~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 

   I N   T H I S   U P D A T E        ...and for our prayers:

 

       “Praying Through The URGENT APPEAL”
 

   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 

€ THE NPPN DISCOUNT RESOURCE CENTER €
 

Special NPPN Discount Offer:
 

€ THE NPPN DISCOUNT RESOURCE CENTER €
 

    --->NPPNote: Having recently participated in the national training for the "Urgent Appeal," I realized how perfectly suited both the document is to our 700+ Pastors' Prayer Groups. May I encourage PPG facilitators to download the document  ( http://www.urgentappeal.net ) distribute it to each PPG member (a great way to revitalize your PPG or re-invite not-yet-attending Pastors in your area) and devote one of your PPG meetings to a focused discussion and prayer. The prayer outline (below) has been prepared by David Bryant and Dale Schlafer and is useful for PPGs as well as congregational prayer meetings.


 

“Praying through the URGENT APPEAL”
 

This outline suggests a format for turning the URGENT APPEAL document into a prayer meeting.  It follows themes from the document.  Therefore, pages are given to reference content for each suggested topic.  The format assumes that times of worship will be integrated throughout, from the start.  The same outline might be used in “LIVING ROOM EVENTS” to guide a time of prayer among leaders in response to the presentation and before final decisions are made on next steps together.

*Confession to God:  We’re at a crossroads as a nation--Judgment or Hope (p.8-10)

*Confession to God:  We’re also at a crossroads as individuals--pits or Prisoners of Hope (p.8-10)

*Bold appeal to God for corporate revival:  
--based on the content of the ORR definition (p. 12)
--based on the content of the PACKER definition (p. 12)
--based on the content of the ORTLAND definition
    (Suggestion: Have someone read a definition, then pray its basic insights back to God.)

*Prayers of praise about the hope of, followed by intercession for the work of, corporate revival based on some of the key reasons for our hope:
--The Divine Pattern (Praise that He did it before, ask Him to do it again)—p. 21
--The Dark Prospects (Acknowledge the needs, ask for help, praise for promises)—p. 22
--The Disturbing Paralysis (Confess needs, ask for help, praise for promises)—p. 22
--The Dramatic Preparations (Praise for what is happening, ask for more)—p. 22-23
--The Distinctive Praying (Praise for what is happening, pray for increase)—p. 23
--The Determined People (People worldwide are burdened for revival! Ask for more.)—p. 23

*Ask God to keep it a Christ-centered revival (in a general sense—p.16)

*Ask God to keep it a Christ-centered revival (in four specific ways—p. 17)

*Anticipating that God  will give us corporate revival, pray for protection from:
--Fantasies (p. 29)
--Superficiality (p., 30)
--Elitism (p. 31)
--Nationalism (p. 31)
--Conflicts (p. 31-32)
--Short term impact (see “Point/Process”, p. 26)

*Anticipating that God will give us corporate revival, pray for His help to respond in these seven important ways:
--Perceive its importance (p. 34)
--Prioritize everything accordingly (p.34)
--Purify our lives (repentance) (p. 34)
--Pray with fervency (p. 34)
--Proclaim God’s Word on revival (p. 34)
--Prepare for all that revival brings us (“act as if”) (p. 35)
--Partner with other believers in the impact (pray for leaders) (p. 35)

*Final Prayer: Help us open the doors wide for Christ to grant us revival (p. 35)

*Final Prayer: Help all of us not simply be “for” revival, but instead “about” revival.  (Here the prayer might focus on four words in the TITLE: Urgent, Consensus, Collaboration, Appeal).

NOTE:  Use creative variety during the prayer time, combining large group and small group prayers, along with time of private prayers, listening prayers and worship.  Use a variety of positions: standing, on your knees, in small huddles sitting on chairs, etc.
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>From: Natlpray@aol.com

Dear NPC Members:
    I am pasting here the "PRAYER ALERT" just out from Intercessors for America, written by a member of the task force. Since so many of you shared with me what an impact this task force had on our D.C. meetings, I knew you'd greatly enjoy what IFA has sent out. Maybe you'd like to pass it along to your constituency.
    David Bryant, Chairman, America's National Prayer Committee

INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA    -   YIFA - Youth Interceding for America  www.yifa.org 
Young Leaders Task Force Birthed, By Boyd Lillard

The annual meeting of America's National Prayer Committee (NPC) convened April 30 - May 3 in Washington, DC.  On the afternoon of May 1, a Young Leaders Task Force was born.  The task force was officially initiated and recognized as young leaders shared perspectives and burdens, and led an entire afternoon of corporate intercession.  Task force members brought various accounts of how they are seeing God at work among a younger crowd, the importance of solitary quiet time in the presence of God, and how their generation is desirous of moving in instant obedience when God calls them to the assembled senior NPC members.  

