Podcast Summary

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: Prayer & The Plan Of God, Part One | Nancy Dufresne | World Harvest Church | Murrieta, CA
Date: December 7, 2020
Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne

Episode Overview

This episode, led by Pastor Nancy Dufresne, delves into the indispensable role of prayer in walking out God's plan for one's life, the church, and even nations. Nancy emphasizes that God's plans are not automatic—prayer activates, unfolds, and sustains them. The conversation is both practical and inspirational, using biblical references, personal testimony, and memorable illustrations to challenge listeners to proactively engage with God’s plan through prayer, faith, and obedience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding God’s Plan is Not Automatic

• Main Scripture: Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified)
  • “We are God’s own handiwork…born anew that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us…” (00:41)
• God has prearranged a GOOD life for every believer, but it requires a personal choice to walk in it.
• “If any of those things [difficulty, deprivation, worry, torment] are there, we’re off the path…” (01:21)
• The only way to live a satisfied life is in the center of God’s plan; anything less leads to discontent and frustration.

2. Our Responsibility: Taking the Path God Prepared

• God’s part: He planned and prepared the good works/paths.
• Our part: We must choose and walk those paths.
• “He doesn’t force us in the plan. It’s up to the choosing of our desire. It’s up to us to walk it out. And what He’s planned will not come to pass automatically.” (03:57)
• Bad doctrine: “Whatever will be, will be.” Reality: God’s will requires our active participation.

3. The Essential Role of Prayer

• Walking out God’s plan begins with prayer:
  • “It’s easier to walk out what you prayed out.” (06:36)
• Prayer brings clarity and direction—beyond just weighing pros and cons humanly.
• “Without praying, we won’t see what’s already prepared; we won’t even know what direction it is.” (07:49)

4. Personal Testimony: Praying Out the Plan

• Nancy’s story of leaving a wrong relationship and spending three weeks in prayer—especially praying in tongues—to discover God’s plan.
  • “I am standing here today … for one reason: I prayed about the plan.” (13:34)
• After this prayerful seeking, she met and married Ed Dufresne, demonstrating that prayer does not just acknowledge the plan but enables the believer to take it.

5. Prayer, the Holy Spirit & God’s Will

• Romans 8:26-28 (Amplified):
  • The Holy Spirit helps us when we don’t know how to pray; praying in tongues enables articulation of God’s perfect will.
  • “The Holy Spirit is never going to give you utterances that are separate from what God’s will and God’s plan is.” (20:54)
• Verse 28 is often misquoted—things don’t just ‘work together for good’ for everyone, but for those engaging in spirit-led prayer.

6. Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer and God’s Will

• Matthew 6:9-10: (“Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”)
• Jesus called us to pray that God’s will would be done; it does not automatically happen without prayer.
• “If God’s will was automatically done, why would Jesus ever tell us to pray it?” (31:37)

7. Prayer’s Role in the Broad Plan of God

• God’s plan for the earth, nations, churches, and individuals all require active prayer to come to fruition.
• Examples:
  • James 5:7-18: Prayer releases the “rain” for the harvest.
  • Matthew 9:37-38: Jesus calls us to pray for laborers for the harvest.
  • 1 Timothy 2:1-4: Pray for political leaders and all people—not automatic!
• Testimony: After Kenneth Hagin passed, Nancy felt the void in national prayer, reminding the church of its responsibility.

8. Prophecy, Prayer, and Responsibility

• Prophecies do not fulfill themselves—they are work assignments to be prayed over.
• “When you receive a prophecy, you just received a work assignment, because prophecy equals work. The work of prayer, the work of faith…” (01:12:21)
• God expects believers to watch over and pray out the plan—personally and corporately.

9. Initiative in Prayer: Old Testament Examples

• Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20): Initiated national prayer during crisis, didn’t wait for God to prompt. Result: miraculous deliverance.
  • “You don’t have to wait for God to tell you to initiate…Prophecies are nothing more than Him reminding people: initiate something.” (01:08:18)
• Contrast: The Israelites who left Egypt but failed to enter the promised land due to passivity.

