Season of Prayer and Fasting

Evangelistic Praying

2008-10-06T09:25:00.001-07:00

There is a song entitled "Tears of the Saints" that greatly captures what the Christian's response to this broken, dark, and sinful world should be . . .

"There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
And all Your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home"

What is your response to the broken community you live in? May your prayers this week be saturated with heartfelt cries that our Sovereign Lord would be might to save. Charles Spurgeon expressed such motivation in this way:

The Holy Spirit will move them first by first moving you. If you can rest
without their being saved, they will rest, too. But if you are filled with an
agony for them, if you cannot bear that they should be lost, you will soon find
that they are uneasy, too. I hope you will get into such a state that you will
dream about your child perishing for lack of Christ, and start up at once and
begin to cry, "O God, give me converts, or I die." Then you will have converts.

Weekly Prayer Calendar - October 6-12

2008-10-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

Monday - Leadership - 2 Timothy 2:2

Tuesday - Marriages - 1 Peter 3:1

Wednesday - Family - Psalm 139:23-24

Thursday - The Lost - Matthew 9-12

Friday - God’s impact on the surrounding community through Providence - Romans 12:19-21

Saturday - Sunday Morning Worship - Hebrews 10:19-22

Sunday - The Direction of Providence - Hebrews 13:20-21

Spurgeon On Prayer

2008-09-29T13:28:00.002-07:00

Keep the altar of private prayer burning. This is the very life of all piety. The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here, therefore let this burn well. Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence, and barometer, of vital and experimental religion.

Burn here the fat of your sacrifices. Let your closet seasons be, if possible, regular, frequent, and undisturbed. Effectual prayer availeth much. Have you nothing to pray for? Let us suggest the Church, the ministry, your own soul, your children, your relations, your neighbours, your country, and the cause of God and truth throughout the world. Let us examine ourselves on this important matter. Do we engage with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping, and ask for the Spirit of grace and of supplications. Let us set apart special seasons for extraordinary prayer. For if this fire should be smothered beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity, it will dim the fire on the family altar, and lessen our influence both in the Church and in the world.

The text will also apply to the altar of the heart. This is a golden altar indeed. God loves to see the hearts of his people glowing towards himself. Let us give to God our hearts, all blazing with love, and seek his grace, that the fire may never be quenched; for it will not burn if the Lord does not keep it burning. Many foes will attempt to extinguish it; but if the unseen hand behind the wall pour thereon the sacred oil, it will blaze higher and higher. Let us use texts of Scripture as fuel for our heart’s fire, they are live coals; let us attend sermons, but above all, let us be much alone with Jesus.

-- From Spurgeon's Evening and Morning Devotional

Weekly Prayer Calendar - September 29-October 5

2008-09-29T13:28:00.001-07:00

Monday - Leadership - Isaiah 52-53

Tuesday - Marriages - Ephesians 5:25-33

Wednesday - Family - 1 Peter 5:8

Thursday - The Lost - Luke 23:34

Friday - God’s impact on the surrounding community through Providence - 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Saturday - Sunday Morning Worship - Psalm 111:1

Sunday - The Direction of Providence - Jeremiah 31:33

Weekly Prayer Calendar - September 15-21

2008-09-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Weekly Prayer Calendar - September 8-14

2008-09-08T07:43:00.001-07:00

Convicting Quote

2008-09-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

"The early church prayed and fasted, the modern church prays fast." - Anonymous

Weekly Prayer Calendar - September 1-7

2008-09-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

An Honest Prayer

2008-08-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

By Jordan Stone

You do not have to spend a great deal of time in the book of Psalm to notice that the Psalms of David are incredibly schizophrenic in nature. One minute he is in anguish and the next minute he seems to be writing a joyful chorus. For example, take Psalm 13:

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him,"
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

For four verses David bares his soul before the Lord. He is upset. He is broken. He is questioning. But, he does not lose sight of God's providential blessing for he still will rejoice and sing to the Lord. May our prayers be example of such honesty and understanding that even in the hard time God is still good.

