The Worshiping Minstrel and the Prick

Last night I woke up with a strolling minstrel on my mind--a worshiping minstrel. I could see this minstrel travelling through Waterford worshiping the Lord and bringing the presence of the Lord as he went. Today, instead of going to church, Tim and I drove around Waterford praying. I guess we were like strolling minstrels, travelling through the township breathing out words of prayer and praise. We drove by many of the churches and pulled into the parking lots of some of them. We prayed, we worshiped, we watched people coming and going into the churches and we sought the Lord. I could feel the love of the Lord for the people. He really does love everyone.

At one point the Lord showed me something quite interesting. I saw a "prick," something like a thorn, under a person's skin. This prick was the conviction of the Holy Spirit. (The Lord used this word when speaking to Saul. He said, "It is hard for you to kick against the pricks." Some translations say goads instead of pricks). What I saw was this thing inside of a person and he was resisting it--the conviction of the Holy Spirit. As he resisted the Holy Spirit, the prick became overlaid with guilt. Like the body was trying to encapsulate the object as a form of protection. The person imposed his own feeling of guilt on himself rather than facing the conviction of the Holy Spirit. But he wouldn't be at rest until the prick was out of there. There will always be inner irritation when one resists the Holy Spirit. This is true of a sinner who resists the Holy Spirit drawing to Jesus, and it's also true of a saint who is resisting His guidance.

When we live our lives from a guilt motivation rather than from the leading of the Holy Spirit, we end up religious people who try and find peace through good works. We will try and earn our salvation and either take pride in our accomplishments, or condemn ourselves for not living up to the standards of our self-imposed work-based religion. This is how people have a form of godliness yet deny the power. There can be no power as long as a person resists the Holy Spirit.

Father God, I pray all forms of religious, self-righteousness be removed from Your Waterford Church. Show us how we have resisted You, not willing to surrender to You completely. Let us be a people who yield to Your Holy Spirit in every way and in every situation. I pray Your people realize how great Your love is and that You can be trusted with every area of their lives, and that Your judgments are true and right. You cause everything to work together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. We yield to Your Spirit and do not trust in our own efforts to save us!

Acts 26:14; John 16:7-15; 2 Timothy 3:5; Romans 8:14; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:28
Re-prayer December 24, 2011

Prayer Leaders Arise!

I pray for the prayer ministry leaders of the Waterford churches. God, raise them up in every church. Give them a prophetic influence and anointing. Let Your prayer leaders have a voice of influence that becomes strong and increases. Raise up prayer leaders who are pure in heart and words. That they do not have a divided tongue and are not a double headed fountain that spews out both sweet and bitter waters, but speak by the Spirit of God and for the Spirit of God. Let them rise up as eagles to see and pray from Your perspective. That they impart a prophetic, intercessory, watchman, sons of Issachar anointing among those who gather and pray with them. Not to gather a following for themselves, for they are humble people. Lead them O God, in prayer for the township, the nation, the churches, schools and residents by Your Spirit. Show us O God, what is on Your heart. Lead us to speak Your words of life into and over those areas You desire to move in.

Psalm 19:14; James 3:11; 1 Chronicles 12:32
Re-prayer December 17, 2011

Let the Children Come

I remember three years ago sensing God's heart for the children of Waterford. I felt He wanted to touch them in a great way, even giving them special encounters with Him. I still believe this today. At that time I felt that the churches would need to be prepared to minister to a greater number of children, even going out to get them if necessary. I feel it's important for us to realize that God doesn't view children as being less than adults in any way. Jesus said we must receive the kingdom of God like a child in order to enter in. He rebuked those who tried to keep the little children away from Him. I'm not convinced that ministering to the children means sending them off to a separate room. They are a part of the body of Christ, no less than the adults are. I think there are times to have the whole body together, including the children. When we come together, our main purpose is to minister to the Lord, not to be ministered to. We minister to Him in praise, worship and giving. When it comes to teaching, it may benefit to have the children separate, but other times it may not be such a good idea.

Father God, I pray You touch the heart of each child in Waterford. Open their hearts to receive Your love. Let them become aware of Your goodness towards them in a powerful, life-changing way. Give them special encounters with You--dreams, visions, revelation and visitation. Let them experience all they need to fulfill what You have called them to do. Let them receive the instruction, the mentoring and the impartations they need to be fully equipped for their purpose in life. May they become leaders in government, education and business. Impart wisdom to them that will benefit the township, the county, the state, even our country. Fill them with creative ideas and witty inventions. May they be spiritual leaders who know You and love to spend time with You. Let them be an army of worshipers with praise and thanksgiving continually on their lips. Position them O God, where they need to be. Speak to them O God so they know Your voice and follow You all the days of their lives. Open the eyes of the adults so we see the value of these children. That we see them how You see them and help them in their walk with You.

Mark 10:15; Matthew 19:14
Re-prayer December 10, 2011

Inside-Out Conversion

Lord, I pray for there to be a true, heartfelt sincerity among Your people concerning prayer. That the people truly desire for You to have Your way in this community. That we pray, not out of a sense of obligation but that we see that we need Your wisdom and we want to walk in Your ways, seeing that they are much better than what we could ever do on our own. I pray that we love and embrace Your ways. That we yield to You in every aspect of our lives. I pray that the same is true for the businesses of this community. 

Let the township have a true inside-out conversion experience. That we don't just appear to honor You outwardly, but we sincerely do honor You inwardly. I pray that there is true conversion--true salvation and sanctification--of this community and not just a shuffling around of the good, the evil or the religious. We don't want to see those who are not living for You be driven off to another community, but we want to see them become followers of You--becoming Your disciples. Not so we build a kingdom to ourselves, but so we build Your kingdom.

I pray for a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit of God to blow through this region, drawing men, woman and children to the Father through Jesus Christ. That each one grow up to maturity and function in the call You place on their lives. That they find the land of their anointing and worship You in it. I pray this be true for everyone, whether they live, work or visit this community--that they find their place in You and in the body of Christ.

Water-ford. May it truly be a ford--a place of crossing over. A place of new birth and new life. A place where people can pass from death to life. A place where we die to ourselves and live for You. A place where sin, selfishness and greed convert to holiness and righteousness!

Re-prayer December 3, 2011

Prayer for Free Worship

O Lord, let the church be free to worship You. Let there be freedom in the churches today. Freedom to express true and sincere worship to You Lord, from a pure heart. Let everything that would stop people from worshiping You be removed--fear of man, intimidation, complacency or a lack of understanding our ultimate purpose to worship You. Let every chain be broken and let there be freedom and expressive worship and praise.

Let all who name the name of Christ depart from iniquity and abandon all that is contrary to Your purposes. Let them be filled with Your Holy Spirit and let us breathe out the Spirit of God into our churches, as well as our homes, neighborhoods, streets and communities. 

The atmosphere of the Holy Spirit, combined with a spark of God's love, ignites a worship explosion!

Re-prayer November 28, 2011