The Prayer Podcast with Jan L. Burt
Looking to grow in your personal prayer life? Looking for someone to pray God’s Word over your life? If you answered ”YES!” to either of these questions, then you’re in the right place. In every episode, you can expect to hear what the Bible says about prayer, learn how to apply God’s Word to your own prayer life, and then be blessed as the host prays for you. Jan L. Burt is the founder of the Praying Through the Storm Online Prayer Retreat, author of A 60-Day Prayer Journal for Parents, & host of the Summer 2023 Online Prayer Retreat. Her heart for prayer based on the Word of God is the foundation of this podcast, and she counts it a privilege to stand in prayer for and with you.
Episodes
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
A Prayer for Endurance - James chapter 1 - Episode #23
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Well hello there, thanks for joining me for this episode of The Prayer Podcast. We are jumping feet first into a new series on the podcast - straight from the book of James. Now I know what you may be thinking, if you are like me…when the Lord leads me to the book of James, I know I am about to take a long, hard look in the mirror and be faced with the reality that I’ve got some spaces and places in my life that need to be submitted more and more to Him. I’ve learned that as call to study the New Testament book of James is a call to be changed, to be sanctified, to be further conformed to the image of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Anything that does that is a good thing, in my opinion. And so today we embark on a new prayer series on the show, with the certainty that it will be a very good use of our time. Ready? Let’s get started.
James chapter one, looking at the CSB version today. In verse one James refers to himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some translations use the word slave rather than servant. I think it’s worth noting this, right from the get-go in this new series. We’ve got a tough calling, and if nobody ever told you that following Jesus as His disciples means that you are His servant, a slave to Christ, I guess today is your lucky day cuz here it is, directly from the pages of the Bible. James reminds us, by means of describing his own relationship with God, just how serious the business of the Christian life actually is. We are servants, all of us who claim Jesus as Lord, and we are also slaves to Him, for Him, for His Kingdom, for His purposes, and our life is no longer our own. Those days are over once you are in Christ. You have a higher calling, and there simply isn’t wiggle room. I am a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am enslaved and this is simply a non-negotiable. That’s where we begin, this is our starting point when we open up the book of James. Does this not completely level the ground? Nobody is higher, nobody is greater, nobody is less than. All who are followers, disciples, believers are the same in this respect. The great equalizer of being a Christ follower is that we all are alike in our servanthood, all of us are called to be slaves to Christ. If we bear this in mind, like have it top of mind, as we read this book, and allow this book to read us, we will find those parts and portions of James that are hard to swallow become super easy to digest…if we will but remember the foundation, this starting point. We serve Him, are enslaved to Him, and that sets the tone for all that comes at us in this book.
Verses 2 through 4 say this: Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
To quote the armed forces, I ask for permission to speak freely. Permission to speak freely, sir?
Have you longed for more maturity in your walk with the Lord? Have you prayed for someone in your family, maybe your spouse or your children, to be more mature? Do you feel as if there is something you are lacking, that life has lost it’s zest, that there is more, you know there is, but can’t quite seem to grab hold of it? Have you felt your faith is being tested, and you don’t know why? Are the trials in life bringing you down?
James chapter one, verses one through four.
As I pray for you based on these verses, I hope that you find answers to all these questions and more…because truly, what we find in this book is a treasure beyond worth, so long as we are willing to grab hold of it and make it our very own.
