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ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA 
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: assistnews@aol.com


Sunday, February 6, 2011

Obama talks openly about his personal faith in Jesus Christ
Speaking at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast, the President talks about how he came to embrace Christ ‘as my Lord and Savior’
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By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

WASHINGTON, DC (ANS) -- President Barack Obama took the opportunity of set the record straight at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast held on Thursday, February 3, 2011, about his personal faith.

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President Obama speaking at the 2011 National Prayer Breakfast

He surprised the crowd of about 4,000 faith-leaders at the annual National Prayer Breakfast in the Hilton Washington International Ballroom, by speaking about his Christian faith in a most personal way.

In his most unusual speech, Obama called that faith “a sustaining force” in his life and he acknowledged persistent questions about his religion and offered what many believe were his most detailed comments about his spiritual beliefs and practices.

In his speech, the President said, “A call rooted in faith is what led me, just a few years out of college, to sign up as a community organizer for a group of churches on the south side of Chicago. And it was through that experience, working with pastors and laypeople, trying to heal the wounds of hurting neighborhoods that I came to know Jesus Christ for myself and embrace him as my Lord and Savior.”

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The Obamas at a previous National Prayer Breakfast

Obama went on to say, “My Christian faith, then, has been a sustaining force for me over these last few years, all the more so when Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time. We are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us, but whether we’re being true to our conscience and true to our God. ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you, as well.’”

Prayer Life

Obama then revealed that “When I wake in the morning, I wait on the Lord, and I ask him to give me the strength to do right by our country and its people. And when I go to bed at night, I wait on the Lord, and I ask him to forgive me my sins and look after my family and the American people and make me an instrument of his will.”

Obama went on to say, “Fortunately, I’m not alone in my prayers. Pastor friends like Joel Hunter and T.D. Jakes come over to the Oval Office every once in a while to pray with me and pray for the nation. The chapel at Camp David has provided consistent respite and fellowship. The director of our Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnership’s office, Joshua DuBois – a young minister himself -- he starts my morning off with meditations from Scripture.”

Then, on the subject of personal prayer, Obama said, “While I petition God for a whole range of things, there are a few common themes that do recur. The first category of prayer comes out of the urgency of the Old Testament prophets and the Gospel itself. I pray for my ability to help those who are struggling. Christian tradition teaches that one day the world will be turned right side up and everything will return as it should be. But until that day, we're called to work on behalf of a God that chose justice and mercy and compassion to the most vulnerable.”

He also said, “I pray that God will show me and all of us the limits of our understanding, and open our ears and our hearts to our brothers and sisters with different points of view; that such reminders of our shared hopes and our shared dreams and our shared limitations as children of God will reveal the way forward that we can travel together.”

Father Played No Role In His Faith Journey

With the controversy that has swirled around him since he became the 44th President of the United States [and the first African-American to hold that office], which has mainly concerned rumors that he was a Muslim, he explained his relationship with the Lord and the role his father, who was said to be Muslim, did not play a role in his decision to follow Jesus Christ.

“My father, who I barely knew -- I only met once for a month in my entire life -- was said to be a non-believer throughout his life,” said the President.

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The young Obama with his mother

“My mother,” Obama continued, “whose parents were Baptist and Methodist, grew up with a certain skepticism about organized religion, and she usually only took me to church on Easter and Christmas -- sometimes. And yet my mother was also one of the most spiritual people that I ever knew. She was somebody who was instinctively guided by the Golden Rule and who nagged me constantly about the homespun values of her Kansas upbringing, values like honesty and hard work and kindness and fair play.

“And it’s because of her that I came to understand the equal worth of all men and all women, and the imperatives of an ethical life and the necessity to act on your beliefs. And it’s because of her example and guidance that despite the absence of a formal religious upbringing my earliest inspirations for a life of service ended up being the faith leaders of the civil rights movement.”

Twists and Turns

President Obama talked about how his “faith journey,” has had its “twists and turns.”

He stated, “It hasn’t always been a straight line. I have thanked God for the joys of parenthood and Michelle’s willingness to put up with me. In the wake of failures and disappointments I've questioned what God had in store for me and been reminded that God’s plans for us may not always match our own short-sighted desires.

Abe Lincoln’s Words

“And let me tell you, these past two years, they have deepened my faith. The presidency has a funny way of making a person feel the need to pray. Abe Lincoln said, as many of you know, once said, ‘I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.’”

Obama noted that the godmother of his two daughters, Kaye Wilson, had formed prayer groups all around the country as he campaigned for the White House bid. He acknowledged his own prayer life, waiting before the Lord in the morning and evening. The president recognized the need for humility, and jokingly said his wife Michelle was the catalyst to that answered prayer. As “debates have become so bitter,” Obama noted that “none of us has all the answers.”

The president went on to say, “The challenge I find then is to balance this uncertainty, this humility, with the need to fight for deeply held convictions, to be open to other points of view but firm in our core principles. And I pray for this wisdom every day.”

He also stated, “When Michelle and I hear our faith questioned from time to time, we are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us, but whether we’re being true to our conscience and true to our God.”

