EP 101 Do I REALLY need to pray?

In this episode, we're going to talk all things prayer. We also talk about debunking the myths that people should disqualify themselves or they don't have the right gifts or the right talents. We're going to talk about all things prayer. And then I like the part about the community. I think one of the things that we really spend the most time with in this group is talking about praying together in a community, not having all of the pressure on you individually, but being able to walk alongside Sisters in Christ and help these people that need prayer. Oh, it's so many fun things I love to talk about. So let's begin. God didn't take stripes on His back just for physical healing. That's for emotional healing. Maybe the answers could be found just in being heard and being seen and finding someone else that understands. I was seeing God's hand in the prayers that I was praying for other people. When you are not focused on yourself, it frees you to actually be part of a miracle in somebody else's life. Welcome to iRefresh, where we talk about the power of prayer and God's Word. You ready? All right. Welcome to our episode for iRefresh Ministries. My name is Laura Watson, and I am with Cheryl Clare and Veronica Scott. And Cheryl is our founder, but Veronica and I are founding members. We've been with Cheryl since the beginning. So we thank you for joining us today, and I'm excited for what the Lord has in store. I thought it would be awesome with some questions we kind of looked at of describing what is iRefresh. If you've never heard it before, what does iRefresh do? I think of iRefresh that it is a group of women that pray and encourage other women to not only identify the gifts that they have, but to pursue them. And to learn how to walk with the Lord in a deeper meaning, in a deeper way, and to recognize everything that he's given them. That's well said. That's Veronica. That's very good. I love that. And I just want to kind of add to that a little bit. I think it is a way to develop a very strong spiritual community, a group of women that can encourage, strengthen, edify, build each other up, and kind of be there for one other. Just as Moses had Aaron and her to help. raise his arms when he grew weary. I think we need people to help us when we're weary or in the midst of circumstances, situations, trauma, there's so much of it. But I love all of what you said, but I just wanted to add on the community aspect. I would agree. And I think too, people have a false impression that people that are in a prayer ministry or ministry don't get weary. And that is a wrong misconception. You know, everybody needs a community that will encourage them and stand by them and hold up their arms during those seasons and help them through. So, you know, when you think of what it has done for us personally, you know, that's where I would say... And then leading into another question is, what does it mean for you personally, Veronica? For me personally, it was an opportunity to meet other women that I normally would not know. I got to meet people, have relationships with people that were outside of my circles, my sphere of influence, but at the same time, We were all believers in Christ, and we all loved Jesus. So we had a lot more in common than we realized. Yes, true. And it helped me to be able to really focus on prayer. And I learned from every single woman that I have met through the ministry. They have all taught me something, and I think that's a very valuable part of it. That's good. I love that. Yeah, what would you say? It's a lot of the same thing that Veronica said because there's so much truth to that. Right. I loved being connected to women that I probably wouldn't have met before. And just knowing and learning the different experiences we've all had, the different upbringings, the different understandings, the different revelations. I've loved the ability to be able to learn from them. And to see someone operate in a gift, a way maybe I've not seen before, or pray in a way I've not seen before. And it just spurs something and ignites something in you of, oh, you know, I love that. And I, you know, if you see someone that has a gift of healing and so they pray for someone's healing, that's just really on their heart. It's like, oh, I desire that. I want that gift of healing. And so it kind of... spurs you on to push yourself out of your comfort zone and expand and dig in to what the Lord has, because the gifts are for everyone. I agree. That's so good. You know, the thing I have, when I talk with all the women over the years, because they come and go as they move away and life happens with, you know, transitions and other ministries, it's great that it's an outlet for us. Some people come. Now they're involved in another ministry that they've gone away somewhere else, and they'll say, the training and what I learned when I was with the women there, I treasure that, and it helped me so much to launch me to what I'm doing now. And that's the thing I enjoy hearing back from different women of what a blessing it is and how they miss it. Because the fellowship, there's something that comes in when they come together. And that's when we say, I refresh, what do we do? We don't nonstop pray. There is the fellowship that we have, the communion of even just doing things together in a way where we're studying the word together. We're connecting with each