Good morning to you in a brand new year. My goodness, last year flew with, I don't know, supersonic speed in my life. And I really suspect that 2026 will be just as swift, if not swifter. Turn with me to Hebrews, the book of Hebrews, and we're gonna look at chapter 13 and verse 18. And we will see what I have titled for this vignette quote a most unusual and I'm going to add even shocking prayer request a most unusual even shocking prayer request so turn with me if you can to Hebrews chapter 13 and we're going to look at verse 18 and let's read it the author writes this pray for us for we are sure that we have a good conscience desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things in all things Have you ever had a prayer request like that? Well, we're gonna continue looking at this because it's very interesting what those words mean, literally, to conduct ourselves honorably. Very interesting. How many times have you said those words, pray for me, pray for us? How many times have you heard someone say, oh, please pray for us, oh, please pray for me? We've heard it dozens, we've said it dozens and hundreds and hundreds of times. and we all need intercessory prayer from other saints and and they need our prayer we need prayer one caveat though when someone asks you to pray for them and you say you will please don't forget don't forget to do that to forget what you promised tie ring or a tie string around your finger write it down post it something so you will remember because you will meet that person again and they will say thank you for praying for us me about such and such the lord really worked i just saw you're gonna feel like a dog because you didn't pray you said you would but you did but that's just a little side note s and we all need prayer we've all asked for prayer but Hebrews 13 18 again let's look at that the author asked pray for us for we are sure that we have a good conscience desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things guess what that means literally wanting to behave well now that's wanting but to behave well isn't that interesting that the author of Hebrews a very godly obviously godly person would need prayer behave well that's his desire that's his wanting and he asked for prayer for that and let's just face the facts that we we all may have the desire or the wish to behave well but have you ever ever asked or heard ask that prayer be lifted up for them or for you for that you would behave well in all things Well, I think that's what makes this such a special, unusual, even shocking request. Because it implies the obvious that there is no person that's above making a mistake or for just a minute to forget whom their life represents. and to a watching audience, most especially those, and first and foremost, those within our home, those within our family. We often put on our best face and our best behavior when we're out in public. and not that we have to be stiff. Please don't be stiff in your own home. But whom are you representing? Sometimes we kind of put that on the shelf and say, well, I represent the Lord Jesus outside of the walls, but I kind of forget on the inside. I just let my hair down. No, that's not true. Because the prayer request is that you that this author is asking wanting to behave well in all things in all things that that would imply that they're not perfect this person is not perfect they need prayer and there they know who to ask other believers to pray and beware beware of a busy life Be mindful of the dangers of a busy life in this new year. I know I just I say all the time. I believe that God has sped up his clock because it just seems like one day ends and another begins before I can even turn around. might be because I'm older and I don't get as much done as I once did but nevertheless I think time is so fleeting we can't capture it we can't hold on to it and beware be mindful of the dangers of a busy life even if you're busy as a bee doing spiritual things Think about the busy preacher, the busy teacher, an evangelist, busy moms, dads, busy employees, busy employers, ministering, caring, working for others, only to neglect themselves. Neglect themselves. You got to take care of yourself physically, physically, mentally, emotionally, and certainly spiritually. Sometimes feeding others spiritual things. One becomes empty because we're studying, often studying. Those who teach scripture often read to study for others and forget to feed themselves. You gotta start first base with you. Beware, be mindful of a busy life. Don't neglect yourself in the process. Because see, doing so, we can lose focus and Forget our wanting our desire to behave well in all things We really want that we may never have voiced that But that like the author in Hebrews did we may never have asked probably I have never heard anybody I have never heard anyone ask for prayer that they would behave well in all things never maybe you have I haven't But what a prayer request What a prayer request. It is so unusual and to behave well in all things. He said, pray for us, said the Hebrew writer, that God would help us to behave well in all things. And may that be our prayer, our unusual, even shocking prayer this new year and request May that be our request in a very real and personal and meaningful way that I would behave well in all things. When I'm shopping, when I am standing in line, when someone gets the wrong number or the wrong name and all the red tape trying to get it all ferreted out, when we're in traffic jams, which most of us are unless we live in the country, when things happen at home and someone spills the milk, or whatever it is, may we behave well in all things. Make it personal and meaningful. I ask you, you that's listening to me, please pray for me, and I honestly am asking you this, that I behave well in all things this new year i want to grow up in the lord i want to remember whom i represent out there in the real world so please pray for me that i would behave well in all things and remember that sweet poem by joseph barron my neighbor's bible let's just look at one stanza that wonderful little poem neighbor's Bible it was written by Joseph Wilson Barron and it goes like this and I'm quoting I am my neighbor's Bible he reads me when we meet today he reads me in my home tomorrow on the street he may be a relative or friend or slight acquaintance be he may not even know my name yet he is reading me. This is Lacey Couch. It's been from my heart to yours.