WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.859 The House of Prayer. The fervent prayer of a 00:00:02.859 --> 00:00:06.639 righteous. God, refine my character. A prayer 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:09.779 for integrity, discipline, and self -control. 00:00:10.699 --> 00:00:13.259 This prayer is for you if you sincerely want 00:00:13.259 --> 00:00:16.260 God to work on your character. It is for you 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:19.219 if you love God, but you recognize that there 00:00:19.219 --> 00:00:22.000 are still areas of your life that need refinement. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.960 Maybe you struggle with anger. Maybe your words 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.339 sometimes move faster than your wisdom. Maybe 00:00:29.339 --> 00:00:32.259 temptation has been testing your boundaries. 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:36.100 Maybe you have compromised in places nobody knows 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:39.299 about. Maybe you are carrying responsibility, 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:44.039 influence, leadership, or authority and you are 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:46.619 asking God to help you carry it with integrity. 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:50.780 Or perhaps you are praying for God to open a 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:54.640 new door, increase your influence, enlarge your 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:57.359 territory, or entrust you with something greater. 00:00:57.689 --> 00:01:01.170 before asking God to change what is around you. 00:01:01.409 --> 00:01:06.090 Maybe today we need to pray, God, change what 00:01:06.090 --> 00:01:09.769 needs to change within me. Listen to the word 00:01:09.769 --> 00:01:14.469 of God. Psalm 51 10 says, creating me a clean 00:01:14.469 --> 00:01:17.870 heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within 00:01:17.870 --> 00:01:23.049 me. And Galatians 5 22 to 23 reminds us that 00:01:23.049 --> 00:01:26.409 the fruit of the spirit includes faithfulness, 00:01:26.769 --> 00:01:31.370 gentleness, and self -control. Let us pray. Lord, 00:01:31.790 --> 00:01:35.189 before I ask you for another door, before I ask 00:01:35.189 --> 00:01:38.230 you for another opportunity, before I ask you 00:01:38.230 --> 00:01:41.829 for promotion, before I ask you for greater influence, 00:01:42.189 --> 00:01:44.609 before I ask you for greater responsibility, 00:01:45.609 --> 00:01:49.890 refine me. Search my heart, examine my motives, 00:01:50.530 --> 00:01:54.090 reveal what I cannot see about myself. Show me 00:01:54.090 --> 00:01:56.409 the places where my character needs strengthening. 00:01:56.810 --> 00:02:00.950 Show me the attitudes I have been excusing Show 00:02:00.950 --> 00:02:04.689 me the reactions I keep justifying Show me where 00:02:04.689 --> 00:02:08.270 pride has entered Show me where anger has gained 00:02:08.270 --> 00:02:11.810 too much control Show me where my words have 00:02:11.810 --> 00:02:15.449 become careless Show me where my boundaries have 00:02:15.449 --> 00:02:19.030 become weak Show me where I have become comfortable 00:02:19.030 --> 00:02:21.449 with something your spirit has been telling me 00:02:21.449 --> 00:02:26.379 to change God I don't want to spend my life protecting 00:02:26.379 --> 00:02:29.680 an image while neglecting my character. I don't 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:32.460 want to appear strong publicly while becoming 00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:35.800 weak privately. I don't want to look faithful 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:38.300 before people while ignoring what you are showing 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:42.180 me when nobody else is watching. Create in me 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:46.099 a clean heart, oh God. Renew a right spirit within 00:02:46.099 --> 00:02:52.099 me. Refine my character. Purify my motives. Discipline 00:02:52.099 --> 00:02:56.020 my desires. Guard my heart, control my tongue, 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:59.539 teach me wisdom, develop self -control within 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:03.039 me, and make me the same person in private that 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:06.900 I claim to be in public. God, give me the integrity 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:10.599 of Joseph. When temptation comes, give me the 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:13.580 strength to walk away. When compromise offers 00:03:13.580 --> 00:03:16.939 me something attractive, remind me that no temporary 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:19.560 opportunity is worth sacrificing what you are 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:23.439 preparing for my future. Teach me not to sacrifice 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:26.800 tomorrow's purpose for today's opportunity. Give 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:30.919 me the integrity of Daniel. If my life is examined, 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:34.620 let faithfulness be found. If my decisions are 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:38.620 questioned, let truth defend me. If my conduct 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:42.300 is scrutinized, let my character speak. Not because 00:03:42.300 --> 00:03:45.539 I am perfect, but because I have chosen to walk 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:49.060 honestly before you. Give me the courage of Samuel. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:52.469 Let me handle responsibility without exploiting 00:03:52.469 --> 00:03:56.469 people. Let me handle resources honestly. Let 00:03:56.469 --> 00:03:59.870 me treat people fairly. Let me carry authority 00:03:59.870 --> 00:04:02.930 without allowing authority to corrupt my heart. 00:04:03.449 --> 00:04:07.229 God, when you increase me, keep me humble. When 00:04:07.229 --> 00:04:10.770 you bless me, keep me faithful. When you give 00:04:10.770 --> 00:04:14.490 me influence, keep me accountable. When you give 00:04:14.490 --> 00:04:17.870 me authority, keep me compassionate. When you 00:04:17.870 --> 00:04:21.449 give me resources, keep me generous and honest. 00:04:21.550 --> 00:04:25.329 When people begin celebrating me, keep my heart 00:04:25.329 --> 00:04:29.430 surrendered to you. And God, when I am tempted, 00:04:30.089 --> 00:04:33.610 remind me that you are present. When nobody else 00:04:33.610 --> 00:04:37.009 is watching, you are there. When there is no 00:04:37.009 --> 00:04:40.829 camera, you are there. When there is no audience, 00:04:41.129 --> 00:04:45.029 you are there. When nobody would ever know, you 00:04:45.029 --> 00:04:48.769 know. Let the awareness of your presence become 00:04:48.769 --> 00:04:52.089 stronger than the attraction of compromise. Holy 00:04:52.089 --> 00:04:55.029 Spirit, produce self -control within me. But 00:04:55.029 --> 00:04:57.910 also teach me discipline. Teach me when to stop. 00:04:58.230 --> 00:05:00.709 Teach me when to walk away. Teach me when not 00:05:00.709 --> 00:05:03.810 to respond. Teach me when to remain silent. Teach 00:05:03.810 --> 00:05:05.949 me when to put down the phone. Teach me when 00:05:05.949 --> 00:05:08.610 to leave the conversation. Teach me when to set 00:05:08.610 --> 00:05:11.889 a boundary. Teach me when to say no. Protect 00:05:11.889 --> 00:05:14.819 me from decisions made in anger. Protect me from 00:05:14.819 --> 00:05:17.600 decisions made in loneliness. Protect me from 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:20.740 decisions made in pride. Protect me from decisions 00:05:20.740 --> 00:05:23.660 made in frustration. Protect me from decisions 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:26.740 made when my emotions are stronger than my wisdom. 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:30.199 And if I have already failed, God, give me the 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:33.459 humility to repent. Do not let pride make me 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:35.899 defend what your spirit is trying to correct. 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:39.000 Do not let embarrassment make me hide what you 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:42.050 want to heal. Do not let my reputation become 00:05:42.050 --> 00:05:44.629 more important to me than my transformation. 00:05:45.170 --> 00:05:49.149 Like David, let me pray. Create in me a clean 00:05:49.149 --> 00:05:53.290 heart. If I need to apologize, give me humility. 00:05:53.649 --> 00:05:57.230 If I need to confess, give me courage. If I need 00:05:57.230 --> 00:06:01.410 to change, give me discipline. If I need accountability, 00:06:01.910 --> 00:06:04.790 give me wisdom to seek it. If I need to walk 00:06:04.790 --> 00:06:07.490 away from something, give me strength to leave. 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:10.160 because I would rather experience the discomfort 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.500 of correction today than the devastation of collapse 00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:17.560 tomorrow. God, don't allow my gift to take me 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:20.579 somewhere my character cannot sustain me. Don't 00:06:20.579 --> 00:06:24.240 allow my ambition to outrun my maturity. Don't 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:26.879 allow my influence to become greater than my 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:29.959 integrity. Don't allow my public life to become 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:32.680 greater than my private walk with you. Don't 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:35.360 allow what you place in my hands to become greater 