The person who says "I don't pray because I don't need anything" is naive.

Sooner or later, we all realize our desperate need for God. 

“Life for most of us is full of steep stairs to go puffing up and later, of shaky stairs to totter down;

and very early in the history of stairs must have come the invention of banisters.”

- Louis Kronenberger, The Cart and the Horse, 1964

Every human being is inherently a dependent creature.

At frequent intervals, we feel need of assistance.  

When we are born, we are totally helpless.

And when we die, we are there again.

So help me, God, we cry for help.

The Almighty made the universe—He can surely help us.

He holds earth up by invisible cables—He holds us together.

Relying on our Redeemer, we can soar gracefully on eagles’ wings,

endure without exhaustion, and survive “normal” days without fainting.

Counting on the reality of God’s Presence, we can learn to fly above worries,

run faith marathon fueled by His Spirit, and walk everyday paths with equanimity.

When we are out of breath in the midst of life’s arduous uphill climb, God climbs with us.

And when our weak knees tremble on difficult paths in mortality’s shadow, God walks with us.

Every person who trusts God can testify He is our Invisible Means of Support every step of life’s way.          

“God is with you in everything you do.”

Genesis 21:22 NIV

Johnny R. Almond

                Pastor, Colonial Beach Baptist Church, Virginia

Author, www.GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com

Book available through your local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer.

[Devotion adapted from Day 13 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]

I recommend an exercise that helps us pray continually. Driving is one of those times when you cannot pray in your closet. I have been suggesting to people that they start trying to pray for the driver and passengers in every other car you meet on the road. This is a good beginning toward praying silently for everyone you see in the grocery store, the bank or at church.

http://daveswatch.com/

The weekend of April 26 - 27, 2014 has been designated as the 24th Annual “Just Pray NO!” to drugs Worldwide Weekend of Prayer and Fasting. Since April 7th, 1991 “Just Pray NO!” has united millions of Christians from 150 nations and territories around the world in intercessory prayer on behalf of the addicted and their families.

To find help for addiction or compulsive behavior disorders log on to our web site: http://justprayno.org.

To learn how groups can participate in our annual prayer event, click on “Information on the Annual Worldwide Weekend of Prayer” or email: justprayno@aol.com.

When you go to our justprayno.org web site you can find help for addiction through prayer and Christian ministries.

Check out our blogs for:

• Teachings on Prayer and Fasting

• Biblical Insights into Combating Addiction

• More about the ministry of “Just Pray NO!” Ltd.

THE KEY TO DELIVERANCE:

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. Exodus 9:1

When the Hebrew slaves were in bondage in Egypt they cried out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for a deliverer. Passover recalls the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. Passover is both a historical account and a prophetic picture. Moses “The Deliverer” is a type of the Messiah (Christ). The bondage of slavery in Egypt is a type of the bondage of sin in the world. Pharaoh typifies Satan. The Passover, when the firstborn male child passed from death to life by the blood of the lamb, is a picture of our passing from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son by the shed blood of the Lamb of God.

Persons who are addicted need to break the demonic strongholds in their lives by repenting of their sins and placing their trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. They need to be born again and receive the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Many people wonder why God does not help them when they cry out to Him to be set free from their addictions. The reason that they remain in bondage is that they want to be set free – but are unwilling to surrender their lives to Jesus. The “KEY” that will set a person free is to understand that the Almighty’s purpose in setting a person free is to “SERVE HIM.”  Jesus must not only be your Savior but your Lord!  When you cry out, “Dear Jesus, forgive me of my sins and deliver me from my addiction and I will serve you the rest of my life!”– Not only will you be set free, and have a healthier lifestyle, you will inherit eternal life, know true joy and receive God’s blessings!

Remember to find help for addiction through prayer and Christian ministries log on to our web site: http://justprayno.org.

What if we face spiritual attack when we try to increase our prayer life? In that case we need to pray. I am not sure I need to write anything else in this blog entry. The primary reason the enemy of our souls attacks when we pray is to stop us from praying. When you pray even more you are by definition victorious.

Of course you should pray for deliverance. When you fall into sin, ask for forgiveness. When you see temptation coming pray for protection. And pray that you will not miss the growth and blessings God has for you in the midst of a particularly painful trial.

Pray also for God to be glorified through the attack. Pray that He will be glorified as He keeps you strong. Pray that He will be glorified even in your failure.

And pray for others. Peter wrote, “Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ^[1] Let spiritual attack remind you that others are under similar attack, and need your prayer.

When you find yourself under spiritual onslaught, pray.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

Dr. Alice Smith Allow me would like to share some thoughts with you today about intimacy with God. As the Bride of Christ, we will never experience a moment of life alone again. He longs to share as much with us as we are willing to receive. Not only do we have the joy of sharing in the Bridegroom’s victories, but Jesus often invites us to share His burdens. Suppose a mental picture of a family member crosses your mind. Most of the time we think about them, and then from our human perspective we ignore the reason why they came to mind. Instead, ask, “Lord, what about this loved one?”
            The Lord may tell you about a timely need they might have. If so, in faith agree with Him concerning this burden. He may also expose the enemy’s plans to harm your loved one.

For example, the Lord may reveal to you that the devil has designed an airplane disaster for one in your family. So with ambassadorial authority, enter spiritual warfare. “Powers of darkness, I now call your strategy to destroy my family member to a halt in the power of Christ.” If you do not know how to pray, simply agree with God. Pray, “Lord, preserve your purpose for my loved one’s life.”
            A more difficult intercessory assignment is when God places a burden on us without an attached assignment. In other words, we receive the burden from the Lord’s heart, but we have no idea what it concerns. In this case Jesus is asking us to bear His burden by faith and to intercede without knowledge (Rom. 8:26). Listen friend. This is another way the devil deceives us into aborting the process of prayer. We may wrongly assume it makes no sense to bear a burden for something about which we have no knowledge. A mature intercessor will be willing to bear the burden while God alone bears the knowledge. This is faith pressed to the limits!
            We Christians, who consider ourselves intercessory prayer warriors, godly Bible teachers or pastors, listen up! Beware of the trap of trying to acquire a bigger and better “high.” Whether it’s prayer, Christian service or spiritual warfare, this is nothing more than fleshly Outer Court striving. Experienced Christians willingly submit to the discipline of the dry times. Consider the seasons when the Lord is quiet in your life to be times of “spiritual tune-ups.” During transitions, when He chooses not to speak, your spiritual ears are being fine-tuned to hear His voice. In time, your spirit will learn to hear Him, even when He whispers.
            The Lord Jesus doesn’t have to be screaming at us. A secure relationship is one that sitting in each other’s presence without words spoken can be enough. Earthly thrills diminish once we taste the delicacies of this sweet relationship with the Lord beyond the veil.

