Pray Network Forum

The Urgency of the Hour

“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).

The hour is urgent. We are more aware of this because of the devastating earthquake and huge tsunami that recently struck Japan. Massive walls of water caused terrified residents to flee the coast as houses and cars were washed away in a moment. Floodwaters shoved floating debris inland hitting highways, bridges, and homes. Heavy trucks were pushed aside by the power of those waves. Air travel and trains were shut down. It was the biggest earthquake in a century, so strong that even buildings in central Tokyo, 230 miles southwest of the quake swayed.

Survivors huddled on the airport roof and a flaming refinery like an inferno sent up huge columns of thick black smoke. Others waved white sheets from the upper floors of buildings. Residents ran into the streets as they attempted to leave the city. Two huge cargo vessels were tipped on their sides in one port. Thousands lost their lives suddenly in this enormous disaster. The hour in Japan is urgent.

Most of us sense in our hearts that we are moving towards an unusual time in all of world history. No longer are days as they were in the past. As I read about this Japan disaster, I thought to myself, "This is what I would read in fiction books." What you read only in fiction books is now happening right before our eyes. We cannot escape it. It's here and only going to increase as time goes on. But we as God's children do not have to live in fear or defeat. Instead we need to move to a higher place in God.

One of the books I am in the process of publishing is called Ascending the Heights in Prayer.  This is exactly what you and I need to do. We need to ascend the heights in prayer and find that place of peace in the center of God. He will fulfill His purpose for us. He is our protection and refuge in the storm. 

We have had a multitude of tornados in America, and I live right on the border of Kansas. This state is situated along “tornado alley” where there are a lot of tornadoes. Of course tornados hit almost anywhere and any time, because the weather patterns are changing everywhere. There seems to be no certainty in anything anywhere, but God is stable and sure. We need not fear. He is our rock, our refuge, and stronghold.

So just as I will run downstairs into our tornado shelter if bad weather approaches, we can run to God when storm clouds threaten our world. Jesus is our safe place. He is stronger than any cement fortress. He wants us to prepare and rise up to live where He lives during the end times. There is no more time to sit on the fence. He wants to shake us out of complacency right where we are. There is always higher ground to ascend to in our prayer life, devotion, and intimacy with God.

As in the Days of Noah

“For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark” (Matthew 24:38).

As in the days of Noah, people are living life as if no tsunami is coming. But look, it is happening before our eyes. Life goes on and so many want to live in denial and pretend that Jesus is not coming soon. They continue to live as if there is no seriousness about the hour in which we live. Eat, drink, and be merry. I remember a drama our evangelistic teams would do overseas many years ago called "Eat - Drink - Sleep". Individuals would take turns visualizing eating, drinking, and sleeping and in the end show the futility of life if that is all there is!

There had to be a purpose to it all.

It's time to build our ark for the storm is already upon us. Intercessors, it's time to rise up and ascend the heights in prayer. God will help you to build your ark (prepare for the future). Others will continue to question and even mock those who are preparing and positioning themselves for the future. Our every step is vitally important to God. Last October one step led me to a might fall down the stairs in my own home which I considered a safe place. We must consider our every step. We must learn to live in the center of God's peace and presence as the storm clouds come.

This is the most fruitful time in all of human history if we would only learn to get onto God's wavelength and agenda. The day of the Lord is at hand. It's a new exciting day if we will only shake off the way of life of the past and live in the now. Regardless of age or nation, we are all called to live in this present season fully and freely for God. This will be the best of this life. As we live for eternity and for God, we will be most joyous and free. As we try to hang onto the past way of life, we will be most afraid. It is a new day.

What Can We Do, and How Can We Live?

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Rather than trying to escape and hide, perhaps there is a better way to live in the end times as the return of the Lord draws near. In October of last year during an ordinary morning, I was upstairs running to answer the door to receive a new computer for writing these articles. I missed the top step of a very steep stairway, hit my heel, and begin to fall. As I tried to regain my composer on the second or third step, I begin to fall forward. I fell the rest of the way down the stairs and landed on my wrist. As I lay at the bottom of the stairs, I looked at my twisted wrist and knew that I couldn't walk or even attempt to stand on my foot. My husband and I went to the emergency room of the hospital and I knew that my life would change. I was in an emergency situation and there was no turning back.

