The Power of Prayer | Pr Gloria Paul

You're listening to a message to go from X Church. We hope this message will light up your day. The title of today's message is the power of Prayer. Okay, do you know how powerful prayer is? Yes? Yeah, And you know, as I was just praying about, you know what to be preaching today. As you know, EX Church has been with the team of Heaven rules. Right. We all know that, yeah, Heaven rules. And we'll be hearing different sermons, different preachers preaching about it. And I'll just reminded of how you know, when we say prayers, does it actually reflect that Heaven rules? Right? Does it actually speak in a volume that says God is able? Right? Because when we speak about prayer, it's you know, how we say our prayer is reflected from the relationship that we have with God. How do you see God effect or influence the way you say your prayer? If you take God as you know, your personalit and savior, you see him as your aba father, then you will communicate to him as your father. You'll be vulnerable, you'll be true to him, You'll always go to him. If you seem as your healer, that is how you'll go to him when you are you know, faced with health issues or if you know of anyone, you wouldn't hesitate to ask him for that healing power. If you know that God is able to provide and deliver, that is how you'll go to him. So prayer is a very important, you know, important part of our walk as a believer. No, we always talk about communication skills, right, It's so important in relationships and friendships. To get things going, you've got to communicate. And prayer is that language to build that relationship with God, right, And how we pray? Yeah, sometimes you know, we don't realize the influence that it can have, not just on ourselves, but even on generations. And that is what we're going to learn today from the book of Samuel. Okay, and this is from the life of Hannah. How many of you have heard of this name, right, Hannah is you know, it's been the one that we always turned to and we speak about prayer and how fervently she was praying until she received that need, right, waiting for a child. Yeah, So we're going to read this portion of passage. You know, if you have your Bibles, you can turn with me. It's from First Samuel, chapter one. I'm going to read from the Annalt version. Right, Thank you XTV for helping out with the slides. Yeah, so I'm going to read here first Samuel chapter one. Are we ready right? Okay? So it says here in verse one, there was a man named al Kana who lived in Rama in the region of Zoof in the hill country of Ephim. Was the son of Jeroham, son of Iluhu, son of Tohu, son of Zuf of Ephraim. Alcana had two wives, Hannah and Panana. Banana had children, but Hannah did not. Each year, Alcana would travel to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice the Lord of Heaven's armies at the tabernacle. The priests of the Lord at that time were the two sons Eli of Ni and Pananas. On the days Alcana presented his sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to Panana and each of her children. And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given given her no children. So Panana would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. Year after year it was the same. Panana would taunt Hannah as they went to the tabernacle. Each time Anna would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. Was eight, Why are you crying? Hannah? Elkana would ask, why aren't you eating? Why be downhearted? Just because you have no children? You have me, isn't that better than having ten sons? That's just possive for a while, to give you a bit of a context, so we can see that there's a guy, yeah, name Elkana who has two wives, right, Banana and Hannah. Panana was blasted with children. And so even as when they offered sacrifice, you know, the husband who actually give and a children a little bit more portion because she has kids, whereas Hannah was without a child. And so there was a little bit of a difference with the way the husband treated her. Yeah, and because of that, the wife, the other wife, took that opportunity to bully her. Okay, can imagine the things that she would have said. You know, I have children and you don't have kids. And as we know in those times read the Old Testament, it was, you know, a disgrace for a woman who cannot bear its, who cannot have a child. You know, you're you received in cells. Yeah, so you can just imagine the kind of pain Hannah would have been experiencing, you know, not just from a family, but even the society. How is she viewed though a husband loved her dearly, let the scripture says, but yet she had that lack that kept tormenting her, that kept bringing sorrow into her heart. Yeah, so that is who Hannah is and what she was going through right now, let's just read on the scripture here in verse nine, Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli, the priest, was sitting at its customary place beside the entrance of the tabernacle was ten. Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow, Oh, Lord of Heaven's armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime. And as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will not be cut. As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her, seeing her lips moving up, but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. Must you come here drunk? He demanded, throw away your wine, and she says, oh, no, sir, I haven't been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring my heart to the Lord. Don't think I'm a wicked woman, for I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow. But seventeen in that case, Eli said, go in peace, made the God of Israel, grant the request you have been asked of him. Or thank you, sir, she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer said a man. So in this scripture, as we read, you can see what happens before she prayed all that she was going through a struggle, a sorrow, her pain. What is happening during when she offered the prayer to God? You can see the prayer she says, also very simple, but coming from a very honest place. So many of us have been in that place. You just go through stuff, right, you go through hardships, and you're saying God like she says, this is my sorrow, answer my prayer. And after that whole thing, if you can see how the priest noticed her that thinking that she was drunk. So you can imagine the kind of emotion that she was in, not herself right, not put together. It was just an emotion taking over. And the priest says, okay, go in peace, God will answer. She actually went back, and in fact, the scripture emphasizes how she began to eat. That speaks something meaning she regained her energy, She regained that sense of wanting to eat. You know, sometimes so you're down in trouble, you just don't have the energy or mood to do that. But she did it right, So that shows how there was a change in emotion and how she responded to life. Yeah, so when can we learn from Hannah here? The power of prayer, right, the power of prayer, And I'm going to share with you three pointers. Are three pointers to just remember the next time you find yourself in that place of a desperate need. You could be in that place today. You've been praying for some time, you know, and things are not turning up. What do you do? What did Hannah do that we can learn from this? And as we go into that, I just want to want us to think about this here in terms of what does prayer mean to you? Is it a ritual, you know, like a duty that we tend to do every morning we wake up, Okay, we pray, that's it? Or is it coming out of a relationship that we have. Think about it. Someone you're very close with that you'll go to the person anytime. It's because of the trust that you have for them. You share your heart out. You know, when you have issues in life, you know that this person is someone you can turn to. Is God that person in your life as well? Is that what prayer means to you? Yeah? Because how you pray influences the way you see God, right, how you see God. And when we read about Hannah, you can see the relationship that she has with God. You know, if she could bring a sorrow with all that she's going true with a family and how people are looking at her and the need and the desire of haunting a child, there could be two ways she could responded. If you think about it, she could have grown bitter. Right, you can turn out that way. Well, things are not turning out for me. I'm discouraged. God has forgotten me. In fact, if you notice, as you read the scripture earlier, it says the Lord had kept her from having children. The Lord kept her from having children. So does it mean God does not love me? Am I forgotten? Yeah? She could have turned the other way around and just left left her fate forgotten God. But what did she do? She turned to God. She turned to God. She brought that emotion to God. And that speaks about how she sees God. You know, I'm in a desperate, impossible situation, but God can turn things around. And she said that pray in such a way where she says, God, if you give me a child, I'm going to give him back to you. Meaning that was a declaration that she said. You know, she said, because I know you can do this, because you're going to do it, I'm going to give him back to you. Write such confidence from the life of Hannah. So the first pointer that we can learn from Hannah here is priority. Right, priority is prayer our priority. Hannah knew where to take her problems too. She had a living husband, she had people around her. Yeah, but she still knew where to go to. She went to the temple. And remember we're living this. The context of the scripture is a time and age where you don't often see a woman all by themselves in the temple, praying, interceding. Yeah, that is why she got those kind of remarks, are you drunk? You know, because she's all chaotic with the emotion. But there she was with one mission, with one focus. I want to build that personal altar with God. I want to encounter him, right, And that was a priority. She stood determined and focus God, it is you. No matter how the left or right looks at me, no matter if I'm not put myself together, I just want to encounter God. Yeah. Isn't that powerful? Right? Things who were out of control, she wouldn't even have known if she would have had of a child, But she still went to him, right, She still went to him. What can we learned from this? Sometimes? You know, you can go through those We can go through those kind of hardships, things that are just out of our control. A lot of things happen out of our control. Right, if you think about it. We can have all the possessions in the world, we can have all the connections, but yet some things just don't happen