__________
NATIONAL
PASTORS'
PRAYER
NETWORK
PRAYER STRATEGIES & INITIATIVES -
01/10/2002
...Finding New Ways To Connect In Prayer
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I N T H I S U P D A T E
...and for our prayers:
1.
PASTOR PHIL'S PRAYER LETTER
2. UNCOMMON PRAYER FORMAT FROM
PSALM 24
3. WHY WE DON'T PRAY
4. BECOMING A PRAYER MISSIONARY
5. TWO SMALL CONGREGATIONS ISSUE
NATIONWIDE CALL
6. HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR
7. MOBILIZING PRAYER FOR PASTORS
8. TWO CITY CONGREGATIONS;
TWO PRAYER STRATEGIES
9. WWJD ON THE NATIONAL DAY OF
PRAYER 2002?
10. ALWAYS PRAYPARED
11. HOW TO JUMP START YOUR PRAYER BATTERY!
12. STATEWIDE PRAYER JOURNEY
13. WHAT DOES A PRAYED FOR SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?
14. NPPN OPTIONS
15. PRAY WORLD - 2002
16. NETWORKING THE NETWORKS
* HOW ABOUT YOU...YOUR
PPG...YOUR CITY...
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1. PASTOR PHIL'S PRAYER LETTER
For those who have a calling to pray for me and this ministry--
Praise the Lord with me for His continued blessings; many opportunities to
facilitate corporate prayer, speak and teach at churches and conferences, and
sit with strategic planning teams both national and in my home town of Chicago.
The Lord has enabled us, through One Great City, to take significant steps
toward bringing more and more of the Body of Christ Chicagoland together in
worship (prayer and praise), relationship (getting to know one another is often
the first step), and partnership (strategic connections).
Major pra!se - the Lord has made it clear to my wife Carol, always
my strongest supporter in this new adventure, that she is to join me in this
work. I am especially grateful, since I know how hard it was to resign (as
of June, 2002) from her ministry as Director of the Children of the Shepherd
preschool. Twenty years of shepherding 60+ children and their families. Each one
experiencing the love of the Good Shepherd as she both taught and then directed
this wonder-filled ministry.
So, please pray for her in this transition; that the Lord will insure the
continued spiritual integration of the preschool; that the Lord will continue to
affirm the rightness of her decision; that He will begin to give us both a
vision for the greater works he plans to do as we begin to serve together this
fall.
Your intercession also welcomed for:
Jorie and Tim Riesen (daughter and son-in-law in
Southern California)
Jennie & JJ Iagulli ((daughter and son-in-law
heading to Zambia in June)
Grateful for all you do to make this ministry possible,
Pastor Phil
___________________________________________>>>
2. UNCOMMON PRAYER FORMAT FROM
PSALM 24
>From: "Sharon Ann Barnes" sharonann@surfbest.net
I was asked to pray a prayer over West Virginia and another over the city of
Charleston, West Virginia for a special city-wide prayer breakfast that includes
representatives from different denominations, including the Black Ministerial
Alliance, the marketplace, the government, and the youth. I awoke this
morning finding myself praying the same prayer over America and the cities of
our country and realized how similar it is to II Chronicles 7:14, 15:
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open
and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." I
thought I would send it to you who have joined with me in praying for your
cities and let the Lord use this as another means for us to pray for ourselves,
our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, churches, cities and our country.
--->NPPNote:
A small group or prayer meeting could use this prayer from Psalm 24 as a format.
Focus paragraph-by-paragraph or pray over lines of praise then lines of
petition.
Prayer from Psalm 24
Sharon Barnes
O Lord, who may draw near to you, even come up close to
you, your very hill?
You are holy, Lord! Who can stand in your holy
place?
You tell us, Lord, it is the one who has clean hands and
a pure heart.
It is the one who does not lift up their soul to an
idol, being consumed with something other than you!
And it is someone who does not yield to anything but the
truth!
You say, Lord, that this is the one who will be blessed!
This is the one who will receive a blessing from you!
and be vindicated by you.
These are the ones, Lord, that make up the generation
that seeks you!
The generation that seeks your
face!
Lord, we want to be the generation that seeks you!
We want to be the generation that seeks your face!
We want to be blessed by you, Lord!
We want to be clean and have a pure heart.
