3 Things I've Learned About Prayer

Summary

In this video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of a focused and consistent prayer life for Christians. They outline three keys to effective prayer: achieving focus through silence, prayer requests, and worship; cultivating faith by recognizing the existing connection with God; and maintaining faithfulness by prioritizing prayer in daily life. The speaker encourages viewers to commit to a disciplined prayer routine, suggesting that this will lead to a transformation in their spiritual lives and a deeper connection with the divine.

Takeaways

• 📝 The importance of establishing a powerful and consistent prayer life for true followers of Christ.
• 🗣️ Encouragement to publicly declare a commitment to prayer by commenting 'prayer first'.
• 🎯 Key to effective prayer is focus, which is often hindered by distractions from the world.
• 🤫 The practice of silence as a means to achieve focus during prayer, as suggested by Jesus in Matthew 6:6.
• 📆 The necessity of both spontaneous and scheduled prayer to address exterior distractions.
• 📋 Utilizing prayer requests to combat internal distractions and experience God's peace, as per Philippians 4:6-7.
• 🙏 The act of worship as a way to focus the mind on God, leading to peace and a deeper prayer life.
• 🔑 The concept of faith in prayer, emphasizing the pre-existing connection with God rather than a works-based approach.
• 💪 The call for faithfulness in daily prayer, making a conscious decision to prioritize prayer in one's schedule.
• 🔄 The reassurance that missing days of prayer does not equate to loss of connection with God, and the importance of returning to prayer without guilt.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video script?

The primary focus of the video script is to discuss the importance of a powerful and consistent prayer life for followers of Christ and to provide three key insights on how to pray effectively.

What is the first key to effective prayer mentioned in the script?

The first key to effective prayer mentioned in the script is 'focus', which involves eliminating distractions and maintaining a disciplined mind during prayer.

How does the script suggest handling exterior distractions during prayer?

The script suggests handling exterior distractions by practicing silence, going to a private place, and setting aside a scheduled time for prayer, which includes turning off electronic devices and informing others of your need for quiet time.

What are the three keys to focusing the mind during prayer as outlined in the script?

The three keys to focusing the mind during prayer are: A) practicing silence, B) using prayer requests to address internal distractions, and C) engaging in worship to focus on God's presence.

What does the script say about the role of worry in prayer?

The script states that worry is the flesh's powerless counterfeit for prayer, and instead of worrying, believers should pray about everything, which leads to experiencing God's peace.

How does the script differentiate between a works-based mentality and a fellowship-based mentality in prayer?

The script differentiates between the two by illustrating the story of Martha and Mary, where Martha represents a works-based mentality, being distracted by tasks, while Mary represents a fellowship-based mentality, focusing on listening and being in the presence of the Lord.

What is the second key to effective prayer discussed in the script?

The second key to effective prayer is 'faith', which involves approaching prayer with the belief that one is already connected with God and not needing to work to establish that connection.

What does the script suggest about the nature of the relationship with God in prayer?

The script suggests that prayer is not about working to connect with God but rather about praying from a place of already existing connection with God, emphasizing that this connection is not lost due to sins or missed prayers.

What is the third key to effective prayer mentioned in the script?

The third key to effective prayer is 'faithfulness', which involves making a conscious decision to prioritize prayer and establishing a disciplined prayer life.

How does the script encourage viewers to approach their prayer life after missing a few days?

The script encourages viewers to approach their prayer life without guilt or shame after missing a few days, emphasizing that God welcomes them back with open arms and that they should not view prayer as a ladder where they can fall off and lose progress.

What is the final call to action for viewers in the script?

