40 Day Prayer Challenge – I will Answer

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I got a call last week from a friend who has joined the 40 Day Prayer Challenge. He said he just had share what happened as a result of his crying out to God that morning. It is one of those phone calls that you sit down for, in fact by the end the call I was doing a little praise dance to the Lord. I asked him if I could share this story with you and he said absolutely he wanted the Father to be glorified and others to be encouraged to keep praying.

My friend is in the midst of some financial challenges in part because he lives a life of radical obedience. God has not only blessed their family with a bunch of kids but they added on to their clan by following God’s call to adopt three more from Africa, plus offering care to another needy child in their community that has been living with them. On that particular morning on the way to work my friend used a few quiet moments to pray into the 40 Challenge. He was crying out to God for his financial need especially since his work vehicle had broken down.

Later that same day while waiting and wondering what the verdict would be, my friend received a call from the mechanic and he proceeded to say an amazing thing had just happened. Someone walked in and said, “Here is $500 to help cover the cost of the repairs for that work vehicle.” My friend continued on, “Tim have you every heard of such a crazy thing, where someone comes off the street and anonymously gives money to help pay for repairs.” The two of us were astonished and we both rejoiced and continued talking about our Father God who hears the prayers of His children. My friend went on to say how this answer filled him with peace and encouragement that God would again show Himself faithful in their other needs as well.

That same morning I was reading Psalm 91 and these words grabbed my heart:

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble and I will deliver him and honor him” vs. 14-15.

My friend who “loves” the LORD, who boldly called upon Him with His need in the morning found Him faithful already in the afternoon. Prayer is the way we “acknowledge” that we love and trust in the LORD and when He answers we give Him all honor and glory.

As my friend was bursting forth with praise to His Father God for hearing His prayer, I found my heart strongly encouraged to keep crying out to the Father with the needs in my prayer circle. As we have reached 20 days into the prayer challenge “keep asking, seeking, and knocking,” and wait in hope for how your Father will show Himself glorious in your life.

 

 

40 Day Prayer Challenge – The Hand Prayer

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What a blessing it has been to hear several stories you have shared with me from your prayer journey you have embarked upon. One friend told of an amazing reversal in a court case, another about the sweet times of prayer experienced as a family, still others about a renewed sense to seek the presence of God as the chief passion of their daily walk. I have also heard from others about intense spiritual battles that have occurred as you tried to enter into your prayer circle praying bold prayers. This is to be expected, as the enemy knows the unleashing power that pours forth from Heaven when the Father’s children pray.

Wherever you may be in your prayer life keep going no matter what the intensity of your warfare because you may be right at the verge of a spiritual break through. This past week I was captivated by that last prayer of Jesus on the cross, I call it

The Hands Prayer:

“Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”

This may be one of the most effective prayers in all of Scripture. Jesus at the climax of His horrific pain placed His “spirit” securely in the hands of His Father. Everything He had was stripped from Him, family, friends, clothes, respect, ministry, dignity and the loving presence of His Father. Yet, one thing remained, His ability to cry out in prayer and place Himself in the sovereign hands of His Abba Father. Jesus believed that the Hands of His Abba could bring victory out of apparent defeat. In the midst of the clapping and cheers of hell the Father’s hands rescued and resurrected Jesus, the Son of God, back to the glorious throne of Heaven. This Hands Prayer was answered and victory obtained as the Father handed over the Kingdom and placed it in His Son’s nail scared hands.

All week I have being practicing The Hands Prayer and placing my “spirit” in a mighty, loving, gracious, merciful, creative, providing, protecting, encouraging, eternal, holy, saving, reconciling, redeeming, resurrecting, reigning hands…… of my Abba Father. His enormous Hands can handle my family’s needs, spiritual battles, sins, dreams, ministries, disappointments, failures, success, longings, yes any and everything that comes in this life and beyond. There is a peace that flows from Heaven as my small shaky hands reach up to the invisible Hands of the Father who grabs ahold with a gracious grip of grace that won’t let go.

“I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…For I am the LORD, your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you…” Isaiah 41:10-13.

40-day Prayer Challenge – The Glorious “No!”

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Why pray? There are so many answers to that question like:

  • We are commanded to.
  • It demonstrates our trust in the Father.
  • This is the way we develop intimacy with God.
  • This is how we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
  • Miracles do happen.
  • Prayer changes us.

All these reason for prayer are correct and can be found in Scripture, however the overarching purpose of prayer is to bring glory and honor to God.

When we pray we demonstrate our need and humility. We declare our inability to control our lives and place ourselves in the palm of God’s sovereign hand.

The reality is that some of our prayers will be answered with a “no” for our good and for His ultimate glory. Several years ago I was pastoring a church in Southern California where we were looking at some land to purchase for 1.1 million dollars to develop a ministry center for our city. It seemed like God’s will as I prayed with other pastors, leaders of the church, fasted, prayed over the land, and even sold my truck to help with the purchase. But God said no, He had a better plan, even though it didn’t make sense at the time.