Lord, I come to You today as Your servant, enslaved to You, grateful for my position in Your Kingdom. May I be a servant who does not consider herself better than her Master. May this be true for all who listen to this podcast. For the one struggling with the trials of life, I ask that You would bless them with great joy, revealing to them that these trials and tests they are enduring are producing endurance in them. Do that for us all, Lord. Grant us endurance and the ability to remember, right in the middle of struggles and hard times, that these are the exact things that produce endurance. Help us to remember that, and comfort us when the sting of life hurts, whether those hurts are a little or a lot. May we consider it cause for great joy, in spite of the sting, because we trust You and we know that Your Word is true. For anyone who feels as if life has lost it’s zest and they want life to the full, but feel as if it’s somehow missing, out of reach, lacking, would you prove Yourself true to them as this passage states: would You make their endurance complete, having its full effect, so that they will be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Remind them of Your love, draw them close even in the middle of life’s storms, and let them know that endurance is on its way and once it takes full effect in their life, they will be mature and complete, lacking nothing. For those who have experienced this and know it to be true, help us to share about it, to encourage our brothers and sisters, and to rejoice with them as they yield to Your work in their lives. Knit Your people, Your Church, close together and deliver each of us and all of us from the enemy’s schemes and tactics. Lord, as we study the book of James, I am praying that You will meet us here, mature us, encourage us, convict us, comfort us, renew us, restore us, and in our maturing, as our endurance grows to its state of full completion, will You lead us to others we can encourage, bless and disciple, for Your honor and Your Kingdom? And Lord, be glorified in us, Your people who bear Your name. In Jesus Name I ask this - Amen.
Thanks so much for listening today. I pray this has blessed, challenged, and encouraged you and that you receive every single thing the Lord has for you, settling for nothing less than His absolute best. I’ll see ya back here next time. Bye bye!
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
A Prayer Blessing for You - Ezra chapter 8 - Episode #22
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Link to join Jan's private prayer group on Facebook (starting in January 2024, this group will be going through the book of Psalms & praying based on the passages we study).
In this episode we look at Ezra chapter 8, where we find a bold declaration and a bold prayer for protection which God answered.
Expect to be blessed during this episode by a spoken prayer of blessing for you and your life based on this passage.
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Real & Raw Prayer - Episode #21
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Psalm 69 is an amazing passage and it literally teaches us how to pray with raw honesty from the depths of our despair and suffering, and it reminds us that it is okay to take our hard things to the Lord and to cry out to Him. Sometimes we think crying out to Him should look like anything but actually crying out. How’s that supposed to work? Is that piety and religiosity that is not what He wants from us? Could it be that He loves us so much that He wants us to bring it to Him, casting all our cares upon Him because He cares for us, as Peter wrote in the NT. What might happen for us, in us, and through us and how might God be honored and people less stressed out if we took the worst moments and the hardest things to Him first in prayer? Not text about it…but pray about it. Not gripe about it…but pray about it. And leave it with the Lord, in His safe and competent hands. Don’t take it back after praying on it. Let Him have when you give it to Him in prayer.
I’d like to read a few verses from the 69th psalm from the Amplified Bible today.
Verses 1-3: Save me, O God,
For the waters have threatened my life [they have come up to my neck].
2
I have sunk in deep mire, where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, where a flood overwhelms me.
3
I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
My eyes fail while I wait [with confident expectation] for my God.
Vs 14-15: Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink;
Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep waters.
15
Do not let the floodwater overwhelm me,
Nor the deep waters swallow me up,
Nor the pit [of Sheol] shut its mouth over me.
Vs 20-23: Reproach and insults have broken my heart and I am so sick.I looked for sympathy, but there was none,And for comforters, but I found none.
21
They (self-righteous hypocrites) also gave me gall [poisonous and bitter] for my food,And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22
May their table [with all its abundance and luxury] become a snare [to them];And when they are in peace [secure at their sacrificial feasts], may it become a trap.
23
May their eyes be dimmed so that they cannot see,And make their loins shake continually [in terror and weakness].
Vs 29-30:But I am sorrowful and in pain;
May Your salvation, O God, set me [securely] on high.
30
I will praise the name of God with song
And magnify Him with thanksgiving.
There is a lot of emotion in this psalm. A lot of crying out to God, getting real and raw and honest with Him.
Do you relate to this at all?
The holidays are hard for a lot of people. My dad died right before Thanksgiving when I was 15 years old, and it was difficult. Add other losses to that, and November to December were not my favorites for a long time.
