I love pastors! They are the key to grow a church deeper in prayer. A good lay prayer leader can have significant influence, but the key to any church’s prayer life is the pastor.

A good prayer leader can help plan a prayer strategy for his or her church, and she or he can play a huge role in equipping, encouraging and implementing to see increased prayer, but the lead pastor is still the key. In my 23 years of prayer ministry I have watched many churches “take off” as they increased their prayer emphasis. In each one, something happened in the heart of the pastor regarding prayer, and he or she started becoming a champion of prayer.

All pastors pray. And most recognize that prayer is a vital key to the work of the Spirit in their church. But making “prayer happen” in the lives of their parishioners and church life is daunting—especially given all the areas of ministry a pastor needs to oversee. So prayer can take a “back seat” in everything that needs to be done.

A Plan to Help Pastors

In September of 2019, the Lord started stirring an idea in me, a strategy to encourage and equip pastors to be prayer champions. This plan involved raising funds to gift a packet of key resources to pastors that would inspire and equip them. I was especially interested in gifting either pastors in a specific location or pastors of smaller churches who did not have a money in their budgets to purchase resources.

But other work kept me busy, so I put it on a back burner. That is until December 31 when two ministry donors (a couple) phoned me and told me the Lord had been moving their hearts to gift pastors in their region and beyond with a packet of prayer resources (and they named the exact resources that I was thinking)! Well, needless to say, I took notice!

After more prayer and further discussion, the first 30 packets were sent out to a region of small-town Arkansas, and the Pastors Prayer Resource Project was born. In the packets were copies of City of Prayer, Forgotten Power, Restored Power, and the “Pray for All the Saints” issue of Prayer Connect magazine, plus letters from the anonymous donor and from me sharing why we want to encourage and equip them.

Our vision is to see thousands of pastors reached with a Pastors Prayer Resource Pack. And you can help! Are there specific pastors God is moving you to reach? We can work with you to get the packets to those pastors you want to encourage. Donate $40 per pastor. Or if you would just like to help fund this project, a donation of any size would help.

To give to the Pastors Resource Project simply use the donate form below or send a check made out to Church Prayer Leaders Network, to:

CPLNP.O. Box 10667Terre Haute, IN 47801.

If you want to fund specific pastors include a list of names and addresses.

Partner with us to help pastors–key individuals in the development of praying churches.

–Jon Graf is the president of the Church Prayer Leaders Network.

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By Pastor Bret Hammond

In the movie, The Green Mile, Tom Hanks’s character is tasked with executing the prisoner, John Coffey. He knows Coffey is innocent and, as he puts it, “one of God’s miracles.” When he asks John Coffey if he understands what’s happening and if he’s ready, Coffey responds:

“I’m tired, boss. Tired of being on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. I’m tired of never having a buddy to be with, to tell me where we’s going to, coming from or why. Mostly, I’m tired of people being ugly to each other. I’m tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world every day. There’s too much of it. It’s like pieces of glass in my head, all the time.”

I recently listened to those lines and wondered, did John Coffey just describe pastoral ministry? Earlier this year, the Barna Institute released statistics on the well-being of pastors since 2020. They found that three out of ten pastors say they are struggling with their emotional well-being, and 26% say they are struggling with their relational well-being. 41% said they had felt sad over the past week, 39% felt panicked, and 51% said they are tired. “I’m tired, boss.” 43% are lonely, “lonely as a sparrow in the rain.”

When pointing to the stresses of their jobs, it’s not their pastoral calling that is causing the stress. Instead, it’s the turmoil in our churches and our nations. In the last two years, pastors had to navigate various opinions about a pandemic, speaking equally into the lives of church members at odds with each other. We’ve had to navigate political turmoil that has pitted Christian against Christian. We’ve had horrible things said to us and about us when we don’t share the opinions of others. “I’m tired of people being ugly to each other. I’m tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world every day.”

In the last year, 42% of pastors have considered quitting the full-time ministry (I’m convinced many of the others aren’t being honest in their response). Go to your church, ask your pastor how they are doing and when they say, “I’m fine,” pull them aside and say, “No, really . . . How are you doing?” Pledge to be a safe person for your pastor. Pray for them, encourage them. The simplest word of encouragement can make all the difference.

The author of Hebrews offers these words as his final prayer. In Hebrews 13:18-21, he writes, “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Let us pray with him:

Father, we pray, as your word calls us to, for our pastors, those who deliver your word to us, care for us in our struggles, share Christ with the lost, and keep watch over our souls. We pray for those who have devoted their lives to your calling above all else. We pray because they are tired and lonely. We pray because we have often asked them to fill our lives, pouring themselves out, and we have not poured ourselves into them. We pray, and we repent.

I pray that we bring them peace when others bring them turmoil. I pray we offer them trusted friendship when others offer gossip and suspicion. I pray that through our encouragement and support, we will allow them to see that the joy they anticipated when they first accepted their call from you is real. Flood their hearts with that joy, Lord. And may the peace we bring to their lives and to our churches be a foretaste of the union we experience with you in heaven. On earth, as it is in heaven, Lord. It’s in Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

Please be a part of the answer to our prayer, by praying regularly for your pastor. (See Below for some guides to use to help you pray for your pastor.)

Bret Hammond is the pastor of Kansas Christian Church in Kansas, IL and the author of From Chaos to Calm: Finding Jesus in Your Storm.

This was originally presented by Pastor Bret when he participated in the Coles County Power of Prayer gathering on September 25th. When asked what he wanted to pray about, he asked, “Can I pray for pastors?” They thought that would be great. This is what Bret shared that night.

Suggested Prayer Guides:

Practical Prayers for Your Pastor by Dan Reiland

Protecting Pastors through Strategic Prayer by Adena Hodges

Prayer and Care for Pastors and Their Families by Kim Butts

A Gift for Your Pastor

Giving Ourselves to Prayer: An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry compiled by Dr. Dan Crawford

Pastors Resource Project — A donation of $40 provides $68 in free prayer resources to a pastor.

By Trey Kent

I pastor Northwest Fellowship, a midsized church in Austin, Texas, that we started in 1993. There’s nothing exceptional about our church or city—except for prayer. Now that we see how a city can be changed by ordinary, humble pastors and Christians who are willing to obey the call of Acts 1:14 to unify around prayer—and to do it unceasingly—our city is being overtaken by the power of prayer. Of course, there’s more to seeing your city changed, but prayer is where it all begins.

John Burke, pastor and bestselling author of Imagine Heaven and No Perfect People Allowed, says: “I’ve been around Austin for 40 years, and I’ve never seen such unity among churches, favor in our city, or impact for the gospel—and I believe this movement of unceasing prayer undergirds it all.”

The Austin story, comprised of normal people, normal pastors, normal churches—and an extraordinary God—is a 10-year history of God’s grace through prayer. This is not a fad or a short-lived movement. Jesus is awakening His House of Prayer—the Church—in this hour. Here in Austin, we just experienced a decade of unceasing prayer that has forever changed my life, our family, our church, my ministry, and our city. We will never be the same.

