Book nine here.
Book eight here.
Book seven here.
Book five here.
This is a continuation of my practice to take notes on what I prayed.
Chapter One
1. Rev 13:8 ...the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
The cross is much more than the point in time when you gave your life for us. Jesus, your sacrifice transcends eternity. Your salvation plan was already accomplished before you even created anything.
Wow. Our view of you is so limited. Open our understanding to know your ways.
2. So much of our bondage is self-imposed. Yes, the enemy does try to mess up our lives, but mostly, we do this to ourselves. Perversely, we like our bondages. We treasure them. They give us bragging rights. Excuses. False humility. Pride.
Holy Spirit, set us free from ourselves.
3. The worries of this life distract us from the kingdom. We forgot whose we are. Therefore, worries are idols.
Holy Spirit, we need you to transform us. Help us to set aside anything that inhibits our connection with you. Tear down every idol in our lives.
4. Eccl 5:2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
I must learn how to pray more efficiently.
5. I wonder if the sermon should be first, to prepare us for worship. Or rather, as we prepare ourselves for worship, maybe putting the sermon first in the service facilitates our preparation.
6. The priests did hours of extensive preparation to enter the holy place, lest they die. Compare that with us dragging ourselves out of bed, doing our morning thing, and showing up to church 10 minutes late with a bad attitude.
Ugh. Father, forgive us.
7. Maybe the form of our church doesn't need to change but the substance and power probably does.
8. What if we put as much work into our spiritual appearance as we do our physical appearance?
9. The glory of your presence changes everything. In fact, it is the answer every other prayer I've ever had.
10. The manifestations of your glory has not been rare in our day. I'm asking that you do it here.
11. You can do so much more than I can ask or imagine, so I ask you to do at least what I can imagine.
12. Psalm 57:8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
Why should we not think our worship impacts the heavenly realms?
13. You are God easily. It's not hard for you. With but a word you could answer a billion prayers. Sustaining the universe barely requires an effort. The magnitude of your power defies understanding.
Even knowing this it's easy to underestimate you.
I wonder how my prayers might change if I truly understood this.
14. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Behold: Greek, idou, "...functions as a literary device to emphasize the importance or urgency of the message."
Accord to Paul, it's urgent for us to know we are new creations. How many of us don't really believe this? I want to live the new man I am.
15. I don’t want to think that Sunday church is the only place I worship. I want to consciously do church outside the church. Or better, bring church to the other six days of the week.
16. What if revival tarries because of the sin of just one person? What if it's me? What if I'm harboring some secret sin? Even bitterness, resentment, or jealousy?
I pray that I'm not that obstacle to revival. Father, show me my heart.
17. Rom 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood.
I know it's not possible to trade one's salvation so that another would be saved, but I'm starting to understand Paul's passion for his own people.
I want to have that kind of passion in me, father, for the people of our church. I would forego every Holy Spirit encounter, every insight, every prophecy I might ever experience, every blessing, for the sake of these people... for them to know you, to be transformed, to minister in power, to be world changers.
18. You reveal enough of yourself for anyone to be able to come to you in faith. But there remains many glorious mysteries to ponder. Things too wonderful to know. I have many questions. I lack much understanding. Help me to know you.
Chapter Two
1. I remember how this church struggled. It's a wonder we survived. Now, we should be going for it. We are past the rough waters, and it's time to cruise. Time to rise up. Time to explode.
2. Between Christmas and the start of the fast seems sort of like "down time" for the church. I pray against that. We can't let our guard down. I pray these days would be spent diligently preparing for the 21 days.
3. Isaiah 61:2 ...to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor... I proclaim that 2025 will be the year of the Lord's favor upon our church.
4. Father, I pray our elders and pastors will have clear vision for 2025. I pray they would have a passion for Your presence. I pray they would become irrevocably burdened for prayer. I pray they would lead us into your purposes in these Last Days.
