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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Praying Heart (Part 2)

August 11, 2025 | S25 E383 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Praying Heart (Part 2)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#inActive #WordofGod #Heart #Prayer #Dedication/Devotion #Thankfulness #Anxiety #Transformation #Struggle #Cross #God'sWill #Disciples

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Developing A Praying Heart (Part 2) | August 11, 2025
  • ♪♪
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  • Announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with doctor
  • 00:00:08.898 --> 00:00:11.501
  • Robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
  • 00:00:14.370 --> 00:00:16.372
  • Again to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:16.372 --> 00:00:18.341
  • If we're honest, most of us would admit that we struggle
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  • With prayer.
  • 00:00:21.344 --> 00:00:22.679
  • We find it difficult to carve out time to talk with our
  • 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:25.248
  • Heavenly father, and when we do pray, our minds tend to wander.
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  • Deep down we sometimes even wonder if our prayers make any
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  • Difference at all.
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  • But when we look at the example of jesus christ, all of our
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  • Questions about the value of prayer should evaporate.
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  • Today, i want to share four practical ways you can transform
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  • Your relationship with god through prayer.
  • 00:00:45.969 --> 00:00:49.139
  • My message is titled "developing a praying heart" on today's
  • 00:00:49.139 --> 00:00:53.710
  • Edition of "pathway to victory."
  • 00:00:53.710 --> 00:00:57.514
  • ♪♪
  • 00:00:57.514 --> 00:01:11.628
  • ♪ you took my place, laid inside my tomb of sin, ♪
  • 00:01:07.524 --> 00:01:19.269
  • ♪ you were buried for three days, ♪
  • 00:01:19.269 --> 00:01:22.939
  • ♪ and then you walked right out again, ♪
  • 00:01:22.939 --> 00:01:26.843
  • ♪ and now death has no sting and life has no end, ♪
  • 00:01:26.843 --> 00:01:35.451
  • ♪ i have been transformed by the blood of the lamb, ♪
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  • ♪ thank you jesus for the blood of life, ♪
  • 00:01:43.226 --> 00:01:50.967
  • ♪ thank you jesus it has washed me white, ♪
  • 00:01:50.967 --> 00:01:58.775
  • ♪ thank you jesus you have saved my life, ♪
  • 00:01:58.775 --> 00:02:06.716
  • ♪ brought me from the darkness into glorious light, ♪
  • 00:02:06.716 --> 00:02:16.693
  • ♪ glory to his name, ♪
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  • ♪ and to my heart was the blood of god, ♪
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  • ♪ glory to his name, ♪
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  • ♪ thank you jesus for the blood of god, ♪
  • 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:58.001
  • ♪ thank you jesus it has washed me white, ♪
  • 00:02:58.001 --> 00:03:06.676
  • ♪ thank you jesus you have saved my life, ♪
  • 00:03:06.676 --> 00:03:15.018
  • ♪ brought me from the darkness into glorious light, ♪
  • 00:03:15.018 --> 00:03:25.194
  • ♪ thank you jesus you have saved my life, ♪
  • 00:03:25.194 --> 00:03:33.503
  • ♪ brought me from the darkness, ♪
  • 00:03:33.503 --> 00:03:37.674
  • ♪ brought me from the darkness, ♪
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  • ♪ brought me from the darkness ♪
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  • ♪ into glorious light, ♪
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  • ♪ glorious light, ♪
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  • ♪ we thank you, god. ♪
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  • ♪ his glorious light. ♪
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  • [congregation applauding]
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  • Male announcer: give your heart the encouragement it needs.
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  • Start and end each day meditating on god's word with
  • 00:04:23.353 --> 00:04:26.589
  • Encouragement for the heart of a disciple.
  • 00:04:26.589 --> 00:04:29.058
  • This brand new beautiful full color padded hardcover book by
  • 00:04:29.058 --> 00:04:32.428
  • Dr. robert jeffress features 80 breathtaking images of creation
  • 00:04:32.428 --> 00:04:36.733
  • Paired with scripture, prayers, and insights you can read in
  • 00:04:36.733 --> 00:04:39.702
  • Under two minutes, perfect for your coffee table or as
  • 00:04:39.702 --> 00:04:43.072
  • A thoughtful gift for a loved one.
  • 00:04:43.072 --> 00:04:44.741
  • Request "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" when you
  • 00:04:44.741 --> 00:04:47.710
  • Give a generous gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:04:47.710 --> 00:04:57.887
  • Jeffress: turn over to philippians chapter 6, verses 6
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  • To 7 because 10 years after that event in philippi, paul wrote
  • 00:05:02.325 --> 00:05:07.563
  • A letter to the philippian christians.
  • 00:05:07.563 --> 00:05:10.366
  • And you know where he wrote that letter from?
  • 00:05:10.366 --> 00:05:12.435
  • It wasn't the comfort of a pastor study.