other to make sure what's going on. When someone's had a surgery, are you okay? Do we need to bring food? You know, there's aspects. Or when someone's lost a loved one, you want each other to feel that love around each other. And so that's what I find, too, for me is... is knowing you have someone who's got your back. There's a support system there when, you know, those that are so engaged. Right. You know, not everyone's going to be as engaged as probably us. Yeah. Or as invested. Yeah. You know, and some of that is due to if you have kids or family dynamics or work or things like that. But when you connect when you can and invest when you can, it just creates your right. But they feel that. Yes. So when they're able to come, they're like, wow, it's so great. I've missed this. And it's not a judgment that they are not able to show. That's where we love that we're not... trying to judge somebody we understand it because we've all walked into so many different yes yes and but it's like okay just don't be absent like let us know are you okay do you need anything right reaching out right now because if you heard someone i had a surgery i'm like i didn't know you had one right um you didn't send a message for us to pray for you you know it's almost now there's scorn on that you know that's the motherly part of us right like um when did you decide to tell us or not tell us yeah yeah Yeah, but I do like that. And for me personally, I find, too, it's just that growth that I have been able to gain because I've learned from each other. Whereas it's funny, you know, we joke about sometimes early on is when you can get a group of women to come together and get along, there's the first act of, you know, a miracle of God. To encourage and cheer each other on instead of no competition or, you know, or having to be like, oh, I. You know, I want to do the same thing, but do it better. It's like, no, it's like you did it well. Right. You know, I love it. Yes. And that's good. And I think that also ties into what you said earlier about community. It is a community of women, and we do work together. And we all have our strengths, and that takes the pressure off of any one of us to be filled with the need that we have to do everything. You know, you can easily say, you know what, I can take a meal today. And then you know that somebody is going to take care of the rest of the week. So I think it works. Works well. It's a great point. But I think, too, when we talk about what does iRefresh do as well is, you know, it's when we invite people to come and we break up into small groups. Typically, we'll break up into small groups, and then we get to pray for that person, and we get to hear from the Lord of how is it he would have us pray and encourage that particular woman who is seeking the Lord for something. Yes. And what I love about and what I've experienced, and I think we've talked about it, we've all experienced over and over, is in those times when we break up and we have those prayer times and we have the ability and the opportunity to pray over someone, it's just incredible. Every time just to see the Lord confirm and see the Lord move and just see how we all flow so well together in the spirit. Yes. And it's not that, oh, you have to be the one to pray specifically or you have to be the one to do this. You know, how many times have we all been together and it's like, you'll start praying and it's like, oh, I was getting that same thing. Or Cheryl would be like, oh, my gosh, I had the perfect scripture that goes with what she's praying. Yes. But it encourages us, too, because that is our confirmation that we are hearing from the Lord and that we're doing that. what he's called us to do. And that is to encourage and build up the body and build up one another. Yes, I agree. And so it encourages us, not just them. It blesses them, but it encourages each of us. And we continue to learn, even though we've been doing that for a time. Always. Even as we have new people come in and walk alongside with us and we train them, you know, it might come off as a little bit intimidating being what they would think of us as a veteran. But the thing is I enjoy is I love to seek out what is it that God has blessed them with and then for us to help to draw that part out of them. Because as you're doing that, you're also, again, I think, Veronica, you've always said too, is what I take away and I learn from each person. Right. Right. That's such a gift. And it truly is. And I don't think we realize, we take it for granted, but it's a big part of being part of a group. As you learn from each other, you take something away. Like you said, as long as we've been doing this, we're still learning. We're still having those aha moments or wow, God, so many times. And I love the way that when we pray together in a group, it's not always the same group. So we do get to split it up and then we all, you know, so I may not pray with you, Laura, every time, but when I do, it's always awesome. But I know when I come to be a participant that I'm going to be in a good group. And we all grow together. And we can all pull on one another. And define that, Laura. What do you mean when you say pull? What would that mean to someone? What I mean about that is like sometimes, like for me, I'll be honest, the battle sometimes is... you get intimidated when you're in a group, especially, you know, people that you know are really