Fasting for a Fix | Fast 2026 | Javon Ruff

Summary

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Podcast Summary: “Fasting for a Fix” | Fast 2026

Podcast: Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel
Speaker: Javon Ruff
Date: January 19, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this dynamic and heartfelt message, Javon Ruff speaks at Free Chapel during the church’s annual 21-day fast, delivering a lesson entitled “Fasting for a Fix.” Drawing from Psalm 57 and David’s experience in the cave, Ruff challenges listeners to anchor their hearts in God, prioritize prayer, remain steadfast under pressure, and worship before the breakthrough—offering practical encouragement for those seeking stability and spiritual renewal amidst life’s adversities.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Biblical Scene: David in the Cave

• Ruff starts by honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (00:40), then reads and unpacks Psalm 57, where David, pursued by Saul, writes not from a throne but a cave—a place of desperation, fear, and uncertainty (00:33–04:00).
• “He was anointed but not yet appointed…promised a kingdom, but he was having to live like a criminal…innocent, yet being hunted.” (04:14)
• The cave symbolizes life's isolating and trying circumstances—not due to sin, but sometimes due to calling and purpose.

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2. The Confession: “My Heart is Fixed”

• David, despite dire surroundings, proclaims, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I will sing and give you praise.” (05:45, 06:22)
• Ruff emphasizes, “Caves will try to get you to change your theology, poison your attitude, rewrite your identity and break your worship. But David didn’t allow the cave to cave him in.” (05:21)
• The message: Don’t let present hardships cancel your calling or define your future.

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3. What Does It Mean to Have a Fixed Heart?

• The Hebrew word for “fixed” is “kun,” meaning established, anchored, firm, immovable, and resolute (09:29).
• “If I can just fix my heart, everything else will work itself out.” (10:16)
• Ruff compares the heart to the hub of a wheel: “When the central axis is secure, the whole wheel is right.” (10:12)
• Memorable analogy: “A fixed heart is a thermostat, not a thermometer. Thermometers react to temperature, thermostats set the temperature.” (10:55)

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4. A Fixed Heart is:

A. Anchored in God (11:49)

• “Fasting doesn’t change God’s will. It anchors your heart in it.” (11:52)
• David anchored his hope not in the promise, but in the Promiser; not in deliverance, but in the Deliverer (12:41).
• Caution against anchoring in fleeting things (platforms, relationships, money): “When they collapse, you collapse. When they're gone, you feel like you’re gone.” (13:20)
• “If I anchor my heart in God…I'll be able to stand the test of time and endure the storms of life.” (14:24)
• Running to God, not away from Him in times of crisis (15:01):
  • “The best thing you can do is run to God.” (15:39)
  • “We would always be a church that…when I run in there, I won’t find judgment…But I’ll find a God that is gracious and merciful and kind.” (15:43)
• Hebrews 6:19 referenced: hope in God is an anchor “that cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps on it.” (16:43)
• Powerful moment: “Anchors don’t stop storms…But when it’s anchored, there’s only so much shaking, only so much drifting, before that thing snatches you back.” (17:28–18:45)

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B. Prioritizes Prayer (19:25)

• David “cries to God, not about God. He prays before he panics.” (19:37)
• Modern temptation: venting online versus praying privately. “We vent online and pray offline. We post before we pray.” (20:08)
• “A fixed heart…takes pain upward and not outward.” (20:54)
• “Your Father who sees your private prayer will reward you openly.” (21:41)
• Practical remedy: “Put the phone down, close the iPad, shut the computer off…get alone with God.” (21:48)
• “Prayer becomes the catalyst that mobilizes the power of God.” (22:34)
• Classic quote (E.M. Bounds): “God hears prayers, God heeds prayers, God answers prayers, and God delivers by prayers.” (23:09)

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C. Focused on God’s Faithfulness (23:24)

• “I keep my eyes always on the Lord, with him at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8) (23:24)
• “The enemy can’t make you fold if he can’t steal your focus.” (23:53)
• Story of David’s life: God’s faithfulness with the lion, the bear, and Goliath. “Even though his problems became greater…his God was even bigger.” (26:35)
• “Don’t you give up on God. He is faithful. If things get greater, God is even greater.” (26:41)

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D. Steadfast Under Pressure (27:08)

