Better Together LIVE | Episode 139
November 5, 2020
25:50
When we feel disappointed; God's promises give us strength; hope; and JOY in any circumstance. | TBN Prayer Line: 714-731-1000
Closed captions
Better Together LIVE | Episode 139
Show timecode
Hide timecode
- - Have you everhoped for something
- 00:00:00.813 --> 00:00:02.414
- and things didn't turnout like you had expected?
- 00:00:02.414 --> 00:00:05.117
- You are not alone.
- 00:00:05.117 --> 00:00:06.618
- Today, we're learning how toovercome our disappointments
- 00:00:06.618 --> 00:00:09.321
- and keep hope alivewith God's strength.
- 00:00:09.321 --> 00:00:11.890
- Come on, join us.
- 00:00:11.890 --> 00:00:13.592
- ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh,ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ♪
- 00:00:13.592 --> 00:00:18.497
- ♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh,ooh-ooh-ooh ooh ♪
- 00:00:19.798 --> 00:00:23.702
- ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh,ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ♪
- 00:00:23.702 --> 00:00:28.707
- ♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh,ooh-ooh-ooh ooh ♪
- 00:00:29.908 --> 00:00:33.412
- ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh,ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
- 00:00:33.412 --> 00:00:38.417
- - A story that's reallyencouraged me this year is found
- 00:00:39.818 --> 00:00:43.322
- in Daniel 3, where we learnfrom these three teenagers,
- 00:00:43.322 --> 00:00:45.891
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
- 00:00:45.891 --> 00:00:48.093
- And I love this story becausethey had so much faith
- 00:00:48.093 --> 00:00:51.797
- that they did notbow down to a statue
- 00:00:51.797 --> 00:00:54.700
- that everyone elsewas bowing down to.
- 00:00:54.700 --> 00:00:56.702
- They had faith inthe one, true God.
- 00:00:56.702 --> 00:00:59.004
- And even though that meantthat they would be thrown
- 00:00:59.004 --> 00:01:01.406
- into the fire if they didnot bow to this statue
- 00:01:01.406 --> 00:01:03.909
- and they maintained theirfaith in the one, true God.
- 00:01:03.909 --> 00:01:06.612
- They said this powerfulthing to the leader,
- 00:01:06.612 --> 00:01:09.414
- the King Nebuchadnezzarwho was telling them,
- 00:01:09.414 --> 00:01:11.016
- "You gotta bow."
- 00:01:11.016 --> 00:01:12.518
- They said, "We know that Godcan rescue us from this fire.
- 00:01:12.518 --> 00:01:16.021
- But even if He doesn't,we're still not gonna bow."
- 00:01:16.021 --> 00:01:19.291
- And I love that kind of faith,
- 00:01:19.291 --> 00:01:20.993
- and there's been times this year
- 00:01:20.993 --> 00:01:22.494
- where I just did nothave it, but I wanted it.
- 00:01:22.494 --> 00:01:25.297
- I wanted that kind offaith that would say,
- 00:01:25.297 --> 00:01:26.899
- "God, even if you don'topen up this opportunity,
- 00:01:26.899 --> 00:01:29.401
- I will still not bowdown to anxiety and fear.
- 00:01:29.401 --> 00:01:32.404
- God, even if you donot open the door
- 00:01:32.404 --> 00:01:34.506
- that I'm praying that youopen, I will still not bow down
- 00:01:34.506 --> 00:01:36.808
- to my old addictionsor my old mentalities.
- 00:01:36.808 --> 00:01:38.911
- God, even if you do notset me free from this pain
- 00:01:38.911 --> 00:01:43.015
- that I'm feeling right now, Iknow that you are still good,
- 00:01:43.015 --> 00:01:46.018
- that my identityis not in my stuff.
- 00:01:46.018 --> 00:01:47.920
- My identity's notin my circumstances,
- 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:49.521
- but my identityis in you alone."
- 00:01:49.521 --> 00:01:51.490
- And I think for many ofus in this year, in 2020,
- 00:01:51.490 --> 00:01:54.593
- we have felt this feeling of,God, would you have saved me
- 00:01:54.593 --> 00:01:57.196
- before the fire? (laughs)
- 00:01:57.196 --> 00:01:58.997
- Would you save mebefore trials ever come?
- 00:01:58.997 --> 00:02:02.000
- And we see in this story
- 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:03.702
- that God doesn't savethem before the fire.
- 00:02:03.702 --> 00:02:07.005
- Instead, they arethrown into the fire.
- 00:02:07.005 --> 00:02:11.109
- And when King Nebuchadnezzarlooks to see what's happening
- 00:02:11.109 --> 00:02:14.213
- in the fire, there's notjust three guys anymore.
- 00:02:14.213 --> 00:02:17.015
- There's four.
- 00:02:17.015 --> 00:02:18.417
- And the comfort I find in thatis, that at the very least
- 00:02:18.417 --> 00:02:21.920
- when I have faith in who Godis, not just what God does
- 00:02:21.920 --> 00:02:24.890
- or what he can do forme in this moment,
- 00:02:24.890 --> 00:02:27.092
- but when I have faith inwho God is, if I have faith
- 00:02:27.092 --> 00:02:31.597
- in the fire, at the veryleast, I will draw closer
- 00:02:31.597 --> 00:02:34.299
- to the presence of God becauseHe is with me in the fire.
- 00:02:34.299 --> 00:02:38.203
- He is with me in the trials.
- 00:02:38.203 --> 00:02:40.005
- And what I love about this story
- 00:02:40.005 --> 00:02:41.607
- that has put a firein my bones this year
- 00:02:41.607 --> 00:02:45.310
- is that King Nebuchadnezzarlooked really close
- 00:02:45.310 --> 00:02:48.614
- to see what it lookedlike when three boys stood
- 00:02:48.614 --> 00:02:53.118
- in the middle of a fire.
- 00:02:53.118 --> 00:02:55.320
- And so what I'velearned this year
- 00:02:55.320 --> 00:02:57.122
- is that even in themiddle of trials
- 00:02:57.122 --> 00:02:58.890
- and in the middle offires, God is close.
- 00:02:58.890 --> 00:03:01.293
- God is present in the fire.
- 00:03:01.293 --> 00:03:03.095
- Even when He doesn'tsave me before the fire,
- 00:03:03.095 --> 00:03:05.197
- in the middle of this season,He is in the middle of it,
- 00:03:05.197 --> 00:03:08.500
- and that there is a worldthat is looking to see,
- 00:03:08.500 --> 00:03:12.304
- what does it look likewhen someone doesn't bow?
- 00:03:12.304 --> 00:03:15.807
- What does it look like tohave faith in the fire?
- 00:03:15.807 --> 00:03:18.410
- And you know what?
- 00:03:18.410 --> 00:03:19.611
- The world will see abunch of Jesus followers
- 00:03:19.611 --> 00:03:22.814
- who are saying, look, evenin the fire, He's with us
- 00:03:22.814 --> 00:03:25.617
- and He's close andwe're not alone.
