Leading a Prayer Summit may be one of the greatest investments you can make in developing a prayer culture in your church! Join Daniel Henderson (of Strategic Renewal Ministries) and Dennis Fuqua (of International Renewal Ministries) as they discuss the topic of Prayer Summits and how they can transform the way your church prays. 

Get more information about this live webcast and join us.

I have heard the phrase (especially related to Prayer Summits) “Seek His face” many times.  I have always appreciated it as an encouragement to look to Jesus and appreciate Him simply for who He is.  It is a great reminder that our walk with Him is not only about what He does for and in us, but of Who He is.  But recently, I came to appreciate it in a fresh manner.

My hearing is below average and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. (Read more.) 

One of the most familiar “group prayer” questions is, “Would you lead us in prayer?”  Everyone knows what it means.  But if we are going to be most effective in facilitating corporate prayer, we will want to broaden the meaning of this very familiar question. Here is what I wrote in United and Ignited.

 I have the privilege of sharing at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon a few times per year on the topic of dynamic corporate prayer.  One day as I was concluding 4 hours of “show and tell” on the topic, I glanced at the clock and realized I had just about one minute to sum up all I wanted them to catch. 

Here is what I said: 

I think I can say nearly everything I want you to walk away with in less than one minute.  My hope is that because of our time together today the meaning of the question “Would you lead us in prayer?” has been enlarged.  From: “Bill, would you lead us in prayer?”  And Bill stands, speaks, we listen, he says amen, and he has led us in prayer.  To: “Bill, would you lead us in prayer?”  And Bill says, “Sure, I would be happy to lead us in prayer.  I have been thinking about Psalm 90:14 (or a host of other verses or topics) which says, ‘Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love…’  Let’s close (or open) our time in prayer today by considering the things about God that deeply satisfy us.  I will give you a moment to consider what you would like to say, then I will start, and let’s have about 5 or 6 others of you follow right after me…”  Then after Bill pauses for 10-15 seconds, he prays, “Father, Your grace deeply satisfies me.”  Then, someone else might say, “Father, the blood of Your Son deeply satisfied You and it deeply satisfies me.”  Or “Father, being part of Your Body has satisfied my deep need to belong.” Perhaps others would mention, His peace, His mercy, His joy, or His calling, etc. 

     The specifics of the illustration should change from setting to setting, but I think you get the picture.  Leading a group in prayer can (and in most settings I would say should) include giving many people in the group an opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the prayer.  It does not have to take any longer than if just one person prayed.  Your leadership, your prayer direction, brings the opportunity for the group to pray in the power of unity.

When we ask someone to lead us in worship, we don’t expect a solo, we expect him or her to do that which will help us express our hearts to the Lord.  Why should it be different when we ask someone to lead us in prayer?  Why not anticipate that the person who leads us in prayer would actually help us all pray rather than just pray on our behalf?

Ascension Day (40 days after Resurrection Day) has become one of my favorite days.  Why?  Because I really think it was one of Jesus’ favorite days!

This is the day (on the Church calendar) that Jesus spoke the “Great Commission” to His disciples (Matthew 28:18-20.  This was the day He ascended to the Father’s right hand, and the Father made His enemies a footstool for His feet (Ps 101:1)!  This is the day His prayer of John 17:1 (to glorify the Son) was answered!  This was the day He entered into His current ministry of intercession (Rom 8:34).  These are among the wonderful things which took place in Jesus life that cause me to conclude that this was (at least one of) Jesus’ favorite days of His life.

As I considered this, here is an  ”Ascension Day” version of the Lord’s Prayer (taken from Living Prayer: The Lord's Prayer Alive in You.)

Today, heavenly Father, we enter into Your joy and the joy of Your Son as  we consider this day when Jesus, after His birth, life, death, and resurrection,  ascended to You in great triumph! This day, as You made His enemies a footstool for His feet, You proved again that You alone are the One worthy to be called holy. It proved that Your kingdom had been established and would be brought to fulfillment. It proved that Jesus had done Your will by completing His earthly work.

Now, as He intercedes for His church, we join Him and say, “Yes, give them today what they need today and each day. And let them apply the blood that has been applied to Your altar to all the areas of their life so they may receive Your forgiveness. As they rejoice at how You have forgiven them, let them follow You by forgiving others. Lead them in paths of righteousness so they may be so delighted in Your exaltation that they have no time, need, or desire to turn away from You toward temptation.” And as we celebrate Your complete victory over the evil one, remind us that even though the outcome of the battle is determined, it is not over yet, and we still need Your deliverance and protection.

... And a plug.

It has been a year since Living Prayer: The Lord's Prayer Alive in You has been published, and I am still receiving some very encouraging comments about it.  Here is the most recent.

We just finished doing a study on your book about the Lord's Prayer.  It was AWESOME!!!  It opened our eyes to what God is doing and wants to do in our lives through a simple prayer all of us learned as new believers.  Thanks!!  Tim

A common theme is how this very familiar prayer has become fresh to them.  I am thrilled at this.  This book was written after years of using the Lord's Prayer as a pattern of my own personal prayer life.

I have had the privilege of 7 years of good theological education, 25 years of pastoring, been exposed to great books and godly people, but nothing has shaped my life nearly as much as treating Jesus' simple instructions on this vital topic of prayer very seriously.  Those early morning times when I have asked Jesus to, "teach me to pray" and then listened as He tutored me using the words of the Lord's Prayer as the curriculum have shaped not only my prayer life, but my entire life.  I have logged hundreds of hours doing this and it is still fresh.

So, whether someone gets there via my book, another book, or just on their own, I long for every believer to have those special times with Jesus.

More is available at www.livingprayer.net.