GlocalNet

When we think of missional activity nothing can take the place of prayer.  During the past few years as I’ve been in significant meetings I have always called certain people to pray.  My wife, my sister, Cynthia Mabry, Dorothy Payne, and Gene Hollingsworth are just a few.  Have you picked up on something? Most of them are women?  Why is that?  I think women are far more sensitive and discerning than men are.  There, I said it!  It’s true.  Anyone can pray “Lord help us . . . ”  I’ve discovered fewer pray with discernment in terms of sensing what is going on and how. 

Vicky Porterfield is someone I met a few years ago who has been at our church to teach on prayer.  Her husband is a businessman in the Middle East.  At her own expense, she flew to our meeting in Seoul to intercede.  She did the same thing in Nairobi and has done the same thing in other meetings where I have been. 

Before the meetings she will be praying for each person and the purpose of the meeting.  During the meetings she will sit quietly and with eyes wide open listen to everything. She is interceding the whole time.  At breaks she’ll tell me what she is sensing from God and impressions that He is giving to her.  It is very powerful and necessary.  Sometimes I’ll get an email with a verse from her or some counsel. I listen.  Moody had three old ladies that prayed for him all the time.  You can go down the list of people God used who had consistent intercessors praying for them. 

There is a particular man in the 11pm service who prays while I’m preaching.  He’s listening, and taking it in, but interceding the whole time.  You have no idea how much encouragement that is to me.  Anyone can get up and give a good message, but to be sure you are hearing from God and saying what he wants said takes people praying around you and incredible sensitivity while you are speaking.  It’s one thing to have people praying for you, but it is taken to a whole new level when people present are praying as you are working.  We know so little about prayer and how it really works.

Generally, Vicky is right on in the counsel she gives.  One of the lessons I’ve learned is these pray-ers will sense danger, but that doesn’t necessarily mean retreat.  Sometimes it means get ready, as with Paul in Acts 20 when he was told things were going to be bad.  He carried on knowing things would be bad.  He was prepared for what he would face from that prophetic word. 
The two most common ways God speaks to us personally is prayer and the Word of God.  It is interesting how they are interwoven and interdependent.  Vicky has given me a verse God revealed to her in relation to something specific. 

We talk about missional and engagement but how can we do that without prayer?  How can we serve humanity, love people, and share the Good news in a practical way without our prayers and the prayers of others to keep us on track and in line with what God is doing?  If we, as pastors, would align ourselves more with prayer warriors, I’m convinced God would use us much more.