• “Pressure comes to us all…Pressure to fit in, to compromise, lower your standards. Pressure doesn’t stop just because you love God.” (27:08–27:45)
• “Pressure is proof that quitting would cost you something.” (28:45)
• Analogy with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who “purposed in their heart” to remain faithful, even when pressured by culture (29:39–31:13).
• “Because they fasted in chapter one, they didn’t fold under the pressure in chapter three and six.” (31:13)
• “Your fast today becomes your testimony tomorrow.” (31:47)
• To young people: “God used disciplined teenagers to disrupt an undisciplined culture…This generation doesn’t need more hype, it needs more holy hunger.” (32:04)
• “He can keep you.” [repeated with emphasis for encouragement] (35:07–35:17)

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E. Worships Before the Win (35:24)

• “A fixed heart worships before the win.” (35:24)
• “David knew praise stabilizes the soul. Some of your greatest worship will be written in your darkest places.” (36:23, 36:34)
• “It’ll be from a cave…from that thing you felt almost was about to take you out.” (36:41)
• “David fixed his mouth in praise and not in pity.” (37:05)

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5. Prophetic Direction: Don’t Go Back

• Reference to 1 Samuel 22: Prophet Gad tells David, “Don’t go back to the cave. Return to Judah.” (38:06–39:00)
• Interpretation: “Don’t go back to old ways, confusion, unhealthy relationships, or things you’ve left behind. Go to Judah.” (39:00)
• Judah means praise: The call is to move forward into praise, not regress into past ruts (39:31).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Cave:
  • “Caves come to isolate us. Caves come to mute your praise and echo your fears. Caves come to amplify your doubts and trap your thoughts…But David didn’t allow the cave to cave him in.” (05:00–05:21)
• On Anchoring:
  • “He didn’t anchor in the promise. He anchored in the Promiser.” (12:41)
  • “Anchors don’t stop storms ... But when it’s anchored, there’s only so much shaking ... before that thing snatches you back.” (17:28)
• On Prayer:
  • “God is my first response, not my last resort.” (21:02)
  • “Your Father who sees your private prayer will reward you openly.” (21:41)
• On Steadfastness:
  • “Pressure should always push us further into God. Pressure is proof that quitting would cost you something.” (28:45)
  • “Your fast today becomes your testimony tomorrow.” (31:47)
• To Young Believers:
  • “God used disciplined teenagers to disrupt an undisciplined culture. This generation doesn’t need more hype, it needs more holy hunger.” (32:04)
• On Praise:
  • “Some of your greatest worship will be written in your darkest places.” (36:34)
  • “David fixed his mouth in praise and not in pity.” (37:05)
• On Moving Forward:
  • “Don’t go back to the cave. Go to Judah. … Judah means praise.” (39:00–39:31)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Honoring Dr. King & Introduction of Psalm 57: 00:33–04:20
• David’s Cave Experience & Confession: 04:20–07:15
• Explaining a Fixed Heart (“kun”): 09:29–11:05
• Fixed Heart as Thermostat Not Thermometer: 10:55–11:30
• Anchoring in God: 11:49–15:01
• Hebrews 6 – the Anchor of Hope: 16:34–17:28
• Prioritizing Prayer: 19:25–23:09
• Focus on Faithfulness: 23:24–26:41
• Steadfast under Pressure – Daniel & Hebrews: 27:08–33:43
• To the Young Generation: 32:04–34:43
• Worship Before the Win: 35:24–37:05
• Prophecy—“Go to Judah” (Don’t Go Back): 38:06–39:31

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Tone & Delivery

Javon Ruff’s style is passionate, urgent, and deeply encouraging. His message combines biblical exegesis, practical application, and prophetic exhortation—speaking particularly to those in difficult seasons and to young believers facing cultural pressure. The tone throughout is hopeful and faith-building, underscoring God’s faithfulness and the believer’s potential to remain fixed and fruitful in every circumstance.

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Transcript

[A]

Hello, this is Jensen Franklin and thank you so much for joining us for this week's podcast. Our goal is to provide you with biblically based teachings that will challenge, inspire, and equip you to live for Jesus. If you haven't already, I'd love for you to go ahead and subscribe today to this podcast so you can get the latest updates from us and you don't ever have to miss a new message. Let's go right into the service. Record it at Freechapel. I believe it's going to bless you today.

