1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 2: This is Donna Jones and you are listening to That's 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: just what I needed. Hey, friend, if you've ever been 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 2: in a conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, that 5 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 2: was just what I needed. You know how life giving 6 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: that can be, Well, that's what this podcast is all about. 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 2: We're women who want to know, love, and follow God 8 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 2: in our real lives, but sometimes wonder just how to 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 2: do it. So each week we'll talk about what following 10 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 2: God looks like in the midst of daily demands and 11 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 2: crazy cultural chaos. Because this isn't just what we need, 12 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: it's actually exactly what we need. Hey, hey, my friend, 13 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 2: welcome to the podcast. Well, if you have ever found 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 2: yourself comparing your prayer life to somebody else's, maybe you've 15 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 2: heard some gal prag and thought, oh gosh, I could 16 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 2: never measure, you are going to love today's podcast. It 17 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: is going to set you free. Before we jump into 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 2: the content and my guest, I wanted to just say 19 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 2: a special thank you to everybody who has rated this podcast, 20 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: reviewed this podcast, subscribe to this podcast. If you haven't 21 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 2: done that, would you do that today? I know I 22 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: say that a lot, but it is just so helpful. 23 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 2: For those of you who are subscribing, I have some 24 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 2: amazing guests coming up and you just don't want to 25 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,839 Speaker 2: miss any of the episodes. They're so so, so good. 26 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 2: And just when you rate the podcast, which honestly picture 27 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 2: like two seconds, it boosts the algorithm and that's how 28 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 2: people find out about this podcast. 29 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 1: So if you could just do that, I would just 30 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: be so grateful. 31 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 2: And you know what, new listeners would be grateful too, 32 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: because you've helped. 33 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: Them out as well. 34 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 2: Well, let me turn the corner and tell you a 35 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: little bit about today's guest. Her name is Shelley Tomlinson 36 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: and she has written this great new book called Don't 37 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: Try to Pray Like Her? 38 00:01:58,520 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: Is that so great? 39 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 2: Shelley is an author, she's a speaker, and she is 40 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: a goal that wasn't always great at praying, but it 41 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: has become really her passion and she wants to help 42 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: regular gals like you and me really not just pray, 43 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: but really deefen our relationship with the Lord. And really 44 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 2: that's what it's all about. It's not just Prayer's not 45 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 2: the end. Prayer is the means to the end, and 46 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 2: that is a defened relationship with the Lord. So if 47 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: you are looking for a deeper relationship with the Lord, 48 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: no matter where you are right now, this episode is 49 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 2: for you, so help me. Welcome my guest, Shelley Tomlinson. Shelley, 50 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: welcome to the podcast. 51 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. I was just thinking to myself, 52 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 3: we shouldn't recorded everything we said before we start recording, 53 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 3: because that is really fun, right, How two women can 54 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 3: so immediately bond over Christ Jesus from other sides of 55 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,519 Speaker 3: the world, of the country. 56 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: That is fascinating. 57 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: Okay, I know we have had so much fun ready, 58 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: which just lets me know that all of our listeners 59 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 2: are gonna have fun with us. It's gonna go deep 60 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 2: and it's gonna be fun, because that's already been our conversation. 61 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: But okay, Shelly, before we even dive into your topic, 62 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 2: it was one of the first questions I ask you 63 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 2: before we hit record. I listened to your accent and 64 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 2: I was like, Okay, where do you live? So tell 65 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 2: our listeners where you live in a little bit about 66 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: your life. 67 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. 68 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 3: I live in Lake Providence, Louisiana. That's in the northeast 69 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 3: corner of the boot. So if you were coming down 70 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 3: out twenty from Shreetport. If anyone knows that area headed 71 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 3: toward Vicksburg, Mississippi, you would run through my area. So 72 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 3: the good thing about well, there's many, many good things 73 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 3: about my life. But one of the good things is 74 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 3: that I live in this little beady tiny town I 75 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 3: mean tiny, and yet I get to travel and just 76 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 3: speak Jesus administrative people all over the country. And so 77 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 3: I get the best of both worlds because I love traveling, 78 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 3: I love meeting people. But I get to come home 79 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 3: to my little beady lake Providence and my darling husband 80 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 3: who's a farmer, and my two married children and six grandchildren. 