The Unceasing Prayer Movement, a local church-based strategy, is spreading to cities and nations across the earth. Why? Because it is Jesus’ heart. It is so simple and attainable. If your church sees Jesus as the answer to your city’s problems, prayer can bring real and effective change.

These are the most exciting days to be alive! Our dream is to see Austin, Texas, become the most prayed-for city in America! It’s also our dream that your city is transformed by unceasing prayer. It is so doable.

 

THE AUSTIN STORY

My part in this historic, decade-long prayer journey began with God speaking to me under a light pole in Austin, Texas, and culminated with confirmation during a night of worship and prayer in an upper room in Jerusalem, Israel. On February 18, 2008, my wife, Mary Anne, and I paused under that light pole while prayerwalking our neighborhood. In that moment, God spoke to me clearly about His desire for Austin to be covered in 24/7 prayer by area churches. I know it was God because I had never had such a thought. It landed with undeniable fire. It was a simple idea: 31 churches covering the city in 24/7 prayer with each church adopting one 24-hour day of prayer every month of the year.

That was it. It was a simple, reproducible, unifying, Jesus-exalting, God-sent idea to mobilize each church in Austin to be a praying church. After receiving this vision, I wondered about Scriptural support for the idea. Immediately I thought of 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” I learned very quickly that no one person can pray without ceasing on his or her own; we need each other to pray 24/7. Through this mutual support, I believe every church in American can be a praying church.

We are thrilled to see God moving in unprecedented ways in our city. Austin has been covered in 24/7, unceasing prayer by area churches for more than 10 years. We have about 100 churches in the greater Austin area who have adopted one day of prayer for our city every month. We host quarterly prayer meetings that have hundreds and sometimes thousands of believers across denominational lines meeting together to worship, pray, unify, and cry out for Jesus to change our city. We have Caucasian, Hispanic, African-American, and Asian churches united in a prayer movement that has brought true unity to a once openly divided city. We have yet to “arrive,” but our city is more unified and transformed than I’ve seen it in the 25 years I’ve lived and pastored in Austin.

The vision for unceasing prayer in your city begins with a pastor or pastors. This was a shocking thought for our city. Very few pastors were leading their churches to be praying churches for the city. Most pastors didn’t see themselves as the key to a movement of prayer. Often, pastors delegate prayer to intercessors, prayer teams, and other prayer-driven ministries. Yet, this movement of prayer begins and ends with local church pastors who are the key to raising up and maintaining praying churches that will literally transform our cities.

Most pastors begin by mobilizing 24 people to adopt one hour of prayer, thus covering a full day of prayer. It’s the beauty of this simple prayer model! Every church, large or small, can adopt a half or a full day of prayer. This allows pastors to highlight the vital importance of prayer at least once a month and to continue the process of building a culture of prayer in their churches.

 

OVERCOMING SKEPTICISM

At our first Unceasing Prayer Pastors Luncheon in 2008, we cast the vision for pastors and churches to adopt a day of prayer for our city in the coming year. Rick Randall, the pastor at Austin Cornerstone Church, stood up and said, “I don’t think every church is to be a praying church like this, and I don’t believe we are all gifted to be intercessors.”

It was not one of our best moments in spreading the vision. We recovered from the comment and got at least a dozen churches to adopt a day. As Randall was leaving the meeting, his dear friend Pastor Geno Hildebrandt of Hope Chapel said he “guilted” Randall into involvement by suggesting, “Why don’t you adopt 12 hours, a halfday of prayer, and we will adopt the other 12 hours. We will split our day of prayer.” Randall begrudgingly agreed—and then the miracle began. As he led his church to pray for our city that half day a month, God began to ignite his heart and the church’s heart!

Pastor Randall’s story doesn’t end there. He began leading his church in adopting a full day of prayer every month, but he also called his church to an even more radical pursuit of God. One day he called me and invited me to attend 24 hours of prayer at his church.

I wasn’t sure what he meant because it didn’t seem any different from our normal strategy. He patiently explained that his church had a slightly different plan. They invited their entire congregation to come to the building to pray together for 24 straight hours. No one was going to leave!

I went to that historic prayer gathering. Fifty-five of us stayed and prayed non-stop together for 24 hours. It not only changed me but revealed clearly what God can do with a resistant pastor who simply adopts a day of prayer for the city. Randall led his church through nine months of intense prayer. They had prayer meetings morning, noon, and night, praying for the lost to be saved and for believers to be salt and light. At the end of the nine-month season, around 300 people had come to Christ. The power of prayer was on display!

Pastor Randall joined our newly formed Unceasing Prayer Leadership Team in 2011. He is now spreading a passion for prayer into once untouched areas of the city of Austin. He is the senior chaplain for the Austin Police Department and is helping to bring unprecedented change as he serves our city and city leaders.

This is critically important, because right now, in your city, there are pastors who are prepared to lead their churches in 24/7 prayer for spiritual awakening. The goal is full-on revival for the city, driven by men and women who have laid down their agendas to unify for a greater move of God citywide. We don’t believe the adage that “prayer is for some churches but not for others.” We believe that when Jesus called His Church a house of prayer for all nations, He meant every church.

_______________________________________________

Order City of Prayer by Trey Kent and Kie Bowman

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THE REST OF THE TEAM

Let me introduce you to the other five team members who joined Randall and me to lead the Unceasing Prayer Movement in Austin.

David Smith, the executive director of the Austin Baptist Association, joined us in 2011, and the three of us formed the nucleus of the original Unceasing Prayer Leadership Team. Dr. Smith serves 200 Southern Baptist churches in the area, and is a key unifier, team player, and powerful agent to spread the vision for unceasing prayer, both locally and beyond. He says this about his involvement:

The Unceasing Prayer Ministry in Austin that God birthed over 10 years ago has been one of the highlights of my ministry here as the executive director of the Austin Baptist Association. As associational director, I am tasked with casting a vision for our association of churches that can only come about as we work together. In the case of unceasing prayer, it can’t be accomplished as one church or even as one denomination.

It requires the Body of Christ to come together. Unceasing prayer is essential to the vitality of our relationship to the Lord and our ability to function in this world. Unceasing prayer is that continually ascending prayer that sees every aspect of life as an opportunity to commune with God.

Will Davis, senior pastor of Austin Christian Fellowship, leads six church campuses and has written extensively on prayer. Davis joined our team in 2014, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in prayer. He is a lifelong Austinite whose father has a significant legacy in the city through law and politics. Pastor Davis brings a relational equity in our city second to none. At a recent prayer gathering for leaders, Davis said, “PBS just did a documentary on Austin featuring South by Southwest and how Austin became weird. They missed that the real story of our city is how Austin became the most prayed-for city in America and how a new generation of leaders are rising up to change our city.”