close to the Lord and really have an understanding of the word and are really in tune with the spirit realm. And it's like, you're like, okay, maybe I won't pray it right, or maybe I won't say it right, or maybe it's not the right way to verbalize what I'm sensing that the Lord wants to convey. But it's just, you have to realize, you know what, I have to give my supply. You say that all the time. You come with your supply and you give it. And I just have to be obedient and say what I think the Lord wants me to say. But sometimes we may not be willing to do that. And so we're intimidated okay, maybe I just won't say it right. Maybe I won't do it right. And so say we're praying in a group and there's a certain lady that's feeling that way, but you know, she knows what to pray over the person that's receiving prayer. You know, she understands and she said, she discerns something and senses, excuse me, senses something. And so sometimes if we're you've got it. You, you, the Lord wants you to pray over her or the Lord wants you to share that scripture or the Lord wants you to share the vision or the picture that he's given you regarding their life. And every time I, I think you've done that. You've done that. But every time it's been like, you, You really need to... You're the one who needs to share. Right. And they step out and do it. It's like you always see the Lord move so strongly. I would agree. So clearly. And it's almost like a light bulb goes off in that person that's receiving it. And it encourages the person that you've pulled that out of. And it's not that... You know, they don't have it. They do. But it's just maybe they feel like, well, maybe it's not supposed to be me or I'm not going to do it right or do it well. But they always do. I agree. I agree. And I think there's safety in the group to where when you're ministering with a group, you realize it's not all on me. I don't have to hear every part of this prayer. I only have to do my part. And the rest of the group is going to be there backing us up. We back you up. You back me up. And we all work together. And it takes a lot of the intimidation off, I think. That's excellent. Yes, it does. And so we don't really, when we come together, we don't allow people to necessarily be silent within the group. Right. You know, when someone is going to, we always pinpoint someone to lead a group just so there's order. But I think it's great when we, and I asked someone the other time, I said, okay, you didn't have anything, or did you have something? And I missed it. And she looked at me, it's like nodded her head, no. I'm like, okay, because I didn't want to make sure I missed if someone had something, but they were too, you know, they're more of the quiet person. Yes. Person, or maybe they're newer in really walking things out. Because a lot of times when you feel an urgency of like, okay, there's something that's supposed to be said, and you look around, and you're like, oh, wait. And you feel like, okay, who's supposed to deliver the message? There's a timing and a way that you might be able to speak it. Because I've seen it where Veronica and I both have the same word, but the way that I present it and the way she presented it were totally just because of our personality and the way we deliver. That the person received it well from Veronica. Yes. Where for me, internally, it was my learning experience. I go, hey, why did it not resonate? And I thought, Lord, there's a time when we can back each other up. When you talk about back each other, it means I can pray and support Veronica when she is delivering a message to the person we pray for. And so that's just as important as if I was the one delivering, is praying, covering over whoever is delivering a message to. To the individual. And that's the beauty, I think, too. There's so much to learn. Even when someone has a gift of discernment, I've learned, because I remember there's been times where I'm like, you were getting something, right? And they're like, but you didn't feel you could release it or they were open or ready to receive it. And I'm like, that's so good because the Holy Spirit, he's a gentleman. He doesn't force his will on anyone. And so we are sensitive to not force anything and throw things at people unless the Holy Spirit knows that they're ready to receive a gift from him. I agree. And I love the way you said that because he prepares them to be ready to receive. Because the goal isn't to embarrass or to call out or to read someone's mail in front of everybody. It's an opportunity where we submit ourselves to the Lord. Yes. Go before him in prayer. So when he shares what we share... It's always to encourage and to support. And sometimes there might be a little correction in it, but it's always given in a loving, kind way. It's never been in a judgment or condemnation. And I think for me, the majority of the time, what we pray and what we share and the scriptures we give, it has been confirming for them for what they've been praying for or what they were contending for and what they've been asking the Lord for. It's like I there's almost every occasion it's like, I was just asking the Lord about that last week, or I was just praying about that the week before, or I was talking to the Lord about that today, and I love that. And that's encouraging to us as well. Absolutely. I agree with you completely because it's confirming. It's confirming that, okay, I