[B]

If you have your Bibles, you can open up them with me to Psalms chapter 57 Psalms 57:57. And I'm going to start reading at verse one. But before I do, I want to take a moment and I know that we Our pastor is a man of honor and he honors and our church is. And we want to take a moment and let's honor Dr. Martin Luther King right now as we celebrate that holiday tomorrow for his amazing work and impact that he's had on society, our nation, and even the world. And we honor Dr. King. Tomorrow's Martin Luther King Day. Psalms chapter 57 and I'll begin reading at verse one. He said, Be merciful to me, O God. Be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee. Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take my refuge. Until these calamities be overpassed. I will cry unto the God most High. Unto God that performs all things for me, he shall send from heaven and save me from the reproach of him that would have swallowed me up. God shall send forth his mercy and truth. Verse 4 He said, My soul is among lions, and I lie even among them that are set on fire. Even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let thy glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They have digged a pit before me into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Verse 7 David concludes with saying this, My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I will sing and give you praise notice. He said, my heart is fixed, oh God, my heart is fixed. And you can tell by the context of this writing that David was in some pretty troubling times. He was in a time where the odds were stacked against him. But even in the midst of great adversities and challenges, David came to this conclusion and made this confession that despite all that may be Coming against me. My heart is fixed. Oh, God. My heart is fixed. I want to talk to you this morning for a few moments on the subject of fasting for a fix. Fasting for a fix. David, the scripture said, is in a cave during this time. And he's writing and he's reflecting back when Saul, he was running from his life. The scripture said he was fled from Saul and he's hiding in the cave. Notice where he's writing from this particular text. He's not writing from a throne. He's not writing from a sanctuary. He's not writing from a victory parade. He's not writing from a nice studio somewhere in a great city of music. But he is writing from a cave during this time. You have to understand that David had been anointed but not yet appointed. He was chosen, but he hadn't been crowned. He was promised a kingdom, but he was having to live like a criminal. He was innocent, yet he was being hunted. He was faithful, yet he had been betrayed. Why? The Bible said because of the jealousy of one man by the name of Saul. It all stemmed back when the scripture. When after David had taken down Goliath, the people began to shout, saul slay his thousands and David his ten thousands. Although David was fighting for Saul led Saul's army against this great giant enemy. There was something inside of him that gripped him. The Bible said he began to look at him with an evil eye of jealousy. From that day forth, the scripture said, Saul got so angry and jealous of David, he would begin to throw spears at him. The scripture teaches us that he even would set him up in battle, hoping that he would get killed. He turned the nation against him. His name was being slandered by everyone. His life was under great threat. He forced him to live in hiding in a cave like an animal. He's in a cave now. Understand something, that caves have a way of messing with our minds. David is in this cave not because of sin, but he's in this cave because of his calling. Hmm. Life can hand you and I some caves, unexpected caves. And caves come to isolate us. Caves come to mute your praise and echo your fears. Caves come to amplify your doubts and trap your thoughts. Caves will come to shrink your perspective and tempt you to quit. Caves will try to get you to change your theology, poison your attitude, rewrite your identity and break your worship. But David didn't allow. Listen to this. The cave to cave him in. He refused to be caved in by the cave.

[C]

But right in the middle of all.

[B]

This, he Makes this confession. He said, my heart is fixed. Oh, God, my heart is fixed. He's in a.

[C]

He's in a time of transition, but he said, my heart is fixed. He's been tempting, but my heart is fixed. He's been threatened, but he said, my heart is fixed. Nothing around him resembled the promise. Nothing looked like what God had told him. Everything around him looked like it was falling apart.

[B]

He was called to be a king, but his life wasn't very kingly.

[C]

I like to say it like this.

[B]

He was be.

[C]

He was between promise given and promise fulfilled. And right in the middle of it all, it just seemed like all hell was breaking out. But David said, I don't understand it all right now, but one thing that I'm going to do. I don't understand it all. But despite it all, I am going.

[B]

To fix my heart in God.

[C]

I am not going to be moved by circumstance. I'm not going to be moved by these situations. I'm not going to be moved by people's opinions, thoughts and feelings about me. But my heart is going to be fixed. I'm making a decision that I'm going to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord and know that my labor is in vain. What does that mean to you? Mean for us, Pastor Javon? I'm glad you asked and although I'm just as excited to be on the.

[B]

Last stretch of this fast.

