Chapter 6: Ep1: Ignite Your Prayer Life: Boldness at the Throne of Grace

WEBVTT

00:00:00.597 --> 00:00:05.617
Hey there, beautiful souls. Welcome to Diary of a Black Woman podcast,

00:00:06.197 --> 00:00:13.877
to our devotional series, where faith gets real, raw, and oh so powerful.

00:00:14.197 --> 00:00:19.777
I'm your host, Connie Morris, and let me tell you, I'm absolutely thrilled that

00:00:19.777 --> 00:00:21.157
you're joining me here today.

00:00:21.477 --> 00:00:26.357
And if you're ready to see God move in your life like never before.

00:00:26.637 --> 00:00:34.957
So stick with me because this episode is about to ignite your prayer life like wildfire.

00:00:35.277 --> 00:00:40.177
So let me ask you something. Have you ever hesitated when approaching God?

00:00:40.697 --> 00:00:44.277
Maybe you've wondered, is he even listening?

00:00:44.637 --> 00:00:47.717
Today we're blowing those doubts out of the water.

00:00:47.717 --> 00:00:54.557
We're diving deep into how to approach God with boldness and confidence,

00:00:54.557 --> 00:01:00.877
knowing he is ready to pour out his grace and mercy.

00:01:01.497 --> 00:01:10.597
It's time to ask God like never before and see him show up in ways you didn't think were possible.

00:01:10.597 --> 00:01:15.957
This episode is inspired by chapter 6 of my devotional book,

00:01:16.737 --> 00:01:20.937
Just Ask, Boldness at the Throne of Grace.

00:01:21.177 --> 00:01:26.377
And we're going to unlock the power of bold prayers.

00:01:27.298 --> 00:01:33.978
So if you're seeking a breakthrough or just tired of wondering where God is,

00:01:34.498 --> 00:01:41.578
grab your Bible, settle in, and let's unleash some serious faith together.

00:01:42.398 --> 00:01:49.198
We're going to be taking the story from the book of Acts, Acts 9-6.

00:01:49.418 --> 00:01:51.538
And so let's just set the scene here.

00:01:51.858 --> 00:01:58.298
Okay, I want you to picture this. It was a man named Saul. He was later known as Paul.

00:01:58.598 --> 00:02:03.358
He's charging full speed ahead, hunting down Christians.

00:02:03.898 --> 00:02:12.458
And then, bam, Jesus knocks him flat, quite literally, on the road to Damascus.

00:02:13.078 --> 00:02:17.238
Acts 9-6 tells us Saul's next move.

00:02:17.398 --> 00:02:23.518
So he runs right, bam, into God's hand, into the hand of Jesus.

00:02:23.518 --> 00:02:26.138
God stops him right in his tracks.

00:02:26.358 --> 00:02:29.838
And what would be his next words to him?

00:02:30.418 --> 00:02:35.898
He asked, Lord, what would you have me to do?

00:02:36.178 --> 00:02:38.798
Now let us pause here for a second.

00:02:39.178 --> 00:02:47.358
This guy went from persecutor to seeker in one divine encounter.

00:02:47.678 --> 00:02:56.458
His question is our question. So let's dig in and learn how to ask God with the same raw faith.

00:02:56.778 --> 00:03:03.058
Now, Paul could have said anything else when he ran smack into the hand of Jesus

00:03:03.058 --> 00:03:09.998
on that road to Damascus, but it seemed to me to be a wake-up call to say,

00:03:10.538 --> 00:03:12.778
Lord, what would you have me to do?

00:03:12.918 --> 00:03:15.338
Because it seems to me that,

00:03:15.955 --> 00:03:22.515
What he thought was what God would have him to do wasn't what God was having him to do.

00:03:22.635 --> 00:03:27.835
Otherwise, he wouldn't have got smacked down right there in the road of Damascus.

00:03:27.995 --> 00:03:29.995
And that could be us today, too.

00:03:30.255 --> 00:03:36.395
Are we on the right path to what God would have us to do?

00:03:37.095 --> 00:03:42.495
Have we ever stopped and asked, Lord, is this our, am I, have we ever just checked

00:03:42.495 --> 00:03:45.035
in to say, Lord, am I doing what you want me to do?

00:03:45.035 --> 00:03:49.335
Because a lot of times we'll get going and maybe it's been five years,

00:03:49.495 --> 00:03:52.415
10 years, three years, one year, three days, three hours.

00:03:52.615 --> 00:03:56.995
Have we ever just checked in to say, Lord, is this what you want me to do?

00:03:57.135 --> 00:03:59.255
What would you have me to do?

00:03:59.435 --> 00:04:03.815
So let's just kind of go over how Paul, go over Paul's encounter here.