You and I are in a world emergency. The financial crisis in the world alone should make us realize that God wants to get our attention. He is shaking everything that can be shaken. Most of us have been in a personal shaking of God's own design. Falling down the stairs and experiencing a broken right wrist and right heel has given me a more urgent look at life. Hour after hour and day after day I was able to look more seriously at the situation in life. I was helpless, and was able to see my desperate need of God in my most urgent hours. 

God wants us to get into His way of thinking for the very final years of human history before His return. He wants us to prepare spiritually for the days that are upon us. In my own crisis of breaking bones, when I had to sit still I noticed how most people were rushing around. They were running here, there, and everywhere. But to be still and in tune with the living God was not fully practiced. It's time that each one of us stops and listens to the Lord. It doesn't matter where we are or what we do. The Lord wants our attention.

Here are some crucial ways to prepare:

1) Prepare in prayer - Prepare your own heart. Give yourself to prayer. Here at the mission's base in Kansas City, there were awakening meetings several nights a week. A couple of months ago, they were stopped in order for the IHOP community to give themselves more fully to prayer in order to prepare for what is coming. Right now I am sitting in the IHOP Global Prayer Room on an ordinary Thursday morning, and hundreds of young people are here praying and seeking God. Give yourself to prayer in a greater way. Worship God. The end times require it.  

2) Get rid of the secondary things in your life - In emergencies, secondary things don't matter. In my own personal crisis, I realized this very quickly. I could do nothing but seek God. I couldn't move, I couldn't cook, and I couldn't walk, or write these letters. I was helpless. Secondary things did not matter. I was present in the emergency, and I was living to survive the hour. God brought me through with a wealth of understanding in my own heart regarding the end times. I am so thankful for my own personal shaking.

3) Begin praying for the emergencies around the world - As the end times unravels before us emergencies will increase. God wants us to pray. Here at IHOP, there was prayer every couple of hours for the crisis in Egypt and Japan. The world is in crisis, and we must learn to pray for the crises around us locally, nationally, and internationally.

4) Live in God's peace - He promises peace in every circumstance. He is our peace. When you feel frantic or uptight about the future, stop and center in on God. He is above and beyond all the tragedies. Your peace is an incredible testimony in hard times and will help those around you to find Him as their Prince of Peace. Jesus is alive! He wants to make Himself known in the midst of the present shaking.

As in the days of Noah, people will say what a fool we are to fast and pray, but when the rain starts falling, it's too late. We must prepare in every way today. We must position ourselves before God daily in prayer and wait upon Him for direction. He will show us how to prepare in every other way - emotionally, physically, mentally, etc. When I fell and was in a helpless state I realized how very dependent I was on God for my very breath. I cannot take anything for granted.

We must check our spirit daily. I had to rest in God's presence in order to not get discouraged when the trial seemed so long and endless. I had to also work physically by doing daily therapy on my wrist and foot as I was in the healing process. It seemed so lengthy and time-consuming but I had to do it. We must prepare physically for the last days. We must get out of debt. I had to position myself relationally. Friends helped me in my time of need. Numerous calls and emails, a word of encouragement at a difficult moment, and an electric blanket gift when I was so cold from lack of movement. This helped me in my moment of need.

Mentally I had to position my mind. This was not going to be a quick fix. It was a long-term trial. I had to say to myself, "Debbie, this will take time. Be patient. God is going to help me through this one day at a time." And He did. We must be alert to God's overall preparation in our lives, not only for ourselves but so that we can help others in the days ahead. 

Listen to this song by Misty Edwards called "As in the Day of Noah":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shi8fPtjFdc&feature=related 

To view this article or send it to your friends - http://ariseintercessors.blogspot.com/

“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).