Kie Bowman, a national Southern Baptist leader and pastor of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, joined the Unceasing Prayer team in 2014 when our city water source was at a historic low. You will read the full story later, but this crisis caused pastors to come together to host a citywide prayer meeting at Hyde Park Baptist. One thousand area believers gathered and cried out all evening for rain and revival.

Dr. Bowman not only hosted the prayer meeting, but became a key player in spreading a passion for God through personal prayer, prayer meetings, and writing numerous books equipping believers to become more fruitful disciples. Bowman’s passion for prayer and the prayer movement is unprecedented. He’s also the co-author of this book.

Abraham Perez joined the Unceasing Prayer team in 2014. He is a national Hispanic leader who pastors Reconciliation Church in Austin, and equips pastors through his Healthy Pastors Grow ministry. Pastor Perez has done more to mobilize area Hispanic pastors toward unity and prayer than any other leader in our city. His church is serious about prayer; they have maintained two hours of corporate prayer, seven days a week for 12 years, and counting.

According to Perez, “Unceasing prayer has been the vehicle to unify pastors and churches in our city to intercede for revival. The movement has brought unity to many pastors who were isolated and doing church all by themselves. We have become a body and a team to intercede for our city.”

Jordan Mkwanazi, originally from Zimbabwe, is the senior pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) in downtown Austin. He’s a seasoned pastor with a deep heart for God and His people. We met Mkwanazi shortly after the tragic Charleston, South Carolina, church shooting in 2015. After the death of nine African American believers who were attending a Bible study at Emmanuel AME Church, we were compelled to hold a prayer meeting in Austin at the exact time of the shooting one week after the murders occurred. Pastor Mkwanazi graciously hosted our prayer meeting. With only a few days’ notice, hundreds of area believers stood in solidarity to pray, unify, and worship Jesus together. This overflow crowd was a sign and a wonder to our city.

Shortly after this event, Mkwanazi joined our team. He is doing a phenomenal job leading his church to build a culture of prayer. He explains their journey: “Metropolitan AME Church has shifted towards becoming a church that embraces a culture of prayer. We have moved from Wednesday night prayer meetings to overnight prayer gatherings, to having every Monday morning intercessory prayer. Prayer has become the center stage of our ministry. We are evolving as a church into fearless, bold, and committed prayer warriors.”

 

AN UNREALIZED OPPORTUNITY

The list of Austin area pastors who have helped us pray more than 87,600 nonstop hours (24/7 for 10 years) for our city is literally in the hundreds! They include Bible churches, Methodist, non-denominational, Assembly of God, Southern Baptist, and on and on—all committed to Jesus transforming our city through praying for unity according to John 17 and revival in keeping with 2 Chronicles 7:14: “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

In September 2017, Pastor Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle returned to Austin for a second time to lead pastors in a day of training and prayer. The day before the event, our Unceasing Prayer team, under Kie Bowman’s leadership, invited national and citywide prayer leaders to attend a one-day round table discussing the prayer movement across America. We were blessed to have Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church and president of the National Day of Prayer; Dave Butts, chairman of the National Prayer Committee; and other key prayer leaders across America join us. It was an extraordinary time.

As I reflect on the event, one key message consistently rang true as leaders spoke: This is the season for senior pastors nationwide to rise up and lead their churches to become praying churches. This, we all agree, is not only the missing link but is the astounding opportunity awaiting us in our great land!

Praying pastors who establish their churches as houses of prayer are leading the greatest army ever mobilized in world-history—the local church.

–TREY KENT was intrumental in launching the Unceasing Prayer Movement in Austin. This is taken from his book City of Prayer, which he co-authored with Kie Bowman. City of Prayer is available with multiple copy discounts at prayershop.org. It needs to be in the hands of every pastor, prayer leader and believer who desire to see their city transformed by the power of God!

By Phil Miglioratti

I ’ve lost count of how many times an intercessor has spoken to me about the lack of interest or cooperation from his or her pastor in building a prayer culture throughout their congregation. And I have had too many conversations with pastors regarding the unpredictability of a prayer leader in a church.

These situations, no doubt, explain why “Let the Healing Begin” is the opening chapter of Eddie and Alice Smith’s groundbreaking book, Intercessors and Pastors: The Emerging Partnership of Watchmen and Gatekeepers. They recognize that “the relationship of respect, effective communication, and meaningful partnership of the watchmen and the gatekeepers must be restored if the church is to regain her spiritual integrity, glorify Christ, and demolish the gates of hell” (p. 8).

More than a decade later, sadly, the work of restoring this crucial ministry relationship is far from complete. The following four realities continue to compromise upward-reaching, life-giving, forward-moving prayer in the Church.

Reality #1. Satan hates unity.

God’s enemy knows that the unity of the Church powerfully demonstrates to lost people that God loves them and sent Jesus to show His love (John 17:23). So Satan is eager to steal our attention from prayer, kill the voice of the Spirit heard only in intercession, and destroy hope-filled praying (John 10:10). We play into the enemy’s hands when we wrestle with our flesh-and-blood brothers and sisters in Christ (Eph. 6:12).

Reality #2. Some pastors are insecure.

Not every pastor is eager to break tradition or try new approaches to ministry. Some assume the ritual or routine they learned is the only theologically correct way to speak with God. Others have a need to be in control. So delegating a ministry or relinquishing responsibility is disconcerting, especially when it allows the Holy Spirit greater freedom in shaping the direction and style of praying across the congregation. And, sadly, some pastors have ineffective prayer lives and are therefore weak when it comes to leading church members into “upward-outward-forward” prayer.

Reality #3. Some intercessors are peculiar.

Peculiar is not a derogatory term; I use it to assert that many individuals—gifted or called into a ministry of intercession—have a personality very different from that of an organizational leader. They are attuned to times of quiet and introspection, with high sensitivity to hearing from the Lord. This can intimidate a pastoral leader. Sadly, intercessors can confuse hearing from the Lord with having authority from the Lord to issue “prophecies” without submitting them to pastoral protocol.

Reality #4. Trust is a delicate thing.

Relationships require TLC (truthful, loving communication, Eph. 4:15). Making the pastor-intercessor relationship even more challenging is the reality that many intercessors are female and most pastors are male. Protecting the partnership with appropriate and safe boundaries can also create distance and hinder personal or intimate communication.

Working Toward Partnership

The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 4:2, provides a good start for working together effectively: “I entreat and advise Euodia and I entreat and advise Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord” (amp). Both names appear to be feminine but the first half of each name is instructive: euo means “good”; syn means “together.” Applying this principle also to pastors and intercessors, they are exhorted to agree, urged to work together because, as one translation says, “you belong to the Lord” (nlt).

Pastors need to remember their responsibility: “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph. 4:12). Teaching people to pray and training those who are most gifted to lead meetings or ministries of prayer are direct applications of that instruction.

Intercessors need to remember that in many situations, their role is to be nearly invisible because humility is the primary component of a life God blesses. God opposes the prayers of the proud but responds graciously to humble pray-ers who seek only to lift up Christ and not themselves (1 Peter 5:5).

