Surrender

God has really laid this on my heart and I want you to know that before I share anything with you it's something that God has already dealt with me about. Please bare with me as I try to relay to you what I feel God wants us to focus on this week to the best of my ability.

Time is very much a hindrance for us today. We're in a hurry for everything, we have so many places to go, so many things to do that we fail to devote time to things that are supposed to be most important to us. We can proclaim how important God is to us all day long but if we don't really spend any time with him then how important is he? I know we all have 105 excuses to justify why we don't spend more time with God, or at least I can come up with many excuses and they all seem legit. Let’s get real though, we prioritize our time according to what is the most important thing to us. So ask yourself; what are you spending most of your time doing? I think God wants us to realize that if we really want to intercede for our Pastor and Church than we've got to spend quality time with him. I'm not saying you don't, I'm just saying that we can often get sidetracked with the responsibilities and cares of the world. I heard a Pastor say once that; "life is about choices, we can have as much of Jesus in our life as we want". Jesus wants to be closer to us than we can ever fathom but how close do you want to be to him and what are you willing to give up to have that closeness with him? We have to choose to surrender everything we have to the Lord. Surrendering all you have to Christ is not just a onetime deal. It's an everyday choice that you have to make. We're human and it's easy to walk in the flesh (by the Natural Man) but it's not so easy to walk in and by the Spirit. Yesterday during praise and worship, I had to just keep saying, Father, I surrender everything I have to you, over and over in my mind, I went through everything I could possibly think of and surrendered it to Jesus and I'm not just talking morning service, I had to do it both services. It's not because I was backslidden or anything like that, it's because my natural man wants it to be about "me" and what "I" need and what "I" want. That's not what it's about, it's about what he wants, it's about his Kingdom, it's about being light and salt in this world, following his commandments no matter the cost and so I constantly have to die to self and surrender my all to him.

John the Baptist said it perfectly, "He must increase, I must decrease" (John 3:30). The disciples "Forsook all and followed him" (Luke 5:11). Jesus told his disciples.. "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)....and we like Jesus must also be "about our Father's business" (Luke 2:49).

I challenge you this week to really seek God in these areas. Die to self daily, surrender everything that you have and follow Christ no matter the cost, and don't forget we have to be about our Father's business. Give your time to God this week, turn off your distractions and spend every minute you possibly can with God.

Father, forgive me for my selfishness. Lord I surrender everything I have to you. Rid me of self father and fill me with your Spirit. Holy Spirit, mold us into a body of believers that is light and salt in this world. May our Church be known as a church that is conforming to the pattern set by Christ that's all about our Father's business. Jesus, I choose to pick up my cross and follow you. Thank you father for what you've done and what your gonna do. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen....
Prayer List
1. Divine Protection for Pastor and Family
2. Holiness
3. Heart like Hur to pray through the battle/strength when weary
4. Revival
5. Steadfastness
6. Surrender/Church about our Fathers business

Steadfastness

I was up late last night trying to determine what God really wanted us to pray about. The one thing that stood out in my mind the most is being Steadfast. "I" really didn't want to talk about steadfastness this week because I knew if I did, I would have to talk about my utter failure in this area but I was corrected in that rebellious attitude so we are moving forward in humility now.

I have been facing a very trying time. The enemy has tried consistently to throw obstacles in my path to get my focus off Jesus and on my circumstances and in many instances he has succeeded briefly. However, through this I am learning that if the enemy can keep us focused on the storm than we become less effective for the Kingdom. Our prayer life is more self focused instead of kingdom focused, our thoughts are constantly on our own problems and we tend to forget about the bigger purpose (or at least I have).

I have gotten caught up in hurt and anger. The enemy wants to destroy our families and cause constant chaos in our lives. He is using everything he can to take our focus away from Jesus and away from his Kingdom and to bring us to self pity and frustration. Last week as the blows got more frequent and more personal, I felt myself just teetering right at the edge of the Pit, knowing that it wouldn't take much more to knock me down. I have to check myself moment by moment, get my footing back and realize that I am an overcomer through the Blood of Jesus.

