Priscilla Shirer - Taking Prayer Deeper

Summary

Episode Summary: Priscilla Shirer - Taking Prayer Deeper

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast
• Host: Candace Cameron Bure (CandyRock)
• Guest: Priscilla Shirer
• Episode Title: Priscilla Shirer - Taking Prayer Deeper
• Release Date: January 28, 2025

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Introduction

In the final episode of Season 8 of The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, host Candace Cameron Bure engages in a profound conversation with renowned author and spiritual speaker, Priscilla Shirer. Titled "Priscilla Shirer - Taking Prayer Deeper," this episode delves into the transformative power of prayer and how to cultivate a more intentional and impactful prayer life.

The Power of Prayer

Priscilla Shirer opens the discussion by sharing a poignant story from her past. She recounts an experience from a house Bible study 17 years prior, where a Bible teacher named George envisioned a "futuristic streamline train" symbolizing a new, vibrant approach to prayer rooted in traditional foundations. This vision materialized eight years later with the creation of the film War Room, which emphasized the significance of dedicated prayer spaces—commonly known as "prayer closets."

Priscilla emphasizes the importance of strategic and intentional prayer:

"Strategic prayer, of intentional prayer, of thoughtful prayer, not just like throwing something up against the wall and hoping it sticks." ([10:15])

Being an Answer to Others' Prayers

Candace shares a heartfelt story illustrating how small acts of kindness can become answers to someone's prayers. She describes an incident at Chick Fil A where her gesture of paying for both her meal and the person behind her resulted in a touching comment from a grateful customer. This story highlights the ripple effect of generosity and how individuals can become conduits of God's blessings:

"But you don't know that when you're doing a thing that you just feel compelled to do for whatever reason and it's so small... it changed somebody's life." ([00:16])

Priscilla echoes this sentiment, expressing her desire to be an answer to others' prayers through everyday interactions.

How God Speaks to Us

The conversation transitions to understanding how God communicates with believers. Priscilla underscores that God's Word is the primary medium through which He speaks:

"The primary way God speaks to us is through his Word." ([30:46])

She highlights the importance of immersing oneself in scripture with an open heart, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate specific verses that address current life situations. This method not only provides guidance but also serves as a safeguard against misleading influences:

"If it doesn't line up with [God's Word], if it contorts this... it is not God." ([33:25])

Candace adds that journaling can be a valuable tool for tracking these divine communications and recognizing patterns of God's faithfulness over time:

"And I'm so grateful I have the journals because we look back and we can go like, oh, look at all these times." ([34:46])

Encouraging a Deeper Prayer Life

Priscilla offers practical advice for fostering a more engaged prayer life:

1. Be Intentional: Approach prayer with purpose, identifying specific areas where you seek God's intervention.
2. Align with Scripture: Use biblical promises to structure and affirm your prayers.
3. Practice Strategic Prayer: Understand the spiritual realities behind physical challenges to pray effectively.
4. Embrace Journaling: Document prayers and answered prayers to recognize God's ongoing work in your life.

Candace shares her personal routine of praying the "armor of God" each morning, emphasizing the need for daily spiritual protection and intentional communion with God:

"I would get up and lay down on the floor and pray the armor of God on me." ([12:38])

Conclusion and Closing Prayer

The episode culminates in a heartfelt exchange of prayers between Candace and Priscilla. Candace prays for listeners to recognize God's love, mercy, and presence in their lives, encouraging perseverance and reliance on divine grace. Priscilla echoes these sentiments, praying for protection, purpose, and a deeper relationship with God for all listeners.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategic Prayer: Engage in intentional and thoughtful prayer aligned with scripture to address both physical challenges and their underlying spiritual realities.
• Be an Answer: Small acts of kindness can have significant impacts, serving as answers to others' prayers.
• Discernment Through Scripture: Utilize God's Word as a primary means of discernment and guidance in your prayer life.
• Journaling: Keep a prayer journal to track divine communications and recognize patterns of God's faithfulness.

This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the profound impact of a dedicated and strategic prayer life, encouraging listeners to deepen their spiritual practices and become vessels of God's love and purpose in the world.

Notable Quotes:

• Priscilla Shirer ([10:15]): "Strategic prayer, of intentional prayer, of thoughtful prayer, not just like throwing something up against the wall and hoping it sticks."
• Candace Cameron Bure ([00:16]): "But you don't know that when you're doing a thing that you just feel compelled to do for whatever reason and it's so small... it changed somebody's life."
• Priscilla Shirer ([30:46]): "The primary way God speaks to us is through his Word."
• Candace Cameron Bure ([12:38]): "I would get up and lay down on the floor and pray the armor of God on me."

