Gateway Church Live | “Praying in Faith” by Pastor Daniel Floyd | January 3–4

So whether you are here in the room watching online at any of our gateway gatherings or our prison campuses, we are thrilled that you're here and happy new year, 
((music playing))
 Gateway Church. Come on. Scripture says that God crowns the year with his goodness. And 
((music playing))
 so I fully receive that that we serve a God that who is not only is behind us, who's beside us, but a God who goes before us.

And he is already crowned 2026 with his goodness. Amen. 
((music playing))
 Amen. Well, church, who's ready to worship today? Listen, we've got our very 
((music playing))
 good friends, Brian and Jen Johnson, helping us lead to worship today. We're so excited that they're here. So, God, 
((music playing))
 we thank you that your presence is in this place.

Holy Spirit, come. We welcome you here. 
((music playing))
 We thank you for this new year and all that you have in store for us, God. So, right now, we lift your name on high. In your holy 
((music playing))
 name, we pray. Amen. Church, let's worship. >> 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 >> A thousand generations falling down 
((music playing))
 in worship to sing the song of 
[singing]
 ages to the lamb.

Now all have gone before us. All the 
[singing]
 world will believe. Sing the song 
((music playing))
 of ages to the lamb. Your name. Your name 
((music playing))
 is the highest. Your name is the greatest. 
((music playing))
 Your name stands above them all. All thrones and dominions, all powers and 
((music playing))
 positions. Your name stands above them 
((music playing))
 all and the angels.

((music playing))
 All creation abol. Holy, 
((music playing))
 holy, 
((music playing))
 holy forever. 
((music playing))
 You been forgi 
((music playing))
 if you are free. There's sing 
((music playing))
 song forever to 
((music playing))
 sing the song forever and 
((music playing))
 the angels cry. Holy all creation 
((music playing))
 holy you're lied 
((music playing))
 forever. 
((music playing))
 to the king of kings. 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 is your name. Your 
((music playing))
 name is the highest. Your name is the greatest.

Your 
((music playing))
 name stands above them all. 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Yeah. 
((music playing))
 Heat. 
((music playing))
 Yeah. 
((music playing))
 Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 You always be. Oh, you will always be 
((music playing))
 holy, holy forever. You will always be holy, holy forever. 
((music playing))
 I am an 
((music playing))
 instrument of exaltation. I was born to lift your name above all names.

You hear a mey of all creation, 
((music playing))
 but there's a song of praise that only I can bring. Who else is worthy? Who 
((music playing))
 else is worthy? There is no one only Jesus. 
((music playing))
 Who else is worthy? Who else 
((music playing))
 is worthy? There is no 
((music playing))
 one, only Jesus. You are the 
((music playing))
 infinite God of the aes.

You chose 
((music playing))
 to make my heart as well in place. You heal my brokenness. Showed me your glory. So our songs 
((music playing))
 of thanks my angels sing. Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is 
((music playing))
 no one, only Jesus. 
((music playing))
 Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There 
((music playing))
 is none, only you, Jes. >> 
((music playing))
 >> Who else is worthy?

Who else is worthy? There is none. 
((music playing))
 Only Jesus. Who else is 
((music playing))
 worthy? Who else is worthy? There is one only Jesus. 
((music playing))
 The lamb of God anointed one who was 
[music and singing]
 and is and is to come. Seated on the throne 
[music and singing]
 above. Holy, holy, rightous one. He shed 
((music playing))
 his blood. He proved to 
[singing]
 us the father's love.

Jesus Christ be lifted up. Heat. Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Yeah. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Yeah. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Yeah. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Oh Jesus. Who else is 
((music playing))
 worthy? Who else is worthy? 
[singing]
 There is none 
((music playing))
 for me, Jesus. 
((music playing))
 >> Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no one only Jesus.

((music playing))
 Alpha Omega beginning and end. Who else? Alpha Omega beginning and end. Who else? Who else? Who else? What else? And who else? But you, Lord, wonderful in all your ways, magnificent and holy. Just lift your hands this morning. Just tell him 
((music playing))
 who he is in your own words.

Wonderful counselor, mighty God. Just lift your hands. Sing out a new song to the Lord. What's honest to you this morning? Tell him who he is. You're 
((music playing))
 wonderful. You're matchless in all your ways. Provider beginning and the end. One is faithful, 
((music playing))
 one is holy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Heat.

((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Yeah. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 is the angels cry. Holy all creation Christ holy 
((music playing))
 Lord we lift you high 
[singing and music]
 forever. It's Jesus. I'm going to teach you a new song today. The greatness 
[singing]
 of the Lord is beyond compare. 
[singing]
 The greatness of the Lord, is beyond 
((music playing))
 compare. All splendor and glory forever.

He 
[music and singing]
 is holy. The greatness of the Lord 
((music playing))
 is beyond compare. The friendship 
((music playing))
 of the Lord is beyond 
((music playing))
 compare. The friendship 
((music playing))
 of 
[singing]
 the Lord is beyond compare. Oh Jesus, 
((music playing))
 my treasure abide with 
((music playing))
 me forever. The friendship 
[music and singing]
 of the Lord is beyond compare. The faithfulness 
((music playing))
 of God, it will never fail.

The faithfulness 
((music playing))
 of God, it will never fail. My hope is in you are the rock. My life is built on the faithfulness 
((music playing))
 of God. It will never 
((music playing))
 fail. The kingdom of our God, 
((music playing))
 the kingdom of our God, it will 
((music playing))
 never end. The 
((music playing))
 kingdom of our God, it will never end.