We only want to lift up our souls to you, Lord, and none
other!
We only want to walk in truth.
And we know this can only be done, Lord, by coming to
Jesus, the Lamb,
receiving from Him all that He
has done for us on the cross
shedding
His blood to pay our debt,
shedding
His blood to cleanse us from our sin
shedding
His blood to make us whole again
O Jesus, give us clean hands!
Give us pure hearts!
Give us souls that turn only to you, that seek to walk
only in truth!
We lift up our heads to you, O Lord!
We open up the doors of our hearts
So that you, the King of Glory may come in!
Who are you, O King of Glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty!
The Lord, mighty in battle!
Let your
kingdom come! Let your will be done!
Lord, I pray this prayer over all of the cities of
America.
America, I speak to the gates of your cities to be
opened!
O cities of America, I speak to the doors of your
homes to be opened!
So that the King of Glory may
come in
The Lord, strong and mighty!
The Lord, mighty in battle!
Let Him give you clean hands!
Let Him give you pure hearts!
Let Him give you souls that turn only to Him, souls that
seek only to walk in truth!
Let His
kingdom come! Let His will be done!
Amen
(This last section can be prayed over any city, school, workplace, church, or
neighborhood.)
In His love for you, Sharon Ann Barnes
(714) 838-2520 – phone / (714) 931-2030 - mobile
___________________________________________>>>
3. WHY WE DON'T PRAY
>From: "Hispowerportal" <prayerbot@hispowerportal.com>
>Reply-To: prayernewsservice-feedback-466@lb.bcentral.com
(Published in The Deacon, 1997)
Most Christians feel guilty when the subject of prayer is brought up. We believe
in the power and importance of prayer but just don't seem to do enough of it.
Our churches suffer from prayer anemia and spiritual malnutrition. Why?
Let's be honest about it. We don't pray enough because we don't want to enough.
Here are five reasons why:
We don't want anything. Too many of us lead satisfied,
complacent lives. Other than an occasional problem or two, things go pretty well
for us in our comfortable homes and churches. Why pray a lot when we've go
basically everything we want?
We don't care enough about others. We say "Good
morning" and "Have a nice day" to people at work and at church,
and we commiserate with our neighbor about the yard and the weather, but that's
about as far as it goes. We don't care enough about others to go beyond bland
superficiality, so we don't pray for them much.
We think small. Our world revolves around the daily
routine, television, minor aches and pains, and visits to restaurants and the
mall. Not much to pray about here.
We don't want to get involved. We pay the pastor to run
the church, the missionaries to evangelize, and the government to care for the
poor. They've got things well in hand, so why pray?
We're afraid God will respond. If we do pray about
something and God happens to respond, then we're really on the spot, aren't we?
What if God wants to use us personally in answering the prayer? Our comfortable
lives might be interrupted.
Ouch! The truth smarts, doesn't it? None of us like to be reminded of our
complacency and self-sufficiency. Neither did Jesus' disciples. But our Lord
certainly spoke the truth to them, even when it hurt. Just ask Peter.
And Jesus speaks the truth to us today. Here are three challenges Jesus gave us
that can enrich our impoverished prayer lives:
"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men"
(Matt. 4:19). There's nothing like dealing with someone's eternal destiny to
make us take prayer seriously. Sharing spiritual truth with others will root us
out of our comfortable routine and put our minds on something bigger than
ourselves.
"When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with
compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep
having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is
plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,
that he will send forth labourers into his harvest" (Matt. 9:36-38).
Working in God's harvest field is a guaranteed way for us to develop deep care
and concern for others. When we encounter our neighbors struggling without a
shepherd, it's not hard for our conversation to transcend the superficial and
for our hearts to burn with prayerful compassion for them.
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I
was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto me." (Matt. 25:35-36). Getting involved in the lives of needy,
hurting people will supercharge our prayer batteries. Once we serve, then we
love. Once we love, then we pray.
If we would pray more, and love more. Then we'll not be able to get enough
prayer?
http://hsb.baylor.edu/html/vanauken/WHYWEDON.html
- - - - - - -
If a friend forwarded this to you and you would like to join our email list,
please go to the below webpage and sign up!
http://hispowerportal.com/1about/join_email_list.php3
Do you have a web page?