By Debbie Przybylski

Intercessors Arise

www.intercessorsarise.org

deb@intercessorsarise.org

Hi Folks,

Here my first blog ever...how happy to have found Pray!Network!  I want to invite you to something that has been offered since 2003 in the world of Wycliffe Bible Translators.  Please pray for all the staff and participants the Lord is gathering for this year.  Blessings,  Kate

Preparing Leaders for Prayer Days and Short Retreats will be held at the White Oak Conference

Center near Winnsboro, SC (close to Charlotte, NC) in September, 2011. The Full Session will be

September 14-23, and the Short Session September 14-19.  Dr. Andy and Mrs. Kate Ring (serving

with The Seed Company) will be the lead facilitators, and Dr. Evelyn Davis (SIL International Training

Consultant) will coordinate.  Participants will experience a number of prayer and reflection topics,

as well as work in a small group with a staff member, learning how to lead the topics for others.

A $200 scholarship is provided for the Short Session (September 14-19), and a $300 scholarship

for the Full Session (September 14-23).  For the detailed information and application form, contact

kate_ring@tsco.org. 

      >>>

Thank you for praying!

(the full newsletter is here >>>)

Evangelism Connection Share view as web page  APRIL 2011 Evangelism news from the Mission America Coalition (U.S. Lausanne Committee)

The whole Church taking the whole gospel to the whole nation - and to the world. Table of Contents Chairman's Letter | Collaborative Calendar | Evangelism News |News & Trends | Tools to Use 110 Tables, 28 Affinity Consultations, Three Venues -- U.S. Leaders Seek Vision for Evangelism at Orlando 2011   About 700 people gathered in Orlando, Fla. to seek God's vision for evangelism in the next decade. The U.S. Lausanne Committee / Mission America Coalition (MAC) convened leaders to consult together and seek God's vision for evangelism in this decade. The meetings centered around four plenary sessions with immediate table dialog and 28 separate "affinity consultation" groups, their topics spanning every arena of evangelism and missions from global justice to creation care to Islam to mobilizing congregations in missions. The affinity groups discussed the issues the Church faces in carrying out the Great Commission and practical next steps for those involved.

Whenever she opened the closet door, she imagined stepping into another world. It felt safe there. It was one of the few places that she ever felt safe. To most people this room would have had no appeal. The floor was covered with cracked, dirty linoleum, but she imagined a fine, plush, golden carpet. The air was filled with dust and the smell of moth balls, but she imagined spring flowers and fresh air. The walls were made of a pale, pink plaster which was cracked and peeling. But she imagined that there were no walls. The only companions in this room were the raincoats and the sweaters which were in storage, but she imagined that she was surrounded by God and his angels, and every time she entered this closet, they would be there to meet with her. He would reach down to pick her up and hold her, the way that she saw other kid’s parents pick them up. He would whisper in her ear that He loved her and that it wouldn’t be long before He gave her a new home. He told her that one day she would be free to run and play like the other kids and that she would have a Mom and Dad to love her. She showed Him her scars from her beatings, and imagined that He showed her His.

The paragraph above is a snapshot of my early childhood and of the spiritual formation that was taking place in me, even in the midst of some very traumatic and painful circumstances. God revealed Himself to me at a very young age, even before I had any exposure to church or Sunday School. I knew that God was there with me and I talked to Him often.

In this prayer closet, I learned to believe in what I could not see; to listen for His voice, no matter how quiet or still; to sing to Him with the voice my heart gives; to receive comfort & hope from His presence, and to allow Him to heal my heart. I asked Him to remove me from this home and He did. Two days before my seventh birthday,my prayers were answered and He rescued me from years of abuse and neglect. The years that followed were not easy, but God’s presence and protection remained with me, and though I never returned to this prayer closet, I discovered my own “Portable Sanctuary of the Heart” (Reference from Celebration of Discipline—Richard Foster).

“Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.”    Psalm 22:9-10

As we prepare to celebrate Easter and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our hearts are turned toward a hill on calvary where He laid down His life for the sins of the world. 

