Category Archives: Prayer

The Prayer of the Lord

The Prayer of the Lord

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Even simple, faith filled recitation of God's living Word is healthy and extremely positive (images, iStock and book by David & Kim Butts)

The concept of offering up requests in the hopes that an invisible, distant God would deliver what we desire is the primary model of prayer for many Christians today. Read the list of prayer requests and hope for the best!

I remember growing up as a young Catholic boy people reciting the Lord's Prayer over and over again as if I was fulfilling some religious duty. Those were not happy days as I lived in unhealthy fear presuming God would reject me unless I fulfilled the quota.

Now, I do agree that even simple, faith filled recitation of God's living Word is healthy and extremely positive. However, too many presume reading the Lord's Prayer or other scriptures is the totality of their assignment in prayer. Read it, agree with it and move on.

This is the error I want to talk about.

Prayer isn't a stale, tedious chore that, once accomplished, we earn favor with God and our desires (or demands) are met as requested. Prayer is the expression of the passion of our heart as we come into fervent, joyful agreement with God. That expression is explosive, and it's actually laughable to presume it can be limited to the mouthing of words! True prayer is comprehensive, and it overwhelms us into radical agreement with God and aggressive response to His directives.

Prayer Isn't Mostly About Us

Prayer is at its most powerful when the focus isn't on us.

"When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward" (Matt. 6:5, MEV).

While we may not bring focus to us by religiously praying on the street corners, is it possible that the content of our prayer is at times narcissistic? Is it about bringing attention to us and our situation or to God and his?

"But you, when you pray, enter your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" (Matt. 6:6, MEV).

 

Prayer Isn't About Coercing God

"But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him. Therefore pray in this manner: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name" (Matt. 6:7-9, MEV).

I was repeating the Lord's Prayer over and over again as a young child, convinced that my devoted work of speaking out loud would please God and result in a big thumbs up. If you think about that, it's kind of demented thinking! It reminds me of tribal religions in which people sacrifice chickens and mark their bodies as an offering to their gods in the hopes that they are spared from drought, floods and other natural disasters.

Prayer for the Christian comes from the place of deep, abiding love and a wondrous relationship with Jesus.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday" (Psalm 37:4-6, MEV).

Again, our prayer is simply an expression of our revelation of Jesus! We are ignited with passion as a result of knowing God intimately. We can't help but declare the wonders of our God!

Imagine what would erupt out of you after having an experience as is described in Revelation 19. That outburst, that response, is prayer!

"I saw heaven opened. And there was a white horse. He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written, that no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God. The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, with which He may strike the nations. "He shall rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev. 19:11-16, MEV).

 

The Prayer of the Lord

The Lord's Prayer is just that—the passions of Jesus. It is truly the prayer of the Lord.

We aren't to be limited to a simple recitation of words on paper. There is a fervent passion that should be sizzling in our veins as we declare this potent, culture-rocking prayer.

"Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much" (James 5:16, MEV).

The Lord's Prayer is an intense declaration of lifestyles that are shaking and shocking our culture. It is an expression of agreement with the plan of God for the nations of the earth!

Holy Are You

"Therefore pray in this manner: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name" (Matt. 6:9, MEV).

This verse shouldn't be easy to be casually read aloud! The call is for us to have a visitation of God and his holiness! A revelation that causes us to collapse to our knees with our faces buried in our hands as we tremble and cry, "Holy!"

Can you imagine what it will be like to gaze upon perfect purity in our beautiful God's countenance second after second forever? Oh, Lord Jesus, come! What an eternity that will be! Day and night never ceasing to declare, "Holy is the Lord God Almighty!"

"Before the throne was a sea of glass like crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures had six wings each, and they were covered with eyes all around. All day and night, without ceasing, they were saying: 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come." (Rev. 4:6-8, MEV).

 

Your Kingdom Come

"Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10, MEV).

The conflict of flesh vs. spirit should be causing veins to bulge in our necks as we cry out to God, "I despise the limitations of the flesh! I reject my own natural wisdom and I declare with boldness that Your wisdom, Your government, Your kingdom is superior!"

This prayer can't be limited to a one-sentence, three-second read. As we draw closer and closer to Jesus, we develop a never-ending yearning for God and His leadership. Everything else will appear as foolishness in comparison with the government of Jesus.

Our Daily Bread

"Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11, MEV).

Related to the previous point, we are declaring our joyful dependence on God. Instead of our Santa Claus-style requests flying heavenward in hopes of having our desires gift wrapped and delivered by God, we tell Him, "Get me whatever You want."

How powerful is it to move beyond asking God for the obvious and allowing Him to surprise us! Talk about an addicting prayer life! Sometimes the best prayer is not to pray at all. What I mean is, if we have faith that He will supply all of our needs, why would we beg Him for our needs to be met?

We can certainly have honest discussions with God about what we are struggling with, but we should do so without worry or frustration. We simply rejoice as we trust God to give us our bread every single day, and I think it's best if he chooses just what that bread is!

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:4-7, MEV).

"Therefore, take no thought, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (For the Gentiles seek after all these things.) For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you" (Matt. 6:31-33, MEV).

 

Forgiveness

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matt. 6:12, MEV).

Again, this cry of our heart should be automatic. The Lord's Prayer is a passionate decree of the reality of our lives in Christ. Sin should cause us to weep and grieve as we again draw near to God with confession on our lips. Unholy decisions should so disrupt our flow in the Holy Spirit that we are nearly crushed under the weight—only to find God Himself running to us to forgive us and give us new life!

The seriousness and destructiveness of sin should also cause us to forgive quickly—instantly—others who have wronged us. That declaration of freedom for others bellows out of us as we unlock prison cell after prison cell, allowing the guilty to go free!

In fact, this point in the prayer is so critical it is revisited again at the end:

"For if you forgive men for their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men for their sins, neither will your Father forgive your sins" (Matt. 6:14-15, MEV).

A lifestyle of setting people free should mark every one of us. It's what God does, and it's what we do!

Deliver Us From Evil

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (Matt. 6:13, MEV).

As inhabitants of a fallen world, we are keenly aware of the power of evil and the enticement of the enemy. This passionate plea should be forever on our lips or until we enter eternity, at least.

The thought of anything compromising our energizing, fiery, zealous relationship with the Lover of our souls should result in sobriety and a locked-in demeanor. We must understand the power of sin, and we have no option but to be continually aware of its devastating force.

"Whomever you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if I forgave someone anything, for your sakes I forgave it in Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us. For we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:10-11, MEV).

 

It's All About God

"For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (Matt. 6:13, MEV).

This is true worship!

I want to exhort you to allow the Prayer of the Lord to become your own. Let it be an expression of your overflowing, all-in lifestyle of worship and surrender to Jesus.

It's not just a good group of words to read before bed. Prayer, especially prayer like this, is a testament to who we really are and what we really believe. It's an expression of our raging passion for God and a decree of our agreement with and position in Him!

Watch the accompanying video here.

John Burton has been developing and leading ministries for over 20 years and is a sought out teacher, prophetic messenger and revivalist. John has authored nine books, has appeared on Christian television and radio and directed one of the primary internships at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City. Additionally, he planted two churches, has initiated two city prayer movements and is currently directing a prayer- and revival-focused ministry school in Detroit called theLab University. John's mandate is to call the church in the nations to repentance from casual Christianity and to burn in a manner worthy of the King of kings. He is equipping people to confront the enemies of God (established religion, Jezebel and so on) that hinder an extreme, sold-out level of true worship.

Please visit thefurnace.tv for the original article.

