1 00:00:07,900 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Untangling Prayer Podcast. I'm Rachel Wojo, and 2 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:17,180 Speaker 1: each week we unravel life's knots through prayer. Here you'll 3 00:00:17,270 --> 00:00:21,370 Speaker 1: find practical wisdom and prayer encouragement to guide you through 4 00:00:21,410 --> 00:00:26,430 Speaker 1: life's hardest seasons. Join me as we untangle life's messes together, 5 00:00:27,230 --> 00:00:35,010 Speaker 1: one prayer at a time. Well, hey there, I'm Rachel, 6 00:00:35,190 --> 00:00:38,050 Speaker 1: and I'm so glad that you have joined me today. 7 00:00:39,030 --> 00:00:43,140 Speaker 1: If your body isn't cooperating right now with you, then 8 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:46,659 Speaker 1: this episode is for you. Maybe it's pain that won't 9 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: let up or a diagnosis you're still trying to figure 10 00:00:49,740 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: out what to do with or a recovery that's taking 11 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: so much longer than you thought it would. For some 12 00:00:57,340 --> 00:01:00,350 Speaker 1: of you, it's not your back or your joints or 13 00:01:00,410 --> 00:01:03,610 Speaker 1: anything physical. It's your mind. There's a depression that's been 14 00:01:03,650 --> 00:01:06,750 Speaker 1: there for a while, and you are just tired of it. 15 00:01:06,850 --> 00:01:10,750 Speaker 1: You're tired of appointments. You're tired of questions from people 16 00:01:10,790 --> 00:01:14,059 Speaker 1: who mean well. You're honestly tired of praying the same 17 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,279 Speaker 1: prayer and waking up in the same body. We've spent 18 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,300 Speaker 1: the last month or so in praying through life's battles, 19 00:01:22,930 --> 00:01:25,809 Speaker 1: in a weary section, and I'm not sure that there's 20 00:01:25,930 --> 00:01:29,090 Speaker 1: anything more heavy or more tiring than being sick of 21 00:01:29,140 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: your own body because it's not working. I created this 22 00:01:33,380 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: free resource called the Pray Through It Battle Plan, and 23 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: it's a six-step prayer guide for the battle that you 24 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: didn't ask for. A lot of what we're talking about 25 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: today comes straight from this guide, and you can get 26 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,990 Speaker 1: the guide for free at at battleprayers.com. I'll tell you 27 00:01:51,030 --> 00:01:54,050 Speaker 1: about it again at the end of the podcast. But 28 00:01:54,430 --> 00:01:57,450 Speaker 1: as usual, we'll start with this week's question. How do 29 00:01:57,530 --> 00:02:01,230 Speaker 1: I keep praying when my body won't cooperate and I'm 30 00:02:01,310 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: just plain tired of it? And the first thing I 31 00:02:04,420 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: would tell you is that you've got to get specific 32 00:02:07,220 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: about what you're actually fighting. I think a lot of 33 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: us skip and just try to pray around the edges 34 00:02:14,860 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: of whatever we're fighting, like, Lord, be with me this week. 35 00:02:18,389 --> 00:02:20,730 Speaker 1: But when you're fighting something in your body, I think 36 00:02:20,930 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: actually saying it out loud, God, my knee is bothering 37 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,380 Speaker 1: me again, or Lord, there's this fatigue that I cannot 38 00:02:29,460 --> 00:02:34,329 Speaker 1: make myself do things. Give yourself permission to call out 39 00:02:34,389 --> 00:02:38,550 Speaker 1: specifically whatever it is. I'm being worn out. I'm worn 40 00:02:38,650 --> 00:02:42,269 Speaker 1: out from being sick is a very common battle. And 41 00:02:42,330 --> 00:02:46,149 Speaker 1: when you've named that battle, take it to Scripture. For 42 00:02:46,169 --> 00:02:49,310 Speaker 1: this particular issue, I keep landing on 2 Corinthians 4, 43 00:02:49,290 --> 00:02:51,970 Speaker 1: where Paul writes, And Paul is not writing that from 44 00:02:51,990 --> 00:02:55,950 Speaker 1: a comfortable chair. In this same letter, he tells us 45 00:02:55,970 --> 00:02:59,310 Speaker 1: that he had been beaten. He had been shipwrecked three times. 46 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:15,399 Speaker 1: He talks about having a thorn in his flesh. that 47 00:03:15,460 --> 00:03:19,090 Speaker 1: he begged God three times to take away. And so 48 00:03:19,150 --> 00:03:23,290 Speaker 1: when he says outwardly, we are wasting away, he knows 49 00:03:23,330 --> 00:03:25,930 Speaker 1: what he's talking about when it comes to the human body. 50 00:03:26,410 --> 00:03:30,110 Speaker 1: But he says something that can sting a little if 51 00:03:30,169 --> 00:03:36,190 Speaker 1: you're hurting right now. He says, our light and momentary troubles. 