Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Let's turn before the Lord together in prayer. God, we are so thankful for these precious moments of worship and time to just reflect on how you've worked in our lives so far and how you'll continue to do so. We're thankful that you desire more for us than to just go through the motions of worship and that you want a deeper and genuine relationship with us. So we seek you today, remembering that you are our loving Creator and Savior. We remember also that you are even more loving and intentional in seeking us than we ever could be towards you. You meet us right where we are. Whether we're actively pursuing sin or suffering from physical pain or sickness, or wrestling with hard emotions, you're with us. And I pray that you would soften our hearts so that we would turn to you in the midst of our struggles and accept your graceful redemption in Jesus Christ. Even if we're experiencing smooth waters or on the mountaintop moments, we ask that you will turn us towards you in humility and thankfulness, remembering that you are God and we are not. We thank you for other ministries that continue to carry this gospel of redemption, like America's Keswick, as they reach out to those who are rebuilding their lives after seasons of addiction. I pray that the residents would see you and your love clearly and build lives that are centered around you. And this month we're also lifting up Rachel Kummer before you in her service, and we ask that you would gently guide her in how you want her to use her gifts in this season, especially as we think of her father, Pastor Kevin Kummer. And we ask that you would sustain him and bring him healing through his cancer journey. And we pray for rejuvenation for Rachel, too, during her time home with him. Lord, we also turn our minds to this upcoming election. We're thankful for the freedom to vote and participate in our community and government in this way. So we ask you for wisdom that you would help guide us in voting for those who would best honor you and how they serve. We pray for our current leaders and upcoming leaders alike and that you would turn their hearts towards you and that they would be surrendered to you and humbled to you and your word. We ask that you would give them wisdom and guidance and how to lead in a way that truly does honor you. So as we participate in this freedom, we ask that you would help us, especially as Christians, to be witnesses of Christ with love and grace. So please continue to convict us of our sins, show us how we can intentionally serve you and witness to those around us, and we Ask that you would stir in our hearts this morning and stir us towards worship, that you would use your spirit to work through Pastor Mike and his message and your word today. So please change us as we hear from your word. And we thank you for loving us so deeply. And we lift this all up before you in your name, Jesus. Amen. If you'll join me, we'll be reading today from Mark 9, 1429. It says, when they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. When what are you arguing with them about? He asked. A man in the crowd answered, teacher, I brought you my son who is possessed by spirit has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not. O unbelieving generation. Jesus replied, how long shall I stay with you? How long should I put up with you? Bring the boy to me. So they brought him, and when the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy's father, how long has he been like this? From childhood, he answered, it's often thrown him into the fire water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us if you can, said Jesus, everything is possible for him who believes. And immediately the boy's father exclaimed, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief. And when Jesus saw that the crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. You deaf and mute spirit, he said, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again. And the spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently, and came out. And the boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, he's dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. And after Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, why couldn't we drive it out? And he replied, this kind can come out only by prayer. Thank you very much, Pastor Andrew, and thank you for leading us in prayer as well for the upcoming election. What a privilege and right it is for us as American Christians to be able to go into the voting booth and to cast our ballot. This week we came across an outstanding article in a magazine entitled Decision. Some of you might know that magazine. It's published by the Billy Graham Evangelistic association. And in the magazine was an article entitled how to Vote Like Jesus. And it is completely apart from any kind of partisan politics or parties or anything like that. It's a biblical study about the right and the privilege of voting and what it means to select leaders for your nation. Such an excellent article. And we actually called out to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. We asked them whether we could reprint it and