81 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 3: So that's what I get to come home to, and 82 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 3: they're my heart. But I'm just passionate about helping believers 83 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 3: truly experience their spiritual inheritance, not getting saved and settling down, 84 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 3: but really pursuing that relationship with Christ. And that it 85 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 3: moves me, It drives me love that so much. 86 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: I have a sneaking suspicion that's what all of our 87 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 2: listeners want too. It's like we want to go deeper 88 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 2: in our relationship with Christ. Sometimes it takes somebody else's 89 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 2: experience or wisdom to help us go to that next step. 90 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: And that's what I love about what you're going to 91 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 2: share with us. 92 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 3: Right Father, God designed us that way that we don't 93 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 3: just take in information is not the only pathway to growth. 94 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 3: We take in information. We can listen to all the podcasts, 95 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 3: read all the scriptures. Actually we can do everything. But 96 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 3: if we don't have that relationship with other believers, there 97 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 3: is something missing in our growth. And so yeah, I 98 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 3: agree with you completely that I think everyone needs that, 99 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 3: but sometimes that growth comes from each other, a sharpening iron, 100 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 3: sharpening iron. 101 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, and which is the perfect segue, because yes, we 102 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: do need each other because we grow from each other. 103 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: But then we don't want to compare ourselves to each other. Right, 104 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 2: which brings me to the title of your book, which 105 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: I think is so good, Shelly. It's called Don't Try 106 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: to Pray like her? First of all, the title love 107 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: that what motivated that title? But what even made you 108 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: decide to write a book on prayer? Because you were 109 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,119 Speaker 2: not always like prayer was not always your gig. 110 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: Oh it was not always easy for me. Yes, it 111 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: was not always easy for me. 112 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 3: So too fast up to us address the title, and 113 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 3: then I'll tell you about what prompted the book, But 114 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 3: the title came about literally because of the comparison I 115 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 3: see that we know we shouldn't compare ourselves to each other, 116 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 3: but it's still so a strong tendency in the body 117 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 3: of Christ. And I witnessed many many times someone that 118 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 3: was uncomfortable praying because someone else would pray and it 119 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 3: was a beautiful prayer, and so then they're just like, 120 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 3: pass't they can pray that way or whatever. And we 121 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 3: have a very real God who we can experience when 122 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 3: we bring him our very real selves. But he's not 123 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 3: looking for clones. He doesn't want a clone of Donna 124 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 3: or a clone of Shelley. He wants the ladies that 125 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 3: are listening, the women that are listening, who wants to 126 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 3: hear their voice, Not them trying to not mimic someone else, 127 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 3: but that snare of feeling like there's a certain way 128 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 3: to pray, and I've got to pray that way, and 129 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 3: so trying to fit themselves into a form of what 130 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 3: they think a Christian woman should sound like when she's praying. 131 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 3: And that's a real stifler in our prayer lives. And 132 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,799 Speaker 3: so the title came out of that. I knew Holy 133 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 3: spirit was resting on it when I was traveling and 134 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 3: speaking while I was writing about it. And every time 135 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 3: I said the title and any kind of context to 136 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 3: an audience, you know, the next book is called Don't 137 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 3: Try to Pray Like Her Donna, there would be this 138 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 3: collective saw across thought. I mean, you could just hear 139 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 3: people like breathing out and I'm like, Lord, whoa you 140 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 3: already resting on this title because it was just giving 141 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 3: people paused to just the say lah, you know, just okay. 142 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: I could just sit and rest in this. 143 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 3: So that's the title, and I can tell you about 144 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 3: the book unless I'm sucking out the oxygen from this 145 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 3: space and you want to say something else before I do. 146 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: No, well, I was just going to piggyback off that 147 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 2: is that. I've seen that too, and I've experienced it. 148 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: In fact, just last night we had a prayer and 149 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 2: worship night at our church and it has turned into 150 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 2: groups of like twos and threes to pray, which, like 151 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: side note, that in itself can be super intimidating for people. 152 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: And I was in this group with this goal, and 153 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 2: her prayer was unbelievable. Shelley, Okay, Hello, I'm the pastor's 154 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 2: wife like, oh gosh, I. 155 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: Have to follow that, and isn't that so okay? That 156 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: is great? 157 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 3: Now I got to tell you something right along those lines. 