Having my own family, I began to rebuild this time of year, in a way, with the Lord’s help. And it’s not hard now. But I did have a moment of being honest with God about some hard things. That was helpful. He helped me. I shared with Him in prayer, being honest, and He heard me, helped me, changed me.
My prayer for you is that this Thanksgiving and moving onward toward Christmas will be a season where God heals you, helps you, blesses you, comforts you, holds you close, changes you, and sets your feet on solid ground. As I just spoke those words, I was praying them over you. And I am expecting God to hear me and to answer. Lord bless you and be near to you this holiday season.
I’ll see you back here next time, and thanks so much for joining me. Bye bye.
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Praying Psalm 2 for Dark, Difficult Days - Episode #20
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Psalm 2
New Living Translation
Psalm 2
1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot togetheragainst the Lord and against his anointed one.3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.5 Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem,[a] on my holy mountain.”
7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.[b] Today I have become your Father.[c]8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.9 You will break[d] them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”
10 Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.12 Submit to God’s royal son,[e] or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
You Are Appointed (So, Pray Like You’re Appointed!) Episode #19 ~ Take Two!
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
When we read the words the Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 1, verses 4 & 5, they remind us that we are so loved by God that He created us with intention and purpose. Knowing who we are according to the Bible impacts how we pray, because it impacts why we pray.
Be sure to check out the Vibrant Home Life Summit - an online event aimed at strengthening Christian families.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 Amplified -
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument],And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own];I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
He knew you then; He knows you now.
He knew what Jeremiah would do with his life, and He knows all about your life, too.
If you ever feel forgotten - you're not!
If you ever feel as if you have no deep, meaningful purpose or calling - you do!
Your calling is, first and foremost, to know Jesus. And within that life-long calling, you will have many varied tasks and assignments from the Lord.
Consider reading these verses to help "shore you up" in your true identity & purpose.
Jeremiah 9:24
Philippians 3:10
Isaiah 43:10-11
1 Timothy 2:3-4
John 17:3
My prayer for you is that you will know this calling, this deep need in your heart and soul to know Jesus personally.
And that you will know your tasks (or assignments) under the umbrella of this calling.
Know Jesus = #1
Then do what He ask of you = #2
Do what He leads you to do from a place of knowing Him & being known by Him.
Tasks change over the course of your life - calling does not.
Saturday Oct 07, 2023
Bold Yet Humble, Expectant Yet Grateful Prayer - Episode #18
Saturday Oct 07, 2023
Saturday Oct 07, 2023
Hey there, hello and welcome to this episode of The Prayer Podcast.
FREE access to The Vibrant Home Life Summit
On a recent episode of The Burt (Not Ernie) Show…which is a podcast I’ve hosted since 2019 that focuses on knowing and believing God’s promises…I shared a verse from 1 Kings chapter 8. And during my study time for that show, I landed on a verse that is such a great one for this show. In chapter 8, King Solomon, son of King David, is dedicating the temple and part of the dedication ceremony is a lengthy and beautiful prayer.
1 Kings 8:52, and I’m reading from the Amplified today…not the entire verse, just portions:
..that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your people…to listen to them and be attentive to them whenever they call to You.
The definition of supplication is this: entreating - humble and earnest petition or prayer -
Prayer coming from a place of humility honors the Lord.
But coupling that humility with an earnestness that we will be heard, and we will receive an answer, that’s a powerful and beautiful way to pray.
When is the last time your prayer time could be described as entreating? An earnest request that is somewhat akin to begging?
That’s our picture of supplication.
And we know as Christians who have read the New Testament that we are not beggars, we are those who are told in Hebrews chapter 4 to come boldly to God’s throne of grace to find help and obtain mercy in our time of need. Begging and coming boldly don’t exactly go together, they kind of feel like a mismatch in a way.
But the humility that comes to mind when someone is really in need and is just flat out begging for the answer to that need, true humility that isn’t always neat and tidy and prettied up, but is so raw and genuine that it isn’t fake or manufactured, let’s think of that kind of humility regarding prayer today.