We all need to remember a key role of the designated prayer leader. He or she has the opportunity to interpret the style and substance of the intercessor’s messages to the pastor and to help intercessors see that their pastor not only believes in prayer but values it in all phases of the congregation’s ministry.

The Apostle Paul speaks to a pastor, Timothy, with an urgency to make prayer a priority (1 Tim. 2:1). It is incumbent upon every pastor, all intercessors, and each prayer leader to make sure nothing stands in the way—so that every person, every program, and every plan is birthed and bathed in prayer.

PHIL MIGLIORATTI is COO of the Mission America Coalition and national coordinator of Loving Our Communities to Christ (missionamerica.org).

(C) 2013 Prayer Connect magazine.

 

By Adena Hodges

 

In the 1990s, one of the regions in a very dark part of Kenya, Africa, was known as the graveyard of pastors and missionaries. It seemed that no work of God could be established there.

But a pastor with a team of intercessors was determined to see God’s Kingdom advance. They tried many prayer and worship methods but still experienced considerable opposition. Then, in desperation, the pastor asked each of his intercessors to take a day of the week to fast and pray for him and the ministry.

In the beginning there was a measure of breakthrough. However, one by one, the intercessors were “picked off” through sickness or accidents. Realizing the vulnerability of the intercessors as they fasted and prayed for their leader, the pastor then asked two intercessors to cover the intercessor assigned to pray for the pastor on each day.

When they began to do this, breakthrough happened! Today, there are many churches and a Bible college in this region (source: compilation by Beni Johnson, Prayer Changes Things, chapter 9).

The Power of Strategy

This simple prayer strategy changed everything! It was not complex, but it significantly turned around the thwarted attempts to advance God’s Kingdom.

Without strategy, battles are lost, businesses fail, and people walk aimlessly through life. We cannot afford to be isolated on the battlefield of prayer. God wants us to learn to understand one another’s gifts, callings, and assignments as we fight strategically side by side.

Picture intercessors like the military. Each branch (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard) has specific roles and assignments. As intercessors learn to appreciate each other’s differences, operate in their strengths, and pray strategically, we’ll see much greater advances for the Kingdom of God.

Seal Teams in Prayer

While we need everyone to be engaged in prayer for our churches, pastors, and leaders, a specific type of prayer team can come around the pastor—much like the teamwork of U.S. Navy SEALs. These “special ops” team members perform a strategic role in assisting the pastor by providing additional spiritual coverage and protection.

Using the simple model from the example of the pastor and his intercessors in Kenya, my church implemented the idea of Seal Teams. The Seal Teams not only fast and pray for the pastor, but they also cover each other in prayer. When it is one intercessor’s turn to fast and pray for the pastor, the people assigned to the days before and afterward also pray for that intercessor.

Since implementing this model in our church in 2011, we’ve seen incredible breakthroughs. It is amazing to see major obstacles removed and lives changed.

Our Seal Teams found other benefits we hadn’t anticipated. Too often breaches between pastors and intercessors can divide ministries and decrease their effectiveness. Often a pastor may be willing for intercessors to pray off in a corner or back room but might have difficulty working directly with them. In our church, these special, dedicated Seal Teams, however, helped form bonds between the pastor and the intercessors that produced spiritual fruit.

In addition, a culture of prayer developed as the teams learned to pray for one another. You can’t pray for someone regularly without coming to love and appreciate him or her in new ways.

Prayer Points for Leaders

As you develop Seal Teams, here are some common prayer points to encourage intercessors to pray in agreement

• Pray for a strengthening of your pastor’s “inner man.” Paul tells the Ephesians that he is praying that they will be “strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16, NASB).
• Pray for effective team leadership. Ask God to surround your pastor with trusted, faithful leaders and intercessors to help fulfill the calling on his or her life.
• Pray for courage for your pastors so they will ask for help when needed. Most pastors feel they can’t trust anyone with the battles and struggles they are going through. This isolates them and keeps them from sharing their difficulties until sometimes it’s too late.
• Pray for seasons of rest. Pastoring is one of the most difficult jobs around. It’s often 24/7 with little reward or compensation. Encourage your pastor to get away for times of rest and refreshment.

For more information or training, go to intercessorsworkshop.com.

ADENA HODGES and her husband Gil are co-directors of the Kingdom Equipping Center in Roseville, CA. She is also the author of two books and writes a weekly blog at 1000waystopray.com.

Dear Friend of Church Prayer Leaders Network:

May the Lord bless you this Christmas season! We are so honored to have been able to minister to you this past year! 2024 has been a year of change at CPLN and Prayer Connect. While some of it is painful—i.e., the announcement that our January 2025 issue would be the last issue of Prayer Connect as a magazine—the Lord is in it all, transitioning us toward new ways of growing prayer in churches and the lives of individuals. Here are three transitions we are making in 2025:

First Prayer Connect will continue, but as an email blog rather than a 32-page magazine. It will still inspire, equip and challenge believers, prayer leaders and churches toward deeper levels of prayer. We will now deliver content twice a month rather than once every 3 months.

Second, we will continue to grow a younger audience. God is at work among GenZs in America. We want to minister to that wave of Awakening and Revival! Our newest book, The Praying Youth Ministry is an example of our increased focus toward this younger audience. The blog we have run the past year, “Prayer Hacks” is another.

Third, while we will continue equipping prayer leaders in local churches, we will increase our reach to pastors. A new blog, “The Praying Pastor” will launch in January. This will have both content on the personal prayer life of a pastor and on how to grow prayer in their church. Its unique feature is that it will be specifically for pastors, written by pastors. Currently Dr. Kie Bowman, Dr. Dave Earley, Rev. Dana Olson, Rev. Richard LaFountain and Rev. Tom Swank are on board to write regularly for this blog. All have years of experience pastoring praying churches and mentoring other pastors in prayer!

We are excited at what God has laid before us! Would you join us in this excitement by praying for us, by continuing to support us through reading our emails, purchasing our resources,  . . .

and by considering a gift to help us through these transitions. We estimate that we need about $15,000 to help us cover all the transitioning costs and setting up our new content delivery systems.

Partnering with us with a gift will both enable us to finish the year strong financially and increase our reach of ministering prayer into churches and the lives of everyday believers. These days we need a growing army of believers who step up as intercessors for our churches, communities, nation, and world. A financial gift of any size to Church Prayer Leaders Network will help expand the reach of these valuable resources and help churches disciple their people into deeper levels of prayer!

Please use the enclosed envelope to send a check (made out to Church Prayer Leaders Network), or go to prayerleader.com/donate to give online. Would you consider making your gift monthly?

Thanks again for your prayers and your generosity in giving. We believe God will enable us to continue to minister through our resources and online for years to come.

Toward a Prayed for Church,

Jonathan Graf

President, Church Prayer Leaders Network

 

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A Biblical Prayer Guide to Reach the Lost

By Trey and Mary Anne Kent

 

If you understand God’s heart for your city, you will pray more strategically, effectively, and compassionately. And when you pray God’s Word over your city, your prayers are filled with power, hope, and vision to see the lost in your city transformed by the gospel.

