ARTICLE SEARCH 

“Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my Lord, since you have given me strength.” (Daniel 10:19) Have you ever had such an amazing encounter with God that you thought you were going to die? Time and again in the Scriptures, we read of those who had such encounters. Without exception, there was great fear as they came into contact with God, whether it was Moses listening to God from a burning bush, or Mary receiving a message from the angel Gabriel. The prophet Daniel had one of the more spectacular encounters as he was given a vision of an angelic being, who in all probability was the Lord Jesus in his pre-incarnate state. The similarities of the description in Daniel 10 of the angelic being and the clear description of Jesus as seen by the Apostle John in Revelation 1 are striking. Daniel’s response was to lose all strength and fall down before the Lord. God dealt with Daniel’s fear in ways that are encouraging to us all. He spoke his peace to Daniel and everything changed. God’s peace always has that sort of dramatic effect in our lives. The Lord assured Daniel of his love for him and then spoke peace over him. More than words, the speaking of peace into someone’s life becomes a conduit for peace actually to begin to flow into an individual’s life. With the peace of God coming into Daniel’s life, the Lord could speak of strength and courage, and it had real meaning to Daniel. It was in this place of peace where Daniel was strengthened that he could finally summon the courage to ask the Lord to speak to him. Do you suppose that it is often fear and lack of peace that prevents us from hearing what the Lord might be saying to us? We so often play the “what if?” game, which breeds fear and uncertainty to the point that we really don’t want to hear from God for fear of what He might say. His peace though, clears out those fears, brings strength, and puts us in a good place for the Lord to speak into our lives. We often use the phrase, “paralyzed by fear.” That’s what fear does when it takes charge of our lives. We become too frightened to make decisions or to choose which way to go. Whether the fears are based on reality or fantasy is not even the issue. It is fear that prevents us from action. That’s why we so often quote the words of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as he attempted to calm the fears of a nation paralyzed by the Great Depression, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” God has a supernatural way for us to deal with fear. It is accepting his peace into who we are. Receiving His assurances of love as Daniel did, we hear his words of peace and our fears begin to melt away. Strength comes as fears melt away, and peace resumes its rightful place over our heart. My Prayer  Lord, I am so thankful that you understand the fears that I face. You don’t ever simply tell me to get over it. Instead, you assure me of your love and give me your peace. I confess my great need for this in our day of confusion and turmoil. I desperately need the peace that only comes from you. Prayer Point  Ask the Lord not to allow you to be paralyzed by fear but always to be strengthened by his peace. From Prayer, Peace and the Presence of God: A 30-Day Journey to Experience the Shalom of Jesus by David Butts ©PrayerShop Publishing, 2017

It’s very obvious in Scripture that the Lord wants us to pray. There are many commands given to us concerning prayer: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1); “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18); “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). These are just a few of many such injunctions in God’s Word concerning prayer in our lives. Why is it then, that so many Christians feel so inadequate in their prayer lives? Christians everywhere confess their prayerlessness and long to become people of prayer. Yet, the life of prayer evades so many. How can this be turned around in our lives? I believe that one important key is to understand the reason behind God’s commands to us to pray. It can be difficult to discern the mind of God on a matter, but He has given us much in Scripture to help us understand. My friend Alvin VanderGriend has suggested that there are three reasons given for prayer in God’s Word: intimacy, enrichment and partnership. Another way of stating these is: knowing God, obeying God and partnering with God. There is a passage of Scripture that combines all of these in one place: “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5: 3-5). The first reason for prayer is the simple need we all have to know God. There is no way to draw near to the Lord apart from prayer. It is in prayer that we express to the Lord our love for Him, our faith in Him, our worship of Him, and our surrender to Him. If for no other reason, the desire for intimacy with Christ ought to bring us daily to our knees. The second reason for praying is simple obedience. God says to pray…so we pray. This is especially important during those times in our lives when we don’t feel like praying. These spiritual “dry times” can happen to us all. Often, the only thing that will lead us out of such dryness is sticking with the routine of daily prayer and time in God’s Word. Developing a spiritual discipline out of obedience to the Lord is a bulwark against spiritual dryness, laziness, and busyness. One of the areas that I believe is least understood by Christians is the partnership that God has called us to with Himself in the area of prayer. God, in His wisdom and sovereign power, has chosen to accomplish His will on this planet through the prayers of His people. God has decided not to arbitrarily move in and out of situations on earth, even though He is able to do just that. Instead, He waits on His people to pray and then pours out His power in response to those prayers. Ezekiel 22:30 is a passage of Scripture that illustrates this principle of how the Lord works. “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” God uses the illustration of a walled city to demonstrate His commitment to prayer. The walls protect a city from enemy attack. But through neglect (sin), the walls can begin to crumble and a gap or opening in the wall can create a dangerous situation where the enemy can come in. God said of Israel in Ezekiel’s day, that they had allowed such