Finally

For 43 years, Eddie and I have traveled the world sharing the good news of the gospel, and equipping believers in their relationship to Christ. Each year we’ve been blessed to have the support of fellow Christians who share our burden for souls.
            This year (2013), for the first time ever since we began ministry (for Eddie in 1960 and me in 1968), for reasons unknown to us, our ministry income has dropped 60%. This has forced us to make drastic changes in every area. A refiners fire has indeed pruned, refined, re-calibrated and restructured us. But the calling of God has not been rescinded (Rom 11:29); and like the Apostle Paul, we are “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to...” (Phil 1:6).
            Today we are asking the Lord to increase the number of those who share our vision and who are willing to serve as “senders.” There are those who are called to “go,” and those who are called to “send.” (Rom 10:15)
            Will you come alongside and invest in the U.S. Prayer Center ministry? We have daily opportunities for ministry and see victories both here and abroad. But we need to hear from you. You know us! We rarely suggest a certain amount, but this month, would you send $100 or more? If you can’t, please send your best gift! When you do, enclose your greatest prayer burdens too. We will be honored to intercede for and with you for breakthroughs.

Sincerely serving our King with you!

By Phone:  1-800-569-4825  or  (713) 466-4009

Or make your check payable to:  U.S. Prayer Center

7710-T Cherry Park Drive, Suite 224

Houston, Texas 77095

Thanks you!

When we were first approached by a young Christian mom with a vision in early April with the possibility of bringing the national prayer movement - God Belongs in My City (GBIMC), we were rightly inspired and gung-ho about the opportunity to participate in a growing national/worldwide movement which had its roots in a New York City subway! GBIMC sprung from the hearts of a youth group who happened to see a poster in the NYC subway system from 

American Atheists which said “A Million New Yorkers Are Good without God. Are You?" They went back and reported this to their senior church leadership and were so moved that an idea was birthed. This was in October 2009. One month later, youth from all five NYC boroughs began what is now the God Belongs in My City prayer walk through Manhattan. It has since spread like wildfire to Canada, Switzerland, Africa, Puerto Rico and last year over 30 cities in America alone! 

Sarah, Sam, Vicki Lutchman

Last Saturday August 24, GBIMC came to the capitol city of Illinois - Springfield and had a solid impact on the Spiritual life of this wheeling-dealing political and business oriented city of 115,000! It was not easy getting this through a closed and tightly religious system where every major church and denomination holds on firmly to its territory...all except one - Calvary Temple Christian Center. Senior Pastor there Mark Johnson caught the vision and empowered his outreach pastorStacy Barnett and contacted me and together with Ezella Millswho brought the idea in from New York, we set forth on a course which really made this take off. 

Jessica McGee and Gigi

This was solidified after the National Day of Prayer in May, which I hosted for the eighth year in a row and we were joined by former Channel 20 Morning TV host Jessica McGee who now works as the Marketing Director for the wonderful Staab Family. She represented them magnificently and our final planning meetings were attended by PJ Staab himself, without whom we would not have had the major business involvement necessary to underwrite the upfront costs and police permits and street closure permits necessary to make this happen in the natural. PJ is a super joy to work with. He is well loved by the regions military veterans for his involvement in a huge memorial outside the city of New Berlin as well as his sense of humor.

Calvary Temple Pastor Mark Johnson

Through all of this, we were covered in some major prayer, as there was one obstacle after another or one spiritual attack after another. We had tireless and faithful leadership from Stacy Barnett and her church support - not just from the pastoral offices and administration, but from the core of Calvary Temple. They believed in this. We have many people to thank and they will be mentioned in no particular order at the end of this post.

The Day of the Prayer Walk, which we called GOD BELONGS IN SPRINGFIELD and had hundreds and hundreds of t-shirts made up at cost by Edgar Williams of Ambitious Designs. We met at the Comer Cox Park at the corner of 18th Street and Capitol for the 1 1/2 mile walk down Capitol Avenue to the State Capitol Steps. The love and camaderie and Christian fellowship across deep racial lines was a beautiful thing to behold. Even though almost every church officially turned down this movement to re-establish Jesus as the LORD of this City, many of their members turned out anyway!

PJ Staab

Senator Sam McCann

One thing I will not forget is our tireless leader Stacy working so hard to get 1500 bottles of water iced down and ready for the anticipated crowd at the end of the walk; the volunteers there; the worship band already praying on the ground of the End of Walk service. My fond memories is the excitement of all different Christians in the same event T shirt all ready to work for Jesus. Stacy and I edited some ten or so prayer points which I read out all over the part to different groups of people with my bullhorn. The awesome sight of the Christian Motorcyclists Association led by brother Nick Courtney and the three Crosses behind them as almost 1000 people of all ages and backgrounds took off in a brisk walk down Capitol, was a sight to behold.

BMIC President Bernie Lutchman

The subsequent hour long service on the Capitol Steps by the Lincoln Statue was so powerfully moving that worship, constant worship was breaking out all over the place!! PastorJerry Doss of Abundant Faith Christian Center, assisted by his magnificent choir set the mood for Prayer and the Word as they led off they service. I was next with the spirit-led Praise-Repent-Yield call to the Assembly. We went through 7 minutes of that and they pressed in!!! We were followed by the Bishop of Springfield - Thomas Paprockion Religious Liberty after he was introduced by PJ and then some powerful praying by our State Senator Sam McCann. The powerful and timely message by Pastor Mark Johnson topped off an amazing and life altering (for this city) day.  The clarion call Pastor Mark proclaimed was to stand together, united, under the Banner of Jesus, or fall. This is the underlying theme of GBIMC - not unity at any cost where we toss aside the Basics of the Christian Faith, but unity in the Essentials to get right with God, through Repentance and then lead others to Jesus. This is the only way we can make any kind of difference and thus, show the world that God really DOES belong in our city!

Thank you to Springfield First Baptist led by Pastor Mike Henderson, for being the only other church, apart from Calvary Temple and Abundant Faith, to step up and support us from early. Over 30% of their church walked with us. Thank you to Todd Green and the Green Family Stores for underwriting the costs from the City of Springfield. Thank you to PJP Autos, The Staab Family and so many more who gave selflessly to this cause. Finally thank you - and in no small measure, to our wonderful MC - Calvary Temple Outreach Pastor Stacy Barnett! We are already planning next year's event and learned several things we can improve from this our first endeavor. Our primary purpose, my friends - to Lift up the Name of Jesus and proclaim Him as King over Springfield! Mission? ACCOMPLISHED!