 

When You Only Have a Few Minutes to Pray

When You Only Have a Few Minutes to Pray

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How one to three minutes can focus our minds and hearts on adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. (image, Centreville United Methodist Church)

My wife is a professional counselor and a good one. Her workdays are divided into listening to and helping many different people, 55 minutes at a time. She has often said she’d like to have a 50- or 55-minute hourglass for her counseling sessions. It would be not only a helpful way to keep track of time but also a focusing and soothing influence on both counselor and counselee! So this past fall I ordered her a custom hourglass to give to her as a Christmas gift.

That got me thinking, which is always a risky proposition. Hourglasses come in all shapes and sizes. We even have several one-minute and three-minute versions in our home already, packed in various board games and group game boxes. So why not put them to even better use—in prayer?

So, new year, new things. I plan to try it.

For example, I can follow the ACTS pattern using the three-minute timer for each type of prayer:

  • Adoration and praise
  • Confession
  • Thanksgiving
  • Supplication (asking in earnest) and intercession (praying for others)

I might use the one-minute hourglass to focus my prayers on family: a minute of intercession for my wife, children and grandchildren.

Something else I might try: using the one minute timer for “lightning round” prayers, like game shows sometimes do, particularly in the middle of the day. So even when I have only a few minutes to pray, the hourglass can help focus my thoughts and prayers.

I bet the hourglass can even help me practice silence. I can use one of them to focus my thoughts at the beginning of my prayer time, watching the grains of sand flow silently downward. Or let the sand be a benediction of sorts to conclude a period of prayer. And on those occasions when I am hurried or stressed, maybe I can let the hourglass calm me for a minute. . . or three.

Visit Guidepost for the original article

EMS of ECWA

Praise & Prayer, January 2016

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EMS OF ECWA
PRAISE & PRAYER, JANUARY 2016

Prayer/Counseling hotline: 08033673654, 08051614880

E-mail: prayerpromotion@emsofecwa.org
Website: www.emsofecwa.org
Brethren, pray for us (1 Thess. 5:25)
 
WEEK ONE-FOCUS ON PRAISE/THANKSGIVING
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between mizpah and shen. He named it EBENEZER, saying, thus far the lord has helped us.” 1 Samuel, 7:12
 
FRIDAY 1ST Ascribe to the lord glory due to His name for graciously crossing us over to the New Year, Celebrate Him for his goodness in your life (Ps.31:19,21). Ask Him for blessings of rain that causes supernatural ease in all your endeavors in 2016 (Zach.10:1).
 
SATURDAY 2ND Worship the lord for His great plans for Nigeria as a nation, the Nigerian church and for EMS in the year 2016. Adore Him for blessing us in Christ with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places (Eph.1:3).
WEEK TWO-FOCUS ON EMS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND HOME MISSION FILDS
“…Put ye the sickle, because the harvest is come” Mark 4:29
SUNDAY 3RD REV.SIMON YAKO: Appreciate God for His increasing grace upon the life of the EMS director, Rev. Silas Yako and his family through his first year of directing the affairs of this ministry.
  • As he (the director) depend on God for selfless service in 2016, Pray that God should grant Him Excellent mind, increasing wisdom, Sound health and favor for him and his family before God and before men.
REV.GANA SLASH: Thank God for his grace upon his savant and the opportunity to serve in the capacity of the EMS home mission coordinator for the past one year.
PRAY:
  • For more of God’s grace, wisdom favor and strength upon him and his family as they assume a new responsibility of the regional coordinator for the central region.
  • That God should grant them open door for effective ministry among the people in this region.
  • That the Lord should grant his wife, Mrs. Grace Gana, favor for a Job opening and for a good school for their children.
NOTE: WE ARE FASTING TOMORROW!
FIRST (1ST) MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS TO BE OBSERVED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS EMS PRAYER AND FASTING DAY. ALL EMS ARMS, MISSIONARIES, OFFICE STAFF, PRAYER PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS SHOULD PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO JOIN THE EMS INTERNATIONAL HEAD OFFICE IN PRAYERS AS WE TRUST GOD TO BE JOINING FAITH IN ONE ACCORD WITH BRETHREN AROUND THE WORLD IN PRAYERS FOR A STEADY AND A FRUITFUL GROWTH OF EMS, PEACE AND THE SALVATION OF NATIONS, AND FOR REVIVAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. OUR COOPERATE PRAYER TIME AT THE HEAD OFFICE, IS 8-9AM, 12-1PM, AND 4-5PM RESPECTIVELY. YOU CAN JOIN US IN PRAYERS WHEREVER YOU MAY BE AT THOSE TIMES OR MAKE OUT TIME OF YOUR OWN CONVINIENCE PLEASE AS YOU ARE LED TO BY GOD. JUST BE SURE TO PRAY ALONG AS YOU FAST.

MONDAY 4TH pray that in the year 2016, EMS missionaries will develop strong multiplying discipleship efforts in the mission fields so that there will be a deep impact of the gospel that will enable us sustain what God is doing in our fields.
MRS. GRACE O. ADAKOLÉ: Bless God for His increasing Grace on the Life of Mrs. Adakolé and her family. Through thick and thin, she has committedly served the lord as the secretary to the EMS director from January through December 2015. As she trust God to put in more of her very best of a selfless service in 2016
PRAY:

  • That the lord should grant her excellent mind, sound health and favored before God and with men.
  • That her husband who has being very supportive would be blessed of God and that his business and ministry will prosper in 2016.
  • That the lord will visit and deliver her sister Susan Joseph who has suffered several spiritual attacks.
 
TUESDAY 5TH Pray that the holy spirit will produce constant growth and fruitfulness in the life of all our converts made in 2015 and the once that will be made in 2016 as they walk in grace and truth, also pray that as they show commitment to serving God faithful, thy would also experience development in their occupation.
 
WEDNESDAY 6TH Pray that in 2016 all ECWA office staff, Pastor, and missionaries should have vibrant walk with God, experience personal maturity, good character development, sound health, good financial improvement and discipline, improved self-leadership, great marriages and healthy family lives.
 