The final call to action is for viewers to become monthly supporters of the ministry by visiting DavidHernandezMinistries.com/partner and to engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and turning on notifications for Encounter TV.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 The Power of Focus in Prayer

The speaker emphasizes the importance of a focused prayer life, highlighting that distractions are a significant barrier to effective prayer. They introduce the concept of 'prayer first' as a commitment to prioritize prayer. The speaker provides three keys to focus during prayer: practicing silence, using prayer requests to quiet internal distractions, and worshiping to concentrate the mind on God. Silence is illustrated by Jesus' advice in Matthew 6:6, urging believers to find a private place for prayer to minimize external distractions. Prayer requests are supported by Philippians 4:6-7, encouraging believers to present all concerns to God, leading to peace and focus. Lastly, worship is described as a way to fix the mind on God, overshadowing worldly concerns.

05:01

🕊️ Peace as the Prelude to Deeper Prayer

This section delves into the role of peace in prayer, contrasting it with the common misconception that peace is the end goal. Instead, peace is presented as the starting point that allows for deeper, more meaningful prayer. The speaker uses Isaiah 26:3 to stress that focusing the mind on God brings peace, which in turn enables a believer to enter into more profound prayer experiences. The narrative pivots to address the importance of faith in prayer, drawing a parallel between the biblical figures of Martha and Mary to illustrate the difference between a works-based and a faith-based approach to prayer. The Lord's Prayer is referenced to demonstrate the correct mindset for prayer, which is rooted in an existing relationship with God rather than an attempt to establish one.

10:01

✝️ Overcoming Obstacles to Faithful Prayer

The speaker addresses the misconceptions that hinder faithful prayer, such as the belief that missing prayer times pushes one away from God. They clarify that prayer is not a points-based system and that God's presence is constant, regardless of one's past actions. The speaker encourages believers to approach prayer with boldness and faith, as stated in Hebrews 4:16, and to avoid the 'orphan mentality' that suggests one must work to maintain a connection with God. The section concludes with a call to view prayer as an opportunity for connection and communion with God, rather than a burdensome obligation.

15:03

📅 Prioritizing Prayer for Spiritual Transformation

The final paragraph focuses on the practical discipline of establishing a consistent prayer life. The speaker advises viewers to prioritize prayer in their daily schedules and to make deliberate choices to maintain a prayer routine. They dispel the idea that missing prayer times equates to losing progress, instead promoting the image of God welcoming believers back with open arms. The speaker encourages arranging one's life around prayer and being willing to make sacrifices to protect this sacred time. The section ends with a prayer for a praying spirit and a call to action for viewers to support the ministry's efforts in spreading the gospel through media, emphasizing the importance of countering negative influences in society.

Keywords

💡Prayer

Prayer is a form of communication with a higher power, typically involving requests, gratitude, or adoration. In the video, prayer is the central theme, with the speaker emphasizing the importance of establishing a powerful and consistent prayer life. The script provides practical advice on how to enhance prayer, such as focusing on silence, prayer requests, and worship, to achieve a deeper connection with the divine.

💡Focus

Focus refers to the ability to concentrate one's attention on a particular object or activity. In the context of the video, focus is presented as the first key to effective prayer. The speaker suggests that distractions, both internal and external, often hinder believers from establishing a consistent prayer life. To achieve focus, the speaker recommends practices such as finding a quiet place, setting aside scheduled times for prayer, and engaging in worship.

💡Distraction

Distraction denotes anything that diverts attention from the current activity. In the video, distractions are identified as a significant obstacle to effective prayer. The speaker explains that when one tries to pray, their mind may be bombarded with worldly concerns, which can disrupt the prayer process. To overcome distractions, the speaker advises creating a conducive environment for prayer and prioritizing it over other activities.

💡Silence

Silence in this context means the absence of noise and the state of being quiet, which is recommended for fostering a focused prayer life. The video script cites Jesus' instruction from Matthew 6:6, encouraging believers to find a private place for prayer to achieve silence and avoid external distractions. This practice is seen as a means to prepare the mind for a more meaningful and effective prayer session.

