Through prayer, you and your relational investment group works with the Holy Spirit to conceive, carry and proclaim the future.
I spent a year looking at the prayer life of Jesus. How did Jesus pray? When did he pray? What did he say? I also observed the influencers who have what we call “spiritual gravitas.” Here’s what I’ve learned:
First, there’s no substitute for prayer. Jesus - the sinless one, filled with the Holy Spirit- still found it necessary to pray often. He prayed so much that his disciples asked him “Teach us how to pray.” The disciples observed the prayer life of Jesus at a very intimate level and recognized that Jesus carried something through prayer that they also could access.
Jesus withdrew by himself often to pray. Throughout the Bible, there is a pattern of leaders going to the high places to meet with God and then coming off the mountain with a download of revelation God gave them.
Christian leaders who have spiritual gravitas never outsource their prayer life. They often have people praying for them especially because they're doing large scale things. But their personal time with the Father mimics that of Jesus.
Second, leaders with spiritual gravitas don’t pray weak prayers. You’ll never hear an intercessor say: “God I know that you know everything and you are perfect, and I know I am wretched, so change me.” That’s not how they pray. They pray like Jesus did in John 14, 15 & 16. “You call me friend. You keep no secrets from me. You’ve given me the kingdom.” They pray like Sons in the house. “All right, Dad. I know your pack’s bigger than mine, so let’s load up my pack. Let's go to the field together and work on the piece of the Harvest that you designated for today”. That's how I hear the people who make a big difference pray.
People that pray influential prayers know that there's no shortage in heaven of anything we need. God has the answers to very hard practical problems. Prayer is the attunement to that kind of Kingdom flow, and the primary means to see the abundance of Heaven touch the Earth.
These three keys can help in the practice of persistent intercession with resultant answers:
Conceive the Future. We talk about Mission and Identity Discovery in our Relationship Kickstarter as a tool to help you conceive what God has seeded in your heart and what you want to see happen. You can use your mission and identity as a guidebook for crafting Kingdom prayers.
Carry the Future. Once you conceive the future, you’re now carrying something that hasn’t made an appearance yet. Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 or the Psalms offer good inspiration of how to pray as you carry the future.
Proclaim the Future. Say what God says until you see what God says. When we recognize that prayer is the real work of partnering with God to see His Kingdom manifest here on the earth, then we start to develop the habit of praying constantly, persistently, and with confidence.
In our relational investment groups, we learn the rhythm of praying the Kingdom forward. This prayer time is the most important thing that you will do during your Forum. And for some members, it’s the only time in their week that they hear someone pray for them aloud.
We pray together in our relational investment groups, because:
God calls us to pray without ceasing. Prayer is part of the leader’s lifestyle.
Prayer creates intimacy. There’s relational support for you through prayer.
Prayer is an avenue to build up your faith and see miracles happen.
Your relational investment group is your safe place to pray in agreement over your heaviest burdens.
We’re looking for breakthroughs and answers. We pray expecting to see God move.
The Word says that when we come together everybody has something. During your Forum’s prayer time tune into the Holy Spirit, and each other, and hear what He’s going to say. The more your relational grid is built, the more you’ll be comfortable praying Kingdom moving prayers.
Start with silence. Wait on God. Get before the Lord together and let him prompt you in what to pray. You may find that some of what you carry is a groan that words cannot express (Romans 8). You don’t need to fill those spaces with empty words.
Nothing really moves in my world without the exploration, wonder, companionship, and comradeship with the Father that I personally experience through this type of prayer.
For Further Study
Luke 12:31-34 “Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.”
James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Luke 11:1-10 - The Lord’s Prayer.
Questions to ask your covenant friends:
What big problems do you need Heaven's answers for today? Where do you personally need to see break through?
Where are you waiting in faith for the King and the Kingdom to break through?
What are you carrying in your mission and identity that hasn’t made an appearance yet?
Spend the rest of your time together in prayer. Start in silence waiting on God and how He prompts you to pray. Pray bold, influential, and big prayers.
Join our next 14-week Relationship Kickstarter or an ongoing Relational Investment Group today.
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