a situation to develop. It was going to result in the destruction of the land, unless someone stood before the Lord in the gap on behalf of the land. This is a clear picture of God’s desire for us to engage in intercessory prayer. What is absolutely heartbreaking is that God Himself was looking for an intercessor. He was looking for someone who would stand before Him in prayer on behalf of Israel so that He would not have to destroy her because of sin and rebellion. God’s desire is made clear here. He did not want to destroy Israel. He was waiting for an intercessor so He wouldn’t have to. God had chosen to reserve His power to save the nation of Israel for those who prayed. But no intercessor was to be found. Israel was defeated by the Babylonians and her people were in exile for 70 years. Isaiah 59 reflects a similar situation. The chapter speaks of a nation that was in trouble. There was no justice, violence was in the streets and the righteous were being preyed upon by the wicked. Verses 15 and 16 show us the Lord’s response to the evil that was going on. “The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intercede.” Once again, the Lord made His will very clear. He was displeased by what was happening in Israel and desired for matters to be made right. He was waiting for His people to pray, so that salvation and righteousness might be poured out upon the people. But again, there was no one to intercede. In this case, however, the Lord allowed Israel to suffer in sin for hundreds of years until His people were redeemed by the coming of the Messiah. God always looks first for an intercessor. It is His plan to accomplish His will on this planet through the prayers of the saints. It is for this reason that Jesus taught us to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God has given us the awesome privilege of partnering with Him in bringing about the advance of His Kingdom on earth. As we ask ourselves, “why pray?” we can move from a lethargic attitude about prayer to a place of tremendous excitement as we join with God in what He is doing on this planet. Understanding the place of prayer in God’s plan can give us greater motivation and commitment to be the people of prayer that God is calling us to become.

“How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young  –  a place near Your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You. Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. “They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on Your anointed one. Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You”  – Psalm 84. God would like for you to come over to His house. Not just for a visit…but to stay! For years I have been intrigued by how many times the Scriptures speak of God’s house. It would take numerous articles such as this to discuss all the aspects of the Lord’s house. But the main thing to remember about all these references is that the Bible is speaking about where God dwells; not a house made with human hands, but the place of His presence. I get excited by the fact that God wants me to be where He is. He wants me to live in His house; not just someday in heaven…but now! Every day! That’s true for all of those who belong to God through faith in Christ Jesus. The fact that God has opened up His home to us is a great indicator of His love for us and His desire to experience intimacy with His people. On a human level, we have a tendency to protect our homes…our living space. We may invite many people over for a meal, or a time of fellowship. It is much more a rarity that we would invite someone to come and live with us…to share our home…to join with our family. One of the more confusing aspects of spending time with God in His house, is that He also spends time with us in  our  house. How can we be at His house and He be at our house at the same time? Our problem is our fleshly limitation to space…we think in terms of being in only one place at one time. God has no such limitations. So Jesus would say things to us like, “I will be in you and you will be in Me.” Both are true…and both occur simultaneously. So, we pray like David in Psalm 27:4,  “that I may dwell in Your house all the days of my life.”  We also hold on to the words of Jesus that, “ If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him”  (John 14:23). We must not be confused about this. It is not a  place  we speak of, so much as an awareness of God’s presence. When we are with Him, we are home…His house…our house…home! Look at these passages from the New Testament that speak of the house of God: “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are His house”  (Hebrews 3:6).  “…you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”  (1 Peter 2:5) . “Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth”  (1 Timothy 3:14-15). Psalm 84, quoted at the beginning of this article, is one of my favorite Old Testament passages describing the house of God. Note that the description is not focused on the physical aspects of a house…but on being in the presence of God. What strikes me most from Psalm 84 is the passionate desire of the Psalmist to be with God.  “My soul yearns…even faints…for the courts of the Lord.”  He so longs to be near where God is, that he would gladly take a place of servanthood, as a doorkeeper, just to be in the vicinity. According to verse four, one of the marks of the person who has learned to dwell in the presence of God is worship and praise. How could it be otherwise? If we, like David in Psalm 27:4, are allowed to gaze upon the Lord’s beauty, a life of praise will be the natural result. There is so much more to discuss as we consider drawing near to the Lord and dwelling in His house all the days of our lives. Could I suggest that you begin this walk toward the Lord’s house today by beginning to pray Psalm 27:4? Here is a sample of the way I’ve begun making that journey: “Lord, there really is just one thing that I want from You today. And You, Yourself are that one thing! I want to be with You today. I want to dwell in Your house all the days of my life, gazing upon Your beauty and seeking You in Your temple. Thank You for wanting that close, intimate relationship far more than I do. That gives me great confidence in prayer right now. I know that this is a request that You are longing to answer. Thank you.”