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purposes for me (Psalm 57:1-2).

Every day when we listen to the news we hear of disasters, fighting, and war. It seem to be happening more frequently, and at times seem very close to home. Most of us have not been through a major disaster. But there are smaller crises that can affect us personally and are within the reach of our extended families, or within our city or nation.

In our present day, we are even more aware of international and world problems on a massive scale. The situation in Egypt and Syria right now is ready to explode. Even as I write, the death toll in the Syrian war has been between 82-106,000 people. There has been so much bloodshed in Egypt in the last several days. The situation in the Middle East can affect the entire world. The nations are definitely shaking.

A friend, working internationally informing people of the crisis of AIDs all around the world, told us that the AIDs crisis is critical. What can we do in a world that seems to be so out of control? God is inviting us to be His watchmen in prayer and find Him as our refuge in hard times. 

We must learn how to respond in prayer and in action when we hear of disasters and major crises in the world. 

Norm and I have traveled to over sixty-five countries. We have been in cities just like yours that later had a major, life-changing disaster. We were once in the beautiful city of Kobe, Japan that later was devastated by a large earthquake. We were in Rabau, Papua New Guinea that later was destroyed by a volcano. But in Rabau the entire city was prepared. Scientists were monitoring the movement of the earth in that area. They had a planned method of escape for if and when the eruption would occur—they practiced and were ready. When the real thing happened, they all escaped unharmed.   

We were later in Indonesia and Thailand where a few years ago a tsunami destroyed many cities and villages, killing thousands. This was unexpected. Nobody was ready for the magnitude of that disaster. Within our own cities, we hear of shopping mall and school shootings, of neighborhood robberies and home invasions. A massive tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri two year ago—just a two-hour drive from our home. The truth is that not one of us is immune to the possibility of a disaster happening right where we live or in our own nation. 

God wants us to be alert watchmen who know how to pray for cities and nations. As we do, it’s important for us to realize that we don’t have to fear what is happening in the world. God does not want us to be shaken by the nightly news. The Bible says repeatedly that God is our refuge. We can pray through disasters with Him as our refuge. The word “refuge” in Webster’s Dictionary means, “that which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity, a stronghold which protects by its strength or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness, any place inaccessible to an enemy.”

God invites us to hide in His closeness. He wants to be our strong place of refuge. 

It’s His design that we need a safe place of refuge. He knows that we need to feel secure and safe. He was David’s strong refuge in times of danger (Psalm 71:7; 73:28). David knew how to hide in God’s presence. That’s what He wants us to do. Picture a baby bird hiding under its parent’s feathers. Psalm 57:1 is the picture of us sheltered under the shadow of God’s wings. Take a moment and read Psalm 46, and begin to experience the comfort of what David is saying.

Psalm 46 - A Psalm of Comfort 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.”

Psalm 46 is a great Psalm for all those who need a refuge. Imagine this. It is written in the context of a big underwater earthquake or nuclear explosion and shows us that we do not need to be afraid of natural disasters. Aren’t there times where you feel the pressure of what is happening on earth? I know I do. But God is our present help even in these times of great trouble. He’s not far away but right there with us (v. 1).

Even a major disaster doesn’t have to make us afraid. The center of security for all of us is God’s presence. Even though the nations are in an uproar, we can feel secure because God is our refuge (v. 6-7). The Psalm says that God brings desolation. He makes wars to cease, he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire (v. 8, 9). God does bring an end to injustice and pain. He brings healing and salvation to our needy world. He invites us to be still and know that He is God. He is in total control. His presence is with us. Psalm 46 ends by saying in verses 10-11, “’Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

In light of all of this end-time turbulence, how can we prepare and pray through the disasters in the world? God’s invitation is for us to enter into urgent watchfulness. How can we help disaster victims and war-torn nations through our prayers and our lives? In looking closer to home, how can we ourselves learn to trust God as our refuge during times of disaster? We read in Psalm 5:11-12:

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”  

Let’s learn to be God’s urgent watchmen during times of disaster and war. Let’s learn to pray for nations in a powerful way that makes a difference.

How to Prepare and Pray Through Disasters

• Be grateful and thankful for your life and what you have - Learn to be extremely thankful every day. You don’t know what a day may bring forth. Appreciate life.
  
  
• Prepare the Church in your city for whatever may come - I used to live in a city that had hurricane threats six months out of the year. In Virginia Beach, many came together for several days from 3-6 A.M. to pray for safety in that area. Every city needs to prepare for possible disasters just as they did in Rabau, Papua New Guinea. 
  
  
• Face disasters victoriously - Don’t be overwhelmed or lose your faith in God if a disaster hits your city. Realize that He is greater than any disaster and will work it out for good. Pray for disaster victims to stand strong in faith in God. 
  
  
• Share the love of Christ with disaster victims by meeting their needs - When we had a hurricane in our city, we helped serve food through the Salvation Army. It was a great way to share the love of Christ.
  
  
• Trust God in the midst of disasters and worldwide shaking - This is the time for the Church to arise and shine. This is a time to show others the peace of God through our lives by living out Psalm 46. Pray this for churches and nations facing disasters and war. 
  
  
• Grow deeper in your relationship with God now - Strengthen your prayer life and learn to be still, cultivating God’s presence in your life daily. Pray Psalm 46 for your life and others in your city or in disaster and war-torn areas.
  
  
• Learn to be still - Study Psalm 46 and when it says “selah”, stop and think about what God is saying. 
  
  
• Show forth godliness instead of evil - Be careful to live a godly life. What is inside will come out. In our neighborhood a few days after a hurricane, people began to get impatient and irritable. Let’s pray that the people of God shine His light even in the darkest of times.
  
  
• Live and prepare for the eternal - Learn to live for what is really important—not earthly possessions—but eternal life. Narrow down your possessions, and learn to give things away on a regular basis. Everything is about Heaven. It's time for us to wake up and shake ourselves free from this earth.
  
  
• Pray for the salvation of souls and share your faith - During disasters and times of difficulties, people are open to the Gospel. They need hope, and you have the hope of eternal life. God is the refuge that everyone needs. This is our greatest opportunity for reaching souls.
  
  
• Pray fervently for countries that are in major worldwide turmoil - We must pray for the Middle East at this time. It is our responsibility and affects each one of us. Pray for the Middle East. 

Don’t wait for a disaster to apply these truths. God wants each of us to stand strong now. He wants us to live for eternity and pray for the lost now. None of us is outside of the reach of a disaster in our city or nation. We all need to live passionate lives, preparing for our eternal home. Jesus deserves our lives now. 

