The Request

"Devote yourselves to prayer...praying at the same time for us."
Colossians 4:2

Imprisonment drove Paul to his knees. What appeared to be a disastrous interruption to his mission, Paul received as a Divine appointment. Through his devotion to prayer, Paul found a new level of freedom in prison. Though his body was shackled, his heart was free to communicate with The Father.

NOTE TO SELF: Paul interceded for others, and requested others to pray for him. You should too. Prayer didn’t prepare Paul to be a better preacher. It transformed him into an intercessor. It will do the same for you. When the world gives you down time, don't waste it.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Circle

NOTE TO SELF: The family of God is a concentric circle, not a closed circle. God's grace draws people out of the darkness to join a family reunion. When they show up at the campfire, embrace them. Don't slap them back into the darkness.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Provision

"And my God shall provide all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
Philippians 4:19-20

NOTE TO SELF: When you find yourself deeper in debt by digging your own "MINE" shaft, stop digging. When you find yourself trapped in your own "MINE" field, stop waking. Racing ahead of Jesus leads to "MINE" explosions. Prayer leads to a desire for "THINE" over "MINE," and aligns you with God's will. Yield to His pace in the race. Let Him decide if what you want is what you need. Glorify God with what you have, not with what you want.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Response

Talking, reading, thinking, studying, discussing, singing, serving, and even giving in a crisis are poor substitutes for praying your way through a crisis.

In Luke 24, Jesus asks a life-changing question to two of His disciples. He spoke two simple words, "What things?"

Jesus was not looking for information from them. He was inviting them to enter into a conversation with Him. He walked with them, and through the Scriptures until He made sense out of the senseless, and transformed the impossible into the HIMpossible.

NOTE TO SELF: He still does.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Waiting

"Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage. Wait for the Lord."
Psalms 27:14

NOTE TO SELF: "Wait Loss" costs you more than you want to lose. Waiting on God leads to R.E.S.T. when you Release Every Single Thing to Him.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Practice

"He always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25

Musicians practice music. Lawyers practice law. Doctors practice medicine. Christians practice what they see Christ do. Prayer is the evidence of a practicing Christian.

NOTE TO SELF: Intercession is not a way of life for you. It is a sign of Christ's life in you.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Cooperation

"I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord."
Philippians 4:2

Paul did not urge these two church ladies to sing the same note, but to sing off the same page and harmonize with one another. Harmony in the church doesn't come from always agreeing with one another. It comes from deferring to one another.

Paul called on these two worthy women to defer to one another. Praying for one another increases the capacity of two people to merge with one another. When opinions collide, Prayer Warriors prefer to defer.

NOTE TO SELF: There is a huge difference between “Die heretic!” and “You may be right.” The first leads to annihilation. The second leaves room for cooperation. When you find yourself caught between the crossfire of two different opinions, pray for people to have the urge to merge.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Silence

Today marks the date in 1962 when Astronaut John Glenn orbited the earth. I was a sixth grader listening to the live broadcast over the school intercom, at Mill Lane Jr. High School of Farmingdale, New York.

At the point of reentering the earth's atmosphere, Glenn went into radio silence. We all bowed our heads and prayed. Not a sound was heard or word spoken as we prayed for the shield on his capsule to resist the intense heat.

When radio contact was finally restored, we heard his voice, crackling with static over the intercom. It was all we needed. The school exploded with cheering. There is nothing more overrated than panic, and nothing more underrated than answered prayer.

NOTE TO SELF: Answered prayer always has a powerful impact on your life in the middle of your crisis.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Sheep

"My sheep hear My voice." Jesus -
John 10:27

The Father's obedient children are not only on speaking terms with His Son, they listen for the sound of His voice. The moment His children fall in love with the sound of their own voices, they become rebels in His Kingdom, and lose their First Love.

NOTE TO SELF: You may claim to have a family relationship with The Father and wear the name of His Son on your clothing and jewelry, but when you are prayerless your witness bears little resemblance to the character of Christ. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice." Don't act like one of the lost sheep. If Jesus has found you, seek Him.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Run

"I press on toward the goal..." Philippians 3:14

NOTE TO SELF: The race transforms your character on earth, by keeping your eyes on Jesus. Prayer keeps your focus on Him, and not on the crisis of the day. Focusing on the crisis is like looking over your shoulder while running a race. Prayer focuses your eyes on the leader of the race, the goal and the prize, all at the same time. Run to Jesus.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!