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Resources Mentioned:

• Priscilla Shirer's Book: I Surrender All (Available at Candace.com and various book retailers)

Closing Note: Listeners are encouraged to visit Candace.com for additional resources, including a personal prayer guide designed to enhance their prayer journey.

Transcript

[A]

I pulled into my driveway and saw a comment from someone and she said, I was in line at Chick Fil A behind you today. And she said, today I asked the Lord to do something just to let me know he sees me or I was not gonna make it today.

[B]

That's gonna make me cry.

[A]

It makes me want to cry. Because you don't know that when you're doing a thing that you just feel compelled to do for whatever reason and it's so small, it's, you know, 11 extra dollars or 12 extra dollars that maybe you barely had, but you decided to do it anyway today. But it changed somebod.

[B]

Hey, everyone. Life is like a roller coaster, but it's so much better when we go through it together. Welcome to the Candace Cameron Bure Podcast. We're sharing conversations about life's challenges, celebrations, and everything in between. Season 8 has been with my guest co host, Priscilla Shire, and this is our final episode. It's about moving beyond belief. Won't you join us? Foreign I don't want to say goodbye.

[A]

It's the last one. How did this happen?

[B]

I know.

[A]

Thanks for inviting me and having me and including me in so many of your episodes this season.

[B]

You're so welcome. Thank you for saying yes. It is such a blessing for me and for everyone listening. But like, thank you. Thank you for saying yes.

[A]

I have enjoyed it. It's kind of a shame that the only way we've gotten to really spend quality time together in the 15 years that we've known each other is by sitting down.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Having these conversations, but it's been good for my soul.

[B]

Mine too. And I have to. I'll tell everyone we've been having some really great conversations outside of the podcast, so.

[A]

That's right. Your producer was saying he wished that we would have just had microphones on for all of that. Some of that they might have had to edit out, but a lot of it was just good fodder conversation.

[B]

Good stuff. Well, you took us through your book I Surrender all, and it's so good. It's so meaty and it's so.

[A]

Lord, yeah.

[B]

It's just so insightful and I know it's going to continue to touch and bless so many people, so I hope so. It will. So if you haven't picked up Priscilla's book, we have the link in our show notes and on the Candace.com website, but it's called I Surrender all. So just go find it wherever you buy your books.

[A]

And can I thank you for that? And can I just Take a moment to say one of the things I said to you off camera, and that is that anybod body whose website is their first name is an icon. Candace.com. i love it. First name like Madonna and Beyonce.

[B]

Yeah. Candace. I was actually named after my dad's cousin.

[A]

Really?

[B]

He had a cousin named Candace McWane, and he liked the name. And then my mom really liked it.

[A]

And there you go.

[B]

Here I am.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

I. I also know I'm like a little trivia person today. The name Candace is in the Bible.

[A]

Is it?

[B]

It is in the Bible. It's in the book of Esther. And there is a queen of Ethiopia.

[A]

Named Candace named Candace, spelled exactly like yours.

[B]

I don't know if it's an I or an A, but.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yes. I was shocked to know everybody gonna.

[A]

Look at Esther right now for that.

[B]

I hope she was a good queen.

[A]

I hope so, too. Well, you are. You're a great queen. Okay. And we salute you. Thanks. Absolutely. Queen Candace.

[B]

Queen Candace. That sounds weird.

[A]

Dot com.

[B]

That's for the next website. So in this final episode of ours, I wanted to talk about prayer and how we pray and ways we can encourage people to pray. But it's such a huge part of life and a huge part of our Christian walk.

[A]

It is.

[B]

And I feel like you're known for prayer because of War Room. I mean, that movie was all about prayer.

[A]

It was, yes.

[B]

And so I would love for you to just to talk us to us about prayer and going deeper in prayer.