158 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 3: I mentioned this in the introduction to the book. And 159 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 3: because I do not position myself as any kind of 160 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 3: a prayer expert, That's not who I am. I'm just 161 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 3: someone who always wanted a prayer life and couldn't seem 162 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 3: to get there. And then the Lord taught me some 163 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 3: things that now prayers precious to me, and so I 164 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 3: want to pass it on to other people. But as 165 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 3: I sit here today, I do life with people, with 166 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 3: women who can pray the most beautiful, flowing, gorgeous prayers 167 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 3: that seem like they're praying from an outline with sub points, 168 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 3: and they don't pause, they don't search for a word, 169 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 3: just this gorgeous construction of words that are so pretty 170 00:08:56,040 --> 00:09:00,319 Speaker 3: that even now they could intimidate me. They could. It 171 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 3: could be intimidating, and it could make me insecure about 172 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 3: even writing on prayer, let a prayer in front of 173 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 3: these women. But walking and talking with God has inoculated 174 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 3: me against that, or is inoculating me. 175 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: I've never used past tense. We're all growing together. 176 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 3: But it is inoculating me against that type of comparison 177 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 3: trout and of freeing me from that. And it's just 178 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,199 Speaker 3: something I want to normalize in the body of Christ, 179 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 3: this idea of learning the rhythms of prayer and learning 180 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 3: how to sit in God's presence and just linger with him. 181 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 3: And so these habits that I talk about in the 182 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 3: book are designed for that, to help you linger in prayer. 183 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 3: Because I love written prayers, I love prayer requests, I 184 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 3: love these scripture prayers, but none of those things were 185 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 3: challenging to me. I could read off a prayer or 186 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 3: make a request, but when I was just craving a 187 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 3: prayer life, what I meant was I want to know 188 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 3: how to sy it with God and listen to him. 189 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 3: But I couldn't do that because if I closed my eyes, 190 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 3: I fell asleep and I fok. My eyes had got 191 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 3: distracted by everything else I needed to do, and so 192 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 3: I feel like I have to start talking again, and 193 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 3: I'm thinking, how can I ever hear God if I 194 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 3: have to be the one talking in prayer? 195 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,559 Speaker 1: And so it was a desperation. 196 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 3: Of I want to learn how to linger in your 197 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 3: presence and sit with you and listen to you. And 198 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 3: these habits came out of that. And I really feel like, 199 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 3: because it's personal experience, I didn't write an outline and 200 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 3: try to figure out fifteen points. I just sat with 201 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 3: the Lord and just it's like he walked me down 202 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 3: memory lane and just began to show me the ways 203 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 3: he had taught me to linger with him, and I 204 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 3: made them. Can you say simple? I made them as 205 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 3: simple as possible. This is not a theological book. This 206 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 3: is not a heavy go somewhere else for your heavy book. 207 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 3: This is the simplest prayer book you'll probably pick up. 208 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 2: I love that so much because that's really what we need. 209 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 2: And I love two things that you said about that, 210 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: that you wanted to hear the Lord, because we hear 211 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: people say I hear the Lord, the Lord said to 212 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 2: me or I heard the Lord say this, and a 213 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 2: lot of us are like, really like okay, so how 214 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 2: does that happen? And then also linger, you said linger, 215 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 2: and I feel like that's something too that a lot 216 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 2: of people are like, okay, well I pray, but to 217 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 2: linger with the Lord, how does that work? Like you, 218 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 2: everybody feels like they get distracted or they fall asleep. 219 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 2: So I love the fact that you're just one of 220 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 2: us and the Lord has revealed to you. Yeah, these 221 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 2: these fifteen things that are going to be helpful. So 222 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 2: we're going to take a quick break, and when we 223 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 2: come back, Shelley, you are going to dive in on 224 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: some of these fifteen things so that we can walk 225 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 2: away from this podcast with something tucked into our pocket 226 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 2: to help us in our prayer life. Okay, Shelly, So 227 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: we are talking about habits to develop a more intimate 228 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 2: prayer life with God, with the Holy Spirit, with Father, 229 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 2: you know, So tell us a few of these habits 230 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:06,959 Speaker 2: that might be really helpful for us. 231 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 3: I am just chumping at the bits to do that, 232 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 3: because before we went to break, you were talking about distractions, remember, 233 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: like the distractions when you're trying to pray. And one 234 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 3: of the things I told you these habits are simple, 235 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,559 Speaker 3: and they can seem so simple that's like, well, I mean, 236 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 3: that's not rocket science, but they will keep us from 237 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 3: leaving the presence of God. And let me explain what 238 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 3: I mean by that. One of the prayer habits simply says, 239 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 3: when your mind wanders in prayer, bring it back. Well, 240 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 3: that doesn't seem like a big deal until I unpack 241 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 3: it in the chapter and begin to describe how I 242 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 3: would be trying to pray. My mind would wander and 243 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 3: wonder if I had enough lasagna, you know, to invite 244 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 3: mom and dad. You know what your mind does, And 245 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 3: you're like, no, I'm praying about something really serious, and 246 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 3: then my mind would run out. 247 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: Am I not a dog food? I need to get 248 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: some dog food for haying? 