Obama had been largely private about his beliefs and religious practices, following controversies during the campaign about his Chicago minister. He and his wife have attended church services in Washington only a handful of times in the past two years. When at Camp David, they attend the private Evergreen Chapel.

Mark Kelly

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The Giffords during happier times

NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Democrat who was seriously injured during last month’s shooting rampage in Tucson, also spoke at the breakfast and gave the closing prayer and which he remarked about her steady improvement and he urged the national to keep her in its thoughts and prayers because “it's helping.”

He said, “Every day, she gets a little bit better. The neurosurgeons and neurologists tell me that that's a great sign. The slope of that curve is very important.”

Giffords, was injured on Saturday, January 8, 2011, when a gunman opened fire during a constituent event in Tucson. Six people, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl, were killed, and 13 others were wounded. Giffords, whose condition was upgraded from serious to good last week, is undergoing long-term rehabilitation at a hospital in Houston, where Kelly lives and works.

“I was telling Gabby just the other night, two nights ago, that, you know, maybe this event, this terrible event, maybe it was fate,” he said. “I hadn't been a big believer in fate until recently. I thought the world just spins, and the clock just ticks, and things happen for no particular reason.”

Kelly told the crowd, which included a representative from the ASSIST News Service, that he has come to believe, however, that things happen for a reason, “that maybe something good can come from all of this. Maybe it's our responsibility, maybe it's your responsibility, to see that something does.”

Hospital officials say Kelly has been a constant presence at Giffords' bedside.

Three Trips to Space

On Thursday, he made reference to his three trips to space and the humbling feeling of looking out on “the Earth as God created it in the context of God's vast universe.” He described a realization that struck him one day as he gazed on a makeshift memorial that had sprung up in front of the Tucson trauma center where Giffords was initially taken for treatment.

“That reminded me that you don’t need a church, a temple or a mosque to pray,” he said. “You don't even need a building or walls or even an altar. You pray where you are. You pray when God is there in your heart. And prayer isn't just asking. It's also listening for answers and expressing gratitude, which I've done a lot lately.”

He closed with a prayer that Giffords’ rabbi spoke in her hospital room the day of the shooting.

“In the name of God, our God of Israel, may Michael, God's angel messenger of compassion, guard over your right side. May Gabriel, God's angel messenger of strength and courage, be on your left. And before you, guiding your path, Uriel, God's angel of light. And behind, supporting you, stands Raphael, God's angel of healing. And over your head surrounding you is the presence of the divine.”

Note: The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday of February each year. The founder of this event was Abraham Vereide and is actually a series of meetings, luncheons, and dinners that have taken place since 1953 and has been held at least since the 1980s at the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue N.W.


Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 47 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries. You can follow Dan on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link.Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available here

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It Seems To Me . . .

It Seems To Me . . .

. . . we need only one spiritual new year's resolution.

I confess, I have never been good at setting, let alone keeping, resolutions at the start of each new year. Those who stop smoking or start diets impress me; those who keep at it longer than a few days (or hours) make me jealous. And those who go beyond good health resolutions and set spiritual goals and stick to them throughout the coming months shame and humble me.

Anyone can make a resolution; it takes commitment to stay resolved to fight the battles to achieve the objective. And commitment, someone said, is moving beyond good intentions. I have a long list of good intentions.

Which is why Don Whitney's "Questions for a New Year" in LifeWay's Pastors Today E-letter caught my attention. The author, a former pastor and then seminary professor, presents 31 questions designed to aid our spiritual transformation; one-a-day spiritual vitamins! He writes: "The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up and get our bearings."  I especially appreciate how he then formats his insights as questions because someone elses' declarations call for my agreement (not a bad thing) but questions call for my reflection and discernment. Much more potential of Holy Spirit partnership.

But I said we need only one spiritual new year's resolution, not 31.

"For starters, here are 10 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God," Whitney begins as he sets us on our journey with wisdom that is so obvious we often fly right past it! How many of us have prayed about our resolutions but only after we selected them. "Help me lose those 5 extra pounds or start each day at the fitness center or stop this or begin that"--probably all worthy goals but chosen without and before any prayerful dialog with the Lord.

I began reading down the list of questions . . .

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?

I searched first for any questions that related specifically to prayer and found #7, praying for lost persons to find Christ (imagine what changes our nation would see if every Christ-follower began to seriously pray for his or her neighbors by name and need and for his or her neighborhoods and networks!) and #9, focusing specifically on our own prayer life (someone said we need to exchange a prayer life [usually referring to a brief time spent telling God what we need Him to do] for a life of prayer). Two in the first ten seemed like better representation for prayer than usual. Very hopeful.

My second time through the list was an "Ah-Ha" moment!