[C]

But the worst thing that we could do is spend 21 days. Come on. Seeking God, going after God, hungering for God and allowing God to position us and consecrate us. But yet next Monday night, we begin to go back to stuff and things that we know we don't need to go to. But I come to declare to us in here and at every campus, we at Free Chapel are not going to be a people that vacillate back and forth, double minded and unstable in all of our ways. But in Jesus name, we're going to be fixed in 26. We're going to be fixed. It's not just watch this. It's not just a position, it's a direction. We're going to be fixing God and we're going to move forward into his plans, into his purpose, into his call, fulfilling his dreams, carrying out his vision in the kingdom of God. Because our hearts are fixed. I need about 20 people that says I want my heart to be fixed in 26. Understand?

[B]

David was saying this cave is not canceling my calling. This cave is not my conclusion. I'M not gonna let this cave cause me to grow bitter. I'm gonna grow better. I'm not gonna take revenge. I'm gonna take refuge.

[C]

I'm not.

[B]

Listen. My flesh want to kill Saul, but instead I'm gonna die to my flesh.

[C]

I refuse. Watch this. To become what hurt me.

[B]

My heart is fixed. What does it mean to have a fixed heart? The Hebrew word for fixed is. The word kun is kun, which means to be established. Listen to this. To be anchored. It means to be firm. It means to be immovable, to be stable, to be prepared and resolute. See, the heart is the chief organ of physical life. It occupies the most important place in our human system. And see, when the think of it like a hub or axis and a wheel. Listen. When the central axis is secure, the.

[C]

Whole wheel is right? And David said, if I can just.

[B]

Fix my heart, everything else will work itself out.

[C]

Too many times. Watch this.

[B]

We're always fighting the spokes and not dealing with the hub.

[C]

Understand? It's the central asset. The Bible said, guard thy heart with all diligence, for out of it flows the issues of life. Come on, somebody. If I learn to fix my heart. Come on. My heart will help me fix other things.

[B]

Understand? A fixed heart is a heart that has settled its loyalties to God. Understand? A fixed heart. Can I give it to you like this?

[C]

Watch.

[B]

This is a thermostat, not a thermometer. You see, a thermometer reacts to the temperature, but a thermostat sets the temperature. When my heart is fixed.

[C]

Come on. I don't care what's going on around me. Come on. I've set my heart. Oh, come on. And I'm gonna a hot temperature toward God. I'm not going to let things conform me. I'm not going to let things mold me. I don't care if everybody on the job is negative. I don't care if everybody at school is acting a fool. Come on. My heart is going to be fixed like a thermostat everywhere I go. I'm not going to let everybody set my temperature. I'm going to be the one that walk in and change the atmosphere. Not because I'm anything good or anything big, but because I've made a decision to fix my heart and God. And he's big.

[B]

What is a. What does a heart, this fix, look like? What does it look like? Number one, a fixed heart is anchored in God. Fasting doesn't change God's will. It anchors your heart in it. I'm going to say it again. Fasting doesn't change God's will, but it anchors your heart in it. In Psalms 57 in our text, notice what David said. He said, my soul trusts in you. He said, in the shadow of your wings I take refuge until these calamities pass over. Notice, David doesn't anchor his heart in his title. He doesn't anchor it in his positions. He doesn't anchor it in his possessions. He doesn't anchor it in other people. He anchors it in God himself. I want to. I got to preach this. In other words, he didn't anchor it in anything else but God himself. Here it is. He didn't anchor. Watch this. In the promise. He anchored in the Promiser. He didn't anchor in the healing. He anchored in the healer.

[C]

Come on. He didn't anchor himself in the deliverance. He anchored himself in the delivered earth. Come on. Can I tell you because. Why is that important? Because we live in a. In a culture, in a time where people, watch this. Are anchored to platforms, they're anchored to validation. They're anchored to the applause of people, anchored to algorithms, anchored to wrong relationships, anchored in jobs, anchored in career, anchored in money and anchored in stuff. And a lot of it isn't bad things, but they are terrible things to try to anchor your life in. Why? Because when they collapse, you collapse. When they gone, you feel like you're gone. But I come to tell you today that you don't have to be anchored in the fleeting things of this world, but you can be anchored, anchored in the solid rock. Jesus Christ. You can be anchored in God himself. Can I just preach this? This morning I'm talking about being anchored in a God that says, I am the same yesterday, today and forever. I want to be anchored in something that doesn't change that like the times, that doesn't change, like people, that doesn't change, like government, that doesn't change, like society. I don't know if I'm in the right place, but this world is full of changes as instability. But I'm glad, I hope this morning that if I anchor my heart in God, come hell and high waters, no matter the storm, no matter the wind, no matter the come on. The. The winds may blow, the floods may come, hard times may hit. But if I'm anchored in God, my God, I will be able to stand the test of time and endure the storms of life. Because my heart is anchored in Go.