- 00:03:25.617 --> 00:03:28.420
- So I wanna open up thisconversation to all of us today.
- 00:03:28.420 --> 00:03:30.822
- - About what it'slike when, man,
- 00:03:31.890 --> 00:03:33.191
- what we hoped wouldhappen does not happen,
- 00:03:33.191 --> 00:03:36.094
- when we were notsaved before the fire
- 00:03:36.094 --> 00:03:38.597
- and what we've discoveredabout a God that draws close
- 00:03:38.597 --> 00:03:41.099
- and the testimony thatwe can give to the world.
- 00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:43.201
- What do you think, Jeannie?
- 00:03:43.201 --> 00:03:44.403
- How have you seenGod come close to you
- 00:03:44.403 --> 00:03:46.204
- in trials in your life?
- 00:03:46.204 --> 00:03:47.906
- - You know, Hosanna,I appreciate thosethoughts so much.
- 00:03:47.906 --> 00:03:51.310
- I think about, weall gonna face times
- 00:03:51.310 --> 00:03:54.313
- in our lives wherewe're disappointed
- 00:03:54.313 --> 00:03:56.915
- or the outcome doesn't come out
- 00:03:56.915 --> 00:04:00.018
- like we expected it to.
- 00:04:00.018 --> 00:04:01.820
- It's what we dowith where we're at
- 00:04:01.820 --> 00:04:04.589
- when things don't turn outlike we thought they were
- 00:04:04.589 --> 00:04:07.092
- and it comes back toreally trusting God.
- 00:04:07.092 --> 00:04:09.895
- And if you've had experience,if you've been a Christian
- 00:04:09.895 --> 00:04:13.198
- for a while, I just believe
- 00:04:13.198 --> 00:04:15.701
- that there's been goodthings that God has done
- 00:04:15.701 --> 00:04:17.803
- in your life in the past,
- 00:04:17.803 --> 00:04:19.304
- that sometimes you needto draw on those things
- 00:04:19.304 --> 00:04:21.707
- to remember that God said,I will never leave you.
- 00:04:21.707 --> 00:04:25.010
- I will never forsake you.
- 00:04:25.010 --> 00:04:26.611
- I will be with you.
- 00:04:26.611 --> 00:04:27.713
- I will comfort you.
- 00:04:27.713 --> 00:04:29.014
- And when you believethose things,
- 00:04:29.014 --> 00:04:31.516
- then when you facedisappointment,
- 00:04:31.516 --> 00:04:33.919
- when you face things thatmaybe don't turn out,
- 00:04:33.919 --> 00:04:36.621
- you face a difficult moment,
- 00:04:36.621 --> 00:04:38.390
- you face a difficult season,
- 00:04:38.390 --> 00:04:40.092
- you can have theconfidence that God
- 00:04:40.092 --> 00:04:42.394
- will take all of this andwill work in your behalf
- 00:04:42.394 --> 00:04:46.098
- and you will see good thatyou can't have ever imagined.
- 00:04:46.098 --> 00:04:50.402
- And most oftentimes I findwhen I face a difficult season
- 00:04:50.402 --> 00:04:53.905
- or something hasn't come outthe way I expected it to,
- 00:04:53.905 --> 00:04:57.809
- I walk in the confidencethat God is a good God,
- 00:04:57.809 --> 00:05:01.113
- and that if I willcontinue to look to Him,
- 00:05:01.113 --> 00:05:03.915
- He's seeing somethingthat I don't see.
- 00:05:03.915 --> 00:05:06.618
- There's a big picture thatI need to align myself with
- 00:05:06.618 --> 00:05:10.222
- that goes beyond mypresent circumstances,
- 00:05:10.222 --> 00:05:13.291
- where I say, God, I don'tsee that far down the road.
- 00:05:13.291 --> 00:05:16.795
- I only see the pain that I'min right now, but I trust you.
- 00:05:16.795 --> 00:05:20.799
- And I trust you because I'veseen you work in my behalf.
- 00:05:20.799 --> 00:05:24.002
- I always, you know, youcan fall into a pond
- 00:05:24.002 --> 00:05:27.906
- and come out smelling goodwhen God is on your side.
- 00:05:27.906 --> 00:05:31.009
- And that's how Ireally, really believe.
- 00:05:31.009 --> 00:05:33.211
- And I just constant believethat God is working for my good.
- 00:05:33.211 --> 00:05:38.216
- And sometimes, you know,we should be praying,
- 00:05:39.418 --> 00:05:41.119
- not my will, but Thy will.
- 00:05:41.119 --> 00:05:42.821
- But sometimes I think it's hard
- 00:05:42.821 --> 00:05:44.222
- for us to pray that'cause we're not sure.
- 00:05:44.222 --> 00:05:46.992
- I think there are thosethat are not really sure
- 00:05:46.992 --> 00:05:49.094
- if God really loves them or not.
- 00:05:49.094 --> 00:05:50.796
- But when you come
- 00:05:50.796 --> 00:05:52.097
- to that understandingof how much He loves you
- 00:05:52.097 --> 00:05:54.499
- and that He is aboutthe good in your life,
- 00:05:54.499 --> 00:05:57.402
- that He has good thingsfor you, then it's easier
- 00:05:57.402 --> 00:06:00.605
- to walk in that confidenceand not worry so much
- 00:06:00.605 --> 00:06:03.909
- about the tiny little details
- 00:06:03.909 --> 00:06:06.111
- that we get ourselvesconsumed about.
- 00:06:06.111 --> 00:06:08.213
- And God says, no, I'vegot something bigger
- 00:06:08.213 --> 00:06:11.216
- and I've got something greater.
- 00:06:11.216 --> 00:06:12.717
- And I want to provide that foryou, but it's trusting God.
- 00:06:12.717 --> 00:06:16.021
- It's knowing thatHe has good for you.
- 00:06:16.021 --> 00:06:18.190
- Good is ahead in store for you.
- 00:06:18.190 --> 00:06:20.592
- - It's so true.
- 00:06:20.592 --> 00:06:21.893
- I was thinking, whenyou were talking,
- 00:06:21.893 --> 00:06:23.395
- there's a picture that'sbeen all over the internet
- 00:06:23.395 --> 00:06:25.897
- that most of us would have seen,
- 00:06:25.897 --> 00:06:27.499
- but there's a little girlwho's holding a teddy bear.
- 00:06:27.499 --> 00:06:29.701
- And then there's a pictureof Jesus knelt down.
- 00:06:29.701 --> 00:06:32.103
- And He's asking herfor the teddy bear,
- 00:06:32.103 --> 00:06:33.905
- but behind His back he has aginormous teddy bear, right?
- 00:06:33.905 --> 00:06:37.509
- And I think sometimeswe get so caught up
- 00:06:37.509 --> 00:06:40.512
- in what is righthere in our hands.