they said you could gladly do that. And so we have that available if you'd like to pick that up in the Connect center right there in the center of the carpenter lobby or also at our welcome desk. It's just an excellent short read, but it is thoroughly biblical. One of the finest that I've read and passed among our pastors. They agreed with a number of our pastors and they agreed with that. We even sent it to our bishop for our denomination and folks in our denomination as well. Well, I hope you're open to mark chapter nine today. And if you brought with you your copy of Alexander and his Terrible, Horrible, no good, Very bad day. If you take that out as well, we're going to be reading in that. If you don't have that, maybe you have it on your ebook list. And if not, just listen because it will not be on the screen as well. So let's begin today by just a few, a few chapters in Alexander and it's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Say that with me. Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there is gum in my hair. And when I get out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink with the water was running and. And I could tell that it was going to be a. Oh, come on. Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. At breakfast, Anthony found a Corvette Stingray car kit in his breakfast cereal box. Nick found a junior undercover agent code ring in his breakfast cereal box. But in my breakfast cereal box, all I found was breakfast cereal. I think I'll move to Australia in the carpool. Mrs. Gibson Let Becky have a seat by the window. Audrey and Elliot got seats by the window too. I said I was being scrunched. I said I was being smushed. I said if I don't get a seat by the window, I'm going to be car sick. No one even answered. I could tell that it is going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Have you ever had that kind of day in your life. Raise your hand if you ever had that kind of day. And those of you with shoulder surgery are the only ones without your hand in the air. Every one of us have had that kind of day in our lives. And that is the day that we just read about. And in Mark, chapter nine, verses 14 through 29, a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. And what's so interesting about that is it comes on the heels of a wonderful, marvelous, very good and truly glorious day. If you were here. Last week, Pastor Paul preached an outstanding sermon on the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. That incredible experience when Jesus went to the mountaintop with Peter, James and John, when Elijah and Moses came to visit with them, when the face of Jesus shone like the sun, when his clothing was as white that whiter than any bleach could possibly make it. It was an incredibly glorious, wonderful, marvelous day. As they listened to Jesus have conversation with Moses and Elijah. It was a. A mountaintop experience. But as we learned last week, and as you learned in your life, you have to come down from the mountain sometimes. And when you do, you don't always find that things are the same at the base of the mountain. When Jesus and Peter and James and John came down the mountain, they found a terrible, horrible, no good and very bad day. So I want to study this passage with you today. And I want you to notice first of all, what Jesus finds when he comes off the mount of transfiguration and comes back into the reality of daily life. First of all, he finds that the teachers of the law are fuming. Mark, chapter 9, verses 14 through 16. When they came to the other disciples, that is Peter, James and John, and Jesus came to the other disciples, the nine who were left at the base of the mountain. They saw that a large crowd had gathered around them. And the teachers of the law, that would be in the category of Pharisees, Sadducees, teachers of the law. Those who are opposed to Jesus, trying to get Jesus. They found that the teachers of the law were arguing with them. With who? They were arguing with the other nine disciples. Now, it's interesting. The Word of God says that as soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and they ran to greet him. Here he comes. Here he comes. Let's find Jesus. Let's talk with Jesus. And as the adoring crowds ran to greet Jesus, it's interesting that he did not fix his attention on the crowd. He rather fixed his attention on. On the argument between the disciples and the Teachers of the Law and the Word of God says that Jesus asked a question. What are you arguing about? And the Word of God tells us that a man in the crowd answered his question. The man was a frustrated father. Mark, chapter nine, 17 and 18. Teacher, I brought you my son who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not. I want you to read that last sentence with me. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not. The Father is agonizing over his son's condition. He is desperate for his son to be healed. He is frustrated, however, because he has brought his boy to Jesus. And Jesus wasn't home. I'm sure that he had heard about Jesus. He had to have heard about Jesus. He had to have heard that Jesus is a healer, that Jesus has a reputation for casting out demons. I'm going to bring my boy to Jesus. No one has been able to help my boy. And so he brings him to where he hears that Jesus is. And Jesus isn't there. Now, those who are there are the other nine disciples. Those who were left at the base of the mountain. Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot. Judas Iscariot. Can you heal my son? And the Word of God tells us that the frustrated Father asking the disciples to heal his son, soon learned that they could not. But they could not. Would you turn and notice the reason that they could not? The disciples of Jesus failed. They failed. They could not. Why literally, that phrase means because they were not strong enough. Because they were not strong enough. Literally, in the Greek language, they could not means they were not strong enough. And what's so fascinating about that, what's so very interesting about that, is if you turn the pages back to Mark chapter six, what you learn is that there was an occasion in the life of the twelve disciples when Jesus gathered them together. Well, without me telling it, why don't we just read it? Mark, chapter 6. Look at verses 7 and, and 12 and 13. The word of God says, calling the 12 to him. Jesus sent them out two by two, and he gave them authority over evil spirits. They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out. They drove out. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil. And they healed them. But here in Mark chapter nine, several pages later, several months later, they could not. And all this time, in the face of the arguing that's going on among the disciples and the teachers of the law, in the face of the frustration of a dad who is heartbroken and agonizing over the condition of his son, in the face of the failure of the disciples all this time, in the backdrop of this story, don't miss this. There is a boy who is in bondage to the devil. There is a boy who is in bondage to the devil. It's a heartbreaking. It's a heartbreaking situation. As you look at the word of God, it seems that everybody is consumed with their stuff and they've forgotten that there's a boy who is in bondage to the devil. I want you to listen to how dad describes his son. He's possessed by his spirit. He's robbed of speech, he's seized, he's thrown to the ground, he's foaming at the mouth, he's gnashing his teeth. He becomes rigid. Did you ever hold a child who didn't want to do what you wanted them to do, and so they became rigid? Do you ever have that experience like, just like that, and you can hardly hold on to them. And this dad has that as an everyday experience. He's agonizing and he's frustrated. And just a few verses later, look at verses 21 and 22. The Father says to Jesus, from childhood, from childhood, it's often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. What a difference a day makes. From the glories of the transfiguration to the brokenness of sinful humanity. This is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But you know his name, don't you? His name is but Jesus. But Jesus. I want you now to notice what Jesus does with what he finds. First of all, he isolates the problem. And the first way that he does that, look at verse 16, is by asking a simple question. What are you arguing about now? Immediately, according to the word of God, the Father answers the question, says they're arguing because they haven't been able to heal my son. But I want to point out something a little deeper to you. You do understand, don't you, that Jesus never has to ask a question to acquire an answer? He already knows the answers in advance, right? He is omnipresent and he is omniscient. He is everywhere present. He knows everything. So whenever Jesus asks a question in the Bible, you should back up and look at it and ask yourself, why is he asking that question? It is not to acquire information. And I think that there is something of a corrective rebuke going on here. When he says essentially to the disciples, what are you arguing about? What are you arguing about? Why are you fussing? Why are you fuming? Why are you in an argument with the teachers of the law? I'd like to think that he probably said, you know what they're like. Why are you arguing? And then he pinpoints the real problem. Look, if you would, at verse 19. O unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? And in that simple phrase, Jesus pinpoints the problem. And the problem is unbelief. His rebuke for this lack of faith in him is principally directed to the teachers of the law and the disciples. But we will soon learn even more. So to the disciples. What's the problem? What is at the crux of the arguing and the fussing that's going on at the base of the mountain? What has caused all this furor? It is unbelief. The principal problem is unbelief. It is a lack of faith in God. And so with that problem identified and with it isolated and with it proclaimed in the hearing of everyone, I want you to notice secondly, what Jesus does, he responds to the Father. You study the word of God. You read the story later today. It's interesting that Jesus is really the first one to take a decided interest in. In the dad. And it's a beautiful picture of our compassionate and caring