Jeremy Story, head of Campus Renewal Ministries and a YIFA Youth Advisory Council (YAC) member expressed, in a masterful way, that the Young Leaders Task Force is committed to giving leadership to the ministries of prayer and evangelism involving younger constituencies, but called on the senior members to stand with and back the younger coalition.  He expressed his conviction that the concept of "passing the baton" is inadequate and will not work, that younger leaders need the experience and wisdom of more senior leaders, and that the generations need to be in a reciprocal and honoring working relationship.  National Prayer Committee Chairman David Bryant chose to affirm this new initiative by asking senior male committee members to cloak, as with a "mantle," a youth task force leader in a suit jacket or pullover sweater.  At the same time, female senior members were called to kneel at a task force member's feet.  The assembled senior leadership then blessed, prayed over, and commissioned the new emerging leadership to fulfill their destiny in Christ.

The Young Leaders Task Force is comprised of young men and women from across the  U.S., and is being drawn from local and para-church ministries, from among the ranks of college students, and from leading national evangelistic and prayer initiatives.  The new Task Force is under the coordinating oversight of Nancy Wilson, from Student Venture and Campus Crusade for Christ.  This new coalition will overlap and work in tandem with Mission America's Young Leader Alliance which held strategizing meetings on May 17-18 in Fort Worth, TX.  

-Let us offer thanksgiving for, and pray for the working cooperation being modeled out by this new generation of Church leaders.  
-Let us pray for wisdom that the "Task Force" stays sensitive to what God is calling it to do and not taking its own initiative with its next steps
-Let us pray that initiatives be based out of  a synthesis of prayer and evangelism
-Let us pray for increased unity between younger and older generations in local churches and para-church ministries

Visit http://www.yifa.org    http://www.lighthousemovement.com 
INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA     PO Box 4477    Leesburg, VA 20177    Tel: 703-777-0003    Fax: 703-777-2324
THE MISSION OF INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA: To fervently and humbly seek the supremacy of Jesus Christ in America through repentance, prevailing prayer and fasting.
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>From: "charisma@strang.com
>By Eric Tiansay

A group of graduating high school seniors in a West Virginia community heeded the biblical admonition to always pray and not give up. According to "The Charleston Gazette," the St. Albans High School Class of 2002 didn't allow an atheist classmate and a federal judge to spoil their graduation ceremony Thursday night.

Defying a court order blocking a school-sanctioned invocation, more than 100 students stood, bowed their heads and recited the Lord's Prayer. Just hours earlier, Judge John Copenhaver had issued a temporary restraining order for St. Albans senior Tyler Deveny, ruling that the 18-year-old atheist was likely to "suffer irreparable harm" by being forced to either sit through "an unwelcome religious exercise" or to sit out the graduation, the Associated Press reported.

Copenhaver's ruling struck down a Kanawha County policy allowing student-led prayers at graduation ceremonies, as long as the statements are nondenominational and non-proselytizing. The statements must also be voted on by graduating seniors and approved by the principal before the ceremony. But Copenhaver declared the policy invalid, saying the proposed invocation violated the Constitution's clause providing for the separation of government and religion.

Copenhaver's decision is due to halt school-sanctioned prayers at other area high school graduation ceremonies later this week. The school system's attorney planned to advise principals to cancel their invocations. "This is a great victory for the Bill of Rights and schools," said Deveny, who stayed home rather than attend the graduation ceremony at the Civic Center in Charleston, the "Gazette" reported.

However, school officials said nobody could remember a time when St. Albans didn't have a school-sponsored prayer at graduation. "This is something the kids wanted," Principal Tom Williams said.

As the American flag was brought out at the start of the commencement event, a parent shouted from the bleachers: "God Bless America." "Amen!" the crowd responded, the newspaper said. During the Pledge of Allegiance, students and parents said "under God" just a little bit louder.