- 00:06:40.512 --> 00:06:42.314
- Like, you couldn'thave anything better
- 00:06:42.314 --> 00:06:44.316
- than this right here.
- 00:06:44.316 --> 00:06:45.717
- Like I, what do you mean?
- 00:06:45.717 --> 00:06:47.219
- And we get disappointed in theseason of Him taking it away,
- 00:06:47.219 --> 00:06:50.922
- and in the processof the bigger thing,
- 00:06:50.922 --> 00:06:52.491
- the better thing coming around.
- 00:06:52.491 --> 00:06:53.992
- Like, we get let down.
- 00:06:53.992 --> 00:06:56.094
- And there was aseason in my life,
- 00:06:56.094 --> 00:06:57.596
- I was newly married and Ethanand I wanted to have children.
- 00:06:57.596 --> 00:07:01.700
- And it took us about threeyears to get pregnant.
- 00:07:01.700 --> 00:07:04.202
- And all throughout that journey
- 00:07:04.202 --> 00:07:05.904
- there were severalnegative tests that arrived
- 00:07:05.904 --> 00:07:08.406
- before the positive.
- 00:07:08.406 --> 00:07:09.908
- And I just remember everymonth being let down
- 00:07:09.908 --> 00:07:12.911
- and I kept thinking like,God, what is going on?
- 00:07:12.911 --> 00:07:15.914
- Like, how do I handle this?
- 00:07:15.914 --> 00:07:17.415
- And honestly, I don'tknow if I handled it well
- 00:07:17.415 --> 00:07:20.018
- in the season.
- 00:07:20.018 --> 00:07:21.219
- But somebody saidsomething to me
- 00:07:21.219 --> 00:07:23.021
- and it stuck with me andit healed a little bit
- 00:07:23.021 --> 00:07:25.390
- of my heart in that moment.
- 00:07:25.390 --> 00:07:26.691
- And I know it's notthe case for everyone,
- 00:07:26.691 --> 00:07:28.593
- but they said you don't,
- 00:07:28.593 --> 00:07:30.295
- you remember thatevery child is born
- 00:07:30.295 --> 00:07:32.797
- for such a time as this andthat God will work all things
- 00:07:32.797 --> 00:07:36.001
- together for yourgood and for theirs.
- 00:07:36.001 --> 00:07:38.303
- And it just gaveme a lot of hope
- 00:07:38.303 --> 00:07:40.105
- that God knew what He was doing.
- 00:07:40.105 --> 00:07:41.706
- But three yearslater we get pregnant
- 00:07:41.706 --> 00:07:43.708
- and we're six weeks inand I start bleeding
- 00:07:43.708 --> 00:07:46.211
- and we call the doctorand the doctor says,
- 00:07:46.211 --> 00:07:48.813
- it sounds likeyou're miscarrying.
- 00:07:48.813 --> 00:07:50.115
- I'm so sorry.
- 00:07:50.115 --> 00:07:51.016
- We can't see you tonight.
- 00:07:51.016 --> 00:07:52.017
- We'll see you in the morning.
- 00:07:52.017 --> 00:07:53.218
- And we just broke in that.
- 00:07:53.218 --> 00:07:55.720
- My parents, I was livingat my parents' house
- 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:57.422
- and I just brokein their bathroom.
- 00:07:57.422 --> 00:07:58.590
- And I remember being like
- 00:07:58.590 --> 00:07:59.791
- God, for so long, Ibegged you for this.
- 00:07:59.791 --> 00:08:01.893
- You finally give it,and it feels like
- 00:08:01.893 --> 00:08:03.495
- you're taking it away,
- 00:08:03.495 --> 00:08:04.796
- and I don't know how to do this.
- 00:08:04.796 --> 00:08:06.798
- And I just rememberwe were crying there.
- 00:08:06.798 --> 00:08:08.400
- And all the sudden, Ijust had this little
- 00:08:08.400 --> 00:08:10.302
- tap on my shoulder thatsaid, but will you trust me?
- 00:08:10.302 --> 00:08:13.204
- And out loud, withEthan sitting there,
- 00:08:13.204 --> 00:08:15.307
- I just said, you know what, God,
- 00:08:15.307 --> 00:08:17.309
- no matter what happens,you're still a good God.
- 00:08:17.309 --> 00:08:20.512
- And you love me,you love my family,
- 00:08:20.512 --> 00:08:22.814
- you love Ethan and I,you love this child.
- 00:08:22.814 --> 00:08:25.517
- And so no matter whathappens, I'm gonna trust you.
- 00:08:25.517 --> 00:08:29.220
- And in that moment, what felt--
- 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:31.389
- - So heavy, was justtotally relieved.
- 00:08:32.490 --> 00:08:34.392
- It was just totally like,"Oh, you're a good God.
- 00:08:34.392 --> 00:08:37.295
- "You're gonna take care of it."
- 00:08:37.295 --> 00:08:38.897
- And to our surprise, wewent in the next day,
- 00:08:38.897 --> 00:08:41.299
- they said, "You have a 50/50chance of this baby living.
- 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:44.402
- "We're gonna tellyou it's gonna die
- 00:08:44.402 --> 00:08:45.804
- "within the next couple weeks."
- 00:08:45.804 --> 00:08:47.405
- And that little girlis now seven years old.
- 00:08:47.405 --> 00:08:50.408
- I don't know how that happened.
- 00:08:50.408 --> 00:08:52.410
- I just know that Godwas faithful throughthe whole thing.
- 00:08:52.410 --> 00:08:54.913
- And I know that'snot everyone's story,
- 00:08:54.913 --> 00:08:57.115
- but the moment I hadwith Him in the bathroom
- 00:08:57.115 --> 00:08:59.618
- where I couldliterally just say,
- 00:08:59.618 --> 00:09:01.920
- "I don't understand this,but God, whatever it is,
- 00:09:01.920 --> 00:09:04.789
- "I'm gonna trust You."
- 00:09:04.789 --> 00:09:06.391
- What He did in myheart right there
- 00:09:06.391 --> 00:09:08.193
- is so much more pricelessto me in that moment.
- 00:09:08.193 --> 00:09:11.596
- And that's what I wouldencourage you to do
- 00:09:11.596 --> 00:09:13.598
- is to realize like, no matterwhat you're going through,
- 00:09:13.598 --> 00:09:16.901
- the weight of it,the pain of it,
- 00:09:16.901 --> 00:09:18.803
- the struggle of it,
- 00:09:18.803 --> 00:09:20.405
- that God is rightthere with you.
- 00:09:20.405 --> 00:09:22.507
- And just likeHosanna talked about,
- 00:09:22.507 --> 00:09:24.409
- He is in the fire with you.
- 00:09:24.409 --> 00:09:27.012
- And they were praisingthe Lord in the fire.