Jesus came into the world as a man for one specific purpose. He came to bridge the gap between sinful man and a righteous, holy God. Without Him and His precious blood we would all be lost for eternity, but praise be to God, Jesus came, He walked among us and showed us the great love God has for each one of us. The New Testament is full of eye-witness accounts about His earthly ministry.

As Jesus prepared for His crucifixion, He spent His last hours in prayer in the Mount of Olives. 

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." John 17:1-5

It is hard to imagine the anguish that Jesus went through as He realized that His earthly ministry was over. We cannot fathom the amazing love for mankind which held Him to the cross. His physical body was inflicted with pain just as any human body would be, yet He endured. He could have called upon 10,000 angels to come to His rescue, but He didn't. Why? Why would He willingly die for us? It's all about love. A love which is beyond our comprehension, a love that is timeless. 

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grown weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3

Jesus experienced joy for what He accomplished. His work on earth was complete as He hung on the cross and took on the sins of the world. He reconciled mankind to God the Father for all eternity. In spite of the pain, in spite of the scorn, in spite of what looked like complete failure; He knew that what He was doing was for the benefit of all mankind. All those who believe in Him and seek God will reap eternal rewards. His love for us is that great!

But the story doesn't end with Jesus death. The power of Almighty God was displayed further when He brought Jesus back from the grave. His tomb is empty! Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ not only saved mankind through His blood, but he also defeated the enemy by overcoming death. All those who accept Jesus as their Savior are over comers. We will all spend eternity in the presence of God because of His immense love for us.

All I can say is "Thank You, Father! Thank you, Jesus! And thank you, Holy Spirit!"

Hollywood Prayer Network
April 2011 Newsletter

Dear HPN members!

HAPPY EASTER! April is the month in 2011 for celebrating the glorious Resurrection of our Lord! Let’s invite our friends and family, no matter what they believe, to join us as we gather this Easter. It’s the perfect day to reach out to all those people around us who may have no plans next Sunday. Have a joyful time together! Let’s also pray for the people in entertainment community who have no idea what this day means. May God bring Christians to them to explain why it’s such an incredible time of year!

SUMMARY:
• HPN praises God for His faithfulness and for supplying our daily bread!
• Continue to pray for Charlie Sheen
• Continue to pray for Justin Bieber
• Pray for the 64th annual Cannes Film Festival coming up this May
• We thank God for the many Christians He has placed here as salt and light
• The television Execs are headed toward the annual UPFRONTS this month
• HPN wants our pray-ers to understand how destructive “celebrity” can be
• Pray for the new Christians who come into town to pursue a career
• Please pray for the Christians who are working successfully in the industry
• We are thankful for Bernie, in Illinois, who supports our passion
• Sign up with RALPHS Grocery Store so that they will donate 2% to HPN
• Join the Christian community on Thurs., May 5th for the National Day of Prayer
• Check us out on Facebook and become our Friend!

PRAISE:
• We praise God for His faithfulness. It has been the driest financial time for HPN in 10 years. And yet, we know that God is faithful and will continue to be so. We just received a miraculous donation from a dear friend. God chose to supply this for us, in the perfect time, and the perfect amount for that moment. We should never question His provision, His timing or His intimate care for us! Let’s keep praying for more miracles where only God can get the glory!

UPDATES:
• Continue to pray for Charlie Sheen, as he travels the country doing press interviews, and live shows about his life. He is a broken man who needs the love and protection of the Lord, not a platform to discuss his brokenness. Let’s ask God to work a miracle in his life, to surround him with solid believers who can help him find truth, love and for protection from those who take advantage of his vulnerability. Please pray as you read this article.

• Continue to pray for Justin Bieber, whose mom, Pattie, is so thankful for our prayers. He has been getting some trouble from the press lately and they are feeling the pressure of being in the limelight as they travel through the Holy Land. (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/justin-bieber-says-besieged-paparazzi-israel-20110412-100439-634.html) Justin is only 17 and needs our prayers to stay on course and in the palm of the Lord’s loving and wise hand. To hear Pattie’s heart for prayer, click HERE: At the bottom of that page find our Twitter Link and tweet a prayer for Justin!

