Podcast Summary: Red Rocks Church Weekend Messages

Episode: All Prayer is Good; Some Prayers are Better
Date: August 23, 2025
Host: Red Rocks Church

Overview

In this third installment of the "Can We Talk?" series, the message centers on prayer—specifically, why all prayer is valuable, but certain kinds of prayers are even "better." Drawing from scripture, pastoral experience, and personal stories, the speaker addresses common obstacles to prayer, how to grow deeper in conversation with God, and challenges listeners to embrace bold, specific prayers that align with God's heart.

Main Themes

• Breaking Through Barriers to Prayer:
  Inferiority, intimidation, and insignificance commonly keep believers from praying freely.
• The Growth of Prayer:
  All prayer is good, but as in any relationship, communication (prayer) matures and deepens over time.
• Boldness and Specificity:
  God delights in big, audacious, and specific prayers, not just small or vague requests.
• Prayer Changes Us:
  The process of praying shapes us in ways quick answers cannot.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. God's Invitation to Relationship

• God’s initial intention, as seen in the Garden of Eden, was relationship—long walks and talks (Genesis 3:8-9).
• God’s invitation to “Come and talk with me” should not be heard as condemnation but as loving connection.
• Quote:

  “When God says ‘Can we talk?’ it is never to condemn you. It is always to connect with you.” — [15:54]

2. What Stops Us From Prayer?

A. Inferiority (Shame/Condemnation):

• Shame keeps us from God. Jesus’ ministry shows he welcomes imperfect people.
• Quote:

  “Your sin does not keep God from you. Jesus made sure of that on the cross. But your shame will keep you from talking to him.” — [19:12]

B. Intimidation (Unworthiness):

• People disqualify themselves due to unrighteousness, forgetting that faith in Jesus covers them (Romans 3:22, Romans 8:15).
• Story of the speaker’s daughter (“Kinsley Confidence”) illustrates audacious, childlike confidence in approaching God.
• Quote:

  “You are not loved for what you can do. You are loved for who you are. ... [You] have been adopted into the family as a son or as a daughter.” — [29:10]

C. Insignificance (Thinking Your Prayers Don’t Matter):

• Feeling your needs are too small insults God’s infinite capacity and care.
• Quote:

  “His capacity is not limited like you or me. If it matters to you, it matters to God.” — [36:55]

3. The Power of Asking

• James 4:2: “You do not have because you do not ask God.”
• Many blessings are missed simply because we never asked.

4. All Prayer is Good—But Some Prayers are Better

• Growth in relationship (and prayer) brings greater effectiveness and alignment with God’s heart.
• The disciples already prayed yet asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)
• Quote:

  “Because the better we get at talking to God, the more we begin to experience everything God has for us” — [48:42]

Some kinds of “better” prayers:

A. More Mature Prayers

• Immature: “God, help me not reap what I’ve been sowing.”

• Mature: “God, change me so I sow better seeds.”

• Quote:

  “God is way more interested in changing you than he is in changing your situation.” — [53:33]

• Maturity means aligning prayers with God’s Word and priorities (e.g., praying for patience and wisdom, not just easier circumstances).

B. Bigger, Bolder, and More Specific Prayers

• Our perception of God’s greatness shapes the size of our prayers.

• David’s awe in Psalm 33 and the analogy of the flashlight expanding as you back away from the wall—your view of God grows with proximity.

• Notable Illustration:
  The “over the house” baseball story—asking God, “How far can you hit this?” invites Him to show His power.

• Quote (Mark Batterson, cited):

  “Bold prayers honor God, and because of that, God honors bold prayers. If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God.” — [1:12:00]

C. Prayer Changes Us, Not Just Circumstances

• Sometimes God says “no,” and we don’t understand why. The speaker shares struggles with unanswered prayers but encourages persistence (“as long as it takes”).
• Quote:

  “The process of prayer will change you in ways that quick answers to your prayers never could.” — [1:21:16]

5. Ultimate Aim: Seeking the Planner over the Plan

• Jeremiah 29:11—the promise is good, but the pursuit is relationship with the Planner (God) even more than the plan.

6. Practical Encouragement to Pray

• God loves every attempt His children make to speak with Him—even “flawed,” messy attempts (e.g., Kinsley’s endearing mispronunciation of “yellow”).
• Begin with what you have, even if it’s just “Jesus, help.” God values authenticity over eloquence.
• All are invited to pray with confidence and boldness.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Heart for Conversation:

  “He’s more like the dad who shows up at your school and calls you out of class early to spend the rest of the afternoon with you.” — [22:33]

• On Shame and Prayer:

  “Guilt does not get you to pray more. … When you’re in love, you’ll pray.” — [25:34]

• On the Power of Simple Prayers:

  “One of the most powerful prayers, I think, in the New Testament was two words from the apostle Peter… ‘Jesus, help.’” — [44:16]

• On Growing in Prayer:

  “All prayer is good, but some prayers are more mature. … They are more aligned with God’s word, God’s kingdom, and God’s heart.” — [57:33]

• On Boldness in Prayer:

  “Can you show up with some power in my life? ... Can you show me right now how much bigger you are than the mountain that’s standing in front of me?” — [1:15:22]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:01] | Welcome, prayer, and introduction to “Can We Talk?” series
• [10:00] | “All prayer is good, but some prayer is better”—setting up the main theme
• [15:54] | How we perceive God’s invitation: condemnation or connection?
• [19:12] | Inferiority and the lie of shame blocking prayer
• [29:10] | Adoption as children—“Kinsley Confidence” story
• [36:55] | God cares about all things—don’t minimize your requests
• [48:42] | The request to get “better” at prayer—maturity in the disciples
• [53:33] | God’s priority: your transformation over your situation
• [57:33] | Mature prayers align with God’s heart
• [1:12:00] | Mark Batterson quote—bold prayers and God's honor
• [1:15:22] | Challenging God with bold requests (“Can you hit it over the house?”)
• [1:21:16] | The process of prayer changes us

Conclusion & Call to Action

Listeners are reminded:

• Don’t let inferiority, intimidation, or insignificance keep you from prayer.
• All prayer is good, but strive for mature, bold, and specific communication with God.
• The more you pray, the more God will do—and the more He will change you in the process.
• The service closes with an invitation to place faith in Jesus and a call for everyone to approach God with the joyful confidence of God’s beloved children.

Final Encouragement:
Be a house of prayer. Pray honestly, boldly, and often—because God is big enough, caring enough, and ready for conversation with you.