The Prayer You Need Right Now
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My sermon is about the prayer, not that prevents, not that prepares, but the prayer that repairs. This is for all of you who weren’t ready for it. This is for all of you who didn’t see it coming. This is for all of you…Simon, Simon…who hit a point in your life, and you didn’t pray about it. See, the thing about Jesus’ words in this situation, when he says, “Simon, Simon,” that is so meaningful to me is when Satan asked to sift him as wheat, Jesus didn’t tell him, “No.” Even standing on the eve of Peter’s disappointment, Jesus prophesies his destiny.
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Look at verse 32, please. “When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” When. Not if…when. Not if you turn back. Jesus knew in that moment there would come a point in your life, a pivotal point, when the pressure would be too great, when the future would be too uncertain, when you would not be able to do it like you used to do it… He said, “In that moment, when you turn back…” Not if you turn back…when you turn back.
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He knew there would be a moment where you would pray and say, “God, fix it. I made a mess of this. I have made a complete mess of this. Fix it.” That’s the moment he has been waiting for. When my kids were very small, I made up a little lie. You can judge me for it. Anytime they would get hurt and they would come to me about it, I would tell them, “Oh…” If it was a minor injury. If it was a major injury, “See your mom.
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” If it was a minor injury, I’d say, “Don’t worry about it. I can fix it.” Whatever was hurt on their body, I would pretend like I knew how to fix it. I’m talking when they were very small. So, “My elbow hurts.” “Oh, come here. I’ll fix it. I went to elbow school.” “Oh, your big toe hurts? I went to big toe school.
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I went to pinkie toe school also, but big toe school is the one you need right now. Big toe school is what you get.” “Oh, your ear hurts? I went to ear school.” If it was a minor injury, I’m telling you, every time, it would work. Every time, they’d stop crying. One time, Graham looked at me and said, “You went to a lot of schools.