To stand steadfast means to stand without wavering, being fixed in place, to be stable, steady and calm, no matter what happens. Did you know that God's word says that Jotham in the Old Testament walked steadfastly before God and grew Powerful as a result? I want to be powerful and not pitiful as Joyce Meyer would say. So, this week I really want us to pray for a steadfast spirit in warfare, we need to pray this for ourselves and for our Pastor.

Read
James 1:2-4
2 chronicle 27:6 (NIV)

Prayer List
1. Divine Protection for Pastor and Family
2. Holiness
3. Heart like Hur to pray through the battle/strength when weary
4. Revival
5. Steadfastness

We're In A Battle

I just saw this and had to share it with you guys. I know I promised one email a week but I think God is ok with two this week. LOL

Read Acts 12:1-11
Peter was in a time of crisis, he was imprisoned in the midst of a huge persecution against the Church and the enemy had positioned soldiers to bind him and guard him. The scripture says that constant prayer was made by the church for Peter’s release.

(Acts 12:7)Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 

I believe this was an answer to a nonstop prayer storm from the church. God is calling believers to pray prayers of protection over their leaders so that the entire church can prevail against the enemy’s attacks.

When thinking about the battle we are facing, God reminded me of this story I heard about my Cousin, Colonel Darrell Darnbush. I remember meeting one of his "Privates"(I guess that's what you call them) one time and when I asked him if he knew Darrell he was amazed that I would even ask him such a question. He said to me, did you know that your cousin, has bodyguards everywhere he goes? That every time he goes to Iraq, he has a group of soldiers that circle around him and their only objective is to keep him safe at all cost. WOW...are you seeing the same picture I'm seeing here? I believe that God wants us to do this very thing for our Pastor. We need to circle around him, be his spiritual body guards, covering him from the enemy fire at all costs.

I love that connection God made for me this morning and really just wanted to share it with you guys.

Revival

This week has been a very busy week for all of us and I almost sent an email that said we're just going to have to skip this week because I haven't devoted the time that I should have to seek God about what we should pray about this week but just as I began to do that God reminded me of my desire yesterday as I was listening to Pastor's sermon about the importance of getting them while we can. I suddenly remembered the overwhelming emotions that I felt during his sermon and how I just longed to see revival breakout this week at VBS. I could literally visualize God doing a mighty work in these kids’ lives this week and tears just came to my eyes.

I realize this is a huge subject and one I am definitely not even qualified to attempt to talk about so I'm just going to give us some principals to remember when praying for Revival. Before, I do that, I want to say thank you. I know that all of you are much more mature in the Lord than I am. Sending these emails every week is such a battle as the enemy is very consistent in reminding me of how stupid this is and that I don't have a clue what I'm talking about, etc. So, Thank you for your support and allowing me to step out and obey what I feel like the Lord is asking me to do in this season of my life. Also if you have anything that you feel like God wants you to add please feel free to interject.

As I've said before, I believe we are in the last days and we need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that our Father in heaven wants to bring Revival to us but we must pray with urgency.

Principals
Let us pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17)
Pray that God will revive us (Psalm 80:18-19)
Let our appeal be grounded solely upon HIS Mercy (Daniel 9:18-19)
Ask & Believe (Matthew 21:22)
Trust & Have Faith (Hebrews 11:6)

Heavenly Father, we give you praise for you are Holy. Lord I thank you for your Mercy. We ask for you to bring revival to our lives personally and to your body as a whole. Pour your Spirit out on these VBS kids & PCOG. Take off all spiritual blinders, open ears to hear your word and prepare hearts to receive you. Father, give us a heart to pray for lost souls. Father God, incline your ear and hear our cry! We ask these things believing that it is your will that none should perish but that all should come to repentance. We trust you to do all the work and we'll be careful to give you all the praise and all the Glory. Thank you for what you've done and what you're going to do. In Jesus Name, Amen.