249 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 3: Am I nah? 250 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: I'm praying. 251 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 3: And then there was a time when I would let 252 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 3: that defeat me because I would feel so in elt. 253 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: I cannot stay here in prayer. 254 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 3: And Holy Spirit of God taught me that if my 255 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 3: mind wandered ten times, bring it back eleven. If it 256 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 3: wandered five times, bring it back six. Because what you're 257 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,439 Speaker 3: saying is, Lord, I want. 258 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: To be here with you. 259 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 3: I want to He's not judging you, he's not graining you. 260 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 3: He's not saying, Donna, why are you thinking about that? 261 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 3: I thought you we were. You know, he does not. 262 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 3: He desires our fellowship more than we could ever desire his. 263 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 3: And so you are saying, before Heaven and Earth, I 264 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 3: want you. 265 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: So you're just bringing your mind back. 266 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 3: These are the type of simple habits that when we 267 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 3: give ourself the permission to not beerate ourself because of 268 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 3: our wandering mind, and we as soon as we realize 269 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 3: our mind wandered, we just bring it back and we 270 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:56,359 Speaker 3: just stay where we were in God's presence. The absence 271 00:13:56,400 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 3: of that guilt will make us linger line and the 272 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 3: more we linger, the more we taste the presence of God, 273 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 3: the more we want to stay in his presence. And 274 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 3: these things just start building on each other another one. 275 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 3: And you just wave at me if you want me to, 276 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 3: you know, stop, but I'm passionate. 277 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, you know what, I want to piggyback on 278 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 2: that distraction one because there's two things that I was thinking, 279 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 2: you know, as you're explaining this. Number one, like you said, 280 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 2: the guilt that when we get distracted, it's like, Hugh, 281 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 2: I can't my mind wander, so I can't pray, so 282 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 2: then it prevents us from praying, right, and the Lord's like, no, 283 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 2: there's no shame in this. And number two just the 284 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 2: bring it back, because I think sometimes what ends up 285 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 2: happening is that we're praying, we get distracted and then 286 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 2: it's like we're defeated. So we're like I might as 287 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 2: well just stop and go check the pantry and see 288 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 2: if I have dog food or whatever. So you're just saying, no, 289 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 2: just give yourself permission to go. That's okay, bring it back. 290 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: I love that. Okay. What's a second habit? 291 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 3: Well, to stay in the wandering one second, and then 292 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 3: I'll give you a another habit if I can from 293 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 3: the book, if we could stay in the wandering one 294 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 3: more point of that. You know, there is a famous 295 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 3: saying by Tolkien, not all who wander or lost right? Well, 296 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 3: Holy Spirit taught me that it's applicable to my prayer life, 297 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 3: and that not all my wandering thoughts are actually taking 298 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 3: me out of prayer. Oftentimes that's where He's wanting to 299 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 3: rest and talk to me in comforter or heal or 300 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 3: correct or encourage me. So what I've learned to do 301 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 3: is that now they're going to be thoughts that are 302 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 3: just wandering, like dog food. But if my mind, if 303 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 3: I'm praying, and my mind consistently goes back to one area, 304 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 3: a conversation I had with someone or something that I 305 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 3: want to address, it continually goes back somewhere, then I'm 306 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 3: going to stop and I'm going to say Lord, that's 307 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 3: what you want to talk to me about, right, this 308 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 3: is where you want us to be, And I'm going 309 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 3: to pray about that thing. Now I may come back 310 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 3: and I may or may not remember what I was 311 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 3: praying about when I took that detour, and I think 312 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 3: the Lord laughs with me when that happens, because he 313 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,360 Speaker 3: just he knows me inside and out. And then I'll 314 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 3: come back praying. So he gave us this mind, this 315 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 3: processor that is greater than any computer, and when we 316 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 3: can learn to work with it instead of berating ourselves 317 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 3: because it has the capability of firing on all these 318 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 3: different levels at the same time, and let's just work 319 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 3: with God's design and