Savior. The very first thing that he does is he invites the Father to bring his son to him. Some of the most beautiful verses of scripture can be found in this story. And here is one of them. Bring the boy to me. That must have been music to this dad's ears. Bring the boy to me. Finally. It's what I came here for. It's what I was hoping for. It's what I was looking for. It was what I was dreaming, praying about. Bring the boy to me. And then Jesus does something that he does for you and me. He leaned in and he listened to. He listened as this dad unpacked the story of his son. The tough life that he was living with his son since he was a little boy. Dad begins to unpack the story. Since he was a little boy. It's a powerful picture of our compassionate Savior. When no one else has time for us, Jesus does. Jesus always does. Jesus isolates the problem. He responds to the Father. But then, friends, don't miss this. He teaches the truth about faith. Now Remember that with the problem isolated, the problem is unbelief. And with the lack of faith declared Jesus then goes on to explain what real faith is. Turn, if you would in your Bibles to mark chapter nine, verse 21. Jesus asked the boy his father, how long has he been like this? From childhood, he answered. It's often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. I want you to read the all bold. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. One more time. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. If you can. If you can. Jesus said everything is possible for him who believes. Jesus in these verses calls the Father to have faith. And I can't help but to think that maybe this call was to a dad to come back to the faith that he had when he first came to see Jesus. I think you can understand that, can't you? He came with faith. He heard about Jesus. Jesus is a healer. If anybody can cast out demons, Jesus can do that. I'm going to go to Jesus. I know where he's at. I'm going to take my boy in the condition that he's in. I'm going to take my boy. I love him and I'm going to take him to Jesus. And with faith he comes and he finds out that Jesus isn't home. But the disciples, nine of them are there. And he asked the nine disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not. You can't help but to wonder if that sucked some faith out of dad. So much so that when he finally does meet Jesus, he says to Jesus, if you can. And Jesus says to him, if you can, everything is possible for him who believes. Now, Jesus is not saying that we get what we want. If we positively believe, we will get it. That was the way I understood faith as a kid. I'll just ask Jesus for that new bike that I want for Christmas. And if I'm really positive about it and bug mom and dad enough, I'll get it. That's not what Jesus is saying. This isn't the power of positive thinking. This is not name it and claim it. If I name it and believe that I will get it by claiming it. I got it. That is not biblical teaching. That is what God is saying to us. Jesus is saying anything is impossible with faith because nothing is impossible with God as long as it is God's will. Will. God's will. In other words, you will not always get what you Want, you will get what God wills, no matter how difficult that may be. The boy's father understood and immediately exclaimed, oh, I do believe. Help my unbelief. And in response to the Father's faith, here's the compassion of the Savior. He sees the crowd coming. They're rushing in. They want to see what's going to happen next. He takes the boy away from the crowd, and he heals him. You deaf and dumb spirit, out. I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. The scene is dramatic. The word of God tells us the spirit shrieked, the boy shook violently, and the spirit came out. The Bible. The boy. The Bible says the boy looks so much like a corpse that many said he's dead. But here's Jesus. Bring the boy to me. Tell me about your son. Oh, if you have faith, it's possible. Hey, the crowd's coming. Let's go over here. No sideshow today. Heals the Son. The Son falls to the ground. He looks like a corpse. And the word of God says, don't miss this. Jesus takes him by the hand and lifts him up. And he stands on his own. He's not rigid. He's not foamy at the mouth. He's not gnashing his teeth. He's healed by the Savior, Jesus Christ. Wow. We could end the story right there. Great story, powerful story. But it doesn't end there. It isn't over. At least not for Jesus disciples. What happens next could be considered by some to be an afterword or an addendum. But I tend to think that Mark thinks it's the centerpiece, that it's what the story is all about. Look, if you would, at verses 28 and 29. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, why couldn't we drive it out? Let's just say that question together. Why couldn't we drive it out? And Jesus replied, because this kind can come out only by prayer. Now, Jesus isn't saying that there are some evil spirits that you can cast out without praying. Not at all. This is Jesus, gentle but firm way of saying, because you guys forgot to pray, you neglected to pray. This kind only comes out when you pray. They forgot to pray, friends. And that is the reason. It is the reason that. That they were not strong enough. Because they forgot that they do not have the power. Only he has the power. Only God has the power. And that if they want to do anything, anything in life, anything in life, they must be connected to the Father in heaven through his Son, Jesus Christ. And that only Through Jesus and bold prayer, can we experience genuine power in our lives. Only then, and only then. It's interesting that Matthew in the Synoptics, which means the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke that share many of the same stories as Matthew, retells this story. Matthew helps us understand by saying that not only did Jesus say, this kind only comes out by prayer, that Jesus also said, because you have so little faith, that's why you could not cast out this evil spirit. And I want to say to you this morning, and listen closely to this, it takes faith to pray. Not a lot of faith, but it takes faith to pray it. In Matthew chapter 17, Jesus unpacks the truth that it takes just the faith the size of a mustard seed. If you can muster that faith. And actually you don't have to muster, you just receive that as a gift from God and you exercise it in your prayer life. If you take just the faith the size of a mustard seed. Did you ever see a mustard seed? They are tiny. I mean, tiny. Over the summer, I decided to sort through boxes in the basement at Jenny's encouragement. And I made it through one box. And in that one box there was a card that I had saved from years ago with a little plastic container on top of it that had a mustard seed in it. And I saved it for such a time as this, but I put it in another box and I couldn't find it in time for the sermon. So I have no idea where it's at, but it is tiny. Tiny. And here's what Jesus is saying to the guys. Guys, you wonder why you couldn't cast it out. Here's why. Because this kind only comes out by prayer. And it takes faith to pray. And you didn't do either one. Now write this down if you take notes, because it is a critical lesson in our own growth in Christ. Prayer and faith are interwoven. Prayer and faith are interwoven. As we pray, our faith will grow. Because prayer will lead us into a deeper relationship with God. We will get to know him better than we ever did. As we pray, we will begin to hear him speak through his word. We will see him work. He will give us eyes to see his grace around us. We will grow in deeper love with Him. As we pray, our faith will grow. Now get this. And as our faith grows, our prayer lives will then also grow. It just happens. You can't avoid it. It's the way it works. As you pray, your faith will grow. You'll become stronger spiritually. And as you become stronger spiritually, as your faith grows, your prayer life is going to take off. And you'll find that your prayer life will become deeper and more deliberate and more detailed and more devoted because you're getting to know him and spending time with him and loving him and realizing that your day does not have to be terrible and horrible and no good and very bad. It can be a truly glorious and wonderful day, even in the face of the challenges and the struggles of life. Oh. Oh, my goodness. The testimony that Alyssa gave this morning, did you hear what she said about her mom? That as her mom went about devoted, deliberate, deep prayer for five years for her prodigal daughter, she also went about life. How do you do that? Well, you get to know Jesus. And so every day as you're bringing that burden to the Lord and that burden remains day after day as you bring it to the Lord, you also know that as you surrender to him that day, it's in his hands and you don't have to handle it. You don't have to handle it. Here's the problem that Mike Sigmund has, and probably nobody else here has the problem. I put things in Jesus hands and then I say, hey, can I have that back? You know, did you ever do that? Nobody ever has, huh? I have. I give it to Jesus, then I take it back and I worry about it. That's why I Love Galatians, chapter 2, verse 20. I have been crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live. Jesus Christ now lives in me. The life I live in this body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave himself for me. The life I live in this body, I live by faith. And I recite that verse back to myself. And then I say, mike, are you living by faith? No, you're not. Okay, Jesus, here it is. Would you give me the faith to let go of it and trust you with it so that like Judy, Alyssa's mom, I can go on with life knowing that it's in the hands of the Savior and I can trust him. I can trust him. According to the testimony of Scripture, the disciples started out strong. Remember Mark, chapter 6? Jesus gave them the authority to cast out demons. And they went out and they cast out demons and they were strong. But over time, they lost their strength until they could not. Why? Years ago, one preacher that I heard said maybe it was a problem with self confidence. They started out strong, with absolute dependence on God for their daily help and their daily strength. But over time, they became increasingly self reliant, self confident. So they start out this, help