Bold but humble. Expectant yet grateful.
Lord, today I come before you based on this verse from the book of 1 Kings. Would You hear me as I pray today, and would You respond to my prayers? All of us who are Your children have needs today. Some are huge and some are smaller, but no matter the size of the need, they are all real needs and we need You, our loving Father, to come to our aid at our point of need. Today my prayer is that You will open Your eyes to my supplication on behalf of Your people. Please, Lord, do not be far from us. Do not close Your ears to us today. Draw near and remain near. Do not ignore my prayer today, and do not leave us in this place. But deliver us, protect us, show Your power in the situations that are on our hearts, and speak Your truth over us and over our loved ones, our health, our finances, our work situations, our ministries, our families and our churches, over every big and every small aspect of our lives. O Lord, hear! O Lord, move and act in power. O Lord, respond and quickly. We are crying out to You today, and taking You at Your word, believing that You will be attentive to us in this time, in this season, at this very moment, because we are calling to You. Do miracles in our midst. Vanquish our foes and restore what the locusts have devoured. Strengthen our hearts and our minds as we place all our hope and trust in You. We choose not to try and solve all our problems on our own, but we seek Your first and foremost, and we will follow where You lead and will obey You because Your Holy Spirit in us will help us to follow and obey. We need You every hour, Lord, and in this very hour I am asking on behalf of Your people that You will respond to our needs and will reveal more of You to us in this time, and will grant us all we need in these relationships and circumstances we are praying about today. With all the humility and boldness I can muster, and with the authority of the name of Jesus I pray this today - Amen.
Thanks so much for joining me today and for the privilege of praying for you. Standing with God’s people in prayer - what a blessing!
Also, just an FYI. I am a sponsor for an upcoming online event. The Vibrant Home Life Summit is happening super soon, October 29 thru November 3 2023. It’s a Christian based event that aims at helping families to keep their faith and focus on the Lord. I’m blessed to be part of this event and I’m going to leave a link to grab your free ticket in the show notes. Lots of benefits to checking out a summit like this, not the least of which is being encouraged yourself as you go about your daily roles of both being a disciple and making disciples. Thanks again for listening today and remember you can text me prayer requests anytime via the text option on my website, which is my name, I’ll spell it out J A N L B U R T dot com The text option is right on the main page and the phrasing comes automatically with my website which is built in a CRM, so it says something like a representative will be with you shortly (sounds like a CRM, doesn’t it? Not like a ministry website…haven’t been able to change that verbiage just yet but no representative is gonna call you. I’ll pray for you request and prayer requests are always confidential, started that in my online prayer retreat group and just apply it across the board when I pray, and I’d be blessed to pray for you at any time.)
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Mark 8:34 & Part-Time Praying - Episode #17
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Free copy of Praying God's Word eBook
Welcome to this episode of The Prayer Podcast with Jan L. Burt
Today we are looking at a verse from the book of Mark and I’m going to read from the New Living Translation.
Mark 8:34 - Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.”
Have you ever considered the fact that a dedicated prayer life requires much from us?
A part-time, minimal effort prayer life, not so much.
But when you are dedicated to your craft, in any area of life, it requires something from you. It requires much from you. That’s what it means to be truly dedicated to something.
If we are going to pray in a way that obtains results, and that is the end game of prayer, right? We don’t pray just to fill up time, and we certainly do not pray in order to NOT have our prayers answered. We pray to obtain God’s response, an answer sent from Him. So if we are going to pray in a way that obtains results, we need to put some time and effort into our praying.
Don’t be praying and scrolling Instagram, because that’s not going to prove effective.
Can we apply Mark 8:34 to our prayer time?
I think we can.
Do you want to follow Jesus as His disciple?
Then you must give up your own way.
Take up your cross.
And follow Him.
Be dedicated to following Jesus. A follower needs to follow, right? Not run ahead or lag behind or try and be the boss of the one you’re following.
Be dedicated to following the Lord.
