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Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you’ll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today’s episode, Prayer People, focuses on becoming a people determined to pray.
Show notes: Prayer People
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” II Chronicles 7:14.
If my people … pray. I debated on a title for this episode. Person of prayer or people of prayer? Prayer people? I went with prayer people because, even though we often pray alone, there is power in corporate prayer. Matthew 18: 20 says, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” What could be more powerful than God in our midst?
Churches, groups, and individuals are praying in agreement in 2022 concerning issues like COVID, inflation, supply shortages, and the war to our east. I’ve prayed with friends at church and on social media, believing that God has the chaos in His hands, and hears every word I lift to Him.
If we want to dance or flow in the ways and will of God in today’s volatile world, we’ll not only seek God in a one-on-one conversation but wherever two or more are gathered together. How?
- Physically praying with others. Whether in person, during a Zoom meeting, or on a social media app like Messenger, nothing compares to being present with someone and seeking God in real time. At my church, The Bridge, prayer requests from the congregation and community are lifted up each Sunday morning and Wednesday night. The pastor and others lead, but we all pray together. Our individual focus is different as each person follows the leading of the Holy Spirit on exactly how to pray. But we’re united.
- Praying in agreement. I love specific, focused prayer best with a friend or small group. I belong to Word Weavers International, a writing organization. Their mission is to help members find their unique voice, strive for the exceptional and not settle for the mundane, and to raise the quality of their members’ writing to a publishable level. Though some groups meet in person, the two small groups I belong to gather via Zoom. My favorite time is at the end of each meeting where we share any problems or needs, then present them to God through unified prayer. Though our homes are in the United States, Canada, and Brazil, I feel an unrivaled closeness to my friends when we communicate with God.
- Praying for others. Prayer people intercede for each other. At The Bridge on Wednesday nights, we pray for family, friends, and neighbors in our community, as well as national and international needs. Our list has over 70 individual names or groups. We add to and take away names weekly but we never run out of people or situations that need God’s touch. I pray at home and in the car, my favorite places to commune with the Father, but group intercession for others is special.
To me, there’s nothing more important that we can do than pray for others. Missions, outreach, in-reach, and small groups are necessary but prayer is vital. The growth and spiritual health of any individual or church depends on whether or not we are reaching out often to the Father on behalf of ourselves or others.
I’ve learned much about prayer from Pastor Jack Hayford. He said, “Prayer can change anything. The impossible doesn’t exist. His is the power. Ours is the prayer. Without Him, we cannot. Without us, He will not.”
God wants us to invite His rule into our world through prayer. What a wonderful privilege we’ve been given. An opportunity to be prayer people. Will you accept the challenge today?
Let’s pray: Father God, we come before You today, and thank You for allowing us to be a people of prayer. You not only listen to our every word but You answer us through many different avenues. Help us to pray physically with people, in agreement, as we lift the needs of others toward heaven. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
Praying with and for people is a beautiful expression of God’s love. Next week, we’ll look at how to pray. Is there a right or wrong way?
Until then, stay determined to dance.
Links:
My website
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
The Bridge Christian Fellowship
Word Weavers International
Remember: Prayer People
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