THURSDAY 7TH A good number of prayer houses/churches have been planted in the past years but with one or two challenges especially that of the needs for adequate places of worship. While some stations worship in rented apartments, school classrooms and uncompleted buildings, others still worship under tree sheds.
PRAY:
  • That in the year 2016,EMS stations in Sabon Gida, Sabon Gari, Bagaji, Ang/Kanti(All in Keffi DCC).Ugba, Ogoja, Mbaza, Oju, Obi and Igoli (All in Makurdi DCC). Useni, Karmo and Sardauna (all in Nasarawa DCC) will be granted favor to have habitable church buildings.
  • That God should raise men and women who will give toward mitting the urgent needs for wells in Okore, Sanzaras, and Ungwan Tsakiya. (PANDA DCC).
FRIDAY 8TH Il-health or lack of prompt and adequate medication is one of the striking challenge our missionaries, especially those in rural places are faced with.
PRAY:
  • That the effort to make EMS mobile clinic functionally effective beginning this year will pull through.
  • That God will steer the heart of men and women who are medically inclined to join this ministry as their proficiency will serve greatly in enhancing the growth of the ministry.
  • That the lord will heal Mrs. Rose Sunday Udeh, an EMS missionary’s wife in Makurdi DCC who was spiritually attacked with stroke and epilepsy, and sister Ohuoha Charity in ECWA Awkuzu church, Anambra state.
SATURDAY 9TH A good number of EMS missionaries who gave their time, their minds and energy to a selfless service unto their God retired from active service last year (2016)and as these once are got due for retirement, new, young and vibrant missionaries are being recruited to fill in vacuum.
PRAY:
  • That the Lord renew the strength of the retirees and grant them grace to keep serving Jesus Faithfully.
  • That the new Missionaries that are being recruited and will be diploid to various mission fields will be so equipped with everything, they will be needing (spiritually, financially etc.) for effective and a fruitful ministry with EMS.
WEEK THREE-FOCUS ON CROSS BOURDER MISSION FIELDS
“… Go into all the world and Preach the Goodnews…” Mark. 16:15
SUNDAY 10TH MALAWI:-Thank God for the increase in the number of ECWA Malawi Church membership, to an extent some are using mat to sit on the ground. In addition, most of the members are punctual to Prayer meetings and Bible studies.
  • Pray for provision of more chairs in the Church.
  • Pray for the provision of a bus for the ministry in ECWA Malawi.
MONDAY 11TH MALAWI: Mrs. Love let’s (a new member) dedication to the Lord has won the Husband to Christ. He was misled to follow a false prophet, which in the process treated his wife badly. However, he has now decided to follow the true God alongside his wife. Some of the instructions given to him by the so-called Pastor were to bring an egg to the Church and to eat their meals in the cooking pot not plate.
PRAY:
  • That the lord should sustain her husband in his new found faith.
  • That Keegan a teenager, who gave his life to Christ during one of the pastor’s personal evangelism, will be strengthened to keep growing in faith.
  • That Silvia Kadewere, a daughter to the Church's secretary, whom even the Doctors had given up, following her critical illness but is by God’s grace healed, should continue to enjoy sound health to the glory of God.
TUESDAY 12TH CAMEROON: Thank God for about 123 members of the Cameroonian church who were baptized in December 2015.
  • Pray that they will grow in faith.
  • Pray for the evangelism / church planting work that has now started in Yaoundé, Capital city of Cameroon.
WEDNESDAY 13TH CAMEROON: Pray that God would provide mobility for the Cameroonian
EMS Coordinator, as he has to visit distanced missionaries, some as far as a thousand kilometers.
  • Pray for Ngaoundere mission field for God to provide them with a Church land. Also, pray for the forth-coming Evangelistic programme organized in Ngaoundere for souls to be saved.
  • Pray for the new converts in Douala and for the forward coming Evangelistic programme in Douala. Also, pray for the Lord to provide funds for the construction of Douala Church. Right now, they are worshipping in a temporary church on the land.
THURDAY14TH BURKINA FASO: Thank God for healing Pastor Dauda Iliya's wife.
  • Pray for God to provide 50 Bibles, three motorcycles (N160, 000 each), foodstuff (5 bags of rice &gallons of oil) for new converts to celebrate their first Christmas or about NSO, OOO in monetary terms.
  • A land is urgently needed. One has been identified which is already fenced and would cost N20m (Twenty million naira only). Prayer for open an open door toward this urgent need.
FRIDAY 15TH BURKINA FASO: lssaka, a former Moslem gave his life Christ buthe is now facing severe persecution. He has been denied food and driven away from home. The missionary is now faced with the challenge of taking care of him from their very meager resources.
  • Please pray for lssaka to stand firm in face of persecution and for the Lord to provide more resources to take care of lssaka and others like him.
  • Another convert, a woman by name Marietu also gave her life to Christ and was delivered from the bondage to a demonic charm. Now she too is facing severe persecution since she has refused to marry her former Muslim suitor. Presently, she is squatting with another believer. She is a trained tailor and will need a sewing machine in order to fend for herself.
SATURDAY 16TH Pray that EMS will be able to administer the Goodnews in its cross border mission fields and rescue many from the enemy’s grip and for fresh and adequately equip indigenous laborers at these desperate times who will be able to withstand, stand and advance the kingdom God among their people by force.
WEEK FOUR-FOCUSES ON CHURCH GROWTH AND REVIVAL
“…to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the hearts of the contrite one”.Isa.57:15
SUNDAY 17TH One major mission force that opened rural places in the northern Nigeria in the 70s and 80s is the evangelicals, but today’s Pentecostalism and influence of materialistic gospel is weakening their resolve to pursue this noble Kingdome mandate. Pray that the evangelicals will encounter evangelistic revival and reorientation in the year 2016.
 
MONDAY 18TH Pray that ECWA sons and daughters will maintain their first love for God, have compassion for the lost and be grossly engaged in evangelism and discipleship in 2016.
 
TUESDAY 19TH Pray that ECWA ministers will be self-motivated towards the vision of ECWA, which is to “wine all nations for Christ”. Also pray that they will walk in understanding with one another and be submissive to authority.
 
WEDNESDAY 20TH Pray for the supernatural release of money and every material resources that is needed for EMS and ECWA as a whole to fulfil our mandate everywhere.Phil.14:19.
 
THURSDAY 21ST Pray for the entire ECWA executive as they continue to pilot the affairs of ECWA Around the world, that God will grant them Wisdom, strength, security and journey mercies in all their travels.
 
FRIDAY 22ND Pray for the immediate family (Wife & children) of ECWA Pastors, Missionaries and other administrative officers working in various capacities, that God should protect them from counter reactions from the kingdom of darkness because of their commitment to kingdom service.
 
SATURDAY 23RD “How shall they preach except they be sent” was the question Paul asked in Romans 10:15.One of the major mission challenge today is the resources to finance the labor, the laborers who are ready to go full-time, and many who want to volunteer their services for short time mission. In other words, “the laborers are waiting, but the senders are few”.
  • Pray the lord of the harvest to raise capable senders in the church and mission support agencies.
  • Thank God, for those who are already committed to raising support for mission. Ask the lord to increase their capacity, build their income generation system to maturity and sufficiency, and help them to do justice to the laborers on fields.
WEEK FIVE-FOCUS ON THE PEACE AND SALVATION OF THE NATIONS
“I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beast from the land, and the sward will not pass through your country” Lev.26:6.
SUNDAY 24TH List and Pray for the salvation of individuals around you (relatives, friends, and colleagues’ etc.). Pray that they will encounter Jesus and be committed in serving Him in this year. MONDAY 25TH: Pray that God’s light will shine on all British youths, both male and female who have left and many who are planning on leaving to become Jihadist in Syria, Iraq etc. Ask that God’s mercy will save them as the it saved Saul of Tarsus in his misguided zeal (Act 9:1-6).Pray for wisdom for the British Government as they seek to address this evil.
 
TUESDAY 26TH Pray With the increase in violence and the activities of insurgence around the world, many being rendered homeless, children turned into orphans, women forced into early widowhood, and men decapitated. EMS through its relief project unit under the supervision of Brother Mark Sunday has made it a point of duty to reach out to such that are affected.
PRAY:
  • For more of God’s grace on Bro Mark for effective and efficient outreaches in this 2016
  • For the recently produced documentary, that through it more individuals and cooperate partners will be added to the number of partners promoting the work of this unit
  • For vulnerable young and old people who do not have families to fall back to and who are struggling to live (Math.25:35).
WEDNESDAY 27TH ARGENTINA: Military dictatorship and the failed Falklands / Malvinas war, followed by economic disaster, have led Argentina into spiritual hunger and receptivity to the gospel of Christ. Operation World states that evangelical numbers, under one million in
1980, reached 3.9 million by 2015. However, spiritual openness is also seeing many drawn into Umbanda occultism from Brazil as well as some churches with questionable teachings.
PRAY:
  • That President Mauricio Macri will be able to harness its vast natural resources to revive an economy that has for decades fallen short of its potential.
  • For investments to stream into the country, bringing with it Christians to reach out to the highly educated workforce.
THURSDAY 28TH Pray for all missionaries on transfer, that the Lord will endow them with wisdom and increasing grace as they they begin ministry in their new mission station.
 