Link to the Interactive Prayer System by placing a cool flash banner on your
website!!
http://hispowerportal.com/prayer_button.php3
_________________________________________>>>
4. BECOMING A PRAYER MISSIONARY
>From: "Hispowerportal" <prayerbot@hispowerportal.com>
>Reply-To: prayernewsservice-feedback-480@lb.bcentral.com
For those of you who have never heard this term, a prayer missionary is someone
who takes on (or adopts) a country, a geographical area, or a specific unreached
people group and starts praying on a daily and systematic basis. A prayer
missionary does not physically go to the mission field (except if he or she goes
on a prayer journey), but performs the work of prayer from his or her home or
place of work. In this way the prayer missionary can prepare the harvest field
so that the seed sown by missionaries will fall on good soil. A prayer
missionary is part of God's fighting team in the struggle against the kingdom of
the darkness. He is a coworker with missionaries, because without those who
pray, missionaries cannot be effective.
According to Bennie Mostert, "The advantage of being a prayer missionary is
that one manages to get into places and countries where the preaching of the
gospel is prohibited. No-one can prevent the prayers of the prayer missionary
from having an effect across the borders of countries or over large
distances." Mostert, in his book, Change Your World through Prayer, gives
several guidelines to anyone who wishes to become a prayer missionary:
1. A prayer missionary may be any believer who sees his way open to do the work
of prayer as commissioned by the Lord. Just as a missionary commits to one term
or a lifetime of service, you will need to make a commitment to pray – one
year, three years or as long as it takes for your nation or people group to be
reached for Christ.
2. Ask God to show you which country he would like you to do your mission work
in. Having a copy of Operation World by Patrick Johnstone would be a good
resource. Pray for different countries each day until you gradually develop
affection for one or more nation and/or its people. Perhaps God will lay it upon
your heart to pray for Muslims, or for one particular people group within a
country, etc.
3. Begin to do research on your country or people group, watching the paper,
news, magazines, etc. Find out the leaders of the nation and what religion(s)
are practiced there. Begin keeping a file of information that will help you pray
in an informed, specific way.
4. Pray for the leaders of that nation – for their conversion and that they
will govern wisely and with mercy.
5. Pray for missionaries, pastors and church leaders in that nation, and for the
firm establishment and growth of Christ's Church in their midst.
6. Pray for the unsaved, as well as for the believers and new converts.
7. Pray for revival in the church in that nation.
8. Pray for unity in the body of Christ
9. Pray for open doors so that the Word may be spread rapidly and thoroughly.
Remember to thank God continually as He works!
Thanks to http://www.harvestprayer.com
http://www.harvestprayer.com/pray101/praymisson.html
___________________________________________>>>
5. TWO SMALL
CONGREGATIONS ISSUE NATIONWIDE CALL
>From: "charisma@strang.com" <charisma@strang.com>
Two small Winston-Salem, N.C., churches are spearheading "a call to
spiritual arms" in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and American
military action in Afghanistan. Southern Nuevo Amanecer, a 20-member Hispanic
congregation, and 100-member Grace United Community Church, a black Southern
Baptist Convention (SBC) congregation, have issued a nationwide call to
Christians to fast and pray Tuesdays until America's "war on
terrorism" is resolved.
"A majority of them are fasting and praying every week," said Nuevo's
missions pastor and SBC church planter G.L. Brown, noting that the fasting
initiative began the Tuesday after Sept. 11. "It's mostly men. They're
taking action by sacrifice and giving financially."
The fasting effort is based on Isaiah 58, particularly verse 7, which says:
"Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor
wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe him."
Brown said those who fast are encouraged to donate the money spent for
meals on Tuesdays to various relief groups, churches and ministries.
"It's not just giving up - but giving to," said Brown, 47, who
estimated that thousands have caught on to the effort based on word of mouth and
from his preaching at various churches. "...Since Christmas is Tuesday this
year, many people will probably not fast then, but another day."
Copyright 2001 Strang Communications Co.
___________________________________________>>>
6. HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR
>From Pastors Weekly Briefing <pwb@fotf.org>
>By H.B. London, Jr.
Many of you have welcomed in a New Year with us several times
in the past. We on the PWB staff feel highly honored that an ever-increasing
number of you in the world of Christian leadership trust us with your time. To
those of you who are new to our weekly briefing, this is the edition where I
share my wishes and hopes for you and your family as you begin 2002.
