Good Morning House of Prayer! God has been leading me, to not only speak to us about prayer, but to actually practice praying together. Mike got a Word from God to preach on dangerous prayers and the thought to ask God to use, send, and break you. God has put on our hearts the importance of becoming a House of Prayer for the Nations and to the motivation to begin that earnestly over the next few months. God has led me from childhood to be a pray-er and has allowed me over the years to learn to pray and to see the results of the powerful and effectiveness of praying in Jesus' name. PTL! Many of you can attest to that as well. God hears and answers the earnest prayers of His righteous ones. (That's those in Christ who pray according to Hs character and will) Everything and anything of importance begins with, is empowered through and flourishes by prayer. For many of us, our calling for this season of life is to be a prayer warrior. However, we are all called to pray. We have looked at the example of Jesus and the importance of prayer in His life. We have witnessed the disciples begging Jesus to teach them how to pray and His willingness to do so. So, let's start there today! Jesus, teach us to pray! Thanks! Amen!

Did you pray that earnestly with a heart desiring to learn how to pray and pray more effectively? If not, go back, humble yourself before Almighty God, and ask Him to give you a heart to pray and to open your heart and mind to learn how He wants to teach you to pray and ask Him again to do so. He has great plans for you and us that are discovered, released, and empowered as we pray. And sometimes, we are to be the answers to our prayers or the prayers of others.

Last week our Tuesday Zoom huddle began looking at prayer and the how to of it. (This week we begin study how to read our Bibles and use His Word in prayer) Even the most devout and effective pray-er can learn to pray better and according to God's will more often. This week we had planned to continue to learn about prayer and the how to. Big God thing today for me! I have been praying for a long time for God to teach us to pray, stir those who are called to pray for such a time as this to be revealed and rise up and for our church to become a House of Prayer for the Nations because Jesus said that is what His Church should be. Today, I prayerfully began my quiet time journaling my prayers for the day. Then I spent some time with God prayerfully in His Word and through our devotionals for today. As I wrapped that up and prepared to allow God to write this blog and asked Him to lead me this week and for Sunday's message, I encountered the Harvest prayer Connections and Tuesday blogs (see below and click link and engage with God as He teaches us about prayer and some how to's of it)

Exhale all the junk that has you bound up and breathe in a fresh breath of the Spirit, Turn off the noise and focus on God. Ask Him earnestly to teach you to pray and to inform your prayers for today. Repent of any sin that may be hindering Him from hearing or responding to your prayers and commit to doing what He reveals as you pray. He has great plans for you--even to teach you how to be a powerful and effective pray-er! And remember, we are all unique and we will not all pray in the same ways, nor does God always have the same prayer focus for each of us for each day. But, He has called us to pray and promised that as we pray in His name, He will hear and answer according to His perfect will and timing. PTL! Amen! Start with the Connections blog then click the link below that and spend some time with God learning to pray! We will continue this focus for a season as God leads. What's He teaching you about prayer? How can you join with one or two others to pray? Ask Him as you still yourself. He will speak to you and inform your prayers and steps for today. Amen! And know this: I am earnestly praying for you to step into your created, custom made prayer role in His Good News Delivery Company and for you to pray powerful prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen! May we soon have some great stories about the good fruit being produced through our prayers and lots of praise and thanksgiving to lift from them! Amen!

Connections:

March 18 - Prayer – the Direct Link What does kingdom praying entail? Kingdom praying includes that dimension of intercession that reaches beyond our immediate surroundings. Praying about personal, local matters often happens more naturally and more consistently for most of us. My problems, my work, my family, my needs, and the concerns of those close to me—these tend to come more spontaneously to my heart and mind. Of course, personal, local praying is valid. In fact, it is essential. God longs for us to bring our personal burdens to Him.   Yet kingdom praying is a level of praying that reaches beyond us. Kingdom praying, then, seeks to discern what God wants to happen in His kingdom, and prays for that to take place. In kingdom praying, we seek to attune our hearts to His heart’s desire and pray for its fulfillment.   What is God’s heart’s desire? He expresses it throughout the Scripture: “that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations” (Ps. 67:2). God wants all people saved! Peter expressed it very plainly that our Lord is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9, NIV). Our Lord’s heart’s desire is for all people to love and worship Him and become a part of His kingdom. Thus, His desire, according to His Word, must become the mission of every follower of Christ, the mission of every church.   The staggering fact before us is that at least two-thirds of the world’s population do not know and love God’s Son. What can God’s people do? Throw up our hands? As a matter of fact, yes, like Moses did—in intercession.   Hear again the psalmist quoting God: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance” (Ps. 2:8, NIV). In one of the most astounding statements in the Bible, God makes a connection between our asking and the nations being saved. He declares a direct link between the prayers of His people and the accomplishment of His heart’s desire. He reveals that kingdom praying is a priority strategy in making Christ known and loved.   Sovereign Lord, today I am asking for the nations! This is a huge request, but one I know is upon Your heart and is completely in Your perfect will, for it is clearly stated in Scripture. If Your desire is for the nations to bow before You, this is now my desire also. Keep my mind and heart fixed upon Your kingdom purposes as I pray…don’t allow me to continually be tempted to default to the little prayers of my own kingdom! Thank You for the privilege of prayer…and that You allow me to ask You for things of eternal significance! I praise You that I am able to change the world one prayer at a time!   --Adapted from Giving Ourselves to Prayer (An Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry) edited by Dan Crawford; (Chapter 73: Kingdom Praying by Minette Drumwright Pratt). This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.