A healthy prayer life is one way we can be dedicated in our following. It’s our conversation with God, and we should take time not only to make our requests known to God, but also to listen. Be still and simply be in the Lord’s presence. Make room and space for Him to speak into our lives.
And sometimes we will have to pray a long, long time before a particular prayer is answered. That’s not what everyone believes, and I get that, I understand it, but sometimes it is a long, long road of prayer before say that loved one turns to Jesus and makes Him Lord. When we are praying for people, it’s good to remember that they have their own wills, they have their own flesh, and the Lord isn’t going to force them to choose to follow Him. But don’t give up. Continue in prayer for the long haul, if that’s what it takes. That’s a dedicated prayer life.
Following the Lord the way this verse shows us comes with giving up our own way.
And that’s the heart of prayer that isn’t trying to push and shove and fight with God to get what we want. This idea of giving up our own way, being willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus, when we pray with a heart that wants His way and His will over our own, we will be in for some very beautiful and precious prayer sessions and for some astounding answers to those prayers.
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
From Surviving to Thriving - A Prayer from Psalm 52 Episode #16
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
TPP Ep #16
Got a new resource to mention to you - it’s a prayer book written by a friend of mine, Geri Gardner, and I’ll have the link in the show notes for ya.
Schooled In Prayer book at Amazon
Today we are looking at Psalm 52, verses 8 and 9.
And you know one thing that stood out to me from these two verses was the blessing we find here. I couldn’t think of a better way to pray for you today than with an actual, biblical blessing.
Here’s how these verses read in the NLT.
But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people.
Isn’t that a beautiful image? Like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
Not just surviving, which is often how we feel. Like we are merely surviving, just getting by, so far from thriving that it seems like a dream to be able to thrive. But in the house of God, in the presence of our loving Father, we can thrive. Every single day.
I do my work at home, and not everyone works from home, but it isn’t often that I have people around. There are no bonuses or work parties when it’s just you doing your thing in your work. And you might think that it is terrible. Well I do love my time with my husband, I value it highly, that’s for sure.
And I can totally understand how some people would be coming undone by working alone all day, every day. (I’m not coming undone at all, just an fyi…I really enjoy working alone and even have a hard time forcing myself to go work for a few hours at a coffee shop. No need to check in on me, I really do love my little office and being able to take half a day and watch my sweet grandbaby. I’m so very blessed.) But my point is that it’s so easy to feel like we’re doing anything but thriving in our regular old life.
But what if that’s the wrong perspective? If we are ever going to be more thankful, then it starts with simply choosing to be more thankful one day, one moment, and then thankful again in the next moment, the next day, and so on.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m gonna pray for you, that you will know and see and experience and live in a place of thriving, not surviving, and I also want to challenge you a bit on this. Look for God’s favor, where do you see Him moving in your world? Thank Him for that. Where are you thriving? Are you close enough to the Lord to say you are thriving in His house? Be much with the Lord, and you will not regret it. It really is the way to have a full, thriving life. Be much with the One who knows you best and loves you most.
And when we live close to Jesus, thriving in the house of our God, then we find it so much easier to trust in His unfailing love.
That’s the second thing I’m praying over you today - that you will be able to trust in God’s unfailing love for you.
And that you will be a person of praise, making the sacrifice of praise part of your every day life. So easy to praise Him, because you do it so often.
And lastly that you’ll be able to trust in God’s good name in the presence of His faithful people.
His name is a good name. Trust in that! And that last bit, in the presence of God’s faithful people…oh how I want you to have people around you, in your life, who are faithful to the Lord God Most High.
What a difference that makes! And not everyone has this. It’s such a blessing! I’m going to pray that for you today.
In fact, I’m going to pray for you right now.