Specifically, ...
... I pray that your intimacy with God will be even closer and that your
motivation for doing what you do will be influenced by your conversation with
Him rather than the latest fads and programs.
... I covet for you a really close friend -- someone you can trust to hold you
accountable and one who allows you the privilege of genuine honesty.
... I ask God to remove those roadblocks in your ministry that would prohibit
you from finding the fulfillment you desire, and to bring about healing in any
relationships with your parishioners that cause you to be anxious or fearful.
... I challenge you to "speak your word with great boldness" and I
long for you to experience within your labors "miraculous signs and wonders
through the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:29).
... I envision a multitude of you pastors falling in love with your call all
over again, and finding great satisfaction in a servant/shepherd relationship
with the people you pastor. Love them!!
... I beg you to let your own family know how valued they are by you ... and,
from time to time, to ask them how they are doing.
Happy New Year, my colleague!
Copyright (c) 2001, Focus on the Family / All rights reserved.
International copyright secured.
To receive a complimentary e-mail subscription to THE PASTOR'S WEEKLY BRIEFING,
visit www.family.org/pastor/emailsignup.cfm
____________________________________________>>>
7. MOBILIZING PRAYER FOR PASTORS
>From: USAPRAY@aol.com
National Men's Prayer Leader's Luncheon
February 7, 2002
10:00 am - 2:00 pm EDT
Note: Location has changed from Constitution Hall to a local church -
Greater Mt. Calvary Holiness Church - 610 Rhode Island Avenue NE -
Washington, DC 20002 - 202-529-4547.
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer." --1
Timothy 2:8
This strategic gathering will serve as a catalyst to recruit 100,000 male
Pastor-Appointed Prayer Leaders in some 30,000 churches to be "prayer
shields" around their pastors, to mobilize prayer in their local churches,
and to assume an offensive posture in prevailing prayer in their
localities. "Storm the Gates" and other conferences will amplify
this call in 2002.
Spearheaded by Coach Bill McCartney of Promise Keepers, this watershed gathering
is an outgrowth and an additional bearing of "fruit" from the Stand in
the Gap Sacred Assembly of men, which filled the Mall in Washington, DC on
October 4, 1997. Intercessors for America is partnering with the following
ministry coalitions who have taken a lead in this effort: The National Prayer
Committee, The National Association of Local Church Prayer Leaders, The National
Coalition of Men 's Ministries, The Mission America Coalition and The National
Pastor's Prayer Network.
This historic gathering in the nation's capital will be a time of corporate
prayer, encouragement and worship, where pastors, and local church prayer
leaders will be honored, encouraged and provided resources to help recruit and
train local church men to pray. Pastors and delegated men are warmly invited to
participate.
Full details and registration information is available online at http://www.promisekeepers.org
and are available by phone at 1-800-888-7595. For more information about
the larger men's prayer movement that is unfolding see www.nppn.org,
www.nalcpl.net, and www.calltowar.com.
To understand this within the context of the greater prayer and evangelistic
efforts proceeding across the U.S. click on "Mission America" and
"The Lighthouse Movement" on IFA's home page at www.ifa-usapray.org
TO IFA ASSOCIATED PASTORS AND CHURCHES: Please prayerfully consider attending
this historic and strategic convocation, sending your male local church prayer
coordinator, or sending men as delegates from your congregation. Please
consider sponsoring and sending young men and/or men who are leaders in poor and
ethnic communities that might need an assist in order to attend.
NOTE: Thursday, February 7th is also the day of the annual morning National
Presidential Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton and Towers, 1919
Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Corporate prayer sessions and
seminars will also occur on Wednesday, February 6. Seating for the
breakfast is limited and tickets must be obtained from your U.S. Representative
or Senators. Call their state or district offices, or phone their
Washington, DC office after January 1 via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at
202-224-3121.