Harvest links: look at and spend time with God in prayer through both blogs today, ask for forgiveness, offer it and pray for our church as you engage with these.

https://mail.yahoo.com/n/list/folders=1&listFilter=ALL_INBOX/messages/242184?.src=ym&reason=myc 

Our Daily Bread (some of us are gifted to pray. We are all called to pray) Raise your hands like Moses in praise and prayer today!

God-Given Skills and Talents I have filled [Bezalel] with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs. Exodus 31:3-4 READ Exodus 31:1-11 LISTEN ONLINE Some of the most famous pianists in the world, including Van Cliburn and Vladimir Horowitz, relied on Franz Mohr, chief concert technician at Steinway & Sons in New York, to ensure that their concert pianos were ready for performances. A master piano tuner, Mohr was sought after for his intricate knowledge of pianos and great skill developed over decades. Mohr believed his skills were an avenue to serve God, and he regularly shared his faith with pianists and performance staff. When the nation of Israel was preparing to build the tent of meeting and other items necessary for worship, they needed individuals with expert skills (Exodus 31:7-11). God appointed two skilled artisans, Bezalel and Oholiab, to do the work and filled them with the “Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs” (vv. 3-4). In addition to their specialized skills, God empowered them with His Spirit to guide their work. Their willingness to use their unique talents in service to God allowed the Israelites to appropriately worship Him. Whether or not we consider ourselves artistic, each of us has unique, God-given gifts that we can use to serve others (Romans 12:6). Empowered by the Spirit, we can serve and worship God through our work using the wisdom, understanding, and skills He’s given us. By Lisa M. Samra REFLECT & PRAY What are some of the talents God’s given you? How might you use them to serve Him? Heavenly Father, please remind me that the abilities You’ve given me are to be a holy offering.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT God told Pharaoh to “let my people go, so that they may worship me” (Exodus 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). Two months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites encamped at the base of Mount Sinai (19:1-2) where God gave His people the law (chs. 20-24) and instructions on how they were to live, worship, and serve Him (chs. 25-31). The tabernacle, built according to God’s exact blueprint, was His dwelling place—“a holy sanctuary so [he could] live among [his people]” (25:8 nlt). God appointed two master craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab, and gave them special abilities to lead the work and teach other craftsmen and artisans (31:1-6; see 35:30-34). God also endowed others with enhanced skills to accomplish the work (31:6-11; see 35:35–36:2). K.T. Sim

Upper Room: Excited to Serve (are you excited to serve God--even as a prayer warrior?)

It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. - Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

As I planned the upcoming meeting of our Christian fellowship group, I gave one friend the job of welcoming people as they arrived. Following our meeting, I received a message from her: “Sister,” she said, “can I take on this ministry again next week? I loved doing it.”

Welcoming people is a simple ministry, but my friend was excited to do it. I could see in her heart that she would do whatever she could to be the hands of God.

That same desire was in the apostle Paul’s heart, even in prison. The letters he wrote while in prison have blessed generations of people.

The desire to serve God grows out of the belief that “it is God who works in [us] to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” If we can embrace the same excitement and desire to serve God as my friend did in our fellowship group, we will be doing fruitful labor for God. God entrusts to us many opportunities for service. Following my friend’s example, whatever work I can do for God, I will be excited to do!

Today's Prayer

Dear God, continue to show us that our lives are filled with opportunities to reveal your love and purpose to your people. May we serve joyfully. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

I to We: (Don't forget to rest and abide and recharge! Prayer is hard work!)