There is a movement being encouraged across the United States of America to encourage Christians to pray at polling sites in their communities. Here are three ways you can participate along with prayer points and a written prayer to help you: 1. Encourage and organize intercessors in your community to cover every polling site in prayer (physically, if possible).  Secure a complete list of the polling places that are now or that will be open on Election Day. Ask others to “adopt” polling places near where they live to pray over. Give them the prayer points listed below. 2. Drive-by Prayer at Polling Sites:  If you are unable to get enough volunteer intercessors, or lack time to organize, secure the list of polling places and drive by as many as you can, stopping to pray over them. 3. Pray as You Vote!  While you are waiting in line, or even before/after you vote, take some time to pray at the polling site. Use the prayer points below or ask God to show you what He wants you to pray about! What do we pray over the polling sites? Author Karen Hardin suggests a few ways: 1. For God’s presence to be very evident over the entire process – that kindness and civility are the only encounters people have with one another.2. For peace and safety for all who come to vote with no intimidation or threats to voters.3. That the in-person voting process will not be hindered, threatened, or closed down.4. For enough volunteers to man every polling place so that each is able to be open on Election Day.5. For all checks and balances to be in place so that the integrity of voting is maintained.6. That there will be no malfunctioning of voting machines which have in the past changed the intended vote of the voter.7. That any corruption or theft of votes, whether in-person or mail-in, will be exposed quickly and stopped.8. That the process will be carried out with care and excellence so that election results will be clear and not drawn out for days or weeks. Lord, we pray for those who will rise up in this hour to pray at our polling places. Lord, awaken your people to this need and to see that they can make a difference. You said that the effectual fervent prayer of righteous men and women avails much. As we go and pray at these locations, Lord, we release your power and your Presence for your will to be done as people vote in this election. Open the eyes of the blind. Lord, we also pray for all Christians to register to vote and exercise their right to vote.  Lord, stir them to action. We command complacency to go. Awaken your people to the need of this hour and the importance of using this right. Compel them, Lord, to take action and understand the need of this hour. Awaken your Church, Lord. If you have never done anything like this, be encouraged that you can make a difference by stepping out of your comfort zone to pray in your area at these polling places.  Some content adapted from an article by Karen Hardin on Intercessors for America’s website:   https://ifapray.org/blog/polling-places-prayer-the-lords-strategy-for-election-2020/

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries A. W. Tozer writes: “Being curious about Christ's second coming is one thing, being ready for it is another. I cannot think of even one passage in the New Testament which speaks of Christ’s revelation, manifestation, appearing or coming that is not directly linked with moral conduct, faith and spiritual holiness. The teacher who engages in speculation to excite the curiosity of his hearers without providing them with a moral application is sinning even as he speaks.” I’m much in agreement with this statement of Tozer’s. It shouldn’t surprise us that one of the reasons we are to live in a right way before the Lord’s return, is so that we can pray with greater power and effectiveness in these critical days. The Apostle Peter said it this way: “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (1 Peter 4:7). The events and trends of our day have many Christians wondering if we are living in the last days. Unfortunately, the response of many is to worry and live in fear. The godly response is to pray. As we look forward to the Lord’s return, whenever that might be, we must live the kind of lives that allow us to replace fear with intercession that will release the Lord’s power and purposes into our needy world.