meet him in that. 320 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 2: Okay, that is really good. Okay, so this is okay. 321 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 2: I'm gonna ask you a question probably nobody has asked 322 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 2: you yet. I'm envisioning myself praying and then all of 323 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 2: a sudden something comes into my mind. I'm just going 324 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 2: to use your example here. It's maybe a conversation that 325 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 2: I'm like replaying in my mind over and over and 326 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 2: over again. So then according to what you're saying, so 327 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 2: then I would go, Okay, maybe this is what the 328 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 2: Lord wants me to pray about. Right, So, Shelley, if 329 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 2: that was happening to you, what would you say the 330 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 2: Lord like? How would if you sense like I think 331 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 2: God wants me to talk to him about this, then 332 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 2: what would be your next step? 333 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: What would you say? 334 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 3: So many examples I'm trying to pick just one, but 335 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 3: let's say, for instance, experiences that have literally drawn from 336 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 3: my own life experience. Let's say the times that I've 337 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 3: had an issue with someone like I don't appreciate the 338 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 3: way this person spoke to me, or what this person 339 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 3: did or whatever, and I'm in prayer and that comes 340 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 3: back that conversation that we had or the way that 341 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 3: came about that was kind of a wound or hurtful 342 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 3: to me the day before, or you know, whenever. If 343 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 3: I stop and I asked the Lord, Lord really needs 344 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 3: you to speak into this and help me see more 345 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 3: than I saw, because this is what I saw. 346 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: I was hurt by this. 347 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 3: As frankly as I can with the Lord, I describe 348 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 3: what he already knows. 349 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 1: This hurt me. I was stung. 350 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 3: I don't think I deserved it. I don't feel like 351 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 3: that it was right or whatever. I would be a 352 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 3: very rich woman if I had a dollar for every 353 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 3: time the Lord showed me a different side of something 354 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 3: because I stopped and just asked, and not in a vision, 355 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 3: not I mean, that was the great. If he wants 356 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 3: to start doing that, but not in a vision, not 357 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 3: in an audible voice, but just all of a sudden, 358 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 3: he will make me aware that something was going on 359 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 3: that I didn't see before it. He'll show me a 360 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 3: different prism, a different angle of that thing. Not saying 361 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 3: it's okay that they did that, or you know, you 362 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,479 Speaker 3: shouldn't have done that, but he'll just give me a 363 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 3: perspective that allows me to go, okay, okay. So I 364 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 3: had a part in that. I kind of accelerated that, 365 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 3: didn't I. The way I come across was really abrasive 366 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 3: to them, wasn't it. 367 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: I didn't think it was. I wouldn't intending to be. 368 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 3: And I can just dialogue with him, and in in 369 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 3: opening myself up and saying what's my part here, healing 370 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 3: comes to me, and healing comes in that relationship. 371 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: And I am a firm believer. No one could talk 372 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 1: me out of it. 373 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:18,719 Speaker 3: That what happens in my prayer life when I'm praying 374 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 3: with someone else works. Its way into that relationship, whether 375 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 3: or not they know it or not. It's like, you 376 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 3: know the scripture that says there's a bird that carries 377 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 3: a ruver in the air, or you know, I think 378 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 3: it's in Ecclesiastes. So I'm not saying that I'm not 379 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 3: liking in it to that, but I'm saying that people's 380 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 3: hearts can tell if you are hard or soft towards them, 381 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 3: regardless of what your face is saying. And the next 382 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 3: time you see them or when you're in there the Sinity, 383 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 3: if you're praying for someone, it's having an effect on 384 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:56,400 Speaker 3: them because that's who our father is. You may never 385 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 3: dialogue about it, you may never know that, but it 386 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 3: will I have an effect on that relationship. I feel 387 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 3: like I went all the way around the world, But 388 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 3: did that make sense? Yeah? 389 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: No, no, no, that totally totally. 390 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 2: That is such a practical example of how this works 391 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 2: itself out. 392 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: So I love this. 393 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 2: Okay, So give us another habit that can develop our 394 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 2: prayer life. 395 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 1: Okay. 396 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 3: I love that you said that about being practical because 397 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 3: that is my continual prayer before the Lord. 398 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: I want to be real and I want to be practical. 399 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 3: I want to speak in verbs and help people to 400 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 3: give them tools. 