Prayer Revolution: Bless the LORD

If you want to revolutionize your prayer life, which will in turn, revolutionize your world . . . bless the Lord!

Sometimes I am so focused on myself that I forget that my heavenly Father is God of everything. I forget that He has everything under control. So I have to do like David did in the Psalms, sometimes I have to talk to myself.

¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 ² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 ³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

Prayer Revolution: Forfeit Peace No More

On Friday, my friend sent me an email that said she woke herself up crying, singing this song . . . and she sent this link.

I think that waking up with that song on her lips was God speaking directly to her. She said this happened years ago when there was illness in the family. I asked why she was sharing it with me on this day. It just popped into her head. :-) I think God was using her to remind me. Look at the words of this song:

The Prayers -- Cool Song

I recently found that I really like this song. It's based on James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 KJV

And you can dance to it! Enjoy! 

Prayer Revolution -- A Cool Way to Pray

On Thursday, as I was driving, I was praying for someone. I prayed, "Lord, deliver him from anything that he wouldn't want anyone to know."

That must have been a Spirit-led prayer. I don't know of anything wrong in the life of the person for whom I was praying. I've never prayed like that before. But I thought, "How cool is that?" I thought about how I would love for someone to pray that for me. 

Probably most people have something in their lives that they don't want anyone to know. I sure do. I would hate for anyone to know how much I have been eating lately.  Like that's my only flaw. But we won't discuss that right now.

But what if we prayed for each others' flaws/sins? We don't have to know everything about a person. God knows. Honestly, I wouldn't want to know everything about most people. We just have to remember that none of us is perfect.

That evening I went to pray with my partners. One of them, Frank, shared this word that Holy Spirit had given him:

Prayer Revolution—Knowing to Whom We Pray

Tuesdays can be my cranky days. Maybe it's because I get up earlier on Tuesday than any other day. The problem is that the reason I get up early is to go to church to pray. No, going to church to pray is not a problem. Being cranky when I get to work and people know that I've gone to pray . . . that's a problem. Maybe no one notices. Yeah right!

Maybe I'm cranky because I'm tired. Maybe it's because we have meetings first thing on Tuesday mornings at work. It doesn't matter. It's not acceptable. Since I have this tendency, I was a bit concerned this morning. Okay, I was fretting over it. I thought I might ask my prayer partners to pray with me about it.

Live Web Stream Saturday August 6

Today we have a chance to join prayer warriors and intercessors across the United States. A huge prayer meeting called: The Response: A Call To Prayer For A Nation In Crisis will begin at 9 AM on streaming video. The Response is a time of fasting and praying with other believers. Please join in on Saturday when you have the chance. You can download a prayer guide, watch, and pray with the believers who will be meeting at Reliant Stadium in Houston.  

From The Response web site:

Today will be a day of fasting and prayer, a gathering unto God as the body of Christ to worship, repent, and pray for America. May Jesus’ name be lifted above every other name today in Reliant Stadium.

The goal today is to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, to come together as a diverse body with sincerity, wholeheartedness and freedom. We encourage you to actively engage in worship in your own heart and by singing out loud. Join with the prayers from the platform by verbally agreeing or taking their words and praying them in your own way. Rather than watching as a spectator, join as a participant.

You are standing before God on behalf of America; He wants to hear your voice.

Pray with me:

 

Father, I pray that as believers gather in Houston and across this country by live streaming, we will cry out to You together in unity. Bless the efforts of those in Texas who are organizing this event. May their be unity among the body of Christ. After the event, help us to remember to continue to cry out to You as a body of believers. Thank You, Father for the prayer revolution that is going to bring change in our society. I give You  praise. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Prayer Revolution: Say Thanks

Have you ever given a gift to someone and they respond with, "Is that all?" or "I wanted a blue one." or "Oh, I already have one of these." In such cases, my response is something like, "What I think you're saying is 'thank you.'"

How often do we neglect to thank God, but complain instead? A thankful heart changes your perspective. Saying thanks is a kind of prayer.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men 1 Timothy 2:1 NKJV

When Paul wrote this, he listed supplication (a type of prayer), prayers, intercessions (a type of prayer) and thanksgiving.

Let's begin our prayer revolution with all kinds of prayer, including thanksgiving. Let's say thanks for what God has already done.

