.760 --> 00:11:03.280 The next two steps are say it, sing it. 271 00:11:03.280 --> 00:11:04.400 So we had read it, write it. 272 00:11:04.400 --> 00:11:05.940 Now we have say it, sing it. 273 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:09.440 So you're literally just going to say the verse out loud. 274 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:13.040 I love that the scriptures say that faith comes by hearing, 275 00:11:13.040 --> 00:11:14.400 and hearing by the word of God. 276 00:11:14.400 --> 00:11:16.360 So if you wanna grow your faith, 277 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:17.840 and you wanna grow your belief, 278 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:19.580 and you wanna grow your knowledge of God, 279 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:22.640 say the scripture out loud to yourself in the secret place, 280 00:11:22.640 --> 00:11:25.300 in this personal prayer time, and sing it. 281 00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:27.320 Now some of you are like, oh, I'm not a very good singer. 282 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.480 God doesn't care if you're not a good singer. 283 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:31.360 That's why he told us to go into our prayer closet 284 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.200 and close the door, 285 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:34.440 because he knew there was gonna be a lot of people 286 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:35.800 that weren't very good singers, 287 00:11:35.800 --> 00:11:38.680 but he wanted us to sing the scriptures. 288 00:11:38.680 --> 00:11:41.160 And singing the scripture, it's just, 289 00:11:41.160 --> 00:11:43.360 I don't know what it is specifically about it, 290 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:45.920 but it's so powerful in sowing the seeds 291 00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:47.800 of his word into our heart. 292 00:11:47.800 --> 00:11:49.440 Every time I do this, 293 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.920 I experience such a rich presence of God 294 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:53.920 when I'm singing his word. 295 00:11:53.920 --> 00:11:55.480 I love what St. Augustine said. 296 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.080 He said, he who sings, prays twice. 297 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:00.440 So it's like getting a 30-minute prayer time 298 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:01.720 in 15 minutes. 299 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:03.900 And continue, you're just gonna keep writing down 300 00:12:03.900 --> 00:12:05.280 the things that come to mind, 301 00:12:05.280 --> 00:12:07.200 the pictures that pop into your head, 302 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:09.560 the other thoughts that the Holy Spirit will speak to you 303 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:13.520 as you begin to say and sing his word out loud. 304 00:12:13.520 --> 00:12:16.860 And then the last two steps are pray it, play it. 305 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:18.240 And these ones are kind of fun. 306 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:22.000 The way you're gonna close this biblical meditation process 307 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.260 is by expressing this verse as a prayer. 308 00:12:26.040 --> 00:12:27.860 So there's two ways that I really love to do this. 309 00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:31.440 If this is a scripture that is a truth 310 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.180 that we're called to believe, 311 00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:34.300 I'll pray something like, 312 00:12:34.300 --> 00:12:36.900 thank you, Lord, that your word says 313 00:12:36.900 --> 00:12:39.220 that you love the world and gave your only son. 314 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:41.040 Holy Spirit, show me more. 315 00:12:41.880 --> 00:12:44.620 That prayer will change your life. 316 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:46.920 Holy Spirit, show me more. 317 00:12:46.920 --> 00:12:48.900 Reveal this truth to my heart. 318 00:12:48.900 --> 00:12:51.280 And let's say maybe this isn't a truth 319 00:12:51.280 --> 00:12:54.260 that you're being called to believe in this scripture, 320 00:12:54.260 --> 00:12:57.400 but it's something that you're being led to obey, 321 00:12:57.400 --> 00:12:59.540 like love the Lord your God with all of your heart. 322 00:12:59.540 --> 00:13:00.900 Then you can pray something like, 323 00:13:00.900 --> 00:13:04.340 Lord, I commit to obeying you in this area. 324 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:06.700 I commit to loving you with all of my heart. 325 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:11.700 Holy Spirit, release grace in my heart to obey your voice. 326 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:13.940 That prayer will change your life too. 327 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:16.980 Asking the Holy Spirit to help you obey, 328 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:18.900 he loves to do that. 329 00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:22.060 That's literally why Jesus went to the Father 330 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:23.860 so that he could give us the Holy Spirit 331 00:13:24.380 --> 00:13:26.900 and the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth 332 00:13:26.900 --> 00:13:30.460 and he would empower us to live a godly life 333 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:31.980 and to love Jesus well. 334 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.900 So those are two ways that you can pray scripture, 335 00:13:33.900 --> 00:13:36.420 but really just turn it into a prayer however you want. 336 00:13:36.420 --> 00:13:39.160 And then play it is kind of an optional step, 337 00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:40.740 but this is one of my favorite steps. 338 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:43.220 If you're a musician, just take that scripture 339 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:46.480 and sit down at your instrument and play, 340 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.420 like play your instrument in a way 341 00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:52.160 that you think would narrate the truth in that scripture. 342 00:13:52.160 --> 00:13:53.660 What does it sound like? 343 00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:55.300 Or maybe you're an artist. 344 00:13:55.300 --> 00:13:57.260 What does God's heart look like? 345 00:13:57.260 --> 00:13:58.860 What does this scripture look like? 346 00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:00.980 How could I express this? 347 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:04.300 Or maybe you're a poet and you want to create 348 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:06.340 some type of poem or a songwriter. 349 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:07.640 That's what play it is all about. 350 00:14:07.640 --> 00:14:10.140 So those six steps, read it, write it, 351 00:14:10.140 --> 00:14:12.780 say it, sing it, pray it, play it. 352 00:14:12.780 --> 00:14:15.940 So I really hope that you have fun praying with God 353 00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:18.860 this week as you set up your 15 minute time 354 00:14:18.860 --> 00:14:20.700 and I'll see you in the next session.