our own way in the country, in the world, in our personal lives. No one wants to fal sick, but somehow, some people just get reports that are just not good. How does that happen? Things happen out of our control. But what can we be rest assured of the Book of Matthew eleven twenty eight, it says inverse thirty, come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. A man, what comfort can we get from God? To just come to him? That's the first thing that he wants from us. Not about how do I pray? What do I see? You know? What can I do about this? But to come to him first? Right, to come to him first? Do we have that personal altar with him? You know when you go through things, do you actually go down to your knees or do you just have that conversation with God and say, oh, I'm going through this. I need you to intervene. It's just out of my control. Because when you do that, you see a change taking place. Because if you look at Hannah, she'd not get her prayer unswerit right away. But yet she walked back feeling so much liberated. Right. Remember, she could go back and eat, she could go back in peace. Right. And that is what prayer does. As you pray, as you wait for God to move, he gives you the ability to just carry on with life because the fact is that life has to go on. We have our work to go back to, we have our families to take care of, we have our ministries. So if you bring those burdens to God, he enables you to do what you think you can't do. That is the God meself a man. Yeah, so she walked out our soulrow. She experienced peace as she build that personal altar with God. Man speaking victory despite opposition, because her life was opposite of all that she thought and hope could have, having a child, making a husband happy. But in that situation, she spoke victory. Right. She declared, God, if you give me a child, I will bring him back to you. I will offer him back to you. And that is victory. And so sometimes it's just good for us to see those kind of prayers right after you've shared all your emotions and God, I'm feeling this and that. Nevertheless, I trust in you. Nevertheless, I know you can heal me. Right. Nevertheless, this is all what my physical eyes can see. But you will come true. Amen. Let's speak victory, yeah, because that is what it means. Heaven rules, meaning God is in control. He is able, right, He's able to do things that we can't see, but he can Amen in you know, in the Book of John's sixteen right, Book of John's sixteen twenty, it says, and in that day you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever, right, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name us and you will receive. Turns the person next to you and tell them us, ask your father and you will receive. Yeah, that your joy may be full. Right. Maybe it's just simple as asking etims. We tend to complicate things in life, you know, like oh, why this, why that? But the word of God says us, are you asking me? Are you seeking? Are you knocking on my door? Because I will open that door for you. I will answer your prayer. I will give you that peace that you desire. Yeah, so us it was the retreat says these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world. You will have tribulation, but be of good share. I have overcame the world, and I believe that this is the promise that we've got to hold on as children of God. That we can see chaos around us, we can see problems, but He has already overcame the world. Remember, the work in the cross is already finished. We're not just waiting for the cross. It's already done. Yeah, it's a finished work. He has overcame the world. And that is why it says I have given you peace. Right, I have overcame for you, and all you've got to do is to trust me. Amen, to trust me. So let's make prayer our priority. Can we do that? Yeah, let's make it the first person, you know, when I go through problems, not going into my social media to put it up and waiting for assurance or commands, but going to God, right, going to God. So just a couple there's two questions for us to just reflect on. Who would be the first person that you would bring your concerns to. Right, think about it. Who would you bring concerns too? Because it can it's a it's a very quick thing that we can all just talk to someone about it, you know, or just just do what the natural seems right? But wouldn't you want to go to our God it was able to change things around? You know, maybe the cup of coffee with a friend would help at that moment. But if you want to have everlasting peace, that comes from God? Right, that comes from God? So is he the first person that you go to? What do you do when you're feeling troubled? Right? What do you do when you're feeling trouble? I know it's very natural to cry, to feel that emotion. But as you do all that, can you still go to God? Because that is what Hannah did. She was sorrowful, she was filled with anguish, but yet she went down to her niece and said, God, please take over, right, please take over. So let's make that our priority. Amen. You know, I always love how our Christian faith is very practical, and in fact, whatever that God teaches us in the Word is practical. It's what you do on a daily basis. If you make it a habit, it becomes a lifestyle. It doesn't take too much of effort. If you make it just like any other thing, you know, eating well, exercise, Prayer can