💡Worship

Worship is the act of revering or adoring a deity, often involving rituals, music, or other forms of expression. In the video, worship is mentioned as a key to achieving focus during prayer. The speaker suggests that when one engages in worship, they are less likely to be concerned with their problems and more focused on the presence of God, which helps to silence internal distractions and deepen the prayer experience.

💡Faith

Faith, in the context of the video, refers to the trust and confidence in a higher power, particularly in the context of prayer. The speaker discusses the importance of faith in prayer, emphasizing that believers should approach prayer not from a works-based mentality but from a place of already established connection with God. The video encourages viewers to trust that God hears their prayers and to approach prayer with confidence.

💡Faithfulness

Faithfulness in the video script pertains to the consistent practice of prayer and the commitment to maintaining a prayer life. The speaker stresses that becoming a person of faithful daily prayer requires a deliberate choice and the establishment of prayer as a non-negotiable part of one's daily routine. Faithfulness is portrayed as a discipline that, when prioritized, can lead to a transformation in one's life and prayer experience.

💡Connection

Connection, as used in the video, refers to the relationship and sense of unity between the believer and God. The speaker clarifies that prayer is not a means to establish this connection but rather an expression of it. The video encourages viewers to recognize that they are already connected with God through faith, and this connection is not lost due to sins or lapses in religious practice. This understanding is meant to alleviate the pressure and guilt associated with prayer and to foster a more genuine and relaxed approach.

💡Peace

Peace, in the context of the video, signifies a state of tranquility and calm, particularly the peace that comes from God. The speaker explains that when believers submit their worries and concerns in prayer, they experience God's peace, which helps to silence internal distractions. This peace is described as a precursor to deeper prayer, allowing the believer to focus more intently on their communion with God.

💡Prayer Request

A prayer request is a specific item of concern that one brings to God in prayer. In the video, the speaker advises using prayer requests as a tool to combat internal distractions. By bringing one's needs and concerns to God in prayer, the believer is encouraged to let go of the worry associated with these issues, thus experiencing peace and better focusing their mind on the act of prayer.

Highlights

The importance of committing to a powerful and consistent prayer life.

Invitation to comment 'prayer first' to make prayer a bigger part of one's life.

The first key to effective prayer is focus, countering distractions.

The impact of worldly cares and concerns on prayer focus.

The practical advice of Jesus from Matthew 6:6 on finding a private place to pray.

The distinction between exterior and interior distractions during prayer.

The balance of spontaneous and scheduled prayer for maintaining focus.

The role of prayer requests in silencing internal distractions.

The instruction from Philippians 4:6-7 on not worrying but praying about everything.

How submitting prayer requests to God can lead to experiencing God's peace.

The misconception that peace is the end of prayer; it's actually the beginning.

The second key to effective prayer is faith, drawing from Luke 10:38-42.

The contrast between a works-based and fellowship-based approach to prayer.

The Lord's Prayer as a model for effective prayer from Matthew 6:9-13.

The realization that prayer is not a points-based system to connect with God.

The third key to effective prayer is faithfulness and the decision to pray more.

The liberating truth that missing days of prayer does not equate to losing connection with God.

The encouragement to establish a disciplined prayer life and prioritize it.

The call to action to become a monthly supporter of the ministry to spread the gospel.

Transcripts

- Every true follower of Christ wants a powerful

and consistent prayer life.

Here are three things I've learned

about praying effectively.

(gentle music)

To start, I want you to go on public record.

If you're ready to make a bigger commitment to prayer

than ever before,

then I want you to comment these two simple words:

prayer first.

Write those two words in the comment section right now

if you want to make prayer a bigger part of your life

than ever before.

Key number one to effective prayer: focus.

One of the biggest reasons why believers

have trouble establishing a prayer life

or going deeper in prayer is because of distraction.

Have you ever noticed that when you go to pray,

suddenly your mind is bombarded with all of the cares

and concerns of this world?

You start thinking of your responsibilities, your worries,

your to-do list, your relationships.

All of a sudden, these thoughts seem to come when you pray.