5. We're going to experience attacks this coming year, not typical ones. They will come from unexpected people and places. Even from "friends." Sometimes cloaked in being nice: "I just want to help."
Sexual temptation. Witchcraft. Potiphar's wife comes to mind. (Genesis 39) This feels like it's a pressing and real danger.
6. Every new year causes me to pray for you to do a new thing in our church. I usually picture a magnificent, glorious move of your Spirit. What I have seen up until now is a gradual, incremental metamorphosis.
You're preparing us. Maturing us. So take as long as you like, Holy Spirit. Then, if you want, unveil your glory. I'm happy to wait.
7. One of the signs of revival is new music.
Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Praise to you, Lord, for the new songs we've been singing. Bless these songwriters with melodies and lyrics that profoundly expess your glories.
8. John 5:46 If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.
Jesus dropped this bomb on the Pharisees after he healed a man on the Sabbath. You were written about from the beginning. This Man comes out of eternity as savior.
9. Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.
Father, would you cast off from us those passions that divide our hearts. Lead us into your paths, and teach us the fear of the Lord.
10. 2 Chron. 5:14 ... the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
Oh, that this would happen here in our church!
11. Hagg 2:7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty.
Come to this house, O LORD.
12. Amos 9:13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it."
Amen, let this harvest be bountiful, let multitudes enter the kingdom even as new seeds are being planted right on the harvester's heels.
13. What shall be my prayer priorities this year?
- Discipleship
- Spiritual Maturity
- Holiness
- A passion for prayer
- Revival
- Outpoured Holy Spirit
- Your kingdom come
14. Heb 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity...
I hope we don't gain a single Christian to attend our church this year. I hope instead we would gain many as they become Christians.
Chapter Three
1. Not all experiences with God are pleasant. Sometimes a Holy Spirit encounter needs to be a reckoning.
Luke 12:48 From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
You have given us much. Now, will we be found to be good and faithful servants?
2. It seems like we need a church historian. So many things have happened over the years. God has done amazing things. When I read my old prayer notes I see how many prayers have been answered.
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.
Father, I remember. I remember Your faithfulness, your goodness. Your presence, your mercy. How amazing is your steadfastness! Thank you Lord for moving in this church. Thank you for your promises.
Psalm 75:2 we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.
Remembrance is a refresher course that builds faith in your promises.
3. How might we hear you more clearly, Holy Spirit? I think you are telling us a lot more than we're hearing. It's not that we can't hear, it probably because we are not familiar enough with the realm from where you speak.
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Phroneó: "...a deliberate choice of thought or attitude, reflecting one's values and priorities."
It's a matter of where we fix our attention.
4. So many times, revival has been destroyed by people doing stupid things. I pray we never grieve or quench you, Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19: Do not quench the Spirit...
sbennumi, to quench or extinguish, often used in the context of putting out a fire or stopping something from continuing.
5. I pray that many in our church would connect with you in profound ways during the fast. This could change the course of history for them. And the church.
6. Oh, father. I repent of my self serving narcissism. Why do I think it's about me? Self promotion. Reputation. Appearances. How do these things creep in and take hold?
7. John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God...
I am your child by right. I wonder if I really understand what that includes.
8. Acts 26:14 Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.
kentron, the pointed end of a goad used to drive animals. Paul was kicking against, resisting, where Jesus wanted him.
I don't want this to be me, Jesus.
9. Make us steadfast. Are we standing on the rock? Or are we swayed by circumstances?
- Faith is easy when things are going my way.
- Obedience is easy when there's no temptation.
- Prayer is easy when good things are happening.
- Worship is easy when there's no hardship
10. Haggai 2:9 The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
Your glory in the house is not a guarantee. Make this church shine bright with glory, now and for a thousand generations.
11. I'm surprised what a difference it makes if I skip a morning of prayer. All day long I think of what I missed.
12. I didn't plan on praying in the church every morning for more than just a month, and now it's been 8 months. It's been such a wonderful (and difficult) time. Now with the fast I think I will be here mornings and evenings. I'm really looking forward to that.
