07-09-2025 part 3: Stillness, Supply, and the Strength of God's Presence

Section 1

David shares a touching story from his pastoral ministry in Flagstaff, Arizona, highlighting God's intimate provision. Facing a Christmas without gifts for his children, he prayed for a miracle and shortly afterward received a letter from England containing a personal gift—an offering sent days before he ever prayed. This underscores the truth from Isaiah 65:24: "Before they call, I will answer." David connects this to the biblical story of the coin in the fish's mouth and invites listeners to trust in God's foreknowledge and timely provision. The testimony powerfully illustrates how God prepares blessings even before we articulate our needs.

Section 2

The message turns to the nature of prayer, emphasizing Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:7 about avoiding babbling like pagans. David reminds us that true prayer is not about word count but heart connection. He observes that our American discomfort with silence often spills into our devotional time, making us feel the need to "fill the air." But God doesn't require our words to understand us. Sometimes prayer is simply stillness, as seen in Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” Examples like Hannah and Nehemiah show how unspoken prayers can be profoundly effective. The key takeaway: God's desire isn't for polished speech but for present hearts.

Section 3

Bringing the teaching full circle, David reaffirms that access to God's presence is the ultimate gift. Unlike the Old Testament priest who could only enter God's presence once a year, believers now have 24/7 access through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:19–22). David urges listeners not to waste that gift, encouraging moments of quiet communion as simple but powerful acts of devotion. Reading Psalm 73 and Philippians 3, he stresses that everything in life pales in comparison to knowing Christ. The closing prayer asks for grace to shift from laundry-list praying to heartfelt fellowship, with the affirmation that if we desire God above all, that’s a prayer He will surely honor.