And again, because of this,

many believers have trouble establishing that consistency

or that depth in their prayer life.

If prayer is to be effective, it must be focused.

The wandering mind keeps the believer bound

to the natural realm.

The excess of distracting thoughts is too heavy

to allow for heavenly ascension.

So how do you focus?

How do you get your mind to be disciplined when you pray?

I'm gonna give you three keys

to focusing your mind when you pray.

First, you must practice silence.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:6:

"But when you pray, go away by yourself,

shut the door behind you,

and pray to your Father in private.

Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."

This is a very practical, but effective means

to establishing a focused mind when you pray.

Jesus here is talking about going to a private place.

Now, there are two kinds of distractions:

exterior distraction and internal distraction.

Exterior distraction, that's things like the cell phone,

conversations, the cares of the world around you.

In order to eliminate exterior distractions,

you must have a scheduled time

when you pray and you go away privately.

You must practice both spontaneous and scheduled prayer.

Spontaneous prayer is all throughout the day.

You can be working, you can be conversing,

you can be eating while you're in prayer,

talking to the Lord, even sometimes internally.

But scheduled prayer is when you set aside that time to go

and just focus on the presence of the Lord.

And so Jesus gives us this powerful key

to shut that door,

to tell your loved ones, "This is my time to pray,"

to turn off the cell phone,

put away the laptop, put away the work,

put away the concerns,

and that takes care of, as I said, the exterior distraction.

Now what about that interior distraction?

How do you focus the mind

when you have things going on inside of you internally

that are causing you to lose focus when you pray?

Well, these next two keys I'm gonna give you

will help you to focus

and fight against those internal distractions.

First, we have the prayer request.

Philippians 4:6-7 say this:

"Don't worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.

Then you will experience God's peace,

which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts

and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Now, let's break the scripture down.

"Don't worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything."

Remember, worry is the flesh's powerless counterfeit

for prayer.

Worry is how your flesh prays.

But the scripture tells us

that when we tell God what we need

and when we thank Him for everything that He has done,

then we will experience God's peace.

So when you unburden yourself by giving God your to-do list,

by giving Him all your responsibilities,

that is when you experience perfect peace.

Now, I'm not saying that you just say,

"Lord, take care of all my responsibilities

and I leave them to you,

and I'm not ever gonna do them."

No, that's not what I'm saying.

What I am saying is the worry over those responsibilities,

the concern over those tasks,

that's what you give to Him.

When you submit your prayer requests to God,

you're lifting those burdens of life

from off of your shoulders

and you're placing them in God's hands.

And in doing that,

you experience the peace of God that fills your heart.

Now, this is the mistake many believers make.

They make their prayer requests,

they tell 'em what they need,

then they fill that burden lifted from off of them.

They're filled with peace,

and they say, "I feel much better. Thank you, Lord."

And then they walk out of the prayer room.

But peace is not the conclusion of prayer.

It's the beginning of prayer.

It's when you're filled with that peace

that you can now focus the mind

to go deeper into the places of prayer than ever before.

So peace is not the conclusion of prayer.

It's the entryway.

Again, I'm talking about focus.

That first key to prayer is focus.

How do you do that?

Silence.

Put away the exterior distractions

by shutting yourself in for a moment

to just be alone with the Lord.

Second, the prayer requests.

This helps to silence those internal distractions.

Now, I wanna give you another key

to silencing those internal distractions

that you might become more focused in prayer.

Isaiah 26:3:

"Thou will keep him in perfect peace,

whose mind is stayed on thee:

because he trusteth in thee."

When you focus your mind on the Lord,

you are filled with peace.

When you focus your mind on the Lord,

the cares of this world fade into the background.

Worship is a key to focus,

because when you're worshiping Him, you're looking at Him.

When you're worshiping Him,

you're not worried about your problems.

You're in awe of the presence of God.

The glory of God is so brilliant, so beautiful, so blinding

that when you're focused on the light of His presence,

it washes away everything around you.