Prayer as Worship

2008-08-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

By Stan Rhoden

John Piper says this about worship: “true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine. Strong affections for God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship. Biblical worship involves some kind of outward act. The very word in Hebrew means to bow down. Worship is bowing, lifting hands, praying, singing, preaching, performing rites of eating, cleansing, ordaining and so on”.

Worship stirs our affections for God. Worship is not just singing it is a way of life. One of the most powerful ways we can worship is through prayer. Through prayer we show gratitude and adoration, we come and bow before him and lay our selves at his throne, prayer is a very precious and intimate time of worship with our Lord. David through the Psalms shows us what it is to worship God through Prayer.

In Psalm 69:1-3 we see David crying out to the Lord to save and restore him:
“Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflow me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; my eyes fail while I wait for my God…”
This verse shows the great worth of our God, and how David feels about him. David is saying that no matter what happens to him and how bad life may get, that the potential, the very thought of God is better then any substance of anything else. David is worshiping God; he is proclaiming His worth and greatness. The book of Psalms are prayers worshiping God knowing that He is far greater, that His ways and thoughts are higher then ours and there is nothing better. (Isaiah 55:9)

God created us to worship. Every time we pray we worship. No matter what the circumstance – grief, anger, or joy – our communication with God brings Him glory because we acknowledge that He is bigger and better. As we pray throughout the week, may we not forget that we are worshiping, I pray we take the time to engage Him and allow Him to speak to us. As we come in on Sunday mornings for a time of corporate worship, may it we an overflow of what God has done and revealed to us that week.

Weekly Prayer Calendar - August 25-31

2008-08-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

Prayer Request

2008-08-21T12:17:00.001-07:00

By Caesar Hemogeno

Kindly pray for my Bible study at Samaritan Inn where the word of the Lord will come alive in each of the residents that attend my meetings. I don’t know if everyone that attends my Bible study is a Christian but I am hoping that the word of the Lord and His grace would soften their hearts for the gospel. During my meetings, I observed that there are hurts that need healing, lives have been shattered through divorce, and a hope of a new beginning is desired by everyone. I am working on gaining their trust where they can be themselves when I am around.

To share a little background, the initial intent of the Bible study was primarily designed for men but as the word got out, several women have been attending on a regular basis. In their humble situation, the women especially had been unable to show transparency to share what’s going in their lives. The men on the other hand, found the Bible study to be a forum where they are able to express their frustrations, desire to be back in the community and wanting to have a stable job. At times, I just listen and praise the Lord for His meekness.

My goal for the next couple of months is for our congregation to meet these men and women. To let them know that hundreds of people have been praying for them.

Praying with Emotion

2008-08-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

By Jordan Stone

For many people (Christians and non-Christians) the idea of praying with emotion is a foreign concept. The examples of prayer that they see and hear are far from emotional, yet Scripture is full of emotional cries to the Lord - just read the Psalms. For this post's purposes I would like to focus on the prayer of Hannah.

Hannah's story is found in 1 Samuel and here is a quick overview . . . Hannah was deeply devoted to her husband Elkanah, but the Lord had closed her womb (1 Samuel 1:5) and she was childless. Year after year went by and still no child was given, yet she continually and earnestly sought the Lord in prayer. So earnest in fact that one time the temple priest Eli mistook her passionate prayers for drunkenness. "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." (1 Samuel 1:15-16)

Eli then tells her to go in peace and, "may the God of Israel grant what you have asked of him." (1 Samuel 1:17) Sure enough the Lord opens her womb and blesses her with a son named Samuel. Let us notice her response in chapter 2:

Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

"There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God."

In the prayers of Hannah hear a heart that yearns for the Lord. Hear a child-like cry for His presence. Hear a woman who overflows with joy uncontainable. Hear that God is good. May our prayers be tinged with emotion that comes from a heart that has been ruined by the goodness and mercy of our Great God.