did hear that right. And, you know, like you said earlier, it's a little bit of a stepping out to say, well, this is what I'm getting, you know. But I do think, too, that one of the things I really enjoy about iRefresh is we have a disclaimer. We always tell the ladies, you know, this is just what we believe we hear. But you pray over it. And if it doesn't bear witness with you, put it aside. This is not an opportunity for us to say, this is everything you do step by step. It's an encouraging and an opportunity to encourage you to go before the Father and get the rest of the story. He gives us part of it, but he doesn't give us all of it. And that's the beautiful thing is, you know, encouraging the women to dig into their relationship with the Lord by themselves. Excellent. And that leads me even to this. Why would someone want to have a prayer group? And you kind of almost started to tip into that. Yeah. And I would say, you know, it's an opportunity to encourage your friends, your relatives, your acquaintances, anyone that you know that, you know, there's something about her that she hasn't quite tapped into. I want to pray with her. So I want to have a prayer group because, again, like we said earlier, if you have a group of ladies, then everybody brings their part, their supply. Then the receiver gets the full package. And so rather than praying for someone individually, I may not have all of the parts to it. But if I'm with a prayer team, I know God's going to use each person and their giftings. And that recipient is going to walk away getting the whole package, everything God had for them and get them ready to go. That's so good. Laura, what would you say? I love that is exactly that is definitely part of my answer because I love that. But I think we talked about it earlier was just there's something intimate about when you come together and you pray together and you seek the Lord together. And you contend for each other and you contend for those people that are coming to prayer. So it just creates that intimacy. And it's just you really feel that safety. You really feel that security. Like you said, just being in a group and praying together because you each kind of bring your pieces of the puzzle that when you come together, you can make the complete picture. And bring together. the complete picture to someone. And I love too, that it, you know, as you create that intimacy and pray together, you just tend to start flowing so well together and so easily together and really just kind of, you know, tapping into each other's gifts and each other's talents. And, um, I love too that it gives you an opportunity to pray for women that you probably would never have the chance to pray for. And you meet and connect with these women as well that come for prayer. You're invested in them and you're connected with them. And it just, yeah, it builds those connections and those networks that you probably would not have an opportunity if it were just you praying over someone. And I love how. it just sparks something in each of us. Like as you go out, it's like you meet somebody and you're like, Oh, I know where you should be next week. It should be, you know, if you are willing, you know, we'd love to pray over you. So it, it gives you an outlet as well for you to connect with other women and invite them in to receive prayer. You get to exercise. Exactly. You know, we've talked about gifts, and some people may not even know, well, what is a gift? And, you know, the scriptures do talk about that we all get one gift, at least one gift. But even Paul says, but go after them all. Go after them. Right. But even, you know, there are certain things, I don't know how you'd call it a gift, but, you know, Laura, with someone who is struggling to have a child, I know that you have a real calling that. an anointing to pray over women that when you've prayed over multiple women, they do get pregnant and go to full term. Yeah. And that was in what the story behind that was, I didn't even know that. And it's like I had never really kind of stepped out into that until one time I was at church and Sine Tucker called me up to pray for somebody. And she goes, you have that gift and anointing, and I want you to pray over them. Wow. And I was like, I do. So it was a shock to me, too. I was like, oh, really? I didn't know that. So I was like, you know what, though? Okay, Lord, I am going to take it on faith. I'm going to step out. And my heart for them is to... you know, create life and carry life and birth life and raise that life. And I prayed and prayed over a few women and they ended up, um, becoming pregnant after many miscarriages and, uh, going to full term. And it just, once that initial stepping out of faith and doing it and, um, You know, it's one of those things, even if you're not sure if you have that gift or anointing, we're still going to do it because we have faith in the Lord and in the Word that His Word is going to go and do what it says it's going to do. But see, the value is you are part of a community and somebody tapped into it. Yes. And the thing is, sometimes we don't see in ourselves something. We don't see the potential. And I love that. I think when we're talking about creating a group and you're in a part of an iRefresh group, how many times have we seen the potential in someone or saw that gift or saw that anointing or saw that? It's like, you know what? You need, I