REQUESTS:
• Pray for the 64th annual Cannes Film Festival coming up this May 11 – 22nd in Cannes France. It is one of the world’s largest International Film Festivals and is attended by some of America’s most known film professionals. There are often Christians there who have a heart to reach out to those film stars who are often unapproachable here in Hollywood. Let’s pray for the hearts of the people attending, for the Lord to touch those who win and lose awards, and for the atmosphere to be full of the love of Jesus. For more information on the event click HERE.

• We thank God for the many Christians He has placed as salt and light throughout our industry. There are more committed believers in Hollywood than anyone outside our community realizes. So be encouraged and thank God with us for all He is doing here. We praise God this month for our friend Glen Keane, a Disney animator who has impacted every one of us through his work in creating Ariel, Tarzan, Pocahontas, Aladdin, The Beast and Rapunzel, to name only a few. He is a loving, generous Christian man who is a powerful example of Jesus in the workplace. Read this recent article on Glen in Christianity Today.

• The television Execs are headed toward the annual UPFRONTS this month: All the major networks are preparing for their meetings in NYC May 15 – 19th, where most of the major program sponsorship decisions for the new Fall TV season will be made. The UPFRONTS are when networks announce their new primetime schedules in a live show, including clips, sometimes extravagant musical numbers, comedic scenes and appearances by TV stars. The purpose for this event is to allow marketers, or sponsors, to buy commercial airtime “up front,” or several months before the TV season begins. Pray for the decisions made and for the decision-makers to have wisdom during this time. To read more about UPFRONTS click HERE.

• HPN wants our pray-ers to understand how destructive “celebrity” can be for most people. It is a curse more than a blessing. We don’t want to judge celebrities for their choices, but instead we want to pray that the Lord will protect them as they try to live a life of no privacy, full of gossip, pressure from fans, and excess that is hard to handle. We ask that you pray this month for the women who have won “Best Actress” Academy Awards, for they often find that their personal lives fall apart soon after winning their Oscar. For an interesting perspective click HERE.

• Pray for the new Christians who come into town to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and soon question whether they are meant to be here, if they have the talent needed to break in, or if it is even God’s desire for them to be here at all. What does a Christian do when they think they’ve been “called” to Hollywood, but nothing is working out? That’s a tough question that hundreds of people are asking every day as they try to pay their rent. Would you pray for the Christians to have wisdom to know what God’s BEST plan is for them? Click HERE to get a writer’s perspective.

• Please pray for Christians who are working successfully in the industry, and also standing strong in their faith. They have their own struggles that give them unique challenges. Let’s pray that they can balance their work with their personal lives and ministry, and be eternally effective in all areas. One person, our friend Mako Fujimura, is an artist in New York City and he is having not only an impact in the culture, but also in the lives of the people around him as he lives his life as a father, husband, artist, minister and friend. Click HEREto learn more about Mako as you pray for him and for other professionals like him.

FROM HPN MEMBERS:
• We are thankful for Bernie, from Illinois, who has graciously posted an article stating our passion for more men to be intercessors through our HPN “I to I” Prayer Partnership Program (http://hollywoodprayernetwork.org/new/I-to-I). We would love to have you read Bernie’s support of HPN and his desire to have more men who will pray and provide encouragement to more male Christian leaders in our community. HEREis the link to “MEN WANTED…”:

OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE:
• HPN is officially partnering with RALPHS Grocery Store. They have graciously agreed to donate 2% of any participant’s total grocery bill to our ministry – at NO cost to you. Please sign up with Ralphs (which includes Kroger and Foodforless) in order to have them donate to us. This is a great way to help us raise funds, just by food shopping. We'd love to have you register. Just click on the Ralphs website HERE then scroll down to PARTICIPANT and click on “ENROLL” to sign up. You can either get a Ralphs card (which gives you discounts every time you shop) or just connect the HPN account to your existing Ralphs Card and you will automatically donate a minimum of 2% of your purchases to HPN! We would SOOOO appreciate your support. Our ministry is listed either by our title: Hollywood Prayer Network, or by our Ralph's Org. #: 92945. You will also benefit through the Ralphs discounts the card provides. Thank you so much for helping us. We deeply appreciate your effort to take this step of support.
• Check us out on Facebook and become our Friend! Click here and let us know who you’re praying for in the global entertainment industry: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2252979785