FRIDAY 29TH Pray for Nigerian Press and security, agencies that they may be more dedicated to duty and to also contribute in promoting good governance.
 
SATURDAY 30TH I.S/BOKO-HARAM SOURCES OF CASH:
Weapons, vehicles, employee salaries, propaganda videos, international travel – all cost money. IS's methods of financing are difficult to shut down. Terrorists use their control over a territory the size of the UK to develop revenue channels. The oil fields captured in Syria and Iraq fund the group through a black market oil trade flourishing along the porous borders of IS-controlled land. It is believed some traders have even sold oil from terrorists back to Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Because terrorists control an expansive territory, they can levy taxes on the people living there. Some of these taxes are more like extortion. The group is heavily diversified: if one funding source is shut down, they turn to others to generate revenue. A steady flow of money to IS from rich individuals in the Gulf continues, with Qataris the biggest suppliers.
PRAY:
  • For countries to work, together and cut off the ‘fourth front’ cash flow in the war against IS. (Hos.9:9)
  • That the stronghold behind the strength of Boko-haram will be broken in Jesus Name
SUNDAY 31ST Pray Thank God for answered prayers and for His grace upon you to pray with us this month. Pray for more of His grace to be committed to praying with us in February.
GOD’S BLESSINGS!!!
 
How to Pray for Angelic Assistance

How to Pray for Angelic Assistance

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You can pray for salvation through Jesus and for Him to send His ministering angels to minister to you (image © Within the MECHanism)

Luke 1:26-27 says, "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary."

The Father sent His angel Gabriel to this earth to deliver a message to Mary that would change her life. Did you know that He still sends angels to this earth to minister to His people? The Bible says concerning these angels in Hebrews 1:14, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to minister to those who will inherit salvation?"

We need to learn to take the limits off of God, and allow Him to minister to us as He wills. Many believers are receiving angelic visitations from the Lord. I know I have had angelic activity in my life, and I expect even more ministry in this way. How about you? Where are you at in your spiritual walk with the Lord? Will you allow Him to send His ministering angels to minister to you?

Here is my petition to the Lord for you this day.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask You to send forth your angels to minister to the needs of my dear friends this day. That many will see, hear and receive a special angelic touch from You that will heal them in spirit, soul and body.

For those that are fighting against a spirit of death that they receive a divine healing touch and they will rise from their deathbeds completely healed.

And for all who are suffering from physical pain, sickness and disease, I ask that Your ministering angels will encompass them and release their physical healing this very moment.

I pray for others that are fighting against a spirit of deception, that they will receive a message of truth that will set them free and lead them down the path of repentance and back into the arms of the Heavenly Father.

Holy Spirit, send forth Your angels that will minister love and acceptance to those who are contemplating suicide today. Give them the message of hope that is needed to choose life and to carry on to the victory that comes only from the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

For those who are in the place of major decisions today that will affect the lives of them and their families, release Your ministering angels and strengthen them to do what is right according to Your Word.

Whatever the need may be, I ask that You will release Your angels to minister to them by the power of Your grace.

In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Becky Dvorak is a prophetic healing evangelist and the Destiny Image author of DARE to Believe and Greater Than Magic. Visit her at authorbeckydvorak.com.

 

Praise and Prayer, December 2015

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EMS OF ECWA
PRAISE & PRAYER, DECEMBER 2015
Prayer/Counseling hotline: 08033673654, 08051614880
E-mail: prayerpromotion@emsofecwa.org
Website: www.emsofecwa.org
Brethren, pray for us (1 Thess. 5:25)
 
WEEK ONE-FOCUS ON PRAISE/THANKSGIVING
“Give unto the Lord the Glory due unto His Name; worship the lord in the beauty of his holiness” (Ps.29:2)
 