Here are three themes of biblical insights and prayers that you can use to plead with God for a move of His Spirit and a spiritual harvest among those who desperately need Jesus.

Cry Out for a Heart to See the Lost Saved

The apostle Paul writes of his longing for others to know the salvation power of Jesus:

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for [them] is that they may be saved (Rom. 10:1).

The prayer of World Vision’s founder Bob Pierce has been rightfully and often repeated: “Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.”

Injustice, illness, poverty, and devastation are in the news and on our minds every day. We know that Jesus’ heart is tender to all the burdens we bear, but nothing moves His heart like the lostness that is found in a soul that is separated from Him.

Every problem that steals our sleep and wrestles peace from our minds is temporary. Someday, there will be no more sickness, violence, hatred, or lack. Everything will be made right in the eternal Kingdom of God. All will be well for those who are forever in the heart and arms of Jesus. But for those who have not given their lives to Jesus, all will be lost. To live and die without Christ is to face the only permanent loss known to man.

Do we understand that every face we see in the grocery store, every footstep we hear coming down the hall, and every life we encounter has a destiny that will either lead to eternity with Jesus or a never-ending separation from His life and love?

God’s greatest desire is that all the world would know His Son and be found safe for eternity in Him. Let’s ask Jesus to put His heart of compassion within us and move our hearts to pray and work for the salvation of many.

Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins and the sins of the world. I repent for my lack of compassion and urgency to see the lost saved. Forgive me for apathy and short-sightedness. Cleanse me of all selfishness and arrogance. I ask You, Father, to change my heart and make it break for what breaks Your heart. I ask You to give me a heart of compassion and a will to witness in every way possible. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your presence and anoint me with Your words so that I may witness passionately and continually for You. Give me a heart to pray and not give up until Your will is done in bringing many to righteousness.

 

Prayer Points

• Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to show you happenings, activities, and attitudes in your city that break His heart. Ask God to give you His compassion for people who are affected by the sin and lostness of your community.
• Ask Jesus to show you where you have been apathetic and negligent in praying for and witnessing to the lost in your community. Repent of specific areas and situations where you have chosen to ignore the call to share Him with others.
• Submit your heart and mind to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to give you a list of people for whom you will pray and with whom you will share.
• Take the list you have made and commit to pray for them daily and look for opportunities to share the love of God with them.

 

Seek God to Remove the Blinders

We can only explain the resistance of unbelievers to the hope of Christ by their spiritual blindness through the schemes of the enemy of their souls.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4–6).

 

The spiritual warfare for the souls of men, women, and children is raging before our very eyes. May we not be ignorant of the enemy’s schemes to deceive and destroy the lives of those we seek to reach for Christ. Being aware of the spiritual forces that are waging war all around us is half the battle. The other half is diligently fighting the good fight through prayer and evangelism.

Let’s seek God for His infinite power to see the lost freed to see the glory of Jesus.

Father, today I seek Your face, asking that You would awaken me to the spiritual war that rages all around me. Focus me on the greater power, influence, and victory that is already won through Jesus Christ my Lord. Free me not only to recognize the spiritual battles, but to be mobilized in prevailing prayer and victorious outreach toward those in the clutches of Satan’s lies and deception.

Today, Father, I cry out for those I love and for those in my neighborhood and workplace to be freed from the blinders that our ancient foe has used to keep them trapped in a lost state of hell-bound ignorance. Use me and Your people to proclaim Jesus Christ today. Remove my self-centered focus as I lift up the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Open the eyes of the lost to see the glory of God in the face of Christ.

        Jesus, You asked that we would see Your glory. Today, I ask that You answer that prayer by removing blinders of deception that plague those with whom I interact with daily. Show Your glory today by freeing the lost from a spiritual blindness that can only be healed by You. Show them the joy, beauty, power, awe, and love that are in You and You alone!

 

Prayer Points

• Thank God that He is greater than all, including all the forces of the enemy.
• Ask God to remove the spiritual blinders for specific people in your world.
• Seek God for open doors to share the gospel, which has the power to deliver.
• Intercede for believers to preach Christ, not ourselves.
• Trust God that He will reveal His glory to the lost today.

 

Cry Out for the Lost to Be Saved in Large Numbers

When the power of the Spirit is at work, people realize their sin and their need for a Savior.

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:37–41).

 

Every Sunday in America, some 400,000 congregations gather while the good news of Jesus Christ is preached. What would happen if every pastor had a prayer team that prayed while the preacher preached? Charles Spurgeon said the power of his sermons were attributed to the several hundred deacons who prayed in the church basement while he preached the Word of God powerfully.

Let’s cry out today for those who preach the gospel to many people in your church and community, whether they be pastors or rank-and-file believers.

Father, I cry out today for the Word to go forth in power as I read about in the Book of Acts. May conviction come with such power that those who hear it ask, “What must I do to be saved?” I pray for my pastor and for area pastors to raise up a mighty praying people who pray while the preacher preaches. Let me be one of these prayer warriors. I ask for all believers to be empowered to share Jesus boldly and to see the lost repent, be saved, and baptized.

Holy Spirit, fill Your people to overflowing. May we be salt and light. Use me today to share Jesus clearly with one person. I pray now that he or she will be receptive to hear Your Word. I ask that this year our community will see a greater number of people saved and discipled than we’ve seen in our history. Do a fresh, new, Holy Spirit-empowered work. Bring a great awakening to our community so that we can have a “before-and-after” perspective of Your mighty work. We are eager to see a powerful move of God.

Prayer Points

• Pray for churches and pastors (by name) to preach powerfully the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Ask God for specific believers to be mighty evangelists.
• Seek God for a great awakening in your community. 

As evangelist and revivalist Leonard Ravenhill (1907–1994) stated, “If the Lord tarries and there is no revival of pure Christianity, then the next span of years will be the worst history has ever recorded.”

Let’s pray that our prayers for the lost will ignite the greatest revival our nation has ever known!

TREY AND MARY ANNE KENT is senior pastor of Northwest Fellowship in Austin, TX. He and his wife Mary Anne are founders of a movement of more than 100 praying churches in Austin. This prayer guide is adapted from Praying God’s Word Over Your City, available at prayershop.org.

The Prayer of a Desperate Mother

Matthew 15:25

No one on earth has the power to break your heart like your own child. Seeing them hurt and watching them struggle is a gut-wrenching, soul-shaking experience. You feel their pain. They have the power in a split second to bring tears to your eyes. When they make you proud, joy explodes in your heart that cannot be contained. When they disappoint you, it is like a knife jabbed deep into your heart. When they are treated unjustly, righteous indignation overwhelms your common sense. And when they hurt, you would do anything you could to take their place.

Cathy and I have three adult sons. From the hospital to the awards banquet to the church platform, to the police station, to the prom, to the emergency room, to the courtroom, to the ICU, Cathy and I have ridden the emotional roller coaster of parenting. We have cried, laughed, prayed, worried, lost sleep, and made more sacrifices as a parent than in any other role in our lives. Yet today they all love Jesus and their families and serve the Lord.