((music playing))
 The great is one 
((music playing))
 who was to come. The lamb 
((music playing))
 of God is seated all the etern. 
((music playing))
 We sing the same God is trying to 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 be compar Yeah. 
((music playing))
 It's beyond compare. 
((music playing))
 Oh, the gra 
((music playing))
 >> 
((music playing))
 >> The greatness 
((music playing))
 of the Lord is beyond 
[singing]
 compare. The greatness of the Lord is beyond compare. of splendor and glory forever.

He is holy. The greatness 
[music and singing]
 of the Lord is beyond compare. We're going to sing this fourth verse again. The kingdom of our God. The kingdom 
((music playing))
 of our God, it will never end. >> 
((music playing))
 >> The kingdom of our God, it will never 
((music playing))
 end. The great war is 
((music playing))
 to come see 
((music playing))
 and 
((music playing))
 we will see the heat.

[singing]
 Heat. Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 >> 
((music playing))
 >> Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 >> 
((music playing))
 >> Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Oh 
((music playing))
 be 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 the greatness of the Lord is beyond compare. Jesus. Jesus. >> 
((music playing))
 >> I love you, Lord. Oh, your mercy 
[music and singing]
 never fails me. All my days I've been held in your hands. From the moment that I wake up until I lay my 
[music and singing]
 head, I will sing of the goodness of God.

((music playing))
 All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so 
[music and singing]
 so good. With every breath 
((music playing))
 that I am able, I will sing 
((music playing))
 of the goodness of God. I love your voice. You have led 
((music playing))
 me through the fire in darkness 
((music playing))
 night. You were close like no other.

((music playing))
 I've known you as a father. I know you as a friend. I 
((music playing))
 have live in the goodness of God. All my 
((music playing))
 life you have been. 
((music playing))
 All my life you have been so so 
((music playing))
 good. Every 
((music playing))
 single 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 way >> 
((music playing))
 >> I give you everything. Your goodness is running out. It's running out to me.

((music playing))
 Your goodness is running out. It's running out to me. 
((music playing))
 This is my 
((music playing))
 me. 
((music playing))
 I give you everything. Your is running 
((music playing))
 out. It's running out for me. Thank you, Lord. All 
((music playing))
 my life you have been faithful. >> Thank you Lord. >> All my life you have been so so 
((music playing))
 every breath that I am able I will sing of the goodness of God. >> 
((music playing))
 >> Heat.

Heat. 
((music playing))
 >> 
((music playing))
 >> Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 >> 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 >> Oh, come on church. Clap your hands. Oh, come on. Shouting to God with the voice of triumph. 
((music playing))
 What a great God we serve. I was thinking about the verse in 1 Coronicles that says, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good and his mercies endure forever." >> I know many of us, we can look back over our life and say, "Yeah, God, you've been faithful."

And maybe you're even here and you're like, "I don't I don't really know what I believe about God yet." And you're kind of wondering, "Why are these people so excited?" It's because we can look back over our life and see the hand of God. And so you praise him for what he has done.

How many of you know there's a praise that he's worthy of for the things he did, you don't even know he did. 
((music playing))
 Come on. The moments he spared you and you didn't even know he spared you. 
((music playing))
 You don't even know the car accident he kept you out of.

You don't even know the diagnosis he kept from coming your way. But I was thinking about that his mercies endure forever. 
((music playing))
 So not only do I give him thanks for what he has done, I give him thanks for what he is going to do. So go with me for a moment.

God is outside of time, right? He's not confined by time. And so he sees the day you're born and the day you die at the same time instantaneously. And so his mercies endure forever in our life because he's already in our next hour. He's already in our tomorrow.

He's already in our next month. And so I don't know what 2026 will bring. But what I do know is that whatever it does bring, God's already there. 
[applause and music]
 And he's there with faithfulness. And he's there with mercies. and he's there with grace and he's there with compassion. And so I think we ought to crown this year with a praise on faith. >> You know what I mean by that?

That means God, I'm going to praise you for what you haven't even done yet in my life. But I know you're going to do because I know the character of my God. That he is faithful and that he's merciful and that his mercies are running 
((music playing))
 after me. Oh, come on.

Why don't you lift your hands to heaven? Why don't you give him a shout? Say, "God, I'm not even there yet, 
((music playing))
 but you're worthy of all of my glory, of all the praise, of all the adoration, cuz you've been faithful, 
((music playing))
 and you'll remain faithful. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat. 
((music playing))
 Heat.

((music playing))
 Yeah. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 
((music playing))
 Goodness of God. 
((music playing))
 
((applause))
 All my life. All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so 
((music playing))
 so good. With every breath that I am a I will sing of the goodness of God. I will sing 
((music playing))
 of the goodness of God. >> 
((music playing))
 >> Will you pray with me?

((music playing))
 Father, that's our declaration as we head in this year. We're reminded of what Paul told Timothy that even when we're faithless, you are faithful. So, we're grateful today. grateful that you who are the same yesterday, today, and forever more are in our right nows and you are in all of our tomorrows and that you remain faithful through it all.

So no matter what we may step into this year, whatever this year may hold, we don't know, but we know who holds it. and we have confident assurance that you will be faithful. And so we give you our greatest expression of love today. 
((music playing))
 We give you our heart's affection, our mind's attention fixed on you, saying all this is for you and all this is because of you.