TUESDAY 1ST Worship God for His Divine Favor, Grace, Safety, Protection, and provisions this past Eleven Months. Give Him glory for His good plans For His Children in the month of December and in the year 2016.
WEDNESDAY 2ND Worship the Lord and thank God for the lives of EMS supporters for being so committed to their cause despite financial challenges faced by a lot of them following delays of salaries and the general economic stagnation and downturn especially in Nigeria.
TURSDAY 3RD Give thanks to the Lord for the success of Programs held in the year 2015 by EMS headquarters, coordinators, and missionaries in various mission Fields across the country and abroad. Worship Him for the bountiful Harvest of Souls recorded through these Programs.
FRIDAY 4TH Praise God for the successful operation/surgery of Mrs. Iremiya Bala at Burum, lafia DCC, Also pray for speedy recovery from the operation.
SATURDAY 5TH Praise God for the gradual but sure growth of the church in Gambia as members are realizing what it means to be born again and are becoming committed in sharing their faith and spreading the word of God among their countrymen.
Thank God, for answered prayers for the need of a resident permit for Rev. Nadabo and his family in Ghana.
WEEK TWO-FOCUS ON EMS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND HOME MISSION FILDS
“…Put ye the sickle, because the harvest is come”
Mark 4:29
SUNDAY 6TH Thank God for the gift of another car last month to the EMS Medical unit, pray that the Lord will replenish the donor and grant them increasing favor on every side.
NOTE: “WE ARE FASTING TOMORROW”
FIRST (1ST) MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS TO BE OBSERVED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS EMS PRAYER AND FASTING DAY. ALL EMS ARMS, MISSIONARIES, OFFICE STAFF, PRAYER PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS SHOULD PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO JOIN THE EMS INTERNATIONAL HEAD OFFICE IN PRAYERS AS WE TRUST GOD TO BE JOINING FAITH IN ONE ACCORD WITH BRETHREN AROUND THE WORLD IN PRAYERS FOR A STEADY AND A FRUITFUL GROWTH OF EMS, PEACE AND THE SALVATION OF NATIONS, AND FOR REVIVAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. OUR COOPERATE PRAYER TIME AT THE HEAD OFFICE, IS 8-9AM, 12-1PM, AND 4-5PM RESPECTIVELY. YOU CAN JOIN US IN PRAYERS WHEREVER YOU MAY BE AT THOSE TIMES OR MAKE OUT TIME OF YOUR OWN CONVINIENCE PLEASE AS YOU ARE LED TO BY GOD. WE BE GLAD THAT YOU PRAY ALONG AS YOU FAST.
MONDAY 7TH Thank God for the ministry Lifetime of all retiring EMS missionaries, and ECWA Pastors. Pray that the Lord will refresh them and increase upon them Grace to serve Him better even as they are retiring from active ministry this year.
TUESDAY 8TH Pray that God should bring about revival upon the church at Kudugba in the mid-east region, where members are increasingly becoming drunkards/smokers and putting on non-challant attitude to church programs.
WEDNESDAY 9TH Pray for Pastor Stephen John serving at Adoka mission station, that the Lord should endow him with wisdom as he handles the issue of syncretism and strange doctrines in the young church he is planting.
THURSDAY 10TH Ask the Lord to touch all EMS field missionaries and their family members suffering from one ailment or the other with His mighty healing hand. Pray for God’s touch on the son of Pastor. Iliya D. Bawa, of Akwanga DCC, who has not been able to walk for the past 15 years. Also, pray for Pastor Obadiah Ishaku’s wife who was delivered through C.S, and for the wife of Pastor Philemon Zakka, Mrs. Hajara Philemon for Gods perfect healing.
FRIDAY 11TH Pray for Mr. Ibrahim Musa, his wife and their 2 children in Nasarawa who have just been converted to Christianity from Islam. Ask that the Lord should strengthen them and grant them divine cover and courage.
SATURDAY 12TH Pray for Gods deliverance of some members of the prayer house at Amburma in Panda DCC who have been confirmed to be involved with witchcraft. Also, Pray for the Pastor that God should grant him enabling grace as he works on helping these ones come out of this satanic bondage.
WEEK THREE-FOCUS ON CROSS BOURDER MISSION FIELDS
“… Go into all the world and Preach the Godnews…”
Mark. 16:15
SUNDAY 13TH BENIN REPUBLIC:–Pray for Gods provision and favor towards sevral missions projects in Benin including and especially the landed properties needed to be purchased in order to build churches.
MONDAY 14TH THE GAMBIA:- Thank God, for the Muslim and pagan converts who are being followed up at different locations; pray that they remain faithful to Him who called them by His grace.
Pray that God should help Gambian indigenous Christians to take their walk with Christ seriously and be committed to the things of God.
TUESDAY 15TH BURKINA FASO: – Pray for God’s increasing anointing and divine protection for Pastor Dauda Iliya, an EMS missionary at Burkina Faso with his family, as he is increasingly spiritually tasked with cases of deliverance of people from demonic bondage. Praise God for the life of many who are coming to the saving knowledge of God as they witness the total deliverance of their love ones from Satan’s grip.
WEDNESDAY 16TH TOGO:-Thank God for spiritual revival in our Lomé churches and the return of many back to the path of truth and righteousness.
Pray that God will make provisions towards the starting of the theological training center at Wahala Mission station for the training of Togolese.
THURSDAY 17TH GHANA :– Pray for Gods leading as plans are ongoing towards the handing over of the Zenu Church to Pastor James, and for grace upon him as he works on starting another branch in Accra town by January 2016.
FRIDAY 18TH NIGER REPUBLIC: – Pray for the total yielding of Panuma community in Niger republic, as Rev. Likita Prepares for a special programme for them during this forth coming Christmas. Also, pray for the country’s peace, as Niger Republic looks fort to its general election in 2016.
SATURDAY 19TH Pray Not less than N300, 464,000 (Three hundred million, four hundred and sixty four thousand naira only) is urgently needed for critical cross Borders projects. Let us pray that the Lord by his generosity will open doors of resourses for this need to be met.
WEEK FOUR-FOCUSES ON CHURCH GROWTH AND REVIVAL
“Behold am the lord the god of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?’
Jeremiah 32:27
SUNDAY 20TH Pray against spirit of malice, strive, unforgivenes and Luke warmness in the life of ECWA members wherever they may be found.
MONDAY 21ST Magnify the savior Jesus Christ, and appreciate the Holy Spirit for the souls added to the kingdom this year. Ask that they be rooted in faith.
TUESDAY 22ND Pray for the Lord to sustain upon the church the burden for holy living and witnessing. Pray that the year 2016 becomes a prosperous mission’s year for ECWA in particular and the Nigerian church in general.
WEDNESDAY 23RD Ask the Lord to grant ECWA ministers consistent victory over every strong hold of wickedness that is waging war against their spiritual growth, fruitfulness and stability.
THURSDAY 24TH Pray for ECWA families that are faced with financial, health, and peace crises that God will visit them and restored peace and stability in their homes.
FRIDAY 25TH Pray that God should reverse the current trend of selfish and self-centered doctrines that has become the bane of churches today in Nigeria and the world over. Pray For more men to be deployed into God’s missions’ fields all over the world in 2016.
SATURDAY 26TH As ECWA Theological Seminaries graduates ministers on training this month, pray that we will have successive generation of passionate and intentional laborers, men and women who are passionate for souls winning and submissive to the scriptures.
WEEK FIVE-FOCUS ON THE PEACE AND SALVATION OF THE NATIONS
“I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beast from the land, and the sward will not pass through your country”
Lev.26:6.
SUNDAY 27TH In line with God’s promise in the above Bible passage, Pray for Global peace and security throughout this last month of 2015. Also, ask the Lord to continuously heal, provide and comfort grieving families who lost friends, relatives, properties and business in war, violence and religious crises in these past eleven months across the country and beyond.
MONDAY 28TH Pray against all satanic activities and effort to distract people from paying attention to the gospel this last month of 2015.
TUESDAY 29TH Pray against all hidden agendas, and that any attempt to deliberately orchestrate violence between the religious communities of Nigeria would come to nothing. Pray that every evil counsel that is in existence be destroyed. (Job.5:12-14).
WEDNESDAY 30TH Pray for wisdom for Nigerian leaders in the utilization of the nation’s resources especially the oil. Let us pray that every corruption, injustice and wickedness in high places be brought down and destroyed in Jesus mighty name.
THURSDAY 31TH Thank God for bringing us to this last day of the year. Pray for road, air, and sea transport safety for Nigerians in the month of December, especially for all Mission partners, Mission agencies, Missionaries, Pastors, and Evangelists traveling. Pray for a peaceful and glorious cross over into the New Year tomorrow.
To this end have you faithfully labored with us in prayer, and because you have not relented, we pray for you that:
God would bless the works of your hands (Psalm 90:17) and that before you call, the Lord will answer you; and while you are yet speaking, he will hear you in Jesus most gracious name. Amen!!! (Isaiah 65:22-24)
THANKS FOR BEING A MEMBER OF THE EMS FAMILY. SHALOM
 
Does God Even Care When We're Broken

Does God Even Care When We’re Broken?

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God cares about your hurts and your pain. (Lightstock)

Sometimes feeling "OK" is the best you've felt in a very long time. Your brokenness entraps you because of unchangeable moments that took place in your past.

You've yet to let go and find peace amidst the storm of remembrance. You're hurting. You're frustrated. You're in repetitious, unwavering pain. You ask yourself, "Does God even care?" 

God does care. He feels our pain, yet sometimes the way he responds to us might not be exactly the way we anticipate. Over the course of my life, I'll be honest in saying I've found myself furious at God on multiple occasions. I've yelled at God, cursed at God and even threatened God for not providing what I felt was the best response for my current situation in life.

I'm sure he looked down at me, chuckled a bit and knew that I didn't really mean what I was saying. I was just upset, and God was patient enough to let me vent to him. He allowed me to use him as a scratching post. He could handle it. That's the beauty of God; He's big enough to handle anything I throw at him, but wise enough to not give me everything I ask for.

When putting our lives in the hands of God, we must be ready to not understand everything that God does, why he does it, and how long he will do it for. Some things only have one answer; to trust God even if it doesn't make sense. It may seem like a shallow and cliché response, but it's actually quite the opposite.

Trusting God among our brokenness is a beautifully painful but spiritually deepening experience. Every time we put our trust in God, another scoop of our fleshly dirt is removed from our spiritual sandbox.

Trust God among your brokenness, but realize it's OK to be mad at him, frustrated and even downright confused. God doesn't expect us to understand everything he does, but he does expect us to trust him among the process.

Don't be afraid to question what's happening. Don't be afraid to wave your fist a little.

God can handle it. Let it all out, and get honest with God about what you're really feeling.

Jarrid Wilson is a husband, pastor and author relentlessly sharing the love of Jesus. For the original article, visit jarridwilson.com.

 

EMS of ECWA

Praise & Prayer, November 2015

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EMS OF ECWA
PRAISE & PRAYER, NOVEMBER 2015

Prayer/Counseling hotline: 08033673654, 08051614880

E-mail: prayerpromotion@emsofecwa.org
Website: www.emsofecwa.org
Brethren, pray for us (1 Thess. 5:25)
 
WEEK ONE-FOCUS ON PRAISE/THANKSGIVING
“Give unto the Lord the Glory due unto His Name; worship the lord in the beauty of his holiness” (Ps.29:2)
 

SUNDAY 1ST Worship God for His Divine Favor, Grace, Safety, Protection, and provisions these past t en Months. Give Him glory for His good plans For His Children in the month of November.