This invitation is sent in partnership and as a courtesy by: INTERCESSORS FOR
AMERICA, PO Box 4477, Leesburg, VA 20177
Tel: 703-777-0003 / Fax: 703-777-2324 / E-mail: usapray@aol.com
/ Web sites: www.ifa-usapray.org
/ www.ifabooks.com
Youth Interceding for America - www.yifa.org
To subscribe: http://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=01175q
___________________________________________>>>
8. TWO CITY CONGREGATIONS; TWO
PRAYER STRATEGIES
>Reply-To: list-reply@christianitytoday.com (Contact Leadership
Weekly)
TAKING IT TO THE STREET
Instead of keeping prayer within their walls, two Chicago
churches are making prayer their gift to the neighborhood.
by James Meeks
I had been wrestling with the question of how our church could
effect meaningful change in our community. The hopelessness and despair around
us was suffocating, and I knew through
Christ there had to be a way to bring light and hope to inner
city Chicago.
That's when I picked up a book written by David Yonggi Cho,
the pastor of the world's largest church. His church of 700,000 is huge, but the
impact it has on its community is even bigger.
Now while my church is nowhere near the size of his, and
neither is yours, I was really challenged by how Pastor Yonggi Cho envisioned a
church that dreamed big dreams and accomplished big things.
The ministry of that church moves way beyond its walls to impact its city, its
nation, and the world. What could we do that would have that kind impact on the
people around us?
To read the rest of this article from Leadership journal, go
to: http://ChristianityToday.com/le/2001/004/13.63.html
THE PRAYER HOOD
We don't pray for the streets of Chicago; we pray on the streets
of Chicago.
by Charles Lyons
For the last fifteen years, our church has regularly opened
its doors and sent 150 to 200 prayer warriors onto the streets. Our mission: to
call on the power of God and to bring hope to a discouraged community.
To read the rest of this article from Leadership journal, go
to: http://ChristianityToday.com/le/2001/004/14.66.html
Copyright © 2001 ChristianityToday.com, Christianity Today International—all
rights reserved.
___________________________________________>>>
9. WWJD ON THE NATIONAL DAY OF
PRAYER 2002?
>From: "Steve and Kathy Krueger" <kruegers@brainerd.net>
What if on the National Day of Prayer 2002, Christian businesses were closed and
their employees had a paid day off?
What if Christians in secular jobs took May 2, 2002 off from work and kept their
kids home from school?
What if these Christians treated that one day as a HOLY DAY rather than a
"holiday"?
What if from sun up until sun down, for a whole day, our streets, our churches
and our homes became places of prayer?
(Prayerwalks in the streets, praying for people in nursing homes, praying at the
schools, hospitals and government buildings...)
What if these Christians, on that day, didn't shop, go out to eat, buy gas,
didn't rent videos or watch soap operas, CNN or ESPN?
What if the Church could treat ONE DAY in the year as Holy and sabbath?
What would happen?
Could it be possible that it might change us? Might the Church even reconsider
God's original idea of keeping one day in seven Holy unto Him?
Do we have the mustard seed of faith it would take to move this mountain?
Would God consider calling the Church of America to such an unpresedented
commitment?
Would you respond to such a call? Would you mark that Thurs, May 2, 2002 on your
calendar as a Holy Day, right now? I am.
Just thoughts in the middle of the night by a prayer leader in the middle of
Minnesota, Kathy Krueger, Lakes Prayer Commission, Brainerd, MN
___________________________________________>>>
10. ALWAYS PRAYPARED
>From: bbangham@imb.org
Broken, cleansed, made ready...
We have wanted to travel together for years, had even
planned a couple of trips. But for one reason or anther none of them happened.
Now we were together in the heart of Asia in the midst of a three-week journey.
The prayer retreat my friend was leading during this
part of our trip seemed almost incidental to me. It had little to do with my
work of gathering stories and photographing people, I reasoned. It was something
he needed to do. But I decided to stay with him. It would be an opportunity to
see him in action--he is one of the most sensitive,
intuitive men I know--and a good interlude, a brief respite before we traveled
on.
Surrounded by high mountains set against azure skies,
near a garden filled with sounds of exotic birds, the locale for the retreat was
beautiful. We rose early, before others were awake, and met for a leisurely
breakfast at a restaurant overlooking the garden. Rested from the night, we
would talk through the previous day, anticipating the promise of the one before
us.
But this September morning was different. My friend was
strangely quiet. "What's going on?" I asked.
"I can't follow the agenda we have for today,"
he said.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
" I have an abiding feeling that right now there is
a battle raging in the heavenlies," he responded.
"OK...so what are you going to do?"