We echo the words of David. Not to us, oh Lord. Not to us, 
((music playing))
 but to your name. We are not here for our name. We're not here for the name of gateway. We are here that the name of Jesus would be made great. 
((music playing))
 It is your fame. It is your glory.

It is unto you, O Lord, be honor and praise and glory and power and adoration and exaltation. We make much of you. It's at your name that everything bows. It's in your name where healing is found. Freedom is found in your name. It's fulfillment is found in your name. purpose.

It's found in your name. Everything that we're searching for in life, it's found in the name that is above every name, the name of Jesus. So, we lift up your name today. We say, "Have your way in our lives. Have your way in our church. Have your 
((music playing))
 way in this year.

Guide us, lead us, direct us. We are submitted to you, King Jesus." So I pray today for anyone that walked in the space that are joining us online and they came in heavy. Life is overwhelming. I pray in this moment may they lift their eyes to the hills from where their strength comes from.

Comes from the maker of heaven and earth. I speak the peace of God into every chaotic situation. speak the healing power of Jesus 
((music playing))
 into every body that is broken. We thank you that you're the wonderful counselor to everyone that needs direction. We thank you that you are strength to those who are weak.

You are peace to those who are anxious. And so come by your spirit and minister to every heart as only you can. We give you all the honor and all the praise for you alone are worthy. You alone are worthy. We love you King Jesus, 
((music playing))
 Alpha and Omega.

Mighty God, everlasting 
((music playing))
 father, the lion of the tribe of Judah, a soon cominging king, you are our foundation. You are the rock. You are what we build our lives upon. 
((music playing))
 And we say only you are worthy of our greatest expression. So have your way in this place. We honor you.

We exalt you. 
((music playing))
 We crown this year with praise unto you alone. And we pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. And the church said, "Amen." Amen. Oh, come on. Give him your very best. One 
((music playing))
 more time. He's worthy. Oh, come on, church. Let every devil in hell know 
((music playing))
 we're beginning the year with praise.

((music playing))
 Hey, aren't you glad you came to church? Hey, guess what? You have perfect church attendance for 
((music playing))
 2026. Give yourself a hand. Good job, everybody. 
((music playing))
 Just keep that up in the coming Sundays. Hey, can we thank our friends Brian and Jen Johnson for being with us? Love you guys the best.

((music playing))
 Well, let's let's get into the word of God. Why don't you meet somebody around you, make a friend, learn a new name before you take your seat? Heat. Heat. 
((music playing))
 Well, welcome to church everybody. So glad that you are in God's house today. And uh what a great season to be a part of church.

Can I get a better amen than that? God's doing so many wonderful things in the life of our church and um so many things to to talk about. First, I just want to say welcome to everyone that is here for the first time or maybe the first time in a long time.

Can we put our hands together and welcome everybody that is with us. We're so glad that you're here. 
((applause))
 Also, too, I I want to say a special welcome because I know some are in the room. Um, this weekend, if you don't know it, in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field, 45,000 college students gathered to lift up the name of Jesus.

((cheering))
 
((applause))
 And I know because I've ran into them. I know uh many stayed over and decided to make Gateway the church they went to this weekend. So, we are glad that you are here. And uh, hey, don't let anybody tell you that the church is dead, that God's not moving.

Uh, God is alive in this generation in a powerful way. Also want to give you a little update. Candlelight services. Listen to this. Uh give you time to get anything out of your hands you need so you can give God thanks. But 677 people said yes to Jesus over candlelight weekend.

((music playing))
 
((applause))
 Come on. That's people moving from death to life. What a powerful time we had. And then coming up starting tomorrow, Monday morning, we begin 12 days of prayer and fasting. And maybe some of you have never participated in fasting. And this is a great time to try it to to go, God, I'm going to go allin on this.

Matter of fact, I want to challenge you to go all in this year. Here's the way I like to say it. Give us a year of your life. Go all in. Go go go go go all in on serving, on being in God's house, on prayer, and watch what God does in your life in just 12 months.

I promise you, it'll be transformational. So, I just want to encourage you to go all in, but be a part of prayer and fasting. And here's how it's going to go. Monday through Friday of this coming week, 6 a.m. to 6:55 a.m., we will have a little bit of worship, a small devotional, and then we're going to spend the majority of time 
((music playing))
 in prayer and intercession.

Then we'll gather for a corporate topic of prayer. And then you will be on your way to work or school or wherever you got to go before 7 o'clock. I promise you that. And so we'll gather Monday through Friday this coming week, the following week, Monday through Thursday.

And then we will end Friday night with a night of worship and prayer. And we're just going to pray over every need represented in the room. And I'm believing that God's going to do supernatural things. >> Amen. >> I really am believing that. And so every seat you received a prayer card.

And uh you can be anonymous. You don't have to put your name on it unless you want to. But if you have any prayer need at all, I want you to fill this out. And then on the way out today, drop it off with our team. And uh these will be on the platform at every location.

And that's what we're going to do is we're going to spend the majority of our time interceding for your needs, the needs of friends and family. And uh so make sure you drop that off on the way out today. We want to be able to pray. And we believe God's going to do miraculous things.

How many of you have faith for that with me? God's going to do. Beautiful. All right, let's get into the word. Uh the verse that we're going to be working from for the next four weeks, if you've noticed, I always have kind of a theme verse that we're working from.

And it's 1 Timothy 4 7-8. It says, "Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly." Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better. are promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. We're beginning a a brand new series today called Built Different.