[A]

Well, it's interesting that you. Gosh, just said that. It kind of jolts me when you say that that might be something that is that I'm known for. And the reason why is because years and years ago, I told you in a previous episode, I went to this house Bible study. And these people were very different than what I had been raised around in terms of their experiences spiritually and with the Lord. And I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. And at the end of every Bible study, we'd spend the first hour in worship. Then there would be a Bible teaching. And I could tell from the first time I was there that the Bible teacher was solid. I mean, I was so grateful for that. I was waiting to kind of see where that part was going to go. But then at the end of it, they would have this, like, ministry time is what they called it. But this was like if he or the. The lady, the other Bible teacher there, if they had a word for anybody, if they had insight from the Lord that. That they Felt was important to share with anybody in the room. So my first time being there, the Bible teacher that day, his name was George, he looked at me and he said, I don't know. You had never seen this man before. He said, I don't know you, but I just felt like when you walked in the room today, the Lord gave me this beautiful picture of a futuristic streamline train. Looked very modern, but it was on an old rickety train track and it had a lot of people in it. And he said, I just feel like I don't know your background, but I feel like you have a foundation that is just solid. It's old in the sense that it's been from your upbringing. It's stable. But there's going to be something really new and really not futuristic, but it's going to be something that is to go into the future. It's going to carry a whole lot of people on it. And I really believe it has something to do with prayer.

[B]

Whoa, whoa.

[A]

That was. I have it written down. That was about, I would say, 17 years ago. So fast forward eight years after he said that to me, and I get a call to do a movie called War Room about prayer. And millions of people have been ignited in their prayer life, including me, because of that film. And so when you just said that, that there's something that maybe when people see my ministry or think of me or whatever, they also think of prayer. I remember that word that the Lord gave me all those years ago, that there's supposed to be a renewing, an igniting of our prayer lives in a fresh way that is unique to maybe what we've experienced before in the sense that it can become a rigid, routine thing you do because your grandmother did it and your great grandmother did it. But I feel like now he wants to do something fresh and new and vibrant and alive. That our conversation with him is supposed to be more than just, you know, I say a prayer a day to keep the devil away. No, it's. I want to talk to him. And I know that through his word, he's going to speak to me. And I'm so grateful that I got a. Got to be a part of a project that made a lot of people think differently or think freshly.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

About the power of prayer.

[B]

Do you know how many people have made prayer closets? So. So many.

[A]

Like there were people building houses around the time of War Room, and they went back to architects and put a little war room in, or switched a closet out or put a little extra piece onto the Closet that they were going to. I mean, we've gotten hundreds and hundreds upon hundreds of letters.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Or strangers that I've met or people that have been like, oh, I have a whole little situation.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

People that don't have space for a situation. They're like, I didn't have room to clean out a closet. And I'm like, don't worry, girl. Neither do I. But they've made room both physically and spiritually for prayer to be prioritized in their life because of that film. And there are people, as you know, Candace, that they may never read a book that I wrote, or they may never come to a conference that I'm speaking at. They may never come to a church, but they will go see that movie, some random movie they heard was good. And through that, the Lord just like jolts them out of a spiritual slumber and invites them into an intimate relationship with him. So I just, I like, can't believe that the Lord let me be a part of and is letting me be a part of film in that way.

[B]

Yeah, it's really cool. So powerful. There was this powerful for me to watch in the movie Unsung Hero because they, Their family was desperate. They had pretty much lost everything, didn't have much money. And so they, I mean, they had to pray for food every day.

[A]

And they were writing down.

[B]

So they wrote. They had like a list and they put a please and a thank you.

[A]

Yes. Like posted note.

[B]

Posted notes, like what you're asking for and thank you for answering this. So please and thank you. And then they'd put it like, hey, we need food today. We need a job for dad. We need school books. We need whatever that is. And then if something they got answered prayer, it go over to the thank you wall.

[A]

Yes. And there was no, like devoted closet for it. It was a wall, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, people can do that on their refrigerator door. Like the freezer section is the thank yous and the refrigerator door are the prayer requests. Like your kids can do that with you.

[B]

I know, it's so cool. I mean, I have to please and thank you in my closet just because I have a little spare wall. So I just have little post it notes on there. And it's so great. But let's talk about strategically praying, praying the scriptures, praying God's word back to us. Like all of those things take us through that.

[A]