00:04:04.155 --> 00:04:09.075
So let's talk about Paul's encounter with Jesus. So here's Paul on a mission

00:04:09.075 --> 00:04:15.335
to destroy the church, but when God gets involved, your plans don't stand a chance.

00:04:15.735 --> 00:04:19.375
So Saul's transformation started with one powerful question.

00:04:19.615 --> 00:04:23.555
Lord, what do you want me to do?

00:04:23.775 --> 00:04:30.095
He's blinded, confused, vulnerable, but he's ready to hear from God.

00:04:30.515 --> 00:04:36.475
When was the last time you asked God for direction without knowing where it would lead.

00:04:36.855 --> 00:04:41.335
Maybe it's time we all got a little more daring in our prayers.

00:04:42.314 --> 00:04:47.074
So when was the last time you just, like I just said, double-checked with God

00:04:47.074 --> 00:04:49.894
to make sure you're on that right roll?

00:04:50.134 --> 00:04:52.754
What would you have me to do?

00:04:53.434 --> 00:04:55.774
Because remember, Paul thought he was doing the right thing.

00:04:56.154 --> 00:05:00.754
He was zealous for Jesus until he wasn't.

00:05:01.074 --> 00:05:05.934
He was stopped, and then God, Jesus led him in the right direction.

00:05:06.414 --> 00:05:13.854
The question is, what would you have me to do? Let me tell you, this isn't a casual ask.

00:05:14.334 --> 00:05:17.234
It's not, hey, God, can you fix this for me?

00:05:17.654 --> 00:05:21.374
It's, Lord, my life is in your hands. Lead me.

00:05:21.794 --> 00:05:27.454
This question is a declaration of faith. It's not about getting all the details.

00:05:27.874 --> 00:05:32.054
It's about saying, God, I trust you enough to follow.

00:05:32.914 --> 00:05:38.154
Imagine the impact if we all prayed like that. Where would God take us?

00:05:38.834 --> 00:05:41.154
The possibilities are endless.

00:05:42.134 --> 00:05:46.094
So when we pray a prayer, Lord, what would you have me to do?

00:05:46.934 --> 00:05:51.094
Where will we end up? Would our life change? Because, you know,

00:05:51.114 --> 00:05:55.494
a lot of times we're like kids with training wheels on our bikes, right?

00:05:55.694 --> 00:05:59.294
We want to know where we're going, how we're going to get there.

00:05:59.454 --> 00:06:05.094
And as long as it's safe, we stay within the parameters that God has us to do.

00:06:05.094 --> 00:06:10.474
But when God takes off the training wheels and he just pushes you down the hill

00:06:10.474 --> 00:06:15.894
and says, I got you, can you handle that? Can you handle that?

00:06:16.434 --> 00:06:19.794
So here's a kicker. It's not enough to ask.

00:06:20.354 --> 00:06:22.574
We've got to be ready to follow.

00:06:23.314 --> 00:06:29.494
Sometimes God's directions feels uncomfortable, but that's where growth happens.

00:06:30.154 --> 00:06:36.594
Paul didn't know what was coming next. He didn't. but he trusted God anyway.

00:06:37.134 --> 00:06:39.814
Are you ready to surrender your plans?

00:06:40.494 --> 00:06:46.054
This kind of faith leads to adventure. I like to put an S on that,

00:06:46.174 --> 00:06:50.494
adventures with God, one that you don't want to miss out on.

00:06:50.874 --> 00:06:56.334
So are you ready to take off your training wheels with the Lord and to follow

00:06:56.334 --> 00:07:02.814
him and an adventure with him by simply just having this, asking this question,

00:07:03.114 --> 00:07:05.814
Lord, what would you have me to do?

00:07:06.194 --> 00:07:11.114
Maybe you've been in your career for, you know, we finished our career,

00:07:11.234 --> 00:07:12.254
you're close to retirement.

00:07:12.574 --> 00:07:16.734
And the question is, Lord, what's next? What would you have me to do?

00:07:17.274 --> 00:07:22.174
And so I want to just take this moment before we get into our reflection is

00:07:22.174 --> 00:07:27.594
ask yourself this week, You know, write down this question and just challenge

00:07:27.594 --> 00:07:29.214
him with two things here.

00:07:30.174 --> 00:07:34.394
Challenge him with a bold question. I'm not going to give you the question.

00:07:34.554 --> 00:07:39.794
Just ask God for, ask a bold question to the Lord and dare to ask him in faith

00:07:39.794 --> 00:07:41.434
and just wait for the answer.

00:07:42.377 --> 00:07:45.617
It could be, Lord, what would you have me to do? Or it could be whatever bold

00:07:45.617 --> 00:07:49.537
question that you're going to have for the Lord today. So you can just start

00:07:49.537 --> 00:07:51.057
to take off those training wheels.