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  • He was, once again, arrested in prison facing what could have
  • 00:05:14.704 --> 00:05:18.341
  • Been the execution of his own life.
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  • He was waiting for the verdict to come down, whether he was
  • 00:05:21.544 --> 00:05:24.580
  • Going to live or die.
  • 00:05:24.580 --> 00:05:27.417
  • Verse 6, he said, "be anxious for nothing, but in everything
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  • By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be
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  • Made known to god.
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  • And the peace of god which surpasses all comprehension,
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  • Shall guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus."
  • 00:05:42.331 --> 00:05:47.136
  • It's hard enough waiting 48 or 72 hours to know whether you're
  • 00:05:47.136 --> 00:05:50.807
  • Gonna live or die, but think about paul.
  • 00:05:50.807 --> 00:05:53.009
  • He was there in prison waiting not just days, but weeks and
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  • Months for the verdict to come down.
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  • And what was his attitude?
  • 00:05:59.015 --> 00:06:01.217
  • He said, "i'll write a letter to the philippian christians."
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  • You know what he said in that letter?
  • 00:06:04.220 --> 00:06:06.189
  • "rejoice in the lord.
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  • Again i say rejoice."
  • 00:06:07.857 --> 00:06:09.692
  • 19 times he talks about his joy, his rejoicing in the lord.
  • 00:06:09.692 --> 00:06:14.897
  • What allowed him to praise god like that?
  • 00:06:14.897 --> 00:06:17.567
  • Well, he tells us right here.
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  • Verse 6, "be anxious for nothing," or as the living bible
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  • Says, "don't worry about anything but pray
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  • About everything."
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  • I love the way that reads.
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  • "be anxious for nothing but in everything with prayer and
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  • Thanksgiving with supplication let your request be made known
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  • To god."
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  • Verse 7, "and then the peace of god which surpasses all
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  • Comprehension shall guard your hearts and minds in
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  • Christ jesus."
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  • Paul was saying, "just as i am chained to this roman guard who
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  • Is watching over me, when you pray and talk to god instead of
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  • Worrying, when you pray, the peace of god will guard."
  • 00:06:56.272 --> 00:07:01.277
  • That word there, the greek word refers to a roman sentry that
  • 00:07:01.277 --> 00:07:04.881
  • Marches around something to protect it.
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  • When you pray, god's peace will march around your minds and
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  • Guard your minds against worry and those what ifs.
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  • You see it here?
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  • Prayer is not the cause--prayer is not the result of our peace.
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  • Prayer is the cause of our peace in difficult circumstances.
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  • Fourthly, why do we pray?
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  • Because prayer aligns our will with god's will.
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  • Prayer aligns our will with god's will.
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  • Prayer is the primary means by which god transforms our heart,
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  • Specifically our will.
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  • You know, the greatest battle you and i face in our life
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  • Is this.
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  • Is it gonna be god's will or my will that gets done on earth?
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  • That's the big battle, isn't it?
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  • Am i gonna follow god or am i gonna follow my own inclination?
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  • A.w. tozer said,
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  • "the hard work of prayer is getting yourself into
  • 00:08:01.270 --> 00:08:05.408
  • A state of mind in which you prefer the will of god over
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  • Your own."
  • 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:13.182
  • You see, prayer is not about getting my will done in heaven.
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  • It's about getting god's will done on earth and specifically
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  • In my life, and that's a battle.
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  • It's a battle to get to that place where we say, "i'd rather
  • 00:08:23.025 --> 00:08:27.129
  • Go god's way than my way."
  • 00:08:27.129 --> 00:08:30.333
  • Unless you think you're the only one who struggles with that,
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  • Even jesus, the perfect son of god, struggled with that.
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  • Now, i don't understand it.
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  • God the father, the holy spirit, jesus are one, the triune god,
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  • But i also know what luke 22 tells us.
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  • That the place jesus sweat great drops of blood, it was not when
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  • He was doing battle against the pharisees.
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  • It wasn't even on the cross.
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  • It was in that garden of gethsemane the night before
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  • His crucifixion.
  • 00:08:59.462 --> 00:09:01.063
  • When in luke 22:42, he poured out his heart and said, "father,
  • 00:09:01.063 --> 00:09:04.967
  • If thou art willing, allow this experience to pass from me."
  • 00:09:04.967 --> 00:09:09.405
  • At that moment, jesus will--he didn't want to go to the cross,
  • 00:09:09.405 --> 00:09:13.209
  • Not just for the physical horror, but the spiritual horror
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  • Of burying the sins of the world and being alienated from
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  • His father.
  • 00:09:20.049 --> 00:09:21.417
  • That's why he said, "lord, if there is any other way, take
  • 00:09:21.417 --> 00:09:24.387
  • This experience from me."
  • 00:09:24.387 --> 00:09:26.522
  • But then quickly, after one comma, he adds, "yet not my will
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  • But your will be done."
  • 00:09:31.994 --> 00:09:35.598
  • When we pray, the more we pray, the shorter that lapse of time
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  • Between our will and god's will.