We're going to talk about habits over the next four weeks that will change your life. Today, I want to talk to you around this idea though of praying in faith. Getting the habit in your life of praying in faith. So, let's pray now. Father, we open our hearts and minds to you.

Pray that you would speak to us. We believe your word has the power to change us and we'll never be the same because of it. And it's in Jesus name that we pray. Everybody said amen. >> Amen. How many of you um you don't have to raise your hand because I don't want to embarrass you if you haven't.

But um how many of you you've at least thought about something that you want to do new in the new year? How about that? You've at least given it cons. Okay, you get it. You're not saying you've done it, but you've at least given it consideration, right? It's the time of the year there.

There's this like psychological phenomenon actually that that we're in a time of of new things that there's just natural times in our year in our life where we want to try new things. Maybe it's physical, maybe it's relational. Maybe maybe you're in God's house today because you're like, I'm I'm committing to some new things in my walk with God.

The gyms are more full right now, everybody. Somebody was on my stairmaster this morning. I know I don't own it, but it's mine. I always there's enough Baptist in me. I still have my pew and my stairmaster and uh they'll be gone in a few weeks. Don't worry.

[laughter]
 That's how these gyms make their money. They depend on you not coming. All right. Um so, but we're we're kind of into this new thing. And here's what what happens is new year, new things, fresh starts. They they bring motivation and inspiration. And the reason, I know I said it jokingly, but it's kind of true that the gym will be less full in about two or three weeks is because motivation and inspiration doesn't isn't enough unless you have commitment and discipline. motivation and inspiration will go away, but it's discipline and commitment that remains once the feeling leaves, once the moment leaves, once the the conference is over, once the night of worship is over and and the feeling is gone, there's got to be something deeper that remains.

And that's called commitment. And that's called discipline. I think we could say it this way. It's called habits. I think this is what Paul is getting at as he talks to his young mentee, Timothy. He says to him, Timothy, um, physical training is good. In other words, Paul's saying, it's not bad to to go to the gym, everybody.

All right? But he says, but training for godliness is much better because it has benefits in this life and in the life to come. And training, the idea of training has the idea of discipline. Has the idea of I'm getting out of my comfort zone. I'm doing things that maybe I wouldn't normally do.

And he says there is a training component to your walk of faith. there is a discipline compon component. This is why they're called spiritual disciplines is because we have to enact new habits, new patterns, new ways of doing things to get where we want to go. How many of you know that you'll have the same year this year you had last year if you don't do something new?

So there's a book I read years ago called the power of habit and it has this concept in there that there are three components of a habit and number one component is the Q they call it or you could say the trigger and that that Q creates a routine and the routine is a habit that you've created that you naturally just default to and you do that routine because there is a reward to it and even if the reward is negative There is some kind of reward.

Even if you know the donut isn't the best routine. Hello, somebody. You get a reward of how good that thing tastes. Come on. In-N-Out sauce. Can I get a better amen? Like, you know, that's not the best routine, but man, there's a great reward on the other side of it.

Right. And and uh I have one of these in my life. I was thinking about this is that I have a cue that anytime I experience this, I lose all I lose my mind. I have no discipline in my life at all. And it's going to the ballpark, everyone.

Anytime I go watch a baseball game, something happens inside of me. I'm a I live I'm a pretty disciplined individual. I get up at the same time every day. I go to the same place for prayer. I go to the same place for, you know, reading my word.

I go to the same gym. I get on my stairmaster, which someone was on this morning. And I are y'all f like I'm pretty disciplined to that. But for some reason, when I go to a ballpark, I lose my mind. I like I get hot dogs plural. I just put if if it's on the condiment bar, I just put it on them.

I don't know why. I drink a soda, which I rarely ever do. I I you know, eat the fries and then I go back for more. It's like there's a cue baseball part. The routine is I lose my mind and the reward is it just tastes so good.

Everybody, >> and this is the same in your walk with God. Think about this for a moment. All right. Paul says uh he says, "Don't be anxious about anything, but in all things through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God, and then the peace of God that passes understanding will fill your heart and mind in Christ."

I want to show you this pattern in this verse. The cue is I'm anxious. Now, a lot of us, our routine will become I worry. I spiral down mentally. I end up in a panic attack. I deal with all these issues and the reward is I feel some kind of control in the moment of what's going on.

Paul says no. If your cue is anxiety, then let your routine be that in all things through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And then he says the reward will be that the peace of God will p fill your mind in Christ Jesus, a peace that passes all understanding.

And so here's what I'm impro proposing throughout this series is that we get new routines to our old cues that when our old Q would say, "No, I'm going to worry and I'm going to stress. No, when I feel anxiety rising in 2026, I'm not going to go down the dark path.

I'm going to go to prayer. I'm going to go to supplication. I'm going to go to with thanksgiving to God, understanding that his word tells me that the peace of God will then flood my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I've got to get some new routines. I got to get some new habits. >> And I want to propose the first habit today.

And it's this. It's the habit of praying in faith. Everybody say praying in faith. >> I want to talk to you about praying in faith. Three thoughts around it. Because there's all kinds of prayers, but I want to zero in on this idea of praying in faith. You know, prayer does a lot.

Prayer is our pouring our heart out to God. Prayer can be us wrestling with God. Prayer can be us letting God know what we're not very happy. You know, God can handle all your emotions and everything that you want to put before him, right? Then there's time for all that.

