I find it amazing how God works in such a specific, unified way. After last weeks’ pastoral meeting with pastors from around the city, where several pastors shared their hearts, I realized that God is dealing with his people, all of his people, about one same and specific thing: prayer. He has a strategy for everything that he wills to accomplish on Earth. If we are going to accomplish his purposes and will for our lives, then we must find out what his strategies are and get on board with them. How then, can we discover his strategies for saving, delivering, healing and restoring our city, our nation, even our world if we are not communicating with him? God is crying out for us to pray, for through prayer he can do the miraculous. As Pastor David Perry put it, we are the watchmen on the wall and THIS IS OUR WATCH. I don’t know about you but I’m not going to let the enemy seize victory on my watch. We have to wake up and pray. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus urged the disciples to wake up and pray, for he knew of the critical hour that was approaching, yet they continued to slumber. Shortly afterwards, when Peter’s faith was tested, he was found wanting. Was it because he was ill prepared for the coming trials, because he lacked in prayer and communication with God? Had he prayed and known God’s strategy would he have been able to stand in his faith for the one he loved?
God’s word is very distinct about the power of prayer and how prayer works. Its power is multiplied many times over when we join together in prayer. One can send a thousand to flight and two ten thousand! Matthew 18:19-20 tells us this 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Clearly it is seen that God is trying to tell us of the importance of unified, corporate prayer.
I believe, in fact I am absolutely convinced, that God is even now breaking the wine skin over his people. He is pouring out a mighty dose of his Holy Spirit like nothing we have ever seen. There is a new anointing for healing and the miraculous that is coming for those that are hungry for his presence. Why would he do miracles today? Simple, because he is still God, he still loves people as much as he did when he walked this Earth two thousand years ago, when was beaten and crucified for them, and he still wants to meet every need, restore every broken place, and heal every disease for the glory of his name! Behold! He makes all things new!
God is urging us to pray. I’m not talking about the little prayers we cram in when the rest of our lives slow down just enough for us to stop for a minute. I’m talking about making prayer our priority again. We say we don’t have time to come together for prayer but we have time to play sports, watch sports, watch television, surf facebook for hours, and do all of the things we want to do in day. We have time for those things we prioritize. Work is not an excuse. I don’t believe God ever intended for work to be what a man centers his life around. Matthew 6:33 says this,”But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Even the excuse of being a parent with too many kids isn’t gonna cut it with God. If we have time to take our kids to sports practices and games and watch them play but not enough time to take them to prayer, pray with them, and teach them how to seek God then we are teaching them to serve another God. It’s time for us to wake up!
For the past several weeks on Thursday nights, we have been having prayer in our youth sanctuary. It’s only been a handful of people so far but God is already moving and doing some incredible things among us and through us. I know that he is getting ready to show himself even more. I encourage everyone, no matter your age, to come and be a part of seeking the reviver!
Prayer works. Let's testify. What are some prayers God has answered for you? Please feel free to leave comments.