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  • One mark of a disciple is developing this praying heart,
  • 00:09:44.407 --> 00:09:49.812
  • A heart in which prayer is our first response, not the last
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  • Resort when we face a difficult situation.
  • 00:09:54.483 --> 00:09:58.988
  • We've talked about jesus's example of prayer.
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  • We've talked about why we should pray.
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  • In these final moments that we have together, i want to talk
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  • About some practical ways, four ways you can develop to
  • 00:10:07.329 --> 00:10:12.868
  • Transform your heart into a praying heart so you can
  • 00:10:12.868 --> 00:10:17.473
  • Experience that changed life you want to experience.
  • 00:10:17.473 --> 00:10:20.810
  • Would you jot these down?
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  • These are very simple principles, but they really
  • 00:10:22.144 --> 00:10:24.580
  • Could revolutionize your prayer life.
  • 00:10:24.580 --> 00:10:26.749
  • Principle number one, don't complicate prayer.
  • 00:10:26.749 --> 00:10:31.220
  • Don't complicate prayer.
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  • You know, we get this idea if we could just come up with the
  • 00:10:33.456 --> 00:10:36.425
  • Right words, the right vocabulary, and use those words
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  • In the right sequence that somehow it's kind of
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  • Abracadabra, we're gonna make god do something he wouldn't
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  • Otherwise do.
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  • The right words in the right order, in the right amount
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  • Of time.
  • 00:10:51.640 --> 00:10:53.109
  • Jesus said, "forget all of that."
  • 00:10:53.109 --> 00:10:55.277
  • Matthew 6:7, "when you are praying, don't use meaningless
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  • Repetition as the gentiles do, for they suppose that they will
  • 00:10:59.281 --> 00:11:03.119
  • Be heard for their many words."
  • 00:11:03.119 --> 00:11:05.654
  • Verse 8, "don't be like them; for your father knows what you
  • 00:11:05.654 --> 00:11:10.426
  • Need before you ask him."
  • 00:11:10.426 --> 00:11:12.995
  • We ought to keep it simple to tell god
  • 00:11:12.995 --> 00:11:15.464
  • Not what we think should be in our heart, but is actually in
  • 00:11:15.464 --> 00:11:19.401
  • Our heart.
  • 00:11:19.401 --> 00:11:21.003
  • Doesn't mean that god always answers the way we ask him to,
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  • Or at the time we think he should.
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  • But if god delays his answer, or if even god says no, it's not
  • 00:11:27.777 --> 00:11:31.714
  • Because he hates us or doesn't care about us, it's because he
  • 00:11:31.714 --> 00:11:35.317
  • Loves us.
  • 00:11:35.317 --> 00:11:36.652
  • Keep your prayers simple.
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  • Number two, use a pen and pad to enhance your prayer life.
  • 00:11:39.188 --> 00:11:44.794
  • Use a pen and prayer to enhance your prayer life.
  • 00:11:44.794 --> 00:11:48.864
  • You know, i'm--i'll admit to you, i have difficulty
  • 00:11:48.864 --> 00:11:51.167
  • Concentrating when i pray, you know, i'm a poster child for
  • 00:11:51.167 --> 00:11:54.069
  • Add, somebody said, and it's hard for me to concentrate when
  • 00:11:54.069 --> 00:11:58.274
  • I pray, but i have found that using a pen and pad and praying
  • 00:11:58.274 --> 00:12:02.878
  • Is really helpful.
  • 00:12:02.878 --> 00:12:04.613
  • Now, what do i mean by that?
  • 00:12:04.613 --> 00:12:07.183
  • I mean, sometimes writing out your prayer is a way to stay
  • 00:12:07.183 --> 00:12:10.653
  • Focused in your prayers.
  • 00:12:10.653 --> 00:12:12.888
  • You know, we come from a religious tradition, our
  • 00:12:12.888 --> 00:12:15.024
  • Denomination, evangelicalism, especially southern baptists, we
  • 00:12:15.024 --> 00:12:19.128
  • Have about as much respect for written prayers as we do
  • 00:12:19.128 --> 00:12:22.431
  • Snake handling.
  • 00:12:22.431 --> 00:12:23.766
  • I mean, it just doesn't go with what we do.
  • 00:12:23.766 --> 00:12:26.502
  • We think, you know, people shouldn't write out
  • 00:12:26.502 --> 00:12:29.438
  • Their prayers.
  • 00:12:29.438 --> 00:12:30.773
  • You know, we used to, in our church, we used to have laymen
  • 00:12:30.773 --> 00:12:34.310
  • Come up and offer prayers, you know, during a service
  • 00:12:34.310 --> 00:12:37.112
  • And, yeah.
  • 00:12:37.112 --> 00:12:39.148
  • Every now and then, you know, there'd be a poor deacon.
  • 00:12:39.148 --> 00:12:41.684
  • He'd be so terrified about praying that he would write out
  • 00:12:41.684 --> 00:12:44.553
  • His prayers and tuck it in his pocket there.