[B]

When your heart is anchored in God, listen to me. You run to God and not away from God. When your heart is anchored you don't numb. A heart that's anchored doesn't escape. A heart that's anchored doesn't self medicate. A heart that's anchored doesn't isolate.

[C]

It hides in God.

[B]

This same David said. He said, the Lord is my refuge in my strength, my very present help, help in the time of trouble.

[C]

He said in another place that the.

[B]

Name of the Lord is a strong.

[C]

Tower that the righteous run into and they are safe.

[B]

He said, you are my hiding place.

[C]

I love what it says and you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. David understood. If my heart is anchored in God, I don't run from him. I run to him. Can I tell somebody this morning when.

[B]

You mess up and you make a.

[C]

Mess of yourself and everybody else, can I tell you the worst thing you can do is run from God, but the best thing you can do is run to God. And I pray in the name of Jesus that we would always be a church that don't matter how much, how bad people mess up, how bad people fall down, no matter mistakes that they found themselves in, that they would know that they can go to any free chapel campus. That's a place that I can run to when I'm jacked up, when I'm messed up, when I'm tore up from the floor up. And when I run in there, I won't find judgment, I won't find condemnation. I won't find eyes looking down on me. But I'll find a God that is gracious and merciful and kind. We don't run from him, we run to him.

[B]

I love what this scripture says right here. He said, this hope we have in Hebrews, chapter 6, verse 19. They'll put this scripture up.

[C]

Here it is.

[B]

Now we have this hope. Notice what it is as a sure and steadfast. There's those words again. An anchor of the soul.

[C]

What kind of anchor?

[B]

It cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps on it.

[C]

A hope that reaches further and enters.

[B]

Into the very certainty of the presence of presence of God is talking about within the veil.

[C]

Where Jesus has entered in for us in advance. A forerunner having become a high priest forever after order of the order of Melchizedek. He said, when our heart, our hope and our heart is anchored in God.

[B]

Do you see where it's anchored?

[C]

He said, behind the veil.

[B]

You know what's holding that anchor?

[C]

Not rock, but the rock. You know what's holding that anchor? Not sand, but the Savior. You know what's holding that anchor? Anchor Not. Not nuts and bolts. But what's holding that anchor is blood, grace, and mercy from Jesus Christ. And he said, I don't care how much life steps on you, it will not cause it to break. Can I just preach about an anchor for a moment? Because I've come to know and anybody with a boat or been on a boat, anchors don't stop storms. Anchors don't keep it from raining. Anchors don't stop lightning from flashing. Matter of fact, when something is anchored, it still can be shook, it still battled, it still can be knocked back and forth. Matter of fact, it can drift a little bit. But you know, as. And well as I do, as I know when it's anchored, there's only so much shaking, there's only so much rocking, there's only so much drifting before that thing snatches you back. And I'm praying in the name of Jesus, may we be so anchored in God this year. When you try to drift, you'll get snatched back. When you try to fall away, you'll get snatched back. When the devil tried to get you to go back to that bottle, you'll be snatched back. When they tempt you to go back to that relationship, you'll be snatched back. Back into his purpose, back into his plan, and back into his will. Anchored in God, stability in the Savior and strength of the Almighty. Oh, you can do better than that. I'm not gonna. I need about 10 people. Come on. Who said, lord, anchor me this year. Keep me stable, keep me forward. Is anybody in Gwinnett want to be anchored? Anybody in Spartanburg want to be anchored? Midtown, it's time to get anchored.

[B]

Fixed heart, anchored in God, prioritizes prayer. Notice. He said, I will cry unto the God, unto God most High, who performs all things for me. Did you catch that? He said, I will cry to God. He cries to God, not about God. He prays before he panics. He's vocal in prayer, not inventing. A fixed heart talks to God before he talks to people.

[C]

See, we're in a time.