- 00:09:27.012 --> 00:09:29.514
- They were givingHim glory and honor,
- 00:09:29.514 --> 00:09:31.816
- not because theirsituation was worthy of it,
- 00:09:31.816 --> 00:09:33.718
- but because theirGod was worthy of it.
- 00:09:33.718 --> 00:09:36.021
- And that's what I realized.
- 00:09:36.021 --> 00:09:37.522
- That no matter what theseason is, no matter the fire,
- 00:09:37.522 --> 00:09:40.692
- God is worthy of mypraise and honor.
- 00:09:40.692 --> 00:09:43.194
- And just like you said,Jeannie, He is a good God
- 00:09:43.194 --> 00:09:46.798
- and I can trust that no matterwhat I'm walking through.
- 00:09:46.798 --> 00:09:50.802
- - So this is all amazing.
- 00:09:50.802 --> 00:09:52.604
- Hosanna, you started out withone of my favorite stories
- 00:09:52.604 --> 00:09:55.607
- in the whole world isShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
- 00:09:55.607 --> 00:09:59.010
- and the fire.- Yay!
- 00:09:59.010 --> 00:10:00.612
- - And Elaine, the thingsthat we walk through.
- 00:10:00.612 --> 00:10:02.113
- You know, I'm pretty surethat Shadrach, Meshach,
- 00:10:02.113 --> 00:10:04.315
- and Abednego, their thingwas not to actually be
- 00:10:04.315 --> 00:10:07.619
- thrown into the fire.
- 00:10:07.619 --> 00:10:09.220
- I'm sure they would haverather had not done that.
- 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:12.891
- But the story ofthat and them saying,
- 00:10:12.891 --> 00:10:16.394
- "It doesn't matter what youdo, King Nebuchadnezzar."
- 00:10:16.394 --> 00:10:20.198
- Who actually was placedin authority by God
- 00:10:20.198 --> 00:10:24.002
- and made everybody serve him.
- 00:10:24.002 --> 00:10:26.404
- And those who did not serve him,
- 00:10:26.404 --> 00:10:28.306
- were gonna get in big trouble.
- 00:10:28.306 --> 00:10:29.808
- You can read thatin Jeremiah 27.
- 00:10:29.808 --> 00:10:33.912
- What I love about thestory is they said,
- 00:10:33.912 --> 00:10:35.914
- "Even if we don't and weare thrown in the fire,
- 00:10:35.914 --> 00:10:40.518
- "it's all right."
- 00:10:40.518 --> 00:10:41.920
- So here they go into the fire
- 00:10:41.920 --> 00:10:44.889
- and all of a sudden,
- 00:10:44.889 --> 00:10:46.391
- and they turn it up seventimes hotter, you know?
- 00:10:46.391 --> 00:10:49.494
- And all of a sudden, KingNebuchadnezzar is looking in
- 00:10:49.494 --> 00:10:53.698
- and he's saying,
- 00:10:53.698 --> 00:10:54.899
- "Who is that fourth manin the fire?" Right?
- 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:58.203
- So here, we as Christiansit seems like today,
- 00:10:58.203 --> 00:11:02.307
- we're all wanting to jumpout of the frying pan.
- 00:11:02.307 --> 00:11:05.009
- We're all wanting to jumpout of 2020 right now.
- 00:11:05.009 --> 00:11:08.113
- We all feel like we'rejust being tested beyond.
- 00:11:08.113 --> 00:11:12.016
- But maybe God is provingHis people right now.
- 00:11:12.016 --> 00:11:16.721
- Maybe He's turning theheat up on everybody.
- 00:11:16.721 --> 00:11:20.792
- Maybe the other peopleare looking in going,
- 00:11:20.792 --> 00:11:23.394
- "Who is that fourth manin the fire with them?"
- 00:11:23.394 --> 00:11:27.799
- - [Host] That's right.
- 00:11:27.799 --> 00:11:28.800
- - And so the question today
- 00:11:28.800 --> 00:11:31.503
- is not that can Icome out of the fire,
- 00:11:31.503 --> 00:11:35.507
- but maybe the question is,can you come into the fire?
- 00:11:35.507 --> 00:11:39.310
- Can you come in and comeinto the fire and survive?
- 00:11:39.310 --> 00:11:44.215
- Because Jesus is in the fire.
- 00:11:44.215 --> 00:11:47.318
- Jesus is in the storm.
- 00:11:47.318 --> 00:11:49.220
- Jesus is in those moments
- 00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:51.489
- where everybodyelse on the outside,
- 00:11:51.489 --> 00:11:53.992
- Jesus is on the boat.
- 00:11:53.992 --> 00:11:55.994
- Jesus is in Noah'sboat, you know?
- 00:11:55.994 --> 00:11:59.297
- So it's like,
- 00:11:59.297 --> 00:12:00.799
- it's like we all wanna get out.
- 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:03.501
- We all wanna get itto get over with.
- 00:12:03.501 --> 00:12:05.603
- But maybe God is saying,
- 00:12:05.603 --> 00:12:07.205
- "I want people to lookinside and see you,
- 00:12:07.205 --> 00:12:10.809
- "and then see Me.
- 00:12:10.809 --> 00:12:12.110
- "See that I'm inyour fire with you,
- 00:12:12.110 --> 00:12:14.512
- "that I am pushing you through,
- 00:12:14.512 --> 00:12:16.414
- "that I am carryingyou through the fire."
- 00:12:16.414 --> 00:12:18.817
- And what's so amazingabout that scripture
- 00:12:18.817 --> 00:12:21.820
- is that in that firethat all the bondages,
- 00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:25.089
- all their bondages dropped off.
- 00:12:25.089 --> 00:12:27.292
- All the things that hadheld them down in the fire
- 00:12:27.292 --> 00:12:31.396
- were dropped off and they werefreed in the fire, Chrystal.
- 00:12:31.396 --> 00:12:34.199
- That's one of my favoritescriptures in the whole world.
- 00:12:34.199 --> 00:12:38.102
- - Come on. Preach,Laurie Crouch.
- 00:12:38.102 --> 00:12:39.304
- - There is nothing thatcan keep you bound.
- 00:12:39.304 --> 00:12:42.407
- There is nothingthat can destroy you
- 00:12:42.407 --> 00:12:44.809
- outside of what Godhas planned for you.
- 00:12:44.809 --> 00:12:47.912
- There is no authority,
- 00:12:47.912 --> 00:12:49.514
- there is no power, but God's.
- 00:12:49.514 --> 00:12:52.217
- God's authority.
- 00:12:52.217 --> 00:12:53.518
- And that is who hassay over your life
- 00:12:53.518 --> 00:12:56.621
- and over what happens to you.
- 00:12:56.621 --> 00:12:57.822
- - Amen.- Because you belong to Him.
- 00:12:57.822 --> 00:13:00.792
- - I love that.
- 00:13:00.792 --> 00:13:02.093
- You know, and I think about,
- 00:13:02.093 --> 00:13:04.295
- you know, that same.