Well, I think that is in essence what War Room introduced. It wasn't necessarily introducing prayer. It was the idea of strategic prayer, of intentional prayer, of thoughtful prayer, not Just like throwing something up against the wall and hoping it sticks.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But actually thinking, what is it that I'm either requesting of God, what is it that I want to experience of God? Where do I find that the enemy is most sneaking in to try to attack my peace of mind, peace of heart, my marriage, my children? What is it that I'm actually aware of that I can see there are spiritual realities behind the physical ones? And that's kind of the first step of being strategic in prayer, is that we recognize Ephesians 6, that everything physical and visible has a spiritual reality behind it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So if we're not even aware of that, if we're not even discerning enough to realize that the physical problem, our spouse, the co worker that, you know, that one co worker that if she says one more thing to us, we're going to knock her out, that one or the problem we're dealing with financially or whatever, that physical thing, anything you can relate to with your five physical senses can see it, hear it, touch it, smell it. That's not really the problem. That's the symptom of the problem. But until you're aware of that, you cannot fight with the weapon of prayer accurately because you're going to be praying about the person. You're going to be asking God to change the situation. And there's nothing wrong with that. But you've got to ask him, what's the undercurrent here? Where do I see the fingerprints of the enemy trying to work to make my marriage divided? So division is the issue. It's a spirit of division that's the issue. Yeah, it's jealousy. That that's the end. That that's the issue here. What is it that the enemy is trying to do to keep me from experiencing other people involved, from experiencing God's best? And then what does the scripture say that is in opposition to this? What are the promises of God about fear that he has not given me a spirit of fear, but a power of love and a sound mind. Write that down. Pray that, Lord, your word says this. I'm going to pray in alignment with your word. And that means you've been intentional, you've thought in advance about what it is you want to see God do. And then you have written down promises that align with those that truth. And you can't go wrong praying God's word back to him, because if he said it, he's going to honor it.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah, he is. I like when there's scripture and I will just insert my name Totally. Even if it's just at the start. But, Candace.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You do not have a spirit of fear, but a spirit of strength or power of a sound mind.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Talking about strategic prayer. I mean, I prayed every morning the armor of God when I was on the View, and I talk about that all the time because talk about. Sometimes we don't realize. We forget about the supernatural. We.

[A]

Yeah, the spiritual reality.

[B]

Spiritual. Yeah. Reality that may be behind it. And then sometimes it feels very apparent.

[A]

Yes. Yes.

[B]

And when I. When I was working on that show, that was a place where my prayer felt very intentional and strategic every single morning. Because I would get up and lay down on the floor and pray the armor of God on me. Because I. I felt like I had to put armor on every day to walk as protected as I could be. And then, you know, praying even specifically over topics. I mean, I may discuss that day and all that kind of stuff, but it was such a powerful time in my life, and sometimes I forget, because when things are going really well and you don't see it, then, you know, my. My prayer life is always there. I mean, listen, I talk to God throughout the day, every day, but sometimes it's not as strategic in that way. But when you feel the enemy, you feel like you're about to walk into a fire. You feel like the building might explode as you walk in. Like you want as much armor and protection on as possible. And that was a big time in my life when that prayer was so strategic every single day.

[A]

Oh, yes. Oh, my goodness. And really, like you said, we don't sense it all the time, but there are circumstances that heighten that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But really, that's every day of our lives.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, we're kind of out here and going, okay, I need a hedge of protection.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Around me and my children and my spouse and my marriage and the things and dynamics that I love and hold dear. So I'm glad. I can't even imagine the pressure that you would have felt having to discuss those hot topics in the middle of that boiling pot of conversation, but then in front of so many people who are all going to actually have an opinion about everything that you're saying and how you're saying and why you're saying it, the clothes you're wearing while you say it.

[B]

It was a lot of pressure. That's why I only lasted two seasons on. And I was like, bye, see ya.

[A]

Thank you, and goodbye, everyone.

[B]

Yes. Have you ever. Have you ever been an answer to someone's prayer?

[A]

Oh, this is. Oh, I love this so much. Whenever God works this out, it is like for me one of the highlights of walking with God that I will pepper my prayers or punctuate my prayers when it comes to my mind in saying, lord, today, would you just let me be the answer to somebody's prayer? Would you give me enough overflow of resource, whether that is financial, whether that is in patience time, give me enough margin of encouragement, wisdom, it doesn't matter what the overflow is. I don't necessarily mean money, anything. Give me an overflow of some resource that is actually going to be a response to a prayer. I don't even know somebody is praying right now and then let my. My life line up with theirs today because they trip over something at Starbucks and their coffee spills on me. Instead of being frustrated, would you help me to recognize it that it's shimmering with this sacred opportunity to be the answer to their prayer? Because I pay for their next cup of coffee that they didn't have money for and I didn't know that. Or I give them a smile and they just left a heated argument with their spouse and they're at the point of tears. I couldn't have known that. Would you just give me an opportunity? And there are these. Every now and then the thread of that comes back around. Then I realize it happened. Most of the time I don't know whether it's happening or not. But every now and then, you know, like one time I was online at Chick Fil A and I just said to the lady at the, you know when you pay, like just, I'm paying for me and I'm paying for them. And so you know how you pay before you get to the window at Chick Fil A? Because I got the people. It's just so organized. Come on.