Then seconds after a teacher announced the court order prohibiting an invocation, one senior stood, clasped his hands in prayer and looked above, the "Gazette" reported. About half of the 226 graduating seniors joined him in reciting the Lord's Prayer. They shouted out the last part: "For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen." The audience then gave the students a standing ovation.

After the ceremony, parent Paula Gillenwater picketed with signs that said: "Honk for prayer. God bless our kids." "They're really hungry to get God back in our schools," Gillenwater said.

Elsewhere, government-housing authorities in Taylor, Mich., are seeking to evict a woman for displaying an 8-inch, stop sign-shaped window display that reads, "24 Hour Prayer Station." Officials filed a court eviction action against Johnie Heard, who has lived in a low-income housing development for 10 years.

"I'm astounded that the city would evict a single woman living on a shoestring budget solely for displaying a religious message in the window of her home," said Mathew Staver of the Liberty Counsel, which is representing Heard. "...The actions of these government officials are blatantly unconstitutional and reveal a callousness which is hard to comprehend."
- - - - - - - - -
Copyright 2001,2002 Strang Communications Co.
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3.    PRAYING FOR KIDS
 

>From: Dawright41@aol.com

Dear youth leaders and friends,
    Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus. Summer camping time is here. May we support your efforts by praying?
    Please e-mail or send the names of the kids, leaders and dates they will be at camp, so we can continue in our relentless prayer, shaking heaven itself, for the salvation of each one. ( 1 Timothy 2:3&4)

Serving you in prayer, with love, Young Life Prayer Coordinators, NY Region
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>From: Usprayercenter@cs.com

Southern California preacher Lou Engle believes a new spiritual awakening won't occur in America until Christian’s respond to what he says is the urging of God for believers to fast and pray corporately. Engle feels Christians could accomplish that by heeding The Call--a radical youth prayer movement, that drew 400,000 fasting youth to the Washington Mall on September 2, 2000. "I believe The Call D.C. was part of a shift in the heavens and that God has thrown a window open," he says.  "We have entered a season of time in a massive [spiritual] war. We are in a war, and if we don't win, we lose everything." New Call gatherings are being planned for New York City, Hollywood, California, and Dallas, Texas. Internationally, organizers are planning Call events in Brazil, England, and the Philippines.

PrayerNet is a bi-weekly e-mail newsletter containing  prayer reports, requests, and instruction from the U.S. PRAYER CENTER. PrayerNet, designed and edited by Alice
Smith, is offered free of charge. Circulate it freely. (c) Copyright 2002, U.S. PRAYER CENTER
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>From: "Daniel F. Hauser" <danielhauser@pknet.org>

Promise Keepers is planning to host a large, national Pastors Conference next year.  The event, entitled "Come Near To Me", will be held Feb 18 - 20, 2003, in the BankOne Ballpark.  It is anticipated that as many as 55,555 pastors may attend this gathering.

There are 2 significant prayer requests at this time re: this conference:

1. The Message.  We are trusting that God's Spirit will encourage, renew, and challenge the heart of every pastor that attends, so that this could be a life-changing moment in their ministry.

2. Housing.  Due to limited hotel availability, we urgently need at least 10,000 pastors to be housed in people's homes in the Phoenix area.  The logistics of this are enormous, but we trust that God will move in the hearts of local church congregations to help make this happen.

Thank you for your prayers in these matters, Dan Hauser, Pastors Conference Director
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>From: "Walker, Erica" <EWalker@WelshCo.com>

Hello!  I am excited to announce Nehemiah Partners new web site!  http://www.nehemiah-partners.org    Please take a look!

It not only has the traditional information but is an online archive!  On the home page you will see a preview of a few articles, to the left is the traditional menus.  You can also pull up the 10 Article categories to show what the 20 articles are listed under.  Please feel free to send us suggested articles to add.  Please note that the articles should be pertinent to Faith in the Marketplace with the exception of the encouragement or life balance sections.  

Don't miss the Download sections with Rich Marshall's power points and the forums!  

How To Pray For The Marketplace:
    http://64.55.184.74/np/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5

We believe this is a much more informative site and hope that you will enjoy the new features!   