Lord, today I come to You with gratitude and thanksgiving, asking that You would hear me and answer as I pray for the one listening today. Would You do as Your word says, and reveal Your love and grace and favor and mercy to them now? Cause them to be drawn to praise, to be a people of praise, starting now and continuing on throughout all eternity. Thank You, praise You, for what You have done, God. You are good, and we trust in Your good name today. May they thrive in Your presence, enjoying being close to You and growing in Your presence. May they always trust in Your unfailing love, resting in You because You’re taking such good care of them. And surround them with Your faithful people to encourage them, to bless them, to shore them up when they need it and to rejoice with when prayers are answered and life is filled to overflowing with good things from your hand. Take away survival mode, and replace it with peace and thriving. May they see You at work in their world, and may You do great things in and through them. Father, I’m asking for a double portion blessing on them today, and for them to be overflowing with joy because they know how much their God loves and cares for them. Do all I’ve asked, and far beyond what I’m asking today. In Jesus Name - Amen
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Leave It to Him! Episode #15
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Well hey there, welcome to The Prayer Podcast and for this episode we’re looking at a passage from the psalms. Anybody else find themselves turning to the psalms and praying these psalms during tough times? I sort of feel as if the book of psalms has real life application for me when I am facing something and need to know how to pray, and also is a beautiful reminder to praise the Lord even when I’m hurting or needy or just in a low place in my life. The psalms help me pray better, and they help me praise better.
Have a prayer request? Send it my way via the text option here & I'll be praying!
You’re listening to The Prayer Podcast with Jan L. Burt and this is episode number fifteen.
Psalm 116, verses 1 & 2 say this in the Amplified -
I love the LORD, because He hears me (and continues to hear) my voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs). Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.
So right off the bat in the first two verses of Psalm 116, we find the psalmist talking about prayer.
When you pray, is it easy or hard for you to fully believe that God hears you and continues to hear you when you pray? When you bring your supplications to Him? Do you know that you know that you know that God has inclined His ear to you, and that as a result of this truth, you ought to call on Him as long as you live.
How long?
Oh, only for as long as you live.
If you love the Lord, let your praying be an indicator of that love. Great love will equal great praying. And when you trust Him completely, it’s really so easy to go to Him in prayer. So much of the tug of war about prayer is stripped away when we trust Him completely and maybe even dare I say exclusively. We don’t try to pray one minute and work out a plan b the next minute when we trust in the Lord exclusively.
But today’s focus isn’t on verses 1 and 2. We’re gonna hone in on verses 12 through 14.
Let me read those verses from the Amplified Bible.
What will I give to the LORD (in return) for all His benefits toward me? (How can I repay Him for His precious blessings?) I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD. Yes, in the presence of all His people.
Of course you and I don’t like thousands of years ago in ancient Israel, so what do these verses mean for us today? How does this impact our prayer lives?
These verses have encouraged me to be mindful about what I take to the Lord in prayer, what I give to Him…ever done that? A person or situation or your health or finances, you pray and give it to Him, with the total intention of letting Him do His will His way for His glory and purposes, and you get to have the peace of God and can rest easy because you have entrusted the burden of it to the Lord via prayer. But did you ever do that and then snatch it back? Like you’re worrying and fretting and trying to find the solution in your own strength. Snatched it right back. I’ve done that and it can be challenging to keep giving it to the Lord and leaving it with Him, which I suppose is what it really means to trust God with it.
If something comes to mind today as you listen to the podcast, would you give it back to the Lord today? Pray on it and let it go, knowing it’s in good hands with Him. He is trustworthy and we really can leave it to Him.
He has blessed you in the past, and He will bless you in the future. He has been good to you and He will be good to you again and again and again. His faithfulness and His love for you know no end and cannot be used up or exhausted. He loves you, He cares for you, and He hears when you pray.
Can I pray over you today?
Lord, today I ask You to do the miraculous on behalf of Your people who need a miracle. I’m seeking Your very best on their behalf. And if they have given something to You in prayer and then found themselves worrying about it again, trying to work out a solution or fix a really difficult problem, would You bless them with Your comfort, and Your peace, and draw them close, reminding them to rest in You and to enjoy peace of mind and peace of heart as You work on the problem on their behalf, because You love them so very much? We love You, Lord, and we are so grateful for the many blessings, too many to count, that You have granted to us. Thank You for hearing our prayers and for the promise that You will continue to hear us when we pray.