  • 00:12:44.553 --> 00:12:47.756
  • And once every head was bowed and every eye was closed, when
  • 00:12:47.756 --> 00:12:50.793
  • Nobody was looking, he'd pull out the piece of paper and read
  • 00:12:50.793 --> 00:12:53.762
  • His prayer.
  • 00:12:53.762 --> 00:12:55.097
  • There are always some in the church who felt like their duty
  • 00:12:55.097 --> 00:12:57.299
  • Was to keep their eyes open so they could see what was
  • 00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:59.869
  • Going on.
  • 00:12:59.869 --> 00:13:01.203
  • And so, they would watch this deacon read his prayer and they
  • 00:13:01.203 --> 00:13:03.706
  • Would say, "can you believe that?
  • 00:13:03.706 --> 00:13:06.575
  • He read his prayer.
  • 00:13:06.575 --> 00:13:08.477
  • If he can't do any better than that, then why should he even
  • 00:13:08.477 --> 00:13:10.913
  • Bother to pray if you have to read a prayer?"
  • 00:13:10.913 --> 00:13:13.415
  • Well, think about it.
  • 00:13:13.415 --> 00:13:14.783
  • Some of the most effective prayers in the bible were
  • 00:13:14.783 --> 00:13:17.152
  • Written prayers.
  • 00:13:17.152 --> 00:13:18.721
  • I mean, the psalms are full of prayers that david wrote out.
  • 00:13:18.721 --> 00:13:23.192
  • I found myself--i don't use so much a pad and pen any longer,
  • 00:13:23.192 --> 00:13:26.629
  • But sometimes i type out my prayers on my computer so i can
  • 00:13:26.629 --> 00:13:30.733
  • Really focus on what it is i want to say to god.
  • 00:13:30.733 --> 00:13:34.203
  • Be accurate in what i wanna say, you know, otherwise we fall into
  • 00:13:34.203 --> 00:13:37.840
  • These banalities of prayer, lead, guide and direct.
  • 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:43.579
  • Le--how many times have you heard that?
  • 00:13:43.579 --> 00:13:44.947
  • Lead--what is the difference between lead, guide, and direct?
  • 00:13:44.947 --> 00:13:48.117
  • It's just something we fall into.
  • 00:13:48.117 --> 00:13:50.085
  • Or bless this, bless this, bless it.
  • 00:13:50.085 --> 00:13:52.521
  • What does that mean?
  • 00:13:52.521 --> 00:13:53.856
  • Bless this, bless this.
  • 00:13:53.856 --> 00:13:55.324
  • Sometimes writing out your prayers are a great way to
  • 00:13:55.324 --> 00:13:58.594
  • Concentrate your prayers.
  • 00:13:58.594 --> 00:14:00.362
  • And even if you don't feel comfortable doing that, at least
  • 00:14:00.362 --> 00:14:03.232
  • Keep a list of things that you're praying for.
  • 00:14:03.232 --> 00:14:05.801
  • I've told you before, i keep a prayer journal in which i record
  • 00:14:05.801 --> 00:14:09.171
  • The things that i'm praying for and allows me when i'm praying
  • 00:14:09.171 --> 00:14:12.908
  • And i am praying, i actually keep my eyes open and i go down
  • 00:14:12.908 --> 00:14:16.178
  • That list the things i wanna talk to god about.
  • 00:14:16.178 --> 00:14:19.815
  • You know, if you're gonna go see the president of the united
  • 00:14:19.815 --> 00:14:22.318
  • States, you're not gonna have a lot of time to talk to him.
  • 00:14:22.318 --> 00:14:26.455
  • You better have in your mind the things you wanna say.
  • 00:14:26.455 --> 00:14:29.625
  • Well, god's got all the time in the world, but we don't have all
  • 00:14:29.625 --> 00:14:32.161
  • The attention in the world.
  • 00:14:32.161 --> 00:14:33.562
  • We ought to make a list of the things that we want to talk to
  • 00:14:33.562 --> 00:14:36.899
  • God about.
  • 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:38.267
  • And you know what keeping a list does for you?
  • 00:14:38.267 --> 00:14:40.836
  • It also not only allows you to focus, but it also allows you to
  • 00:14:40.836 --> 00:14:44.873
  • Record god's answers to those prayers.
  • 00:14:44.873 --> 00:14:48.243
  • And some of the most encouraging moments of my life have come
  • 00:14:48.243 --> 00:14:50.980
  • When i've looked back and i've seen not only what i've asked
  • 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:54.550
  • God for, but how he has answered those requests.
  • 00:14:54.550 --> 00:14:59.388
  • By the way, yes, i know we're supposed to do more than ask god
  • 00:14:59.388 --> 00:15:03.258
  • For things.
  • 00:15:03.258 --> 00:15:04.626
  • We're to praise god, we're to ask for his forgiveness.