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.139 than what my character can carry. Prepare me 00:06:38.139 --> 00:06:41.079 for what I am praying for if I am asking for 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:44.500 more responsibility Make me more responsible 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:48.199 if I am asking for greater influence deepen my 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:51.620 integrity if I am asking for greater resources 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:55.920 Teach me stewardship if I am asking you to elevate 00:06:55.920 --> 00:07:00.339 me deepen my humility If I am asking you to trust 00:07:00.339 --> 00:07:05.589 me with more Make me trustworthy God I surrender 00:07:05.589 --> 00:07:09.250 my character to your refining fire Remove what 00:07:09.250 --> 00:07:13.029 cannot follow me into my next season Strengthen 00:07:13.029 --> 00:07:16.149 what must become stronger Correct what must be 00:07:16.149 --> 00:07:20.149 corrected Heal what must be healed Break what 00:07:20.149 --> 00:07:23.529 must be broken Develop what must be developed 00:07:23.529 --> 00:07:26.329 I don't simply want to arrive at the place you 00:07:26.329 --> 00:07:29.149 have prepared I want to become the person who 00:07:29.149 --> 00:07:31.850 can remain there I don't simply want to receive 00:07:31.850 --> 00:07:34.740 what I have prayed for I want to become capable 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:37.699 of carrying it. I don't simply want an open door. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:40.399 I want the character necessary to walk through 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:44.360 it with integrity. So today I declare, my character 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:48.879 belongs to God. My mind belongs to God. My body 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:53.699 belongs to God. My words belong to God. My decisions 00:07:53.699 --> 00:07:57.139 belong to God. My relationships belong to God. 00:07:57.379 --> 00:08:00.699 My influence belongs to God. My authority belongs 00:08:00.699 --> 00:08:04.500 to God. My private life belongs to God. My public 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:07.620 life belongs to God. And by the power of the 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:10.779 Holy Spirit, I will practice discipline. I will 00:08:10.779 --> 00:08:13.910 guard my heart. I will control my tongue. I will 00:08:13.910 --> 00:08:16.930 protect my boundaries. I will walk away from 00:08:16.930 --> 00:08:20.029 temptation. I will receive correction. I will 00:08:20.029 --> 00:08:23.490 repent when I am wrong. I will choose truth when 00:08:23.490 --> 00:08:26.750 compromise would be easier. I will choose obedience 00:08:26.750 --> 00:08:29.850 when disobedience would be more convenient. Because 00:08:29.850 --> 00:08:33.169 I understand now, God is not only preparing the 00:08:33.169 --> 00:08:35.870 blessing, God is preparing me for the weight 00:08:35.870 --> 00:08:39.490 of the blessing. Refine me, God, until my character 00:08:39.490 --> 00:08:42.740 can carry my calling. until my discipline can 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:46.100 protect my purpose, until my self -control can 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:49.879 protect my integrity, until who I am privately 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:53.419 honors who you have called me to become publicly. 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:57.340 And when the door finally opens, when the opportunity 00:08:57.340 --> 00:09:00.740 finally comes, when the prayer is finally answered, 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:03.799 when greater responsibility is finally placed 00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:07.519 into my hands, may you be able to trust the person 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:12.080 who walks through that door. God. Refine my character. 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:15.740 I am being refined for a purpose in the name 00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:21.559 of Jesus Christ. Amen If this prayer is speaking 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:24.799 to an area of your life that God has been revealing 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:28.899 to you don't run from his conviction Correction 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:32.279 can be mercy God may be showing you something 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:34.840 today because he is protecting what he intends 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:38.419 to entrust to you tomorrow Keep praying keep 00:09:38.419 --> 00:09:41.620 growing Keep allowing the Holy Spirit to refine 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:49.700 you. Remember, you are not alone. Pamoja Ministry 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:51.080 is your prayer partner.