NOTE: FIRST (1ST) MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS TO BE OBSERVED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS EMS PRAYER AND FASTING DAY. ALL EMS ARMS, MISSIONARIES, OFFICE STAFF, PRAYER PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS SHOULD PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO JOIN THE EMS INTERNATIONAL HEAD OFFICE IN PRAYERS AS WE TRUST GOD TO BE JOINING FAITH IN ONE ACCORD WITH BRETHREN AROUND THE WORLD IN PRAYERS FOR A STEADY AND A FRUITFUL GROWTH OF EMS, PEACE AND THE SALVATION OF NATIONS, AND FOR REVIVAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. OUR COOPERATE PRAYER TIME AT THE HEAD OFFICE, IS 8-9AM, 12-1PM, AND 4-5PM RESPECTIVELY. YOU CAN JOIN US IN PRAYERS WHEREVER YOU MAY BE AT THOSE TIMES OR MAKE OUT TIME OF YOUR OWN CONVINIENCE PLEASE AS YOU ARE LED TO BY GOD. JUST BE SURE TO PRAY ALONG AS YOU FAST AS THE LORD ENABLES.

MONDAY 2ND Worship the Lord for Journey mercy granted to the EMS Director, Rev. Simon Yako, Rev. Joshua Yakubu and their wives to the U.S. for conferences. Also, appreciate Him for the success of other journeys embarked upon at one point and another during the past month by EMS office staff and field missionaries. Pray that the Lord shall strengthen and bless our overseas partnerships for the advancement of His Kingdom.

TEUSDAY 3RD Give thanks to the Lord for the success of Programs held in the month of October by EMS missionaries in various mission Fields across the country and abroad. Worship Him for the bountiful Harvest of Souls recorded through these Programs.

WEDNESDAY 4TH Praise God for the healing of these missionaries and their families: Ali Fali Tula, Balakaku Salisu at Akure, and Bala Wambai at Buzijung.

THURSDAY 5TH Tt Thank God for North East and South Northeast Conference that is holding today 5th, through Sunday the 7th. Pray for safety for all participants and for spiritual transformation of lives in this Boko Haram infested region. FRIDAY 6TH Thank God for the gift of a Pathfinder Jeep to EMS, pray that Lord will replenish the donor and grant them increasing favor on every side.

SATURDAY 7th Thank God for the ministry Lifetime of our missionaries, Rev. Gagare Diga (Kaduna South DCC), Rev. Alassan M. and Rev. Angul Agashe (Kasuwan Magani DCC).Pray that the Lord will refresh them and increase upon them grace to serve Him better even as they retire by December this year. Pray that the Lord will continue to meet their spiritual, physical, financial and material needs in retirement.

WEEK TWO-FOCUS ON EMS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND HOME MISSION FILDS
“…Put ye the sickle, because the harvest is come” Mark 4:29

SUNDAY 8TH Pray that God should renew the strength of the EMS Director, Rev. Simon Yako as he enjoys his annual leave.

MONDAY 9TH Pray for the unleashing of leadership capacity for EMS staff in the office and in the fields.

TUESDAY 10TH Ask the Lord to touch all EMS field missionaries and their family members suffering from one ailment or the other with His mighty healing hand. Pray for God’s touch on the son of Pastor. Iliya D. Bawa, of Akwanga DCC, who has not been able to walk for the past 15 years. Also pray for Pastor Irimiya Habu and Pastor Anthony Unenge all of Makurdi DCC who are currently faced with spiritual attacks of various types.

WEDNESDAY 11TH Pray that the Lord should raise indigenous EMS missionaries in Benue state. Also, pray for ECWA churches, most especially EMS stations in the Idoma / Igede axes, for Gods sustaining grace and provision for Church’s lands and buildings.

THURSDAY 12TH Thank God for his sustaining grace on all EMS Mission Fields’ Schools and EMS children schools. Pray for Gods provision towards the starting of Senior Secondary Session (SSS1-SSS3) of the EMS Children School in Jos Plateau state.

FRIDAY 13TH Pray for the about 49 EMS missionary couples who are currently on ministry training abroad and at Home for Gods provision towards meeting their financial needs.
SATURDAY 14th: Thank God, for the Muslim convert that was led to Christ by our Pastor Bilkitama Mumuni, serving in the South-North East Region. Pray that God should uphold the convert in righteousness.

WEEK THREE-FOCUS ON CROSS BOURDER MISSION FIELDS
“… Go into all the world and Preach the Godnews…” Mark. 16:15

SUNDAY 15TH: An ECWA family from ECWA Good news Maitama in Abuja and strong supporters of EMS, in person of Brig. Gen. & Mrs. Nuhu Angbazo have relocated from Nigeria to Mali. Let us pray for them, for God’s protection and favour and for God to use them for His glory.

MONDAY 16TH Pray that God will help us secure the land that was purchased for ECWA Ghana, which has become a matter of dispute between two families. Also, Pray for God to restore peace to Burkina Faso and Burundi, which presently have political crises.

TUESDAY 17TH ZAMBIA – Thank God for the glorious take off of ECWA Gospel church Kitwe Zambia. Keep praying for Gods sustaining grace on this young church. Also, Pray for the spiritual growth and stability of the about 35 Taxi drivers Pastor and Mrs. Kuzsuwat are currently reaching out to. Also, pray that God should sustain this new area of ministry discovered by the Pastor and his dear wife in the city of Zambia.

WEDNESDAY 18TH Not less than N300, 464,000 (Three hundred million, four hundred and sixty four thousand naira only) is urgently needed for critical Cross Borders projects right now. Let us pray that the Lord by his generosity will open doors of resources for this need to be met.

THURSDAY 19TH Pray NIGER REPUBLIC – Thank God for successful transit of Rev and Mrs. Tanimu Umaru From their mission field in Cameroun to a new station in Maradi, Niger Republic. Pray that the Lord should endow them with more grace for a fruitful ministry in Niger and favor them in the land.

FRIDAY 20TH BURKINA FASO – Pray for Gods increasing anointing and divine protection for Pastor Dauda Iliya, an EMS missionary at Burkina Faso with his family, as he is increasingly spiritually tasked with cases of deliverance of people in demonic bondage.

SATURDAY 21ST :BENIN REPUBLIC – Pray for Gods provision for the expanding Mission work in Republic of Benin both in the cities and rural areas.

WEEK FOUR-FOCUSES ON CHURCH GROWTH AND REVIVAL
“…to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the hearts of the contrite one”.Isa.57:15

SUNDAY 22ND Pray for the Lord to sustain upon the church the burden for holy living and witnessing.

MONDAY 23RD Ask the Lord to continuously burden ECWA Executives and ministers to sustain a consistent revival among ECWA members towards living lives worthy of emulation at all times and in all places.

TEUSDAY 24TH Pray for ECWA families that are faced with financial, health, and peace crises that God will visit them and restored peace and stability in their homes in a way that best glorifies Him.

WEDNESDAY 25TH Pray that God should reverse the current trend of selfish, self-centered and man centered doctrines that has become the bane of churches today in Nigeria and the world over. Pray that Ministers of the gospel in ECWA and outside ECWA shall preach a Christ centered gospel for salvation of souls and transformation of lives.

THURSDAY 26TH Pray for road, air, and sea transport safety for Nigerians in the month of November, especially for all Mission partners, Mission agencies, Missionaries, Pastors, and Evangelists traveling. This is a period of heightened activities because of preparation for the Christmas celebration. Pray that God will overrule in all these activities for His glory.