You get lost in that moment,

raptured in His presence, if you will,

and all of the cares and concerns of the world

fade into the background.

Now, again, I'm not saying

that you set aside your responsibilities

and never again pick them up.

What I am saying is that when you go before the Lord,

that is the time to lay things down

that you might ascend to higher places.

So key number one to effective prayer is focus.

How do you focus?

A, practice silence,

B, use the prayer request,

and C, worship.

Key number two: faith.

Luke 10:38-42 says this:

"As Jesus and the disciples continued

on their way to Jerusalem,

they came to a certain village

where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet,

listening to what He taught.

But Martha was distracted

by the big dinner she was preparing.

She came to Jesus and said,

'Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you

that my sister just sits here while I do all the work?

Tell her to come and help me.'

But the Lord said to her, 'Dear Martha, you are worried

and upset over all these details.

There is only one thing worth being concerned about.

Mary has discovered it,

and it will not be taken away from her.'"

Some believers approach the Lord like Martha:

from a works-based mentality.

Others approach the Lord like Mary:

from a fellowship-based mentality.

Often, we think that prayer is our working

to connect with God.

And we're so distracted by the work.

We're so consumed with what we think we have to do

that we forget the way was already paid.

The Bible says this in Matthew 6:9-13:

"Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy.

May Your kingdom come soon.

May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need,

and forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us.

And don't let us yield to temptation,

but rescue us from the evil one."

This is a very popular portion of scripture.

This is the Lord's Prayer, and He's teaching us how to pray.

Notice here that the Lord begins His prayer

by saying, "Our Father in heaven."

He recognizes who His father is.

He doesn't doubt that connection with God.

He doesn't even doubt that God hears Him.

He didn't begin prayer by saying, "Lord, do you hear me?"

Which is how many of us begin?

He didn't begin that prayer by saying, "God, are you there?"

He didn't begin that prayer by imagining

that He had to work up some connection.

Remember this:

We do not pray to connect with God.

We pray from connection with God.

It's because we are already connected with Him

that we can pray.

Now, believers have issue with this

because they imagine that their past sins disqualify them,

or they think that

because they skipped a few days of reading their Bible

or maybe skipped church on Sunday,

or because they made a mistake that now they have to work

to gain back that relationship with God.

But it's not a points-based system.

It's not as though for every day that you miss prayer,

God takes another step away from you.

How could He ever leave you if He lives within you? No.

You see what happens when we make mistakes,

what happens when we neglect prayer

is not that God distances Himself from us.

It's that we become less aware

of the presence that's always abiding with us.

So instead of seeing prayer like a points-based system,

instead of looking at prayer like an obligation

that you have to check off the box in order to please God,

look at it like an opportunity.

See it for the opportunity that it is.

Many believers neglect prayer because of this very reason.

They think that it's going to be work.

They think that they have to exhaust themselves

to conjure a connection with God,

but there's nothing that you and I can do in our own power

or strength to ever connect with God.

It's all Him in the first place.

So when you pray, go boldly.

Don't let the enemy lie to you.

Don't let the enemy tell you that God doesn't hear you.

Don't let the enemy tell you that you have to work

for that connection with God.

Don't let the enemy shame you because of your past,

but do what the scripture says in Hebrews 4:16.

"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.

There, we will receive His mercy,

and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

Imagine how much time you could save in prayer

if instead of begging God to hear you,

you simply believe that He already does.

Now, I'm not saying save time in prayer

as in spend less time in prayer.

I'm talking about those wasted moments

of pleading and begging.

We come at Him in an orphan mentality,

trying to work up that relationship

that's already ours to keep.

You could be enjoying more of your time in prayer

instead of going through that initial moment

of working and trying, as I said, like Martha,

who imagined that she had to work

for that connection with the Lord.

Number three, faithfulness.

To become a man or woman of faithful daily prayer,

you must make up your mind concerning prayer.