1 Thess. 5:17
Psalm 80:18-19
Daniel 9:18-19
Matthew 21:22
Hebrews 11:6
Prayer List
1. Divine Protection for Pastor and Family
2. Holiness
3. Heart like Hur to pray through the battle/strength when weary
4. Revival

Heart like Hur

I just want to remind all of you about a story that God brought to my memory earlier in the week. Exodus 17:8-16, as I read this story, I just thought about the battle the children of Israel were facing and how Moses, Aaron and Hur handled the battle. We all face battles; big, small, individually and congregationally. When Moses prayed, he gave the Children of Israel strength. When he grew weary and his arms fell down, Amalek prevailed. The original Hebrew word for Prevail (rbg/Gabar) means to be given strength or power. When we fail to pray for our Pastor, we don't weaken our Pastor, we strengthen and give more power to the enemy. Prayer is the most powerful weapon that we have. Moses had what I consider to be two prayer warriors with him during this battle. Aaron the great high priest and Hur. From what I gather, Hur was just an ordinary man. When Moses was too tired to hold his arms up any longer, Aaron and Hur held them up for him. When I read that my eyes were opened. Our Heavenly Father gave us a story that tells us exactly what we're supposed to be doing as a congregation of Hur's to help our Pastor. Our Pastor is human just as we are. He gets tired and worn out just like we do. When he can't hold his arms up any longer, we should be ready to hold his arms up for him. Our Pastor needs us to touch heaven for him and his family. Our prayers will hold him up and encourage him.

What our Pastors do every day requires diligence, determination and dedicated labor rooted in love. It's a constant ministry of giving.

Father, today I ask that you give me a heart like "Hur". Jesus mold me and make me into a humble servant, willing to stand behind my Pastor and his wife and lift their arms up when they grow weary. Giver of Peace and Rest, I ask you to refresh them. Let them not become weary in doing good. Give them a harvest of strength, a harvest of support and a harvest of souls. In Jesus Name. Amen

Scriptures
Exodus 17:8-16
Galatians 6:9
Prayer List
1. Divine Protection for Pastor and Family
2. Holiness
3. Heart like Hur to pray through the battle/strength when weary

Holiness

I have been praying and reading trying to determine where God wants us to go this week. The thing that stuck out to me the most was holiness. Today, I was hit smack in the face with my past. I went to my Dad's for Memorial Day and low and behold there sat several people from my past. The memories that flooded my head the minute I spotted these people were devastating to me. As I thought on this time in my life, I remembered that this group of people that I hung out with, partied with, did all kinds of sinful acts with, claimed to be Christians. I haven't been walking with the Lord for a long time like some of you have but what I see saddens me. It breaks my heart to see people blinded by their own sin. With that being said, I would like for us to focus on Holiness; holiness in the Church, holiness in our personal lives, being set apart, consecrated to God as a body of believers not condoning anything that does not align with God's word.

Read Matthew 21:12-13 and 1 Peter 1:14-19

Father, you are a Holy God. Thank you for your love, your mercy and your grace. Thank you God for giving us a place where we can learn, pray and worship you freely. Jesus, I pray that you will help us to never take these things for granted. Lord that we will live holy and upright lives according to your word. Father, our actions in your house must be holy, clean and edifying. We cannot condone borderline events or acts of ungodliness. As a team (Pastor, Leaders and Members) let us uphold high standards in your house and in our own personal lives. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Prayer List

1. Divine Protection for Pastor and his Family
2. Holiness

Divine Protection

Since I'm still sending out emails to people trying to see who wants to participate in praying for our Pastor and Church, let’s focus on the example I gave you in my original email this week. I'm not sure how exactly to do this so bare with me as I fumble through this. This week I'm including a portion of my personal prayer just so you can see what I'm talking about but please just go before the Lord in your own way but keep in mind the key things we are lifting up in prayer this week is divine protection for our Pastor and his family.