Involving and Teaching Your Children

2008-08-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

By Amanda Shelton

As we strive to be intentional in the spiritual teaching of our children, I urge you during this season of prayer and fasting to not only participate, but to use your participation as an opportunity to talk with your children about the practice of prayer and fasting and what it means for your relationship with God.

There are seasons in life when we give up things that normally play a large role in our day-to-day activities, in this case eating, in order to more eagerly and deliberately pursue the Lord through prayer. Just as we are intentional in our pursuit of God, so should we be in how we communicate this new season with our children.

Children notice when things change. When mom and dad don’t sit down for dinner, when snacks are left unopened and dessert left unprepared, children understand that something out of the ordinary is going on. Take the opportunity to have an open dialogue about why you and your spouse are not eating. Explain that when we go without, it is so that we can pursue the Lord in a more disciplined and uninterrupted manner. Explain that while food is a gift from God and something that we can partake of in worship, foregoing eating for a season can serve to renew purpose, insight and direction and increase worship and trust.

Instead of catching up on the day over a family meal, think of the testimony as your children watch you come together in prayer for your church. Instead of hearing the latest news or the plans for the coming weekend, imagine how powerful it would be for your children to hear you call out to God for wisdom and direction. Instead of the laughter and casual conversation that may accompany the normal dinnertime, think of the significance in a home in quiet contemplation and sober prayer.

Consider also ways you can encourage your children to fast. Maybe your child can fast from television, video games, or a favorite toy or electronic. Be creative in involving your children and helping them to see the part they can play in prayer and fasting. Walk through this practice with them, helping them to pray and worship as they give up some form of entertainment. What a sweet time you can share with your child as you seek the Lord together!

As with every act of worship, we want to deliberately communicate the heart behind the things we are practicing. As you obediently spend time in prayer and fasting during this season, make sure you are being careful to talk openly, pray openly and worship openly before the God who sees.

May the things you partake of and the things you refrain from serve to reveal to your children your love for God and His glory.

Text Message Prayer Reminder

2008-08-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

In an effort to best communicate and raise awareness of various prayer needs within our body we are now offering prayer reminders via text messaging. If you are interested in receiving these reminders contact info@insideprovidence.com, provide your name and appropriate mobile number, and we will send you a text this week!

Weekly Prayer Calendar - August 18-24

2008-08-18T13:11:00.001-07:00

An OT Model of Prayer

2008-08-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

By Jordan Stone

Throughout our "Season of Prayer and Fasting" we will be posting various examples of prayer in Scripture and our first example comes from Nehemiah 1. The context of Nehemiah 1 is this . . . A man named Hanani comes to Nehemiah and informs him about the troubles and disgraceful conditions of the Jewish people and also tells him that the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burnt with fire. Nehemiah subsequently mourns and fasts for several days, and then prays to his God in preparation to meet King Artaxerxes and request permission to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.

Notice the content of the prayer that follows, hear a man who has intimate knowledge of His God, hear the centrality of God, hear conviction and repentance over sin, hear a man who knows the Word and stands on its promises, and hear a man who does not go ahead of God, but rather seeks Him in prayer first.

"4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."" - Nehemiah 1:4-11

Weekly Prayer Calendar - August 11-17

2008-08-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

Corporate Day of Fasting

2008-08-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

We will have our first day of corporate fasting on Wednesday August 20th as part of our two-month season of "Prayer and Fasting." Spend the day fasting and praying for Providence and then join us at 7:00pm in the church to break the fast with worship and communion. The other two days of corporate fasting will be September 11th and 24th.

Prayer Calendar for August 4-10

2008-08-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

WAYS TO PRAY FOR PROVIDENCE THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK

Monday - Leadership - 2 Timothy 2:2

Tuesday - Marriages - 1 Peter 3:1

Wednesday - Family - Psalm 139:23-24

Thursday - The Lost - Matthew 9-12

Friday - God’s impact on the surrounding community through Providence - Romans 12:19-21

Saturday - Sunday Morning Worship - Hebrews 10:19-22

Sunday - The Direction of Providence - Hebrews 13:20-21