Let’s live 100% for Him, pray for the world with an increasing fervency, grow in knowing Him as our refuge, and learn to be still. He invites us to hide in His presence on a daily basis. When we hear about another disaster on the news, let’s pray fervently for those victims. Let’s not fear disaster but be confident in the Lord. His heart is that we enter into urgent watchfulness and prayer without fear. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

To help you prepare for the End Times, attend the Daniel Conference here at IHOPKC for free through the internet starting tonight, August 29-31. See Daniel Conference for information. This is all about the Book of Daniel and is key for what we are now facing in the world.

“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your feet from being snared” (Proverbs 3:25-26).

• 4 books on prayer and intercession with a 20% discount on each book - Use the discount code – PL6G7Y59. See www.intercessorsarise.org.
• Have your friends sign up for Intercessors Arise here!
• If you would like to pray for us and get monthly updates, see Norm and Debbie's Prayer Partner. Get our Most Recent Update here.
• Become a member of the Intercessors Arise International Network here. Connect with intercessors and what God is doing in prayer worldwide! Discover many resources and training on prayer in this network.

Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer (IHOP) KC Staff
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purposes for me (Psalm 57:1-2).

Every day when we listen to the news we hear of disasters, fighting, and war. It seem to be happening more frequently, and at times seem very close to home. Most of us have not been through a major disaster. But there are smaller crises that can affect us personally and are within the reach of our extended families, or within our city or nation.

In our present day, we are even more aware of international and world problems on a massive scale. The situation in Egypt and Syria right now is ready to explode. Even as I write, the death toll in the Syrian war has been between 82-106,000 people. There has been so much bloodshed in Egypt in the last several days. The situation in the Middle East can affect the entire world. The nations are definitely shaking.

A friend, working internationally informing people of the crisis of AIDs all around the world, told us that the AIDs crisis is critical. What can we do in a world that seems to be so out of control? God is inviting us to be His watchmen in prayer and find Him as our refuge in hard times. 

We must learn how to respond in prayer and in action when we hear of disasters and major crises in the world. 

Norm and I have traveled to over sixty-five countries. We have been in cities just like yours that later had a major, life-changing disaster. We were once in the beautiful city of Kobe, Japan that later was devastated by a large earthquake. We were in Rabau, Papua New Guinea that later was destroyed by a volcano. But in Rabau the entire city was prepared. Scientists were monitoring the movement of the earth in that area. They had a planned method of escape for if and when the eruption would occur—they practiced and were ready. When the real thing happened, they all escaped unharmed.   

We were later in Indonesia and Thailand where a few years ago a tsunami destroyed many cities and villages, killing thousands. This was unexpected. Nobody was ready for the magnitude of that disaster. Within our own cities, we hear of shopping mall and school shootings, of neighborhood robberies and home invasions. A massive tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri two year ago—just a two-hour drive from our home. The truth is that not one of us is immune to the possibility of a disaster happening right where we live or in our own nation. 

God wants us to be alert watchmen who know how to pray for cities and nations. As we do, it’s important for us to realize that we don’t have to fear what is happening in the world. God does not want us to be shaken by the nightly news. The Bible says repeatedly that God is our refuge. We can pray through disasters with Him as our refuge. The word “refuge” in Webster’s Dictionary means, “that which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity, a stronghold which protects by its strength or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness, any place inaccessible to an enemy.”

God invites us to hide in His closeness. He wants to be our strong place of refuge. 

It’s His design that we need a safe place of refuge. He knows that we need to feel secure and safe. He was David’s strong refuge in times of danger (Psalm 71:7; 73:28). David knew how to hide in God’s presence. That’s what He wants us to do. Picture a baby bird hiding under its parent’s feathers. Psalm 57:1 is the picture of us sheltered under the shadow of God’s wings. Take a moment and read Psalm 46, and begin to experience the comfort of what David is saying.

Psalm 46 - A Psalm of Comfort 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.”

Psalm 46 is a great Psalm for all those who need a refuge. Imagine this. It is written in the context of a big underwater earthquake or nuclear explosion and shows us that we do not need to be afraid of natural disasters. Aren’t there times where you feel the pressure of what is happening on earth? I know I do. But God is our present help even in these times of great trouble. He’s not far away but right there with us (v. 1).

Even a major disaster doesn’t have to make us afraid. The center of security for all of us is God’s presence. Even though the nations are in an uproar, we can feel secure because God is our refuge (v. 6-7). The Psalm says that God brings desolation. He makes wars to cease, he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire (v. 8, 9). God does bring an end to injustice and pain. He brings healing and salvation to our needy world. He invites us to be still and know that He is God. He is in total control. His presence is with us. Psalm 46 ends by saying in verses 10-11, “’Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

In light of all of this end-time turbulence, how can we prepare and pray through the disasters in the world? God’s invitation is for us to enter into urgent watchfulness. How can we help disaster victims and war-torn nations through our prayers and our lives? In looking closer to home, how can we ourselves learn to trust God as our refuge during times of disaster? We read in Psalm 5:11-12:

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”  

Let’s learn to be God’s urgent watchmen during times of disaster and war. Let’s learn to pray for nations in a powerful way that makes a difference.

How to Prepare and Pray Through Disasters

• Be grateful and thankful for your life and what you have - Learn to be extremely thankful every day. You don’t know what a day may bring forth. Appreciate life.
  
  
• Prepare the Church in your city for whatever may come - I used to live in a city that had hurricane threats six months out of the year. In Virginia Beach, many came together for several days from 3-6 A.M. to pray for safety in that area. Every city needs to prepare for possible disasters just as they did in Rabau, Papua New Guinea. 
  
  
• Face disasters victoriously - Don’t be overwhelmed or lose your faith in God if a disaster hits your city. Realize that He is greater than any disaster and will work it out for good. Pray for disaster victims to stand strong in faith in God. 
  
  
• Share the love of Christ with disaster victims by meeting their needs - When we had a hurricane in our city, we helped serve food through the Salvation Army. It was a great way to share the love of Christ.
  
  
• Trust God in the midst of disasters and worldwide shaking - This is the time for the Church to arise and shine. This is a time to show others the peace of God through our lives by living out Psalm 46. Pray this for churches and nations facing disasters and war. 
  
  
• Grow deeper in your relationship with God now - Strengthen your prayer life and learn to be still, cultivating God’s presence in your life daily. Pray Psalm 46 for your life and others in your city or in disaster and war-torn areas.
  
  
• Learn to be still - Study Psalm 46 and when it says “selah”, stop and think about what God is saying. 
  