be a lifestyle. You know, prayer can be just part of you that the moment I go through something, I know who I go to. That's my first hotline Jesus, Right, this is the first persons I call and it becomes so natural. Yeah, so we've got to develop it just like any other habit. Right, priority, Let's make it our priority and man. Yeah, Now the second point that we can learn, the second p from Hannah here is patience. How many of you like the word that? Sure likes the word patience? Okay, if you ask a child, if you asked and a doll, no one likes that word okay. Waiting In fact, if you look at another word for waiting is patience, right, another word for waiting is patience In every situation, God's timing is perfect. How many of you believe that? Yeah? And do you notice that the waiting has been part of our lives, right, no matter what season you go through, but you're a student and adult parent, waiting has just always been there. Then don't you think that's something that God is teaching us in that waiting, right, something that He's trying to mold us so they we're not just rushing from one thing to the next. But we are stay put and wait, Yeah, stay put and wait. And that is what we see in the life of Hannah as well. In fact, when we read earlier, as I mentioned, you know, it says here that the Lord had kept her from having children. Why would it be part of the plan that God has because if you do not know, right, the child that Hannah gave birth to, Samuel, was the very lineage that we have Jesus our Christ. Yeah, it was true, Samuel, we have David. In fact, Samuel was a mighty man of God. You know, he was one of the Judge, he lad, he did great things. And then we had so many other people that came after that and the New Testament, which is Jesus. Right. So would you think that that would maybe needed a little bit more of preparation for Hannah to to bear that powerful person right, to be prepared to know that, Okay, this is the person that God is given to me that I'm going to offer back. Right, And that is what waiting does. It prepareses for something bigger. But the thing is, of course, in our human minds we only see very limited. We only see the what's in front of us, the left, the right, that's it. Or sometimes we just look back at the past too much. But in reality is God knows the future. He knows what's going to happen a few years down the road. And that is why you're saying stay put, because there's so many more years a hate of you it is going to happen, not now because you are still needed to be in this season for maybe other reasons. Yeah, in the lives of others, in the place that your positioned to be. But in the years to come, you will get there, right, You will get there and the and to wherever that He's leading you too. You need to be prepared for that. And only God knows whether we are prepared. Yeah, in our minds, I think yes, I think I'm good with it. But remember who's your creator, God, God himself, and he knows whether you are ready for that prayer to be unswert a man, So patience. Yeah, And we can see a lot a couple of actually scriptures in the first Samuel of what kind of a person Samuel grew up to be, and then shows how powerful the plan that God had you known, not just having a child, but the person that he turned up to be as well. Right, So when we read First Samuel two twenty one, it says Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. Yeah, and in First Samuel two twenty six, Samuel grew in stature favor with the Lord and men. So he was not just impacting like any little boy running around, but he found favor with kings and people around doing great things changing the world. Yeah, that was the kind of person that God was trying to bring out of Hannah. First Samuel three nineteen it says the Lord was with him, revealed himself, spoke to him. In fact, when you read First Samuel, you noticed that God was already beginning to speak to Samuel at a very young age. Yeah. There a few times in the encounter when he receives you know, if you read in chapter two towards later, or even verse three, you will see how the Lord speaks to Samuel and for him will be like, who's calling me? You know, and then the prince who say, no, God is calling you. So it was something very new. So in those days it was not very common to hear the voice of God or to hear prophecies. But you know what, he was chosen to hear God, right, he was chosen to listen to the prophecies that he had that he would impact so many others. That was the kind of son that Hannah was blessed with. So can you understand why that waiting was so important? Right that she had to be prepared to see the bigger plan that God has. Hannah could have just seen it as or a son. Do this for myself because it's social expectation, you know, as a mom, I needed a son. But God saw beyond that. Right, God saw Hannah, You're gonna just gonna give a son, give birth to a son by her son that's going to impact the generations to come, and we have Jesus from there. Yeah, so the waiting is very important. Don't belittle the seasons that you're in. Yeah, I believe I'm speaking to some of you today. You're just saying, oh, this is taking too long. That's a reason why ask Scott, what is it Lord that you're teaching me in this time of waiting? What am I missing out? Helping not to miss that out? Something I need to listen to somewhere. I need to go to what is it? And