think you have an anointing for this or a calling for this. Right, excellent. Right. So, and just kind of. spurring them on to step out in it. And just to see what the Lord does. Yes. Like what we discovered, we would never known if we didn't have this, that the Lord put it together. Like step by step, he began to put it together. Yes. I felt an urgency to talk to each of you. But Veronica and I were not really, we're casual friends from our kids going to the same school. But, you know, the thing is, I love how God has allowed it as we have gone together to start praying over each other. That's how we started. That's how we started. But then over time, based on when we've prayed for different people, it's like God put a demand on something because there was a need for the person was prayed for. So all of a sudden, something you never would have... If I prayed individually for someone, that may never have occurred. God is big enough if that was something within me. But our friend who's not able to be with us today, that's part of our founding people... is Christy. Right. And we recently were praying, and I'm like, oh, I feel like this one young lady needs a hug. She needs that motherly hug, and she has an anointing that when she embraces this young lady, the anointing and whatever she needs to be fully loved and just received from the Father through this is beautiful. That's awesome. There's such a healing. Yes. And I'm like, it's not in the Bible, like the gift of a hug. However, that gift of love and the way that God showed Christy to do that has been such a healing that I've seen in different people over the years. Right. But the group just beginning, because I don't think any of us came in thinking, I'm qualified. I've done this. I have here's my resume. I can say. Right. I don't think any of us came in that way. No. No. No. It was just something of, I want to do something. I want lives to be touched. I want people to get everything God has for them. Yes. No one was disqualified. I think no one in the group is going to disqualify someone. I think we have a tendency to disqualify ourselves. That's a true point. And what I love about being part of an iRefresh group is, You realize that that's not valid and you realize that you're not disqualified because you have a group that you are connected with, that they're going to be like, no, you are more than qualified. And I see this in you and I see that in you. And look what the Lord used you to do here and look what the Lord used you to do there. And remember when you prayed over this person and you, They were like, that is exactly what I was praying for, you know, last week. And so it just it's kind of one of those things. It just breaks something inside of us that has kept us bound or kept us limited or kind of kept us within certain boundaries. Yeah. And I love that. I think being part of an iRefresh group kind of pushes you out of that. And it helps you realize the potential that is there and that potential of what God wants to do if you allow it and you step out and make yourself available. Yeah. I love that, Lauren. I think exactly what you said. I just see it as the goodness of God to take something that was an insecurity and to bring you into a group of women that can encourage you past your insecurity. And when you leave, you're doing the wow, God, you know, like you. I do? I do? Really? Yes. But then you got the wow, God, and you have the testimony to prove it. The praise reports follow, and that's so confirming. And it increases your faith. It does. It does. Right. And that's something else I think you gain from praying in a prayer group. It grows. It grows. It's a growing confidence, not in ourselves, but it's a confidence that the Lord actually, like, oh, yes. I did hear him. Yes. I did because, like you said, Laura, you're saying when we talk afterwards, we do a learning experience of talking and reaffirming. Like, I'm so glad you spoke up because I was getting something, but I didn't have it all. But when you started to speak, now my verse I had made sense because it didn't feel like we began to open up in prayer, like, where is this verse going? Right. Until you began to pray over that person. I'm like, oh, it's the timing of delivery. The delivery and who speaks first for them to receive so much from the Lord. Yes. I agree. Because how many times I have done it. I don't know about you ladies, but how many times you sat down to pray over someone. You know, we break off in our small group. We're praying over someone. It's like... I got nothing. There's nothing here. It's just nothing. I did my quiet time. I did everything, but there's just nothing here, Lord. And so, but you still, you know, you're like, okay, Lord's still going to move. And like you said, it's like. One person will open up or start and it just, then it just, it's like it releases. I agree with you. In the spirit. And there's nothing quite like it. It is so powerful. Yes. Yeah. I would agree. And I think too, the benefit of that is when you feel like I got nothing, you really don't have anything. No. Because it's not about you. No, it's not. It's not about you. Exactly. You are tapping into the Holy Spirit to say, all right, Lord, I am a blank and empty vessel Help me out here. And he comes through every time. And I so appreciate what you were sharing because I've seen that so many times when other people in the group start sharing. Then