  
• Show forth godliness instead of evil - Be careful to live a godly life. What is inside will come out. In our neighborhood a few days after a hurricane, people began to get impatient and irritable. Let’s pray that the people of God shine His light even in the darkest of times.
  
  
• Live and prepare for the eternal - Learn to live for what is really important—not earthly possessions—but eternal life. Narrow down your possessions, and learn to give things away on a regular basis. Everything is about Heaven. It's time for us to wake up and shake ourselves free from this earth.
  
  
• Pray for the salvation of souls and share your faith - During disasters and times of difficulties, people are open to the Gospel. They need hope, and you have the hope of eternal life. God is the refuge that everyone needs. This is our greatest opportunity for reaching souls.
  
  
• Pray fervently for countries that are in major worldwide turmoil - We must pray for the Middle East at this time. It is our responsibility and affects each one of us. Pray for the Middle East. 

Don’t wait for a disaster to apply these truths. God wants each of us to stand strong now. He wants us to live for eternity and pray for the lost now. None of us is outside of the reach of a disaster in our city or nation. We all need to live passionate lives, preparing for our eternal home. Jesus deserves our lives now. 

Let’s live 100% for Him, pray for the world with an increasing fervency, grow in knowing Him as our refuge, and learn to be still. He invites us to hide in His presence on a daily basis. When we hear about another disaster on the news, let’s pray fervently for those victims. Let’s not fear disaster but be confident in the Lord. His heart is that we enter into urgent watchfulness and prayer without fear. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

To help you prepare for the End Times, attend the Daniel Conference here at IHOPKC for free through the internet starting tonight, August 29-31. See Daniel Conference for information. This is all about the Book of Daniel and is key for what we are now facing in the world.

“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your feet from being snared” (Proverbs 3:25-26).

• 4 books on prayer and intercession with a 20% discount on each book - Use the discount code – PL6G7Y59. See www.intercessorsarise.org.
• Have your friends sign up for Intercessors Arise here!
• If you would like to pray for us and get monthly updates, see Norm and Debbie's Prayer Partner. Get our Most Recent Update here.
• Become a member of the Intercessors Arise International Network here. Connect with intercessors and what God is doing in prayer worldwide! Discover many resources and training on prayer in this network.

Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer (IHOP) KC Staff
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org

Spiritual Intimacy With God is Alice Smith's life message.

Her best-selling book, "Beyond The Veil," now a worldwide bestseller
is available in many languages.

Her newest book, "Spiritual Intimacy With God" is the sequel.

Here, Alice shares two minutes of video instruction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PZxBJpK6ExY#t=21

==================================================

Spiritual Intimacy With God
http://www.prayerbookstore.com/spiritual-intimacy-with-god/

Beyond The Veil
http://bit.ly/New-Edition-BEYOND-THE-VEIL

==================================================

NOTE:  Alice is also available to speak to your church or group.
800-569-4825

Alice and Eddie

P.S. Will you join us in ministry. Your investment today will bear kingdom interest tomorrow!

Or mail checks payable to:         U.S. Prayer Center         7710-T Cherry Park Dr         Suite 224         Houston, Texas 77095 Phone donations via credit card, toll free, Mon-Thu, 9-5 Central 800-569-4825

Exciting news for you and the other approximately 25,000 students
from around the world who are enrolled in our one-year online
school of prayer.

Each receives a weekly lesson for an entire year.

NO MORE will our they have to...
...wait weeks for their lessons.
...ever miss a lesson.
...need to print and file each lesson.
...or wait the entire 52 weeks to receive the complete course.

WHY? Because IT'S HERE!

NOW.... The COMPLETE COURSE (Plus interactive assignments)
is available to you as...

1. An interactive, 212 page, PAPERBACK book, and as
2. An instantly downloadable eBOOK!
Download the eBook now and be reading it in moments!

The twelve lessons are good for self- or group-study.

Here's more...
http://www.on2url.com/lnk?Posz4RnrymQ%3D

God bless you!
Eddie and Alice

By Eddie and Alice Smith
U.S. Prayer Center, Houston, Texas

Sadly, as we enter 2013 we can’t help but notice that much of the twenty-first century church is in disarray.

Despite Paul’s 2,000-year-old admonition against division in the church (1 Cor. 12:22-25), it’s plain to see that the body of Christ is severely splintered. Among the divisions are:

•  Denominationalism

•  Racial tensions

•  The gender gap

•  The Charismatic versus non-Charismatic issues

•  Minister and laity distinctions

Although in the past twenty years we’ve seen some encouraging reconciliation in the church, the lost world might rightly ask, “Why are these Christians trying to reconcile me to God when they are not even reconciled to each other?”

It’s an excellent question, and one that deserves an answer. After all, reconciliation implies relationship!

But there is something else. Along with the need for reconciliation, we must offer the Lord new wineskins. God wants to pour out the new wine of revival upon his church. In fact, he has saved the best wine until last. It is a purifying wine, a healing wine, and an empowering wine. New wine however, requires new wineskins. (Mark 2:22) As someone has rightly said, “All new wineskins have one thing in common. They are freshly dead.”

To become new wineskins and truly live, we must die to ourselves and abandon the old. So the church today is in a state of flux. The only thing we can count on in the future is change! But as long as the church looks like a sieve, fraught with disunity, it will never hold water, much less new wine.

We are on the brink of what may be history’s last great revival and a worldwide harvest of souls. God is renewing the nature of the church (his bride) as he prepares her for earth’s final spiritual battle to be followed by the marriage supper of the Lamb.

However, Jesus said, “A house divided against itself will fall” (Luke 11:17). As unity enables, so also disunity disables. For 2,000 years, a disabled church has tried,

• To reach a disabled world

• To fight against the kingdom of darkness

• To complete the Great Commission

As a result of our divisions, not surprisingly, we have accomplished little. After 2,000 years of opportunity, much of the world is yet to know God and the eternal salvation that could be theirs through his Son, Jesus Christ. Two thousand more years of the same from the church will produce the same pitiful results!

That is precisely why we need watchmen (intercessors) who will “stand in the gap in prayer,” and for gatekeepers (pastors), who will move into their Kingdom positions to work effectively with them.

(Source: Eddie and Alice Smith’s book, Intercessors & Pastors: The Emerging Partnership of Watchmen & Gatekeepers, pages 5-6)

I think one of the reasons people struggle with prayer or fail to grow is that they don't have any idea how to evaluate their prayer life.  We can fairly readily break our physical health down into some core components of strength, flexibility, cardio fitness, etc.  But, what about our spiritual health?