Our creative Father loves to develop newness in and around His people. He is at work to transform us from old to new. By the power of His Spirit, we are continually being made new day by day. As you look to this new year, consider studying these passages prayerfully by yourself, with your family, or with your small group. Take some time to consider the goodness of the Lord, and how He has made provision to transform you into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Talk about how God has, is, and will continue to make you new. See if you can find new things in every passage that you may never have considered before. Is there a promise? Is there something that gives you courage…or hope? Drink deeply from the well of the Father, who is able to make all things…and all people new. New Birth “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time”  (1 Pet. 1:3-5). Describe your new birth in Jesus. Why do you think God is so merciful to us? Pray:  Give God praise for the mercy He has shown you through your new birth, and thank Him for the inheritance being kept for you in heaven that will never perish, spoil or fade! New Life “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life”  (Rom. 6:4). Why do you think it is necessary for God’s people to be buried with Jesus in baptism in order to experience new life? Pray:  Thank God for the new life you have through Christ as your old life was buried so that you could have a fresh beginning. New Things “And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He *said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ Then He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son'” (Rev. 21:5-7). “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you”  (Isa. 42:8-9). “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”  (Isa. 43:18-19). How thirsty are you for the water of life? Are you thirsty enough to be an overcomer? Are there any idols in your home? What are they? (Keep in mind that they may be “good things.”) What are some things in your past that need to be forgiven and/or forgotten? How can you keep from dwelling on them? What are the new things that God is doing in your life? Pray:  Ask the Father to help you to recognize the idols in your life so that you can turn away from them and put your focus on all of the amazing new things God holds for you in His heart. New Songs “I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD”  (Psa. 40:1-3). “Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples”  (Psa. 96:1-3). My friend, Dick Eastman, President of Every Home for Christ, felt the Lord leading him to sing his prayers for several months. At first, he felt self-conscious and a bit silly; however, as he began to be obedient, the Lord began to give him new songs; new ways to express his love to the Lord. Has God ever put a new song in your mouth? Describe the experience. Try to write and/or sing new songs to the Lord as you pay attention to His glory among the nations and His marvelous deeds among all peoples. Pray:  Father, help me to sing the new songs in my heart as an offering to You! May I glorify You among the nations and put all of my trust in You! New Names Because I love Zion, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I will not cease to pray for her or to cry out to God on her behalf until she shines forth in his righteousness and is glorious in his salvation. The nations shall see your righteousness. Kings shall be blinded by your glory; and God will confer on you a new name. He will hold you aloft in his hands for all to see—a splendid crown for the King of kings. Never again shall you be called “The God-forsaken Land” or the “Land That God Forgot.” Your new name will be “The Land of God’s Delight” and “The Bride,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his own. Your children will care for you, O Jerusalem, with joy like that of a young man who marries a virgin; and God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom with his bride. O Jerusalem, I have set intercessors on your walls who shall cry to God all day and all night for the fulfillment of his promises. Take no rest, all you who pray, and give God no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes her respected and admired throughout the earth” (Isaiah 62:1-7 TLB). What do you think God is saying in this passage about Jerusalem’s new name? Talk about others in the Bible to whom God gave a new name like Abraham and Paul. Could the Lord be calling you to be a watchman on the walls in this new year? Could Watchman be your new name? God calls all of us to be intercessors and continually tells us to “keep watch.” Pray:  Righteous Father, You give new names to people who seek to honor You with their lives. I want to step into my new name as a Watchman on the wall! Train me to be an intercessor for the sake of Your kingdom! New Heavens and a New Earth   For see, I am creating new heavens and a new earth—so wonderful that no one will even think about the old ones anymore. (Isa. 65:17 TLB). “But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness”  (2 Pet. 3:13). Here is an Old Testament passage with a promise, and a New Testament reminder of that promise. Talk about what a new heaven and a new earth might be like. What are you most looking forward to in this home of righteousness? Pray:  Grace-filled Lord, You have made ALL things new in my life. How I look forward to the promise of a new heaven and a new earth! Teach me to live a righteous life of expectancy, always longing for my new home! New Compassions “Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness”  (Lam. 3:22-23). What could we be consumed by that God’s love and compassion protects us from? What does it mean to you that the Lord’s compassions are new every morning? Pray:  Lord Jesus, thank You for Your faithfulness that is new every morning! Thank You that you let me begin again with a fresh start each day because of Your compassion. New Spirit “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’ They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws. They will be My people, and I will be their God”  (Ezek. 11:17-20). “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”  (John 14:26). According to the passage in Ezekiel, what will happen when God puts a new spirit in the people of Israel? Has God put a new spirit in you? If so, how do you know?  