The Prayer Project

I’ve struggled with discouragement SO MUCH this week. Not because of anything bad happening but because so much good is possible. There are times that I look out at my congregation; these amazing people God has allowed me to serve; and I see world-changing potential.

I see spiritual gifts just ready to be tapped for the kingdom; I see a people of God who could literally change our city and our world; I see POWER. It’s exciting but its also humbling because it reminds that even tho all those things are already in us because of Christ and His Spirit, they mean NOTHING until His Spirit empowers us to use them; until we cleanse ourselves of sin so that we might experience true revival. I think about Ezekial and the valley bones. In them lay the potential to be a great nation but until God breathed on them, they were nothing….

I want God to breathe on us so bad, I want to see my brothers and sisters in Christ take hold of that world-changing power and let God’s Spirit move them and me into something more. I want to be holy as Christ is holy…… BUT we’re not there yet. I’m not there yet. And so I wait… but I was reminded this morning that as I wait for revival; for His Spirit to fall on us that I will “WORSHIP WHILE I’M WAITING.” 

Lord, help me to praise You, to worship and lift Your name high and God fall on us like with a life-giving, powerful breath and bring these dry bones to life!

Total time in prayer this week: 4hours

I have been reminded this week of James 5:16,

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The FERVENT prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (ESV)

I want to pray KINGDOM prayers. Prayers that have great power as they work. I have realized that I have been praying weak, self-centered, shallow prayers for most of my life. I have been so concerned with the physical comfort level of myself and those around me that I have missed praying for God’s power in my life and theirs REGARDLESS of the physical circumstances around them. 

I am committing to spending more of my time praying for individual’s salvation, for mission efforts in our world, for God’s will to be done and His kingdom to be furthered through world events, for the true spiritual and emotional brokenness I see in the lives of those around me not just their physical ailments. I am committing to spending more time praying for God to search my heart and to cleanse me that my prayers might have GREAT POWER as they are working. Please pray for my faithfulness in this, and please join me in praying KINGDOM PRAYERS and experiencing God’s power in a deeper way!

I was reading the Christmas story from Luke again today and in my reading and my devotion, I was drawn to the story of Anna (the prophetess). Scripture remembers Anna this way:

“She did not depart from the service of the Lord, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day.” - Luke 2:37

I was reminded that prayer is not a short term venture. Prayer is a marathon, a test of our faithfulness to believe that God will answer in His time and His way. Believing so much so, that we might spend our entire lives steadily praying and hopefully waiting for the Lord’s answer. That’s was Anna’s story, she prayed not for a fleeting, earthly benefit but for an eternal answer! What a powerful witness for me today in the midst of a BUSY season in ministry, to be reminded that praying faithfully takes a bigger view than just seeing today’s wants and needs.

“O, Lord help me to become a faithful man of prayer. To seek you in the beginning of each day; to find moments throughout life business to rest in You and breathe in You; and to finish my evening in praise and thankfulness for the gift of walking with You.”

That’s my prayer today, please continue to pray for me as I journey and learn and grow in Christ. At times I feel as if I’ve come so far only to realize I have miles to go….

Total time in prayer this week: 1 hour 

I was driving home from a rehearsal last night with my almost 2 year old little girl in the backseat when I experienced one those moments I hope I never forget. We passed some Christmas lights in our neighborhood and I heard her say, “that’s pretty!” We spent the next 20 minutes or so driving around looking at lights and decorations and saying how pretty they were. It was precious, it was wonderful, and it was just an ordinary moment that became more. 

Our God is a God of moments; He desires to turn everyday, ordinary moments into great ones. Its in those moments that He can change who we are, but how many times do we wish away the moment for the future, or the past, or a dream. How often do we trade the moment for money, or for our job, or for our own selfishness. I’m praying that God allows me to SEE and enjoy more moments; to live and love and speak life in the moment. I’m praying that I might surrender my moments to Him, and let Him turn them into something more. 

What moment did He give you today?

I spent last week with my family and had an absolutely amazing time with them. As we drove home, I couldn’t help but be burdened by some of the rifts and heartaches that my loved ones were dealing with. They reminded me a little too much of the heartaches and rifts I’ve caused in the past and the Spirit reminded me of how important the word “TESTIMONY” truly is to the everyday living out of our lives. 

In Psalm 40 David says the following:

“I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold I have not restrained my lips as You know, O Lord. I have not hidden Your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness from the great congregation.”

I want the testimony of my life to be like THAT! I want to be known as a father, a son, a brother, a friend, a pastor, and a neighbor that REVEALED God’s actions; His goodness; His faithfulness; and His salvation.

Lord, help me today to reveal You in everything I AM; everything I DO; and everything I SAY.

Total time in prayer this week: 1.25 hours

I’m a Type A personality…….. EXTREME TYPE A. I like things planned, neat, under control, and I tend to really struggle when the world around me doesn’t line up. The problem is that rarely does the world around us line up neatly and controlled. That can be not only a problem but an insurmountable challenge when it comes time to quiet down for meditation and prayer.

One of the largest lessons I’ve learned through this prayer journey is to “settle” my heart before I begin to pray. I take a few minutes to just sit in God’s presence, to breath, and close my eyes and let the world around me wash away before I start trying to speak TO Him. I guess, I’ve realized that you have to let God speak peace into your heart FIRST before you can respond back and actually pray with significance.

Are you unsettled or tense or stressed today? Take a few minutes and let the God of peace speak to your heart first. Then ask Him what it is, who it is you need to speak back to Him about.

Total time in prayer this week: 30 minutes