[B]

Where. Yeah, yeah, let me go here.

[C]

You know, we vent online and pray offline. Post before we pray. Trauma dumping.

[B]

Gang, gang, gang, gang, gang. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

And then you ticked off and in.

[B]

Your flesh because of the comments somebody made back at you.

[C]

Well, you put it out there in public. What did you think was going to happen? And now they attacking you. No, no, no. Well, Pastor Jav, freedom of speech. Yes, I get freedom of speech. And I know this is America, and you're exactly right, but let's go to the Bible too. What does the Bible say? We got freedom of speech. But James said, be swift to hear and slow to speak. So you'll be slow to wrath and slow to anger. Come on, somebody. You don't have to get on there. Gotta comment about everything. Say something about everything. No, no, no, listen. Hear me what I'm about to say. A fixed heart. Watch this. Takes pain upward and not outward. How? I don't go to everything and everybody. I learned to go to God. God, listen is my first response, not my last resort.

[B]

I wrote it like this. In Matthew chapter six, we refer to three things we do when we fast.

[C]

When we pray, and when we give.

[B]

Listen to this.

[C]

David didn't go to social media.

[B]

I wrote it like this. In Matthew 6, it didn't say, watch this. Your father who sees your public post will reward you.

[C]

Open. But it said, your father who sees your private prayer will reward you openly. Sometimes the remedy is just this. Put the phone down, close the iPad, shut the computer off. Come on, somebody go to the bedroom. Close the door behind you. Pull the curtains, shut the blinds and get into the closet if you need to. And get along with God and declare God, you and only you are the lifter of my head. I'm not going to talk to everybody that can't do nothing about it. But I'm going to talk to the one that can do everything about it. David, prioritize prayer.

[B]

Listen to this. Prayer becomes the catalyst that mobilizes the power of God. Prayer is denouncing our own ability or natural capabilities, but engages in divine abilities that knows no limits. Em bound said this four things let us ever keep in mind. God hears prayers, God heeds prayers, God answers prayers, and God delivers by prayers. Prayer has to be a priority anchored in God prioritizes prayer. And next, a fixed heart focuses on God's faithfulness. Focuses on God's faithfulness. He said unto God that performeth all things.

[C]

Watch this.

[B]

This Psalm 16 and 8. It says this. Listen to what David said. He said, I keep my eyes always on the Lord, with him at my right hand. Watch this. I shall not be shaken. He said, I keep God before me. I keep my focus on him. I keep looking to the God of my life. And notice that I wrote it down like this. The enemy can't make you fold if he can't steal your focus.

[C]

He can't make you fold if he.

[B]

Can'T steal your focus. See?

[C]

See? See?

[B]

The young people would say it like this. They know what I'm. They say it's bro, it's time to lock in. See, they don't say, get focused.

[C]

No.

[B]

That's what we old folks say.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

They say, bro, it's time to lock in.

[C]

Come on. When they tell you it's time to lock in, they're saying, it's time to get right. It's time to get committed. It's time to get disciplined. It's time to quit playing games because they got a goal in mind. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. I was watching my son race yesterday, and I know how he gets. And we were talking, and he said, dad, the day before, he said, bro, he said, I'm locked in, dad. I'm ready this time. It's time to lock in.

[B]

I'm ready.

[C]

And I was so proud of him because he did so great yesterday running that race and came in, you know, the second fastest on his team. And the whole team did phenomenal, and they're getting better and better, but, my God, can I just say to the adults, can we make a decision? We gonna get Locke in this year? Can we make a decision? We going to be locked in. I didn't. Come on. I didn't push back from the table for nothing. I hadn't said, come on, somebody. I hadn't been consecrating for nothing. I'm ready to get locked in to everything that God has this year.

[B]

He said, I'm going to fix my eyes. Watch this. He focuses on his faithfulness. Can I tell you if anybody knew the faithfulness of God? David did. He said, you've been faithful to me in the past, and I can't doubt your faithfulness right now. I remember my own family alienated me and ostracized me. My own family looked down at me and said I was the black sheep of the whole crew. They didn't think I fit in. I was always left out while they had parties and vacations. They left me in the fields tending the sheep. But, God, your faithfulness, you saw me then and you kept me then. And then when a line came along, tried to steal those sheep that you called me to, I saw your faithfulness and you helped me take that sucker out. And then it wasn't a line, but things got a little bit bigger and a little bit harder. There came along a bear, and that joker tried to get me and my sheep again. But, God, you did it with the lion. And, God, you turned around and did it again with the bear. And if the bear wasn't another big problem, here comes A giant of a problem called Goliath. But if you see what I'm trying to show you, that David had a track record of God.

