This Prayer Is For You

In the movie, "Stomp the Yard," a young man finds that the moves he learned on the street may help him make a better life for himself in this youth-oriented musical drama. DJ Williams is a 19-year-old growing up in Los Angeles; while DJ is at heart a good kid and a gifted street dancer, he runs with a dangerous crowd, and one night an underground dance competition turns into a brawl and DJ ends up in jail. DJ's younger brother has already died a violent death, and his mother, hoping to put him back on the straight and narrow, sends DJ off to Truth University, a historically African-American college in Atlanta.

At first, DJ feels like a misfit at Truth, but when he gets a chance to show off his dancing skills, he attracts the attention of two campus fraternities. Greek life is a major presence at Truth, and each year the fraternities take part in a "stepping" competition, in which the members show off their synchronized dance moves. DJ joins the ONO house, and is eager to help them take the championship away from their campus rivals, but before he can help his teammates, he must battle his own demons and learn the true meaning of brotherhood. You see, his arrogance and self-centeredness quickly put DJ at odds with his new fraternity brothers.

One of the key points early in the movie, is when DJ tells his brother, “I want this man”, and his brother replies, “This isn't just about you. This is about all of us." Later in the movie, the Theta Nu Theta Frat brother, makes a similar comment to DJ and says, “It’s not about you, it’s not about me, it’s about the whole team.” It is only then, that DJ understands that it’s not about what an individual can get out of a situation; it’s about how the situation can bless all the individuals involved.

In our text today, Hannah displays the same theme of Stomp The Yard, as she focuses her prayer on something that is not just a personal gain for her; but something that can be a blessing to others, especially to God.

A. YOU HAVE TO BE MAD ABOUT YOUR BARRENNESS (v.10)

1. YOU HAVE TO BE MAD THAT YOU DON’T HAVE ANY FRUIT TO SHOW FOR YOUR TROUBLES

2. YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF IF I DIED, WOULD ANYONE HAVE TO TAKE MY PLACE DOING SOMETHING IN THIS WORLD

3. YOU HAVE TO BE MAD THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO (HELP A FRIEND, BE A WITNESS, STAND IN THE GAP)

TRANS: It’s good to have a Spirit of expectation, but the question is where do you get if from?

B. YOU HAVE TO ASK GOD TO IMPREGNATE YOU WITH AN IDEA (v.11)

1. YOU HAVE TO GET A WORD FROM GOD

2. YOU HAVE TO PUT THAT WORD IN ACTION

3. YOU HAVE TO KNOW GOD HAS ALREADY PREPARED YOU FOR THE TASK

TRANS: Anyone can be thankful after something happens, but can you thank God before it happens

C. YOU HAVE TO PRAISE GOD ON CREDIT (BEFORE THE PRAYER IS ANSWERED) v.19

1. YOU HAVE TO STEP OUT ON FAITH AND BELIEVE GOD HAS ANSWERED YOUR PRAYER

2. YOU HAVE TO THANK GOD FOR WHAT HE’S DONE IN THE PAST

3. YOU HAVE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AS IF THE PRAYER IS ALREADY ANSWERED

TRANS: You have to realize that God has to do something special to get you ready for the next level

D. YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS

1. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD

2. YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART

3. YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR MOVE BEFORE GOD MAKES HIS

In closing, after we have a renewed mind, one of the next things that should happen is we should have a change in our prayer life.  Our prayers should move from praying selfish prayers, to praying for something that will be a blessing to God.