13. Sometimes I feel like I'm useless to the church. I'm not in any groups, not on any committees, not a part of any ministries. I feel like I should be doing more, but I don't know what.
Chapter Four
1. Prayer and fasting is not the goal, obedience is. But if we will not obey your call to pray, how will we ever know your heart and obey?
That means obedience to pray is the gateway to all other obedience.
2. The day before the fast seems like an unusually weighty time. Father, are you going to do something amazing? What are you going to say? Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
3. Holy Spirit, we know how to fast. Teach us how to pray.
4. One of our greatest flaws is underestimating you.
5. Infamous words: "did God really say?" This question precipitates doubt. But it's a life motto for way too many Christians.
6. The area most Christians fall short is when it comes to faith.
7. Things God did say:
9. The first meeting of the prayer and fast was last night (Tuesday). Holy Spirit, your presence was wonderful. There was corporate prayer, exhortation, and worship that I have been waiting for since I first came here 15 years ago.
The person who prophesied over me totally undid me. He just walked up to me and started talking. I wept as he told me my heart and spoke of my burden for the church.
Father, is this the stirrings of the revival I've been waiting for? I don’t want to get too hyped up over a single meeting, but Holy Spirit, when you start to move like you did last night, well, it's easy for me to get my hopes up.
10. I pray that you would continue to invade us, to tear down walls, to heal, save, and restore. I pray that this was just a hint of a great work you're about to do.
11. Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
After this you make a promise:
Joel 2:28 And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.
Let it be that we are in that day when you will once again pour out your Spirit.
12. To me, the highest expression of prayer is when the saints physically come together and agree in the Spirit.
13. We might start out well when we resolve to pray. But the flesh cannot perpetuate a lasting desire to pray.
1. Prayer and fasting is not the goal, obedience is. But if we will not obey your call to pray, how will we ever know your heart and obey?
That means obedience to pray is the gateway to all other obedience.
2. The day before the fast seems like an unusually weighty time. Father, are you going to do something amazing? What are you going to say? Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
3. Holy Spirit, we know how to fast. Teach us how to pray.
4. One of our greatest flaws is underestimating you.
5. Infamous words: "did God really say?" This question precipitates doubt. But it's a life motto for way too many Christians.
6. The area most Christians fall short is when it comes to faith.
7. Things God did say:
- John 14:12 ...whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these...
- James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick.
- Mark 11:23 ... if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
- Rom. 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
- Acts 22:27 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
- I have nothing to say to you.
- You can't change your circumstances so just learn to accept them.
- You're better off alone.
- Don't bother praying.
- You'll never measure up to my standards.
- I'm holding out on you and blessing others.
- I'll help you, but first you must help yourself.
- Just study the Bible. Beyond that you're on your own.
- Keep your problems to yourself.
- Your gifts or doctrines make you a cut above other Christians.
9. The first meeting of the prayer and fast was last night (Tuesday). Holy Spirit, your presence was wonderful. There was corporate prayer, exhortation, and worship that I have been waiting for since I first came here 15 years ago.
The person who prophesied over me totally undid me. He just walked up to me and started talking. I wept as he told me my heart and spoke of my burden for the church.
Father, is this the stirrings of the revival I've been waiting for? I don’t want to get too hyped up over a single meeting, but Holy Spirit, when you start to move like you did last night, well, it's easy for me to get my hopes up.
10. I pray that you would continue to invade us, to tear down walls, to heal, save, and restore. I pray that this was just a hint of a great work you're about to do.
11. Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
After this you make a promise:
Joel 2:28 And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.
Let it be that we are in that day when you will once again pour out your Spirit.
12. To me, the highest expression of prayer is when the saints physically come together and agree in the Spirit.
13. We might start out well when we resolve to pray. But the flesh cannot perpetuate a lasting desire to pray.
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