"I don't know," he said. He asked me to pray
while he began the session that morning.
When the group gathered, he told them what he had told
me about his abiding feeling and said that he could not honor the schedule for
the day. He then suggested we pray for guidance and sat down.
At first we sat, caught in the stillness of the moment;
then one by one we rose and broke the silence.
We prayed. We sang. We read Scriptures. Refreshments
arrived and left untouched. Lunch was offered in another room. No one partook.
One by one we spoke of needs and desires, hurts and
insights. When we did, we were gathered in, enfolded in a rapture of arms, hands
laid upon us, prayers offered for us. When we finally rose to leave, it was time
for dinner. We had prayed through the day.
I had never spent such a day as this. We stood in the
flow of it, fumbling for words to describe our feelings -- broken, cleansed,
healed, renewed, revived, made ready. One participant suggested we were like
soldiers made ready for battle, content to wait, quiet of heart, prepared for
the unknown--certain our Lord would call and that we would answer. A victory had
been won this day, said my friend.
That evening on the way back from dinner, a shopkeeper I
had met earlier recognized me in the crowd.
"Have you heard?" he said.
"Heard what?" I asked.
He took me by the elbow and led me to his shop. In the
back, on the screen of a small television set one of the towers of the World
Trade Center was smoldering.
Bill Bangham, Editor in Chief, The Commission, December 2001
___________________________________________>>>
11. HOW TO JUMP START
YOUR PRAYER BATTERY!
>From: "Hispowerportal" prayernewsservice-feedback-498@lb.bcentral.com
>By David Butts
Secrets to renewing your personal prayer life.
>From time to time, many of us need a fresh shot of enthusiasm in many areas
of our lives. Sometimes, we just need to do something different - to get
ourselves out of a rut. other times, it is a need to change our attitude, or to
overcome feelings of inadequacy, depression, frustration, or anger.
We all know that we have a Father in Heaven who is willing to listen, and to
provide guidance in all of these circumstances. However, we often let ourselves
be overcome or defeated by the circumstances - paralyzed. Many of us have been
in situations when we know we ought to pray, but are unable to for a variety of
different reasons.
SO - what practical steps can we take to put new life into our prayer lives - to
renew an intimate relationship with our first love - Jesus Christ? Here are a
few suggestions to help you "recharge" your spiritual prayer battery.
1. Find someone to make yourself accountable to! If you tell a friend
members of your small group, or your spouse that you need help to get back into
a prayer life that is fresh and exciting, and ask one or more of them to provide
encouragement, and to check on your progress on a regular basis, you have
already taken an important step.
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the
law of Christ." (Gal. 6:2)
2. WORSHIP! If you are not spending time with the Lord in worship, we
encourage you to do whatever it takes to bring yourself into God's presence on a
daily basis. Use praise tapes to turn your focus to Him, and to draw yourself
away from your problems and needs for a time. Sing along. or just close your
eyes and be in agreement with the scriptures. Read the Psalms out loud to the
Lord, and make each one a prayer of praise!
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to
you." (James 4:8)
3. Ask the Lord to reveal any sin in your life which may be hindering
your prayers, or which may even be the cause of a prayer life which is less than
you would like it to be. Ask for His forgiveness and move on, knowing that the
sin has been not only forgiven but forgotten.
"Search me, 0 God, and know my heart! Try me and
know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24)
4. Along with a good concordance, dig into the Word of God with
expectation that He will fulfill His Word in you, and reveal His promises to
you. Choose to study areas in which you need guidance, improvement, help. etc.
For example if you need to be more joyful, look up scriptures about joy. If you
need patience, study what God's word has to say on that topic. Pray that the
Lord will help you to grow in that area, and relinquish control of your life to
Him. The burden can be lifted if you allow Christ to carry it for you.
"When I called, You answered me; You made me
bold and stouthearted. . .The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me... (Psalm
138:3,8)
5. Don't allow discouragement to sneak in - take one step at a time.
"Rejoice always, prayconstantly. give thanks in
all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess.
5:16-18)
<http://www.harvestprayer.com/pray101/battery.html>
___________________________________________>>>
12. STATEWIDE PRAYER JOURNEY
>From: Prayercntn@aol.com
Dear NPPN subscribers.
