Faith and Works: How Prayer and Action Combine to Spark Influence

07/26/23 • 25 min

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Welcome back to another episode of Spark Influence! We're your hosts, Peter Phillip and Misty Phillip, founders of Spark Media. Today, we dive into the power of prayer and how it can spark influence in our lives. Prayer is often misunderstood, but we're here to explore its true meaning and importance. From individual prayer to praying as a couple, as a family, and even incorporating fasting, we'll uncover the secrets to deepening our connection with God. Join us as we navigate the ins and outs of prayer and learn how it can truly transform our lives. So grab your headphones and get ready for another enlightening episode of Spark Influence!

Key Points

Prayer as a two-way conversation with the Lord
- Importance of individual prayer, praying together, and prayer and fasting
- The power of a praying couple
- Taking action to help others in need
- Faith and works going hand in hand
- Teaching children how to pray
- Prayer as a daily integrated practice
- Specific instances of answered prayers
- Struggles and obstacles in starting a bible study
- Enemy's attempt to discourage and create division
- Importance of praying for pastors and leaders
- Communion and its significance
- Frustrations with denominational differences
- Personal experience of conducting communion at home
- Treating communion with solemnity and gravity
- Misunderstandings of the purpose of prayer
- Aligning ourselves with God's will
- Incorporating God in our daily lives
- Praying without ceasing
- Arrow prayers as quick expressions of need or frustration

Timestamps

00:00:01 Spark influence podcast: intentional living, prayer.
00:03:37 Prayer and fasting have powerful effects.
00:07:53 Family altar, praying together, action, powerful combination.
00:12:08 Communion: Importance, bread blessing, obstacles, representative.
00:16:15 "The enemy tries to create division, but we can see it. Struggle is real, but so is God. Pray for leaders."
00:19:27 Praying: misunderstood as finite, confusion on unceasing worship.
00:23:08 Prayer and fasting are important for faith.

Keywords

prayer, dialogue, gratitude, individual prayer, family prayer, corporate prayer, fasting, seeking answers, reconnect with God, spiritual journey, praying before meals, scary prayers, praying with children, meaningful conversations, fasting power, Bible, understanding prayer, limited activity, confusion, pray without ceasing, unceasing adoration, worship, asking for help, forgiveness, insight, acknowledging God's presence, accepting God's dominion, resistance to God's authority, Spark Influence, living with intention, marriage, family, ministry, business leadership, taking action, helping others, faith and works, teaching children to pray, two-way conversation, prayer struggles, enemy interference, praying for pastors, insidious enemy, communion, denomination differences, solemnity, gravity, tradition, sense of gravity, taking communion at home, blessing bread, unresolved issues, seeking God in prayer, aligning with God's will, nurturing relationship with God, co-creating with God, incorporating God in daily lives, arrow prayers

Key Points

Timestamps

Keywords

Previous Episode

Navigating the Digital World: Parenting in the Age of Electronics

On this episode of Spark Influence, Misty and Peter Philip dive into the evolving concept of parenting. They discuss how parenting has changed over the years, from more relaxed rules like coming home when the streetlights are on to the heightened awareness and situational security that parents must now have in multiple aspects of their child's life.

The focus of this episode is on the importance of electronics and online safety, education, situational security in public, and vetting friendships. Misty and Peter explore various tools and platforms that parents can use to protect their children, such as tracking devices, while also acknowledging that there are many avenues of potential threat that parents may be unaware of. They emphasize that parenting is a full-time job that requires constant effort to keep children safe in today's digital age.

In addition to discussing the challenges of modern parenting, Misty and Peter promote the importance of engaging children in positive activities and limiting their screen time. They provide insights on how to manage screen time effectively, including setting limits and using electronics as rewards. They caution against relying on electronics as babysitters and highlight the significance of providing children with constant access to books.

Misty and Peter also share their own experiences as parents, including their involvement in their children's various activities and the importance of making time for children to go outside and play.

Sound of Freedom

Misty and Peter congratulate Angel Studios and their friends for the movie Sound of Freedom, which sheds light on the issue of child sex trafficking. They discuss the movie's success and emphasize the importance of protecting children against harm. Misty and Peter share their belief that God feels strongly about safeguarding children and punishing those who harm them. They discuss the need for parents to explain safety precautions to their children and teach them to be aware of their surroundings.

Encouraging Alternative to Screen-based Activities

Towards the end of the episode, Misty and Peter reflect on the role of music in their lives and their children's musical talents. They discuss the valuable lessons they learned about putting their children's interests first and the importance of engaging in conversations with them. They also touch on the addictive effects of technology and the need to use social media wisely and protect our children from its potential dangers. Misty and Peter encourage regular monitoring of content and interactions on devices to stay informed and ensure the safety of children.