  • 00:15:04.626 --> 00:15:08.163
  • But you know, i've done a study on prayer.
  • 00:15:08.163 --> 00:15:10.866
  • I've not found one prayer recorded in the bible that
  • 00:15:10.866 --> 00:15:14.503
  • Wasn't a request for something.
  • 00:15:14.503 --> 00:15:17.406
  • Yes, there's praise to god.
  • 00:15:17.406 --> 00:15:18.874
  • There's an ask for forgiveness, but at the heart of every prayer
  • 00:15:18.874 --> 00:15:22.778
  • In the bible is asking god to do something.
  • 00:15:22.778 --> 00:15:26.148
  • So use that pen and pad to focus your prayers.
  • 00:15:26.148 --> 00:15:29.485
  • Number three, begin and end your day in prayer.
  • 00:15:29.485 --> 00:15:33.956
  • If you're new to this praying thing or it's really not a part
  • 00:15:33.956 --> 00:15:37.026
  • Of your life, begin and end every day in prayer.
  • 00:15:37.026 --> 00:15:43.132
  • I used to have a cigar chomping, very irreverent accordion
  • 00:15:43.132 --> 00:15:47.536
  • Teacher named al trick.
  • 00:15:47.536 --> 00:15:50.005
  • He taught me the accordion for 15 years, if you can imagine
  • 00:15:50.005 --> 00:15:53.642
  • Such a thing.
  • 00:15:53.642 --> 00:15:54.977
  • He came out of vaudeville and he was a master at performance, and
  • 00:15:54.977 --> 00:15:58.414
  • I'll never forget a piece of advice he gave me when i was six
  • 00:15:58.414 --> 00:16:01.650
  • Years old about performing before an audience.
  • 00:16:01.650 --> 00:16:05.254
  • He said, "robert, remember this.
  • 00:16:05.254 --> 00:16:07.756
  • As long as you get the first note right and the last note
  • 00:16:07.756 --> 00:16:12.227
  • Right, everything in between is just fluff."
  • 00:16:12.227 --> 00:16:17.266
  • I thought, you know, there's an application there for life.
  • 00:16:17.266 --> 00:16:21.503
  • You know, how you begin a day and how you end the day really
  • 00:16:21.503 --> 00:16:26.942
  • Determines the success or failure of that day.
  • 00:16:26.942 --> 00:16:30.212
  • Everything else is gonna fluff in between.
  • 00:16:30.212 --> 00:16:33.215
  • If you want to have a successful day, begin the day.
  • 00:16:33.215 --> 00:16:36.518
  • Your first note in the morning is one of prayer.
  • 00:16:36.518 --> 00:16:40.389
  • David understood that in psalm 5, verses 3 and 4, he said, "in
  • 00:16:40.389 --> 00:16:43.992
  • The morning o lord, thou will hear my voice; in the morning
  • 00:16:43.992 --> 00:16:48.397
  • I will order my prayer to thee and eagerly watch."
  • 00:16:48.397 --> 00:16:52.634
  • There's no record that david spent hours in the morning
  • 00:16:52.634 --> 00:16:55.838
  • Praying, but he began his day in prayer.
  • 00:16:55.838 --> 00:16:59.975
  • C.s. lewis once observed,
  • 00:16:59.975 --> 00:17:01.343
  • "the moment you wake up each morning, all of
  • 00:17:01.343 --> 00:17:04.446
  • Your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild
  • 00:17:04.446 --> 00:17:07.950
  • Animals, and the first job of each morning consists in shoving
  • 00:17:07.950 --> 00:17:12.888
  • Them all back and listening to that other voice, taking that
  • 00:17:12.888 --> 00:17:17.025
  • Other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger,
  • 00:17:17.025 --> 00:17:21.630
  • Quieter life come flowing in.
  • 00:17:21.630 --> 00:17:25.434
  • Before your feet get out of bed and hit the floor, take a moment
  • 00:17:25.434 --> 00:17:29.805
  • To talk to god to ask him to bless your day, to pray for your
  • 00:17:29.805 --> 00:17:34.710
  • Family, for your church, to ask for wisdom in the decisions
  • 00:17:34.710 --> 00:17:38.313
  • You're confronting that day.
  • 00:17:38.313 --> 00:17:40.616
  • Begin the day in prayer.
  • 00:17:40.616 --> 00:17:43.919
  • Secondly, end the day in prayer as well.
  • 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:48.190
  • Make prayer the final thing you do before you drift off
  • 00:17:48.190 --> 00:17:50.859
  • To sleep.
  • 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:52.194
  • You know, david contrasted how the ungodly in their days with
  • 00:17:52.194 --> 00:17:56.498
  • How the godly in their days.
  • 00:17:56.498 --> 00:17:58.133
  • In psalm 36:4, it says that, "the ungodly person plans
  • 00:17:58.133 --> 00:18:03.338
  • Wickedness upon his bed."
  • 00:18:03.338 --> 00:18:07.543
  • You know what that means?