But I'm talking about the prayer of faith. Hebrews 11:6 says this, "And without faith, it's impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him." So when we come to God, we have to come with faith, with belief, with trust.

And the first thing we got to do is believe that he exists. But then we've also got to believe that when we come to him that he rewards those who seek him. So we got to have a level of faith that goes when I pray, God hears me and God is going to answer me.

That I'm not just throwing statements out into the ether, but I'm talking to the God of the universe whose ear is not deaf to hear my prayer, nor is his arm too short to reach into my situation. So whenever I pray, I'm not just going through some religious exercise or routine.

I'm not just doing some religious learned habit, but I'm talking to the God of the universe who has the ability to reach down into what I'm walking through and hears me and I expect he will answer me. I don't know if you remember uh Demar Hamlin, if you're I'm a big sports guy.

Um had the cardiac arrest on the field. Do you do you remember this? had a heart attack right there on the football field. And what happened? The nation prayed because we understand there comes things in our life that our network or our net worth can't get us out of. >> That we need the supernatural. >> And so the whole nation went to praying.

The football players were praying, the trainers were praying, everybody, the stadium was praying, people were praying all around. Well, I was listening to ESPN radio on the drive home on Monday after that Sunday because that's what weird sports people do. We listen to ESPN radio. And one of the guys on there said, "Wasn't it amazing yesterday how when Demar went down that all the nation began to throw wellwishes into the air."

And I thought I didn't throw well wishes into the air >> because I'm not when I pray I'm not just putting some words out into the ether hoping that God may or may not have some time to listen to what I have to say that that maybe he's not too busy.

But whenever I go to the Lord in prayer by faith, I expect that he is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him. I'm not talking about now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Are y'all tracking with me? I'm not talking about God, if you can and maybe if if you have some time, if you're not too busy up there, that you would look down and and you would maybe touch my body or restore my marriage or break this addiction or or resolve this conflict in this relationship or or help me overcome this anger or this pride.

I'm not talking about I'm talking about no whenever I call out to the God who made the heavens and the earth. The God who parted the Red Sea. The God who took down a giant with a stone. The God who raised Jesus from the dead. That same God, oh come on, church.

That same God is listening to his children when we cry out to him. This is the prayer of faith. So, three thoughts real quick and then I'll give you some ways to apply it on the prayer of faith. If you're the note-taking type, write this down. If not, go a and write it 
[clears throat]
 down anyways.

You'll need it. I I did see a study this week that if you listen, it's like you're in the teens percent chance of retaining. If you write it down, you're in the high 20s percent chance of retaining. And if you listen to go tell somebody else, you'll retain 60some percent.

So take notes and then go tell somebody what the message was about and you'll retain more of it. Just a little thought. There you go. That was free. Thought number one is this is the word is the foundation of our faith. So if I'm going to pray in faith, then it begins with the word of God.

Romans chapter 10 verse 17 says this. It says, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." So faith comes by hearing. How do I build faith in my life? I build faith by hearing and hearing what? Hearing the word of God. So, I'm not gonna build my faith binging Netflix. >> I'm not going to b build my faith doom scrolling. >> I'm going to build my faith as I let the word of God speak to my life.

Are you following me? >> So, I don't anchor my prayers in what someone has said. I don't anchor my prayers in what I hope happens. I don't anchor my prayers in just good positive thinking. No, I anchor my prayers in the word of God. Matter of fact, when we pray in faith, a lot of what we're doing is we're reminding God of what he has already said. >> We're reminding God of the promises that he has already given to us.

So, I come before him first, anchoring my prayer in the foundation of the word of God. I I I go back to what does God say about this situation? Let me give you some examples. So if I'm feeling abandoned or I'm praying for someone that's abandoned, then I I go to Matthew 28:20 that says, "And surely I am with you always."

So God, I thank you right now that that I am never abandoned. That I am never alone. I may feel alone right now, but my feelings don't dictate my faith. The word of God dictates my faith. And your word has promised me that you are with me always to the end of the age.

Let me give you another example that that maybe I'm feeling like my life is wasted right now. Well, I may feel that way, but what I'm going to anchor my prayer in is Romans is in Romans 8:28 that my God is working all things together for the good of those who love him and are the called according to his purpose.

So I may be on the mountaintop or I may be in the valley. But God has a way of working all the things, all the good things, all the hard things, all the painful things, all the hard and and misunderstood things. God has a way of working it all together for my good.

So I don't pray according to how I feel. Are y'all following me? There is time for that. There is time to go, God, I don't understand it. And and I did this yesterday morning in my prayer time. I I just let God know all of my insecurities. And there's time for that.

But I didn't stop at that place. I came back to the word that said, "In my weakness, he is made strong." So I go, "God, this is how I'm feeling right now. But I know I am called. And I know in my weakness, your strength is perfected in me.

So I'm believing I'm going to walk in the perfect strength of God because of my weakness. Is this getting through? >> So, I'm going to pray in faith. I'm going to anchor it to the word of God. I need the guidance of God. Then, I'm going to go to Proverbs chapter 35 and 6.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And what will he do? He will make your paths >> straight. The word is our foundation. So when we come together over these next 12 days and and listen, unless you're just physically not able, get in the room. I don't have a verse for you.

I don't have a chapter for you, but I'm telling you, there's something about meeting God early in the morning. >> And God just responds, "Well, I got little kids. I have been bringing my kids to prayer and fasting for 18 years. I've I've not started a year off without prayer and fasting in any church I've been a part of.