The Importance of the Dinner Table

As the episode comes to a close, Misty and Peter highlight the value of teachable moments at the dinner table. They share personal experiences of bonding with their families over meals and emphasize the power of the dinner table as a tool for family connection. They reiterate the importance of discussing challenging topics like child trafficking, acknowledging that it may not be pleasant but is necessary to stay involved and informed.

This episode of Spark Influence is an enlightening and thought-provoking exploration of modern parenting and the measures necessary to keep children safe in today's complex world. Thank you for listening to the Spark Influence podcast. We love to hear from you. Let us know what you would like to hear in future episodes. Leave a us a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Next Episode

Strengthening Relationships: The Role of Effective Communication in Sparking Influence

Welcome back to "Spark Influence," the podcast that explores the power of connection and influence in relationships. In today's episode, we dive deep into the topic of intimacy and communication within a partnership. Our speaker sheds light on the misconception that full intimacy means sacrificing privacy, emphasizing the importance of intertwining while maintaining individuality. They share personal anecdotes and practical tips on how to create a dynamic connection in your relationship. Join us as we uncover the secrets to effective communication, the role of support in building a strong foundation, and the importance of keeping the spark alive. Get ready to ignite your influence with episode 41 of "Spark Influence"!

Key Points

Introduction to the concept of full intimacy and privacy
- Clarification that full intimacy does not mean lack of privacy
- Examples of couples maintaining some level of separation in their relationship
- The importance of a deep connection and intertwining in relationships
- Emphasis that deep connection does not mean lack of privacy
- Description of the speaker's own intimate and intertwined relationship
- Example of the speaker's daily routine with their partner
- The significance of quiet time together for effective communication
- Importance of having a strong connection before the kids wake up
- Communication as the key to a strong relationship
- Actively listening to your partner and being present
- Setting aside distractions like phones
- Challenges in communication due to busy schedules and stress
- Open lines of communication to express needs and find solutions
- The development of deep intimacy over time in a relationship
- Contrast between excitement and insecurity in the early stages
- Comfort and security after being together for 31 years
- Acceptance of flaws and quick reconciliation after arguments
- Addressing issues and conflicts in a relationship
- Importance of how something is said in a conversation
- Need to immediately address issues and not let them build up
- Impact of small issues becoming bigger problems
- Supporting each other and creating a strong foundation
- Championing each other's causes and providing support
- Appreciation for emotional support and skills in business
- Importance of deferring to and supporting each other's needs
- The importance of forgiveness and letting go of mistakes
- Confessing and forgiving wrongdoings to keep the relationship strong
- Emphasis that love does not keep score
- Learning how to fight effectively in a relationship
- Understanding each other's needs and boundaries
- Negative behaviors to avoid, such as bringing up past issues and being selfish
- Giving space and not suffocating during arguments
- Keeping love alive and maintaining the spark
- Celebrating 31 years of marriage
- Observations of successful and failed marriages among friends and family
- Coping with stress and the pace of everyday life in relationships
- The first step towards maintaining love in a relationship
- Transformation of how disagreements are handled
- Building each other up and being supportive
- Support in different family circumstances (both parents working or one staying home)
- Showing love through actions and gestures of appreciation
- Gratitude, support, affection, and fun in the relationship
- Teasing and playfulness to keep the relationship alive
- Words of affirmation and regular check-ins
- Nurturing the connection and remembering why they fell in love
- Quality time together and staying connected
- Avoiding becoming roommates in the relationship
- Engaging in activities together to nurture the connection
- Upcoming trip and anniversary celebration
- Playing golf and enjoying each other's company on the trip

Keywords

full intimacy, lack of privacy, separate bank accounts, deep connection, intertwining, no air between them, quality time, quiet time, effective communication, actively listening, being present, setting aside distractions, busy schedules, stress, open lines of communication, expressing needs, finding solutions, deep intimacy, excitement, insecurity, comfort, security, accepting flaws, reconciling, addressing issues, support, understanding emotions, being connected, emotional support, putting needs on the backseat, forgiveness, confessing, letting go, love does not keep score, fighting effectively, understanding needs, boundaries, negative behaviors, giving space, keeping love alive, maintaining love, transformation, building each other up, supportive environment, sacrifices, love shown through actions, gratitude, showing affection, keeping fun alive, words of affirmation, quality time, nurturing connection, playing golf