- 00:13:04.295 --> 00:13:05.897
- The Hebrew boys beingthrown into the fire,
- 00:13:05.897 --> 00:13:08.299
- you know, makes methink about Daniel
- 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:10.501
- and having to stay putovernight in the lion's den.
- 00:13:10.501 --> 00:13:13.805
- And that wasn't fun, I'm sure.
- 00:13:13.805 --> 00:13:15.406
- (Chrystal laughs)
- 00:13:15.406 --> 00:13:17.208
- But him being thrown therebecause of his commitment
- 00:13:17.208 --> 00:13:20.912
- to stay connectedwith God in prayer,
- 00:13:20.912 --> 00:13:24.015
- and him being framedfor being committed.
- 00:13:24.015 --> 00:13:27.018
- You know, prayingwith his window open.
- 00:13:27.018 --> 00:13:28.720
- And he was like,
- 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.221
- "Oh, y'all want me toshow that I'm gonna stay?"
- 00:13:30.221 --> 00:13:31.990
- - Committed to God, let mejust leave my window open,
- 00:13:32.690 --> 00:13:34.893
- so there's no question aboutwhether or not, you know.
- 00:13:34.893 --> 00:13:38.596
- And in Daniel six, he getsthrown into the lion's den
- 00:13:38.596 --> 00:13:41.699
- and of course, the nextmorning the king comes
- 00:13:41.699 --> 00:13:44.402
- and he's like, Daniel areyou basically still there?
- 00:13:44.402 --> 00:13:48.006
- Daniel's like, my God kept me.
- 00:13:48.006 --> 00:13:50.108
- But I think, what a night,you know, what a night.
- 00:13:50.108 --> 00:13:54.112
- We can always look at hindsight
- 00:13:54.112 --> 00:13:57.715
- and say to somebody who'sbeen through the fire
- 00:13:57.715 --> 00:13:59.918
- or had to go througha dark night,
- 00:13:59.918 --> 00:14:02.420
- with the lions that'resitting there perched
- 00:14:02.420 --> 00:14:05.390
- to cause fear andanxiety and stress.
- 00:14:05.390 --> 00:14:07.892
- We can look at somebody who'sbeen through a dark night,
- 00:14:07.892 --> 00:14:10.595
- who's been througha fire, and say,
- 00:14:10.595 --> 00:14:12.497
- look at how Godwas strong in you.
- 00:14:12.497 --> 00:14:14.399
- But the questions is,when you're in the fire,
- 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:17.302
- when you're in thedarkness of the pit,
- 00:14:17.302 --> 00:14:19.904
- what are you going tofeel and believe then.
- 00:14:19.904 --> 00:14:23.207
- And that's the part thatis the choosing for us,
- 00:14:23.207 --> 00:14:26.511
- that is the choosing joy,
- 00:14:26.511 --> 00:14:28.513
- when the circumstancesdon't spell joy out.
- 00:14:28.513 --> 00:14:30.815
- It's the choosing belief,when the circumstances
- 00:14:30.815 --> 00:14:33.318
- don't spell beliefout, it is the choosing
- 00:14:33.318 --> 00:14:36.321
- settled-ness and peace of mind,
- 00:14:36.321 --> 00:14:38.323
- when your circumstanceswould say otherwise.
- 00:14:38.323 --> 00:14:40.692
- I know I have personallybeen in some dark spots,
- 00:14:40.692 --> 00:14:44.195
- and I've had to choose peace.
- 00:14:44.195 --> 00:14:47.098
- I've been in thehospital with my husband
- 00:14:47.098 --> 00:14:49.100
- and had to think, you knowmy brain wants to run away,
- 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:51.803
- with all the thingsthat could happen,
- 00:14:51.803 --> 00:14:53.404
- all the turns this could take.
- 00:14:53.404 --> 00:14:55.306
- Think about Danielthinking, if I close my eyes
- 00:14:55.306 --> 00:14:57.208
- for one second, areone of those lions
- 00:14:57.208 --> 00:14:59.110
- gonna jump me from behind?
- 00:14:59.110 --> 00:15:00.411
- Like am I perched thewhole night in fear,
- 00:15:00.411 --> 00:15:03.715
- or am I thinkingyou know listen,
- 00:15:03.715 --> 00:15:05.416
- I either believe God canhandle my situation or I don't.
- 00:15:05.416 --> 00:15:08.219
- I'm either those three boys
- 00:15:08.219 --> 00:15:09.620
- and I believe you canhandle it or don't.
- 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:11.022
- So the thing for meis, in the difficulty,
- 00:15:11.022 --> 00:15:14.292
- in the fires, in thedarkness of night
- 00:15:14.292 --> 00:15:16.294
- is to say, either I believeGod is who he says he is,
- 00:15:16.294 --> 00:15:20.798
- or I don't, you know.
- 00:15:20.798 --> 00:15:23.001
- Because I would hate towaste those opportunities,
- 00:15:23.001 --> 00:15:26.204
- and that's what they are,
- 00:15:26.204 --> 00:15:27.505
- are opportunitiesto practice peace,
- 00:15:27.505 --> 00:15:30.808
- when your situation's notspeaking peace to you.
- 00:15:32.210 --> 00:15:34.412
- That you can havea different thing
- 00:15:34.412 --> 00:15:36.714
- operating on the inside of you,
- 00:15:36.714 --> 00:15:39.017
- than what'shappening around you.
- 00:15:39.017 --> 00:15:41.019
- And you know, I alwaystell my children
- 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:44.122
- that they go into freak out mode
- 00:15:44.122 --> 00:15:45.990
- when there's somethingthat they want
- 00:15:45.990 --> 00:15:48.493
- or that they'rewaiting on from me,
- 00:15:48.493 --> 00:15:50.495
- and I'm not doingit fast enough.
- 00:15:50.495 --> 00:15:52.196
- And they're like mom,are you gonna forget?
- 00:15:52.196 --> 00:15:53.398
- Mom, don't forgetit, mom don't forget.
- 00:15:53.398 --> 00:15:56.501
- And I'm like, you know, Iheard you the first time,
- 00:15:56.501 --> 00:15:58.803
- I wrote it down, it's in theplanner, I'm not gonna forget.
- 00:15:58.803 --> 00:16:02.507
- And so imagine how muchbetter your life would be,
- 00:16:02.507 --> 00:16:05.910
- if you gave it to me and thentrusted I was gonna handle it.
- 00:16:07.311 --> 00:16:10.314
- Like in between your askand in between the answer.
- 00:16:10.314 --> 00:16:14.118
- You can either run aroundtotally stressed out, you know,
- 00:16:14.118 --> 00:16:17.221
- questioning me every move,talking about it to everybody,
- 00:16:17.221 --> 00:16:20.792
- or you can exhibitjoy despite your wait.
- 00:16:20.792 --> 00:16:24.595
- You can exhibit peacedespite your questions.
