The room is charged with excitement about a new opportunity. The opportunity is sure to make a change in our life and in the life of our church. Many have already signed up to participate.
iPray ~ 24/7
This is an opportunity to be part of a prayer chain that will hold up our church & its leaders for 7 days, 24 hours a day. This is a concerted, organized prayer effort to effect a transformation in our lives and hence in the life of our church. Participants sign up for a specific 30 minute window, daily during the week.
This week my church started our iPray week on Sunday at noon and we’ll go through to next Sunday at noon. Being an active part of our Music Department, along with others we signed up for more than one slot daily. It is the intention of the Music Department to fill every slot with someone from our department – we made it.
Warning: Transparency Content
How do I really feel knowing that tonight I am facing 2 one hour prayer slots? Gone is the excitement filled room. Group mentality has faded being replaced with lone pray-er status. Friends with other time slots are at home, watching their favorite show while I’m about to embark on my first hour of the evening prayer time.
There was a time in the not too distant past that an hour of prayer would have been unthinkable, let alone two hours in the same evening. Prayer was something I did in my car on the way to work. Prayer was something I did in the shower every morning. My prayer life could be summed up in a 15 minute car ride or a 5 minute shower.
Sure there were times when prayer lasted longer thrown in with a little fasting; but mostly because there was a ministry event coming up. I fervently sought God when I needed Him to show up and chatted with Him cordially the remainder of the time.
No more!
Five years ago I woke up to the fact that, apparently I really didn’t have the faith to believe that what the Word says and says about me is true. After all, if I really believed what the Word says I’d act different, talk different and be different.
I went from the logos of the word to the rhema of the word. Or in English that is, I went from knowing it in my head to believing in my heart!
In the late 1940’s my great aunt asked her pastor if she and her friends could stay in the church and pray as they were desperate for a touch from the Lord. For 11 days and 11 nights the ladies stayed at a little Assemblies of God church in Regina, Saskatchewan until God visited them. He did, in a BIG way.
In the 70’s & 80’s it was common place in my home to see people from all churches across the city in our living room praying.
So here I am in the 2000’s carrying on the Godly heritage of prayer that has been passed down my family line. Not because it’s what I’m supposed to, but because it’s what I want to.
This past Thursday, July 3rd I went to Dallas to be part of a service conduct by Todd Bentley. Todd is the evangelist at the Florida Outpouring Revival going on at Ignite Church, an Assemblies of God church pastored by Steven Strader in Lakeland. As the miracle power of God began to move across the meeting I was transported back to my childhood sitting in healing services of Kathryn Kulhman and Morris Cerello.
I had driven 240 miles because I wanted to be in the presence of God. I wanted to receive a touch of God’s power and anointing. As I stood to worship with the 10,000 gathered (that was cool!) I heard the Lord speak to me.
“What you are looking for can’t be found in this coliseum. What you are looking for is found in your own prayer closet.”
Ouch.
Well, God is always right. I was/am looking for the power of the Holy Ghost. I am looking to be so full of the power of the Holy Ghost that flows out of me naturally. I want to be a 1st Century Christian ~ a bold, full of power, witness for the Lord. Just to set the record straight there aren’t people lining up to have my shadow fall on them. (Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.)
What I want isn’t found by getting in line to see what is being handed out.
What I want is found by getting alone with the Lord and praying.
Wait, I’ll be right back… my first one hour slot of the evening is starting.
Okay, I’m back. That was great. Where was I…?
You never know what is going to happen when you pray. Last night as I prayed my favorite Psalm, #27 the Lord opened my eyes to see verses in a new light. Tonight I cranked my music and began to pray and worship Him. I got to song #4 and God showed up. All of a sudden a song that I’ve heard and sung dozens of times took on a fresh revelation about the words and how it pertains to this current iPray 24/7 event.
As you read the words to this song think of my church’s iPray 24/7 event. From teenagers to 80 year olds, every generation is praying for a transformation in us and in our church. We want to see God’s power move in order to change lives. We want our lives to be changed.
Lord, hear our cry
Come heal our land
Breath life into these dry and thirsty souls
Lord, hear our prayer
Forgive our sin
And as we call on your name
Would you make this a place
For your glory to dwell
Chorus:
Open the blind eyes
Unlock the deaf ears
Come to your people
As we draw near
Hear us from heaven
Touch our generation
We are your people
Crying out in desperation
Bridge:
Hear us from heaven,
Hear us from heaven,
Hear us from heaven (4x)
Kim Angela
1 comment:
That was a true word from the Lord, Kim. The Lord has been showing me the same thing. I don't need to look elsewhere for His manifest presence and power. He is right here with us. All I need is being in His presence. Abiding in Christ--that is the key.
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