the word of the Lord comes. Then the anointing hits. Then you're flowing. And then you're like, ah, there it is. But, you know, if you're by yourself, you miss that opportunity. And I think a lot of it I've learned like over the years and. the number of years that we've done this, is sometimes, especially when you're in a group, it's that, like you touched on this earlier. It's like I maybe would have said, started it off and said it a certain way, but it wouldn't have necessarily broken anything in the spirit or ignited anything in that person. But yet if someone over here, the way they're going to convey that and say that to this person, just... Yeah. Opens it up. Right. Or sometimes it's you have the same message, but it's the timing. Yes. Of when you deliver it, the other ladies have already started breaking up the ground. Oh, that's wonderful. And so in that case, then the heart is open to receive. that when the first person may have delivered it, they may still be closed off because they haven't had that benefit of what the Lord is doing in them at that point. And so later throughout the process, as the other ladies start working through, then you get the unction like, okay, now it's time to deliver this. That's excellent. And sometimes when people come, they're like, I don't know what you guys are all about. Or they're like, I'm not sure I want to take it. it's a little bit it's a little intimidating seeing a bunch of strangers that you're I mean a lot of times they come in as strangers and it takes a little bit of time just to warm up and then like okay I'm here to receive and if there's an expectancy it just takes all kinds of people and yet I think it's like you're right it's preparing the ground because I recently was I had joined a group late and when I came I felt an anointing over the person they were praying for and I'm like I think I'm supposed to deliver it. So I looked to the leader of the group for permission, and she gave me approval. The funny thing, when you look at it, because all of a sudden she would kind of look at me and kind of almost laugh, and like, we already said that. And I thought, ooh. And then I'd say something else, and there she's like, mm-hmm. We already said that. I'm like, oh. Wow. I'm like, okay, I did it three times. Is that a good or a bad thing? And then they're like, reminds me, everything we've done is according to the Word. Exactly. Even, you know, we've wrote the guide. Everything is, what does the Scripture say? How does he have us deliver things? The Lord, when he was emphasizing things, he would repeat. Yes. himself when he wanted to make sure to remember certain things, it was like an exclamation point. Like, I need you to get it. Right. I want to, this is my word to you. I'm asking you to trust me and obey. Yes. And for us to be willing to even trust the Lord when you're like, I'm going out on a limb, I'm going to say something. Yes. Like you said, Veronica, sometimes it might be a little correction. Uh-huh. You're like, there's times when you have a scripture, like, oh, I'm not delivering. That one is spanked. It's about getting spanked. I don't want to deliver this one. Right? And so you might say that towards the end. Right. And you're like, I don't know. And, you know, that's where it's great to just be human and say, you know. Exactly. Exactly. Take it for whatever it is. Right. But this is where I feel an unction that this is a scripture. Mm-hmm. And just pray through. Yes. And in a loving way is to see what the Lord has for you. What is he trying? Because really, it's not for them to hear us. It's to hear from heaven. It's what is God showing you? We want to teach you. You know, we are respectful to the different denominations. Right. We ask, you know, certain questions. Right. Because we want to respect and make sure that they don't feel, you know— We want to respect the boundaries. We don't want to cross any to make someone feel uncomfortable. Well, you know, the goal is for them to be comfortable. And we can pray through with them. But the end goal is that they leave feeling encouraged, strengthened. And they had a meeting with the Lord. That was it. They had an encounter. I don't even care if they even remember my name. It's just, you don't need my name. Just know that the Lord showed up for you tonight. And it is an opportunity, as you said, for them to take it home with them. It's not a come here and only get it here kind of thing. And that's what I like about Part of the Way. And I don't know if you have this in your notes, but I refresh the format. We do a scribe. And that, to me, is just such a beautiful part of the whole prayer group is you have one lady that writes highlights, not word for word, but just highlights of what the Lord's sharing and especially the scriptures. And they take that home with them. That's not for us to keep. That's for them to take home. And it's an opportunity for them to be, like you said, in an attitude of receiving. They don't have to try and remember that. everything, because we've all been there. We've all received prayer, and it's hard to remember everything. And so the scribe is such a valuable part of the process, to be able to take that word home with you, pray through it, reread it. How many times do ladies come back with their scribe sheets? They keep them in their Bibles. Yes, over the years. I still have it in my Bible. Exactly. Right. Right. And that is