Make us bold in our praying, give us faith to ask for things that only You can do, and may we continually trust You to do Your will, Your good will, in response to our prayers.
Lord, today would You bring healing and peace and hope into their lives? And Lord, we want to praise You and thank You and rejoice in all that You are and all You have done and all You will do in the days to come.
In Jesus Name I ask this, Amen.
Hey, thanks so much for listening today and for the blessing of praying for and with you. I’d be honored to pray for you specifically and you are welcome to email me prayer requests at JanLBurt@outlook.com and I will be praying. See you next time for episode number 16.
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Get Ready - Be Ready - Stay Ready (The King is Coming Soon) Episode #14
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Well, hey there! Welcome to this special end times episode of The Prayer Podcast with Jan L. Burt
I'll read a portion of Luke chapter 12 aloud and then discuss what Jesus had to say to His people in this passage regarding the return of the Master, and then close out the episode by praying.
Thanks for joining me for the special episode, and while it is a bit longer than usual, I think the subject matter is so important and timely that it warranted a few extra minutes of show time.
Also, as promised, here is a link to my other podcast which focuses on knowing and believing God's promises - The Burt (Not Ernie) Show Podcast.
From Luke chapter 12 in the New Living Translation
35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[d] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”
42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
Jesus Causes Division
49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.
53
‘Father will be divided against son and son against father;mother against daughter and daughter against mother;and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’[e]”
54 Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. 56 You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.
In the NLT, the header for verses 35-48 reads “Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming” and in the Amplified it reads “Be In Readiness”.
Be in readiness.
Live in a state of perpetual readiness.
Now, this is no easy task, no small order we find here.
Be dressed and ready for service. Keep your lamps burning. The oil often referenced in the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit. Be so filled with the Spirit of the Living God, be much with the Lord to put it very frankly, because that Holy Spirit oil is what will keep your lamp burning. No oil? No fire in the lamp. And if the lamp is not lit and burning, then we are not obeying the Lord Jesus and His command to us here in Luke chapter 12. If you do not spend time, and ample time, in the Word of God and with Him in prayer and thanksgiving (not talking about a Bible reading checklist here, but a personal relationship with the One who loved you enough to die for you). Talk with Him all day long, make a conversation with Him the thing you are doing as you drift off to sleep, pray and listen first thing when you awaken. Be dressed for service, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. You’d be paying attention, have certain things at the ready that the master would want upon his return, and if it were from a wedding feast, it would likely be a late return. Nonetheless, you’d be ready with what would please the master, ready to do your assigned tasks. That’s how active waiting should take place. Though the hour seems late, don’t slumber and don’t slack off. Stay dressed for service and be so much with the Lord, filled with His Spirit, that when He returns you are ready and waiting, and in your readied state of waiting you will be doing the things the Lord has called you to be doing.
What are those things for you? Probably not exactly what they are in my life. For example, my children are all adults now, so I do not have the same daily child-rearing things to do that I had to do earlier in my life. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all, but rather that solid relationship with your Father so that you know just what it is He wants you to be doing in this season.