Give thanks with me:

Awesome God, Thank You for teaching me how to pray. Thank You for a prayer revolution that will change society. Thank You that the revolution is going to bring change in my life first. I want to thank You because You have done so many great things in my life. Thank You for life. Thank You Jesus dying on the cross for the sins that I've committed. Thank You that Jesus overcame death so I could live a victorious life. Thank You that Jesus is preparing a place for me in Your house.  Thank You for creating me with a purpose in mind. Thank You that I have hope in my life. Thank You for peace. Thank You for a family and friends who love me. Thank You for good health. Thank You for meeting my every need. Thank You for being my Shepherd so that I lack nothing. Thank You that I can pray to You in Jesus' name. Amen.

Prayer Revolution: Ask

The first step to begin a prayer revolution is simply: pray. I know that sounds obvious, but hear me out; maybe you haven't been praying like you think you have. This phrase is like a test to me to evaluate whether I have prayed about a matter. The King James Version says, "Ye have not because ye ask not." James 4:2b

I just think that sounds cool. But a more modern version says,

You do not have, because you do not ask God. James 4:2b NIV

When I read that, I have to evaluate: have a really asked God for this thing or to intervene in this matter or have I just thought about it? Remember, I learning how to not just think about prayer but to move beyond that and actually pray. But sometimes, if you're like me, you may ask yourself that question and find that answer is: no, I have not prayed. I did not ask God.

That seems so simple doesn't it? You don't have something because you just didn't ask for it. God wants us to ask. He wants us to pray. He wants us to talk with Him about our desires. He wants to answer.

Have you asked God to help you in whatever area you may be struggling? Have you asked Him to intervene in a situation that is causing worry or fear in the life of someone you know? Did you invite God to your workplace to bring peace, safety, and prosperity? (Ouch) Have you asked Him for direction for the next season of your life? Did you already pray about the physical healing you need in your life or for someone else?

Maybe you do not have God's help, divine intervention, peace, prosperity, direction or healing, etc because you have not asked.

Our prayer revolution begins by praying about everything.

Pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your word. Thank You for showing me that one reason that I may not have seen some prayers answered is because I may not have actually asked or prayed. Maybe I only thought about it. Maybe I only assumed that You would take care of the situation. I know that You are able, but You want me to ask. So I ask that You reveal to me, in every situation, how I should pray. Teach me how to pray about everything because I want to trust You with everything. Let the revolution begin in Jesus name. Amen.

Prayer Revolution

Sick and tired of the church talkin' religion
And yet, they talk about each other, makin' decisions
No more racism, two-facism, no pollution, the solution?
A Revolution

-Kirk Franklin, Revolution

For the last few days' the phrase "prayer revolution" has been on my heart. When I think of prayer revolution, I think of things/situations/culture being changed as a result of prayer. As they said repeatedly in the movie Angels in the Outfield, "It could happen." But to sound more spiritual I'll say: I believe God!

I ache with longing to see God's kingdom come in my lifetime. I know that we can be a part of that happening. So in the month of August, we will continue to study prayer. Much more than study it, we will pray. I believe God that we will pray as we never have and see the results as we've never seen before.

On dictionary.com, one definition for revolution is a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure. Oh yeah, it could happen.

One of our mentors for prayer this month will be the Prophet Elijah. I love what the scripture says about him:

 ¹⁷ Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸ Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:17-18 NIV

Guess what? When it doesn't rain for 3 ½ years, some part of culture is going to change. Because Elijah talked to God, the rain ceased. Elijah wasn't Jesus. He was a regular person like us. He prayed; no rain. He prayed; rain. God honored this regular man's earnest prayer.

We don't want to change the weather, but we want a radical and pervasive change in society. Our society is ill. Hurting people are waiting for us to pray for them and show them the Truth. They are crying out to know someone who can put them in touch with God to bring a change, a revolution in their lives. Even the church, the body of Christ is in need of refreshing, rejuvenation, and revival – awakening.

Join a prayer revolution with me. Pray with me about specific matters to see change.

Pray with me:

Father, I believe it could happen. I believe that by the prayers of my friends and myself, we can cause a revolution – we can cause a radical and pervasive change if we join together in prayer and if we pray earnestly.  We pray: wake up prayer warriors! Wake up intercessors! Wake up revolutionaries! I believe God! I believe, Father that if we would humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked, self-centered ways, You will hear from Heaven. You will forgive our sins. You will heal our sin-sick land. Help me to pray as I've never prayed before. Help me to pray Your will accurately. Teach me how to seek You with humility in fasting and prayer. Show me, Father, how to cry out to You. Thank You for revolutionizing my prayer life. Let the revolution begin in me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.