The past few weeks have been filled with some wonderful times of prayer for me. Prayers with families in real deep need, prayers for words and actions I would need to show and share with others, prayers for our church and prayers with our church family. This past Sunday night as we gathered and participated in the Foursquare National Prayer Night - and were linked up (via statelite) with the Church on the Way in Van Nuys California and the Capitol Foursquare Church in Washington, D.C. and led by Pastors Jack Hayford, Jim Tolle, Glenn Burris and Amos Dodge - I was greatly touched. Our sanctuary was filled with the presence of God as our worship team lead our congregation and then we moved to our corporate prayer and a touching closing time as well. It really stirred my soul. Then this morning I was so honored to host, as I do every first Tuesday of the month, our local pastors for prayer. It was very moving as we prayed for our city, the churches in our town, the elections, our military and each other. I beleive there is much good that happens due to the fact we gather to pray and when pastors can cross denomiational lines and come and pray it means so much to the heart of God. Now I know prayer can be lonely work and tough business but I beleive we must spend times with God and when we can gather with trusted family and friends and call upoon the Lord - it really pleases Him.
James 5:16
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (NIV)
We know that our righteousness is not very right - but in Christ we are made righteous and in HIs name or prayer becomes effective.
I want to share with you an encouraging passage about prayer from Foursquare President, Pastor Jack Hayford's book, Prayer Is Invading the Impossible:
"The incarnation shows that God has willed to work all redemptive operations through His children. And the establishment of the Church is the evidence that both the Father and the Son want that process to flow now through its agency. God works redemption through the Church (Ephesians 3:10), which is people who call upon His rule to invade the mischievous and the merciless works of satanic power. Jesus says, when you pray, and after you have come before the Father with worship, begin to call for His will to be worked on earth. That's the only way it's going to happen here--when those who want His will to be done declare that it be."
Please consider the following:
- Prayer is communicating with God.
Each time we pray, we come in contact with God in a life changing way. When we face hopeless situations in our relationships, businesses, work, finances, health, emotions, or children, praying to the God of hope can change the situation. When we struggle God desires to reach down and touch us - prayer opens us up to His touch. When we pray, we're saying, "I know You are real, Lord, and I want to spend time with You."
- Prayer is praising and worshiping God for who He is.
- Prayer is telling God we love and adore Him.
When we pray, we’re saying, "I love You, Lord, and I thank You for loving me." What a joy to tell the Lord we LOVE HIM - not just need Him! Adoration is how Jesus started his outline on prayer in Matthew 6 - "Our Father - Hallowed by your name."
Prayer is serving God His way.
It’s not just about us getting our needs met, although that’s an important part of prayer. God's plan is to rule earth through His delegated authority. That’s us—we who believe in Him. God wants us to bring His kingdom to bear upon the issues of the earth. God has things for each of us to do, and they start with prayer."If we think that a future in heaven is the sum of Christ’s gift to us, we will live out a spirituallyimmature existence, pointed toward heaven, but pointless on earth." - Pastor Jack HayfordHayford went on to say: "People need to understand why God doesn't just do everything on His own initiative," he said. "It goes back to God giving the responsibility for governing earth’s affairs to humankind (Genesis 1:26,28). He ordained that everything on earth would be determined by human choice. ‘The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men’ (Psalm 115:16). But it only works when man keeps in relationship with God. The will of God and the works and power of God do not simply flow without an invitation into earth’s scene. The Lord has transmitted to His people the responsibility of inviting the presence of the kingdom. It’s not because God can't do something without us, but because He won't do it without us."I like that! God is calling us to a spiritual partnership of life and trust. As I prayed on Sunday night, alone and with others I realized in fresh way that God has determined, and chosen to work on earth in answer to our prayers, and sometimes ( I am guilty too) we have neglected to pray. The good news is that it’s never too late to sow the seeds of prayer and gain a appreciation for prayer and a connection with God in our lives as a partnership in His original intention for us. We can invite God’s power to enter specific situations right now and to pray for those who are lost and without God and to pray for our church, our leaders, the Post Game party (our outreach to High Schoolers this Friday Night) and all our concerns. When we pray, we’re saying "Lord, I want to be Your instrument through which You do what You want to do on this planet. Help me to pray according to Your will, so that Your will is done on earth," but most of all in me.
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