52 00:03:37,170 --> 00:03:39,790 Speaker 1: The first few times I read that, especially when it 53 00:03:39,830 --> 00:03:44,570 Speaker 1: was on a hard season, I wasn't too crazy about it. Light, momentary, 54 00:03:45,260 --> 00:03:48,380 Speaker 1: My hard season of taking care of my daughter for 55 00:03:48,380 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: 22 years did not feel light or momentary. But when 56 00:03:51,500 --> 00:03:55,620 Speaker 1: you keep reading, Paul puts these troubles on a scale 57 00:03:55,700 --> 00:03:59,660 Speaker 1: that's next to eternity. And he says what we're achieving 58 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:04,030 Speaker 1: for eternal glory far outweighs them all. He's not pretending 59 00:04:04,070 --> 00:04:08,510 Speaker 1: that the pain is non-existence, but he's convinced that what 60 00:04:08,550 --> 00:04:13,070 Speaker 1: God is doing through it will weigh more in the end. 61 00:04:14,060 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: So if you are in the middle of a long 62 00:04:16,060 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: season that won't end, James 1, 2 through 4 is 63 00:04:20,140 --> 00:04:23,870 Speaker 1: another passage that I've kind of been honed in on. 64 00:04:24,310 --> 00:04:27,930 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this segment of the podcast. We'll 65 00:04:27,970 --> 00:04:31,130 Speaker 1: be right back after a brief word from our sponsors. 66 00:04:31,210 --> 00:04:33,790 Speaker 1: Thank you for allowing that word from our sponsors. And 67 00:04:33,850 --> 00:04:38,950 Speaker 1: now for this week's Pray More, Worry Less encouragement. This 68 00:04:39,190 --> 00:04:42,420 Speaker 1: is the segment of the episode. where we focus on 69 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,730 Speaker 1: just one prayer principle to help you pray more and 70 00:04:45,770 --> 00:04:51,750 Speaker 1: worry less. And today's principle is name the lie so 71 00:04:51,810 --> 00:04:55,750 Speaker 1: it's stripped of its power. When your body won't cooperate, 72 00:04:55,830 --> 00:04:58,500 Speaker 1: there are some lies that Satan throws at us that 73 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: come on very easily, like you're going to feel this 74 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: way forever, or if you had more faith, you'd be 75 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: healed by now. But the one I wanted to talk 76 00:05:08,020 --> 00:05:12,450 Speaker 1: about today is one that kind of wears out a 77 00:05:12,529 --> 00:05:18,690 Speaker 1: praying person. It pushes us down. And it's the lie 78 00:05:18,740 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: that says nothing is going to change and God is 79 00:05:21,140 --> 00:05:26,220 Speaker 1: not answering. And when you can identify that lie, the 80 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,930 Speaker 1: enemy is telling me that because I'm not better yet, 81 00:05:30,450 --> 00:05:34,390 Speaker 1: God isn't listening or God isn't working, then you have 82 00:05:34,430 --> 00:05:37,750 Speaker 1: to answer that lie with the truth. If you look 83 00:05:37,790 --> 00:05:42,270 Speaker 1: at 2 Corinthians 4.16 again, it says day by day. 84 00:05:42,410 --> 00:05:45,550 Speaker 1: So the renewal is happening one day at a time. 85 00:05:45,670 --> 00:05:49,890 Speaker 1: God's work in you right now might be measured in 86 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: days or even moments. And if all you're staring at 87 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,180 Speaker 1: is the finish line, it's going to be hard for you. 88 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: In my own words, this might sound like my body 89 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,109 Speaker 1: may be wearing down, but God is renewing me on 90 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,870 Speaker 1: the inside one day at a time. And he's answering 91 00:06:09,529 --> 00:06:12,349 Speaker 1: in small ways that I don't want to miss. And 92 00:06:12,390 --> 00:06:15,770 Speaker 1: because I know how hard this can be to hear this, 93 00:06:15,850 --> 00:06:18,070 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk about the fact that Paul tells 94 00:06:18,180 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: us the inner person doesn't mean God is unconcerned with 95 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: your body. He still cares about your body. We can 96 00:06:25,779 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: still ask him for healing. And we can keep going 97 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,900 Speaker 1: to the doctor. We can keep doing the therapy or 98 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,220 Speaker 1: taking the medication or going to the counselor, whatever your 99 00:06:36,260 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: care looks like right now. But the care is part 100 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,820 Speaker 1: of how he answers. In this week's answer prayer story, 101 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,380 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk a little bit about my friend Carrie. 