Sticky Note Prayers

Have you had a lot of requests for prayer lately? I sure have. The degree of urgency is different but the need is deep for each. A while back I wrote an article on ways to remember and consistently pray for prayer requests. I'd like to share it with you tonight.

STICKY NOTE PRAYERS

How can we “be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Romans 12:10) as it relates to praying for the requests of friends and family? One effective technique I’ve found is the sticky note system. There are nine (9) places you can attach a note that will remind you who to pray for and what the request involves.

Alarm Clock. If someone has an urgent or time-sensitive request, place a sticky note on your alarm clock. It is one of the first things you see in the morning. A alarm clock sticky note provides an opportunity to pray before your day gets busy and the window of time during which the prayer is needed has passed.

Mirror. Mirrors provide a reflection of ourselves. Requests that involve things like relationship issues or something personal with which the person is struggling go on the mirror.

Phone (Land line or Cell). We use the phone for communication. This is a good place to remind you to pray for a friend, neighbor or family member who is waiting on an answer. Perhaps they are waiting to hear about test results or if they got the job. A note here can also be a reminder to pray over situations where the person needs to confront someone about something.

Steering Wheel. Since we use our car to travel places, this is the perfect place for a traveling mercies prayer reminder.

Radio (car or home). The radio fills our ears with spoken words in addition to music. Leave a note here remind you to pray for the person who needs to clearly hear God’s voice about a situation.

Television. Many of us have found that the television can really distract us from other things we need to do. If someone needs focus in a particular area, a reminder on one of this country’s biggest distractions will work well.

Checkbook or wallet. Placing a note in your wallet or checkbook will remind you to pray about those struggling with their finances. Place the note on your next check or in part of your wallet you see when you first open it.

Calendar. Does someone have an upcoming event they would like prayer for? Why not place a sticky note on your own calendar so that when you look at your own schedule, you are reminded of theirs.

Refrigerator or pantry door. Since we use food to nourish our bodies and keep us healthy, either of these locations serves as a great reminder for prayer requests about health issues.

You may simply write the person’s name on the sticky note. If the request also involves another person, you can include either their name or their relationship to the person. The combination of the name and location will help you remember the specifics of the request. This is particularly important when you have the “curious eyes” of children around. You want to maintain a level of confidentiality. Throughout the week as you encounter each note, you can briefly pray for that person’s request. This method ensures that you are following Paul’s exhortation to “…pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Here is example of a brief but effective prayer:

Lord you know Mary’s financial needs. I pray Father that you will work in this situation. Help her husband find stable work. Your will be done in this family Lord. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Though brief we know that God will hear and honor this prayer because it states in Psalm 4:3 “Know that God has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.” When you next talk to or see your friend, family member or neighbor, you can rest assured that you have upheld your promise to lift them up in prayer.

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As always be blessed my friends!

ONE

Today, my church, along with over 35 other area churches, hosted a back to school event for the area middle and high school students. The event was called ONE. What does that mean? To us it meant:

• ONE Community
• ONE Event
• ONE Prayer
• ONE Heart
• ONE God

Though Raleigh is not really a big city like Chicago or New York, we are still experiencing some of the big city ills, including gang activity. This event was a means for us to let our kids know that they can make a difference. We wanted to assure them that they can take back their schools from Satan. They are empowered by the One who has the power. Our God is awesome and He can and will do a mighty work through our young people. We just need them to step out in faith and LEAD!

Watching almost 2000 students from all over the Triangle come together and pray and worship was just beyond words. it brought tears to my eyes. Seeing them gather in groups by their respective schools and lift up their prayers to the One who can and will answer was the most incredible thing to witness and participate in. These young people called on God's power to heal and change their schools. What a privilege to see so much passion from those so young (compared to me).

What was even more phenomenal was that the event was held at a public high school. Yes, a Christian event at a public high school! How awesome is that!

I cannot wait to see God start changing our young people and our schools as a result of their prayers and commitments to action. It just gives me goosebumps. I could almost hear Him say, "Be still and know that I am God!" We know you are LORD and we anticipate Your power. Praise You!

To read media coverage of the event and watch a short video clip, visit our local news station. If you watch the video and see our "security people" wearing shirts that say M.A.F.I.A. that stands for Mothers and Fathers In Action. I need to get me one of those shorts!

I encourage you to pray for your schools and the students. There is power in prayer and we need to take hold and use it to save this generation!

Feeling God's Heart

I've been praying hard this week about a prayer ministry for my church's middle and high school girls. It is something that God placed on my heart two years ago. For two years I've been disobedient by not pursuing this opportunity. This week I pitched the disobedience in the trash where it belonged. I contacted the lady who shepherds our girls. I told her my sad story of disobedience, my call to action from God and my sense that God wanted this done now. I was feeling so bad about being disobedient. But God (don't you love those two words) redeemed it. She mentioned that another parent had approached her about a prayer ministry. She feels also that the timing is now. Only God can take your disobedience and use it in His perfect timing. Just read the story of Jonah if you don't believe me!

So the rest of the day, I prayed for God's heart for these girls. I prayed for revelation and wisdom for either myself or another who would be involved in this ministry. We want to move forward as God would have us, not as we think we should. We want this to be His ministry from start to finish and everywhere in between. Well ladies, God did not fail me. I truly felt the verse " He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." (John 16:14, NIV)

God's heart is breaking for our pre-teen and teen girls. How do I know? Because that night I felt it. My heart physically felt like it was breaking. It was more painful to me than when my dad died. I was completely overwhelmed. I thought, "Oh Father, is this how you feel when we reject you? Is this how you feel when we choose other than the best you have for us? Oh Father how do You stand it? I cannot bear this pain!" And I would fall to my knees and pray and cry. This happened many times that night.

There is a song by Israel Houghton and New Breed and in it is say"Break my heart with the things that break Your heart". I have sung that so many times in my car and home. Never did I think God would actually take me up on it! But He surely did.

I have no idea how the prayer ministry will look when it comes to fruition. But I know that it is God's heart for our girls. They have no idea how privileged they are to have a God who loves them so much. I certainly feel privileged that this same God has chosen to love me that much as well.

I share this not to bring glory to myself but to point to God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is very real. We are told in scripture:

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:16, NIV)

""No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" - but God has revealed it to us by His spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, NIV)

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7)

God is still active among us. We only need to draw near and seek Him wholly to see and feel His work. He will show Himself in miraculous ways. I believe He desires to demonstrate His love for us and His plan for us in ways we could never imagine. I experienced the miraculous, not because of me but because He desired to reveal Himself. There is nothing about me that deserved such a marvelous gift. And because of that I praise Him! Oh how I praise Him.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. " (Psalm 34:8-10)