- 00:16:24.595 --> 00:16:27.598
- You can exhibit calm,despite the waves of the sea,
- 00:16:27.598 --> 00:16:31.502
- you know, that arehappening in your mind.
- 00:16:31.502 --> 00:16:33.604
- You can choose, that'swhat the bible says.
- 00:16:33.604 --> 00:16:35.706
- God gives good giftsto his children,
- 00:16:35.706 --> 00:16:38.009
- and if a father, anearthly father does that,
- 00:16:38.009 --> 00:16:40.611
- then how much more wouldour heavenly father do that?
- 00:16:40.611 --> 00:16:43.314
- So the key is, do we wanna justbe praisers on the back end,
- 00:16:43.314 --> 00:16:48.319
- you know, of 2020, or onthe back end of the grief
- 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:51.222
- or on the back end of thehardship in our family
- 00:16:51.222 --> 00:16:53.191
- or on the backend of our health.
- 00:16:53.191 --> 00:16:54.792
- The back end of our loss of job
- 00:16:54.792 --> 00:16:56.394
- or the back end of our finances.
- 00:16:56.394 --> 00:16:58.596
- Or do we wanna bethe kind of people,
- 00:16:58.596 --> 00:17:00.398
- that all the waythrough the fire,
- 00:17:00.398 --> 00:17:02.300
- that all the way throughthe pit and the darkness,
- 00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:04.802
- that all the waythrough the trouble,
- 00:17:04.802 --> 00:17:06.604
- that we choose tosee and celebrate
- 00:17:06.604 --> 00:17:08.906
- God's goodness, going through.
- 00:17:08.906 --> 00:17:11.008
- And that's my challengebecause I wanna be the person
- 00:17:11.008 --> 00:17:13.711
- on the other end, that says,God brought me through.
- 00:17:13.711 --> 00:17:16.013
- But I really don'twanna be the person,
- 00:17:16.013 --> 00:17:17.615
- who in the midstof it, is hollering
- 00:17:17.615 --> 00:17:20.218
- and screaming and cryingand whining the whole time.
- 00:17:20.218 --> 00:17:23.221
- And you know, I mean last thing,
- 00:17:23.221 --> 00:17:24.922
- the other example, it'slike the children of Israel.
- 00:17:24.922 --> 00:17:27.592
- He got them out ofEgypt, he got them out.
- 00:17:27.592 --> 00:17:30.194
- They ask him, can you getus out, he got them out.
- 00:17:30.194 --> 00:17:33.297
- And then, theystarted complaining.
- 00:17:33.297 --> 00:17:34.899
- Oh my gosh, we're gonnadie, we don't have food.
- 00:17:34.899 --> 00:17:37.902
- And you know, it's like really?
- 00:17:37.902 --> 00:17:39.003
- Do you actually think that God
- 00:17:39.003 --> 00:17:41.105
- who got you our of Egypt, isnow gonna just let you die?
- 00:17:41.105 --> 00:17:43.508
- And they eventually madeit to the promised land,
- 00:17:43.508 --> 00:17:45.810
- but with 40 years of goingin circles and complaining.
- 00:17:45.810 --> 00:17:48.913
- So, the question is,do you wanna get there
- 00:17:48.913 --> 00:17:51.616
- and then celebrate,or do you wanna
- 00:17:51.616 --> 00:17:53.518
- believe and celebratealong the way?
- 00:17:53.518 --> 00:17:55.219
- And that's whatchoosing joy means.
- 00:17:55.219 --> 00:17:57.722
- It means that I decideto believe on the outcome
- 00:17:57.722 --> 00:18:01.392
- and what I believe he can do,
- 00:18:01.392 --> 00:18:02.793
- even if the outcomeisn't what I want.
- 00:18:02.793 --> 00:18:04.896
- But through the process,I choose to believe,
- 00:18:04.896 --> 00:18:08.099
- I'm not gonna waiton the answer.
- 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:09.400
- I'm gonna wait untilmy change comes,
- 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:11.102
- as the old folks used to say,I'm gonna shout right now.
- 00:18:11.102 --> 00:18:14.105
- - Amen, I love that a lot.
- 00:18:14.105 --> 00:18:16.607
- I think that's so, a importantmessage Chrystal, for today.
- 00:18:16.607 --> 00:18:21.512
- Of choosing joy in themiddle of the fire,
- 00:18:21.512 --> 00:18:25.816
- choosing peace when Idon't feel peaceful.
- 00:18:25.816 --> 00:18:29.520
- Choosing to praise God.
- 00:18:29.520 --> 00:18:31.222
- - Feel like turning onworship and praising God.
- 00:18:31.322 --> 00:18:34.091
- Choosing to go into the wordand declare his promises.
- 00:18:34.091 --> 00:18:37.195
- But I don't feel likesitting in the quiet
- 00:18:37.195 --> 00:18:39.597
- and reading His word.
- 00:18:39.597 --> 00:18:41.098
- What are we choosing to doin the middle of the fire?
- 00:18:41.098 --> 00:18:45.303
- And in the story of Shadrach,Meshach, and Abednego
- 00:18:45.303 --> 00:18:48.406
- and king Nebuchadnezzarlooks in,
- 00:18:48.406 --> 00:18:50.208
- I can't help, but think whatthe world is seeing us do
- 00:18:50.208 --> 00:18:54.212
- when they're looking in
- 00:18:54.212 --> 00:18:55.713
- and seeing what we're doingin the middle of a fire.
- 00:18:55.713 --> 00:18:58.216
- How are we speakingto people online
- 00:18:58.216 --> 00:19:00.718
- in the middle of our fires?
- 00:19:00.718 --> 00:19:02.320
- How are we speakingto our spouses
- 00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:04.121
- in the middle of our trials?
- 00:19:04.121 --> 00:19:05.389
- How are we talking to our staff
- 00:19:05.389 --> 00:19:07.091
- in the middle of thestorms of our lives?
- 00:19:07.091 --> 00:19:09.193
- And people are looking atChrist's followers thinking,
- 00:19:09.193 --> 00:19:11.596
- what are they doing?
- 00:19:11.596 --> 00:19:12.897
- They said, they believeGod, no matter what.
- 00:19:12.897 --> 00:19:15.299
- They said, even if hedoesn't, we still won't bow.
- 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:17.902
- And now what are they doingin the middle of the fire?
- 00:19:17.902 --> 00:19:20.504
- And how important it is
- 00:19:20.504 --> 00:19:21.806
- that we are people ofpeace and joy and faith
- 00:19:21.806 --> 00:19:24.308
- and people of peaceand joy to other people
- 00:19:25.509 --> 00:19:28.212
- because of the worldthat's watching.
- 00:19:28.212 --> 00:19:30.014
- And then I love afterthey came out of the fire,
- 00:19:30.014 --> 00:19:32.617
- they were unbound andunharmed, come on, Jesus.