  • 00:18:07.543 --> 00:18:09.745
  • It means for an ungodly person, his last thought before he
  • 00:18:09.745 --> 00:18:12.814
  • Drifts off to sleep is, "how can i be more wicked tomorrow than
  • 00:18:12.814 --> 00:18:16.952
  • I was today?"
  • 00:18:16.952 --> 00:18:19.188
  • He's constantly thinking of wicked things he can do.
  • 00:18:19.188 --> 00:18:23.392
  • That's how the wicked in their day.
  • 00:18:23.392 --> 00:18:26.328
  • Contrast that to king david, psalm 4, verses 4 to 5,
  • 00:18:26.328 --> 00:18:30.365
  • "tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your
  • 00:18:30.365 --> 00:18:36.271
  • Bed, and be still.
  • 00:18:36.271 --> 00:18:38.874
  • From there offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in
  • 00:18:38.874 --> 00:18:43.946
  • The lord."
  • 00:18:43.946 --> 00:18:45.914
  • Now, without being too graphic here, let me remind you that
  • 00:18:45.914 --> 00:18:51.286
  • David's bed was the place of his greatest failure in life.
  • 00:18:51.286 --> 00:18:57.693
  • His sin with bathsheba that occurred in his bed, but david
  • 00:18:57.693 --> 00:19:02.864
  • Transfer--transformed his bed from an altar of sin to an altar
  • 00:19:02.864 --> 00:19:10.005
  • Of righteousness.
  • 00:19:10.005 --> 00:19:12.007
  • It was from his bed that arose his prayers to god, and that's
  • 00:19:12.007 --> 00:19:15.877
  • Why he says in verse 5, "don't sin on your bed, meditate in
  • 00:19:15.877 --> 00:19:20.449
  • Your heart upon your bed, offer the sacrifices
  • 00:19:20.449 --> 00:19:24.319
  • Of righteousness."
  • 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:27.356
  • I think it's a great word for all of us.
  • 00:19:27.356 --> 00:19:30.025
  • Our last thought before we drift off to sleep ought to be
  • 00:19:30.025 --> 00:19:34.429
  • A prayer to god.
  • 00:19:34.429 --> 00:19:35.797
  • "god, thank you for the day you gave me.
  • 00:19:35.797 --> 00:19:37.833
  • Lord, i acknowledge that i failed here.
  • 00:19:37.833 --> 00:19:40.569
  • I'm sorry for this.
  • 00:19:40.569 --> 00:19:42.070
  • I messed up here.
  • 00:19:42.070 --> 00:19:43.805
  • Forgive me.
  • 00:19:43.805 --> 00:19:45.507
  • Keep me and my family safe throughout the night.
  • 00:19:45.507 --> 00:19:48.810
  • Awaken me in the morning and give me the desire and the
  • 00:19:48.810 --> 00:19:52.214
  • Ability to do your will."
  • 00:19:52.214 --> 00:19:54.249
  • Our last thing we think about at night ought to be a prayer
  • 00:19:54.249 --> 00:19:57.786
  • To god.
  • 00:19:57.786 --> 00:19:59.521
  • Fourthly, how do you enhance your prayer life?
  • 00:19:59.521 --> 00:20:02.791
  • Redeem those random moments in your life.
  • 00:20:02.791 --> 00:20:06.528
  • Redeem those random moments with prayer.
  • 00:20:06.528 --> 00:20:09.865
  • I don't know if your life is like mine.
  • 00:20:09.865 --> 00:20:11.667
  • I imagine it is.
  • 00:20:11.667 --> 00:20:13.035
  • It seems like you're constantly going from one thing to another
  • 00:20:13.035 --> 00:20:15.637
  • Thing, one meeting to another meeting, one assignment to
  • 00:20:15.637 --> 00:20:19.508
  • Another assignment, but there's always that in between time when
  • 00:20:19.508 --> 00:20:24.246
  • You're driving, when you're waiting in line at the
  • 00:20:24.246 --> 00:20:27.816
  • Supermarket, or at the post office.
  • 00:20:27.816 --> 00:20:31.687
  • And we take those in between times and many times we just
  • 00:20:31.687 --> 00:20:35.123
  • Fritter them away.
  • 00:20:35.123 --> 00:20:36.458
  • We think, "well this isn't important time.
  • 00:20:36.458 --> 00:20:38.727
  • What's important is that next big thing i'm doing."
  • 00:20:38.727 --> 00:20:41.897
  • And yet we can use that in between time, redeem it and use
  • 00:20:41.897 --> 00:20:45.634
  • It for good, specifically for prayer.
  • 00:20:45.634 --> 00:20:50.105
  • Turn that into a habit.
  • 00:20:50.105 --> 00:20:51.440
  • You know, friday morning, i was in dc.
  • 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:55.444
  • Got up early, went over to starbucks to get some coffee,
  • 00:20:55.444 --> 00:20:58.880
  • And i was walking back from the starbucks back to the hotel.