Among the many prayers I pray as a dad have been “Give me wisdom,” “Give me success,” and “Strengthen my hands.” I have asked God to protect my children, bless them, grow them, and use them. But as parents sometimes the need is greater than our resources.

In Matthew 15, we find the very special prayer that is the cry of a desperate parent. As Jesus was resting from His heavy schedule in a non-Jewish region east of the Mediterranean Sea, He encountered a desperate mom.

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession” Matthew 15:22

There is much we don’t fully understand about demonization. We do know that it has ugly, physical results and emotional expressions. We recognize that those dominated by the evil one are in extreme pain. We see that while human medicines may relieve symptoms, they are ineffective to produce lasting cures. We can appreciate the challenge that modern psychology faces in adequately understanding, explaining, or dealing with such a curse.

Most of all, we can confidently affirm that it was overwhelming to this mother to see her daughter experience such anguish of the soul. But when this mother cried out to Jesus for mercy, He did not answer.

“Jesus did not answer a word.” Matthew 15:23

As a follower of Jesus, I find it most difficult to deal with the unexplained silences of God. You have been there. You have a legitimate need. You have come to the right source for help. You ask for mercy, but all you get in response is the thundering silence of God. Most people would quit at this point.

This woman, a Canaanite, was used to the unresponsiveness of her gods. This was not new to her. She could have easily marked Jesus down as just as uncaring or impotent.

But she didn’t.

“So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’” Matthew 15:23

Still, she badgered them for help. She kept coming for relief. Her pain was greater than her pride. After she persisted, Jesus answered.

“He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’” Matthew 15:24

Thanks a lot! He didn’t even speak directly to her. He made this comment to His disciples. It was not what she wanted to hear.

She knew that she had no right to ask a Jewish man to help her. She knew that she had no basis for expecting Him to respond. But she had heard that He was mighty and compassionate. And she was desperate. So she pressed the issue ahead.

“The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said.” Matthew 15:25

Lord, help me.

What a simple prayer! “Lord, help me.” What a powerful prayer!

With all of her faith, all of her emotions, and all of her love for her daughter, she prayed. The weight of her need, every ounce of her hurt, and the totality of her helplessness were embodied in those three little words, “Lord, help me.”

What do you say when you have nothing else to say? What words can better express the burden of the brokenhearted parent? “Lord, help me.”

What is your pressure point of pain today? What about your child’s situation is overwhelming you? What burden is completely beyond your control? Where do you need help?

“Lord, help me.” Say the words slowly. See the suffering soul of your beloved child. See your own empty hands. See the all-sufficient Savior. Bow before Him and speak your heart.
Jesus was moved to act on her behalf.

“He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.’
‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:26–28

Read verse 28 again. First, Jesus commends her faith. Then He promises that her request is granted. Her little prayer had produced a big answer, and her daughter was healed.

Making It Personal

What can we learn from this desperate mom?

Prayer needs all the faith we have.

Jesus said, “Woman, you have great faith!” A look back through this passage gives us some insights into the type of faith she displayed. As a Canaanite, non-Jew, and not yet a devoted follower of Jesus, she had great faith. Her faith was great for the little amount of truth and light she had been given. She had not had the privilege of growing up hearing about the powerful love of the God of the Bible. This was a new venture for her. She had to turn from pagan deities in order to trust in Jesus to help her. She was way out of her comfort zone. Coming to Jesus, persistently asking and not giving up until she was helped, took all of the faith she had.

1. Prayer needs faith that refuses to quit. We don’t fully understand the ways of God. We do know that sometimes God holds off answers in order to allow our faith to blossom fully. This desperate mother did not give up, even when she initially got no answer. She did not quit asking until the disciples again asked Jesus to do something. She continued asking even after He said “No.” Her love for her daughter and her confidence in Jesus’ ability to heal would not let her give up.
2. Prayer needs faith that is humbly dependent. Her faith was great because it was not based on her sense of worth but on her conviction that Jesus must eventually respond to those in need. If a master would give crumbs to dogs, then Jesus must surely answer the prayer of a Canaanite.
3. Prayer works.

Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:28

Her prayer worked. God heard her heart, saw persistent faith, honored her humble dependence, and touched her daughter. I can only imagine the joy that exploded in her heart. I bet she danced all the way home. She probably had a huge smile on her face for years to come.

It is a wonderful thing when God answers the prayers of desperate parents. And all parents get desperate at one time or another. Among many painful concerns, we wonder if they are well physically, who they are involved with, what college they will choose, or will choose them, and what career they will pursue.

Desperation takes over when children begin to take the path of prodigal living. One of my good friends and a fantastic worship leader, Andy Bullard, is the son of a dear pastor and his wife. In college, Andy went through a period of prodigal living. This is his story of how his father’s love and prayer helped him realize that living for God is the only way.

I grew up in a pastor’s home. My parents loved God with all their hearts and were great parents! During the last two years of high school and the first two years of college, I slowly fell into a bad lifestyle of ignoring the Holy Spirit’s conviction in my heart. I chose to get heavily involved with alcohol and partying.
One lonely night when I was twenty years old, I had been drinking and hanging out at a party. Someone came in and told me my dad was outside. It was about 2 a.m. I immediately felt this huge lump in my throat, and I walked outside. Ashamed, I approached my father, who calmly looked at me and said, “Son, the Holy Spirit woke me up a little while ago and I felt Him telling me to go take a drive. He told me, ‘Your son is in trouble and needs you.’ That’s how I found you here. Andy, I believe God has a plan and design for your life and wants to use you for His glory, but if you keep on living like this, you’re going to miss out on all of it. I love you—I’ll see you at home.”

That same weekend I was on my face before God, weeping and repenting for the way I had been living. I felt so dirty inside and decided, from that moment on, I would acknowledge God’s greatness. I would fear Him and let Him change my life. By God’s glory, I have not lived that kind of lifestyle since then. I know that God used my father and my mother and their prayers, love, and loving rebuke to draw me back to the Lord! I am so thankful for honest, praying and loving parents! 1

I recently spoke at a missionary training conference and had a wonderful time of fellowship with these pioneer servants of God. A mom who had heard me speak in previous years stopped me after my second day of teaching. The year before, she had told me of the difficult transition her children were having upon returning to the States from the mission field.

Then she said, “The first time we heard you speak, we were convicted to fast and pray for our children one day a week. But we did not do it. They had a very frustrating year that year. The next year we made a commitment to fast and pray for them one day a week. My husband and I would pray together over lunch. It was not easy,” she said, pausing, with tears welling up in her eyes, “but it sure made a difference.”
God loves our kids because He is their Father. He wants to give us all the help He can in raising them.