[B]

Chick Fil A. Yes.

[A]

It's like they keep that line moving and it's just great. So you've already paid and everything before you get the window. Window. So once you've made your order, you have a minute still where people are behind you. So I think it gave this person long enough through my little either rear view mirror, side mirror that they saw my face, so they knew it was me. So I got to the window, picked up my, drove off. I mean, within three minutes I got a, either a comment or a tweet or something, but I pulled into my driveway and saw a comment from someone and she said, I was in line at Chick Fil A behind you today. And she said, today I asked the Lord to do something just to let me know he sees me or I was not gonna make it today.

[B]

That's gonna make me cry.

[A]

It makes me want to cry. Yeah, because you don't know that when you're doing a thing that you just feel compelled to do for whatever reason and it's so small, it's, you know, 11 extra dollars or 12 extra dollars that maybe you barely had, but you decided to do it anyway today. But it changed somebody's life. Yeah, the thrill of that. I know, it's just like, are you kidding me, God? Like you let me be a part of your purposes in the life of somebody else. That's a gift. Not just getting answered prayers, but being the answer.

[B]

You know how much I love the Generous Kids Book Club. They bring stories to life for kids ages 2 through 12, teaching values like gratitude and kindness. You can subscribe to get a new book every month or with the holidays coming up, grab our 10 books bundle. It makes the perfect gift. We also offer individual copies, so you have lots of gift options. Go to GenerousFamily.com to learn more. Can I share one with you? Because this just happened a few days ago and I did cry over it, but I had just been in the editing room because I finished filming a movie and I was with the director and I go up and edit alongside the director and do my producer's cut. So I was in the room with the director and the editor. Now I've worked with both of them and done probably between 15 and 20 movies with both of these people. And our editor Brad, this movie just last week is the last one that he's going to edit because he's retiring. So we went up there and I sat and what I normally do is sit and watch the movie for the first time and I just make mental notes of what I would like to see changed. And in the edit, that means when I'm watching the films, maybe I'd say I'm looking at this shot and it's a wide shot of Priscilla. That's I can see the whole set. I can see, you know, see the whole living room. But I want to be closer up on Priscilla's face. So I actually want to edit. Let's cut to a close up shot of Priscilla. Or I might say, you know, this line isn't really working. Maybe we need to trim this scene down. We're going to edit some of the lines back. So I kind of look through that stuff. Things to make the story flow and just continue to drive. Yeah, drive it all the way through. So that's where I watch the whole movie. I make all of my mental notes. And then after we watch, we go, okay, great, let's start. And we go back to the beginning, and I'll start implementing. Ask the editor to implement my notes, which he starts implementing and cutting that new version right there in the room while I'm doing it. So I go, yeah, this is great. Now this scene works. We move on. So I watched the movie last week, and the movie finished, and I was freaking out. I'm like, it's so good. It's so good. I'm so proud of it. That was so fantastic. Yay. Yay. Yay. Great job, everyone. That was so good. And then our director, Martin, he said, well, okay, where do you want to start? What are your notes? And I took a beat and I went, I don't have any notes. I don't have any notes. It was so good. I've never not had a note in a movie, by the way, ever in my life. But I said, I don't have one note. And they go, well, this is a great session. This is so fast. Great. Wonderful. I'm like, fantastic job, you guys. This was amazing. Thank you. And then we move on to other. The sound mix and all that kind of stuff. There's still things to be done. Anyway, I got home that night and Martin called me, our director, and he said, I want you to know what a gift you were today to Brad. And I said, why? What happened? I'm thinking to myself, I know he's retiring. I gave him a big hug, but I didn't bring him a gift. I was just, you know. And he said, because when you said, I have no notes. He's always dreamed of editing a movie that never had a note from a producer that his cut was so good that there were no notes. And he said, it's the first time it's happened. And it happened on the movie he was finishing his career on.

[A]

Oh, my goodness.

[B]

I mean, I have chills on my arms right now because I'm like, you orchestrate? That I can't orchestrate. And he's like, you don't even understand what you did for him today.

[A]

Way more than just have no notes. You did so much more than that. But the Lord did that.

[B]

I know the Lord did. I was like, thank you, God. Yeah, God, that I got to be a part of. What is such a special thing in his life for him?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's so cool. So thanks for letting me share.