And I've wanted them in that atmosphere of faith. I want them to see people praying, interceding, pursuing. Was it a little bit to manage? Yeah. But it was worth the investment that it made in them. Students, before you go to school, be in here praying and fasting. Young adults, before you start your college day, be in the house of God praying and fasting.

Are you following me? We're going to make the word of God the foundation of our faith. Number two is perseverance is what builds our faith. So, I've had people say to me before, "Well, pastor, I tried that. It didn't work." And I've learned through building a prayer life. is that often God is more concerned about what he's doing in me in prayer than even the answer that I'm wanting in prayer.

That there is a muscle of faith that there is a perseverance that God is building on the inside of me. And we live in such an Insta culture. I mean, we have Insta Pot. We have air fryers. We 
[laughter]
 are y'all tracking like we want it so fast and so instant.

We don't know how to persevere anymore. We don't know how to continue in prayer. We don't know how to The old folks would say we don't know how to contend for something anymore. Are y'all following me? We don't know how to church. I grew up in We don't know how to get a hold of the horns of the altar of God.

I don't even know what they were saying, but I knew it meant grab a hold of something and stay there for a while. Are y'all following me? Like in the old church, they'd be like, "Lean in, son. Let go." I was like, "Do I lean in or let go?

I don't know what I'm supposed to do right now." But but we've we've somehow lost the endurance of prayer and and the leaning of prayer and the staying in the presence of God and prayer until something breaks until something shifts until God does something in our we we've lost something about this per building this muscle of perseverance.

Are y'all with me? I think about Elijah whenever he was praying for it to rain after it had been a drought in First Kings 18. The Bible says this. He told his servant, "Go and look towards the sea." He told his servant and he went up and looked and there was nothing there.

And he said, "Seven times he said go back." And the seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you seven times."

What if he'd have stopped praying on five? What if he'd been like, "God must not be in this. I've tried this. But he just kept praying. He persevered in prayer. I I think about my dad who was my pastor most all my life. And my dad came to faith in Christ.

His father wasn't a believer. My my grandfather uh had a farm in South Carolina. And um he honestly he was an alcoholic and he made his own. He had a moonshine steel. It's illegal, y'all. And he he had a bulldog, my dad told me, that would let him know if if the law was coming around that would give him a little signal.

And but my grandmother went to church, this little country church, Black River Free Baptist Church is where they attended. And it was just off the dirt road where the farm was, and would take the boys, there were three boys, my dad and his two brothers to church. And whenever my dad was a teenager, he surrendered his life to Jesus and he surrendered his life to ministry.

And uh and so he got a real burden for his brothers, particularly his brother, his name is Jimmy. My other uncle came to faith in Christ. But my uncle Jimmy uh didn't know the Lord and and lived more like the life of my grandfather. And so my dad would pray for him all the time and he would share faith with him all the time.

And in our house, my dad always called my grandmother on Sunday nights. She'd pick up the phone cuz back then the phones. The sign for a phone was this. And you had a cord that could take your neck off. It was okay. Just Google it. If you're younger, you 
[laughter]
 It's not like this.

Somebody said, "One generation's this, one generation is this. The alpha generation is this. They expect to be able to see you." But my dad would call and call my grandmother and she lived on the farm and my uncle lived on the farm. And sometimes my uncle would be over and I'd hear him talk to him and just say, "Jimmy, I'm praying for you.

I prayed for you again today that you'd surrender your life to Jesus. That you'd give your heart to him. That you'd um that your that your heart wouldn't be hardened toward him, but be soft." And every time we went to visit, that was family vacations when I grew up.

You went to see family, that was vacation, you know, went to Disney some, but usually family. And uh and he would share the gospel with him every time. And I'll never forget the day that the phone rang at our house and my uncle called to tell my dad that he'd went to church that day and he surrendered his life to Jesus. >> Never forget that day.

((applause))
 And my uncle was in the house of God every time he possibly could be and lived for the Lord the rest of his life. Here's what I want you to know, though. That answer to prayer was 40 years in the making. My dad didn't stop praying at year 10.

He didn't stop praying at year 30. He hadn't stopped praying when Uncle Jimmy called him. 40 years of persevering prayer and God answered. Perseverance will build your faith for prayer. And there's some of you today, you've stopped praying for somebody. There's a child you've stopped praying for, a family member, a spouse.

Can I just speak over your life that God hears your prayer and God answers your prayer. Don't give up praying. Persevere in prayer. 
((applause))
 Number three, we see it in the next part of this story of Elijah. It says that meanwhile the sky grew black with clouds and the wind rose.

A heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezrael. And listen to this. This is I just think the Bible's fascinating. It said, "The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab." So Ahab is in a chariot, but the power of God came on Elijah.

I've ran several marathons. I've never had this power come on me. The power of God came on him and he ran ahead. He outran the chariot all the way to Jezrael. Thought number three is the supernatural is brought into the natural through faith. When we pray in faith, God brings the supernatural into our natural.

Matthew 19 26 says this. Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." I love what Charles Spurgeon said. He said, "Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the h muscle of omnipotence." See, when we pray, we get the best we can do.

Or we get when when it's up to us, I'm sorry, we get the best we can do. When we pray, we get the best that God can do. It's what the great writer on prayer, I think maybe the greatest writer on prayer, Ian Bound, said. He said, "When you depend on organization, we get what organization can do."