  • 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:01.783
  • It was early in the morning.
  • 00:21:01.783 --> 00:21:03.118
  • I was walking down pennsylvania avenue and
  • 00:21:03.118 --> 00:21:06.154
  • I started reminiscing.
  • 00:21:06.154 --> 00:21:08.190
  • I started thinking about, you know, times i've been there
  • 00:21:08.190 --> 00:21:10.826
  • Before and the people i talked to and this--i was taking
  • 00:21:10.826 --> 00:21:13.829
  • A little stroll down memory lane in my mind and i thought to
  • 00:21:13.829 --> 00:21:17.432
  • Myself, "why am i doing this?
  • 00:21:17.432 --> 00:21:19.534
  • I've got five minutes i could be talking to god."
  • 00:21:19.534 --> 00:21:22.838
  • And so, i turned that five minute walk into a time to talk
  • 00:21:22.838 --> 00:21:26.108
  • To god, praying for my family, praying for you all, the church,
  • 00:21:26.108 --> 00:21:31.246
  • Praying for god's will to be done in my life.
  • 00:21:31.246 --> 00:21:33.615
  • I was able to take five minutes and redeem that random time.
  • 00:21:33.615 --> 00:21:37.486
  • If we do that, that's the way we develop a healthy prayer life.
  • 00:21:37.486 --> 00:21:41.823
  • Thomas kelly once said, "there is a way of ordering your mental
  • 00:21:41.823 --> 00:21:45.527
  • Life on more than one level at once.
  • 00:21:45.527 --> 00:21:48.730
  • On one level, we may be thinking, discussing, seeking,
  • 00:21:48.730 --> 00:21:52.567
  • Calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs, but
  • 00:21:52.567 --> 00:21:58.206
  • Deep within, behind the scenes at a more profound level, we may
  • 00:21:58.206 --> 00:22:04.079
  • Also be in prayer, adoration, song, and worship, and a gentle
  • 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:09.017
  • Receptivity to divine breathings."
  • 00:22:09.017 --> 00:22:12.721
  • And therein is the secret to develop what i'm calling this
  • 00:22:12.721 --> 00:22:16.024
  • Praying heart, and here's the secret.
  • 00:22:16.024 --> 00:22:19.594
  • The more we pray, the more we want to pray.
  • 00:22:19.594 --> 00:22:26.034
  • The more we develop that prayer muscle and pray, the more we
  • 00:22:26.034 --> 00:22:29.938
  • Find ourselves praying.
  • 00:22:29.938 --> 00:22:33.108
  • You know, i read about a famous hollywood actress who was
  • 00:22:33.108 --> 00:22:36.344
  • Walking down the red carpet to a gala event and she fainted,
  • 00:22:36.344 --> 00:22:40.782
  • Collapsed right there.
  • 00:22:40.782 --> 00:22:42.117
  • All the press got around her, other people, and she quickly
  • 00:22:42.117 --> 00:22:45.587
  • Came to.
  • 00:22:45.587 --> 00:22:46.922
  • Somebody said, "what happened?"
  • 00:22:46.922 --> 00:22:48.690
  • She laughed and she said, "i forgot to breathe."
  • 00:22:48.690 --> 00:22:55.297
  • Forgot to breathe.
  • 00:22:55.297 --> 00:22:57.232
  • How stupid is that?
  • 00:22:57.232 --> 00:23:00.368
  • No more stupid than forgetting to pray.
  • 00:23:00.368 --> 00:23:08.944
  • Jeffress: just as we require air in our lungs to live, we
  • 00:23:10.011 --> 00:23:13.815
  • Desperately need prayer in our hearts to grow, and i hope you
  • 00:23:13.815 --> 00:23:17.986
  • Found these biblical principles helpful in learning how to
  • 00:23:17.986 --> 00:23:21.356
  • Cultivate a praying heart.
  • 00:23:21.356 --> 00:23:24.426
  • Well at "pathway to victory," we're committed to helping you
  • 00:23:24.426 --> 00:23:27.362
  • Grow in your walk with christ, and that includes equipping you
  • 00:23:27.362 --> 00:23:31.032
  • With practical tools for deepening your relationship with
  • 00:23:31.032 --> 00:23:34.603
  • God through prayer.
  • 00:23:34.603 --> 00:23:36.037
  • I'm grateful for how god is using this ministry to encourage
  • 00:23:36.037 --> 00:23:40.008
  • Believers like you who are serious about growing in their
  • 00:23:40.008 --> 00:23:43.812
  • Faith, and it's all made possible by those who support
  • 00:23:43.812 --> 00:23:47.215
  • This ministry, especially our pathway partners.
  • 00:23:47.215 --> 00:23:51.520
  • Your faithful generosity makes it possible for us to reach
  • 00:23:51.520 --> 00:23:54.789
  • People all across america and around the world with these life
  • 00:23:54.789 --> 00:23:59.127
  • Changing truths from god's word.
