Congregational Excellence Prayer Team [link removed] May 2021
In his book, Why I Am Still Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, Jack Deere describes a poignant moment during a service of healing. An articulate woman who was chronically depressed came forward and asked for prayer. She said, “I finally figured out the true nature of my problems. I lust after the approval of men.”
With permission, the pastor laid his right hand on her shoulder and prayed for her: “Lord, Linda doesn’t feel your affection. Let her feel in her heart how much you love her and like her.”
Those words went straight to the root issue. If she really felt loved by God, the approval of others wouldn’t be nearly so important. That simple prayer released something deep within and brought profound healing to her life.
We often get confused about what we truly desire. Actor Jim Carrey once said, “I wish everyone could get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that's not the answer.”
Author William Willimon put it this way, "Sometimes the greatest problem facing us is not in getting what we want, but in wanting what is wrong." What is it that you really want? The Psalmist offers this counsel,
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NRSV)
I’ll confess – these words plagued me for years. I wasn't getting the desires of my heart. I was single and wanted to find Miss America and settle down. I wanted to serve a church that would explode with growth, and I wanted an ever-expanding reach to new sites and people groups – all in a New York minute. Basically, I wanted things my way on my time schedule, and I wasn't getting anywhere. It felt like God was mocking me with this verse.
Then slowly, as the Holy Spirit penetrated a thick wall of denial, I began to realize I wanted those things for the wrong reasons. In some cases, I wanted the wrong things. And even though I couldn't see it at the time, receiving those ego-driven desires would have destroyed my life.
What is it that you really want? Money? Fame? Power? To be loved by someone? Or is it something deeper? Here’s what I’ve discovered. If we delight in the Lord, our desires become God’s desires for us. As that transformation occurs, God gleefully gives the desires that will build us up and not tear us down, so we can live into God’s grander vision for our lives.
Praying with you for the desires God wants to give,
Roger Ross
P.S. For encouragement, you can receive a weekly Prayer Text by texting KINGDOM to 573-227-6557.
As our country and world continue to battle COVID-19, we are painfully aware of the racial and ethnic injustices that plague our national character. We have much to bring before God.
Feel free to pray for a different area each day. Thanks for praying!
SUNDAY: HOPE- Pray for Resurrection power to release the Spirit of forgiveness to heal spiritual, relational, and cultural divisions across our nation and world. Lord, multiply your Kingdom through us.
MONDAY: PEACE- Ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to live with a heart at peace. Enable us, Lord, to see the good in persons or groups we might consider enemies, to pray for those who insult or persecute us, and to forgive those who harm us unfairly, just as you have forgiven us. Forgive us our sins, Lord, as we forgive those who sin against us.
TUESDAY: AWAKENING- Sow in prayer the seeds for a Great Awakening in our churches, communities and nation. Ask the Spirit of Truth to help us see new ways of being and doing that transform individuals, churches and communities across Missouri.
WEDNESDAY: JUSTICE- Pray for justice to roll down like waters and right living like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24), so we may repent of racism and overcome the evil powers of this world with good.
THURSDAY: NEW PLACES- Praise God for the 3 New Sites that have opened this year: A digital campus at The Gathering in St. Louis, a digital campus at Good Shepherd in Kansas City, and the Breaking Bonds Ministry (a residential house for men in recovery) which is a second site of New McKendree in Jackson, MO. Also, pray for leaders, logistics, support, and clear guidance for Rev. Danny Lybarger who is starting a new church in the St. Charles area of St. Louis beginning July 2021! Finally, praise God for sweet little Gracie Lybarger born to Danny and his wife, Annie, on April 29!
FRIDAY: HEALING- Claim the blood of Jesus as a shield and healing over people and institutions as well as all first responders and medical personnel in the battle against COVID-19. Please seek God for the reversal of COVID in India, Brazil and other countries being ravaged by the disease right now.
SATURDAY: PROTECTION- Praise God for researchers who have developed effective, affordable, and safe COVID-19 vaccines! Pray for hundreds of millions of people to be vaccinated quickly and safely.
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Missouri Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
3601 Amron Court, Columbia, MO 65202 | Phone 573-441-1770 | www.moumethodist.org
