Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: Wednesday PM | Nancy Dufresne | Prayer Conference 2020
Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne
Date: April 16, 2020
Episode Overview
This episode, led by Pastor Nancy Dufresne at the 2020 Prayer Conference, centers on the essential topic of time—specifically, the intentional use of time in prayer, the Word, and walking in the Spirit. Nancy explores the critical need to become skillful in spiritual disciplines and tackles the most potent obstacle in spiritual development: distractions. Using scriptural examples, practical testimonies, and personal stories, she challenges believers to prioritize spiritual growth and effectiveness, emphasizing how yielding to distractions can cost both themselves and others dearly.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Theme: The Role of Time in Spiritual Development
- The main word God gave Nancy for these services is "time" (00:48).
- Developing in prayer and the Spirit requires a deliberate investment of time.
- It's not about secluded prayer only; it's about maintaining an ongoing connection to God amidst daily life.
Notable Quote:
“We have to learn how to, when we're out among daily duties and responsibilities, that we still learn how to keep our hearts turned toward God. So that, if I could say this, we don't break spiritual stride, we still stay in contact with the Father all throughout the day...”
— Nancy Dufresne (02:03)
2. Skill in Prayer is Built, Not Assigned
- There is no special "calling" to prayer; skillfulness comes through purposeful dedication (07:00).
- Examples given: Smith Wigglesworth’s discipline of alternating prayer and time in the Word throughout his workday.
“If someone is developed and skillful in prayer, it’s for one reason. They gave themselves to it.”
— Nancy Dufresne (08:09)
3. Distractions: The Primary Enemy of Spiritual Progress
- Distractions, not just the devil, are identified as the chief enemy (09:08).
- Scriptural Parables:
- Mark 4:18-19 — “the distractions of the age... choke and suffocate the word and it becomes fruitless"
- Every age has its own distractions, shifting from daily survival tasks in the past to digital and social ones today (14:30).
“Distractions eat up our time—the time we need to be developing spiritually.”
— Nancy Dufresne (09:24)
4. Martha and Mary: A Lesson in Prioritizing Spiritual Things
- Luke 10:38-42: Martha is distracted with serving, while Mary chooses the “good portion” at Jesus’ feet (18:21).
- Legitimate activities (like hospitality) can still distract from the most important spiritual priorities.
- The danger of mislabeling what is truly important, especially when Jesus is present.
“She was mislabeling what is important... Martha was trying to host everyone and be a gracious hostess, but nobody could serve up what Jesus was serving up.”
— Nancy Dufresne (25:09)
Notable Moment:
“You know you're in trouble when [Jesus] doubles up on your name: ‘Martha, Martha.’”
— Nancy Dufresne (28:17)
5. Modern Distractions: Technology and the Mind
- Devices can become major distractions even under the guise of reading Scripture during church (30:54).
- Solution: Use physical Bibles if digital devices lead to temptation or inactivity.
“Distractions will cost us. Distractions are expensive because we will miss hearing what we need to hear when we don't deal with distractions.”
— Nancy Dufresne (33:18)
6. Personal Testimonies and Cautionary Tales
- Illustrates missed opportunities due to inattentiveness to the Spirit (e.g., failing to pray when someone comes to mind, with tragic or costly results) (49:40, 01:09:58).
- Also shares victories when obedience and spiritual sensitivity resulted in miraculous protection (e.g., a mini-vision averting death in a car wreck) (01:20:42).
“All you can do is say, ‘Father, I repent. I missed that.’ … But then that means this: try not to let that happen again. Do something to become skillful.”
— Nancy Dufresne (01:04:26)
7. Guarding Against Strife and Legitimate Distractions in Ministry
- Acts 6: Church growth led to legitimate needs, but leadership prioritized time for prayer and the Word (57:38).
- Ethnic divisions and strife identified as distractions undermining the unity and effectiveness of the Church.
“There's nothing that will shut down increase like strife will.”
— Nancy Dufresne (59:30)
8. Faith, Revelation, and the Consequence of Delayed Development
- Smith Wigglesworth and Kenneth Hagin serve as examples: faith and healing are available, but getting past wrong thinking takes time (01:03:17).
- Sometimes, people wait too late to “get faith” due to years of distraction and lack of preparation.
“Sometimes people wait too late to try to get faith. … It’s not that the Word takes long, but it takes time to get past wrong thinking many times.”
— Nancy Dufresne (01:05:18)
9. Spiritual Responsibility and Effect on Others
- Skill in the spirit is not just for personal benefit—others’ lives depend on your sensitivity and obedience (01:08:55).
“The lives of others depend on me hearing from God.”
— Quoting her late husband, Nancy Dufresne (01:09:48)
10. Becoming Skillful in the Spirit: Prayer, Time, Authority
- Mini-vision accounts: Only spending time in the Spirit made her able to see, pray, and intervene effectively (01:20:38).
- Exercising authority in prayer (binding, loosing) must be intentional and skillful.
“God shows it so that we will use our authority, because we’re the ones with the authority on the earth to deal with things.”
— Nancy Dufresne (01:26:31)
Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- 02:03 — “We don't break spiritual stride, we still stay in contact with the Father all throughout the day...”
- 07:00 — “There’s nothing in the Word that states that [prayer] is a calling... it’s a giving of ourselves to prayer.”
- 18:21 — “Legitimate things can become distractions... Hosting was more important [to Martha] than listening to what Jesus was saying.”
- 33:18 — “Distractions will cost us. Distractions are expensive.”
- 49:40 — “When her name came up to me... I didn’t pray when that came up. I should have prayed, but I didn’t recognize it as a leading of the spirit.”
- 59:30 — “There's nothing that will shut down increase like strife will.”
- 01:05:18 — “It’s not that the Word takes long, but it takes time to get past wrong thinking many times.”
- 01:20:38 — On seeing a vision of a car accident and praying authoritatively: “God could work rescue through me on behalf of this pastor.”
- 01:26:31 — “God shows it so that we will use our authority, because we’re the ones with the authority on the earth to deal with things.”
- 01:32:43 — “We choose to be skillful in prayer. And we know that that’s going to come as we take time to pray, as we take time in the spirit.”
Important Timestamps
- 00:48 — Introduction to theme of "time"
- 09:08 — The danger and definition of distractions
- 14:30 — Historical vs. modern distractions
- 18:21 — The Martha vs. Mary episode
- 30:54 — Technology as a distraction in church
- 49:40 — Personal story: Missing the Holy Spirit’s prompting
- 57:38 — Acts 6: Dealing with legitimate distractions in ministry
- 01:05:18 — The price of waiting too late to build faith
- 01:20:38 — Vision of a car wreck, acting on spiritual authority
- 01:32:20 — Closing prayer and exhortation
Takeaways for Listeners
- Spiritual growth requires intentional, continual time with God—in the Word, prayer, and the Spirit.
- Distractions, even legitimate ones, are a main strategy the devil uses to undermine believers’ progress.
- Your sensitivity in the Spirit impacts not just you, but those around you—often with life-or-death consequences.
- Break the cycle of distraction by honest self-examination, reprioritization, and practical adjustments (like reducing device time during spiritual activities).
- Skillfulness in prayer is accessible to everyone; it’s developed, not gifted.
- Respond immediately to spiritual promptings; don’t dismiss them as random thoughts.
- Church leadership and all believers must fiercely protect time set apart for prayer and revelation.
This episode is a stirring, practical, and sometimes sobering call to evaluate our habits, recognize subtle distractions, and become effective, skillful believers prepared for the urgent needs of the present time.