Blessings,  Erica Walker
Nehemiah Partners/Managing Director
7807 Creekridge Circle , Edina, MN 55439
Tel: 952-897-7712  Fax: 952-842-7712    
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7.     SURF TO...
 

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>From: "David R. Mains" <davidm@teamsundays.org>
>Reply-To: info@teamsundays.org

“For us to know another powerful time of revival, there probably needs to be some serious housekeeping done. Resaid, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem isn't the only place where garbage is needing to be removed.”

Have a great Sunday, David Mains, Mainstay Ministries

SUNDAY SOUNDBYTES and other Sunday solutions may also be found on our web site, http://sundaysolutions.com   
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        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:
 

>From: "stumlinson@opendoorhouston.org"

Where's the Power?
    We, as the Body of Christ, have been lacking the power to bind up the enemy, set the captives free and walk with boldness into this world, capturing the provision promised by Christ in John 10:10.  We lack the power and provision because we lack the Provider.
    The Power that the Church lacks today can be restored. There is no great secret.  When the Church in the book of Acts stayed & prayed, the Power of God fell and the church got a jump-start that launched them into the greatest revival in the history of mankind.
    Yes, we are asking for a larger sacrifice than Americans are used to making.  But just remember where our efforts have gotten us so far.  Without a heart-felt, committed chase after the living God, the Church will remain in mediocrity
    If you are ready for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to make a permanent  change, then clear your schedule for God Himself.  This is not a time for preaching, eating, fellowship or to gain political positions in the Church; this is a time for reaching out and grabbing hold of the wings of the Son of Righteousness (Mal. 4:2, Mark 5:28).

What You Need to Bring
    There are a few things to bring with you when you come. Your Host(ess) will provide the home and drinks.  Please bring a love offering for your drinks.  Also remember to bring pillows and sleeping bags, your favorite bible, changes of clothing, toiletries, and most of all a burning desire for the presence of God.

Shift Supervisors
    Shift Supervisors are not to be the Lord of the meeting. The Stay & Pray is not meant as a time for preaching.  The Shift Supervisors are to be in charge of insuring that music and prayers are continually being offered up to the Lord. Additionally, the Shift Supervisors will be in charge of judging any prophecies and must remain awake for the duration of their shift.  If you have decided to Host a “Stay & Pray” at your home, please let us know so that your home and family may be placed on our prayer list.
    Just call Scott or Kelly at (281) 856-7121 or contact us by e-mail at: kellytum@juno.com

The Semiannual “Stay & Pray” is not affiliated with any one Church or denomination nor is it intended to recruit members for any specific Church or denomination.  Ask your Host(ess) for information on membership at his/her local Fellowship.  The Semiannual “Stay & Pray” is held on the 3rd Friday of January & July
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>From: Natlpray@aol.com

Bob Bakke is still seeking God's solutions for the shortfall on the wonderful broadcast the NPC sent out to millions across the Hemisphere on May 2. Please join me in taking this challenge to God's Throne every day, in  Jesus' name.

CHRIST IS ALL!
David Bryant, Chairman, America's National Prayer Committee

   --->NPPNote: Please offer pray for the funds to pay final bills for last month’s broadcast, and for favor in raising funds for the 2003 National Broadcast Concert of Prayer
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>From: CFSR123@aol.com

Spiritual excitement is growing in anticipation of the National Solemn Assembly to be held at Constitutional Hall, October 8-9, 2002, in Washington, DC. The meeting, which will focus on repentance, reconciliation and revival, will target those who live and work in the nation's capital.

The NSA is endorsed and supported by a broad coalition of Christian leaders from the Washington, DC area and from across the United States. It is held in cooperation with several national prayer and revival movements. It supports and operates in the spirit of An Urgent Appeal, a call for national revival. The meeting is being coordinated by the Center for Spiritual Renewal, PO Box 3986, Cleveland, TN 37320-3986. Telephone: (423) 478-7078, E-mail: cfsr123@aol.com, Web site: www.spiritualrenewal.net. 
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>From: R&R Weekly Messenger <listadmin@reformationrevival.com>
 >By John H. Armstrong
 
For many years I have been thinking about corporate, congregational worship. I am convinced much of what we evangelicals do in this area rarely, if ever, grows out of serious Christian theology. I honestly think evangelicals oppose liturgy because they believe such opposition will protect the life of the church from cold, calculated deadness. For all the talk about worship (modern, contemporary, charismatic, traditional, etc.) going on over the past twenty years or so, the fruit of what I see in actual practice is more than distressing. Let me elaborate for a few moments.
 
