This morning as I was praying God pricked my heart when I started praying for tonight's prayer meeting. All the sudden I saw the importance in praying for a shift in the atmosphere, asking God to commission angels to take charge over us, in coming to the house of the Lord prepared spiritually.
Several weeks ago the Lord really began speaking to me about stepping out of my comfort zone in prayer and I found myself needing to make a decision. I could either remain where I was or I could take a step of faith and let God move. I decided it was time to take that step and I went to a friend and asked her to pray with me at our next prayer meeting because I was really struggling with praying with confidence in a public setting. From that day forward, I began covering this prayer time in prayer, I prayed for a Spirit of Boldness, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to saturate the entire building, I prayed for a shift in the atmosphere and an angelic protection over our meeting place. I came to Church that Thursday night expecting something to happen and knowing that the Presence of the Lord would be upon us.
Since then I can't wait for Thursday night to come, because I know that if we come with our hearts prepared, if we come expecting, if we come worshiping then God will be in our midst. Beverly talked about this at our Ladies Retreat and God brought it back to me again today. We need to be praying for God to prepare our hearts and our place of worship. I truly believe that we have to stop expecting to have Church as usual. Our Pastor should never have to worry about fitting a message in on our time frame. If the Holy Spirit moves and we sing more songs than expected, he should not have to stress over having enough time to give US a message that God has put on his heart. We need to throw our watches out the door when we come into the house of the Lord and expect the unexpected.
I think the biggest thing is preparation. In order for the atmosphere to shift we can't have any spiritual hindrances, so that means anything that you're bringing to church with you has got to be cast off. 1 Peter 5:7 says, Cast your cares on him, for he cares for you. We have to stop holding on to all our junk, let go and let God. Our God is not a common ordinary God. We need to come prepared, expecting and with the right attitude. Acts 3:5 "and he, gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them".
2 Chronicles 5:13-14
13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.
2 Chronicles 7:1
When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.
I read once that the word for "presence" in Hebrew is also translated as "face" in the Old Testament. So to have a bigger impact the above scripture could also read: the glorious "face" of the LORD filled the Temple.
The Lord responds to our Faith. Solomon sought God and longed for his presence. He prepared himself and the people. He prepared the atmosphere with worship and praise to God. (2 Chron 5:11-14), they sacrificed so many animals that they couldn't be counted (2 Chron 5:6). He was prepared to be in the presence of the Almighty God.
A spiritual atmosphere is one where the presence of God is there, the Holy Spirit is moving, transformations takes place, and the Heavens are opened.
So this week let's pray over the very atmosphere, let's pray that our hearts are prepared, let's come to church expecting the extraordinary, expecting the Holy Spirit to have liberty and for transformations to take place.
Heavenly Father, we come before you asking for forgiveness for seeking ordinary when you're an extraordinary God. Lord, we cast every burden and care on you because you care for us. We come before you with humble, repentant hearts, seeking your face God, seeking a closer more intimate walk with you. We ask Father that you shift our atmosphere, that you establish a supernatural environment where your presence is welcome. That you saturate us with your Glory. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen
Related Scriptures
2 Chron 5:11-14
2 Chron 5:6
1 Peter 5:7
Prayer List
1. Divine Protection
2. Holiness
3. Heart like Hur/strength when weary
4. Revival
5. Steadfastness
6. Surrender
7. Discernment
8. Worship in Spirit and Truth
9. Trust
10. Pray to be led by the Holy Spirit
11. Resist Discouragement
12. Offense
13. Unity
14. Fire of God to fall
15. Walk in Obedience to His Word
16. Overcome Fear with Faith
17. Shift in the Atmosphere/Preparation
Several weeks ago the Lord really began speaking to me about stepping out of my comfort zone in prayer and I found myself needing to make a decision. I could either remain where I was or I could take a step of faith and let God move. I decided it was time to take that step and I went to a friend and asked her to pray with me at our next prayer meeting because I was really struggling with praying with confidence in a public setting. From that day forward, I began covering this prayer time in prayer, I prayed for a Spirit of Boldness, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to saturate the entire building, I prayed for a shift in the atmosphere and an angelic protection over our meeting place. I came to Church that Thursday night expecting something to happen and knowing that the Presence of the Lord would be upon us.
Since then I can't wait for Thursday night to come, because I know that if we come with our hearts prepared, if we come expecting, if we come worshiping then God will be in our midst. Beverly talked about this at our Ladies Retreat and God brought it back to me again today. We need to be praying for God to prepare our hearts and our place of worship. I truly believe that we have to stop expecting to have Church as usual. Our Pastor should never have to worry about fitting a message in on our time frame. If the Holy Spirit moves and we sing more songs than expected, he should not have to stress over having enough time to give US a message that God has put on his heart. We need to throw our watches out the door when we come into the house of the Lord and expect the unexpected.
I think the biggest thing is preparation. In order for the atmosphere to shift we can't have any spiritual hindrances, so that means anything that you're bringing to church with you has got to be cast off. 1 Peter 5:7 says, Cast your cares on him, for he cares for you. We have to stop holding on to all our junk, let go and let God. Our God is not a common ordinary God. We need to come prepared, expecting and with the right attitude. Acts 3:5 "and he, gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them".
2 Chronicles 5:13-14
13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.
2 Chronicles 7:1
When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.
I read once that the word for "presence" in Hebrew is also translated as "face" in the Old Testament. So to have a bigger impact the above scripture could also read: the glorious "face" of the LORD filled the Temple.
The Lord responds to our Faith. Solomon sought God and longed for his presence. He prepared himself and the people. He prepared the atmosphere with worship and praise to God. (2 Chron 5:11-14), they sacrificed so many animals that they couldn't be counted (2 Chron 5:6). He was prepared to be in the presence of the Almighty God.
A spiritual atmosphere is one where the presence of God is there, the Holy Spirit is moving, transformations takes place, and the Heavens are opened.
So this week let's pray over the very atmosphere, let's pray that our hearts are prepared, let's come to church expecting the extraordinary, expecting the Holy Spirit to have liberty and for transformations to take place.
Heavenly Father, we come before you asking for forgiveness for seeking ordinary when you're an extraordinary God. Lord, we cast every burden and care on you because you care for us. We come before you with humble, repentant hearts, seeking your face God, seeking a closer more intimate walk with you. We ask Father that you shift our atmosphere, that you establish a supernatural environment where your presence is welcome. That you saturate us with your Glory. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen
Related Scriptures
2 Chron 5:11-14
2 Chron 5:6
1 Peter 5:7
Prayer List
1. Divine Protection
2. Holiness
3. Heart like Hur/strength when weary
4. Revival
5. Steadfastness
6. Surrender
7. Discernment
8. Worship in Spirit and Truth
9. Trust
10. Pray to be led by the Holy Spirit
11. Resist Discouragement
12. Offense
13. Unity
14. Fire of God to fall
15. Walk in Obedience to His Word
16. Overcome Fear with Faith
17. Shift in the Atmosphere/Preparation
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