102 00:06:47,940 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: She had back surgery and the healing process has taken 103 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,539 Speaker 1: far longer than she dreamed it would be. If you 104 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,820 Speaker 1: ever had an expectation on when you're going to be 105 00:06:59,860 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: back on your feet by and what the limitation will 106 00:07:02,930 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: be and you've watched that date come and go, then 107 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: you know how discouraging it is. And Carrie's been looking 108 00:07:08,850 --> 00:07:12,530 Speaker 1: for small daily answers to prayer. And I've talked to 109 00:07:12,550 --> 00:07:15,870 Speaker 1: her recently. She will say things like, well, I can 110 00:07:15,910 --> 00:07:18,810 Speaker 1: move a little bit faster than I did yesterday, or 111 00:07:19,210 --> 00:07:22,590 Speaker 1: my range of motion is a little bit wider than 112 00:07:22,610 --> 00:07:26,620 Speaker 1: it was yesterday. My therapy sessions are helping. Those are 113 00:07:26,710 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: answered prayers. They're just so small that it feels like 114 00:07:30,660 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: you would walk right by them if all you were 115 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,820 Speaker 1: looking for was the finish line. Carrie's recovery hasn't been fast. 116 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: And she's noticing what God is doing along the way, 117 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: just one day at a time. And so if you 118 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,739 Speaker 1: want to take what we talked about today and apply 119 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,710 Speaker 1: it to your own battle, that's what the Pray Through 120 00:07:51,730 --> 00:07:55,630 Speaker 1: It battle plan is for. It will walk you through 121 00:07:56,130 --> 00:08:00,250 Speaker 1: naming the battle, finding the scripture, calling out the lie, 122 00:08:00,410 --> 00:08:03,510 Speaker 1: and stating the truth. And then it gives you a 123 00:08:03,690 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: simple prayer to pray. Here's what that prayer might sound 124 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:12,370 Speaker 1: like with today's battle filled in. Lord, I am in 125 00:08:12,550 --> 00:08:16,770 Speaker 1: a battle with a body that won't cooperate. I'm tired. 126 00:08:16,990 --> 00:08:20,390 Speaker 1: The enemy is telling me that because I'm not better yet, 127 00:08:21,130 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: you aren't answering. But your word says that though outwardly 128 00:08:26,180 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: I may be wasting away, inwardly I am being renewed 129 00:08:30,780 --> 00:08:34,220 Speaker 1: day by day. So today I'm asking you to heal me. 130 00:08:35,090 --> 00:08:38,949 Speaker 1: And until you do, open my eyes to the small 131 00:08:39,250 --> 00:08:43,410 Speaker 1: answers you're giving me every day. I trust you with 132 00:08:43,470 --> 00:08:48,030 Speaker 1: this fight in Jesus' name. Amen. The last page of 133 00:08:48,070 --> 00:08:52,290 Speaker 1: the guide gives you room to write a short battle cry. 134 00:08:52,450 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: And you can put that out somewhere where you'll see it. 135 00:08:55,710 --> 00:08:58,330 Speaker 1: Write it on a post-it note. But maybe like for 136 00:08:58,370 --> 00:09:01,709 Speaker 1: this one, day by day, God is renewing me. Download 137 00:09:01,809 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: the free guide. And if you would like company, To 138 00:09:05,450 --> 00:09:09,630 Speaker 1: get past this battle, I wrote Praying Through Life's Battles 139 00:09:10,370 --> 00:09:13,390 Speaker 1: for you. This worksheet is going to help you one 140 00:09:13,910 --> 00:09:17,590 Speaker 1: battle at a time. My new book, Praying Through Life's Battles, 141 00:09:17,650 --> 00:09:20,510 Speaker 1: will walk you through 90. You can get it at 142 00:09:20,550 --> 00:09:25,910 Speaker 1: battleprayers.com or wherever you buy books. If this has meant 143 00:09:25,970 --> 00:09:29,500 Speaker 1: something to you, this book, would you leave a review? 144 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,780 Speaker 1: It's one of the main ways that the next weary 145 00:09:32,820 --> 00:09:36,110 Speaker 1: person can find what they need. And I thank you 146 00:09:36,150 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: so much for joining me on Untangling Prayer. Please like 147 00:09:40,740 --> 00:09:45,140 Speaker 1: and subscribe. And until next time, know that God sees you, 148 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:50,950 Speaker 1: He hears you, and He knows your needs. Thanks for 149 00:09:50,990 --> 00:09:55,510 Speaker 1: joining me on the Untangling Prayer podcast. If this episode 150 00:09:55,590 --> 00:09:58,729 Speaker 1: resonated with you, share it with someone who could use 151 00:09:58,770 --> 00:09:53,199 Speaker 1: a little hope and Keep seeking, keep trusting, and keep praying.