  • 00:23:59.127 --> 00:24:01.796
  • Together, we are piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:24:01.796 --> 00:24:05.433
  • God's word.
  • 00:24:05.433 --> 00:24:06.968
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:24:06.968 --> 00:24:08.336
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:08.336 --> 00:24:12.741
  • Male announcer: we all need god's strength to make it
  • 00:24:13.842 --> 00:24:16.011
  • Through the day.
  • 00:24:16.011 --> 00:24:17.345
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" by dr. robert
  • 00:24:17.345 --> 00:24:20.048
  • Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need.
  • 00:24:20.048 --> 00:24:23.218
  • In a large print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
  • 00:24:23.218 --> 00:24:27.255
  • Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:24:27.255 --> 00:24:31.026
  • Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
  • 00:24:31.026 --> 00:24:34.129
  • God in our busy lives.
  • 00:24:34.129 --> 00:24:35.997
  • In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
  • 00:24:35.997 --> 00:24:39.467
  • Practical insights that will help you experience god's
  • 00:24:39.467 --> 00:24:42.871
  • Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
  • 00:24:42.871 --> 00:24:46.141
  • Male announcer: filled with stunning images of creation,
  • 00:24:46.141 --> 00:24:48.476
  • Scripture verses, and prayers you can read in under two
  • 00:24:48.476 --> 00:24:51.313
  • Minutes, this padded hardcover book is the perfect daily
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  • Companion to help refresh your spirit morning and night.
  • 00:24:54.816 --> 00:24:58.486
  • It also makes a thoughtful gift to encourage a friend or
  • 00:24:58.486 --> 00:25:01.323
  • Loved one.
  • 00:25:01.323 --> 00:25:02.691
  • Request your copy of "encouragement for the heart of
  • 00:25:02.691 --> 00:25:04.960
  • A disciple" when you give a generous gift to support the
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  • Ministry of "pathway to victory" or when you become
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  • A pathway partner.
  • 00:25:10.999 --> 00:25:12.334
  • With your ministry gift of $100 or more, we'll send you the
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  • Encouragement resource set containing the new devotional,
  • 00:25:16.237 --> 00:25:19.574
  • Six clutter-free prayer cards, the clutter-free christianity
  • 00:25:19.574 --> 00:25:23.178
  • Book and life application guide, and the seven marks of
  • 00:25:23.178 --> 00:25:26.615
  • A disciple message series on both cd and dvd.
  • 00:25:26.615 --> 00:25:30.251
  • Thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:30.251 --> 00:25:32.787
  • Your generous partnership helps us impact you and your family
  • 00:25:32.787 --> 00:25:36.358
  • And a nation in deep spiritual need with the transforming truth
  • 00:25:36.358 --> 00:25:40.362
  • Of god's word.
  • 00:25:40.362 --> 00:25:43.732
  • Jeffress: if you're going to have a transformed heart, you
  • 00:25:43.732 --> 00:25:46.401
  • Need to have a praying heart, and i hope these four practical
  • 00:25:46.401 --> 00:25:50.472
  • Measures will help you develop the discipline of prayer in
  • 00:25:50.472 --> 00:25:54.209
  • Your life.
  • 00:25:54.209 --> 00:25:55.543
  • They've certainly helped me.
  • 00:25:55.543 --> 00:25:57.379
  • Well, i'm inviting you to join me again next time because we're
  • 00:25:57.379 --> 00:26:00.815
  • Going to examine mark number two, an obedient heart.
  • 00:26:00.815 --> 00:26:05.253
  • As a christian, obedience is not an option.
  • 00:26:05.253 --> 00:26:08.289
  • So how do we move past the barriers that hold us back from
  • 00:26:08.289 --> 00:26:12.127
  • Fully obeying god?
  • 00:26:12.127 --> 00:26:14.229
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:14.229 --> 00:26:16.798
  • Series, "seven marks of a disciple."
  • 00:26:16.798 --> 00:26:21.236
  • Jeffress: somehow, belief in jesus is essential for
  • 00:26:21.236 --> 00:26:24.906
  • Salvation, but obedience to jesus is optional.
  • 00:26:24.906 --> 00:26:31.513
  • We give people the idea that you can trust in god to take care of
  • 00:26:31.513 --> 00:26:35.884
  • You in the next life without trusting him enough to obey him
  • 00:26:35.884 --> 00:26:41.456
  • In this life.
  • 00:26:41.456 --> 00:26:43.591
  • But jesus never gives us that option.
  • 00:26:43.591 --> 00:26:46.928
  • Male announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the
  • 00:26:46.928 --> 00:26:49.364
  • Message "developing an obedient heart" here on "pathway
  • 00:26:49.364 --> 00:26:53.034
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:53.034 --> 00:26:56.438
  • Male announcer: witness god's glory on display in america's
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  • Last frontier.
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  • To victory" cruise to alaska.
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  • June 13 through 20, 2026.
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  • To book your cabin, call... or go to ptv.org.
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