encouraging to me to know that God really met them and they know that God met them. It's okay for me to know it, but for you to know it, that's huge. Excellent. Yeah. Well, and it's even like you were saying where it's like, you know, okay, here's a scripture I have, you know, just, you know, kind of. Take it with you, kind of pray over it. And that's because sometimes it's that word may be for a little bit down the road, not quite for this season, but it's a preparation maybe for a season that's coming. And like you said, too, where you take it and you just kind of meditate on it and you read on it. And that's because the word says test everything against the word. And that's what we're wanting them to do is take what was prayed, what was spoken, the scriptures that were given. And, you know, sometimes put them in context and sometimes put them, you know, in a fine scriptures that are similar or fine scriptures. Maybe that if there's a theme that's prevalent. Yes. And I love it because it gives them a tool to take with them. Good point. To kind of keep meditating, like you said, meditate on and just test it against the word. Yeah, good, right. And kind of just say, okay, Lord, what's for now? And then, okay, if it's not for now, I'm going to shelf it and you let me know when it's time. So, yeah. And, you know, we've really hit it. I didn't have to ask the question about the value of community and prayer. Right. But the one thing I have to say, even as in summary, though, too, for me, it's enhanced. Not only we talk about growing closer to the Lord, but it's enhanced my time in the word. Oh, I would agree. You know, we require, obviously, you need to be in a Bible-based church, but the time in your meditating on the Word is so great because we're really praying the Word of God into our lives. And I have learned that from the women in our group is like, oh, I don't know those scriptures. But I began to learn that there's phrases, and the Holy Spirit is so good. Yes. So I love how we're all like, if we can't find the phrase, one of us is searching for it real quick. I got it. I got it. Right, right. It's like, oh, that's in Corinthians. And so it's teamwork. I'm like, I think it's the epistle. And I love how we help each other out. Because if I'm one of the scribes, I'll write a phrase and I'm like, and then somebody's looking at me like, yes, like, tag your it, look it up. So there's always something going on where if you don't have part of the message, you're actually also helping to find the actual scripture because we know his word will not return void. Amen. He will accomplish his word. So we want to share his word. And that's what we're about, right? I agree. Really elevating people to a place where they're seeing the word and it's going to transform. It's going to bring life to them. It is his word in their heart, planted, believing for what God said in his word for their life. Right. And igniting something inside of them. So important. That is my biggest thing is to ignite them. And sometimes it's even, it's always been there, but kind of the ember, you know, it's kind of just barely kind of simmering a little bit. But just kind of to reignite or just to ignite something inside them. The other thing I love, in addition to the scripture and everything that you're talking about, is just being in a group. I always learn new ways to apply the word and new ways to take certain, you know, even testimonies or certain ways you use a scripture or certain ways. You know, this is what I do each morning. And it's like Pam having my favorite example is Pam was talking about, you know, the Lord says, is concerned for those things that concern you. And she has a journal that was just for her concerns and kind of writing them down. And as you write them down, that's your physical act of turning them over to the Lord and saying, okay, you're going to handle this. Yeah. But to me, that's a, you know, a simple application of the word and something that is so powerful, but so simple for anyone to do. So I love that. the applications that I have gotten from. We take the verses that somebody else has given. I'm like, wait a minute. I've heard this. We're like, I'm going to take that verse. I'm going to take that encouragement. That's exactly what I'm talking about. Or it's like, oh, I was dealing with that last week. Oh, that's the. That's the perfect verse. Absolutely. Oh, yes. Which I think brings us back to what we said earlier about don't disqualify yourself. Excellent. You know, so many times ladies will say, oh, I can't be part of a prayer group. I don't know that much. I don't know the Bible that well. Yes. And that's not what this is about. This is about as you participate. Yes. your knowledge of the word will grow because you're sitting with a group of anointed women, that anointing will rest upon you. It will bring the word to life. And I don't know about you girls, but for me, it just ignites this desire in me to go home and read more. Like after I finished prayer, I'm like, Ooh, that was really a good scripture. Yeah. So I'm like going home and reading the rest of the chapter. Yes. And that's right. Or, okay, I know there's more in here and I want to find it. Exactly. You know, defining words. And so you're pulling out, you know, your dictionary and you're like, okay, what does this mean? Exactly. Just kind of, you know, being, I think it helps us become a diligent seeker of the