A few years later I got called to a church in Western Michigan where there was a small group of people praying to purchase a hospital and turn it into a ministry center. They had the same vision we had in California except there was a move in ready facility that could house several ministries. The long and the short of it is that God performed miracles and the hospital was purchased for 1.1 million dollars. This year City on the Hill in Zeeland MI will celebrate 10 years of ministry with 43 ministries housed there it is a beacon of God’s glory to the community around it.

This experience showed me God’s “no” is ultimately for His glory. His “no” means there is a better plan and purpose that fits His sovereign plan to shine forth His glory. I have learned over the years to accept His “no” because it will lead to another day where His plan will be revealed and I will get to experience His glorious will.

The greatest example of this is found in Jesus prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane when he cries out; “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me…” Matthew 26:39. He was praying for another way to bring in the kingdom other than the cross. His Father said “no!” But gave Him the strength to journey through it. Oh the glory of God that exploded forth from the grave on the third day that is still transforming the world. Keep on praying and know that His “no” is a “yes” to something even more glorious.

“The best answer to prayer is what brings God the most glory!” Mark Batterson

40-day Prayer Challenge – Draw Your Circle

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For the next 40 days I have joined with a few others who have committed to praying bold prayers. This challenge was inspired by book that my step-dad Bill gave to me over the holidays called “Draw the Circle, The 40 Day Prayer Challenge,” by Mark Batterson. The book is a call to be bold in your prayer life and shares faith-building stories of answers to prayers, as well as scripture, and prayer prompts that inspire you to call out boldly to the Father.

One of my favorite illustrations from the book told of a crazy Rabbi who lived before Jesus he was nicknamed “Honi the circle maker.” When a severe drought threatened to wipe out a generation of Jews, Honi drew a circle in the sand, dropped to his knees, and said,

Lord of the universe, I swear before Your great name that I will not move from this circle until you have shown mercy upon Your children, (p. 44).

Can you imagine this audacious request; Honi could have been in the circle a long time. But God honored the bold prayer; this shameless type of praying can bring honor and glory to God. That story reminds me of one of my favorite hero’s of faith in the Bible, Elijah, who also prayed bold prayers. In the book of James we are called to follow his prayer pattern:

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops, James 1:16-17.

Elijah brought glory to God by praying audacious, shameless, prayers, trusting that nothing was impossible for God. I think the Father is waiting for His children to ask relentlessly for miracles that only He can do, in order to show a cynical world the absolute power of His glorious Kingdom coming to earth. This too is how Jesus prayed and what followed were signs and wonders that announced His Father’s reign on earth.

What impossible situation confronts you at this time? What miracle are you in need of? What dream has the Father placed on your heart that seems unattainable? Join me and a few others for the next 40 days and lets draw a circle and kneel in it and ask our Father to reveal Himself glorious by answering bold prayers.

I believe that at the end of this 40-day challenge many will have their own stories to tell of the Father’s greatness. I would love for you to share them with me and post them on the blog for others to see and bring glory to our King!

Go ahead and draw your circle today!

 

Mount Trust – A Place of Peace

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Last week my son TJ and I were invited to join some friends skiing. I love to ski, but the older I get my favorite part has become the breath-taking views from the top of the mountain. It is hard to describe the scene from Copper Peak, which sets at 12,441 ft. above sea level. From this high point the sun brilliantly illuminates the surrounding snow covered peaks with a backdrop of the deep blue Colorado sky. The iPhone photos couldn’t even begin to justify the overwhelming beauty! Such an incredible, tranquil peace surrounded us!

Even though this was the grandest spot on the slopes there were very few skiers since the only way to the peak was by way of an old T-bar. I hadn’t been on one of these since I was a boy learning to ski. I must admit that as I grabbed the cable and leaned back on the bar my heart increased several beats and I hoped my skis wouldn’t cross and cause a chain reaction with the people behind me. But as the confidence came back, I found the ride exhilarating as I was pulled to the summit and overwhelmed by what was before me.

Our journey up Mount Trust also has as its goal a glorious summit. A summit that leaves us in awe of what is before us. Notice how Proverbs 3:5-6 ends:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

In other words He will bring you to the right place. What is that right place? The Revelation of the Father’s love for you, a place of peace and tranquility. In the Bible it is referred to as Mount Zion, this was the place where God would meet His people in intimate worship. We read about in Revelation 14:1:

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion,and with him 144,000 (those who trust in Jesus) who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

Oh the trust to lean back into the arms of Jesus and to remember all He has done for us at the Cross-and through His resurrected life. Oh the peace to know He will bring us up the Mountain and reveal to us the Father’s glorious love that no words can describe. The mission of Jesus is to bring you to the Father, to know Him intimately and to trust Him, to allow Him to make your paths straight and to live with Him on Mount Trust.

As I continue to learn to lean on Jesus and travel up Mount Trust, I have found myself more transfixed on the beauty of the Father and His faithful love for me. And this love has brought about a tranquility that lets me freely embrace the mystery of the journey to the right places, the places in front of me, places which I would have missed had I not clutched the T-bar and let Him lead. Join me in grabbing on to the powerful words and promises of Proverbs 3:5-6 for 2016!