And I love organization. And I'm for it. But when you get that, that's what you can do. When you depend on education, you get on what education can do. And I am a big fan of education. I've spent many years of my life doing that. But when you depend on prayer, we get what God can do. >> And can I tell you something?

There are things in your life that only God can do. >> I don't care who you know. It doesn't matter how much you make. It doesn't impress God. There's some things you'll face in life that only God can do. Now, are there some things that you need more discipline?

Maybe. Are there some things you need wisdom on? Yes. You know, don't don't ask God for financial breakthrough if you're not living on a budget and you're buying more than what you can afford. Are you are you with me? I think God's like, "Get on a budget. You're not going to win the lottery, everybody."

But there are some things in your life that you need the supernatural move of Almighty God. And when we pray in faith, we invite the supernatural into our natural. And God moves in beautiful ways. And can I tell you something? I am so full of faith over these next 12 days that we're going to see the supernatural come into the natural of our lives.

And we're going to see God answer countless prayer after prayer after prayer. and we're going to give him all the glory and all the honor and all the credit for you. Do you believe that with me? >> Come on. If we agree together in that. All right. Let me give you three thoughts about practically making this in your life.

Number one, you've got to make prayer a priority. It'll never become a priority unless you make it one. Psalm 53, I love what David wrote. He said, "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait patiently. Martin Luther, the great reformer of the church, said this.

I have so much to do, I must spend the first three hours in prayer. In other words, my calendar is so full, I can't head into those things unless I've spent time with God. Prayer isn't preparation for ministry. Prayer is the ministry. Matter of fact, Acts 6:4 says, "The word of God and prayer are the two priorities of the church."

Jesus didn't say, "My house will be called a house of good works." Didn't say, didn't even say, "My house will be called a house of preaching or a house of worship." He said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer." You got to make it a priority in your life.

Number two, have a place of prayer. Have a place where you go to pray. Mark 1:35, very in the very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up. He left the house and he went off to a solitary place where he prayed. Jesus had a place of prayer.

I have a place of prayer. It's in my home office. It's where I go. I was there this morning. I open my journal and I read the word and then I write down what God spoke to me. And then I write down what day it is. By the way, it's day 146 that I've been here.

Day 146. And then I journal about what God's doing and what is he saying to me and what's happening in my family. And then I turn on my Spotify and I put on some gateway worship. Come on everybody. And I just I meet with God. That's the place of prayer.

That's the place of tears. It's the place of victory. It's the place of struggle. But it is the place where God meets me. You got to have a place of prayer. And then finally, have a plan of prayer. Have a plan for prayer. Luke 11:1 and2 Jesus they were asking the disciples Jesus teach us to pray and then he said to them he said this is how you should pray and he gave them the Lord's prayer the question wasn't what do we pray it was how and the Lord's prayer is a structure for prayer it's a format for prayer hallowed be your name I'm going to come in talking about the greatness of God I'm not going to start with what I want I'm going to end with Your kingdom come, your will be done.

God, everything I prayed at the end of the day, I want your kingdom to come and your will be done. And so, here's the good news for you. We've created a place of prayer 6:00 a.m. at your campus. And we've created a plan for prayer. What we're going to do in that hour, we're going to have a little bit of worship.

We're going to have a quick devotional because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God to stir your faith to pray. We're going to have 30 minutes of intercession. I've never prayed for 30 minutes. You'll be surprised how fast it'll go by. And then we're going to come together and end on a corporate topic of prayer for our nation, for our church, for our young people.

We're going to have different topics every day that we're going to pray. We have a plan. We have a place. Only you can make it a priority. And we're not just going to pray, but we're going to fast. Matthew chapter 17 says this. So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief, for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible."

The disciples asking, "Why couldn't we do what what we needed to do?" And Jesus said this. He said, "If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, you could." And then verse 21, he had diagnoses the issue and gives a solution. He said, "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

He says you're not close enough to God and you're too close to the world. And so prayer and fasting bring prayer brings you closer to God. Fasting changes your appetite from the world to God. And when you do that, he says miracles take place. So we're going to disconnect from the world.

We're going to change our appetite to be more for God. And we're going to seek him in prayer. And God's gonna do what only God can do. >> Because church prayer works >> if you'll pray. >> Let me close with this story. Yesterday at our four o'clock service, I was out in the foyer uh talking with some people and I met a gentleman named Dan from outside of Jacksonville, Florida. and he came here two years ago and he was coming back today because it was the two-year anniversary of what I'm about to tell you.

And he said, 'I got to tell you this story. I said, I'd love to hear it. And he said, two years ago, I came in here wheeled in on a wheelchair because I'd had a stroke. And he said, so I went down for prayer. And he said at the end of the service, a guy named Steve, he said he prayed for me and when he got done praying, he looked at me and he said, "When you get out of that wheelchair," he said, "Come back here and you're going to walk in this building." >> And he said, "So today, two years later," he said, "I'm walking in here on the anniversary of when I was prayed for and I'm completely healed.

((music playing))
 >> 
((applause))
 >> If God did it for Dan and he's not a respector of persons, he can do it for you. >> Amen. >> He can do it for your family member. And that's what these next 12 days are going to be about. We are going to raise the spiritual temperature of our church. seek God with all of our hearts and believe that the great God of heaven is going to respond to the prayers of his people.

Come on, do you believe it with me today? Do you receive the word of God? 
((applause))
 
((music playing))
 Let's pray together. Every head bowed, every eye closed. You know the greatest prayer you ever pray? the most important prayer I think you ever pray. It's the prayer of surrender. It's the prayer of surrendering your life to Jesus.