This is how you will be ready to open the door and let Him in the moment He arrives and knocks. Be alert to the times and seasons in which we live. Eyes on Israel - very prudent to pay attention to what is happening in Israel in these last days. And you know, there are so many people in ministry who are talking frankly about the soon return of Jesus, I cannot think of a time this has ever been the case to this extreme. Where we see Matthew 24 coming to pass in all its varied aspects, and have church leaders who are not what could be considered out there on the fringe, stating openly that this is it, we are in the final hours. Children, even toddlers, are having dreams about Jesus and His return and there is a widening gap between those who are in the Church, who profess Jesus as Lord, this widening gap where some believe these are the last days and at any time we truly could (and I believe, will) see the beginning of the 7 year tribulation begin, a treaty that involves Israel that will be a 7 year promise type of treaty, and that’s the kick off of the final 7 years, that’s the book of Daniel and also Paul in both his letters to the Thessalonian church. We’re almost there, folks. And yet there is a large (too large!) number of professing believers who are not in belief about this very subject. They say it’s coming, but not now, later on down the road, there’s more time…and really to be fair, if they don’t search out the information about specifically Israel and things like looking at the number of earthquakes happening around the world, or looking into the state of the Euphrates River right now, and line this all up with the Bible, if they don’t know what’s going on, that would for sure contribute to not thinking we are so close. And often the one single verse, not the whole counsel of the Word of God, but one single verse that Jesus spoke, is their reasoning behind not believing this is the season of His return. Of course, that verse is that no man knows the hour or the day of the return of the Son of God. That’s a true verse, 100% true. But if we take it in context, and read all of what Jesus says in this passage in Matthew 24, all His words here regarding the end times, we would find that He is actually calling us to be ready because He will come at an hour when you do not expect it. He gives signs in this chapter to know that His return is very near, and Jesus said that when you see all these things, the end is near, even at the door. That’s verse 33 of Matthew 24.
I’m doing this episode of this podcast, and also of my original podcast The Burt (Not Ernie) Show about this topic, the signs of the times and the return of the King of kings, because the Lord put it on my heart to do so. To share on this. Right now. Without delay. To make short work of my obedience to what He called me to do.
In spite of those who don’t want to hear it, who don’t think it’s time just quite yet.
But it is time. And I hope you do hear. Things are advancing. That seven year treaty will be signed soon. As it says in Luke 12, when He comes He will reward the servants who are ready. If you knew exactly when a burglar was coming, you would not permit a break in. A servant who knows what the master wants but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions will be severely punished. But what if the servant thinks, “My master won’t be back for a while,”...the master will return unannounced and unexpected and will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. These are the words Jesus spoke about being ready for His coming. So please, be ready. Be dressed for service. Keep your lamp burning. Be ready and waiting for His return and there will be a reward for you. It will be unexpected…so do your utmost to expect the unexpected. You must be ready all the time, it says in verse 40. Again, I use the word please…be ready all the time, starting at this time, this very moment, right now, today. Get ready, be ready, stay ready. The King is coming soon.
Lord, lead us as we serve You wholeheartedly in these last days. Show us how to pay attention to the signs of the times, the signs that mark Your soon return, and help us live ready and attentively, but not in fear or giving way to despair. Keep our eyes fixed on You, remind us of all You’ve promised, and keep us as the apple of Your eye as we are dressed for service, picking up our cross daily and following You, keeping our lamps burning, waiting for Your return. Save all who will come to You, Lord, and do not delay. Bring about a great end times harvest and move in the hearts and minds of men and women and children all over the world. Show us what we need to know, and by the same power that raised Jesus from the grave, enable us to do the things You want us to be doing at this moment in time. We still must go to work each day, and we want to do that for Your glory and Your honor, so lead us in doing our work well, as unto the Lord, even while we remain aware and watchful. May we be a blessing to those around us in the daily tasks we must do, and remind us to pray with boldness and great faith for the people in our lives who have needs, and who do not know You as their own Lord and Savior. May be remain dressed and ready for service continually, and never doubt in the dark what You have told us in the light. And Lord, work in the lives of Your people in Israel. Reveal Yourself to them as their Messiah. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and save and rescue as many as possible in the days remaining before Your return. Amen.
The Prayer Podcast
with Jan L. Burt
Looking to grow in your personal prayer life? Looking for someone to pray God’s Word over your life? If you answered ”YES!” to either of these questions, then you’re in the right place. In every episode, you can expect to hear what the Bible says about prayer, learn how to apply God’s Word to your own prayer life, and then be blessed as the host prays for you. Jan L. Burt is the founder of the Praying Through the Storm Online Prayer Retreat & author of A 60-Day Prayer Journal for Parents, available on Amazon.