1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 2: Teach Us to Praise brought to you by Life Audio 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 2: and is a part of our Faith Toolkit series. For 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 2: more inspirational faith affirming podcasts, visit lifeaudio dot com. 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: Merry Christmas, friend, Did you know that the story of 6 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: the birth of Jesus has so much to teach us 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: about prayer? That's right. Today, I want to talk to 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,319 Speaker 1: you about three lessons that we can learn about how 9 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: to have powerful prayer lives as we look at the 10 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: story of Jesus' birth. Stay tuned, Welcome back, friend. You 11 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: are listening to the Teach Us to Pray podcast, where 12 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: we teach believers practical and real life tips on how 13 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: to grow your faith and relationship with God through the 14 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: power of I'm Christina Patterson, a host of the Teachers 15 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: to Pray podcast and founder of Beloved Women, where I encourage, 16 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: equip and empower women in the love and truth of 17 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Listen Merry Christmas. First of all, if you 18 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: are listening to this on Christmas Day, Marry Christmas to 19 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: you and all of your family. I hope that you 20 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: are enjoying today. I am probably in my robe on 21 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: my couch, smiling looking at my kids open their gifts 22 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: right now, about to cook our annual big Christmas breakfast 23 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: that we do every year together, and my heart is 24 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: probably full of so much joy right now. Obviously you 25 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: can tell this episode is pray recorded, But if you're 26 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: listening on Christmas Day, welcome. If you're listening after Christmas Day, 27 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: because you're probably doing some of the same things that 28 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: I'll be doing today, spending time with family, enjoying the 29 00:01:55,320 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: day off, and just taking in the joy that this 30 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: season brings, Welcome. There's still so much more for you 31 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: to learn in this episode, particularly about prayer, which is 32 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: what this podcast is all about. And as I've been 33 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: sharing with you through the Beloved Women app we are 34 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: going we're doing an advent devotional study and series together 35 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: that I'm really excited about. And God has also just 36 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: been showing me so much about prayer as I read 37 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: through the story of Jesus' birth that I just haven't 38 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: noticed before. And I don't know if it's because I'm 39 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: hosting this podcast now or what's going on, but just 40 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: as I have that filter to really just be more 41 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: aware of how God speaks to his people, I'm just 42 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: seeing it so much lay out in the story of Jesus' birth, 43 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: and so last episode we talked about how God speaks 44 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 1: to us through the story of jesus birth and why 45 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: that's important. That there were so many various ways that 46 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: He's spoke to his people to announce the birth of 47 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: his son, whether it was through angels, whether it was 48 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: through the Holy Spirit, whether it was through confirmation, and 49 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: even dreams. And so we see that throughout the story 50 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: of jesus birth, and we're reminded that God speaks to 51 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: his people in various ways. I don't think I can 52 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: say that enough, but you might feel like I already have. 53 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 1: But today I want to specifically talk about how the 54 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: story of Jesus' birth teaches us about the power of 55 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: prayer and teaches us how to truly embrace a prayer 56 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: life that is effective and powerful through a few ways. First, 57 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: what this story teaches us is that God desperately wants 58 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: to speak to us. I shared last episode that when 59 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: Jesus announced the birth of John the Baptist, who would 60 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: make the way for the coming Messiah Jesus, he comes 61 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: to John the Baptist's father, Zachariah, and he speaks to 62 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: him through a message from an angel letting him know 63 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: that John the Baptist will be born, and this is 64 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: his first contact with his people since the Old Testament. 65 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: So hundreds of years have passed and God is breaking 66 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: the silence. And I wonder how excited God was to 67 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: do that. You know, when you love someone, when you 68 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: care about them, you want to speak to them like 69 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: all the time. And so that encounter reminded me, and 70 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: I hope it reminds you too, that God wants to 71 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 1: speak to us. He wants to break the silence, that 72 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: He is in fact speaking to us. And that is 73 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: the gift that we have with prayer, is that we 74 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: can break the silence, that we can come to God 75 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: because of this story of Jesus birth, that God came 76 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: to us, because of his life and death and resurrection. 77 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: We have that open connection with God that we can 78 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: break the silence any time that we want to. And 79 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: so this story teaches me that God wants to speak 80 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: to us. And I cannot drive that message home anymore, 81 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: but I will try, because we can get so caught 82 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: up and feeling like our prayers have to be perfect, 83 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: or they have to be pristie, or can God really 84 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 1: hear me? And it's like, O, God, hears you, and 85 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: he wants to speak to you. Also, he desperately wants 86 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: to because our communication with him is foundational to our 87 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: relationship with him, and he wouldn't have said Jesus in 88 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: the first place if he didn't want to talk to us. 89 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 1: But he does, and so he breaks hundreds of years 90 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: of silence not just to speak to Zachari, but to 91 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: open a door so that we can speak to him 92 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: anytime that we want to. The story of Jesus's birth 93 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: also teaches us that just because God is silent doesn't 94 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: mean he's not working. We have an entire episode that 95 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: you can check out about what to do when God 96 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: feels silent, And so we see that God did allow 97 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: all these years to go by where he didn't send 98 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: any prophetic word to or message to his people. And 99 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: it's easy in those seasons to feel like, well, it's 100 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: been a while since we've heard from God, so maybe 101 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: he's gone. Maybe he wasn't real in the first place, 102 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: maybe he's not ever going to speak to us again. 