We have been on a journey together to discover our “true” identity for quite a while. Hopefully, you are discovering how much God REALLY loves you! Also, that we will learn to recognize the voice of God when He speaks. God does speak, in fact He is speaking to us all the time. The question is whether we are spending the time necessary to recognize His voice clearly?
For several years now I believe that God has been calling us to pray “together”. For me this is NOT one of those, “if you want to or feel like it” or “pray when it’s convenient” kind of calls. It is a, “Do it or Else!” kind of call. That’s why I have continued to come and pray every week even when very few join me. I believe it is THAT important!
Hopefully you know that we pray together every Saturday night from 6-7pm. It’s hard to believe but it has been more than 10 years since we started and it is getting better and better. I can’t tell you the number of times the move of God’s Spirit in our Sunday worship is more intense and more real because of our prayer. In fact I am convinced that our very survival as a church is dependent on us Praying Together!
Therefore, we are going to kick off the “Year is ½ Over” with 7 days of Prayer (beginning on July 8th) every night at 6:00 pm.
You might say, “Here he goes again. We have been hearing about this prayer thing for waaaay to long now!” Just for arguments sake, let’s say that is true? What do we lose by praying together? What do we really give up, except a little time and convenience? What does it REALLY cost us to come together and pray, regularly?
However, what if - just for arguments sake - What if this really IS a mandate from God? And we choose NOT to obey? What is the cost? What are we missing? What are we “losing” by our disobedience?
I need you to hear me clearly. This is NOT intended to bring guilt or condemnation. I know in my heart that this is a call from God to me, for us. Why else would I continue to do it when only Laurel and I and our staff show up to pray on some nights? When I hear excuse after excuse of why it just doesn’t “fit the schedule”?
I heard this quote somewhere and it is what keeps me going, “When we work, we work. But when we pray, God works!” I long desperately for God to work. He has incredible things in store for me, for us. His word promises it. So, when God says pray... I pray!
Yours to Count On,
Pastor Ed Eby