Scripture to read is Matthew 2:7-12

Lord, you knew that Herod wanted to destroy the future of Christ.
Father, there are people who are inspired by the enemy and desire to kill the influence of our Pastor and would love nothing more but to destroy his family and ministry. I ask you God to divinely protect our Pastor and his family, to cover them in your spiritual armor wherever they go. God put a hedge of protection around them and their entire household. Holy Spirit guide their every step and direct their paths. Lord I pray that you guide them around any temptation or trap of the enemy. Father God in the name of Jesus, supernaturally protect them in all they do. Thank You Jesus....In Jesus Name I pray....Amen

Please take time to pray today. Our leadership needs us covering them in prayer.

Scripture Reference
Matthew 2:7-12

My Desire To Be A Prayer Warrior

I pray that God will send hungry people who are looking to cover their Pastor and their Church in prayer to this site to help them get started in a life changing journey of Prayer as well. The following are simply my emails that I send to our group of Interceders every week. Enjoy and if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer those for you.

My Initial Email

It’s my prayer for God to teach me how to pray for those in need and one of the desires of my heart is for God to mold me into a prayer warrior. So, I’m praying for guidance and for God to teach me how to pray for my Pastor, my church, family and friends and I’m asking God to just examine and change my heart accordingly.


2 Chronicles 7:14 says:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Notice the action steps laid out in this scripture that we must take: humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face and turn from our sin. If we do these things, God WILL hear us from heaven.  With that being said, my Pastor's wife loaned me a book to read on Sunday. This book lays out how to pray for our Pastor and our Church, giving scripture to go with everything it says to pray. I’ve only made it to the third page of the book so far and at this rate it will take some major time to circulate this book. I’m taking notes and I have just started praying these things out loud daily. This morning as I was praying, I was just thinking of what a difference it would make if I could get other “Prayer Warriors” to come in agreement with me on these very things. So, I’m looking for some people who are willing to bind together in prayer daily. Who are willing to sacrifice a little of their time, who are willing to let God reveal to them the area's they need to change in their own life so that we can be a stronger body and can move forward, united in this battle. Right now more than ever we need to be covering our Leadership in prayer. I truly believe that Jesus is returning quickly and if we think our battles are hard, imagine the battles that they are facing on a daily basis. The enemy wants to stop them and the work they are doing for the Lord. So we need to encompass them in prayer consistently.

I would like to send a text and/or email out weekly on what we can focus on for that week. If we do this weekly that should give you time to memorize and build upon that list weekly. I will send you a small portion of scripture to read once a week and with it will be an area to focus on in prayer for example, Matthew 2:7-12, Pray for divine protection for Pastor and his family, cover them in Spiritual Armor and ask the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct their every step and to guide them away from any temptations or traps of the enemy. (Add your own flavor of course and continue to cover them in your own personal prayers but make sure and ADD these things specifically to your prayers at least once a day).

Even if it’s just two of us, I really want us to dedicate some time to this daily. If you’re interested, please let me know, if not that’s ok too. I just really feel deep down like God is looking for his people to fully surrender to him and his will, seeking him in prayer consistently. His word tells us in Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. We need to claim this promise as we ask God to work in the life of our Pastor and our Church.

I know that with God all things are possible. I’m looking forward to what God has in store for our Pastor, his family, our Church and us as a Body.

Scripture Reference

2 Chronicles 7:14
Matthew 2:7-12
Matthew 7:7

The Purpose Of My Blog

This Blog is about my desire for God to teach me and give me a hunger to pray for my Church, my Pastor, my Friends and my Family. God is answering my prayers, he has put together a group of Interceders at my Church to join me in agreement in praying for our Pastor and our Church.

We started out with I think 3 women and God has multiplied that number greatly already. God will move beyond our ability if we will simply take the first step. God himself has taken this group and moved us beyond our Church and has expanded us to several other churches. I give all the praise and glory to my father in heaven because it has only been by his grace that this has been possible.

If God has given you a desire to begin a prayer ministry at your church similar to what we have started. I would love to hear from you. It's important for me to be able to interceede with you and to give God praise for what he is doing.

I also have a link to my Facebook page on my blog. Please like my page on Facebook. I normally only post one thing every day or two just to remind you of something important to pray about.

God Bless you all