Over the summer, while on a sabbatical, I came to recognize 5 core components of a healthy, growing, prayer life.  I call these core components, the 5 Pillars of Life Changing Prayer.  I also came to realize that each of these pillars, can be consciously strengthened through different prayer practices.  

In the following video, I share what those 5 Pillars are.  I would love to hear your feedback.

Dear Fellow Prayer Leader,

Dr. Rick Shepherd, the SBC Director of Prayer and Spiritual Awakening for the state of Florida, is offering resources being used in his state to call Christians to pray for God's honor, for neighbors, and for our nation this fall. The resources include a calendar document with prayer prompts for September 16 - November 10, a leader's notes document, and a sample pastor's letter to a congregation. Rick is offering these for your use in your sphere of influence as you see fit. His contact info is in the content if you have any specific questions for him.

There are many calls to prayer this fall and many tools available, this call to prayer deserves a look.

For God's glory,

Elaine Helms

2012.PRAYER%20CALENDAR.56%20Days%20of%20Praying.For%20His%20Name%20color.docx

2012.PrayerCalendar.56%20Days%20of%20Praying.LEADERs%20NOTES.docx

2012.PrayerCalendar.PASTOR.Letter.August%201.Packet.docx

“I listen more than I talk.”

That’s how a well-known pastor described his prayer life in a sermon I heard recently. It was the reason he gave that arrested my attention.

“After all, it seems like God is going to do whatever he wants to do anyway.”

There are various ways to respond to that statement, including simply nodding your head in agreement. If we don’t dispute the sovereignty of God (and we don’t), then where and how does prayer fit into God’s plan? Or why should we bother praying if God has already determined the answers before we start to pray?

I suppose that most Christians have wondered about that question at one time or another. Certainly skeptics have thrown it in our faces to discourage us from seeking the Lord in times of crisis. I confess that I have wrestled with this issue on more than one occasion.

If God is sovereign, why should we pray at all? Many years ago I listened to a tape by R. C. Sproul on this topic that helped me greatly. Here are seven statements that will help us think wisely about this question:

1. God invites us to ask for what we need.

We are told to ask, to seek, to knock (Matthew 7:7-8). Why? Ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. In Psalm 81:10 the Lord promises, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” This is where prayer becomes intensely personal. Our Heavenly Father-who already knows our needs-invites us to make our needs known through prayer.

2. We don’t know what we really need.

We think we do, but we don’t. Or to be more accurate, we know part of our needs, but not all of them. Our perspective is inevitably limited by our own experience, desires and personal knowledge. Romans 8:26 says that “we do not know what we ought to pray for.” Have you ever felt you’ve “run out of words” when you pray? That has happened to me on more than one occasion. I remember one couple that seemed to be in a perpetual crisis situation. I had prayed so much for them without a positive result that finally I ran out of prayers. I didn’t know what to say anymore. I didn’t know how to pray for them effectively. All I could say was, “Lord, have mercy,” because I couldn’t think of any other words. Sometimes we face the same issue when we seek God’s guidance. Often we are so confused that we’re not sure what we should be asking for. And sometimes we are so weary that words will not come to us.
We don’t pray to give God information he wouldn’t otherwise know.

Rarely can we be absolutely sure what God wants to do in a particular situation. After we have made our requests to God, especially regarding the crisis issues of life, we must cry out, “But Father, I don’t know what you want. And I want your will to be done even if it means my will is not done in this situation. I truly believe that you know best."

That’s why the most basic prayer is always “Thy will be done.” But God knew that we would often be baffled in prayer so he sent the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27). He prays for us when we don’t know how to pray for ourselves or for anyone else.

3. God knows what we need before we ask him.

Matthew 6:8 says this very plainly: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” That means we don’t have to impress God or use big words or pray long prayers, We don’t have to repeat ourselves when we pray, and we don’t have to worry about getting all the details correct or throw in flowery language when we pray. Since God knows us through and through, he knows our needs better than we do. When you pray, you aren’t informing God of anything. He knew your need before you bowed you head.

4. We do not pray to inform God of anything.

This may seem obvious but it needs to be stated anyway. When you pray, you aren’t informing God of things he wouldn’t otherwise know. The Bible tells us that he numbers the stars in the sky, the sand on the seashore, and the hairs on your head. He even calls the stars by name (Psalm 147:4). Ponder that for a moment. Billions and billions of stars and he knows the name of each one. Think how easily you get flustered on Sunday morning trying to remember that person you met last week. If your church has multiple services on Sunday morning, you probably don’t know everyone in your own church.

But God does.

He not only knows all the people in your church, he knows everyone attending every church everywhere in the world. More than that, he knows the names of all 6.8 billion people on planet earth.  But even beyond that, he knows the names of everyone who has ever lived here and everyone yet to be born.

If God knows all that, do you think he is going to be surprised that your gall bladder is acting up again?  Do you think he doesn’t know about your crabby boss or how you gained 10 pounds in the last month?

In case you doubt this, listen to the words of Psalm 139:1-3.

    O LORD, you have searched me
    and you know me.
    You know when I sit and when I rise;

    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
    You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.

    Before a word is on my tongue
    you know it completely, O LORD.  

That would appear to be total knowledge of every aspect of your life. Nothing you do or say surprises God. He knows your secret thoughts, your hidden motives, your unspoken dreams, and he knows what you are going to say before you ever open your mouth.

I find this a liberating truth for the prayer life. It means I don’t have to yell or shout to try to make him understand. And I don’t have to go into some long explanation either. I don’t even have to repeat myself unless I want to. He got the message the first time. Actually, he got the message before I ever sent it.

5. We pray to express our total dependence upon our Heavenly Father.

When R.C. Sproul discussed this issue, he quoted John Calvin, the great theologian of the Protestant Reformation, who said that prayer is not for God’s good, but for ours. That’s an amazing thought. Because God is God, he doesn’t “need” our prayers. But we need to pray. Calvin means that God’s perfections are perfect in their completeness. While God desires our prayers, they do not “add” anything to who God is. Let me say that another way. God doesn’t need the information we give him, but he encourages us to give him the information anyway.
God doesn’t “need” our prayers.

Perhaps an illustration would help. Picture a father watching his four-year-old daughter trying to put together a puzzle. She tries and tries but she just can’t get the pieces in the right place. Her father watches with great interest but he doesn’t interfere. Finally, she crawls in his lap and says, “Daddy, would you help me put my puzzle together?” He smiles and bends down and together they begin to pick up each piece. One piece at a time they put the puzzle together.

