{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Prayer In A Crisis","description":"Robby: So today we want to talk especially to those listeners who are going through a crisis. And if you\u2019re not, we want to encourage you to listen in. Because today\u2019s talk will be helpful whatever season you\u2019re in, whether for you or someone you love. James? James: That\u2019s right. We want to talk about \u201cPrayers from the Pit\u201d\u2014think about Joseph, thrown into a pit by his brothers, then sold into slavery, one crisis after another. Robby: James, when we were talking about this before you mentioned that you read something today about this that you really found helpful. James: Yeah, that will set this up well. A friend of mine gave me a book of quotes from Charles Spurgeon, the amazingly gifted British preacher. Just listen to this, because there\u2019s a lot of truth in it (James reads). Robby: That\u2019s beautiful. And that really does lead us right into talking about prayer, because when you\u2019re going through something like that, it can be hard on your relationship with God. You can wonder why He allows it, what He\u2019s up to, and that can really have an impact on the ways that we pray. James: Exactly. And that\u2019s what I wanted to do today, to talk to that person who is in that place right now and encourage you, even though it\u2019s hard, even though it\u2019s dark right now, don\u2019t give up. Especially don\u2019t give up on God. Robby: I can see why you\u2019d like that message from Spurgeon so much, because you\u2019ve really been there. I know there were some times where you and your wife had to feel like you were\u2014how did Spurgeon put it\u2014\u201cmarked for sorrow\u201d because of what was going on in your life with your kids. But then later, you became a comforter to others because of it, especially the parents of other prodigals, helping them learn how to pray in those times through your book \u201cPrayers for Prodigals\u201d James: Yeah, that\u2019s just the thing. You wonder why God allows it at the time\u2014and I\u2019m not just talking about those \u201clife doesn\u2019t seem fair\u201d moments, I\u2019m talking about those circumstances that are heartbreaking. And then later you see how God really did get you through even those moments when it seemed like He wasn\u2019t there. But you have to go through them, you have to feel it in your own skin. Because if you don\u2019t go through something like that you won\u2019t be as real when it comes to helping others. And of course that\u2019s the farthest thing from your mind in the moment, you just want to go through it, to come through the other side. And this is where it comes down to prayer. How do you pray at a time like that? I think there are three things we can do that really make a difference, and the first is a simple prayer of trust. \u201cLord, I don\u2019t understand this, I don\u2019t like it, but I\u2019m yours. I trust that you\u2019ve got this, and you\u2019ve got me. I love you and I need you, please keep me close. Robby: I like that because when you think about Joseph, the Bible tells us God was with him in everything, even when he was in prison. James: That\u2019s right. And think about something else Joseph said later to his brothers. Robby: I know where you\u2019re going with this. He told them, \u201cYou meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.\u201d James: That\u2019s right. So after we pray a prayer of trust, pray a prayer of praise. Not for your circumstances\u2014that would be really hard to do that and be real it in\u2014but to just praise God for God, to take your eyes off yourself and put them on Him. Robby: Yeah, that can really help us. I find when I try to do that God has a way of lifting me out of whatever is going on somehow, and giving me what I need to just get through. He builds my faith when I do it. James: I think that\u2019s really true. And faith brings us to the third way to pray\u2014a prayer of thanks. Remember God\u2019s Word encourages us to give thanks in all circumstances, so we can thank God that He is good, He is faithful, and He will bring good even though you can\u2019t see it right now. So that pretty much wraps it up. A prayer of trust, a prayer of praise, and a prayer of thanks. Robby: James, let\u2019s pray for those listeners who are going through it right now as we wrap up. Will you do that? James: That would be good. (James prays) ","author_name":"Encouraging Prayer","author_url":"http:\/\/encouragingprayer.libsyn.com\/website","html":"