Responding to the first, then the second and third and continuing, I realized "Pray" would be a more than appropriate answer to each question.
1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? Pray. True prayer is enjoying the presence of God, not merely telling him things he already knows.
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? Pray. Praying is very hard work that, once accomplished, sees impossible results.
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? Pray. Especially out  loud, together.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? Pray. Pray for a partner who will hold me accountable.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? Pray. What I do instead of praying is a hugh time-waster.
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? Pray. For the pastor. For a reviving of faith and a revising of how we function.
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? Pray. Everyone agrees with this but not everyone brings up in heaven real names of real people.
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year? Pray. By praying about and for and through every thing.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? Pray. Read, study, use website resources, yes, but actually carve out time and place to pray.
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity? Pray. Hands-down winner. Everything (missions, evangelism, stewardship) flows from the life of a person who has moved beyond good intentions to a life of prayer.

It seems to me . . . we need only one word to describe our one spiritual new year's resolution. (If you do not agree, will you at least agree to pray about it?)

For starters, here are 10 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

Phil Miglioratti

Originally published on the Church Prayer Leaders Network

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Bad News Poll • Good News Poll


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Poll: Religion's Influence Waning in America

Seven in 10 Americans say religion as a whole is losing its influence on American life.

This is a near-record high percentage since Gallup began asking the question more than 50 years ago.

Study: Few Americans Say Faith is Top Priority>>>

 


Poll: Most Americans Ring in News Years with Prayer

Before the clock strikes midnight on Friday, Americans will look to the heavens before they look forward to a brand new year.>>>

 


 

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Sure hope you are having a joyous Christmastime!

A family update:

  • Carol and I spend the holidays with Jennie and JJ, Macie and Preston in Myrtle Beach (don’t be jealous if you are in a cold winter city … temperatures in the 50′s and down to the 30′s await us)
  • Jorie and Tim, Sophia and Addison (and their dog, Louie) moved to Austin, Texas during Christmas week (Tim sent us video clips as he and Louie drove from California)
  • We celebrated early with our parents and Chicago family

A ministry update:

  • Planning for Orlando 2011 is increasing speed – only 3 months to go and dozens of affinity consultations (breakout groups) and main session presenters still to be indentified and invited ~ Please pray for me to lead this process with wisdom and excellence …

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  • A simple breakfast meeting and another conversation over hot chocolate two hours later hold great promise for collaboration ~ pray for the Lord’s continued guidance for possibilities for Loving Our Communities to Christ and Church collaboration around Chicagoland and across the nation …
  • I’ve been asked to be a contributing author/blogger to a new website – The 6:4 Fellowship – Pastors Committed to Prayer and the Ministry of the Word – Launching soon for pastors to recognize the vital relationship between the ministry of the word (pounded in at seminary!) and prayer (not pounded in anywhere). I am honored to be on the team led by Pastor Jim Cymbala ~ pray I find time and critical resources for this important new site.

Blessings, as I listen to Beach-Boy-sounding, Lord-praising, “God Vibrations” … “God has given joy to the world!”

Phil

Hot off the Press! New MAC Ministry Report Available
Read about some of the work that God is doing through the Mission America Coalition and its partners in the new 2010 Ministry Report. Download PDF
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It Seems To Me ...

It Seems to Me . . . PDF Print E-mail

. . . we may talk too much when we pray. Or not enough.

As I was preparing for a week-long trip out of town, I peeked ahead on the daily cartoon calendar we have in our kitchen. On the back of each day's cartoon, is a riddle or a trivia item or, and this is what grabbed my attention, a statistic: "Every day, women speak 7,000 words; men 2,000." More unmistakable evidence that men are from Mars and women come from Venus. The Church has applied this statistic in marriage counseling for both not-yet and long-ago couples and in training leaders of mixed gender small groups with good results. This gender-based communication reality is helpful in building healthy marriages and balanced ministries.

But, as I headed out the door for the airport, I began to think of how this 7,000 versus 2,000 word count impacts prayer in our churches.

Do some women use more words than men (and thereby take longer time) when they offer a prayer? Do some men stay home from prayer meetings or avoid prayer groups or remain silent during group prayers because they perceive themselves as having a smaller vocabulary than women? Does the word count disparity also indicate a different tone or approach to praying? Are some men more reluctant to pray aloud because, well, they are also reluctant to speak-up in normal social conversation? If women answer in paragraphs, are men who talk in headlines too uncomfortable to actively participate? Does each gender pray differently when in mixed gender prayer situations than in all-women or all-men settings? Does it matter? Is this an insightful statistic or a simplistic steortype?

While it is possible this male/female differentiation has only minimal relevance to corporate (or even personal) praying, the questions ought to be asked. Behaviors should to be observed. Discussions, even debates, could be beneficial. Admittedly, observation is anecdotal and not scientific research but as a part of the prayer facilitator's skill-set, it helps him or her discern a possible cause for an ebb and flow of a prayer group. (Is there equal participation? Are only a few persons dominating the praying? Is it a good time to move into pairs or small groups? Has someone spoken too much [female or male] or not at all?) If a particular group or congregation exhibits gender-based differences, prayer coordinators can create gender-specific prayer groups (such as a Saturday morning men's prayer breakfast) or encourage small group leaders to divide men and women periodically during the time devoted to corporate prayer at their group meeting.