10. Faith, Obedience, and Daily Spiritual Practice

• Don’t live life on autopilot; initiate each day in pursuit of God’s plan.
• Filling “today’s container” with faith, prayer, and obedience—yesterday’s victories do not suffice for today.
  • “Every day I have to fill up that container of that day with my faith, with my praying, my victory. Yesterday’s victory doesn’t belong to today.” (01:21:24)
• Testimonies: God’s provision in finances and ministry expansion as a result of listening, praying, and standing in faith.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Plan Not Being Automatic:
  • “Anything less [than God’s plan] is going to leave you discontented, hard to live with, fault finding of others… Only full satisfaction is in the plan of God.” —Nancy Dufresne (02:12)
• On Personal Responsibility:
  • “God created the plan, but we are the ones who have to take the paths that He planned. So notice, He planned the paths, but it’s up to us to take them.” (03:39)
• On Prayer’s Necessity:
  • “You can’t walk out—it’s easier to walk out what you prayed out.” (06:36)
• On Initiating with God:
  • “99% of what you receive from God is initiated by you. So many people just sit back and float through life and wait for things to show up. And you know what’s going to show up? An average life. But we were redeemed from average.” (01:16:00)
• On Prophecy as a Work Assignment:
  • “When you receive a prophecy, you just received a work assignment, because prophecy equals work.” (01:12:21)
• On Daily Spiritual Practice:
  • “Every day I have to fill up that container of that day with my faith, with my praying, my victory. Yesterday’s victory doesn’t belong to today.” (01:21:24)
• On Generational Responsibility:
  • “Young people, start now. Save yourself a lot of heartache. There are a lot of older people in here that would love to trade places with your years… Don’t waste early years by living an average life and looking like everybody else around you. God has more for you.” (01:30:25)
• On Prayer as Positioning, Not Earning:
  • “When I talk about praying, I’m not talking about earning. It’s not if I pray long enough, God gives me this. It’s as you pray, you see. As you pray, things are authored in you that you need…prayer positions you to hear, to see.” (01:35:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ephesians 2:10—the Good Life by Design: 00:41–04:52
• Seeking & Protecting God’s Plan (especially for youth): 01:23–04:17
• The Plan is Not Automatic—Choosing & Taking the Path: 03:57–06:36
• The Role of Prayer & Praying in Tongues: 06:36–13:34
• Nancy’s Testimony—Discovery & Marriage: 13:34–15:28
• Romans 8 & Prayer in the Spirit: 17:50–23:53
• Misunderstanding “All Things Work Together”: 21:49–24:24
• Prayer for God’s Will (Matthew 6): 31:37–34:02
• Laying the Track for God’s Will (Vision of Railroad): 35:17–37:03
• Prayer for Harvest, Nation, and Leaders: 37:30–48:47
• Personal, Local, National Plans Require Prayer: 41:25–46:10
• Effectual Fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man (James 5): 49:36–51:46
• Story of Elijah and Prayer’s Power: 51:46–53:52
• Israelites & Jehoshaphat—Initiating Victory: 54:32–01:08:18
• Prophecy as Assignment, Not Guarantee: 01:12:21–01:14:38
• Training Children According to the Plan: 01:14:38–01:16:45
• Taking Initiative in Everyday Life: 01:17:08–01:21:24
• Importance of Each Day’s Faith and Prayer: 01:21:24–01:22:47
• Closing Prayer & Challenge for 2021: 01:26:33–01:30:25
• Final Exhortation to Young People: 01:30:25–01:33:18
• On Prayer as Positioning, Not Earning: 01:35:00

Tone and Language

Pastor Nancy is direct, pastoral, and nurturing, blending Scripture with stories, personal experience, and gentle humor (“Just throw it in the pile, you know…Just throw it at the list, you know?” 01:18:30). Her tone encourages listeners to take personal responsibility but never with condemnation—always with hope and the assurance of God’s willingness to lead.

Conclusion

The episode is a stirring call to “watch over the plan”—to make prayer and faith the daily, purposeful practice that unlocks God’s highest intentions for each facet of life. Listeners are challenged to engage, initiate, believe, and obey—not just for themselves, but for the church, the nation, and the next generation.