And maybe you're here today and you've never done that. You're wanted to start the year in church, thought it would be a good thing to do, but you know in your heart you're far from God. Maybe you're even here and you're like, "Yeah, I'm a Christian. I live in Texas." but God feels a million miles away from you.

Or maybe you're here today and you at one point were walking closely with Jesus, but you've since then walked away and today needs to be a day of return. Then in a moment, we're going to pray together. And it's just me helping you tell God, God, I I want to surrender my life to you.

I want a fresh start. The Bible says in Corinthians that if anyone is in Christ, anyone comes to Jesus, surrenders their life to him, everything becomes new. Today can be a day of brand new beginnings for you. And what we're going to say in this prayer is that we're going to say, "Lord, I'm surrendering my life.

I'm asking you to forgive me of my sin, and I'm making you the Lord of my life." In other words, today what you're saying is, God, I'm giving up control and I'm making you, Lord. I'm surrendering to you. Before we pray together, I just want to know who would say, "That's me, pastor."

No one's going to come to you or point you out. We wouldn't embarrass you. But when I count to three, I'm just going to ask you to shoot your hand up high enough or long enough for me to see. And then we're going to pray together. So, if that's you, God speaking to you.

You say, "I need a fresh start. I want a new beginning." No matter where you are, up on the floor, in the balcony, you say, "That's me." When I count to three, you shoot your hand up high enough and long enough. And do it boldly. Nothing to be ashamed about.

On three. One, two, three. You just shoot it up high. God bless you. Keep it up all over the room. All over the room. I see in the very, very back row of the balcony. Dozens and dozens. You're not alone. You can put them down. Church, will you pray this out loud with me for the benefit of so many that just slipped their hand up?

Just say, "Jesus, I need you. >> I ask you to forgive me. >> Of all my sin. >> I believe you died for me. >> I believe God raised you from the dead. >> Today I make you my Lord and Savior. >> Thank you for a brand new beginning. >> In Jesus' name."

In Jesus name. >> Everybody said amen. Amen. And can we put our hands together and celebrate? So many made that decision. 
((music playing))
 
((applause))
 Church, will you stand with me at this time? I want to invite our prayer team up to the front. I was standing up here and I'm I was looking around as Pastor Daniel asked those that wanted to make that decision to raise their hand.

There was people in every single section that raised their hand and I just want to tell you, you just made one of the greatest decisions you could ever make. And what a way to start off 2026. Church, one more time, can we give them a round of applause that has made an incredible decision.

((music playing))
 And our team is here. We'd love to pray with you. If you want to come up and just say, "Hey, I said that prayer." We want to celebrate with you and and pray with you. Or if you want to text Jesus to 710, there's going to be some next steps for you.

Our team would love to just resource you, answer any questions that you may have. Our team is here for prayer. So, if you have any sort of prayer need, like I said, our team would love to stand with you. We would love to pray with you to join our faith with yours, you can go ahead and come now.

You may be, this may be your first time in Gateway Church, your first time in church, and you're like, I'm I'm not a member. I don't I don't know if I can do that. Just no membership allowed. Go ahead and come on down. Our team would love to stand with you.

I want to remind you of the uh the prayer request cards that Pastor Daniel was talking about. If you have any need, any requests. I want to encourage you before you leave. Take some intentional time. Write down some of the needs that you may have. I think there's spaces for like three spots there.

But you know what? Flip it on the back if you need more room. And and and be intentional about the requests that you're making. Maybe there's people in your life. There's somebody in your life. There's a situation going on in your life or whatever it may be. Take some time, write 
((music playing))
 down your needs.

And then right outside these doors, place them there because tomorrow morning when our prayer, 
((music playing))
 our 12 days of prayer and fasting begin, we're going to have them here. And we want to intentionally pray over 
((music playing))
 every single request, over every single need. It's such an incredible way to start this year.

And so I want to remind you about that as well. Prayer and fasting begins tomorrow. We'll 
((music playing))
 be right here uh at the South Lake campus 6 a.m. for prayer. 
((music playing))
 And you may say, you know what, Matthew? I'm not really a morning person. Listen, I hear you. I'm with you.

So, if you see me walking in through these doors at 5:50 and I'm grumbling and saying words under my breath, no, you didn't. You didn't say anything. I'm just kidding. I'm I'm I'm so full of hope and expectation for what God is going to do in our lives here in 2026.

((music playing))
 And I can think of no better way to start the year than prayer and fasting with our church community and our brothers and sisters. So, we'll be here Monday through Friday this next week, Monday through Thursday, the following week. So, I want to invite you to come and be a part of that as 
((music playing))
 well.

Like I said, our prayer uh our prayer team is here. here. We'd love to pray over any need that you may have. Let me pray over you, dismiss you. Holy Spirit, I thank you for what you have done in our lives today. Thank you for that word that you 
((music playing))
 gave Pastor Daniel to speak directly to our hearts.

God, I pray that our tomorrow morning looks different because of what 
((music playing))
 you have spoken into our lives today. We give you all the honor and all the praise. God, we thank you that your word says you have crowned the year with your goodness, 
((music playing))
 God. And we receive that and we declare that in your name we pray.

Amen. Amen. Gary Church, 
((music playing))
 we love you so much. We'll see you next week or tomorrow morning. >> 
((music playing))