A Call to Prayer
July 21, 2010
Imagine pastors, elders, and congregations coming together in the Man-Sask Conference every Wednesday evening to pray for their churches, families, communities and the world. Prayer groups meet in different areas at each of our churches, studying God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy writings. Imagine songs of praise filling our churches as God’s people rejoice in His answers to our prayers.
Imagine the prayer meeting moving into our homes each evening as God’s people search out His will for their lives each day. The joy on the lips of our people as we fellowship in church on Sabbath mornings, coming together to pray.
“It is our privilege to open our hearts and let the sunshine of Christ’s presence in. My brother, my sister, face the light. Come into actual, personal contact with Christ that you may exert an influence that is uplifting and reviving… Let gratitude to God fill your hearts.” Sons and Daughters of God, p 199.
Prayer is the central avenue that God uses to transform us. When He does, great things will happen. James 5:16 says, “…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” Yet our goal as God’s people is not to just pray more, but also to listen to the voice of God who reveals His will through His Word, the Bible. He speaks to us through His Spirit.
God’s voice often seems drowned out by the noise of the world. Spiritual discernment must be prayerful, informed and intentional in order to distinguish God’s voice from the other voices that influence us. We must be in a spirit of prayer.
As you sit, walk or drive in your community, whether alone or with others, listen and pray. Encourage and lift each other up in prayer.
If your church has not already begun a prayer ministry, I suggest to first select a prayer coordinator. Together, we can join as a conference and link prayer requests from each church. At times our loved ones are in danger, and there are projects and evangelistic efforts that the evil one does not want completed. We must join forces to pray.
Prayer walking can be a real blessing to God’s work, revitalizing the church and community. It is walking and talking quietly to God. People can gather in groups of two to three for this powerful time of prayer. You may choose to daily or weekly walk and pray for those living on your block or in your neighbourhood. You may also choose to pray for the activities of worship that are taking place in your church.
While prayer walking, our eyes, ears, feet, mouth and all our senses are open to God. What we should pray for may be right in front of us. “Prayer walking is simply praying in the very places where you expect God to answer your prayers.”
You may choose to start a prayer group. Here are some suggestions for things to do in your group:
- 1. Encourage all members to know why they are meeting — to pray for renewal in themselves, their church, community, nation, world and to pray for concerns of each other.
- Read or recite scripture promises during prayer. What to pray for can proceed from the scripture itself – this gives guidance and focus.
- Write down what the Lord has done and is doing between prayer group meetings -this gives excitement and anticipation.
- Listen to God, thanking and praising God for responding and working in the lives of members -this deepens the relationship with God.
- Establish a ritual of a starting and ending on time.
Remember that prayer should:- Foster unity. “In Christ we [all] have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” Ephesians 1:7
- Fill us with thankfulness. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
- Acknowledge God’s greatness and sovereignty. “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:3
In closing, may I remind you to be praying for our upcoming camp meeting. Once again we will be setting up our prayer tent. Please join us and bring your ideas with you about what you have done to make prayer more meaningful in your life and in the life of your church.
~ Pastor Rick Harwood
Related Articles
no matchesComments
One Response to “A Call to Prayer”
Got something to say?
The key word in the message is “imagine” Why should we imagine and how can we make it a reality? Isn’t it sad that the reality is we don’t make an effort to pray for each other in church settings, prayer meetings and individually. I know of Protestant friends that have that have that ministry…however, when asked if my church prays….I hesitate to say not as much as we should….especially since we call ourselves Bible fearing Christians. Imagine if the church, pastors and congregations did actually get together and pray for one another what a revival would occur. In the none too distant future we will wish we had used the opportunities we had more effectively…as one brother said “They’re watching you” I wonder what they see and what they saw?????