Prioritizing Prayer and Fasting for Spiritual Growth
Devotional
Sermon Summary
Sermon Clips
"We're kicking off a brand new year and I'm kicking off a brand new series and I'm excited to have you all here with me today for this. We're calling it Lead with Prayer. Lead with Prayer. And we talked about this last week. We kind of set it up. In fact, if you didn't listen to last week's message, I encourage you to go back and listen to it online. We talked about three things. One, what do you want God to do in your life this next year? And what do you want God to do in your family this next year? And then what do you want God to do in our church this next year? And understanding that all of that is not going to happen unless we are people of prayer, unless we know how to pray and unless we cry out to God. And so we're going to be talking over the course of this next month about the importance of leading with prayer. And by that I simply mean this. We need to make prayer your number one priority this year and not the last thing that you do." [00:39:27] (47 seconds)
"And then when that doesn't work, what do we do? Oh, maybe I should pray. Right? Instead of it being the first priority, instead of us leading our lives with prayer, it's the last thing that we think of. It's the last thing that we try. When we've done everything else, well, maybe I should pray. Listen, why don't we start with prayer? Why don't we start our days with prayer? When we're up against a trial in our lives, instead of trying to fix it ourselves, why don't we lead with prayer? And so that's the challenge. Let it not be the last thing. But can we make it the first thing that we do? Make it our priority?" [00:41:04] (36 seconds)
"To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (57 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
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"And then when that doesn't work, what do we do? Oh, maybe I should pray. Right? Instead of it being the first priority, instead of us leading our lives with prayer, it's the last thing that we think of. It's the last thing that we try. When we've done everything else, well, maybe I should pray. Listen, why don't we start with prayer? Why don't we start our days with prayer? When we're up against a trial in our lives, instead of trying to fix it ourselves, why don't we lead with prayer? And so that's the challenge. Let it not be the last thing. But can we make it the first thing that we do? Make it our priority?" [00:41:04] (36 seconds)
"To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (57 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
"Well, in the spirit of that, mindset, let me just say this. I want to encourage you this year to waste time in prayer. To waste time in prayer. Now, we all know that, that prayer is not a waste of time. And what we've got to come to realize and come to understand, even though God has purposes and God has plans, there are things that he wants to do and accomplish in all of our lives and in our, in our church and in our city and in our country. There are things that God wants to do. But understand, even though he's all powerful, he has chosen to do it. He has chosen to do it. He has chosen. You've got to figure this out. You've got to understand this. God has chosen to limit himself, to work through the prayers of his people. I don't know why. I don't know why. But he's chosen to work through us. He doesn't want to just come down and say, this is my will. This is what's going to happen. And I'm just going to impose, even if the world doesn't want it, even if my people don't want it, even if the city doesn't want it or the church doesn't want it, I'm going to do this. That's not the way that God works." [00:42:00] (67 seconds)
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