The Food for Thought Faithcast with Be Rob
Check out the Food for Thought Faithcast! It’s hosted by Be Rob, who’s got 50 years of experience under their belt. They have an open and honest conversation about a wide range of topics. With Be Rob as the host, there’s no limit to what they can explore. Real Conversations with real people.
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The Food for Thought Faithcast with Be Rob
Ep. 17-Prayer: The Essential Connection
Prayer isn't just another spiritual practice—it's the vital connection that sustains our relationship with God. This episode dives deep into what makes prayer essential to our spiritual lives, comparing it to the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Drawing wisdom from King David's example in 1 Chronicles 16:11, we explore what it truly means to "seek God's face always." Despite his flaws and failures, David understood that prayer required active pursuit, not passive waiting. His example challenges us to examine our own prayer habits and consider how essential prayer has been in our recent spiritual journey.
The heart of this episode centers on the concept of "call and response"—the beautiful two-way conversation that prayer is designed to be. We often focus on calling out to God and waiting for His response, but how attentive are we when He calls to us? Through Scripture and practical examples, we discover that God's response often waits for us in His Word before we even make our request. This reciprocal relationship forms the foundation of authentic connection with our Creator.
For those struggling with anxiety, Philippians 4:6 offers a powerful remedy through prayer with thanksgiving. Not gratitude for our current struggles, but faith-filled thanks for the future outcome God will bring. In today's distraction-filled world, maintaining focused prayer has become increasingly difficult. Where previous generations might have faced a handful of daily tasks, we navigate hundreds of inputs competing for our attention. Perhaps that's why intentional, focused prayer is more crucial now than ever.
The episode concludes with a heartfelt prayer and exciting news about an upcoming EP release. Whether you're new to prayer or looking to deepen your existing practice, this episode provides practical guidance for making prayer as essential in your life as the breath in your lungs.
Thank you. Holy, holy, holy Lord, god Almighty, lord, god Almighty, lord, god Almighty, holy, holy, holy Lord, god Almighty. Hallelujah to the King of kings. Holy, holy, holy Lord, god Almighty, holy, holy, holy. Lord, god Almighty, you are holy, holy, holy, lord, god Almighty, yes, you are holy, holy, god Almighty. Hallelujah to the King of Kings that that right, there is a new song. It's going to be the intro to the new EP that's coming out. We don't know how many songs is going to be on it. We don't know what's going to be on it, but we just started yesterday and that's the intro. So I hope you guys liked it and we're going to get right into the podcast now.
Speaker 1:Hey guys, it's B-Rob, it's the Food for Thought Faithcast, and it is Tuesday, april 29th, and we are closing up another month. Man, it's been a an interesting April, to say the least. It's been an interesting 2025, to say the least. This has been an interesting 2025, to say the least. I just want you to know that if you're out there struggling with something, you're out there hurting, you're out there just thinking that you just can't get through something, through something my savior actually was crucified, and the way I look at life and the way that I look at situations that I think are tough or I cannot get through, I always I keep telling myself over and over in my head that I'm going through nothing, not even an ounce of the pain that my savior, jesus Christ of Nazareth, went through when he died on the cross, the brutal death and leading up into that brutal death and crucifixion. And then, of course, he conquered the grave, because he is who he is. But, guys, we're going to just a little something I want to read to you right now. This is something I posted earlier. It's a meme. It says it takes grace to remain kind in cruel situations. The Holy Spirit in you will always be greater than the evil in them. That's something else you can tell yourself if you're dealing with something, because a lot of times the devil will try to attack you through your closest friends or family and they don't even know what they're doing. But it is what it is what they're doing, but it is what it is, and I am.
Speaker 1:Today we're going to talk about prayer and how essential prayer is. I'm going to be reading a little bit out of the 100 Day Prayer Guide, and this is looks like it is written by Glenn Haskell. I'm not sure who he is, but we're going to read it. I picked it up at a thrift store and I liked it and I've been reading it. It starts out with prayer is essential.