[C]

He's seen God be faithful and faithful and faithful. But watch this.

[B]

Even though his problems became greater, watch this. His God was even bigger.

[C]

The bigger the problems. God, come on. The greater the God is. That's the faithfulness of God. I'm telling somebody. Don't you give up on God. He is faithful. If things get greater. Come on. God is even greater. If things get bigger, God is even bigger. I don't care how big it is. Your God is bigger. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

[B]

Come on. Focused on his faithfulness. Watch this. In a fixed heart. Watch. This is steadfast under pressure. Steadfast under pressure. I need you to follow me in this notice. Listen. Pressure comes to us all. Pressure to fit in. Pressure to compromise your convictions. Pressure to lower your standards. Pressure to give way to things that you know that are less than what God desires for you and your family and your children. Understand that pressure doesn't stop just because you love God. In fact, sometimes it gets stronger when you decide to follow him. Pressure. Watch this as one of the enemy's strategies. I wrote it like this to attack your faith. And he's pressing. He wants to pressure you long enough to get you to quit praying, get you to quit believing, get you to quit standing, quit fasting and quit obeying. But see, what the enemy doesn't realize is this. When it comes to God's people, pressure should always be designed to push us further into God. I said pressure should always push us further into God. See, pressure is proof that quitting would cost you something. I don't know if you just heard what I said.

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Pressure is proof that quitting would cost you some. See, the enemy doesn't fight what he already owns. He presses pressures what he's afraid of. And could it be the greatest pressure that you're facing because the enemy is mad and afraid of what you're called to do?

[B]

See, I. I gotta preach it now. See, I want. I. I need. I need my young people to lock in. I need my young people to lock in. Because see, see, when you look at this, notice what David said. He said my soul was among lions. Did you catch that? And he said, there it is. He said my soul was among lions. And I lie even among those that are set on fire. Did you catch that? Wait a minute. Pressure. Lions, Fire. Huh? Remember, there was three teenagers.

[C]

That dealt.

[B]

With Lions and dealt with fires. Their name was dead. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

[C]

See, this is how fasting prepares you and fasting equips.

[B]

You see, the three Hebrew boys were.

[C]

Among them on fire.

[B]

And Daniel, watch this was among the mouths of lions.

[C]

But the Bible said in Daniel chapter.

[B]

One.

[C]

That they purpose in their heart they would not defile themselves with the king's meat. He made a decision. I know you're pressuring me, Babylonians. I know you're pressuring me by trying to indoctrinate me with Chaldean beliefs to switch my loyalty. I know you're pressuring me. Watch this. By trying to. To confuse my identity and rewrite who my name is and what it means. I know you're trying to pressure me to fall into idol worship and worship all other types of God. Because really, that's what the food was about. The food that they were giving him was food that had been dedicated to idol worship. And to eat that food would be. Watch this. Surrendering or committing to that God. But these, these three Hebrew, four Hebrew boys, let me show you how it work. Because watch this.

[B]

Because they fasted in chapter one, they.

[C]

Didn'T fold under the pressure in chapter three and six. And when they decided to get fasted on the front end, it helped them to deal with the things on the back end. See, that's why we fast in January. This is chapter, chapter one of 2026. And what we're saying, God, as we fast in chapter one, fits us that we don't fold under the pressure of chapter three and six. Oh, God, I don't know if you're getting.

[B]

See, see, see, see. When I thought about those young Hebrew boys, this is what I wrote down. I wrote it like this. See, Your fast today becomes your testimony tomorrow. Watch this, God. Listen to me, young people.

[C]

God used disciplined teenagers to disrupt an undisciplined culture. Daniel and his friends shows us you can be young and disciplined. You could watch this. You can be pressured and so still be pure. You can be in the culture and not controlled by it. This generation doesn't need more hype. It needs more holy hunger. I said it doesn't need more hype. It needs more holy hunger. And what it needs is some adults, some parents and grandparents, like Pastor said, that will seed the clouds for future generations. Let. Let us lead by hunger. Let us lead by fasting. Let us lead by prayer and demonstrate to a young generation that holy hunger works. I wrote it like this. When our heart is fixed steadfast under.