To be clear, these descriptors are merely numbers describing overall differences. Persons who use 7,000 words a day should not aspire to speak only 2,000 (though some husbands might disagree with me) nor should 2,000-a-day speakers start employing long monologues when headlines are adequate (I know, ladies, headlines are not adequate in building and maintaining close relationships). My point is simply that as leaders of prayer meetings-groups-events, we must be listening to more than the content of those we are praying with. We must be aware of whatever might be inhibiting participation, even gender traits, so the experiences we design feel inviting to every person . . . because it seems to me some of us may talk too much when we pray. Or not enough.

Phil Miglioratti
Curhch Prayer Leader Network & Pray! Network

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Leadership Consultation on Evangelization

Convened by The U.S. Lausanne Committee / Mission America Coalition
April 4-7, Orlando


US MtgOn Sunday afternoon of the last day at the Lausanne Cape Town 2010 Congress, participants gathered according to country into breakout sessions. The Mission America Coalition team helped coordinate the U.S. meeting and cast vision for a spring gathering in the United Sates that would bring those delegates together with hundreds of MAC / U.S. Lausanne Committee partners and other Christian leaders. The purpose of this gathering is to bring together practitioners, academic leaders, mission strategists, pastors, evangelists - all who carry a burden for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform neighbors and neighborhoods, nations and corporations.

Fueled by the glorious gathering of the Church in Cape Town, MAC partners, Cape Town 2010 participants, and leaders from the cities of America will come together for a catalytic consultation on evangelization. We will be in listening mode and learning mode: seeking the mind of Christ on how to reshape our efforts at evangelizing our home nation and looking for ways to partner with the global Church in reaching the nations with the message of Christ. Take advantage of early-bird registration rates at www.missionamerica.org. Then, help us shape the meeting that will shape the future - add your ideas and insights at www.orlando2011.org.

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Psalm 67:1, 2

God, be merciful to us and bless us; look on us with kindness, so that the whole world may know your will; so that all nations may know your salvation.



Why is it so easy to pray from the first part of this petition but more difficult to add the second half?


Maybe it is because to desire the second half, we need to give-up on some of what we typically associate with the first half.


Your thoughts?

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...and Prayer fits in each type!

Girls

Group Type=Group Activity

Small groups are often defined by their main activity. This is a good approach, but let me offer my alternative.


Before deciding on a specific activity for your group, think through the central reason for which the group exists.

  • Process-oriented groups focus on the spiritual and/or social relationships among the members. What the group does is secondary.
  • Content-oriented groups meet to study or discuss a biblical passage or topic. Little time is spent dealing with group dynamics.
  • Task-oriented groups meet to accomplish a purpose. The reason for meeting is why the group exists.
  • Need-oriented groups, sometimes called support groups, offer common understanding and encouragement.
Determining the primary focus of your group will help you decide on the specific activities your group should undertake.

Adapted from How to Lead Small Groups by Neal F. McBride. © 1990 by Neal F. McBride. All Rights Reserved.

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Church Growth thru Radical Prayer

"We have real statistics that demonstrate that the week we added intercessors in all of our services, our weekly commitments to Christ doubled from that point forward."

Chris Galanos, Experience Life Church, Lubbock, TX as quoted in Outreach Magazine

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It Seems To Me ...

It Seems to Me . . .
Phil Miglioratti
. . . sometimes more is, well, more!

Recently I was invited to lead a weekend prayer emphasis at a church. The pastor had invited me to preach and teach several times in the past few years so I was not new to the congregation. It was quickly obvious these members enjoy their fellowship and have a gracious gift of hospitality. But their pastor's increasing appetite for prayer is challenging this church that prays to become a praying church. My challenge was to turn a weekend prayer emphasis into a lifestyle learning experience.



We designed a wall-to-wall schedule:


• Saturday afternoon the congregation had their annual picnic which included a prayerwalk for each family.
That evening, after a long day of fun and food, three dozen leaders and teachers met for a workshop on how to facilitate Spirit-led prayer in small groups and classes.
• Sunday school classes, youth through adult, met together for a workshop on how the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6) is the offensive weapon for every armored believer. This word (rhema) of the Spirit from the word (logos) of God gives each of us immediate instruction on who and what to pray for and how to pray in agreement with our Lord.
• Sunday's message was a case study of Epaphras (Colossians 4), a wonderful New Testament example of how to pray proactively toward the life transforming purposes of God for every believer (confidence, maturity) (and even for cities!).
• Sunday afternoon was another prayerwalk, this time targeting the people (neighbors), places (schools, churches, government offices) and things (local issues) of the community.
• Sunday evening concluded with a prayer adventure: a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed, Worship-bred, Congregation prayer gathering. The final segment was devoted to debriefing what we had experienced and learned that day.

Frankly, I was concerned we were asking too much. Young families have already busy schedules on the weekends. Senior saints do not appreciate several trips to the church facility in just 36 hours. Leaders had ongoing weekend ministries. I had prepared myself for underwhelming attendance.