In God-centered worship the church gathers to rehearse God's saving actions in real history. Worship is not about my needs being met. It is not about me learning new truths, or getting insights for living. And it is most certainly not about me expressing my feelings of love to God. (A great deal of what passes for modern evangelical worship better fits into the genre of romance novels and love songs than Christian worship!) That all of these may occur is true, but they are never to become central. Nicholas Wolterstorff agrees with my observation when he writes: "A striking feature of the Christian liturgy is that it is focused not just on God's nature but on God's actions; and more specifically, on actions which took place in historical time." ii
 
Whatever style of worship you employ (and musical style is NOT the real issue at all) you should ask, "Does this worship recount the history of God's gracious saving action in this world and proclaim that our hope both now and forevermore is to be found in Jesus Christ alone?" Does worship bring the people into a participation in God's divine activity, past and present? Is there a word of hope for the future based upon what God has said and done in the past? In the words of a familiar hymn: "What more can he say than to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?"
 
The great danger here was just as common in "traditional" evangelical worship patterns as it is in "modern" ones. We settle for petition, thanksgiving and proclamation that is almost completely focused upon the present moment and our present feelings. John Witvliet helpfully concluded his article on worship by writing:
    “Perhaps this is the inevitable result of lives and churches that are content with the status quo. Our songs, prayers, and sermons emphasize God's immediate goodness and even the vitality of our intimate experience of God. For us to live into the riches of fully biblical worship, our prayer, praise, and proclamation should be carried out as if we stand before a cosmic time line of God's actions, fully aware of divine faithfulness from the creation of the world to its full restoration in Christ. It is this vast and specific awareness that grounds our hope when days are difficult and that leads us beyond immediate concerns of our little egocentric worlds.” iii
 
Notes
 ii Nicholas Wolterstorff, "The Remembrance of Things (Not) Past: Philosophical Reflections on Christian Liturgy," in Christian Philosophy, ed. Thomas P. Flint. Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, (1990), 128.
 iii John Witvliet, "The Former Prophets and the Practice of Christian Worship," Calvin Theological Journal, Volume 37, Number 1, April 2002, 90. I am indebted to this article for much of what I use and cite in my thoughts above. John Witvliet is a professor at Calvin College and a specialist in liturgical study. My thesis is entirely drawn from his cogent article, though the words are both his and mine.

Reformation & Revival Ministries: http://www.reformationrevival.com
To subscribe to this list please send a blank message to <messenger-on@reformationrevival.com> 
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>From: missioncarolina@yahoogroups.com

Over 300 students and faculty are praying around the flag pole regularly at Charity Middle School in Rose Hill, NC, near Wilmington, according to organizer Darlene Leysath.  They began prayer in January and are planning to give all the children tracts in goody bags at the end of the school year which comes in a few weeks.
For more information on what is going on in Rose Hill, NC, contact Darlene at dleysath@earthlink.net  or 910/285-3010.
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>From: pastors.com
>By Rick Warren

God is looking for people He can use. He's looking for leaders, while we, on the other hand, tend to look for better methods, machinery and motivations. All the while, God is saying, "I'm looking for better people, leaders who are men and women of God."

Becoming a man or woman of God requires prayer, and Nehemiah shows us the secrets of praying like a leader.

Do you realize you can learn a lot about a person by his or her prayers? A canned prayer indicates a dried-up spirit. A selfish prayer indicates a selfish spirit. I've heard some prayers that were like Christmas lists, and some "impressive" prayers simply indicate an arrogant and prideful heart.

On the other hand, Nehemiah prays for four months straight when he heard about the downfall of Jerusalem. It was no casual prayer, and it gives us a pattern for successful praying.

Here are Nehemiah's four secrets to answered prayer:
 

1. Base your request on God's character
 

You should pray like you know God will answer your prayer: "I'm expecting You to answer this prayer because of Who You are. You are a faithful God. You are a great God. You are a loving God. You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem, God!"

Nehemiah approaches God and says, "God, I want you to do something in Jerusalem." Verse 5 says, "O, Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His command."

