If My people pray
This is a perspective from another brother in Christ. A blog about prayer should be pretty easy to write within the Alliance, the Networks, the Clusters, the Hubs, Churches, Ministries, and all of the connecting parts. 2 Chronicles 7:14 states: “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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Dear brothers and sisters, we, that is those in various leadership positions, staff or volunteering need to set the tone for those around us. The Word is our guide, and it calls each of us to be in conversation with God continually. This is not a place to teach on such things but consider what those around you see. When a situation is brought up do we pray before we take the next step? Putting a thing on a list is not in and of itself a bad idea but the moment is ripe for us to pray first, to exercise our relationship with Jesus and before our Creator.
As leaders we must open ourselves up to the opportunity and challenge of giving voice to a concern or praise before the assembly, or one on one. If we have an expectation for others to pray in the moment, there must be an example by faith that calls upon the name of the Lord. What I have seen at times is dry wells because we have not allowed the voices of God’s children, the body of Christ, to express themselves as God leads. 1 Corinthians 14:15 —"I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.”
The body looks to us for a model just as much as the disciples looked to Jesus. Jesus modeled a life of prayer publicly and privately. Every church should have a prayer team. Not a group of saints cloistered away in some closet but as an open body that prays for the concerns at hand. The prayer team needs to have each of us engaged with them for the sake of the kingdom of God. We should not prescribe the nature of this work but allow for the Spirit to guide their voices. Ephesians 6:18 — "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
Before each gathering do we prepare in prayer for those that will faithfully guide the activities at hand? Are there saints praying before, during, and after each activity? Do you anoint those called to lead? When led by the Spirit, would you stop and let that moment direct your next action? Would you make room for the saints to speak into the processes at hand? As we journey through the development of the Apostolic, Prophetic, Evangelistic, Shepherding, and Teaching roles none will have credibility without an undergirding of prayer. “If my people pray” is a call from God to repent, pray, listen, and obey.
-Tony De La Rosa
Tony serves as member of the Alliance’s Shaking House Prayer Team and as a Revitalization Pastor at Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo, MN. Tony’s passion is simply to pray, listen, and obey.