- 00:19:32.617 --> 00:19:35.119
- And then King Nebuchadnezzarsays, you know,
- 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:37.321
- remember before how I saidyou couldn't bow to this God?
- 00:19:37.321 --> 00:19:40.391
- Now you can.
- 00:19:40.391 --> 00:19:41.692
- Now all of you canbow to that God.
- 00:19:41.692 --> 00:19:43.594
- I saw what he could do.
- 00:19:43.594 --> 00:19:44.996
- I looked inside of the fire,now everyone is able to.
- 00:19:44.996 --> 00:19:47.398
- So we see that Shadrach,Meshach and Abednego
- 00:19:47.398 --> 00:19:49.600
- because they had faiththrough the fire,
- 00:19:49.600 --> 00:19:51.202
- they were not theonly one set free.
- 00:19:51.202 --> 00:19:53.604
- But now there wasa world, a kingdom
- 00:19:53.604 --> 00:19:55.906
- that at one pointwas forced to bow,
- 00:19:55.906 --> 00:19:58.309
- but now the peoplewho are forced to bow
- 00:19:58.309 --> 00:20:00.511
- saw what it was liketo stand in the fire
- 00:20:00.511 --> 00:20:02.613
- and now they knowthey can stand too.
- 00:20:02.613 --> 00:20:05.216
- Your victory and yourpeace and your joy
- 00:20:05.216 --> 00:20:08.019
- and your story in thisseason is not just for you.
- 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:11.422
- It's for freeingother people too.
- 00:20:11.422 --> 00:20:13.491
- It's for showing other people
- 00:20:13.491 --> 00:20:14.992
- what people of faith can be like
- 00:20:14.992 --> 00:20:17.695
- and how God is with us
- 00:20:17.695 --> 00:20:18.996
- and how we can beset free in the fire.
- 00:20:18.996 --> 00:20:21.299
- It's so important that whenpeople are close, they see it
- 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:23.701
- 'cause the world wantsto know, can I stand?
- 00:20:23.701 --> 00:20:26.003
- Everyone else is bowing to fear,
- 00:20:27.104 --> 00:20:29.307
- everyone else'sbowing to anxiety,
- 00:20:29.307 --> 00:20:31.409
- can I stand in themiddle of the fire?
- 00:20:31.409 --> 00:20:33.511
- So it's so importantthat everyone watching
- 00:20:33.511 --> 00:20:35.613
- that you know peopleare watching you
- 00:20:35.613 --> 00:20:37.915
- and I hope thatyou choose to stand
- 00:20:37.915 --> 00:20:40.418
- in the middle of whatevertrial you're going through.
- 00:20:40.418 --> 00:20:43.521
- What do you think Jeannie?
- 00:20:43.521 --> 00:20:45.022
- - Amen, Hosanna.
- 00:20:45.022 --> 00:20:46.791
- You know something that comesto me while I'm sitting here
- 00:20:46.791 --> 00:20:49.493
- and I'm listening to everybody
- 00:20:49.493 --> 00:20:51.195
- just share out of their heart
- 00:20:51.195 --> 00:20:52.596
- and now the truthsof God's word.
- 00:20:52.596 --> 00:20:54.999
- That I think sometimes wehave a virus in our system.
- 00:20:54.999 --> 00:20:59.403
- We're not really sure ifwe're truly loved by God
- 00:20:59.403 --> 00:21:04.108
- and when we're notabsolutely confident
- 00:21:04.108 --> 00:21:08.012
- of God's love for us, thenit makes it hard to walk.
- 00:21:08.012 --> 00:21:12.616
- It makes it hard to stand.
- 00:21:12.616 --> 00:21:14.518
- It makes us question our faith.
- 00:21:14.518 --> 00:21:16.620
- When I know that I'mabsolutely loved,
- 00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:20.191
- it's like for instance,with my husband Phil,
- 00:21:20.191 --> 00:21:22.593
- I know that he's crazy about me.
- 00:21:22.593 --> 00:21:24.995
- And because I know that
- 00:21:24.995 --> 00:21:27.098
- I know that I don't everhave to worry about anything
- 00:21:27.098 --> 00:21:30.401
- that he would ask me to do.
- 00:21:30.401 --> 00:21:32.002
- He wouldn't askme to do something
- 00:21:32.002 --> 00:21:34.205
- that would bring harm to me
- 00:21:34.205 --> 00:21:35.706
- because I'm confidentof his love for me.
- 00:21:35.706 --> 00:21:38.609
- And that's the way it is.
- 00:21:38.609 --> 00:21:40.010
- I think when we knowbeyond a shadow of a doubt,
- 00:21:40.010 --> 00:21:43.714
- not just in our head, butour head and our heart,
- 00:21:43.714 --> 00:21:46.417
- we have to link thetwo things together.
- 00:21:46.417 --> 00:21:48.719
- When we have that confidence,
- 00:21:48.719 --> 00:21:50.321
- it's easier to walkthrough the fire
- 00:21:50.321 --> 00:21:53.591
- because we're confidentthat he will bring us.
- 00:21:53.591 --> 00:21:56.694
- We're confident thathe'll bring us through
- 00:21:56.694 --> 00:21:58.295
- to the other side andin a greater place.
- 00:21:58.295 --> 00:22:01.699
- Not lacking, but becominggreater and greater
- 00:22:01.699 --> 00:22:05.202
- through what He wantsto do through us.
- 00:22:05.202 --> 00:22:07.204
- So I think having thatunderstanding sometimes,
- 00:22:07.204 --> 00:22:10.808
- you know, you havethe discipline to say,
- 00:22:10.808 --> 00:22:12.309
- hey, I'm just doing this.
- 00:22:12.309 --> 00:22:14.211
- But sometimes whenyou're in a tough place
- 00:22:14.211 --> 00:22:16.213
- that's not enough.
- 00:22:16.213 --> 00:22:17.715
- You have to have the reassuranceand the confidence to know
- 00:22:17.715 --> 00:22:21.018
- that you are loved reallyloved by God almighty.
- 00:22:21.018 --> 00:22:24.021
- And that His good is Hehas good plans for you.
- 00:22:24.021 --> 00:22:27.491
- He really does.
- 00:22:27.491 --> 00:22:28.492
- And so we look at 2020
- 00:22:28.492 --> 00:22:30.194
- and there's stuff that'sbeen all over the place.
- 00:22:30.194 --> 00:22:32.596
- And I think when westarted into this
- 00:22:32.596 --> 00:22:36.400
- in the earlier part of the year,
- 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.501
- and here we find ourselves
- 00:22:37.501 --> 00:22:39.003
- and don't know quite whenall of it's going to end.
- 00:22:39.003 --> 00:22:41.705
- But we do have this confidence.