Speaker 1:1 Chronicles 16, 11 says look to the Lord in his strength, seek his face always. Of course, there's no prayer guide that would be complete without acknowledging King David, so let's just start there. In spite of his many personal flaws, faults and shortcomings, david knew prayer was essential. He conversed with God often and with passion, and many of us can quote at least one of the prayers from memory, at least one of the prayers from memory. We're going to be going over a lot of things with David over the next couple podcasts that I share some of this book with you, but as we begin this journey, let's simply consider his advice in 1 Chronicles 16, 11. Look to the Lord in his strength, seek his face always. After becoming the king of all Israel and bringing God's ark to the Lord in his strength, seek his face always.
Speaker 1:After becoming the king of all Israel and bringing God's Ark of the Covenant to the new capital of Jerusalem, david delivered a new song for Asaph and his fellow temple musicians to sing before the people and before God. One vital theme of the song is prayer seeking the Lord in his strength, seeking his face in his presence, seeking and then finding. Notice that seek is an active verb, and we all know what an active verb is right. You're actually seeking. You're actually doing Pursuing God is up to you, though. You can do it through prayer, which is an element of life as essential as the air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, the friendship, the forgiveness and the love.
Speaker 1:Prayer is that essential. So when we talk about essentials, we're talking about essentials of God, essentials of Jesus, and prayer is an essential, just like air, water, food, friendship, forgiveness and love, because prayer is just so important. I mean, there's always hope at the end Amen. There's always hope, there's love in the way of God's response, and there's clarity in asking God for help. Think about it right now. I want you to take something. I want you to think about something On a scale from one to ten how essential has your prayer life been lately and ask yourself why.
Speaker 1:Another question would be what do you enjoy most about prayer? What's the most difficult thing about prayer? And these are just some questions you should think about what might need to change in your life to make room for a better prayer. Those are all good questions. Once again, on a scale from one to 10, how essential has prayer been in your life lately, and why? What do you enjoy most about prayer? What is the most difficult thing about praying? What might need to change in your life to make more room for better prayer? Do you need to meditate more? Do you need more nature? Do you need to meditate more? Do you need more nature? Do you need to get away from electronics and things? The devil in your pocket? Those are all things that you can pray about.
Speaker 1:Ask God to impress the importance of prayer on your spirit. Ask him to bring the importance of prayer to you and your spirit. Request energy and focus for your time of prayer. So, basically, now's the time to pray about it. Ask God to make prayer important in your life and in your spirit. Request energy, request energy, request focus, so you have time to pray and thank God for being ready and eager to hear your prayer. It's as simple as that. You need to seek his face and presence and ask him for peace and power through his son, jesus Christ. Next would be a call and response. So Psalms 116, 4 and 5 say Then I called on the name of the Lord. Please, lord, save me. How kind the Lord is, how good he is.
Speaker 1:The term call and response describes moments when one statement is quickly followed by an answer. Imagine if you will, for example, two close friends who know each other so well that they can finish each other's sentences. That's pretty strong and that's what the power of prayer is. You call and God answers, but you might be thinking, wait, I don't hear anything. Well, guess what? You don't have to, because God's response is usually found in his word in the Bible. Do you look there after you make your calls? Do you pray first and then do you look to the word of God? These are all great questions, because his response was already waiting before you even called. Imagine how great a God that is that his response is already there and ready before you even make the call. I mean that's an amazing thing. And other times his word and his instructions will call on you and ask for your response. How would you respond to a scripture? It's an amazing thing. The Bible calls everyone, for instance, to love others and obey God. Those are simple commandments Love others and obey your God. I mean, how are you responding to that? Are you ignoring that call? Because call and response goes in both ways, not just you call and God responds. It works both ways.
Speaker 1:It's a conversation and it's really unfair to think God should answer your request if you've been putting his off. To think God should answer your request if you've been putting his off I mean, if you got a best friend that you've been putting off for months and all of a sudden you need him, I mean I would expect him to put me off If I've been putting him off. It's simple frequency, simple energy. It's really not rocket science and this is why prayer is a vital part of your connection with God. You can share what you need and he can share what he needs. So when he calls, you should respond, because he's been responding to you your whole life. I mean, think about it. Why is it unreasonable to think God should respond when you don't respond to him? We just talked about that. What might prevent you from answering his call? Maybe the devil in your pocket? How can prayer be a good, key part of your response to God? These are all questions you need to ask yourself and then you need to pray about it.