John 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit will be our teacher and our Advocate. How have you experienced His presence in your life through His teaching and advocacy for you? Pray:  Holy Spirit, how grateful I am that You have put a new spirit in me that compels me to follow You more completely. I am so glad to have a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone! Most of all, I am thankful to know that you will always be there to teach me and to advocate for me! Holy Father, thank You for this amazing gift! New Wine and New Wineskins “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved”  (Matt. 9:16-17). Jesus brings a newness of life that cannot be contained within old habits and lifestyles. Have you prepared a new wineskin to receive the new wine He wants to pour into it? How is your new wineskin different from your old one? Or, perhaps you are still trying to pour new wine into an old wineskin. If so, what has been the result? Pray:  Lord Jesus, You want to pour newness into my heart continually! Help me to replace all of the old habits and my sinfulness with a new wineskin that will contain all of the amazing life You have for me! New Covenant “In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me’”  (1 Cor. 11:25). “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear”  (Heb. 8:13). “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal   inheritance – now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant” (Heb. 9:15). Talk about how the new covenant of Jesus is different from the old covenant of the law. How does the Holy Spirit give life to you? Consider taking communion as an act of remembrance alone or together as a family/small group. Talk about the new covenant and why it is important to be reminded of the sacrifice Christ made for our sins. Pray:  Father, thank You for revealing God’s New Covenant through Jesus. How grateful I am to be free from sin and that I can look forward to the eternal inheritance You have promised! New Command “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another”  (John 13:34-35). How do you carry out this “new”  command in practical, everyday ways? Why is it important for “all men”  to know that you are Jesus’ disciples? What new things could you do this year to be obedient to this “new command” ? Pray:  Lord Jesus, give me strength each day to carry out this amazing command. May I demonstrate Your love in every relationship and situation every day of my life so that I may bring honor and glory to Your name alone! New Creation “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  (2 Cor. 5:17). Think about and talk with your family/small group about how you became new creations because of Christ. What old habits and/or lifestyles changed when Jesus came into your lives? Pray:  Lord Jesus, thank You for making me a new creation! Continue to show me how to be made new day by day as I live out the life of Jesus! New Self “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”  (Eph. 4:22-24). What was your former way of life? What does it mean to “be made new in the attitude of your minds” ? Do you still struggle with “deceitful desires” ? If so, how does Jesus help you? If not, how has Jesus helped you to overcome? Pray:  Father, create a new mind and attitude within me as I learn how to step into the newness of desiring only what You want, rather than indulging my own selfish desires. New and Living Way “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water”  (Heb. 10:19-22). How will Jesus’ “new and living way”  help you to live differently in this new year? What does this passage teach you about prayer? Pray:  Father, by the blood of Jesus, You are teaching me day by day to live as He lived. Show me how to step into this new year by drawing near to You with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith! Jesus came to make all things new! Will you and your family choose to honor Him for His sacrifice…this year…and for the rest of your lives? How will this new year be different because of the “new and living way”  – the way of Christ Jesus?

“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.’     “So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.     “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’     “Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. He said, ‘For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD’” (Ex. 17:8-16). This Old Testament story is so rich with meaning. Many times I’ve used it to teach the power of intercessory prayer. But today, I want to see it in the light of prayer for and with leaders. John Maxwell calls this story the first biblical example of a prayer partnership. In  Partners In Prayer,  Maxwell writes, “With the help of Moses’ brother Aaron and a layman named Hur, Joshua was able to be victorious against the forces that were trying to destroy God’s children. Moses was one of the greatest leaders who ever lived. He spoke to God face-to-face, as a person would speak to a friend (Ex. 33:11). Yet he still could not do it alone. Even he needed assistance and encouragement” (p. 85). What a majestic picture! Imagine Moses, standing alone on the mountain, interceding for Israel. As he prays with hands lifted up to God, with the rod of God – the symbol of power – in his hands, Israel triumphs. But as this eighty-something-year-old prayer warrior gets tired, his hands drop, and the battle turns against Israel. In today’s culture we might say, “Well, let’s just get a younger, more vigorous leader…one capable of standing in prayer with his hands outstretched for longer periods of time. Maybe it’s time we throw a retirement party for Moses.” Fortunately for Israel, they had no such throwaway mindset. Instead of discarding their aging leader, they prayed for him. Aaron and Hur came to the top of the mountain and together they held Moses’ arms up until the victory was secured. It is interesting to note that to hold Moses’ arms up, the two men had to also hold their own arms up. A prayer meeting was taking place, as all three held their arms up before the throne of God in prayer. The question today is, “Who is holding your pastor’s arms up in prayer? Who in your congregation is standing with him as he wages war against the enemies of God? Where are the Aarons and Hurs of our day?” The need is great for Christians who will take seriously the biblical mandate to pray for leaders. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy saying,  “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth”  (1 Tim. 2:1-4). All those in authority are not simply civil authorities. We must pray for those with spiritual authority as well – especially for those who lead, guide, and teach the Church of Jesus Christ. It should be obvious that there is an all-out assault by the forces of Satan to discredit and sideline Christian leaders.  “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered”  (Zech. 13:7). Satan has certainly put that verse to use. In church after church pastors are under attack. Who will stand with them? Who will pray for them? My friend, Terry Teykl, has written a wonderful book entitled,  Your Pastor: Prayed For Or Preyed Upon?  What about your pastor…is he the prey of ravenous wolves, or prayed for by those who love and respect his service for the Lord? Roger Campbell tells the following story: “A young preacher had just begun his first pastorate in a Philadelphia church when one of the members came to visit him. ‘You are not a strong preacher,’ said the visitor, ‘and in the usual order of things you will fail here, but a group of us has agreed to meet every Sunday morning to pray for you.’ The young minister saw that group grow to more than a thousand people praying for their imperfect pastor, J. Wilbur Chapman, who later became known as one of the greatest preachers in America.” Campbell continues on, observing, “Not many pastors build great churches, but great churches build great pastors by choosing to encourage and pray for them rather than focus on their imperfections.” Praying for our pastors ought to be a regular and continual part of our Christian life. This could be the year that your church begins to take seriously the need to pray for and encourage their pastors. You can be the one who begins such an effort in your congregation. Don’t wait for someone else to do it! Begin praying today for God to empower, protect, and supply every need for your pastor or pastoral staff.

Here are some simple ways to help children and youth to grow more confident about praying out loud. There are ideas for pre-readers as well as readers.  Hint – these ideas are for adults too. Learn together as a family: Practice Reading Scripture out loud in the mirror.  This sounds a bit silly at first, but you will find your confidence growing by leaps and bounds as you both see and hear your own voice saying the word of God. Praying Scripture out loud to the Lord:  Learning this skill also builds confidence and assures that you are praying the will of God. Choose a passage like Psalm 145 or Philippians 1:9-11 and pray it back to the Lord. You can change pronouns and put specific names into the prayers. Echo Prayers:  One person says a short sentence prayer and the next person “echoes” it. For example, a parent might say, “Father, thank You that our family loves You and serves You.” The child or children repeat this prayer. It helps kids get used to hearing their own voice, and it’s short and simple to do. After practicing echo prayers, the kids can begin to be encouraged to formulate their own short sentence prayers. Pop Up Prayers:  Have everyone sit on the floor. One at a time pop up to say: Lord Jesus, I love you because You are__________. You can do this starting with A and moving to Z, and make it a memory game. It helps Fill in the Blank Prayer:  Lord, thank You for_____________; or, Lord, I praise You for____________. Talking to God Prayers:  Talk to God without worrying about what others think – learn to talk to Him from your heart, just as if you were praying silently. He is your heavenly Father who loves you! Your prayers are not directed to your family members, but to God alone. You can talk to Him about anything – joys, fears, questions, relationships, etc. Practice this kind of praying out loud at first when you are alone and you will find that soon you will feel comfortable praying out loud with your family and others. Empty-Chair Prayer:  Put an empty chair next to you when you pray. Imagine that Jesus is sitting in the chair and you are having a conversation. This is a good way to feel natural and comfortable as you pray. When you pray out loud, you will be blessed and encouraged, and your faith will grow! You will become more confident to pray together as a family. Prayer Tip adapted from The Praying Family: Creative Ways to Pray Together  by Kim Butts ©2003, PrayerShop Publishing