Recently, Fawn Parish and myself embarked on a prayer journey across the state
of CA (We called it the California Prayer Adventure)! As we met and prayed
with various regional leaders, the Lord began to give us insights regarding our
state. If you live in California or are burdened to pray for our state,
these insights might give you some extra clues on how to pray. You can
access the California State Report at:
http://www.prayercommandpost.org/index.php/journey.html
Fawn Parish (author of HONOR and IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU, JESUS) also wrote an
excellent article called: "Praying With A Tampered Ephod". The article
talks about having a heart of unity, love and honor towards all the various
streams (tribes) of prayer. You can access the article at:
http://www.prayercommandpost.org/index.php/ephod.htm
May the Lord continue to show us how to pray for our cities, regions and nation.
Together for His glory, Lynn Heatley, Prayer Command Post
(prayercntn@aol.com web: www.prayercommandpost.org)
___________________________________________>>>
13. WHAT DOES A PRAYED FOR SCHOOL LOOK LIKE?
>From: CEAIEDUCA@aol.com
(Adopted from the poem by Phil Miglioratti)
What would it be like to work and teach in a prayed for school?
A school where every boy and girl are being prayed for by name
A school where every building is assigned to someone for daily prayer
A school whose corridors and playgrounds have been prayer walked.
A school where teachers gather to pray
A school for whom churches in the community are praying
A school in which churches in the community have caught the vision of praying
for teachers, administrators and students by name, so that they will be open and
interested in the good news of eternal life in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
A school which each day begins with a prayer
A school in which teachers greet one another with a "God bless you"
What would it be like to attend a Prayed for School?
Where mayors and city councils are favorable to positive change, moral and
spiritual values in public schools?
Where gangs begin to lose members to Bible Clubs and Prayer Groups?
Where families begin to support teachers in prayer?
Where school classrooms become places of respect and learning?
Where the spirit of volunteering and caring replace apathy and hopelessness?
What would it take for YOU to teach in a Prayed for School?
Are you serious when you pray, "Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in
heaven?"
Are you sure God is able to do above and beyond anything you dare to ask?
Are you secretly content with the status quo of your life, your school, your
impact?
Are you resistant to the challenge because you know it is life-threatening?
Are you even aware that you do not work in a Prayed for School?
Are you even curious to experience even one day in a Prayed for School?
Are we, the alive-in Christ, willing to die so the dead-in-their-sin may live?
The Answer Lies in Us!
I’ll pray for my school. You pray for yours!
I’ll pray for my students. You pray for yours!
I’ll pray for my fellow teachers, administrators and school employees. You
pray for yours.
I’ll ask those I serve, school and city officials, fellow teachers,
administrators, students and parents to pray for our school. You ask those you
serve to do the same
I’ll join a teachers prayer group at school and if there is none, I’ll begin
one even if it is only two gathering for prayer before or after school. You do
the same.
I’ll ask my pastor and church to pray for our school. You ask your pastor and
church to pray for your school.
I’ll encourage the youth ministry at our church to get involved in my school.
You do the same.
Christian Educators Association International, P.O. Box 41300, Pasadena, CA
91114
(626) 798-1124 ~(626) 798-2346 Fax ~EMail:
info@ceai.org Web: www.ceai.org
___________________________________________>>>
14. NPPN OPTIONS / OPPORTUNITIES
__Send Your City's Story or Strategy:
phil@nppn.org
__Register Your City's Pastors'
Prayer Groups:
http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
__Archived Prayer Strategy Updates:
http://www.nppn.org/Prayers.htm
__Subscribe// (To Unsubscribe - See Bottom of This Message)
http://www.nppn.org/subscribe.htm
__NPPN Discount Resources:
National Association of
Local Church Prayer Leaders
And the latest strategies
for mobilizing prayer in your congregation
Connect your local church prayer ministry to the newest
resources
Call 719-268-8213
Give the Discount Code:
"NPPN"
Receive a 20% discount
(You pay $60 rather than $75) (You support NPPN
with your purchase)
Instant access to the best prayer resources at discount
prices:
http://www.nppn.org/Offers.htm
__You can make a donation to extend the work of the NPPN
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay/T2CW7KGWMPZ9UY/058-7005927-3646454
___________________________________________>>>
15. PRAY WORLD - 2002
>From: "Ben Jennings" <Ben.Jennings@ccci.org>
What a year to pray has risen upon us! World need
and world prayer potential are converging in an historic way. You know
about much of world need. Did you know that over 1800 prayer network
leaders are receiving this message? Together, they represent over 100
million Christians--present and potential intercessors! Thank God for this
enormous reservoir of spiritual power!