As the weekend went on, I noticed better-than-I-anticipated crowds and, maybe more importantly, folks who demonstrated a voracious appetite for all things prayer. Like their pastor, they were seeking first the kingdom. Default prayer styles and systems were no longer satisying. Their interest was more than a need for a change-of-pace . . . it was biblical (what does the Scripture say about prayer and praying?), theological (how must we think differently in order to pray differently?), personal (how can I apply this concept to my daily intercession?), and congregational (how does this impact our standard, traditional way of praying when we assemble?). They were exchanging a prayer-life for a life of prayer.

On paper, the weekend emphasis was more like a weekend conference. In my mind, too much for any one person or family or even ministry. But, in reality, for many it was an appreciated (and maybe overdue) opportunity for a full course meal. I left, encouraged they had been more than informed; God had further transformed them. Passion was building. Prayers were changing.

It seems to me, sometimes more can really be more!

Pastor Phil
www.praynetwork.org

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Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to write the foreword for a book by R. T. Kendall entitled The Lord's Prayer.

I was glad to write it, not only because R. T. is a friend of mine, but also because it is a great book. I went back and adapted it to share some of my thoughts on prayer here at the blog.

We live in a world where communication feels like a pandemic at times. Words, ideas, and even emotions move about with unstoppable velocity. The human race has honed the science and art of transporting our content to one another. But I fear that we are at the mercy of the mediums and are losing our own messages. >>>
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It Seems To Me ...

It Seems to Me . . .
. . . the armor of God is the uniform of prayer.

"In addition to all (these pieces of the Christian armor), take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:16-18).

As prayer leaders, we often read books and listen to sermons on the armor of God. Intercessors and prayer warriors are high priority targets of the enemy and must be protected when they seek to claim new territory through their prayers and petitions. But most of the teaching I've encountered stops too soon. Granted the pieces of the body armor end at the helmet and the sword of the Spirit probably hung from the belt but we need to examine the apostle's teaching further. Armor is not an end in itself.

The sword should be considered a weapon of warfare (2 Corinthians 6:7; 10:4), the only offensive weapon provided to the advancing soldier. This piece of equipment is vital for every person of serious prayer. Paul explains that the sword is the word of God and, though many assume he is referring to the complete canon of scripture, old and new testaments, it seems otherwise. He identifies the sword of the Spirit as the "rhema" not "logos" of God which indicates he is equating the word-that-God-gives-from-his word (rhema) rather than the full-and-complete word of God (logos). A scripture rather than the scriptures. This timely rhema word, a clear command or exhortation for a specific need or circumstance, like the logos, is equally inspired and authoritative.

This word for the moment or situation is revealed through the Spirit's illumination of a scripture portion or passage received through listening prayer. Visualize a fully dressed soldier receiving battle instructions; a clear assignment and the strategy to carry it out. This received-in-prayer assignment is essential to the advance of the entire battalion.

The teaching on the armor continues. The fully dressed and equipped soldier, having received a specific instruction or assignment moves forward (or kneeward) into battle by praying in the Spirit (praying in your union/relationship with the Spirit) (18). The armor is worn in every situation as the warrior wields the swords in a variety of ways (all kinds of prayers) as he/she battles for everyone in his/her battalion . . . so that they will fearlessly declare the mystery of the gospel.

To wear the armor is good. But to wear the armor and know how to use the sword to receive the word of God from the word of God is better--essential for victorious praying.




It seems to me the armor of God is the uniform of prayer.


Pastor Phil


Originally published on the Church Prayer Leaders Network

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You will love this. It is in 88 languages.
Warner Bonner
Father's Love Letter
An Intimate Message From God To You.

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My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.

Psalm 139:1


I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2


I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3


Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31


For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27


In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28


For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28


I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5


I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12


You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.

Psalm 139:15-16


I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.

Acts 17:26


You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14


I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13


And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6


I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.

John 8:41-44


I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.

1 John 4:16


And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1


Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.

1 John 3:1


I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11


For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48


Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17


For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33


My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11


Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3


My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.

Psalms 139:17-18


And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17


I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40


For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5


I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.

Jeremiah 32:41


And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3


If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.

Deuteronomy 4:29


Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4


For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13


I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.

Ephesians 3:20


For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17


I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4


When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.

Psalm 34:18


As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.

Isaiah 40:11


One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.

Revelation 21:3-4


And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.

Revelation 21:3-4


I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.

John 17:23


For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26


He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3


He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.

Romans 8:31


And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19


Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19


His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.

1 John 4:10


I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.

Romans 8:31-32


If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.

1 John 2:23


And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.

Romans 8:38-39


Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.

Luke 15:7


I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.

Ephesians 3:14-15


My question is…
Will you be my child?

John 1:12-13


I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32


Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Read Father's Love Letter In 88 Other Languages

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Secrets to Facilitating Corporate Prayer

By Phil Miglioratti


As church leaders realize the need for more and fresher corporate praying, they recognize a critical need for people who can facilitate, rather than merely moderate. Moderators typically depend on printed prayer lists, requests offered by the group, and predictable methods and structures to guide the prayer time. Facilitators, on the other hand, make the whole experience easier to do, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the content and format of the prayer time. By relying on Him instead of a rigid agenda, they enable the group to pray in line with the mind of Christ about the matters close to the Father’s heart.