New Testament Christians were praying Christians. The church was born at a prayer meeting on the day of Pentecost, and the disciples continued to pray as they went on their way proclaiming the good news of Jesus around the world. That really shouldn’t surprise us. The leaders of the church, the apostles, had gone to Jesus earlier and asked Him to teach them to pray. He did. Then He instructed them to teach others what He had taught them. From Jesus, to the apostles, to the first-century Christians, and down through the years to us, believers have taught and practiced prayer. As we focus on prayer in the book of Acts, we find that it was a core value of the early church. I doubt they used the term “core value” as we often do today, but the Scriptures indicate that prayer had a place in the key priorities of the church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). There we find the core values or priorities of the church: 1. Apostles’ doctrine 2. Fellowship 3. Breaking of bread 4. Prayer. Is prayer one of the core values of your church? Certainly we all give lip service to its value, but does prayer really find its way into the nuts and bolts of how you “do church”? In all too many congregations, prayer has become only a way of opening and closing meetings and a means of expressing concern for the sick and hurting. In the book of Acts, believers didn’t simply say that they were devoted to prayer; they demonstrated it by their actions. Corporate prayer was a major emphasis in the early church. The disciples understood the importance and power of praying together. From the day of Pentecost on, they met regularly for the purpose of prayer: Acts 1:14 – “They all joined together constantly in prayer.” Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves…to prayer.” Acts 3:1 – “…going up to the temple at the time of prayer…” Acts 4:24 – “…they raised their voices together in prayer…” Acts 12:12 – “…where many people had gathered and were praying.” Acts 13:3 – “…after they had fasted and prayed…” Acts 20:36 – “…he knelt down with all of them and prayed.” If New Testament Christians saw the importance of praying together, shouldn’t we do likewise? Most would agree that it’s a good thing for Christians to pray together, but we must move beyond mere intellectual assent and take specific action steps. We must provide good teaching from our pulpits and classrooms concerning the importance and value of corporate prayer. A wide variety of prayer opportunities need to be offered for the church, focusing on many needs and topics. We need to be less anxious about the numbers who attend these prayer meetings. A small gathering of three or four people praying can make a real difference. As we contrast New Testament praying with contemporary praying, it’s clear that prayer in the book of Acts was not for outward show. We don’t see New Testament Christian leaders coming together to make decisions and opening their discussion with a “word of prayer.” Instead, we see Christian leaders coming together who understood that their primary purpose in assembling was prayer. Sometimes out of that prayer time there emerged decisions that would refocus or otherwise impact the entire body of Christ. You see that clearly in the upper room as the disciples met to pray before Pentecost. Though their purpose was prayer, they stopped the prayer meeting long enough to select a replacement for Judas Iscariot. What a difference from many church “elections” today! Those early Christians would agree with Joy Dawson, who wrote, “Have we become so impressed by the world’s systems of strategizing that we fail to avail ourselves of the simple method of waiting on God, listening to His voice, praying out His thoughts, and obeying what the Master Strategist says?” We see a similar result of prayer in the church at Antioch where the leaders of the congregation met to fast, pray and worship. In the midst of their prayers, God initiated an outreach that would take the gospel where it had never been preached before (Acts 13:1-3). That prayer meeting in Antioch released the missionary team of Paul and Barnabas into the world. What impact could our prayer meetings have on reaching the lost? Let’s take a brief look at another prayer meeting in the book of Acts. Acts 4:24-31 gives us a thorough presentation of the events leading up to the prayer meeting, a transcription of what the disciples prayed, and then a description of the awesome results of their prayer. Peter and John had been arrested for preaching, held in jail, and then ordered by the Sanhedrin never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Upon their release, they returned to the believers and reported the threats made against them. The assembled believers responded by turning the matter over to their Lord in prayer. They began praying by acknowledging the power of God who created all things. They continued by affirming the truth of Scripture, especially as they saw it being fulfilled in their lives. They quoted the first two verses of Psalm 2 back to God in prayer, and applied those verses to the situation that Jesus faced when spiritual and governmental leaders opposed his ministry. “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.” They also recognized the threats they currently faced as part of that same opposition. Until this point in the prayer, the disciples had asked for nothing. But in Acts 4:29 they asked for boldness from God to continue preaching the good news of Jesus in spite of the authorities’ threats. “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” The disciples used Psalm 2 as a beginning place for their prayer by quoting from it, then concluded their prayer request by asking God to fulfill that Psalm in their lives. There’s more to the second Psalm than the two verses quoted. In this great Messianic Psalm, God the Father speaks to the Son and says, in verse 8: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” In praying for boldness to continue to speak the Word of God, these early Christians were praying Scripture back to God in a powerful way, asking him to help fulfill that promise to the Son through them. Praying the Word of God is a powerful and effective way to make sure our prayers line up with God’s desires. The result of their prayer? The place where they were meeting was shaken as God showed his pleasure with their request. And that request was answered powerfully, for verse 31 says, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The same God has the same purpose and desire today: that the ends of the earth might hear the good news of Jesus. And when we, the church today, line our prayers up with the heartbeat of God and ask him to grant us boldness to fulfill his purposes, we too will see his power poured out in awesome ways upon the church of Jesus Christ.