401 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: So another tool. 402 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 3: Or habit that the Lord has taught me is similar 403 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,199 Speaker 3: to that, but I gave it its own chapter in 404 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,199 Speaker 3: the book, and I think you'll quickly understand why. But 405 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 3: I call it don't try to pray in ways you 406 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 3: don't normally communicate. I'll unpack that for you. Don't try 407 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 3: to pray in ways you don't normally communicate. So let's 408 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,639 Speaker 3: say that you and I well exactly like we started 409 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 3: this podcast, or how we would be if I was 410 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 3: riding with my best friend and we were chatting. We 411 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 3: don't communicate and linear fashion. We don't exhaust one subject 412 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 3: before we move to another subject. 413 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:07,120 Speaker 1: We're talking. 414 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 3: We may even go way off and talk about something else. 415 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 3: We have the freedom to come back and say, oh, 416 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 3: you remember when we were talking about the podcast, I 417 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 3: wanted to tell you this, And then we might go 418 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 3: somewhere else and talk about something else, and we might 419 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 3: circle back. We don't talk in a linear way. You 420 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 3: and I didn't do it when we met through this podcast. 421 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 3: We just pinged all over the place. You would say 422 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 3: a word in it were do mind me of Mississippi 423 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 3: or Tennessee, and I'd say a word. 424 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: And you say, oh yeah, my friend, and that none. 425 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 3: Of those things that we went talking about. We're on 426 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 3: our original line of discussion. We were asking a question 427 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 3: that was different. So if you think back, you'll see 428 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 3: we did that. We were just kind of all over 429 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 3: the map. Well liking that or contrast that with what happens. 430 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 1: Then. 431 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 3: Oftentimes, when we come to prayer, we will try to 432 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 3: sit down and pray and what we feel like is 433 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 3: the right way to pray in a very linear point 434 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 3: by points. There is all this subject before I go 435 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 3: to another subject. It feels awkward, It feels uncomfortable because 436 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 3: we don't communicate with anyone else in our lives that way. 437 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 3: And so because it will feel uncomfortable and awkward, it 438 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 3: kind of drains the energy from our prayer life. Whereas 439 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:23,120 Speaker 3: if we learn to communicate with our father the way 440 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 3: I communicate with you, Donna, if I'm talking to the Lord, 441 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 3: I'm praying about something and I think about something else 442 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 3: and I'm praying about that, and I know it's given 443 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 3: me such freedom because I'm not trying to think about 444 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 3: everything I need to pray about this one issue. 445 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: I'm just praying about it. And then I'm moving on. 446 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 3: And then if I think, ooh, I really wanted to 447 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 3: ask the Lord so and so I'm just going back 448 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 3: and I'm praying about that, I'm circling back. And the 449 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 3: seventeenth chapter of John is the best place to see 450 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 3: that Jesus modeled it. You'll recognize that as the high 451 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 3: priestly prayer, or when Jesus was praying in the vicinity 452 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 3: of his disciples so they could hear him. But I 453 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 3: would courage all of our listeners to read that chapter 454 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 3: again and watch for two things. The number of times 455 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 3: Jesus expands on something he had already asked his father, 456 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 3: or circles back and says something else on the same 457 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 3: subject he asked. 458 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 1: His father earlier in the book. 459 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 3: All through that chapter Jesus is praying to his father, 460 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 3: and he's not in a linear fashion. He's praying about something. 461 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:29,919 Speaker 3: And then towards the end of the chapter he'll say, Oh, 462 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 3: I'm not praying for them alone. I'm praying for those 463 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 3: who will believe me, and you, Dona, I'm praying for 464 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,439 Speaker 3: those who will believe. Did he forget about us at 465 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 3: the first of the chapter when he was praying, No, 466 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 3: But while he was praying, he thought of us, and 467 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 3: he comes back around and prays for us to know 468 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 3: his glory like he was praying for his earlier disciples 469 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:50,880 Speaker 3: that were right. 470 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:51,400 Speaker 1: There with him. 471 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 3: So he expands, he circles back because he's in a conversation. 472 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 3: And when we learn to be in conversation with the Lord, 473 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 3: and instead of giving him our very best monologue today, 474 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 3: I'm going to give you Lord my very best monologue 475 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 3: right now. There's no communication or relationship in our monologues. 476 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 3: But when we hope to him, right, what do we do? 477 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 3: We linger? 478 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: And what I love to say is lingering changes everything 479 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,959 Speaker 1: that is so good, so funny. 