00:07:52.037 --> 00:07:55.757
Sometimes, you know, when you're young, you take off one. You know how they

00:07:55.757 --> 00:07:59.577
used to lean to the right? They always lean to the one that had the training wheel on.

00:07:59.877 --> 00:08:04.757
Then when they take the other one off, then you find out they didn't really need a training wheel.

00:08:05.077 --> 00:08:08.077
One thing about riding a bike, once you learn how to ride a bike,

00:08:08.217 --> 00:08:13.677
come on now. Once you learn how to trust God, you don't never need training wheels again.

00:08:14.257 --> 00:08:18.557
That's a good word. Once you learn how to trust God, once he takes the training

00:08:18.557 --> 00:08:23.437
wheels off, once he rescues you, once he delivers you, once he heals you,

00:08:23.597 --> 00:08:27.677
once you hear his voice, you don't need those training wheels on anymore.

00:08:27.777 --> 00:08:31.537
You can trust God in any situation.

00:08:32.117 --> 00:08:36.477
Next thing I want you to do just real quick here, and then next 30 seconds,

00:08:36.617 --> 00:08:40.917
we're not going to hold up the podcast for that, but I want you to write this down.

00:08:41.777 --> 00:08:47.717
When we finish, take 30 seconds after this podcast and ask the Lord this question.

00:08:47.897 --> 00:08:51.457
It says, what would you have me to do?

00:08:52.037 --> 00:08:56.417
And maybe you thought that you were already doing what Jesus is asking you to

00:08:56.417 --> 00:09:01.277
do, but he might have you go to another level, right? And so,

00:09:01.417 --> 00:09:06.697
Lord, what would you have for me to do? Don't just listen.

00:09:07.497 --> 00:09:12.777
Engage the Lord. What would you have for me to do?

00:09:13.677 --> 00:09:17.857
So we know Paul encountered his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus

00:09:17.857 --> 00:09:20.437
was a moment of transformation.

00:09:21.077 --> 00:09:26.177
And I just pray that this time when you ask the Lord that in this year.

00:09:27.712 --> 00:09:34.032
This is a November series that in this year that God will, this will be a moment

00:09:34.032 --> 00:09:35.612
of transformation for you.

00:09:35.812 --> 00:09:42.072
Because in this split second with Paul, he went from persecutor to humble servant,

00:09:42.312 --> 00:09:48.752
just asking him, asking God the question, what would you have me to do?

00:09:49.272 --> 00:09:55.572
His question wasn't born out of fear or obligation. It was rooted in faith and

00:09:55.572 --> 00:10:01.752
a desire to follow God's plan, even though he didn't know what it would be.

00:10:02.372 --> 00:10:07.012
That's what God wants us. He wants us without the training wheels,

00:10:07.432 --> 00:10:08.892
trusting him wholeheartedly.

00:10:09.212 --> 00:10:16.752
So when we come before God and ask him boldly, we are stepping into a place of surrender.

00:10:17.472 --> 00:10:25.172
It's not about asking for what we want, but asking what God will is for us.

00:10:25.712 --> 00:10:30.692
God might want to have us go left, go right, stop what we're doing,

00:10:31.052 --> 00:10:32.432
take a pause. You don't know.

00:10:32.812 --> 00:10:36.672
We just kind of continue thinking, well, we're going to do this job for 20 years

00:10:36.672 --> 00:10:39.532
or 30 years, whatever that number you have in your mind.

00:10:39.652 --> 00:10:42.832
But God says, just ask me. I might have another plan for you,

00:10:42.892 --> 00:10:49.612
right? Like Paul, when he asked in faith, God will lead us into a greater purpose

00:10:49.612 --> 00:10:52.832
than we could have imagined.

00:10:53.472 --> 00:11:00.392
And we know Paul went on to write pretty much three quarters of the New Testament.

00:11:02.032 --> 00:11:06.652
So here go some points of encouragement before we close out and some additional

00:11:06.652 --> 00:11:07.872
scriptures for support.

00:11:08.092 --> 00:11:11.412
Number one, I want you to know that God hears you.

00:11:12.092 --> 00:11:18.532
We talk about God hears you. Now think about Paul, Saul on his way to persecute Christians.

00:11:18.912 --> 00:11:22.192
He thought he was getting ready to just do what he was going to do.

00:11:22.392 --> 00:11:26.872
But boom, bam, God just put his hand out and stopped him.

00:11:27.252 --> 00:11:32.372
Right. And so understand that God sees you too, but God hears you.

00:11:32.532 --> 00:11:36.512
Whenever you ask God for direction, know that your prayers are heard.

00:11:36.512 --> 00:11:43.872
Trust that he is already working on the answer, just like he did for Paul.

00:11:44.871 --> 00:11:48.311
Number two, trust God, God's plan.