- 00:22:41.705 --> 00:22:43.407
- I have this godlyconfidence inside of me
- 00:22:43.407 --> 00:22:46.811
- knowing that I'm loved
- 00:22:46.811 --> 00:22:48.412
- and that God has alot of grace for me
- 00:22:48.412 --> 00:22:50.614
- and that I can getthrough anything
- 00:22:50.614 --> 00:22:52.817
- because He's right beside me.
- 00:22:52.817 --> 00:22:54.518
- Not just right besideme, He's in me,
- 00:22:54.518 --> 00:22:56.420
- He's leading me, He's guidingme, He's directing me.
- 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:59.490
- He's droppingthoughts in my spirit
- 00:22:59.490 --> 00:23:01.692
- of which way to turnor when to hold still
- 00:23:01.692 --> 00:23:03.694
- or when to move forward.
- 00:23:03.694 --> 00:23:05.396
- He's droppingthings inside of me
- 00:23:05.396 --> 00:23:07.598
- to bring an encouraging wordto my sister or my brother
- 00:23:07.598 --> 00:23:10.601
- that they may need someuplifting during this time
- 00:23:10.601 --> 00:23:13.704
- and in the season thatthey find themselves in.
- 00:23:13.704 --> 00:23:16.407
- But it comes back tothe fact of knowing
- 00:23:16.407 --> 00:23:18.609
- that I am loved by God almighty
- 00:23:18.609 --> 00:23:21.412
- and that when Iknow that I'm loved,
- 00:23:21.412 --> 00:23:24.014
- I can do anythingthat He asks me to do.
- 00:23:24.014 --> 00:23:27.117
- It's not a problem.
- 00:23:27.117 --> 00:23:28.619
- I can hold my place,I can stand...
- 00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:32.022
- - And in that armor ofGod, like we talked about,
- 00:23:33.390 --> 00:23:34.492
- because I know that I'm loved,
- 00:23:34.492 --> 00:23:36.293
- and I know he willnot forsake me.
- 00:23:36.293 --> 00:23:38.395
- If I ask him for bread,he won't give me a stone.
- 00:23:38.395 --> 00:23:41.699
- That's what the word said.
- 00:23:41.699 --> 00:23:43.100
- I've got that word inside me,
- 00:23:43.100 --> 00:23:44.502
- and I've got the confidenceof his love in me.
- 00:23:44.502 --> 00:23:47.505
- And I've seen him too manytimes do amazing things
- 00:23:47.505 --> 00:23:51.509
- in my life to never doubtthat he doesn't love me.
- 00:23:51.509 --> 00:23:55.613
- And I will stand on that.
- 00:23:55.613 --> 00:23:57.515
- - Amen.
- 00:23:57.515 --> 00:23:58.716
- Well, I think we justneed to take a moment
- 00:23:58.716 --> 00:24:00.217
- and pray for everyone that'swatching that is in that fire.
- 00:24:00.217 --> 00:24:04.021
- You're in the storm.
- 00:24:04.021 --> 00:24:05.589
- And let's just declarethat we will choose joy
- 00:24:05.589 --> 00:24:08.192
- in this season.
- 00:24:08.192 --> 00:24:09.493
- And let's remind oursouls and our hearts
- 00:24:09.493 --> 00:24:10.995
- that we are loved bythe most high King.
- 00:24:10.995 --> 00:24:12.997
- So let's pray together.
- 00:24:12.997 --> 00:24:14.498
- God, I thank you for everysingle person that's watching.
- 00:24:14.498 --> 00:24:16.901
- I thank you that you diedon the cross for them,
- 00:24:16.901 --> 00:24:18.903
- that you love them withan extravagant love,
- 00:24:18.903 --> 00:24:22.106
- and that love will meet themwhere they are in the fire,
- 00:24:22.106 --> 00:24:25.309
- in the pit, with the lions,
- 00:24:25.309 --> 00:24:27.111
- with everything that'scoming against them,
- 00:24:27.111 --> 00:24:29.213
- or right now as they sitin disappointment and fear.
- 00:24:29.213 --> 00:24:32.316
- I just pray that your presencewould wrap around them
- 00:24:32.316 --> 00:24:34.618
- and comfort them,
- 00:24:34.618 --> 00:24:35.819
- and remind them thatyou are the good father
- 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:38.989
- that loves them, that iswith them, that sees them,
- 00:24:38.989 --> 00:24:41.892
- and that knows theirinner most being.
- 00:24:41.892 --> 00:24:44.194
- And so Lord, we just praythat you would meet us
- 00:24:44.194 --> 00:24:46.297
- where we are, thatwe would worship you.
- 00:24:46.297 --> 00:24:48.499
- And as the world looks in,
- 00:24:48.499 --> 00:24:50.200
- may they find us choosing joy
- 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:52.603
- and worshiping themost high King,
- 00:24:52.603 --> 00:24:55.205
- the King of Kings,and the Lord of Lords.
- 00:24:55.205 --> 00:24:57.508
- May they find that theydon't have to bow to fear,
- 00:24:57.508 --> 00:25:00.411
- or they don't have to bow,but they can stand in truth.
- 00:25:00.411 --> 00:25:03.514
- And so Lord today,
- 00:25:03.514 --> 00:25:04.715
- give us the courageto stand in your truth
- 00:25:04.715 --> 00:25:07.818
- in this difficult season.
- 00:25:07.818 --> 00:25:09.520
- We love you, in Jesus name.
- 00:25:09.520 --> 00:25:11.922
- Amen.
- 00:25:11.922 --> 00:25:12.790
- - Amen.- Thank you, Jesus.
- 00:25:13.891 --> 00:25:15.192
- - Amen, amen, amen.
- 00:25:15.192 --> 00:25:16.093
- The Bible tells us topray for one another,
- 00:25:17.294 --> 00:25:19.597
- and that is exactly whatour Better Together team
- 00:25:19.597 --> 00:25:22.600
- wants to do.
- 00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.901
- Please connect with usat bettertogether.tv.
- 00:25:23.901 --> 00:25:26.203
- We want to hearyour prayer requests
- 00:25:26.203 --> 00:25:28.405
- and your praise reports.
- 00:25:28.405 --> 00:25:29.907
- Thanks for joining us today.
- 00:25:29.907 --> 00:25:31.709
- We hope you can joinus again tomorrow
- 00:25:31.709 --> 00:25:33.310
- cause we're gonnabe talking about
- 00:25:33.310 --> 00:25:34.511
- living for the audience of one.
- 00:25:34.511 --> 00:25:36.614
- If we trust God's promises,
- 00:25:36.614 --> 00:25:38.716
- we will fulfill theplan that he has for us.
- 00:25:38.716 --> 00:25:40.918
- We will see you then don'tforget how much Jesus loves you.
- 00:25:40.918 --> 00:25:44.021
- We love you too.
- 00:25:44.021 --> 00:25:45.022
- We'll see you tomorrow. Bye-bye.
- 00:25:45.022 --> 00:25:46.490
- (inspirational music)
- 00:25:46.490 --> 00:25:49.693