TRUE PRAYER ~ ENCOUNTERING GOD, NOT FANTASIES

Summary

The transcript emphasizes the necessity of genuine prayer, which requires setting aside our preconceived notions and fantasies about God. It discusses the importance of humility and recognizing our distance from God's holiness. The script highlights the transformative power of prayer, where the humble heart finds renewal and eternal life, while pride leads to spiritual darkness. It calls for a willingness to let go of the 'old man' within us, to embrace vulnerability and change, and to demonstrate our desire for healing through obedience and love.

Takeaways

• 🙏 To truly pray, one must set aside all fantasies and preconceptions about God, as these can create a barrier between us and the reality of God's presence.
• 💔 A marriage thrives when both partners are willing to recognize and love the truth of the other, rather than clinging to romantic fictions.
• 🌟 Drawing closer to God involves facing not only the beauty and glory of God but also the painful reality of how far we are from Him.
• 💔 The condition of our heart in prayer determines whether we will truly know God, with humility being key to receiving His grace and presence.
• 👑 Pride is a major obstacle to knowing God, as it fills us with lies, deceives us, and blinds us to God's holiness.
• 🕊️ Humility in prayer is essential for renewal and eternal life, while a proud heart falls deeper into darkness.
• 😇 The lives of the Saints demonstrate an intimacy in prayer, showing great humility before God and recognizing their sinfulness in contrast to His holiness.
• 🙏 Prayer is a serious matter, confronting us with life and death, and requiring a humble heart for renewal and eternal life.
• 💔 To encounter the Living God, one must be willing to let go of the 'old man' within, which can be painful but necessary for spiritual growth.
• 🌱 Answering Christ's call to be healed requires more than words; it involves demonstrating obedience, love, forgiveness, and resistance to temptation in our daily lives.

Q & A

What is the primary barrier to truly knowing God according to the script?

The primary barrier to truly knowing God is the fantasies and imaginations we have about God, which stand between us and the reality of God's presence.

How does the script relate the concept of marriage to our relationship with God?

The script suggests that just as a marriage thrives when both partners recognize and love the truth of the other, our relationship with God thrives when we encounter the Living God as He is, not as we imagine or want Him to be.

What does the script say about the role of pride in our relationship with God?

The script states that pride prevents us from truly entering the presence of God. Pride fills us with lies, deceives us, and blinds us to God's holiness.

How does the script describe the process of drawing closer to God?

Drawing closer to God involves facing both the beauty and glory of God and the painful reality of how far we are from Him. It requires humility and the willingness to let go of our fantasies about God.

What does the script imply about the nature of prayer?

The script implies that prayer is a serious and important matter that confronts us with life and death, requiring humility and a willingness to change and face the truth about ourselves.

How does the script discuss the concept of sinfulness in relation to God?

The script discusses sinfulness as a barrier to God's presence, but also emphasizes that God is willing and able to overcome our sinfulness through His continuous offer of intimacy and grace.

What is the significance of the 'old man' in the script's discussion on prayer?

The 'old man' represents the old self that must die in prayer. It symbolizes the need to let go of our old ways and be vulnerable to change in order to enter deeply into the presence of God.

How does the script encourage us to approach prayer?

The script encourages us to approach prayer with humility, recognizing our sinfulness and our need for God's grace, and to demonstrate our desire for change through obedience to Christ's commands.

What does the script suggest about the role of the Saints in our understanding of prayer?

The script suggests that the Saints, through their humble prayers, can inspire us to seek more of God. Their understanding of their sinfulness in light of God's holiness helps them draw closer to God.

How does the script view the outcome of prayer for those who approach it with humility?

The script views the outcome of prayer for the humble as a renewal of the heart and a finding of eternal life, contrasting with the proud heart that falls deeper into darkness.