With this, Nehemiah says three things about God: - "You're great," which points toward God's position. - "You're awesome," which points toward His power. - "You keep your promises," which points toward God's covenant.

So, Nehemiah first acknowledges God's character and His greatness. When you pray, say, "God, I want You to answer because of who You are. You've given us all of these promises. You are a faithful God, a loving God, a merciful God." These are all characteristics of God, and one secret to answered prayer is to base your requests upon God's character.
 

2. Confess the sin in your life.
 

After Nehemiah based his prayer on God's character, he confessed his sins. He tells God, "We've sinned!" Look at how many times he uses the word "I" and "we:" "I confess ... "myself" … "my father's house" ... "we have acted wickedly" ... "we have not obeyed."

It wasn't Nehemiah's fault that his people went into captivity. He hadn't even been born when that happened seventy years earlier. Even though he was probably born in captivity, Nehemiah includes himself in the national sins. He says, "I've been a part of the problem".

There is personal confession, and there is national confession. This is something we don't understand well in America: we don't have a corporate sense of sin. We're very individualistic. We're taught to confess "my" sins.

When was the last time you confessed the sins of the nation? Or the sins of your family? Or your church? Or your friends? We don't think that way. We're very individualistic. Our society has taught us we're only responsible for ourselves. And that's just not true! You are your brother's keeper. We are all in this together.

This is also a basic Law of Leadership: Leaders accept the blame, but losers pass the buck. If you want to be a leader, you accept the blame and share the credit. Losers are always accusers and excusers. They're always making excuses for why things didn't or couldn't happen. It's always somebody else's fault. Leaders accept the blame.
 

3. Claim the promises God made to you.
 

When Nehemiah prays to the Lord, he says, "I want You to remember what You told your servant Moses." Can you imagine saying "remember" to God? Nehemiah is "reminding" God of His warning, through Moses, that if the Jewish people were unfaithful, they would lose the land of Israel. But God also promised that, if they repented, He'd give the land back to them.

Throughout the Bible God's people remind Him of the promises He made. David did it; Abraham did it; Moses did it; all the prophets did it. They'd say, "God, I want to remind You of one of Your promises," and then they'd share it.

Now, does God have to be reminded? No.
Does He forget His promises? No.
Then why do we do this? Because it helps US remember God's promises. Nothing pleases God more that when you remind Him of His promises.
Do kids ever forget a promise? Never.

So you have to be very careful about making them. The Bible says we're imperfect fathers, and if we imperfect fathers know that we need to fulfill our promises, then how much more does a perfect Father - a Heavenly Father - intend to keep the promises He made?
 

4. Be very specific in what you ask for.
 

If you want specific answers to prayer, then you need to make specific requests. If your requests are extremely general, how will you know when they are answered?

Nehemiah is not hesitant to pray for success. He's very bold in his praying. Have you ever prayed, "Lord, make me successful?"
If you haven't, why haven't you? What is the alternative? A failure?

There is nothing wrong with praying for success if what you're doing is ultimately for the glory of God. Pray boldly. Pray that God will make you successful in ministry for the glory of God. That was Nehemiah's prayer, and that is a valid prayer.

Here's the point: If you can't ask God to bless what you're doing, then you'd better start doing something else. If you can't ask God to make you a success at what you're doing, you should be doing something else. God doesn't want you to waste your life.

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA., a congregation that now averages 16,000 in attendance each weekend. Rick is also author of "The Purpose Driven Church," and founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for those in ministry. You may reprint this article in your publication with the following attribution: From Rick Warren's Ministry ToolBox, a free weekly e-newsletter for those in ministry, www.pastors.com.   Copyright © 2002 Pastors.com
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>From: FreshPrayer Notification <webmaster@waymakers.org>

This issue of FreshPrayer is "To be Called a Friend of God," from James 2.

FreshPrayer comes with a leader's guide to help you facilitate a small group prayer session, or a meeting of your "Lighthouse" prayer gathering.

FreshPrayer is free. All you need is the program Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is also free to download without hassle anytime.

Go to http://www.waymakers.org and click on the "FreshPrayer" section to download this month's issue.

yours for Christ's greater glory, Steve Hawthorne
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Take a minute (or two) to send us a report on how the Holy Spirit is leading you to connect people to God through corporate prayer.  Your story or strategy just may be used of the Lord to encourage or equip others across the nation.

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