Now why didn’t the father help his daughter earlier? For one thing, she didn’t ask for his help. For another, he wanted her to try on her own. And most of all, he wanted her to ask for his help. When she did, he was honored and gladly helped her finish the puzzle.

Is this not a picture of how our Heavenly Father deals with his children? Although he longs to come to our aid, often he waits until we ask him specifically. Sometimes he wants us to come to the end of our own pitiful resources before he intervenes. When we cry out in despair, he is honored as we express our complete dependence upon him.

Every prayer is the cry of a child saying, “Help, Father, I can’t do this by myself.”

6. We pray because God is honored by our persistent faith.

I’ve already said that since God knows what we need before we ask him, we don’t have to repeat ourselves to get his attention. But that’s not the whole story. We all know from personal experience that not all our prayers are answered the first time we pray them. Sometimes we receive immediate answers, but often we must wait days, week, months, or even years.

How long should you pray for your loved ones to be saved? My answer is simple. You should pray until God answers your prayers. Do you remember the story of the widow and the unjust judge in Luke 18:1-8? The woman kept coming back to the judge to plead her case. Because the judge was dishonest, he didn’t have time for her, but her persistence wore him down so finally he said, “I’m going to see that this woman gets justice before she drives me crazy.” Listen to the words of Jesus as he applies this story to our Heavenly Father:

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly (Luke 18:7-8).

Jesus isn’t saying that God is like the unjust judge. But if an unjust judge can be swayed by the persistence of a widow, won’t God’s heart be moved by the persistent prayers of his people? The answer is yes. Persistent prayer moves the heart of God because it expresses desperate dependence on him.

Sometimes it takes desperate circumstances to bring forth this kind of faith. Perhaps you’ve heard about the doctor who said to his patient, “There’s nothing I can do. It’s in the hands of God now.” “Oh no,” the patient replied. “Has it come to that?” It always comes to that sooner or later. Prayer reminds us that in the end everything depends on God and not on us.

James 5 gives us another wonderful example of the power of prayer. Elijah prayed that it would not rain and for 3 ½ years there was no rain in Israel. He prayed again and the rains fell from heaven. Here’s the moral of the story in James 5:16, “The prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective.” In the original language James used a word that means “to boil over.” Fervent prayers get God’s attention because they come from a heart that believes God’s power is unlimited.

This doesn’t mean that you need to shout when you pray or that you have to weep or moan or stand or sit. Fervent prayer is simply prayer offered in earnest petition to God. It’s not the words that matter . . . or the length of the prayer . . . or the tone of your voice . . . or whether you stand or kneel or sit. What matters is that you really mean it when you pray.

Many years ago I heard a pastor speak at a youth worker’s rally in Long Beach, California. During his message he told how his wife had been involved in a terrible accident. As the ambulance rushed her to the hospital, he tried to pray but the only words that would come out were “Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.” Looking back on that experience, he commented that it seemed like one of the few times in life he had ever really prayed.  
Fervent prayers get God’s attention.

Many Christians have had the same experience. It sometimes takes a crisis to teach us that God is not impressed by long words, many words, fancy words, or loud words. What matters is that our hearts be focused on him. Fervent prayers move God to action because they come from persistent faith in the face of desperate circumstances.

7. We pray because he’s God and we’re not.

This of course is the first rule of the spiritual life. All prayer is based on this simple truth. He runs the universe, we don’t. We pray because he’s in charge and we’re not.

And here’s a crucial insight. When we don’t pray, it’s because we’ve forgotten who’s God and who’s not. A lack of prayer means we’re still trying to run the show. It’s a sign that we’ve decided we can handle things on our own.

And that brings us back to the original question. If God is sovereign, why pray? While chatting with a friend, I mentioned this question to him. He looked at me and said, “There’s an easy answer to that question.” I asked what it was, mainly because I wanted to be sure I knew it myself. “Because he commanded us to,” he replied.  When you think about it, that is the ultimate answer. We pray because God has commanded us to pray, which means that prayer must be good for us.

Sometimes you see little signs that say, “Prayer changes things.” I believe that’s true. And the first thing prayer changes is us. It teaches us to depend completely on our Heavenly Father, and it reminds us that he’s God and we’re not.

Why pray if God knows everything in advance? Because God has ordained that our prayers are part of his plan for the universe. Our prayers really do matter to God. In a sense God limits what he can do in the world so that he can work through our prayers. It’s not that God “needs” our prayers. He doesn’t. But in his kindness, he has invited us to join him in the great adventure of bringing his kingdom to this sin-cursed planet. Through our prayers, we partner with God in changing the world.

Our greatest problem is not with God’s sovereignty but with our sinful unbelief. The Bible says, “You have not because you ask not" (James 4:2 KJV). But Jesus himself invited us to ask God for anything that we need. So why don’t we pray more than we do?

Let’s wrap up this message with a very simple theology of prayer. Our part is to pray fervently, sincerely, and honestly, bringing our deepest concerns to the Lord. God’s part is to listen to our prayers and to graciously answer them in his own time, in his own way, according to his own will. If we do our part, God cannot fail to do his.

“Give Him No Rest”

Perhaps you are still not convinced. Let me share a passage I came across while reading the book of Isaiah.

“You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Give him no rest.”

Give who no rest?
God.

The Lord invites his people to pray, asks them to pray, commands them to pray, begs them to pray. And then he says, “When you pray, give me no rest."
Bang on the door of heaven.

This may be the most startling invitation to prayer in the Bible.

Give the Lord no rest when you pray. Bang on the door of heaven. Pray, pray, and keep on praying. Pray that God will hear and answer and move from heaven.

Don’t put any time limits on God.
Don’t think he will be bothered by your repeated requests.
Don’t say, “This is too small to bother God about.”
Don’t say, “I’ve prayed about this long enough.”

Wear him out!

He loves it when his children beg him to help.

Are you praying for a loved one to be saved? Wear him out!
Do you need God’s wisdom for a major decision? Wear him out!
Are you facing temptation and need God’s help? Wear him out!
Are your children struggling spiritually? Wear him out!
Do you seek a godly spouse for your granddaughter? Wear him out!
Are you praying for revival in your church? Wear him out!
Do you long to become stronger in your faith? Wear him out!

Don’t take “no” for an answer.

It almost sounds unbiblical or dangerous or possibly blasphemous. But if the request itself is godly and noble and pure and good, you have every reason to stand your ground when you pray.

Give him no rest.
Wear him out.

God calls us to pray. He invites us to pray. He commands us pray. He begs us to pray. He exhorts us to seek his face every day. We have been given unlimited access to the throne room of the universe. The King of Kings wants to hear from you. Don’t keep him waiting any longer.