he shows you remember us and you will receive Ask him and he will reveal to you, right, he will reveal to you. In Second Peter three eight to nine, it says, but beloved, do not forget this one thing that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning is promise as some counts slightness. But it's long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. That is the plan of God. In fact, you read the New Living Translation, he says, he's being patient for your sick. Yeah, he's being patient for your sick. So for you. You might just be sitting there and we'll be thinking, like it's taking so long, I can't see things happen. But God is working things that we don't see. You know, He's using you to witness to others. You know, he's using you to show God's love. All these things are happening behind the scenes, right, And you don't know the impact that sometimes you have even with the words you speak, right, the love you show it goes a long way. And so that is why God wants you hear at this point in this season of your life before he prepares you to the next step and the next step. Yeah, but the question is would you choose to trust in God? Would you choose to be faithful in that waiting? And in that waiting doesn't mean we just wait and do nothing. You've got to just actively do something as well. Right, be it's serving, be connecting, you know, all be using all the talents that God has given to you. Just do all that and say, God, I'm just doing all that You've given to me now at this very present, while I still hope and wait on you for what's to come. Amen. Yeah. So in prov sixteen ninety it says a man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. So feel free to have those dreams the desires. God sometimes puts those desires and dreams in your heart for a purpose, for a very reason, and he directs your steps, and man, he directs his steps. Just to share a testimony from from this here, you know I'm some of you know, I'm a teacher. I'm a teaching for some years now. And as I've been teaching for now, it's my ten tier teaching, and I've grown to have this desire to actually impact teachers Yeah, because as we know, a teacher cares for thirty over students in the class. Yeah, teachers here would know what I mean by that. Thirty over students with all sorts of personalities, needs and you know, all these things that are going on, and it's not been easy with the changes that's happening with education and you know how things are picking up with technology, right, so teachers need that support and so it's been a growing desire in my heart. But I just didn't know how to do it. You know, Yes, you can listen to a teacher, you can offer encouragement, but I wanted to do something a little bit more and say, God give me that skill or the tools. But I mean in Malaysia we're not as we're not really there in terms of having that much of resources or you know, to coach a teacher in a more personal way. It's usually trainings and things like that, at least from what I have experienced. But it's always been a prayer and I'm asking God just just show me what is it can I do that I can do because it's been growing that desire. You know, talk about waiting, right God, Just like I said, it's not just about waiting and doing nothing. Because God does something. He grows that dream in your heart, you know, he puts different ideas into you and gets you to even search places. And so remember, nothing happens out of coincidence. I was just, you know, going into a website one just looking out for resources, and I stumbled upon this website. It's called instructional Coaching. Selena knows this, you know, And I was searching and oh, they offer very good resources for teachers. But the thing is that this courses are all in US. So I was just wondering, Okay, how do I get there? And it's not going to be cheap of course, the fees and the time zone and things like that. But something in me just so, okay, why don't you just write into them and say that, okay, what do you want to do and your passion? And so I just wrote a very simple all email telling to them that Okay, this is my you know, desire, passion to to to you know, impact the educators you know, in our country, and and just wanting to know how do we do it and do you offer scholarships or how do we get along with this? And I received a reply right the next day and they said, oh, wow, we are We're excited that you have this because they're actually looking at growing to to Asia and you know, offering it to different countries. And they said, we'll offer you a scholarship. Yeah. So I received the scholarship, the books came in, and I shared this with many other teachers that I felt that if you have that passion, why not take up the cause as well? And I mean, I've completed it, okay. And what's amazing was how God has been opening doors for me to do that. And so just recently it's a new role that was created in my department when my boss said, okay, light, if you are passionate about teachers, why not you just go ahead and start off this thing. Coach teachers. Just see who you want to start off with, have that one to one with them. So when I share to friends or those who have been in the education line, they're they're wondering, like, how how do you do it? Because it's not part of how do you say it? Not part of training teachers? Yeah, it is usually the normal formal way of training. But