Good facilitating requires being mindful of the process that takes place before, during, and after the prayer gathering. Facilitators have taken the time to discover the “secrets” of leading a group into the presence of the God.


Before

Biblical facilitating is mostly about obedient listening. If you are the facilitator, the prayer meeting begins for you hours, even days, before the actual meeting as you ask the Holy Spirit to set the focus and design the format. Begin by asking God to design the upcoming prayer time. Try these suggestions:

  • Note impressions or ideas that come to you as you begin to pray, for instance the Holy Spirit may reveal Scriptures, songs, even stories that you can use as you facilitate prayer
  • As the meeting draws near, pray over the ideas and ask the Lord to clarify the main purpose of the prayer meeting
  • As the Spirit guides you, design a loose format for your time together

During

Be ready to make adjustments to your original plan in order to avoid hindering the Spirit as the group moves forward in prayer.


You will grow in these abilities to facilitate as you identify and sharpen the skills and tools the Lord has provided for you for your strategic roles. These include your:

  • ability to hear God speak to your spirit
  • skill at discerning God’s voice in the prayers of His people
  • readiness to yield to the leadership of the Spirit
  • employing your senses, for example…

Eyes – Ask the Spirit to show you what is happening in the spiritual realm through what you see in the physical realm. Look for signs of boredom (yawning?), conviction (tears?), seeking the Lord (searching Scripture
without being asked?). Then, ask Him to help you discern how to continue.

Ears – Listen to the heart of the prayers being offered. If several persons pray on a particular theme or issue, that may be a sign that the Holy Spirit wants to park there for a while. Be ready to gently remind people to stay on topic and make certain it has been covered before introducing a new topic or request. Refuse to rush; wait for the Holy
Spirit to show you when it’s time to move on.

Voice – You need not wait until the session is over to ask for feedback. Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit as He inspires the reading of Scripture, and through the prayers or observations of others. Ask questions such
as:

  • What are you hearing in the passage we just read?
  • Does anyone else have a prayer on this theme before we move on?

Feet – When you divide the corporate body into small groups, walk around and listen to their prayers. This is a lifeline for you as you seek to facilitate the entire group. Your purpose is not to judge their prayers but to know how well each group is praying according to the plan the Holy Spirit is unfolding.


After

Some of the best lessons on facilitating a group prayer dynamic are learned by listening to the participants discuss their experience in a “debrief”segment. The purpose of a “debrief” is to help participants feel comfortable with a new form or style of praying by talking about their experience and even voicing their difficulty or concern. A few simple questions after the prayer session has concluded usually prompt beneficial observations and good insights:

  • What was your experience like?
  • Was this style of praying different? Difficult?
  • How did the Spirit lead us?
  • What did you hear the Lord saying?
  • Any surprises? Concerns? Questions?
  • How did you feel when I asked us to…?

If your request is met with silence, don’t panic; silently pray for the Spirit to reveal something helpful through the comments of His people. You will gain valuable insight into the attitude and readiness of the group, allowing you to adjust the speed of change and the amount of instruction the next time you pray together.


Of course the most effective prayer experiences are led by the Holy Spirit, but He is always looking for skilled people to get the group on the path and point the way.


Note>>>

  • Phil has also written a chapter in a new textbook on prayer. Click here to view/purchase Giving Ourselves to Prayer.
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Leading / Facilitating Corporate Prayer

Phil Miglioratti

 

>>>Note:

 

Let’s pray. Everyone bow your head, close your eyes . . .” And so begins a standard, down-the-list, around-the-circle prayer meeting. Unfocused prayers. Unenthused pray-ers.

 

The day when good intentions or strong emotions were enough to set the table for a strong and successful prayer gathering are long gone. Today’s prayer group, whether a class or committee, a study or fellowship group, or a congregation of many or few, desperately needs a leader with the ability to facilitate an “experiential”-an activity during which every person has an authentic, meaningful encounter, both with the ones they pray with and the one they pray to.

 

The solution is not to make the prayer experience more entertaining, educational, or expressive. Each of these elements is vital to a comprehensive prayer experience but without the engagement of
those gathered with one another and the Holy Spirit, the time spent is more a human than a spiritual activity. Those who have the privilege of leading Christ followers in praying need first a new way of thinking about the process rather than a new program or set of methods and ideas.

 

 

A New Way of Thinking

 

Who are You? Yes, prayer starts with God and praying is ultimately about the glory of God (“Your
kingdom come on earth . . .”) but the role of the person He has selected to lead is vital to the process. Pastors and prayer leaders must realize the difference between their role in leading and how to
operate when facilitating. Leadership relates to casting vision, setting clear direction, providing compelling action steps. Leaders direct the process step-by-step, declare solutions to problems or hindrances, exert influence over a group or team to achieve a specific agenda or to take a
particular action. Leaders are like symphony conductors; they select the music, determine the tempo, and stand front and center for all to see and follow.