[A]

That's awesome. And it's thrilling. Isn't it? It is to partner with God and his purposes, especially knowing that he knows us.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[A]

Like he knows our weaknesses, he knows where we're actually struggling. He knows where we're resistant or rebellious. And he still lets us be a partner with him in his purposes. What?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's mind boggling to me.

[B]

I know, it really is. I could share one more little story.

[A]

Please do, please do. I want to hear it. These are good. It reminds me of like I keep bringing up Elijah, but all these stories remind me of like Elijah being at that brook all by himself. There's no food, there's nothing. He's just stranded by himself, probably for 18 months. But every day, like clockwork morning and evening, ravens come in. Ravens, the most ravenous of all birds who eat anything and everything. They just came in carrying a sack lunch form and just dropped it off. And it's just like, the Lord will provide. The Lord will provide supernatural provision for you. You just stay where you're supposed to be. I'll take care of you here. So I love these stories. It's just like encouraging people on both ends that can provide supernaturally for you, but at the same time you can be the raven flying in for somebody.

[B]

Yeah, for sure.

[A]

Okay, what story?

[B]

So on this one, and I don't say this in, in boastfulness in any way, but I want you to understand that like I have, and I've talked about this on the show before, but, but never been a person that feels super, super comfortable praying out loud. I've grown into it and I've realized it's okay. I might not be able to pray like Priscilla Praise, but I can just pray from my heart, you know, and that's all God really wants at the end of the day. And I have to be confident in that, that if I'm not reciting scripture from my prayers with it, you know, with a room full of people every single day, like God doesn't, it doesn't matter. It's my heart that's praying to the Lord. But I've wrestled with that, especially just even being on stages with Bible teachers and women of that I, you know, that to me are with such prominence that I'm. I want to be like you in that way. I want to be like some of these women and I'm like, okay, maybe just not gifted that way. That's okay. That's okay. God, I'll take which. Whatever you give me. So anyway, I've never been super comfortable praying out loud with people, but I Will do it out of obedience.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And earlier this year, I was asked, there's an award show called the Movie Guide Awards. They've been around for a very long time, and they view films that are typically for families, but still adult, immature content. There can be. And then, you know, down to animated children's movies, but all in a space that are either edifying or redemptive in the storytelling. And it's a very nice award show. And Great American Family broadcast this show this past year. And so, you know, there's celebrities and stars there and, you know, all these writers and producers and people in this room. And I was asked, would you please say the closing prayer for the award show?

[A]

How did you. Were you nervous about that?

[B]

Oh, my goodness. I wanted to say no. I'm happy to present.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And I can read off the prompter. Yes, but pray. I wanted to say no, but as I've always told my kids, if something scares you, you just say yes, and you do it and you push through the fear. So, of course I said, sure, I would love to.

[A]

Did you take that deep breath before you said it, too?

[B]

I did. I did. And I was. I was very nervous to do that prayer.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And Roma Downey actually opened the award show in prayer, and it was lovely and it was beautiful. So I felt like, oh, my goodness, the pressure is on. And it just was a lot. But I, you know, summons all the courage and asked the Lord to be with me. And I didn't write it down. Apparently most people write their prayer down and they read it from the stage. And I thought, well, all I know how to do is pray from my heart. So that's what I did. And I went out on stage and I prayed that prayer. And they aired it on television, too, so you could Google it right now. Movie Guide Awards 2023. But it was such a blessing to me because I really was nervous, and it's not something I'm very comfortable with. And it was a pretty big audience. But then it's on national television as well.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I don't know if he was just being nice, but I hope that it wasn't just being nice. But Ted Baer, who, who runs this whole organization, he came up to me after and he said, I think that was the most heartfelt, beautiful prayer we've ever had in the history of our show, and thank you for doing it. And I was like, God, you're so good. Yeah.

[A]

Because he didn't have to say that.

[B]

He didn't have to. And it was just Was like, just. It just humbles me. It brings me to tears, and I'm like, God, you're always with me, especially in my deepest insecurities. You're always with me and by my side. And then you help me recognize it, too, just from that little nudge of encouragement. And I love who you are. And thank you, Lord.

[A]

Oh, that. That is so great. And I get it. I get that feeling where you're just insecure about something, you're fearful about something, and then the Lord just, like, goes, I got it. Yeah.