103 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: We can allow our impatience to lead our faith, but 104 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: instead we need to be patient in our faith. We 105 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: can see this play out with two people that we 106 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: meet in the story of Jesus' birth. Anna, she is 107 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: a prophetess that is in the temple who sees Jesus 108 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 1: when Mary and Joseph present him to God as a baby. 109 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: And also a man named Simon who's also at the 110 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: tip and both of them have been waiting a long 111 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: time for the coming Messiah, and they consider it a 112 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: blessing that they are able to see Jesus born. In fact, 113 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: Simon was promised by God that he would not die 114 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: until he saw the Messiah. Anna was a widow and 115 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: she dedicated her life to worshiping God in the temple. 116 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: And they were just so devout to God even in 117 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: this season of silence. They believed God's word and they 118 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: were faithful and worshipful to Him for it even before 119 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: they saw Jesus. So then when he comes to the 120 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: temple and they see him, they just worship God for 121 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: his faithfulness. I think it's a testament of their faith 122 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: and their faithfulness to God before they saw Jesus that 123 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: while they were waiting during the silence, they still took 124 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: God at his word because they knew even if they 125 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: couldn't hear God, because he was silent, they trusted the 126 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: last word that he gave. If he said that he 127 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: would send a promised son, Messiah to save his people, 128 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: they held onto the hope that he would. What promise 129 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: of God can you hold onto in this season when 130 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: you feel like God is silent? What word can you 131 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: trust from Him as an anchor to steady you while 132 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: you wait? Because the final lesson that we learn about 133 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: prayer when we study the Birth of Jesus is that 134 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: we can trust God's word. We can stand firmly on 135 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: his word that if he said it, it will happen. 136 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: I don't care how long it's been. I don't care 137 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: what this circumstance was. I don't care if it seems 138 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: like it's impossible. The angel tells Mary, with God, all 139 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: things are possible, because she asked him, wait a minute, 140 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: hold on, you're giving me this message. I'm gonna give birth, 141 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: I'm a virgin. How is this going to work? And 142 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: the angel says to her, with God, all things are possible. 143 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: We can understand that God wants to speak to us. 144 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: We can understand that even when we can't hear him, 145 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: that he's still working. We can receive a word from God. 146 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 1: But it's up to us to trust and believe. The 147 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: Bible calls Mary blessed, that she is blessed among women. Now, 148 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: was she blessed because she was happily married, No, because 149 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: she hadn't even married Joseph yet. Was she blessed because 150 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: she was rich and had all types of treasures. No, 151 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,079 Speaker 1: she was a humble woman. She was blessed because she believed. 152 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: She was blessed because she trusted the word of her God. 153 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: And that's what awaits us when we choose to trust 154 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: God's word, and we can trust his word because he 155 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: is faithful. What word of God has ever been broken? None? 156 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: And the story of Jesus' birth further reminds us one 157 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: today when we think of all the prophecies that God sent, 158 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: all the messages that he sent saying that his son 159 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: would come and save the world, we see that that happened. 160 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:40,439 Speaker 1: That God's word is true. And on Christmas Day we 161 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: are reminded that as we pray to God, as we 162 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: speak to him, he hears us as he speaks to us. 163 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: We can trust that His word always was, always is, 164 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: and always will be true. Listen, Thank you so much 165 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: for listening today. Merry Christmas, be sure to subscribe and 166 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: come back next week. I have a very important announcement 167 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: to make that I do not want you to miss. 168 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: It's my hope that today's episode provided you with insightful 169 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: and helpful tips on how you can pray. As a 170 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 1: gift to you, be sure to download by free five 171 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 1: day Prayer Guide and take my Prayer Personality quiz to 172 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: learn how you best here and connect with God. You 173 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: can find all those links in today's show notes. We 174 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: have a lot more to talk about when it comes 175 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: to prayer, so I hope that if you were encouraged 176 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: by today's episode, you'll share with a friend and subscribe 177 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 1: so that you don't miss any future episodes of the 178 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 1: Teachers to Pray Podcast, where we will continue to learn how, 179 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 1: just like breathing, prayer can become a natural, consistent, and 180 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: life giving part of our everyday lives. Until then, be 181 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: sure to connect with me at Belovedwomen dot org and 182 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: join me on the Beloved Women app for unlimited videos 183 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: to grow your faith, learn God's word, and encourage your soul, 184 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: available now in the Apple and Google Play stores. Until then, 185 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: thank you so much again for listening today Again, and 186 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: I'll talk to you in the next episode. Teach Just 187 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: to Pray is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. 188 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: If you like what you heard today, please take a 189 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 1: second to rate and review this podcast in your favorite 190 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: podcast staff so that more listeners like you can find 191 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: the show. For more faith filled inspirational podcasts, visit us 192 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: at lifeaudio dot com.