[B]

We can be steadfast under pressure.

[C]

God will give us courage over compromise, young people. He'll give you endurance over emotion. He'll give you obedience over everybody else's opinion.

[B]

I wrote it like this. God help me. God wants to use a young generation to prove that holiness still works.

[C]

Oh, oh, that's an old fashioned. No, it's not an old fashioned passion word. I still believe in a generation that can be set apart. I still believe in a generation that can be chosen and set apart by God, that don't have to fall under the pressures of this world. I'm gonna go ahead and preach it like a dog. Gon feel like it. Can I preach it this morning? I'm glad God. God is a restorer. I'm glad God is a reconciler. I'm glad God is a deliverer. But the Bible said he's also a keeper. Jude said, like this now unto him that is able to keep me from falling and present me holy unto God. Can I tell you, young person, God can keep you if you'll stay fixed on him. Your testimony can be, I stayed pure till I got married. Your testimony can be, I never touched a drug, I never lifted a bottle, I never gave in to sexual immorality and purity. Y' all looking at me like I'm crazy, but I'm preaching this stuff. We better preach the truth to our young people and encourage them and build them up that they can be fixed and not fold under pressure.

[B]

He can keep you.

[C]

He can keep you. I said he can keep you. He can keep you.

[B]

He can keep you.

[C]

He can keep you. He can keep you.

[B]

Ah, God. Last but not least, let me wind it up. A fixed heart is anchored in God. It prioritizes prayer. An anchored heart prioritizes prayers fixed in God, it focuses on his faithfulness. An anchored heart. And a heart fixed in God doesn't fold under pressure. But last but not least, a fixed heart worships before the wind. Did you hear what I just said? Worship. David said, my heart is fixed. Oh God, my heart is fixed. I will sing and give praises to God. Notice he said, I will. Somebody shout, I will. In other words, he made a conscious decision to fix his heart in praise.

[C]

Because David knew praise stabilizes the soul.

[B]

Some of your greatest worship will be written in your darkest places.

[C]

Some of your greatest praise you will offer God is not from a stage.

[B]

It'll be from a cave.

[C]

It'll be from a hardship, it'll be from a struggle. It'll be from that thing that you felt Almost was about to take you out. It'll come out of a crushing. It was crushing your flesh, but it was releasing the oil for a fresh anointing that offers up a God of praise.

[B]

It's often time in the wilderness where worship finds greater depth and intimacy with God. Listen to me. David fixed his mouth in praise and not in peace. Pity he's still in the cave. He's still being chased and he's still being threatened. But he said, my heart is fixed. Now watch this. I'm getting ready to close. They're going to put up first Samuel, chapter 22, and I'm going to show you this. This is the. As David is writing this song, he's writing about the. About the situation that's happening in First Samuel.

[C]

And while he's in that cave, watch this. The Bible said, a man of God.

[B]

Came to the cave, came to the service, came to the church. And he said, the prophet Gad said.

[C]

To David, do not stay. Listen to what he said. Said, hear the word of the Lord. Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go to the land of Judah. So David departed and went into the forest of Harith.

[B]

Now you say what? That. That don't make a whole lot of sense. Okay, let me explain it. The message puts it like this. I love the message. Paraphrase it. Said it like this. The prophet said to David, you ready? Don't go back to the cave.

[C]

Return to Judah. Don't go back to the cave.

[B]

Look at that.

[C]

Go to Judah. Don't go back to old ways.

[B]

Go to Judah.

[C]

Don't go back to confusion. Go to Judah. Don't go back to that jacked up relationship. Go to Judah. Don't go back to consuming stuff that you stopped consuming. Go to Judah. Don't get hooked up with crowds. You know, shoe that God has brought you out of. Go to Judah. What do you mean, Javon? Well, the last time I checked, Judah means praise.

[A]

I really want to say thank you for joining us this week. If you haven't already, make sure you click on the subscription button and leave us a review. It helps this podcast reach even more people when you comment, when you give us your feedback. For more messages and inspirational materials, download the Jensen Franklin app. Or you can head over to JensenFranklin.org I want to thank all of you who give generously to help us produce weekly content like this to reach the world with the message of Jesus. God bless you and we'll see you next time.