What would happen if instead of reacting in anger, we prayed? The apostle Paul urged, “Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing” (1 Timothy 2:8, NIV).
It seems to me that Paul’s call to Pastor Timothy is more appropriate than ever as we look at a world that seems to thrive on being provoked and provoking others. What did Paul say he desired? Prayer. In the midst of tension, injustice and ungodliness? Pray. No, it’s not the “only” thing we do, but it must be where we start. Fighting doesn’t bring peace. Love won’t flow through arrogance. Breakthrough is possible when we pray.
In recent days, both our National Church general supervisor, Tammy Dunahoo, and our missions director, Ted Vail, have been echoing the same call that’s been on my heart: that prayer must be primary if we are going to experience the “next” that God has for us. Consider this: Unreached peoples and countries are not unreached because no one has ever tried, but because there are spiritual strongholds and submission to Satan’s rulership that will impede the work of the gospel.
But these strongholds can be overcome only by spiritual means.
Our urban centers and young people aren’t simply unwilling to hear the gospel or go to church. There is great and diverse change in our culture that has often left traditional ministry impotent.
But God knows the exact strategies that will work in each scenario—if we will seek Him in prayer.
Yesterday was our final day of this year’s 21 Days of Prayer + Fasting series. I pray you were strengthened and blessed through this time of intentional prayer. I believe times like these have many implications we don’t yet see, but they immediately add to the unity and strength of our whole family.
Without missing a day, I’d like to ask you to consider joining another focused time this year. Starting today, each Monday when you receive your Foursquare Leader Prayer (FLP) email, you will notice five prayer points at the bottom of the email. Some will be personal, corresponding to the devotional word, while others will be focused on our Foursquare family around the nation and the world.
This year, our Foursquare cabinet will be working toward a more refined candidate-selection process for our Foursquare election coming in 2019, and I have specific prayer points regarding this critical point. So, what is the task for you?
Would you take at least 5 minutes each week to lift these points and your Foursquare family (missionaries or others) before the Lord, believing that God will partner with us and bring spiritual breakthrough throughout Foursquare in 2018? We’re calling this our “5 in 5,” and each Monday you will receive a new set of 5 points.
Consider downloading the Foursquare Prayer App. Be sure to select “allow notifications” so that you can be alerted to important points of prayer—especially when disasters strike or important Foursquare events are going on. Plus, the app will share the Monday FLP directly to your device.
Finally, be on the lookout for news coming soon about a Global Prayer Network that the chair of our Global Council, Leslie Keegel, is initiating this year throughout all of Foursquare. The goal is to get Foursquare mobilized in prayer 24 hours a day!
What could the Lord do through us if we partner together? If we join our voices throughout the year in agreement? If we lift up holy hands and pray?
This Week’s Prayer Focus [5 in 5]
- That personal discipline would be consistent in my time with the Lord this year. To remember where my strength comes from and my need for Him.
- That my home-church leadership team would hear clearly this year the wisdom of the Lord, that we might reach more of the harvest.
- That the Foursquare Bylaw Committee would have discernment in the process of change to set us up for a healthy corporate future.
- That The Foursquare Church will begin to pray for our next president, and we ask God for four things:
1) To prepare their heart and family.
2) To sharpen their skill set.
3) To enhance their Holy Spirit-inspired gifts.
4) To give them a powerfully fresh anointing in their ministry. - For wisdom and clarity in our financial planning as we move toward more and more tithe invested into field-based missional activity.
Share your thoughts. See comments below, and add your own.
I only wish I could be there