The deepest and most meaningful communion we have with God is when we enter into the fellowship of solitary prayer in the secret place. I call it the inner chamber. Jesus understood the importance of solitude. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

When you enter your own inner chamber, notice that Jesus suggests you “shut your door,” (Matthew 6:6). How good are you at shutting doors? It’s a very effective, yet little practiced method to leave the rest of the world outside. I know young parents who mistakenly think they have to let their little ones barge in on them whenever and wherever they like, without restriction. That’s a sure path to insanity.

Shut your door and it will fulfill its purpose, which is to prevent any interference and to enforce strict privacy. Along with the plain old door to our inner chamber, other “doors” we must shut include the power buttons on the television, computer, phone, iPod…you get the picture. That means turning them off, not merely letting them hibernate only to wake up and elbow their way into our private sessions with the Master.

It may be that we can measure the depth of our love for Christ by how “interruptable” our time with Him is. I often wonder if Christ looks at the array of techie devices sprawling across our desks and asks, “Do you love Me more than these?”

Your time in the inner chamber is the most precious time you have on earth. It is all that will prepare and qualify you for doing business in the public place. If you do not serve Christ behind closed doors in the inner chamber, you seriously stunt your ability to serve Him in the public marketplace, whether your marketplace is your family at home, or work outside the home, or even service to the church.

Jesus practiced solitude, apparently quite frequently. Are you capable of withdrawing into the absolute solitude of the inner chamber? Can you do it? Many believers cannot, because they have never really tried. It seems unthinkable to “go all solitary.” It’s as if they always need to be in the presence of other human beings in order to be a real person, or to be validated. On their own, they are bewildered, having lost their sense of self. It’s unfamiliar territory, and scary.

Jesus, who had the most amazing sense of “self” of anyone in history, withdrew into the wilderness, alone. A wilderness place is somewhere that is wild, desolate, sometimes barren, but really just untamed or uncultivated. For those who are inexperienced in personally relating with Christ, even their own inner chamber may seem like a wilderness place. There is a promise resting over the wilderness, though, a promise just for you. The wilderness will blossom. It will become a place of beauty, a fruitful, growing place. I’m sure that Jesus, having often trod the solitary path of prayer, experienced the wilderness environment in an entirely different way than some of us may at this point. Instead of finding it untamed and uncultivated, I’m quite certain it was His beloved inner chamber, a place of safety, fellowship, counsel, affirmation and productivity.

There is something to that idea. Can you see it? How vital it is for us to experience the potentially frightening and lonely wilderness parts of our lives from the perspective of the inner chamber. When we do this, we will see these areas tamed. We will experience them as exciting venues, filled with the beauty of God’s holiness, places that He holds in His hand, showcases for His glory. We will see them as places and times of opportunity for the Father to fulfill His eternal promise, “I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19b).  Go ahead. Give it a try. Give Him the opportunity to shine through your life. Be brave. Shut your door.

Christians Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

 

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Millions of Christians around the world joined the Global Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem on Sunday.  
 
Hundreds of Christians in Jerusalem joined participants from 175 nations and more than 300,000 churches for this year's event.

"This is the Day for Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem," Rev. Dr. Robert Stearns, with Eagles' Wings, told the crowd that gathered on the Haas Promenade overlooking Jerusalem.

The inspiration comes from Psalm 122:6, which says to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper who love you."

Organizers say the event is the largest Jerusalem-focused prayer initiative in the world.

 Prayer is Urgent

Stearns told CBN News that prayer is especially important now because of growing tension between Israel and its neighbors and enemies.

 
"Right now I believe it's vital for Christians to pray for truth to come to the forefront. The amount of lies that so surround these issues with Israel and the Middle East -- incredible amounts of media distortion, are all over the place," Stearns said.

"We've got to pray to for truth and discernment, and that's why I encourage people to become educated on these issues," he said.

Knesset Member Gila Gamliel, deputy chair for the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, said she came to bless the Christians.

"This support brings us -- as the leaders of Israel -- to feel we are not alone. We have a lot of support from all over the world," Gamliel said.

"I want to thank all of them about all their support and prayer, and this is why we are very strong here in Israel to stand very strong about keeping Jerusalem united forever," Gamliel told CBN News.
 
Columnist Michael Freund, director of Shavei Israel, said it's very moving to see such strong solidarity with Christians around the world.
 
"We know that Jewish-Christian relations over the past 2,000 years have had some very rough spots. So to be standing here now and to see Christians praying for the Jewish state, for the capital of the Jewish state, is something historical," Freund told CBN News.

"And this country, my country, my people, we face some very difficult challenges," he said.

"And all of us who love Israel and support Israel, now is the time to turn to the Creator and to plead with Him to have mercy on His people Israel," he said.

Committed to Pray

Christians also told CBN News of their commitment to pray for Jerusalem and the Jewish people.
 
Lotof Jammal is one of the directors of Christian Union in the Holy Land, a ministry that is working to unite local Arab Christians here.
 
"I am here to pray for the peace of Jerusalem as an Arab Christian in Israel. We want peace in the city, in the holy city that's for Christians of course," Jammal said.

Dr. Bambang Susanto co-pastors the World Transformation Church near Jakarta, Indonesia. The country has no diplomatic relations with Israel, yet every year tens of thousands of Indonesian Christians visit.

"Every year we come here from Indonesia and we pray and we bless Israel because [it] particularly state[s] in the Bible that those who bless Israel will be blessed," Susanto said.

Rev. David Pileggi, rector of Christ Church in Jerusalem's Old City, said God loves the Jewish people so Christians should, too.

"I'm here today basically because I'm a firm believer in what Paul says in Romans chapter 11. In that chapter Paul says God loves the Jewish people for the sake of the patriarchs," Pileggi said.

"And if God loves the Jewish people, I think we, as Christians, need to love the Jewish people as well," he continued.

"And probably one of the most important things we can do for the Jewish people and one of the most practical things we can do is pray," he added.

Fulfilling Prophecy

Stearns said the way the world looks at Jerusalem every day is almost lifted from the pages of scripture.

"The most significant thing we look at is that the prophetic scriptures regarding Jerusalem, which wouldn't even have made sense 100 years ago, 150 years ago," Stearns said. "I mean Jerusalem was hardly a topic of conversation among the nations of the world [then]."

Stearns said it was almost a forgotten city except among Jewish people who prayed every year to return to it.
  
"Now you can't build an apartment building in Jerusalem without having it be a global controversy," he added.

"I certainly believe we're living in prophetic times," Stearns said. "Surely part of what God is saying to the Church today in the world has to do with the city of Jerusalem."