As I write this, my three teenage sons are all in high school at the same time. None of them is a shrinking violet or wallflower. They all seem to be gifted at getting themselves in a variety of complex situations. Like all pastors’ kids and second- or third-generation Christians, they struggle to find their own faith relationship with God. As very human young men, they are not immune to temptation, trials, or troubles. Parenting three teenagers, while often a great deal of fun, is also very challenging. Parenting “just ain’t easy.” Almost daily I pray the prayer of the desperate woman, “Lord, help me.”

If you are a parent, this chapter has probably resonated with you on several levels. Learn to pray the prayer of the desperate mother for her daughter, “Lord, help me.” If you do not yet have children, begin now to pray for the children that you may have in your future. Ask God to help you. Or pray for your nieces and nephews. Ask God to help them and their parents.

If you are past the point of having children, that’s all right. Pray for Cathy, me, and our three boys. We need all the prayer we can get.

Notes

1. Used by permission of Andy Bullard.

–Dr. Dave Earley from The 21 Most Effective Prayers in the Bible (PrayerShop Publishing 2023). Hundreds of churches and thousands of believers will be using this book as they pray through The 21 Days of Prayer Event, January 1-21, 2024. We encourage you to join them.

Practical Prayers for Others

By Kim Butts

Grateful tears fell around the room as spouses hugged one another, friends embraced, and even those who didn’t know each other well reacted with a surprising depth of emotion. The simple act of praying a blessing from Scripture for one another touched hearts at deep levels.

I had given each person a list of blessings and then divided them into groups of two. I instructed them to place a hand on the shoulder of their prayer partner and pray a blessing over him or her. I demonstrated with a volunteer using 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24:

“Elizabeth, may God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”

Power of Scriptural Blessings

I often teach the practice of the power of blessing prayer from God’s Word. And gauging from the responses, it seems this practice is retained and used more than almost any other prayer topic I teach. Why would this be?

Consider what we know about how Scripture touches hearts. His Word is His will. It is truth. It is powerful and it heals. It strengthens and encourages. It never returns void. It is filled with promises for the children of God—and it is filled with blessings. Here are just a few things the Word of God has to say about how God blesses His children:

• “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
• “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11).
• “We have all benefited from the rich blessings [Jesus] brought to us—blessing upon blessing heaped upon us!” (John 1:16, TLB).

Imagine taking the Word of God and praying it as a blessing into the lives of your spouse, children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends, pastors, leaders, teachers, and even people you barely know or have never met. Imagine these truths prayed over you, knowing the blessing of God Himself is impacting your life.

God blesses us abundantly, and so we know it is His desire that we also bless others. We read in 1 Peter 4:10 (TLB), “God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.” And Proverbs 11:25 (msg) says, “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed. . . .”

Let me share some of the many ways you can bless others with the Word of God and why it is so powerful. As I share these stories, may you be captivated enough to step out in faith to bless others.

Blessing Children

I first discovered the amazing power of praying scriptural blessings as a young mother. My then two-year-old son David was lying on the floor, looking up at me after a diaper change. Suddenly, I felt compelled by the Spirit to pray the Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6:24–26 over him. I simply placed my hand on his head and said, “David, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and give you peace.” It was a bit modified, but what I thought a two-year old could handle. Short and sweet.

I continued this habit every night before bed as the last thing between us before the light went out. One night, when he was four, he put his little hand on my head and blessed me back! And the night before his wedding, he came into our dark bedroom, whispered my name to see if I was awake—and then knelt by the bed, asking for his blessing one last time while living under our roof.

Even after telling this story many times, I still tear up. As his mama, it blessed me greatly to know that this simple act was so meaningful to him as a young man.

A Canopy of Blessing

Several years ago, our family visited a large Messianic congregation in Texas. During the service, I was especially touched by a powerful practice between the men and the children. The rabbi called the children to the front—and what followed was extraordinary and something I have challenged congregations to do ever since.

Many of the men, I am assuming elders in the church, came forward and surrounded the children, spreading their prayer shawls over their heads to create a canopy. We then listened to a time of these men praying and singing blessings over the children in both English and Hebrew for probably five minutes or so. We sat mesmerized and rejoicing in what we witnessed. When the men finished, the rabbi dismissed the children to their own kids’ church.

Can you imagine being a child who is regularly blessed and prayed over in this way? What a powerful legacy of blessing this church is planting in these young hearts.

Celebration Blessings

I rarely host a wedding, baby shower, birthday, anniversary, graduation, or retirement party without putting the person of honor in a chair in the middle of a room at some point. Then I invite all the guests to place hands on him or her and pray blessings for that person’s life. I have a handout with some blessings from Scripture already written out so that everyone can participate. Of course, lots of other prayer comes too, as the blessings serve as a spark to more intercession.

What a joy to watch how this not only touches the person being blessed, but also those who are giving the blessings. It can be a powerful witness to anyone attending, especially those who have yet to give their lives to Jesus.

More Creative Ways to Bless Others

E.M. Bounds said, “The word of God is the food by which prayer is nourished and made strong.” I believe this to be profoundly true! Using God’s Word to bless people in my life has been such a gift.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who needs a blessing—and what blessing to give. You will be amazed at how the living and active Word of God ministers to people as you step out in faith to bless others.

Here are some additional ways you can bless people in your life:

• Whenever you send a handwritten note, text, or email to someone, include a blessing as you sign off. For example, maybe you are trying to encourage someone who is going through a difficult time. Romans 15:13 is filled with hope. I like to insert the person’s name to make it more personal: “Mary, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
• Are there missionaries you pray for regularly? Why not let them know you are praying for them and, as the Spirit guides you, offer a blessing for their family such as, “I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers . . . I always pray with joy . . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:3–6).
• Use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snap Chat, and other social media platforms as an opportunity to bless. A post, meme, or comment can become a blessing to many people. Every word can pack the power of God. Perhaps you are involved in ministry to the homeless or at a crisis pregnancy center or a food bank. Take time to bless the people you come into contact with by using some of the blessings from Scripture. If you are too shy to bless people in person, have some scriptural blessings typed up and ready to hand to people. You can bless friends, neighbors, or family by writing a Scripture blessing with sidewalk chalk on their walkway or driveway.
• Have a “blessing-a-day” jar or basket on your dining room table. Take turns pulling out a blessing to pray over family members.

As you read the Bible and notice Scriptures that you can use to bless others, start keeping a list and carry it with you. Some additional passages you can include: Ephesians 1:16–19, 3:14–19; Philippians 1:9–10; 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13; 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12, 3:5, 16; Philemon 6; Hebrews 13:20–21; 1 Peter 5:10, and 3 John 1:2.

As you can see, the possibilities for ministering to people using the blessings of God are endless. As you seek the heart of God, He will continue to expand your ministry and teach you new ways to be an instrument of blessing for others.

KIM BUTTS is cofounder and vice president of Harvest Prayer Ministries . She is the author of several books, including The Praying Family: Creative Ways to Pray Together, available at prayershop.org.

Cues from Lamentations

By Kay Horner

Ashlie was a beautiful young mother of two little girls. The joy of the Lord radiated from her, and she served alongside her husband in the youth ministry of our vibrant, growing congregation. Musically gifted, she also led worship with God’s anointing and helped in other ministries where needed.