480 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 2: As you were talking, I realize that there are times, 481 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 2: as I'm praying, I do exactly that it's more just 482 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 2: a conversation. I'm pointing out my heart to the Lord. 483 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 2: I'm just really talking to him about what's going on. 484 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 2: And then there are other times, though this is I 485 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 2: think true, especially if I'm praying for somebody else, like 486 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 2: somebody sick or somebody has some sort of need, I'll 487 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 2: find that those prayers are a little bit more in 488 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 2: a linear fashion, and I almost feel guilty if I 489 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 2: don't say everything that I meant to say about that prayer. 490 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:55,199 Speaker 2: This is so crazy, but almost like Okay, God, well, 491 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 2: if I didn't say everything I meant to say about 492 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 2: that person's healing, then maybe you won't do it like nine, 493 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 2: which is so I'm just thinking of this right now. 494 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:06,439 Speaker 2: I'm understand I'm thinking about what is going on in 495 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 2: my mind, which. 496 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,679 Speaker 1: Is so dumb. Don't we act wicky? We're just wicky 497 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: about things like that, aren't we. 498 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I love that you are just talking about 499 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:20,120 Speaker 2: how you expand you circle back because it's conversation. Think 500 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 2: of it as a conversation. Okay, so good, Okay, give 501 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 2: us another habit. You've given us two good ones. 502 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,360 Speaker 3: My very favorite habit starts the book. It's chapter one, 503 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:32,120 Speaker 3: and it says, remember to use the door. And because 504 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 3: I know we don't have a lot of time left, 505 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,679 Speaker 3: I'm going to try to unpack it pretty easily. But 506 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 3: when we come to salvation, when we come to faith 507 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 3: in Christ, we have access to God through Jesus Christ 508 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 3: the first time. Let us get in our heads forever 509 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 3: and ever that forever more. Our access to God is 510 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:55,240 Speaker 3: through the door Jesus Christ. Let me explain what I 511 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 3: mean by that. Sometimes we come to prayer, and like 512 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 3: even someone this year in a prayer book, like me, 513 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 3: they sit down to pray the next morning, and where 514 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 3: are you, Lord? 515 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: You know, it feels distant. 516 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 3: I'm thinking about all the things I need to do 517 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,119 Speaker 3: and what the Lord has taught me, Shelley, remember to 518 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 3: use the door, And that, to me is a catchphrase 519 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 3: that reminds me that Christ, Jesus made a way for 520 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 3: the access to the Father. And sometimes what I'm doing 521 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 3: instead is I'm trying to get real quiet so I 522 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 3: can feel his presence and so I can pray. Or 523 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 3: I'm trying to maybe I need to sing a fast on, 524 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 3: Maybe I need to sing his love so on, maybe 525 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 3: I need to read the Bible first, And you know, 526 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 3: I'm trying all these different things. And when I remember 527 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,439 Speaker 3: to use the door and throw on the brakes and 528 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 3: I start thanking Father God for Jesus Christ, the door 529 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 3: who opened the way of access forever more for me, 530 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 3: and I just start talking about that door and celebrating 531 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 3: and reveling in the door. It is a way to 532 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 3: just bypass all that nonsent, that wiggy wonky things that 533 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,360 Speaker 3: we do to try to get into God's presence and 534 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 3: It also defeats wandering thoughts we've talked about, and distraction 535 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 3: and all that, because it is never our ability to 536 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 3: focus that enables us to get into God's presence. So 537 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 3: our inability to focus can't deny us God's presence if 538 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 3: we remember to use the door, if nothing else matters. 539 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 3: And so I give people in an example of how 540 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 3: many times you will try to get into an app 541 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 3: on your phone, right or your iPad or something and 542 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 3: you can't remember your password? 543 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 1: And what does it say? 544 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 3: While you're trying to remember your password and you keep 545 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 3: getting like out, and it says, right up underneath that box, 546 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:41,360 Speaker 3: what does it say? 547 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: Did you forget your password? You know what we do? 548 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:45,199 Speaker 1: We go now, I don't forget my password. I know 549 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 1: my password. 550 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,199 Speaker 3: So we try another password and it's not working, and 551 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 3: it says, did you forget your password? 552 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: We need to think of that and li liken it 553 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: to what. 554 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 3: We're doing when we come to prayer, and we're doing 555 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 3: all these other things to try to get still in 556 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 3: a t try and get in our Father's presence when 557 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,919 Speaker 3: we already have his favor and his access. And I 558 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:09,679 Speaker 3: can hear Father God saying, did you forget your password. 