Speaker 1:Read a Bible passage and decide how you can take what you learn and respond to God. Write down your thoughts. That way it helps you respond, helps you understand, and then call out to him in prayer and then spend time in his word and discover his response. Because God says your call is important to me. He wants you to respond like he does. He does, he wants you to respond like he does, and that's an amazing thing. It really is. Guys, don't break that connection.
Speaker 1:Philippians 4, verse 6, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. I mean, anxiety wears you out, it drags you down, it makes it hard to breathe sometimes. But guess what? You can stop it, you can breathe. You can stop it, you can breathe. Philippians 4.6 is a great example of a call and response prayer. You call in God response. Tell me what you need and bring gratitude. But how can you be grateful for life's drudgeries and fears and downfalls? Because there's a lot of them. This world is very, very satanic. But if you show gratitude, if you show gratitude to God in response to his calling, you're thanking him for the future outcome already, not just for the present struggle that caused you to make the call. Prayer should always be a back and forth communication. Always he calls and you need to respond, just like you call and God responds. It's that simple. Today's verse clearly says that prayer is a perfect response to his call. Philippians 4.6,. Do not be anxious about anything, don't worry. Fear is false evidence appearing real. It says right here do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. That's Philippians 4.6. And when you call, don't doubt God's response and just view it as good information that come in handy later Because, like I said, you call and he responds. When he calls, you're supposed to respond as well.
Speaker 1:Something to think about. Do you sometimes find it easier to consider God's call optional, like if he says don't do that and you do it anyway? That's tough, tough, there, tough. Do you often think your call requires an immediate response? Are you selfish? Are you impatient? We know God goes before us. We know your book's already written. We know your name is already written in his book. How can you demonstrate that you are serious about God's call and you're serious about your response. You have to pray about it. I mean, write down a list of your worries, go to God with it. Those are called prayer requests.
Speaker 1:Use today's prayer as an opportunity to respond to his call that he might have been calling for you and, most of all, express gratitude for God's love and his willingness to help you. Give him, praise him, worship him, thank him for everything. If you stubbed your toe and you didn't break it, thank God. Guys, that's all we're going to do today. We will get back to this a little more either this evening or tomorrow, but we're going to—this is a 100-day prayer guide, so we're going to try to breeze through it. And this is a 100-day prayer guide, so we're going to try to breeze through it. We might not get through all of it, but we're going to take a couple episodes and work on it. And I think it's very, very important.
Speaker 1:And sometimes I think our minds get so distracted that it's even hard to finish a prayer, and that is because of the hustle and bustle of this world and the technology and things aren't as simple as it used to be. So you've got, whereas back, you know, 50 years ago, you might only had a couple things to accomplish in a day, but now you've got hundreds of things thrown at you in a day. That can be tough guys. Let's just go to the Lord in prayer right now. Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you today, we come to you today.
Speaker 1:I just want to pray for the listeners of this faithcast, lord, that they can have a call and response relationship with you, lord, not just them calling on you, lord, and you responding, but vice versa, lord. That we respond to your needs and your calls, lord, and when you say do something, we do it. Lord, I know there's a lot of fear, but we know that fear is false evidence appearing real, lord, and we thank you for your grace in those times that we do not respond. Lord, we thank you for your mercy, lord, it abounds. We thank you for everything that you do. Lord. We thank you for just allowing me to come and share some of your word today on this faith cast. Lord. We thank you for just being amazing, lord, and showing us how the Spirit is so important. Lord, we thank you for patience when we have none. Lord, we thank you for vision when the road is not so clear. Lord, we thank you for everything you are going to do in the future, lord. Everything you have done in the past, lord, and everything you are doing in our lives right now, lord, we thank you. It is in Jesus' name we pray these things. Amen and hallelujah. Well, guys, once again I just want to say thank you. I just want to say thank you.
Speaker 1:I took a little break after Easter, but the song you heard at the beginning Is my new intro To my new record that's coming out. I'm not sure what it's going to be called yet and I'm not sure how many songs it's going to have on it. We just started working on it yesterday and that came to my heart, so I recorded it and I think it's a nice little intro. My daughter even said that it has the feel like she's walking into a church and we're about to get our worship on and that's not in a bad way. So I said say no more, daughter. That was perfect. That was perfect analogy of what I was going for. So, guys, I love you. God bless you. We'll see you on the next show. Thank you.