FRIDAY 27TH As ECWA Theological Seminaries graduate students this year end. Pray that we will have successive generation of passionate and intentional laborers, men and women who are passionate for souls winning. Pray that many of them will answer the call for Missions and join EMS as our Training and Recruitment Coordinator goes round to promote Mission work and interview interested candidates.

SATURDAY 28TH Pray against all satanic activities and effort to distract people from paying attention to the gospel these last two months of 2015.

WEEK FIVE-FOCUS ON THE PEACE AND SALVATION OF THE NATIONS
“I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beast from the land, and the sward will not pass through your country” Lev.26:6.

SUNDAY 29TH In line with God’s promise in the above Bible passage, Pray for Global peace and security throughout these last two months of 2015. Also ask the Lord to continuously comfort grieving families who lost friends and relatives in war, violence and religious crises in these past ten months across the country in Nigeria and also the world over.

MONDAY 30TH Pray that every Nigerian, especially Christians, should imbibe a true spirit of patriotism, by embracing the positive values our Christian faith, especially love, compassion, justice and peace.

TEUSDAY 31TH Pray for the new appointed 36 ministers in Nigeria; that God will enable them to be true agents of positive change. Pray that they get rid of selfish interest and serve sacrificially to the glory of God.

FIRST (1ST) MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS TO BE OBSERVED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS EMS PRAYER AND FASTING DAY. ALL EMS ARMS, MISSIONARIES, AS YOU FAST.

 

Is Prayer a Spiritual Obligation or Your Life

Is Prayer a Spiritual Obligation or Your Life?

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A congregation praying during a Christian conference.

by Jennifer Kennedy Dean,  author, speaker, conference leader and executive director of the Praying Life Foundation. You can visit her online at prayinglife.org.

I grew up in a praying family. From earliest childhood, I was encouraged to commit everything to God through prayer. Nothing was either too important or too insignificant to leave in God's hands.

My parents did not teach me about prayer with their words, but with their lives. They had more than "a prayer time"—a section of their days set aside for praying. Instead, prayer permeated and controlled every aspect of their lives.

Prayer, I later came to realize, can be an activity or it can be a life. You can think of it in terms of "my prayer life," as you would say "my home life," or "my work life"—as if prayer were one compartment among many. But I knew that prayer as a task or an activity would not meet the deep yearning I had to know God.

It was not a prayer life I wanted, but a praying life—a life of ongoing and continual interaction with God. Andrew Murray has said, "Answered prayer is the interchange of love between the Father and His child." I want an uninterrupted flow of love between the Father and me. Isn't that what you want? Isn't your heart crying out for that?

You see, there is an undercurrent of prayer always active in a believer's life. The Spirit of Christ is within you crying out, "Abba, Father" (Gal. 4: 6). To put it in today's language, He is calling out, "Daddy! Daddy!" The Spirit is always praying the Father's will, and the Spirit is housed in you (Rom. 8: 9, 11, 15, 26-27; 1 Cor. 6: 19).

At some level, in every believer, prayer is always happening. The praying life is Christ. It is the life of Jesus Christ operating in you.

The key to learning to live a praying life is this: Learn how, more and more often, to tap into the undercurrent of prayer, the active presence of Jesus in you. Join your voice with His in harmonious prayer. When I became a young adult, I realized that a praying life was not built on information communicated from one person to another, but on a life-absorbing relationship with God.

I sensed the difference between a prayer life and a praying life, and I knew which one I craved. I knew that there was only one who could teach me to pray—who could be my prayer teacher. To Him I brought my inadequacy and my hungry heart.

"Lord," I cried, "I know how to say prayers, but I don't know how to pray. Teach me to pray!" In response to my heart's cry to teach me deep truths about prayer, God began to open His Word to me in new ways.

Familiar passages took on fresh meaning. Dull, dry passages pulsed with new life. I felt myself being "taught by the Lord" (Is. 54: 13).

To this day, some 40 years since I embarked on this soul-quest, it is still new. Each time I discover a concept, He brings me opportunities to put it to the test. The words of the Scriptures shape my life and define my experiences. Slowly but surely, He is building my life into a praying life.

As I submitted myself to God for instruction in prayer, He seemed to ask me, "Jennifer, why do you want to learn to pray?" I knew all the "right" answers, but they had a hollow, false ring to them.

My experience must have been similar to Peter's. How surprised he was when Jesus did not accept his glib answer to the question, "Peter, do you love Me?" Each time Jesus asked, Peter must have been forced to look deeper inside his heart for the true answer. That is always God's starting place—your truth. No matter how ugly your truth is, He can work from it. What He can't work from is pretense.

As He had with Peter, God peeled back the layers of my practiced, memorized answers that I got from other people until my truth emerged. And my truth was not pretty. "Father, I want to know how to pray so that I will know how to get You to do what I want You to do when I want You to do it. I hope to learn how to make the best possible use of prayer for my benefit."

Once I reached that point of honesty, I knew my course was set. God could work with me now because He could begin with my weakness. At the point of my weakness, His strength would be put on display.

My prayer teacher could begin by teaching me a new purpose for prayer. This book tells of my journey so far. But the journey never ends. Every single day I learn something new about prayer, or I learn something in a deeper way. It is my hope that when others read what I have learned and the inner changes that have occurred, they will be inspired to sit at the Master's feet.

EMS of ECWA

Praise & Prayer October 2015

Posted on by
EMS OF ECWA
PRAISE & PRAYER, OCTOBER 2015

Prayer/Counseling hotline: 08033673654, 08051614880

E-mail: prayerpromotion@emsofecwa.org
Website: www.emsofecwa.org
Brethren, pray for us (1 Thess. 5:25)
 
WEEK ONE-FOCUS ON PRAISE/THANKSGIVING
“Give unto the Lord the Glory due unto His Name; worship the lord in the beauty of his holiness” (Ps.29:2)
 
THURSDAY 1ST Thank God for the successful prayer and fasting for the Mission Sunday and thank God for the answered prayers during and in advance of our prayers. Give thanks unto the Lord and give God the glory due unto His Name for His sustaining Grace and mercy on EMS/ECWA, and Nigeria as a nation these past nine months. Praise Him for lunching Nigeria into its 55th year of independence.
 
FRIDAY 2ND Worship the Lord for favor granted to EMS to obtain visas for cross border trips last month and for Journey mercies granted to the Director and other management staff, alongside drivers in all their trips to Cotonou, Lome, Accra, Tamale, Lusaka, Blantyre, Nairobi and Bamenda through out August and September.
 
SATURDAY 3RD Give thanks to the Lord for the success of Programs held in the month of September by EMS missionaries in various mission Fields across the country and abroad. Worship Him for the bountiful Harvest of Souls recorded through these Programs.
 
WEEK TWO-FOCUS ON EMS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AND HOME MISSION FILDS
…Put ye the sickle, because the harvest is come” Mark 4:29
 
SUNDAY 4TH THIS RAYER IS TO BE SAID PERSONALY: Oh God, help me live my life completely in total dependence on you and help me to grow in righteousness every day. Also pray that as EMS Sunday is being observed today nationwide, may the hearts of all be steered to give generously towards the propagation of the gospel of Christ through EMS and that all church leaders and Pastors will be burdened of God not to hold back any collection that is meant for this purpose.
 