[B]

You know, keep going.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I had a similar situation at church where they asked me to kind of host a. Host a little thing at church. And I felt nervous about this particular one. I can't remember exactly what the nerves were connected to, but I just remember being a little kind of overwhelmed about it. And that day, I. I wrote all the. It's like five things happened that day before I went to church. That night, like, I went to go. There was a jeweler I was going to visit because I was getting. I was, you know, a little bit of ways for my 25th wedding anniversary. So I was thinking about maybe getting a. A ring. My ring reset or something for 25 years. So I went to visit this jeweler, and before I left there, this woman who loves the Lord, but is one of the. Like, a beautiful jewelry designer in Dallas, she just was like, the Lord wants me to give you this. She gave me this beautiful pea pendant, a beautiful diamond pea pendant. And she was like, you've been a blessing to my life in ministry, which I did not know. She's like, I just want to be a blessing to you. And she gave that to me. Then when I took my little self to lunch with my new little pea thing on, I went to lunch, and I was just sitting there and thanking the Lord for just such a fun, endearing thing that happened today. And then ladies next to me, I bought my lunch. I didn't know that until they were gone. By the time I left and they. They bought my lunch, and I was just like, what is ha.

[B]

What is happening?

[A]

And there was, like, that day that were. I felt like winks from heaven.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where the Lord was like, I am here.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Just be calm and do what I've asked you to do. I got it. I'm just.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Angels everywhere just to.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Support you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I love that. I love that if we're aware and watchful and mindful, God just shows up and reminds us that he will never leave us nor forsake us.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[A]

It's a beautiful.

[B]

And I think of all the people that were blessings, like they were the answer to prayer. They had a blessing in our lives. So.

[A]

Yeah. And then we get to do it for others.

[B]

Yeah, it's awesome. Well, should we take a listener question?

[A]

Let's do it.

[B]

This is a good one. It's from Holly and she asks, how does God speak to you?

[A]

Well, you know, the primary way. I think the primary means through which God speaks as well as the boundaries into which what he says falls is his word. Like we cannot discount the living. Active, sharper than any two edged sword word of God that it is God breathed. The old preachers used to say that the Holy Spirit illumines the scriptures. That means he shines a spotlight on it. Where like you could have read a verse you've read a million times before. But like on that day there's a word that seems to be highlighted or a phrase or a Bible verse that leaps up off the page and it intersects with a decision you're getting ready to have to make or you just get counsel from the word of God. That's because it's alive. And so the primary way, if we will lean in with our ears tuned in, not just to read it because we're supposed to have devotions, but Lord, what do you want to say to me today? And then we read it with that perspective. We will see that the Holy Spirit will illumine the scriptures so that we hear the voice of God. Jill Briscoe, I don't know if you remember this, she's probably in her 80s now, but she used to talk about going into our prayer time with the Lord with our requests really on the back burner. It's kind of like when you're cooking something and you have things in the front that are actively cooking. Then there are some that are just saying warm in the back. They're just there simmering maybe a little bit, but you're not actively involved with them. There are going to be many things that are not on the active burners of our life. But the Lord has this way of when you're in quiet time for something you talked to him about two months ago, you know, or possibly you haven't even gotten to the request yet. But you are treasuring your time in God's Word and you're really just looking for the nuances that hit you for whatever reason. And you're recording those. You will find out that you'll look back at your journal and you'll be like, oh, my gosh. This has to do with the thing on the back burner. Or you get two months later and you're like, wait a minute. Something that I read, something that was imprinted on my soul a month ago. What was that? Oh, my gosh. Lord, you were preparing me in advance for a problem I didn't even know I was going to have yet.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So the primary way God speaks to us is through his Word. But then also, it's like a safety net for us, because when we sense something or hear something or have an impression about something, if that in any way distorts or maligns or skews the character of God or the message of God that is written in the Word, we can know that ain't him.

[B]

Mm.

[A]

You know, so it gives us a safety net that if it doesn't line up with this right here, if it contorts this.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It is not God, which is wonderful to be able to know. We've got us. We've got a track to run on because there's so much noise in the world. We can think, we're hearing clearly something that actually is not right, and we have to have a sounding board to be able to bounce it off. And God's Word provides that.

[B]

And I do love the journaling and the writing, and just like you, I'm not a big journaler.

[A]

Yeah, me neither.

[B]

I, I. Yeah, it hurts my wrist everywhere.

[A]

It's too much writing.

[B]

However, I have journals, and. But I. And I just jot things down. I have little lists that I try to keep track of pivotal moments in my life or prayer requests, answered prayers, things like that, or when I feel God speaking to me. And I think it is such a helpful tool. Again, even if you just jot stuff down because you will know when God's speaking to you. Especially because we easily forget, is what my point is. We will forget even though, like, we're talking and, you know, you say something and it'll trigger a story. But a lot of times, like, I. I can't even remember. I'm like, I know I was an answer to prayer in someone's life, but, man, I can't remember.