me, Jesus. Wow, look what he did. Help me, Jesus. Wow, look what we did. Catch the change of one consonant. Help me, Jesus. Wow, look what I did. And before long, you don't need Jesus help because you're doing so well yourself. Sometimes the reason that we're not strong enough is because we've entered into the downward spiral of self confidence, self reliance. Nobody ever starts out that way. Nobody ever says, I'm going to head down this road. But sometimes it happens and we get lost in ourselves. Maybe, however, it's even a simpler reason. Why could they not do what they could at one time do? Maybe it's simply neglect. Neglect of prayer. I looked up the definition. Neglect, I thought. I don't think I've ever looked that up. That's a nerdy thing to think, isn't it? Neglect means the failure to give attention to someone or something that requires our attention. God requires my attention every day. He wants to see me. He wants to hear from me. By the way, not just me, every one of you. That's the incredible thing about the God of the universe, the God who made heaven and earth. He is your helper just as much he's my helper. He requires our attention. And when we neglect to give him our attention, we are neglecting prayer. Martin Luther once wrote, if I should neglect prayer but a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith. And it happens to all of us. We neglect to pray. The reasons are many, but the result is always the same. The fire of our faith will be reduced to a burning ember, possibly gray ash. Less fire will lead to less power, less fervor as we walk with the Lord, and we will lose our spiritual strength. A phrase that I often heard in church circles growing up is that there is power in prayer. If you walk into our cottage of Rollinsville, Cami, in the back, there's a little plaque says, there's power in prayer. My grandparents had it and we kept it there. There is power in prayer, But I actually don't believe that. Here's what I believe. There is power in the one to whom we pray. There is power in the one to whom we pray. Now, the reason I'm cautious about that these days is because I don't want to communicate that if you simply go through the rote act of prayer, there's power there. Jesus even speaks to that. You know, bow your head, close your eyes if you're up to it. Kneeling down, reciting a prayer that you learned years ago. God is Great God is good. Let us thank him for his food. Amen. The power is in the one to whom we pray. When we sincerely, genuinely enter into his presence, pour out our hearts, begin a conversation, tell him exactly what is burdening us and bothering us and what our needs are. And laying it all before him. There is power in the one to whom we pray. I want to ask you a question today. How's your prayer life? How's your prayer life? It's easy for our prayer lives to devolve into. Oh, check it off, get it done. I will confess to you that there are days, and there have been days in my life when, if you were to ask me mid morning, what did you pray about, I would be hard pressed to tell you because I went through the motions and I prayed to get it done. Say, oh my goodness, Mike, you're our pastor. Yeah, well, we're all on the same level ground and I'm not going to lie to you. I think all of us have been there. It happens. Why does it happen? Well, if I'm being vulnerable, let's just go the whole way. I was writing this sermon on Wednesday and I was just hitting a block, hitting a block, couldn't get through. And then all of a sudden it occurred to me, well, you really haven't spent very much time with me in prayer today, asking me for your help. For my help. I sat back on my chair and I started laughing. Yeah, that's great. I'm writing a sermon on prayer and the spirit of God is telling me you haven't prayed. I stopped, I went to my chair and I cried out and engaged Jesus sincerely, genuinely. And he was there and he met me because he always will, because he's faithful. How's your prayer life? Are you neglecting it? Neglect it? No longer. Dive back in, because as you pray, your faith will grow and as your faith grows, your prayer life will grow and you will grow strong. The Lord. Let's pray together. Lord, we thank you for your word today. We are people with clay feet. And when it comes to prayer, if we were absolutely honest, we would have to admit that we've had fits and starts and we're not where we want to be. And oh my, there may be even seasons here that have been lacking in prayer. Lord, I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ in this sanctuary who, like me, struggle at times in the busyness of life and the distractions of life to enter into your presence, to seek you in prayer. Like the disciples spend too much time talking, fuming, fussing, and not enough time seeking, praying, petitioning and praising you. So I'm just going to ask you, Lord, awaken in every one of us a new, urgent desire to pray. Give us power in our prayers. Cause our faith to grow as we pray, and cause our prayer lives to grow as our faith grows. And, Lord, we will thank you and praise you in the mighty and strong name of Jesus. And all God's people said, stand with me. Let's sing together beautiful songs calling us to prayer.