THE 2002 LENTEN SEASON 40-DAY PRAYER CALENDAR IS READY
FOR YOUR USE. The dates will be February 13 to March 24--Ash Wednesday to
Palm Sunday. Terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C., plus
personnel changes, have delayed the sending of this announcement. Problems
can be overcome, however, by a new united effort from us all. You are
urged to spread news of the Calendar to EVERYONE throughout your valuable and
appreciated Network.
TO OBTAIN YOUR CALENDAR, go first to <www.prayworld.org>.
Once there, click on <prayworld!!2000 Calendar>. Now click on
<English Version> to bring up a black-and-white display.
Everyone is invited to translate/send as many copies as
you can circulate. Hopefully, your copy will be clear enough to serve as a
master copy from which to print freely.
Translations other than English have not been possible
for this office to arrange this year. Therefore, people of every tongue
are urged to write their own translations in any available format--columns,
paragraphs, calendars, or other.
You may be happy to know that the same calendar has been
expanded and printed in a practical booklet form. "Seek God for the
City" is the title. It contains each day's scripture passages with
freshly worded prayers helping you express clear life-giving prayers for others.
The 64-page booklet is priced at $2 each (US), with significant discounts
when you order quantities for your church or prayer group. Contact WayMakers.
Call (512) 419-7729. On-line: <www.waymakers.org>.
Christ has not yet returned. Let us together seize
the time left to SEND A NEW WAVE OF CHRIST EMPOWERED INTERCESSION across the
remaining Great Commission (John 14:12-14) for His eternal glory!
Prayerfully, Urgently in Christ Jesus,
Ben A. Jennings, General Coordinator
___________________________________________>>>
16. NETWORKING THE NETWORKS
>info@praychicago.net
Following the citywide "One Great City" meeting, about a dozen prayer
networkers sat and talked and prayed together, as a first step to ward working
together. Represented networks included: Illinois National Day of Prayer,
House of Prayer (Elgin and Chicago Heights), Illinois Strategic Prayer Network,
Pray Chicago, Pastors' Prayer Networks from both city and suburbs, NPPN...
To add your network to the directory of Chicagoland Prayer Networks, go to:
http://www.praychicago.net
Or, send the following information to:
info@praychicago.net
PRAYER NETWORKS SERVING THE BODY OF CHRIST CHICAGOLAND
(Fill in whatever is appropriate to your network)
Name of your network
Mission (why you exist)
Vision (what you hope God achieves through you)
Purpose (what is your specific role/assignment? Intercession? Warfare? Mapping
Prayer for pastors?)
Strategy (how you operate)
Connecting (how to subscribe)
Communicating (how to submit requests, reports, releases, etc)
Contacting
Eddress to connect with you
Web site
Snail Mail (name, street, city, zip)
Phone
Fax
Comment (what else do you need to add so that readers know everything they need
to know))
___________________________________________>>>
* HOW ABOUT YOUR PPG...YOUR CITY...?
How we can give praise and thanks with you
...for what the Lord has done in your city?
How we can join you in prayer for your region?
=============================================================
National Pastors' Prayer Network
1130 Randville Drive ID, Palatine, IL 60074
847-991-0153 ~ 847-358-9337(fax)
http://www.nppn.org ~ email: phil@nppn.org
Register your PPG: http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
Phil Miglioratti ~ Coordinator
Sheila Straka ~ Intercession: sheila@nppn.org
Chuck Straka ~ Web Master: straka1@nppn.org
Adam Shields ~ Tech Support: Updates@nppn.org
Terri Hallberg, Carol Karr ~ Administrative Services
--->Unless clearly identified as "Personal To _____" or
"Confidential" all information and comments sent to phil@nppn.org will
be considered for use in a future NPPN Update.
--->Copyright 2002. However, permission is granted to freely redistribute to
those who will partner in praying for and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
with everyone in our nation and beyond.
--->Opinions reflect the views of each author or respondent, not the NPPN or
any other person or organization
=============================================================