559 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 3: Come on, Shelley, did you forget your password? And I 560 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 3: stop and go, oh, it's you, Jesus. You're the one 561 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 3: that made a way for me to come into a 562 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 3: father's presence. You're the one that left the door open. 563 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 3: You are the door standing open. There's a scripture of 564 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 3: revelations for one that says, there's a door standing open 565 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 3: in heaven, and I want it written on my tombstone. 566 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 3: There's a door standing open in heaven and his name 567 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 3: is Jesus. So remember to use the door, Shelly. 568 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 2: That is so good. I will never forget that. I 569 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,959 Speaker 2: will never forget that. I think that is what I'm 570 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 2: going to do when I start praying. Don't forget the door. 571 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 2: The only way that I have access into the presence 572 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 2: of the Father is through Jesus. 573 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 1: Oh so good, So good. 574 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 2: Okay, Shelley, I know yea, so many my listeners are 575 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 2: going to want to pick up your books. So tell 576 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 2: us again the title and how they can get a copy. 577 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: Okay. 578 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 3: So the title of the book is don't try to 579 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 3: pray like her Fifteen simple Habits for a reialer, richer 580 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 3: prayer life. You're going to be able to find it 581 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 3: at any bookstore February the third. It's available for pre 582 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 3: order right now on all the sites, Amazon being in. 583 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 3: My publisher at Whittaker House has it available for a 584 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:29,960 Speaker 3: pre order, but I have sat up an email for 585 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 3: it that if you pre order right now before February 586 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 3: the third, if you pre order and you send me 587 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 3: proof of purchase to the email, I'm about to tell 588 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 3: you and maybe you'll put it in the show notes 589 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 3: for me. But if you send me an email with 590 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 3: a proof of purchase right then, immediately, no waiting, You're 591 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 3: going to get the introduction and that first chapter about 592 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:52,959 Speaker 3: the door, so it's going to come to you immediately. 593 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 3: And that email is pray with Shelley at gmail dot com. 594 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 3: So if they just send proof of purchase to Pray 595 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 3: with Shelley at gmail dot com, they'll get that immediately. 596 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 2: Oh perfect. We will definitely put that in the show notes. 597 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 2: And Shelley, it has been such a joy to get 598 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 2: to know you. I'm going to ask you to do 599 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 2: something I don't ask all my guests, but I'm going 600 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 2: to ask you. Would you pray for that one who 601 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 2: is listening right now as we close out? 602 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 3: I sure would, I sure would. I would love to 603 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 3: close us in prayer. Father, you are beyond good, Donna, 604 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 3: and I don't have words Lord to articulate how good 605 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 3: you are. 606 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 1: Lord. 607 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 3: We have tried to put some words down that will 608 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 3: give you glory on this podcast. We have tried, Lord 609 00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 3: to speak to that listener. I ask Lord that you 610 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 3: would take these words that we have said our conversation Lord, 611 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 3: and you would help the listener that is just sitting 612 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 3: there thinking, I want to learn to pray. I want 613 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 3: to be in relationship with my father. I don't want ritual, 614 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 3: I want relationship. I asked that you would meet her, 615 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 3: teach her and draw her closer and above, Oh bather, 616 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 3: I pray that you would reveal to her the truth 617 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 3: of the words, that you're not looking for a clone 618 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 3: of someone else, but you won't her. You want her 619 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 3: heart and you want to listen to her. Just give 620 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 3: her that sweet encouragement to meet you in prayer. Thank 621 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 3: you for this great opportunity to join my friend, Donna, 622 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 3: and we give you praise in Jesus name. 623 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 1: Amen, Amen, thank you, my friend. You're welcome, You are 624 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:35,239 Speaker 1: so welcome. Thanks for having me. 625 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 2: Well, wasn't that a great episode? So practical, so real life? 626 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 2: I hope you picked up a Negati or two about 627 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 2: how to pray, how to connect with God in prayer, 628 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 2: and as a reminder, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, 629 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 2: rate to review it. And I would love to connect 630 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,200 Speaker 2: with you on social media. You'll find me on Instagram 631 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 2: at Donna A. Jones or go to my website Donna 632 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 2: Jones dot org, where you will find all kinds of reasons. 633 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 2: I'm speaking all over the place this spring and winter, 634 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:05,720 Speaker 2: and I would love to connect with you at one 635 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,720 Speaker 2: of my events or if your church or organization is 636 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 2: planning an event, check out my website and I would 637 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 2: love to come and speak for your church or your event. 638 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 2: And as always, my friend, I can't wait to see 639 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 2: you next time, for that's just what I needed.