 

Facilitators perceive their function differently. Facilitators have a clear focus and have prepared an anticipated format but are constantly submissive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as the corporate
praying unfolds. They perceive themselves as an assistant to the Holy Facilitator, seeking the mind of Christ then guiding, even redirecting, the praying in that direction.

 

Facilitators think about the type of authority the group recognizes them to have, as it will make a difference in their readiness to follow, especially if new methods are being employed. Is the person
facilitating a self-imposed leader (never a good idea), is he or she operating with delegated authority (for example, the pastor has selected him or her to lead the gathering) or has he or she been officially
appointed to an ongoing role (the congregation’s prayer coordinator, for example)? The best scenario is to be recognized by those gathered as the one with the heart and skills necessary to facilitate rather than dominate the praying experience. Permission to experiment is related to the extent of trust the facilitator has built with the people gathered to pray.

 

What is the purpose? The purpose of every prayer meeting is, well, to pray, of course. But, since prayer is never an end in itself, the prayer facilitator must always discern the here-and-now reason for the group to dedicate its time, whether a few minutes or a few hours, to listening and talking
with the Lord.

 

Facilitators ask a series of questions as they prepare and pray toward the meeting in order to recognize the unique-to-this-gathering focus or spiritual assignment. A group which meets weekly and follows a similar format each week should still have a sense that the prayers of this meeting are not merely the prayers of the past 51 weeks. God’s Spirit has placed into our hearts and minds the praises and promises, the problems and petitions that are fresh for this particular time and
place of praying.

 

Where are you meeting? Even though we can pray anytime and anywhere, the effect of the environment is often overlooked. In an emergency, a group of people can pray effectively at the scene of an accident on a busy highway in the pouring rain but in normal circumstances, a facilitator will consider the room setting and do what is necessary to maximize its potential.

 

A small group, whether in a home, a classroom, or a large auditorium can easily and quickly form a circle and create a sanctuary feel that crowds out other noise or activity. Groups of several dozen or
more, depending on the purpose of that day, may pray best in circles of six to eight chairs. If the only setting available is pew or fixed seating, the facilitator will need to instruct participants to move into
pairs or stand in triplets or kneel at their seat in order to engage all who have come.

 

If the gathering is multi-church, the facilitator needs to do pre-meeting homework. Does the hosting congregation have local protocol? What is the dress code, at least for the facilitator? As a guest
facilitator, should you recognize the host pastor or guest leaders from other congregations? Think carefully through how you will explain the guidelines for praising (“It is fine to raise your hands while we sing or as you pray.”) and offering prayers (“Please wait to introduce a new subject or focus until several have prayed over a topic.”). Offer guidelines that give both freedom (“You may kneel at any time or come tothe altar area . . .”) and boundaries (“If you have a message you believe God wants you to speak to the entire group, please bring that to me before you speak it aloud”).

 

Practical matters, such as lighting, sound amplification, competing noise, access, seating arrangement, and room temperature, all impact the praying experience. The extra effort to provide the best possible setting is always well worth the time and energy invested.

 

When are you meeting? Unless the meeting time is fixed, the facilitator needs to consider how the
choice of the day and the time impact participation. Every choice makes it feasible for some and difficult for others. Consider posting both start and stop times as this may benefit parents with young children who have early bed times (Are children welcome, as a way to disciple them in praying?). Time of day may also determine the style of songs selected; does it feel like time for rejoicing or quiet meditation?

 

Why is this person praying? In order to guide and guard the entire group (whether six or six hundred), the facilitator must be both a praying participant and a prayer observer. Total participation on the part of the facilitator makes it difficult to steer or stop the process. Observation without
participation turns the facilitator into a director and methods become manufactured or mechanical. In a small group, the facilitator sits with the group but in a larger gathering, the facilitator needs to be visible to all (and accessible, if many small groups are scattered across the room.)

 

This active participation is important to the task of reading the prayer dynamic. The facilitator must be able to discern if silence is a sign of listening and contemplation or an indication the topic of
prayer has been completed. When unsure, the facilitator should simply ask the group for feedback, such as “Does anyone else have a prayer for this need before we move to our next focus?” Then he or she should wait until someone prays or the silence continues (indicating it is time to introduce a new topic).

 

Listening to the prayers of the people is a vital task for the facilitator. It enables you to gauge how well participants understand your instructions. Is someone beginning with a petition when you have
asked for a time of praise (extolling God for who He is) or thanksgiving (expressing gratitude for what He has done)? If you direct the group to pray from a specific passage of scripture, are the prayers offered based on the text? Is some instruction needed?

 

The goal in asking oneself “Why is this person praying?” is not to control nor is it to squelch anyone but rather to guide the praying back to the previous instruction or to discern a new leading of the Holy Spirit. Facilitators should neither quench the Spirit (saying no to a new leading because they are not sensitive) nor grieve the Spirit (moving in a direction not intended by the Spirit or moving
prematurely).

