Breakthough Prayer

And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the a good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV

 What does it really take to see our prayers answered? Without a doubt we have all seen those times when (to our surprise!) God just moves quickly and miraculously, and we know He has heard our request. However, there are other times when it just seems like nothing is happening and we just keep bumping into the same old problem. I have found that this concept  of “renewing our minds” is a major key to see answers to many of these issues. Often the main reason we are having a problem is because we are out of alignment with God’s way of doing something, and we are simply reaping what we are sowing. This could relate to anything from marriage issues, to farming, to running a country! Maybe you don’t really need a miracle, maybe you are just doing it wrong! Meanwhile we are getting angry and asking God why He doesn’t do something, while He could be asking us the same question!

The Word of God is an instruction book for life, and you can find instruction there on pretty much anything if you take the time to look. Not only do we need to find out what the word says on a given subject, but we need to get our minds so soaked in it that we literally have a change of thinking that becomes our “new normal.” This leads to new behaviors, that leads to answered prayer as we sow good seed, and prove true the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For My yoke is easy ad my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. John 3:16 the message

 Recently I spent some time with a lady who has known Jesus for a very long time, and although I see a love and sincerity for Him in her, her understanding and lifestyle do not reflect a life devoted to His ways. However as she shared her story, I was so moved by how beautifully God had been at work in and through her. His amazing grace and unconditional love were so clearly extended to her as one of His own little children, even in the midst of the choices she was making.

It made me realize that we can get so hung up on the importance of obedience (and it is important!) that we can lose sight of God’s unconditional love, which is so clearly portrayed through the story of the prodigal son, and the shepherd that leaves the ninety nine sheep to go and find the one that has been lost.

We are God’s search and rescue team, we are Jesus in the flesh and we are sent out to show His unconditional love and compassion. Every day we are encountering those who are the “prodigals,” who have known Jesus at some level, but have fallen away for various reasons. Judgment and criticism will not bring them back, it is the kindness of God that leads them to repentance.

Let our words and actions reflect unconditional love that we may be like our Father in heaven, and that we would see the prodigals returned.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ⁷ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:4-7 NKJV

Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. The sower sows the word.  Mark 4:3,14 NKJV

What kind of ground are you… today?

Every time that we encounter the written word through our daily devotions, and when we receive the Rhema word as we sense the Holy Spirit speaking with us personally, we are encountering “the sower.” The seed that He sows is always good and will be fruitful every time as long as it lands in good soil.

So how is your soil today?  Has seed been sent to you, but you were just too occupied to even notice? Did you receive it, get very excited about it, and then just lose sight of it as the pressures of the day crowded it out? Did you have other things that just seemed more important? Or did you recognize it as having high value, receive it, nurture and grow it until it bore fruit in your life?

God’s promise is that He will provide, and every day He is faithful to make the seed available to us. Too often it is us who does not receive the provision that when properly cared for, digested, meditated on, and incorporated into our lives, would blossom into everything we need for every situation.

Todays seed may be the beginning of growing the provision that you will have need of six months from now. Will you grow it or will you let it die?

You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. Psalm 65:9

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

Happy New Year!

So how are you doing? Are you continually encouraged by the good news that we have been delivered from darkness and conveyed into the Kingdom of the Son of His love? That you are a new creation and that, for you, all things have become new? Are you rejoicing in what it means to be a child of the King, as you live in this world but do not have to be a part of it?

As we go into the coming year we will undoubtedly continue to be faced with a lot of bad news reflecting the circumstances and the everyday realities of the world around us. Even though we live in a dark world, God’s promise to us is that we do not need to be afraid, He comforts and protects us, He prepares good things for us even in the presence of our enemies, our cup runs over with abundance and His goodness and mercy are always with us (Psalm 23:4-6). Let us be those who continually receive from the table the Lord has prepared for His children, letting our joy be full, ever ready to answer the reason for the hope that is in us, demonstrating through our peace and joy to those around us the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Come to the Lord’s table and have a Happy New Year!

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess Deuteronomy 11:8 NKJV

It is time for the army of God to “BREAKOUT” and go forward to take the land! The enemy has had a field day on the face of the earth and we need to remind ourselves that Jesus stripped him of all power and authority, He even took the keys of hell away from him (Revelation 1:18). From the beginning man was commanded to dominate on the face of the earth, and appointed to be “above and not beneath, the head and not the tail.”  We dominate through righteous spirit filled living according to the Word of God, prayer, and obedience to the call that is in each of our lives.

The battle is at hand for the souls of our family, friends, and neighbors. We can skillfully engage in that battle and have the victory as we pick up the weapons of the Word, prayer, and faith.  Let’s pray that God’s fire of love for Him and the lost would be stoked in our lives, and that we would rise up to take hold of the call to engage in the work of God for the hope and salvation of the people of our cities.

Answer the call, take your position, and enter into the greatest adventure life has to offer this side of heaven.

“Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.

1 Chronicles 19:13 NKJV

Know the Lord is with you, listen to His voice, execute His commands!

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints Romans 15:30-31 NKJV.

Timothy describes our day as “perilous times” in which people will be lovers of themselves, boasters, disobedient to parents, lacking self-control etc., having a form of godliness but denying its power (2Timothy 3:1-5). It is in the face of our permissive “you can believe anything and still go to heaven,” politically correct society, that we the people of God are called to take a stand for truth and righteousness. That is a challenge for us all, but particularly those who are called to stand on the front lines in very public ways.

As our schools continue down the slippery secular slope, leading our children to greater confusion in relation to spiritual truth, sexual orientation, and the very nature of life itself, it is significant and important that there are those who are continually standing in the gap through prayer.  Equally important are those who answer the call to be on the front line and to offer the truth, and speak up for that truth in the face of what can often be great opposition.