00:11:48.691 --> 00:11:53.931
Like Paul, your life may be completely redirected when you ask,

00:11:54.131 --> 00:11:56.711
Lord, what would you have for me to do?

00:11:57.211 --> 00:12:01.551
Trust that God's plan is always better than your own.

00:12:02.151 --> 00:12:05.591
I know I'm going to say that again because I think that was for me.

00:12:05.591 --> 00:12:13.591
It says, like Paul, your life may be completely redirected when you ask,

00:12:13.971 --> 00:12:16.971
Lord, what would you have for me to do?

00:12:17.351 --> 00:12:22.751
Trust that God's plan is always better than your own. How many know that to be true?

00:12:23.071 --> 00:12:25.931
That God's plan is always better than our own.

00:12:26.271 --> 00:12:33.491
And number three, boldness opens doors. When you boldly ask God for his guidance.

00:12:34.531 --> 00:12:38.531
You're stepping into a new season of growth and faith.

00:12:38.911 --> 00:12:41.191
So don't be afraid to ask.

00:12:41.671 --> 00:12:45.031
God delights in leading you. Isn't that powerful?

00:12:46.191 --> 00:12:48.251
Boldness opens doors.

00:12:49.611 --> 00:12:54.091
Come on now, you can knock on the door, you can turn the knob on the door,

00:12:54.131 --> 00:12:57.551
or you can just be bold and just kick it in.

00:12:58.231 --> 00:13:04.911
Boldness opens doors. And it's something that it says here that God delights in leading you.

00:13:05.051 --> 00:13:08.411
So when we step out and say, Lord, what would you have me to do?

00:13:08.551 --> 00:13:10.871
It brings delight to God.

00:13:11.251 --> 00:13:19.571
He delights in leading us. So we know our scripture for this episode is Acts 9-6.

00:13:19.811 --> 00:13:28.211
But let's look at a couple more scriptures. Matthew 7, 7, Matthew chapter 7, verses 7 through 8.

00:13:28.411 --> 00:13:31.831
It reads, ask and it will be given to you.

00:13:32.091 --> 00:13:36.751
Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you.

00:13:36.971 --> 00:13:40.131
For everyone who asks receives.

00:13:40.771 --> 00:13:43.611
And the one who seeks finds.

00:13:44.551 --> 00:13:47.191
And to the one who knocks, it will be opened.

00:13:48.311 --> 00:13:54.411
Boldness. This passage encourages asking God without hesitation,

00:13:54.811 --> 00:13:57.811
trusting that he will respond,

00:13:58.651 --> 00:14:03.511
asking, seeking, and knocking, Matthew 7, 7-8.

00:14:03.851 --> 00:14:10.651
And the second scripture I want to give you for support here is 1 John 5, 14, and 15.

00:14:10.651 --> 00:14:17.971
It says, this is a confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything

00:14:17.971 --> 00:14:21.051
according to his will, he hears us.

00:14:22.150 --> 00:14:28.310
A boldness, assurance that when we ask in alignment with God's will, he hears us.

00:14:28.650 --> 00:14:34.750
So God hears us when we go to him with boldness.

00:14:36.190 --> 00:14:42.090
That was good, right? If you feel a stirring in your heart, don't ignore it.

00:14:42.510 --> 00:14:51.870
God is waiting for you to ask him boldly, trusting he's already got the perfect plan for your life.

00:14:52.150 --> 00:14:54.150
And trust me, he does.

00:14:54.590 --> 00:14:59.410
So next time we'll tackle the hardest part is waiting on God.

00:14:59.710 --> 00:15:05.770
But spoiler alert, it's worth the wait. So thank you for hanging out with me today.

00:15:06.870 --> 00:15:12.570
Be sure to come back because in the next episode, we'll dive into what happens

00:15:12.570 --> 00:15:18.050
after we ask and how to stay strong in the waiting.

00:15:18.610 --> 00:15:23.950
Thank you so much. And don't forget to subscribe, share this with a friend.

00:15:24.110 --> 00:15:29.670
Until then, stay bold, stay blessed, and keep seeking God's grace.

00:15:30.410 --> 00:15:36.150
Thank you so much for tuning in to Diary of Black Woman podcast, our devotional series.

00:15:36.350 --> 00:15:39.930
And if you're loving these episodes, please subscribe, leave a review,

00:15:40.190 --> 00:15:43.610
share it with someone who needs a little extra faith in their life,

00:15:43.870 --> 00:15:46.170
little extra boldness kick, right?

00:15:46.630 --> 00:15:50.010
Remember, you can always find more resources on our website.

00:15:50.330 --> 00:15:53.330
Diary of a Black Woman LLC.com.

00:15:53.870 --> 00:16:00.870
And until next time, keep living bold in faith and walking in grace. Amen.