What do we want to be known for—Relentless in Prayer Pt. 5
If I am honest, prayer doesn't come easy for me. I find it hard to concentrate, stay focused, and feel as if I am genuinely connecting to the Father when I pray. What about you? Can you relate?
The problem was when we started our endeavor as a church relaunch in the fall of 2017 (7 months before our launch date), I was feeling overwhelmed with the journey ahead. I was very aware that I needed help and guidance on the steps we needed to take. So, I started reading in the book of Acts. As I was reading, it became extremely evident the role, the power, and the necessity of prayer in the building of God's church. I realized we wouldn't succeed unless we became a people who relentlessly prayed.
Acts 2:42 says, "And they DEVOTED themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." The outcome of being known for these things..."And awe came upon every soul" (Acts 2:43). I long to be a church known for creating wonder about who God is in our community. We won't generate wonder unless we become known as a church that relentlessly prays.
So what do we pray for? We find one essential request in Acts 4:23-29, "...they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord...grant your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness." One thing we pray for relentlessly is the courage to live out our faith boldly and in love so that others can experience the awe of God.
For this reason, we seek to gather monthly and pray TOGETHER for God's will to be done and His Kingdom to come. For this reason, we are engaged in 40 days of prayer over our city so that they may discover, experience, and learn to follow Jesus. For this reason, I learned that no matter how hard it may be, prayer is essential to me discovering and living out the purpose God has set aside for me. Prayer is the spark plug that will ignite a movement, a GOD SIZED MOVEMENT, where we glorify the name of God, and people experience life transformation.