if you have that one to one meaning that's more investment needed in terms of time in terms of raising awareness that this is what we need in a school. But the fact that my principle open up a heart and say it, Okay, let's do it anyway because you look passionate about it, you have the resources and skills, why not do it. So this role was created just this year, and it's been about six months now they've been doing it. And what I'm trying to say out of this is that God puts a dream in your heart. Sometimes you don't know how to get to somewhere out of it. Yeah, but when he sees that you are passionate about it, you're serious about it. And if you keep praying, God makes wayte even into something that has not been there. You know, you wouldn't know how and how do you go with it? But He just makes ways. He opens up the hearts of the people that you're working with, you know, for them to also see that dream. And so the one thing my boss says is that glory your your eyes seems to be sparkling when you speak about this. It just shows how passionate you are about teachers and how you want to do it right. And that has to be God. That has to be God, because he makes room, he makes way. So what are those dreams that's in your heart that you are praying and believing. Maybe you would have forgotten that dream, but do you know that God has not forgotten it. Yeah, it's no coincidence that you are here in this season, in this very moment. All you've got to do is just say, God, this is where I am waiting, this is my desire. Would you come and direct me, show me what is it to do? Like the Word of God says, men may have their plans, their dreams, but God directs his steps. So if you don't know what to do, just go back to God and he shows you what is it that you need to do. Do I go left? Do I go right? Who do I speak to? What do I do? And He opens doors that you can't even imagine? Right? That is the God myself. Amen. So my question for all of us today is do you trust in God's perfect timing? Yeah? Do you trust in God's perfect timing? Well, if you're saying no, I'm finding it hard to trust, then would you bring it to God today? Because you could be discouraged from the past things might I have not worked out? And you're saying, ah, I don't think. So. Is there such a thing as perfect timing? Yeah, but let me tell you that there is a perfect timing because our God, this perfect our God never fails, is the same today, yesterday, and forever. I think about it. People change, time's change, but God never changes a man. God never changes. And what steps can you take to trust in God's perfect timing? Remember, our faith as a believer is very practical. What I mean by that is what you do on a daily basis would determine your trust in God, simple as that. What do you listen to, what do you read? Who do you have conversations with? Do you go back to the word of God? Because if you're going to do all of this, then that is how you grow your faith, right, that is how you grow your trust in God. Amen. Yeah, So it's about being able to wait and be patient. Okay. And the third pa that we can see here is praise, right, praise. And as you read the Book of Samuel, as we read earlier about Hannah, you will see that chapter two is filled with a prayer of praise. Yeah. And after going through that season of waiting and receiving that unset prayer, she praised God and I believe that she already started to praise God before that prayer was unset, because as we read in verse eighteen, it says she went back, began to eat, and no longer she was set. So praise was part of that waiting. Yeah, and we know that Anna's prayer did not come right away. It happened in a course of time, as we read in verse twenty. But it happened, Yeah, it happened the prayer was unset. So how we praise God in that waiting is crucial because that is what God sees. He sees how our heart responds to situations when we wait on him. Are we, you know, also doubting all we do? We choose to trust him fullheartedly. Yeah, And my question for all of us today is are we ready to give unto God what he has blasters with? So if you're praying and saying, God opened this door for me, and when this door is open, would you still honor him, would you still give him your best? Or would it mean that I'm just cutting down on different things? Right? Because Anna was very sure about that. She said, when you give this child, I'm going to offer him back to you when he blesses you with all this talents and the abilities, are you giving it back to God? Are you using it for His glory? Right? So praise. It's a very powerful part of our walk as a believer. Yeah. We need that to be able to grow and experience Him even more. Amen. Yeah, so praise. Let's choose to praise. No matter what circumstances, God is still good Man. So the tree piece again. The next time you encounter till different things or you're just feeling troubled, make prayer your priority, be patient, wait on Him, and choose to praising. Amen. And as I come to the final part of our message today, I just want to speak to a group of people here might be listening to this message and you're saying, well, I've been praying for a very long time and I don't see prayers being unswered yet. Yeah, my prayers are still not unswered. How do I navigate through this? How do I even move on to the next step? Yeah? I mean, God knows what's in your hearts, he knows what you're going you're going through. But let me just encourage you with this that as you wait. Yeah, and sometimes in that waiting it can be tough. It's Okay, to have that emotions going on because we are created in such a way and believe God give us a reason due to cry to laugh here, it's not to suppress that feeling and the emotion and to feel all strong. Yeah, you can feel the disappointments. You can feel that emotions. But could you also trust God in that same timing? Yeah, can you do that? Because you know we can be waiting and yet be seeking God. Right, we can be waiting and seeking God. We can be skeptical, right, we can be skeptical about things, but yet you can be confident in the world of God. We can be trembling saying God, this is I've got this medical report. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. But you can still trust God. Yeah, you can still trust God. You can be disappointed but yet be hopeful, hopeful in God. And that's a powerful example of this. The Bible. Just encourage you to read it when you have the time. This is from the Book of Lamentation. Lamentation is from the Old Testament, and if you're familiar enough with the scripture, if you read it, you will notice, Okay, it sounds like a journal because Jeremiah in this Book of Lamentation, he shares his heart out. Okay, why is this happening to me? I am struggling, I'm sorrowful, and this and that. It goes on and on with all the emotions. But the beauty of this book, you'll notice, is that after his bring all that emotion, he says this in chapter three was twenty one. Yet you have all those things going on. Yet I will still dare to hope when I remember this. The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never sees. Great is his faithfulness. He's mercies begin afresh each morning. Each morning, I say to myself, the Lord is my inheritance. Therefore I will hope in him. Amen. I believe God is speaking to someone today that you can bring that emotion to God. At the same time, put your trust in him, put your hope in him. Because our God never feels, you men, Our God never feels. And I'm reminded of a season of my life as I as I was just preparing this pointer. You know, in twenty seventeen, I lost my dad. He passed away. You know, he's battling with cancer and he went on. It's gone on to build the Lord. And in twenty eighteen, my mom fell sick, right, my mom fell sick. She's just always been well, and socialists having some pain and we went in check and doctor said, okay, that was a groot in the press and found out that it was cancer. And I remember just my emotions saying, God, how can this be happening. It's not even a year that that when and this happening to Mom and I saw I was thinking of the whole experience of hospitals and you know what we had to go through. We're not completely healed, and God, why is this happening? And I just recalled at the time when I was in the hospital with Mom and we received the report, and I told Mom, okay, you wait here. I went to my car and I just poured my heart out to God, just being honest, Right, that's the real emotions that we have, saying, God, I just can't do this. I can't get myself to this, I can't find strength. Lord, how how do I do it? And when I did that, I just felt that faith arising in me. And I'm saying this because I know who God is, right, I have that relationship with him and when I could pour my heart out, I remember that voice telling me I am with you and you're not alone in this. And it was that one phrase that kept us going. And so that is why I'm saying, when you bring that emotion, just be honest, be vulnerable. You don't have to get yourself together. You're just all over the place. Is fine, like what Hannah went through. Bring that to God. But at the same time, can you trust in God and say, God, it's in you that I put my hope in. And to cut the story shot, my mom went through her whole process of treatments and all that, and she's well, right, she's well and healthy till today. And God all the glory. And you know, when you're caught in times like that, it's out of your control. You can't do much. But you have a God who is in control. He's a God is able to move mountains. He's a God is able to hold your hand and say, okay, this is the next step, and then the next step. Right, You don't have to be figuring out what to do, but He is there to direct your steps. Men. And if that's you today, I believe God is calling us to build a personal altar with God and altar where you're saying God. It's not about who's decide me or what's going on by All I want is to encounter you afresh. I want more of you. And when you do that, you will see great things taking place. You'll see how God reveals things into your heart like you've never imagine, you've never thought, and he brings you to places that you could have not even imagined. So never be little. That excess that we have with God, which is prayer. It's so powerful, so powerful when you say those prayers. It's not just impacting you, it's impacting the people around you and the generations to come. If you will only be obedient and say God, I pray and believe and trust in you. Amen. We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more information on our church, please visit x church dot org. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that this week is going to be a good week ahead for you. God bless