Recently I had the opportunity to talk with David Spencer who works with the Professional Learning community of Faith. This is a group of educators, administrators and admin staff who share a common faith in Jesus Christ. Their call is to encourage their colleagues in their Christian faith journey, learn effective ways to nurture the students, and
deliver curriculum from a perspective that aligns with the Word of God as presented in the Bible. They are located in the Peel Region of Ontario and are committed to making a difference for Christ in the schools of their province.

It is important that we stand together with those who are on the frontlines through prayer.  When we invest in another’s work in this way, we will reap the same blessing in our own areas.

For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know I will not be ashamed. Isaiah 50:7

“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am there My servant will be also. John 12:26

Are you willing to follow Jesus anywhere, anytime, at any cost, to do anything?

 As the “body” of Christ, we need to be where the “head” is. Where is God at work around you? How is He asking you to engage in His specific plan in your area? Too often we want to choose for ourselves when, where and how we will serve God, but Jesus says that we are to follow Him and do the good works that He has prepared for us ahead of time.  This is the place of surrender and faith, trusting God to have every detail covered as He leads us on in the great adventure of being His hands and His feet, and the fulfillment of His promise to always lead us in triumph!

Are you ready to enter into an adventure with Jesus that is based on a commitment to follow Him anywhere, anytime, at any cost, to do anything? Power To Change is launching “The Life” campaign to help you to “cross the line” and experience a life committed to living in the center of His will.  Check it out at http://powertochange.com/thelife/

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. John 5:19

Have a blessed week as you follow Jesus in His perfect plan for you.

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. Acts 17:26-27 (NKJV)

As we walked through the neighborhood that God has called us to pray and care for, I was impressed with this truth of how He uniquely and strategically places every one of us according to His plan and purpose, with the hope of salvation for the lost. That means that each of us as Christians are in the right place at the right time to be God’s appointed missionaries to our neighborhood.

In this, every one of us has the opportunity to be witness’s in the most fun and practical ways. It’s that friendly conversation over the fence, the meal we bring when there is a sickness or a new baby, its keeping an eye out while your neighbor is on holidays, being the block watch captain, hosting the block Christmas party, and so many other things that are just part of being a good neighbor.  All of this creates relationship and opportunity to share Christ. This is “doing life” ministry.

What if you were to call together other Christians in your area and spend one hour a week praying for your neighbors? What if you encouraged one another in things that would demonstrate the Love of Jesus to them? What if…… you were to work together to do a neighborhood outreach such as a barbeque or a Christmas party, and actually tell them about Jesus??? Well if this thought intrigues you, you can have a peak at how this concept is used to reach new immigrant neighbors at  http://interculturalnetwork.com/resources/open-homes/ under “Open Homes, Open Hearts”.  Over the next few weeks I look forward to sharing some things about how to actually do a home outreach, and maybe even inspire you to think about having one for your neighbors!

Like a farmer plants his field and nurtures it to maturity, you have befriended your neighbors, showed them acts of kindness, and  prayed for them. Is the time ripe to go out and bring in your harvest?

He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 127 (NKJV)

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word. Luke 10:39

 When my children were young I had a little saying that I kept myself mindful of, “Stop, look, and listen, when my children talk to me.”  By practicing this I was able to get a clear understanding of what their need was, as well as leaving them with the sense that they were heard and valued.  The result was better communication, a more peaceful household, and less frustration.

Life is busy, and we very often try to accomplish as many things as we can at one time, challenging our ability to truly focus and do things well. Our prayer and study life can also fall victim to this busyness as we settle for praying on the run, and trying to assimilate the word through listening to teaching while accomplishing other tasks.  Although these are great additions, they do not impact us the same way as those moments that we sit at Jesus feet, leaving everything else to the side, and give Him our full attention.  It was in this quite place of giving Jesus all of her attention that Mary heard the word. Jesus referred to those who “Hear the word” as being the good ground that will bear fruit. 

 May we be more mindful to take the time to sit at Jesus feet and “Stop, Look, and Listen” to hear what He wants to say to us.  We will have a clearer sense of His will and experience more peace.

But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit.” Mark 4:20

 “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.” Acts 7:34 (NKJV)

In Lorne Cunningham’s book, “The Book That Transforms Nations,” he recounts the story of how God answered his question, “Where do we start?” Heavy on his heart was the need to see change in the nations and to see morality and goodness restored. Early one morning the Lord spoke to him: “There are seven areas of society that are like classrooms to disciple nations.” He then received and wrote down family, religion, education, arts/entertainment/sports, media,business/science/technology, and government. The very next day he met up with Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright, who had previously received the very same list from the Lord. Within a few weeks Mr. Cunningham once again heard this list, and this time it came from Dr. Francis Schaeffer, founder of L’Abri Fellowship.

The message was clear and confirmed. God was providing a strategy through which the body of Christ could work to bring change to our nations, by reaching people through the domains of our cities. This is the overriding strategy of Power To Change, and the framework Breakthrough Prayer uses to help you as prayer partners to reach your city. As you identify the domain that reflects your heart and the people you interact with on a daily basis, not only will your common ground make it meaningful and easy to pray for those in your circle of influence, but as you pray for them, God will give you opportunities to share your faith with them in personal and meaningful ways. As each of us becomes engaged in this way in our own communities, the gospel becomes available to people in every domain of the city.  

 So here’s what I want you to do – God helping you; Take your everyday ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going to work and walking around life, and place it before God as an offering. Romans 12:2 (The Message)