People around Ashlie couldn’t help but love her because of her love for God and others that touched hearts. We looked forward to years of shared ministry until . . . she was unexpectedly taken from us. While I was writing this article about hope, Ashlie died.

What happens when such deep personal loss and a growing list of other disappointments veils our worship? How do we respond if our perspective of God becomes clouded by the disasters and moral darkness in our world?

Hope Confronts Sorrow

Typically, we wouldn’t turn to Lamentations—a book of poetic laments—to revitalize our hope. We might read a few psalms for a good “pick-me-up.” But we may forget that the Old Testament hymns and poems contain more laments than praise psalms.

In fact, the writer of Psalm 42 asks a question that Jesus’ followers, in every generation, face during difficult times: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” (v. 5). Aren’t we supposed to rejoice always and be victorious through Christ?

In the same verse, in the middle of bemoaning his troubles, the psalmist inserts the secret for reigniting our prayer and praise when disappointments seem insurmountable: “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Jeremiah, the probable author of Lamentations, may have remembered this psalm as he grieved the destruction of Jerusalem and other afflictions. He offers the consummate answer to life’s dilemmas—hope in God! The weeping prophet then defines the anchor of our hope as the Lord’s infinite love, unfailing compassions, and abounding faithfulness.

This I call to mind and therefore I have hope:Because of the Lord’s great lovewe are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lam. 3:21–23).

Jeremiah continues by recounting the whys for his hope. He then challenges himself and the people of Zion to examine their ways, return to the Lord, and acknowledge their sin (vv. 25–42). When divisiveness pervades a nation, this bright picture of repentance and hope, against the dark backdrop of despair, becomes a starting point for prayer. Even when the doors of prayer seem tightly shut, the foyer of weeping is always open.

The prophet’s hope confronts his sorrows. Faith debates fears. Night or day, the Lord God of heaven and earth demonstrates His extravagant kindness and inexhaustible faithfulness. God’s covenant love always wins the argument!

Backdrop of Grief

The horrific calamities throughout Judah and in Jerusalem, the capital city, form the backdrop of grief in Lamentations. This short book gushes with emotion birthed out of the nation’s excruciating pain. The city is destroyed, Judah’s king is captured, and the people are deported to Babylon. The desolate land, referenced as her, is devoid of splendor. Jerusalem is robbed of her treasures, her sins are exposed, and she groans in nakedness and sorrow. She longs for comfort, but the wicked priests have died while pursuing their own desires. Her enemies rejoice over her distress.

Chapter one of Lamentations paints a vivid picture of the grief-stricken people and explains why all this has happened: “The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word” (2:17).

Aren’t there interesting parallels here to our country today?

National prayer leader David Bryant, speaking to Christian leaders desiring a Christ-awakening across America, said this:

Multitudes of Christian leaders in America are currently in danger of being sued for spiritual malpractice. . . . Leaders like you and me at this convocation must go all out to reawaken and refortify God’s people with a bold, fresh, comprehensive vision of and engagement with God’s Son in the fullness of his supremacy. Otherwise, this significant falling away from Christ will be unavoidable—and ultimately, we will be held accountable.1

Bryant listed major challenges unfolding simultaneously today at a level previously unseen:

• Immigration demands and hordes of asylum seekers
• Trillions of dollars of increasing national debt
• Widening income inequality and a growing gap between rich and poor
• Unrestrained urban violence across the land
• Unsustainable increase in prison populations at all levels
• Global drug trade and the opiate epidemic killing tens of thousands of Americans yearly
• International trade wars shaking economic stability
• Rise in human trafficking and slavery, nationally and worldwide
• Soaring health care and prescription costs
• Impending exhaustion of Medicare and Social Security funding
• Rapid spread of pornography and the mass sexualization of our culture
• An intensifying battle over abortion, reminiscent of the struggles during the abolition movement more than 200 years ago.2

These and other factors—including the closing of churches and a drastic reduction in church attendance—call us to grieve and repent for our nation.

Change of Perspective

Lamentations 2:17–18 urges God’s people to pour out their hearts to the Lord in repentance. And the people call the city walls themselves to turn into a wailing wall: “Let your tears flow like a river day and night; give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest” (v. 18). Repentance and forgiveness would seem impossible with the temple destroyed and sacrifices suspended. But Jeremiah’s hope doesn’t rest in buildings, traditions, human structures, or rituals. His personal lamenting at the beginning of chapter three changes to hope as he calls to mind the Lord’s great love.

Instead of plunging into despair, Jeremiah remembers that God’s forgiveness flows from love and not temples. His mercy reaches into repentant hearts, not into lives hardened by a constant focus on personal or national troubles. Our patience wears thin, but the Father’s compassions are, according to the original language, the total negation of being consumed, vanquished, or spent. His tenderness, mercy, and sensitive love may be newly accessed every morning by those who pray and put their hope in the everlasting Lord.

As joint heirs with Jesus Christ, we can unite our voices with the psalmists’ and the prophet’s voices, declaring this:

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Ps. 73:26). I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope (Ps. 130:5). “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord (Lam. 3:24–26).

Unfolding Story of Hope

Wait is an ugly, four-letter word to most of us. Our Internet-speed expectations avoid waiting at any cost. However, the original word for hope in Lamentations 3:21 can be translated wait.

Times of waiting strengthen our character. And the Lord reveals His character as He pours His love into and out of our hearts.

The apostle Paul experienced intense, personal suffering, and he ministered during a season of religious divisiveness and governmental persecution. At that time, Jesus’ followers in Rome could have easily despaired if they had not put their hope in the love of God. Yet Paul knew the secret and the cycle of hope:

Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us (Rom. 5:1–5).

Are we hoping for national tranquility, church/ministry growth, or relief from our suffering? Or is our hope that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14)?

Anyone who has ever dealt with a water leak or flooding knows the power of water. It diffuses, seeps, and pours through the tiniest opening. In a similar way God’s overflowing, abundant love can permeate every area of our lives so that we won’t give up hope in crushing times. Paul uses a verb tense here that indicates an action in the past with results continuing to the present. What a great way to emphasize the abundance of God’s love!

Character Transformation

Paul wasn’t focusing on tranquility of the heart but on a relationship with God. We may feel more like lamenting than rejoicing in our suffering, but God tells us to persevere and to allow Him to lovingly transform our character through repentant prayer and grateful worship.

Ultimately, we will always cycle back to hope when we recall with Jeremiah and Paul that God’s compassions never fail, and He continually pours His love into our lives.

1David Bryant, “The Case for a Nationwide Christ Awakening,” http://christnow.com/the-case-for-a-nationwide-christ-awakening. 2Ibid.

KAY HORNER is executive director of the Awakening America Alliance and founding director of The Helper Connection, a ministry for forming relational networks among pastors’ wives and women in ministry. You may contact her via khorner@awakeningamerica.us.