UPCOMING EVENTS:
• HPN’s friend and member Sandra Lord hosts the popular, award-winning Hollywood Networking Breakfast on the last Thurs. of every month. Sandra has been faithfully connecting industry professionals and providing access to top Hollywood players through her breakfasts for over 17 years. Join them on April 28th at: http://www.changingimagesinamerica.org/hnindex.htm

• Come join the Christian community on Thursday night, May 5th for the National Day of Prayer. Find a gathering in your area or if you’re in the Hollywood area, come to Bel Air Presbyterian Church at 7:30 – 9pm for a wonderful celebration of our nation, our state, our city and the entertainment industry. For more info click HERE.

• If you want to go through one of Act One's summer training programs (Writing, Producing) you need to get in touch with them ASAP, as the deadline is fast approaching. Act One is entering it's 13th summer of top-notch training programs for Christians desiring to work in the mainstream entertainment industry. Check them out at www.actoneprogram.com, or contact them at info@actoneprogram.com or 323-464-0815.

• Arts & Entertainment Ministries is now accepting applications for their upcoming A&E Institute, equipping artists and creative professionals to think, live and create from a Christian worldview. To find out more, click HERE.

• For a list of other events happening in the Christian community, click HERE

Thanks so much for praying and keep praising God during this Easter season!
In Him,
Karen and Caren

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TIP OF THE MONTH:
Even secular Grammy winners believe that they were “called” into this industry and get very spiritual about their careers. We’re all hungry for God and we want His approval. Click on “God at the Grammys: The Chosen Ones"

QUOTE OF THE MONTH in honor of her passing:
It is strange that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting. ~Elizabeth Taylor

VERSE OF THE MONTH in honor of the National Day of Prayer:
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2

Greeting from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank you for the prayers support, I pray that the Lord bless you for the great work. 

I recently led a prayer gathering for elementary school-aged kids that was filled with refreshingly simple, pure prayers. We put an open microphone in the center of the room and watched as the children, who at first felt a little shy and self-conscious, one by one gained the courage to pray aloud in front of the entire group. Soon the line to the microphone was long as the children would pray a short prayer and then run to the back of the line to wait their turn again. Their prayers ranged from “Jesus, I worship You” to “God, please be with all the children who don’t have dads at hone.”

For the next 45 minutes the kids prayed with simplicity and abandonment. Afterward several of them stated it was the most fun they had ever had praying and pleaded with me to use the microphone again at the next prayer gathering.

One of my favorite meetings at the Lord’s Table is with Allison, a precious little girl whose parents adopted her into their family.  When she was not yet three years old, she already was serving communion with her mom. She would say to me, “You need prayer. I want to pray for you. I want to put oil on you.” She would smear oil on my forehead, then lay her fingers there and pray. The last time she prayed for me, a migraine I had been suffering with for several days disappeared in the space of about one minute. In our fellowship, children have led us on a path to healed hearts and bodies. We are taking the prayers and ministry of children seriously. 

While I struggle to pray as much as I intend to pray for family, I was reminded recently, that God hears any and all of our prayers. I have prayed the briefest of prayers for the company sales staff. "Lord be with ..... " naming each "today as they go about their job." Sometimes I add more, but mostly it is just that.

And God hears and answers the prayers I have prayed because He impressed me to pray for them. Sometimes it feels like I should be much more wordy, elaborate and just more everything, but it struck me how very simply I pray for the sales staff and how I keep hearing we continue to hold in a failing market.

Then I thought about the Lord's Prayer. So simple. "Give us this day our daily bread" No flagellation, just a sentence recognizing that our provisions are from God. A simple prayer of "thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever" recognizing God's sovereignty. Jesus spoke about not being like the Pharisees with their many words and prayers on the street corner.

Obedience to the command to pray before trying to impress anyone (including self) with fine, fancy flowing words.