[A]

I can't remember.

[B]

And I'm so grateful I have the journals because we look back and we. I can go like, oh, not just once, not just twice. Look. Look at all these times. But we need those reminders. And so it's so great to jot that down. And I encourage you, Holly, to. To grab a journal and to remind yourself to, to know when God's speaking.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And like you said, you can look back and say, wow, that two months ago is him speaking to me about today.

[A]

And, and you know, I also want to encourage everyone to know that God knows we're human. Like, he is very fully aware that we are regular folks with noise again in our ears, internally, externally. That makes it hard for us to hear and discern his voice in different seasons of our life. So I will never forget one theologian describing hearing God like landing a plane where there's a decision in our life that we have to land. The more people on the plane, the more aware we need to be of where we're landing this plane, because the more people that are attached to the decision will be impacted by the decision. So they said if a 747 is landing, the pilot's not looking for a light. He's looking for an aisle way that is very clearly marked out by many lights before he touches that plane down. And in God's grace and mercy, he gives you lights. I call it the mercy of confirmation, where you can say to the Lord, lord, I'm so grateful that, you know, I'm just a human. I pretty sure this is what it is that you're, that you're impressing upon me to do. I feel like there's confirmation in your word. I've asked wise counsel, but Lord, I'm not landing this plane until I see some lights of the mercy of your confirmation. Just helping me to be sure before I land this sucker that this is where I'm supposed to land. And, and again, you don't need a thousand lights before you land the plane, but you need something. And God in his grace and mercy gives us confirmation. Just a little wink that goes, this is it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Land the plane.

[B]

Well, I feel like we should close out our episode on prayer in prayer.

[A]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

Who wants to pray? I'm always like you, Priscilla. Cause you pray so well.

[A]

I, I don't know, I feel like it might be you, Ms. Queen Candace of the movie God Awards closing prayer.

[B]

Oh my goodness.

[A]

National televised.

[B]

Oh no.

[A]

Oh no. But I love that heartfelt prayer.

[B]

Well, I'll, I'll, I'll. How about I start in prayer and then you could finish. You finish it up. Okay, perfect. Hey, Lord, I'm so grateful that you.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

You've given me the podcast to just share your word with everyone listening. And you have brought the most incredible people to join me and be able to speak truth and love and all of your mercy and grace. Over everyone. And it really, it just humbles me that you would use any of us at all to accomplish your. Your will. And so I'm so grateful for Priscilla being here. And I'm grateful for every person that's listening and watching beyond this video or beyond this podcast. And I want you to know how much God loves you. God adores you. God treasures you. God sees you, and God wants you to know him. And I pray peace over all of you. And I pray that whatever circumstance you are in right now, that might be troubling and that might be hard, that you would persevere, that you would endure, that you would rely on God and His grace for you, that he is with you to know every step of the way, that not only is he with you, but he will carry you when you can't take a step yourself. So I love you and we love you, Lord.

[A]

Lord Jesus, thank you so much for the great privilege of being able to be in relationship with you. And so I echo what Candace has said and just ask that everybody under the sound of our voice will know what it is to walk in step with you, to receive your grace and mercy in salvation first, but also your grace and mercy in sustaining them as they grow in you and mature in you. Put a hedge of protection, Lord, around them, around the people that they love, around the assignments that you have attached to their lives. Lord, help them to walk in purpose and integrity and to honor you. Father, I pray you would let make all of our lives fruitful and that it would be evidence of your spirit operating in our lives. Make your voice clear to us. Make our souls sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Make the word alive to us, Father, and make us vibrant as we cultivate a relationship with you until we see you face to face and you present us faultless before your throne. Lord, we thank you that you are able to keep us until that great day. In Jesus name, name I pray.

[B]

Amen. Priscilla, thank you.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Thanks for being here.

[A]

I've loved it.

[B]

I love you very much. So thank you for just everything. And we'll just. I'll see you when I see you.

[A]

Yes, ma'am.

[B]

Okay. Hey, everyone, thanks so much for joining us. We made something special for you this season. It's a personal prayer guide and it's our way of encouraging you to pray for. For your family and to grow in your relationship with God. So go to Candice.com to find the link and it's also in our show notes. And remember, there's a link to Priscilla's book, I Surrender all, which is what our whole conversation this season has been based on. Until next time, Be grateful all day, every day. Candy Rock Entertainment. All rights reserved. Sat.