One of the greatest recorded revivals took place in the southern kingdom of Judah during the reign of Josiah. As we pray and long for revival today, looking back at this biblical revival can help us understand more of what it is we are seeking. This account is found in chapters 34 and 35 of 2 Chronicles. Josiah was just eight years old when he became king. As a teenager, something happened that caused him to begin to seek after the Lord. 2 Chronicles 34:3 says, “In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David.” This 16-year-old king began to develop a hunger to know God. At an age when, at least today, we expect little in the way of spiritual depth, God was stirring in the heart of this young man. Many of us who are longing for revival today believe that it will be birthed in the hearts and lives of the younger generations among us. Josiah is a good model of such a “youth-driven” revival. Like his ancestor David, young Josiah had learned to focus his desire on that which was truly important. It was God Himself that Josiah sought. It is God alone who truly satisfies and who, in Himself, is the only reasonable desire of His people. You will never find yourself longing for revival until you first find yourself desiring God Himself. Perhaps the question that all of us must ask is: “What are we truly seeking in our lives at this moment?” What is it that drives us, motivates us, and gives us a reason to get up in the morning? As Christians, we can still find ourselves with an inadequate apologetic for our lives. We may have a Christian veneer, but inside, we may be seeking the same things as our non-religious neighbors. Does success drive us? Is it money or security that we are seeking? Perhaps it is happiness, personal peace, or a good family that becomes our desire. Josiah acted upon his seeking heart when he began a process of repentance and turning from sin that impacted him personally, as well as the entire nation of Judah. In verses 3-7 of 2 Chronicles 34, we see that Josiah led the nation in purging the land of its idols. In all true revival there must be a turning from sin. As the nation turned from idolatry, there became a natural turning toward God. The young king ordered his servants to begin to repair the abandoned temple, the place of worship for Judah. As the temple was cleaned and repaired, it was also restored as a place of worship. True worship will always be a mark of genuine revival. As the presence of the Lord is experienced by His people, worship will be the natural response of those whose hearts are set on God. Verses 14-19 tell of an exciting discovery that was made. As the temple was being repaired, the workmen discovered the lost scrolls of the Law. Judah had fallen away so completely from God that they had literally lost God’s Word. The rediscovery of the Word set the nation up to be blessed and to experience the presence of God in a powerful way. It is the “rediscovery” of God’s Word that is needed in our own culture today. In many lives, the Word has been lost. It has been unopened and unread. In many cases, even when it is read, it has not been revered, respected, believed or obeyed. One of the key marks of a genuine revival from God is the restoration of the authority of the Bible. What happened next in the story of Josiah is so important for the Church today to comprehend. When the Law was found, the king had a heart that was responsive to what God had said. Josiah led the nation in repentance over its failure to obey the Word. With that repentance came a recommitment to not merely read it, but to act upon it. With Josiah leading the way, the nation had now put itself under the authority of the Word of God. The role of leadership cannot be overstated here. As you read the following passage of Scripture, note that it was clearly the king who held the people accountable: “Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites – all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord – to follow the Lord and keep His commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it: the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their fathers” (2 Chron. 34:29-32). What a wonderful picture of the need for the Church today to respond to the authority of the Bible. It is not merely in reading or hearing the Word that we are changed. We are to be doers of the Word. God calls us to listen and obey. Revival breaks out where there is a radical obedience to the Bible. We cannot finish looking at Josiah’s revival without seeing the excitement brought about by a new awareness of the Lord’s presence with His people. The first nineteen verses of 2 Chronicles 35 deal with an awesome time of celebration during which Judah celebrated the greatest Passover feast in Israel’s history. Verse 18 records, “The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah.” Great rejoicing is the result of returning to the Lord and experiencing His reviving power. It is important for the Church today to notice that it was not celebration that ushered in revival, but repentance and radical obedience to the Word of God. Celebration was the result of God’s acceptance and forgiveness.As the Church continues to long for and to pray for revival, we would do well to look to this young man Josiah and his amazing leadership over the nation of Judah. May the Lord raise up many young men and women like Josiah who will earnestly seek the Lord, and in doing so, lead us into a still greater experience of the presence of Christ!