Lord and of the Word. I would agree. And not just casual. but a diligent. And because if we diligently seek him, we will find him. Always find him. Yes, I agree. There's so many rich things happen. So many. And just being a part of the community of prayer and be able to give out to others. But then we are always taking in and learning in that process. And yet it also unites our hearts. Yes. Draws us closer to the Father, but it also draws us closer to each other and support each other along the way. So it's just incredible. all the values that come, just having your own prayer group. I agree. And I think you just explained, what does I refresh do for me? That's it right there. You know, it encourages me to grow deeper in the things of God. With sisters in Christ, you know, with others that are surrounded around me that has spurred me on, encourage me like Sinead did with you, you know, just press you and say, OK, go ahead. You know, and here's the beautiful thing. If God's in the midst of your prayer group, then he's got your back. So if he's leading you to say it and you say it, he's going to anoint it, cover it and keep it protected. Yeah, so good. And I kind of equate it to I used to run races. I don't anymore. So say you decide you want to run a half marathon. And it's like you can train by yourself. You can do the training runs by yourself to try to strengthen yourself and to get yourself down to a time you want. Right. You know, but your end goal is the race. But how much easier is it when you train with other people that have the same goal that they're aiming for? That you're all aiming for the same goal. Yes. And you want to make each other better. And you want to make sure no one's left behind. And you want to make sure that everyone's getting their best, doing their best, and being their best. And I look at being part of an iRefresh group like that. It's my running group. And it's like, you know, we're going to train together. We are going to learn together. We are going to impart wisdom to each other. And we're going to encourage one another and strengthen one another. And when you can't run, we're going to carry you. Right. And I kind of equate it to that. It's just great analogy. It's easier to run a race with other people having the same goal than to do it by yourself. So true. Against a group of people you're not connected with at all. Well, I agree. So Veronica, if someone was interested in being involved or have their own group, where would you suggest? How would they start? Well, you know, the way that I started with the group is you contacted me and said this was something on your heart. You felt like the Lord was really leading you to start a group. And would I be interested in participating? And, you know, the answer was, let's just get together and pray. And that's how we started. I think there were four of us total. Some days maybe just two, but that's all you need. You just need one other person to start. And you pray together. And as you pray together, the Lord will knit you together. And then the rest of it just followed. And then from there, we went to get into resources and... invitations of guests that wanted prayer because word travels. It does. And so then we developed it into the structure that we ended up developing and we put it into a book form. Yes. And so it's a guideline. It just kind of helps to lay out how the Lord showed us. So it's all scripture based of what the structure, for those who love structure, in a format. that we provide that as well as training is available as well, just so that you can feel more comfortable. And we love to tell the stories to tell why we've done or not done certain things in prayer ministry. You know, Laura, why don't you, as we're finishing, why don't you even tell them where would you go to find those kind of resources? The best place is the website. It is www.irefresh.net. There are so many great resources, tools, connections. We have scriptures. We have videos. We also have podcasts. Those are available on any media platform. We have videos. Those are also available on media platforms. Those are great tools, great items to share with others, maybe that are struggling with this specific topic or an area or circumstance in their life. We have so many different topics, so many areas that we touch on and relate to the word. and give scripture and give encouragement. And so those are great tools to share with other people. Say you watch it for yourself, but the Lord will tell you, oh, this person would love to hear that or need to hear that. And it's easy to forward that on and to share it with them. And then they end up passing it on to someone else. That's so good. So, yes, please visit the website and please look for our podcast and our videos. Those are excellent tools. And so there's a lot of resources, like, you know, Laura, you were talking about on our website. But if they were specifically wanting to get in touch, what would you suggest? I would suggest that they visit the website for that as well, iRefresh.net. There's a way to contact us on the website. You can do it that way. Or you can email us at info at iRefresh.net. And we will definitely respond, giving you the next steps to start your own prayer group. Thank you for listening to the Power of Prayer podcast. Share it with your friends and family. Then subscribe to keep receiving words to inspire and encourage your walk with Christ.