People often ask me, "How do I pray more?"

And honestly, the answer is simple:

Choose to pray more.

The reality is,

I can't lay hands on you and impart discipline.

I've had believers come up to me

and say, "David, can you pray for me?"

And I say, "Sure. What do you want me to pray for?"

And they say, "Pray that I would pray."

I say, "Well, that really is on you."

There are spiritual disciplines

that we must choose to practice every single day.

Yes, prayer is a spiritual act,

but it's also a practical discipline.

That's the partnership that we have with God.

God will do the impossible after we've done the possible.

Now, every sincere believer wants to pray consistently,

but some believers have a certain view of prayer

that actually keeps them from praying consistently.

We imagine that daily prayer is like climbing a ladder.

I prayed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,

and for every day of the week that I pray consistently,

I take another step up that ladder.

And then we imagine that if we miss a day of prayer,

that we fallen off the ladder

and we've lost all of our progress.

Everything is gone now.

Our connection with God is gone now.

And then we're filled with guilt and shame,

and we're even filled with great regret

because we think that we've somehow messed up

or blemished our record.

Well, if you think of prayer in that way,

it's gonna be very difficult to pray faithfully.

Because as you go to pray or reestablish your prayer life,

you're just gonna be thinking

of all the days that you've missed.

Here's something that's liberating.

When I learn this, it set me free.

When I miss days of prayer

and I come back into the throne room, so to speak,

I come back to that prayer life,

I begin to establish again, consistency,

God is not looking down at me with His arms folded,

saying, "Well, well, well.

Look who decided to show up today.

Look who decided to pray.

Where have you been all this time?"

No, no, no, no.

That's not how the Lord is.

When we go to pray after days of missing prayer,

the Lord runs to us.

He embraces us.

He throws His arms around us and welcomes us home.

So sometimes the guilt of having missed days of prayer

can affect your faithfulness to prayer.

Sometimes missing prayer on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

will prevent you from praying on Thursday

because you think,

"Oh man, I have to do all this work again.

All my progress is lost."

Don't look at it that way.

That's a very religious way to approach prayer.

Matthew 26:40-41 say this:

"Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep.

He said to Peter, 'Couldn't you watch with me even one hour?

Keep watch and pray, so you will not give in to temptation.

For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.'"

We must commit to pray faithfully every single day,

establishing that spiritual well in our lives, if you will.

We must make that decision

and we must arrange our entire schedule around it.

Guard your prayer life and don't let anybody touch you.

Schedule your workflow.

Schedule your time with your spouse and your family.

Schedule your time with your friends.

Ministers, schedule your time in ministry

around your prayer life.

Don't compromise that for anyone or anything.

Let that be a sacred time.

And then faithfully commit to doing this.

Arrange your schedule.

Arrange your time, your workflow.

You may even have to drop some commitments

and hobbies in order to establish your prayer life,

but do whatever it takes

to establish this faithfulness to prayer.

So to recap, keys to effective prayer:

Number one, focus.

How do you focus?

A, silence, B, the prayer request, C, worship.

Key number two, faith.

Believe that you're already connected with God.

Number three, faithfulness.

Establish that discipline

and make sure that you're making decisions every single day

with that time with the Lord in mind.

Prioritize prayer

and you will begin to see your life completely transform.

You will see your prayer life established,

and you'll go to deeper places

than you ever thought possible.

So Father, I pray you help us to do it.

Give us Lord a praying spirit.

Make us willing, Lord.

Give us that fire, that passion, that zeal

that only comes by the Holy Spirit,

that we might be people of prayer.

We thank you, Lord, that we can be your tabernacle.

Let us host your presence

with grace and in obedience to you.

We honor you. We love you.

In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray.

I want you to say it 'cause you believe it.

Say amen.

Now, this is usually the point in the video

where people will click off,

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You see, there is a war for the soul of this generation,

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The enemy is fighting hard for the soul of this generation.

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