NOTE: BEGINNING FROM SEPTEMBER 7TH, FIRST (1ST) MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS TO BE OBSERVED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS EMS PRAYER AND FASTING DAY. ALL EMS ARMS, MISSIONARIES, OFFICE STAFF, WE PLEAD WITH OUR PRAYER PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS TO JOIN THE EMS INTERNATIONAL HEAD OFFICE IN PRAYERS AS WE TRUST GOD TO BE JOINING FAITH IN ONE ACCORD WITH BRETHREN AROUND THE WORLD IN PRAYERS FOR A STEADY AND A FRUITFUL GROWTH OF EMS, PEACE AND THE SALVATION OF NATIONS, AND FOR REVIVAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. OUR COPORATE PRAYER TIME AT THE HEAD OFFICE, IS 8-9AM, 12-1PM, AND 4-5PM RESPECTIVELY. YOU CAN JOIN US IN PRAYERS WHEREVER YOU MAY BE AT THOSE TIMES OR MAKE OUT TIME OF YOUR OWN CONVENIENCE AS YOU ARE LED TO BY GOD PLEASE. JUST BE SURE TO PRAY ALONG AS YOU FAST.
 
MONDAY 5TH Thank God for the Muslim convert that was led to Christ by our Pastor Bilkitama Mumuni, serving in the South-North East Region. Pray that God should uphold the convert in righteousness in this most persecuted region of Nigeria for Christians, especially Christian converts.
 
TEUSDAY 6TH Praise God for His deliverance of three-occultist brethren in the north central region. Pray that their encounter with the lord will stir up revival in that land. Also, pray for God’s comfort on the family of Pastor John Baraya who lost his son on the 30th of August 2015.
 
WEDNESDAY 7TH Pray for God’s provision towards the following EMS needs: A house for Tsiga DCC EMS Coordinator, in the Far North Region. Zaranda 2,Prayer house (N250,000) for roofing; Keffi DCC, for church buildings and a pastorium in Sabon Gida, EMS station Agada, and at EMS station Magaji, and all EMS stations that are due to be weaned but are still faced with challenges of places of worship because they still in rented places of worship.
 
THURSDAY 8TH Pray that God should raise indigenous EMS missionaries in Benue state. Also, pray for ECWA churches, most especially EMS stations in the Idoma/Igede axes, for God’s sustaining grace and provision for Church’s lands and buildings. In addition, keep praying for God's intervention on EMS station at Ndok Aminika, Makurdi DCC, and pray for this community that is fighting to revoke the church land from ECWA.
 
FRIDAY 9TH City Ministry of EMS (Gidan-Bege) is trusting God for Financial assistance from Universal Basic Education (UBE) Abuja for the Gyero Orphanage School. Pray that this expectation will come through. Also, pray for the Visits of Plateau state first lady to the House of Hope, that it should be fruitful.
 
SATURDAY 10TH Ask the Lord to touch all EMS field missionaries and their family members suffering from one ailment or the other with His mighty healing hand. Pray for God’s touch on the son of Pastor. Iliya D. Bawa, of Akwanga DCC, who has not, been able to walk for the past 15 years. Also pray for Pastor Irimiya Habu and Pastor Anthony Unenge all of Makurdi DCC who are currently faced with spiritual attacks of various types. WEEK THREE-FOCUS ON CROSS BORDERS MISSION FIELDS “… Go into all the world and Preach the Godnews…” Mark. 16:15
 
SUNDAY 11TH Thank God for journey mercies for the several missionary journeys undertaken especially to West, Central and East Africa. Thank God, for provision of funds to meet missionaries' needs on the Cross Borders Fields. Thank God, for the progress of work in new frontiers opened, especially in east Africa.
 
MONDAY 12TH Pray that God will provide financial resources for the next phase of work in most of the Cross Border Fields. Funds are required for the purchase and development of lands for worship, discipleship and theological training, upkeep of Missionaries and sending more missionaries etc.
 
TEUSDAY 13TH THNIGER REPUBLIC – Thank God for His protection against Boko Haram insurgents and pray for the Lord's continual protection of the country, especially believers. – Continue to pray for Pastor Ali Moussa who is mobilizing the believers in Bagaja to build a place of worship.
 
WEDNESDAY 14TH MALAW: – Pray for the spiritual growth and stability of new converts in Malawi mission stations. – Continue to pray for provisions of fund towards the development of the ECWA Church land in Blantyre, Malawi.
 
THURSDAY 15TH Pray that God will intervene to remove bottle necks of Visas and other processing documents needed to visit Cross Borer Fields especially in East Africa, USA and Europe.
 
FRIDAY 16TH Pray for God to restore peace to Burkina Faso and Burundi, which presently has political crises and this has consequently prevented our Missionaries Rev. Dr & Mrs Nathan Chiroma from starting mission work there. Pray that God will encourage our Missionaries as they wait upon Him.
 
SATURDAY 17TH Pray that God will raise a harvest work force of missionaries that have a genuine calling for cross Border Work. Pray for the breaking forth of revival on our Cross Borders Fields. WEEK FOUR-FOCUSES ON CHURCH GROWTH AND REVIVAL “…to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the hearts of the contrite one”.Isa.57:15
 
SUNDAY 18TH Pray for the Lord to sustain upon the church the burden for Holy living and witnessing.
 
MONDAY 19ST Pray that the Lord will raise for himself a formidable harvest force from ECWA, through its theological training, church programs and EMS initiated missiological programs and presentations.
 
TEUSDAY 20RD Ask the Lord to continuously burden ECWA Executives and ministers to sustain a consistent revival among ECWA members towards living lives worthy of emulation at all times and in all places.
 
WEDNESDAY 21ST The reality of the fact that “the Character of the witness determines the quality of the converts” as observed by A.W Tozer is dawning on the present day church where there are many witnesses who are increasingly making converts, who are larking righteousness and the fear of God. Pray that God will burdened his ministers at every level of ministry to live quality lives of kingdom standard worthy of emulation.
 
THURSDAY 22ND Praise God for the progress recorded so far on ECWA Radio and TV ministry project. Pray for more of Gods leading as more work is ongoing for the take-off of this pivotal ministry.
 
FRIDAY 23RD Pray for missionary children, that God will help provide for their spiritual, academic, and material needs, so that they will grow up to be Gods Honoring Vessels.
 
SATURDAY 24TH Pray for ECWA families that are faced with financial, health, and peace crises that God will visit them and restore peace and stability in their homes. WEEK FIVE-FOCUS ON THE PEACE AND SALVATION OF THE NATIONS “I will shake the nations, so they will come to the Desire of this Temple…”Hag.2:7
 
SUNDAY 25TH Praise God for His sustaining Grace on Nigeria during these past five months under the leadership of president Mohammadu Buhari.
 
MONDAY 26TH Pray for road, air, and sea transport safety for Nigerians in the month of October, especially for all Mission partners, Mission agencies, Missionaries, Pastors, and Evangelists traveling.
 
TEUSDAY 27TH Thank the Lord for the success achieved in the government fight against Boko Haram in the last nine months; pray for the captives of the insurgence liberated from various camp for God’s Divine cover, peace and refreshment. Also, pray for the liberation of those who are still held captive.
 
WEDNESDAY 28TH Pray for the cabinet of president Buhari; that God will enable them to be true agents of positive change. Ask the Lord to expose anyone in the Nigerian Government who is an agent of sabotage.
 
THURSDAY 29TH Ask the Lord to rid every Nigerian Government official of selfish interest and give him or her a sacrificial spirit to serve the people of Nigeria to the purpose of God.
 
FRIDAY 30TH Pray that every Nigerian Should imbibe a true spirit of patriotism, by embracing the positive values found in their faith, especially love, compassion, justice and peace.
 
SATURDAY 31ST Pray for Global peace and security throughout these last three months of 2015. Also ask the Lord to continuously comfort grieving families who lost friends and relatives in war, violence and religious crises in these past nine months across the country and the globe.