 

Discerning the leading of the Spirit is a combination of spirit and skill. The spiritual component requires ongoing dialogue between the Holy Spirit and the facilitator. (Are we ready to move into a new topic? How do I encourage others to participate? The person praying is sad, even tearful. Is that a sign of God’s heart for those we are praying for?). The skill component requires the facilitator to listen
carefully, communicate clearly, and confidently guide the process.

 

Listen to the prayers from a continuity perspective. Are we at the beginning, middle or conclusion of a prayer focus or topic?

 

Communicate by giving the group clear instructions. Is it obvious what you are asking them to do and have you repeated the instruction using synonyms for the key words?

 

Guide with brief comments (“We’ve moved too quickly from simple praise . . .” “When your group is done, please wait in silence for the others . . .” “Remember to begin your prayer with a word or phrase from the scripture passage.”)

 

This type of leadership in a prayer context is a paradigm shift for those accustomed to a start-and-stop style. Start-and-stop leaders are only responsible to tell the group when to begin praying and when or how to stop (“I’ll say the first prayer, others pray, then Deacon Hernandez will conclude our time.”). Facilitators not only give clear instruction at the beginning but as needed, throughout the experience. These interruptions, rather than distracting, are welcomed by those who want a corporate conversation instead of a down-the-list, around-the-circle routine.

 

How can the focus be formatted for full engagement? Even if the purpose of the gathering is to pray over a list of congregational requests, a format should be utilized. Nothing is more boring (possibly to God as well as those praying) than simply rehearsing a list of names or needs without the discipline of seeking to pray out God’s heart for the situation.

 

A format helps focus the prayers of the saints and allows the prayer leader to disciple the group into biblical praying. Biblical praying utilizes scripture to provide the text (such as using John 3:16 as the basis for evangelism praying), the topic (like Nehemiah pleading for his city), or the themes. Acts 1:8 offers an outward format: Jerusalem (our community), Judea (our state and nation), Samaria (our
enemies far and near), the earth (other nations across the globe).

 

Formats may also be designed from acrostics, such as:

P-Praise

R-Repent

A-Ask

Y-Yield

 

Or:

  • Upward-Praise
  • Downward-Confession
  • Inward-God’s will for my life
  • Outward-God’s will for others (healing, evangelism)
  • Backward-Remembering God’s faithful actions in scripture and the past
  • Forward-Declaring our hope in God’s faithful action in and through our obedience

 

Facilitating a small or large group though such a format may be enhanced through power point slides that indicate the primary focus and/or present the scripture that serves as the basis of prayer.
Intersperse the format slides with the lyrics of a song that will be sung as a transition. These lyric slides help move the focus of prayer from, say a section of adoration praying into a focus on confession. Simply begin to sing (a capella or with instrument or even CD background), for example, “Change My Heart O God” reminding the group the song is a prayer of petition set to music.

 

A New Way of Leading

 

Leading prayer as a facilitator requires:

A new role: You are a facilitator rather than a director

A new routine: Unscripted, dynamic, corporate conversation with the Holy Spirit

A new result: An uncommon prayer experience

 

“The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (Jn. 14: 26).

 

 

Questions for Further Thought or Discussion

1. Explain how this corporate description of facilitation applies to the function of a prayer facilitator:

 

Smoothing the way. That’s what facilitate means: to make things easier, to smooth the progress of and to assist in making things happen. Like so much of our work, we think that facilitation is about moving things forward. It’s about allowing and creating an environment where things can move forward. It isn’t about pushing or forcing things.” Impact Factory

 

2. Explain how each of these components can be used in a prayer gathering:

Song-Singing to God, not merely about God

Scripture-Praying God’s Words back to Him

Story-Sharing success and struggles

Silence-Seeking, meditating, listening

Spoken-”All types of prayers”

 

3. Design a prayer format that includes:

Foundation-A biblical passage or theme

Focus-A specific application or topic

Format-A road map for praying

 

The author: Phil Miglioratti is Director of the National Pastors Prayer Network and Facilitator for the
Church Prayer Leaders Network. He is the author of several chapters in
compiled books including “Creative Ideas for Prayer Ministry” in A House of Prayer and “Pastor’s Strategies for Mobilizing Men to Pray” in Fight on Your Knees. Phil also has six blogs for Christian leaders (www.nppn.org) (www.philsblog.net).

 

Suggested Additional Reading

Franklin, John. And the Place Was Shaken: How to Lead a Powerful Prayer Meeting. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005.

Henderson, Daniel with Margaret Saylar. Fresh Encounters: Experiencing Transformation through United Worship-based Prayer. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2004.

Henderson, Daniel. PRAYzing! Creative Prayer Experiences from A to Z. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2007.

Small, P. Douglas. Transforming Your Church into a House of Prayer. Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 2006.

Sacks, Cheryl. The Prayer Saturated Church. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2004.

 

© 2008 PrayerShop Publishing. Reprint of this chapter, if providing free of charge for the sake of training is allowed. Reprinting
for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

 

Phil Miglioratti  phil@nppn.org
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