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We are concern about the kingdom of God advancing. We want to see the completion of the task of world evangelization. We're eager to. see the day when the Glory of the Lord shall cover the earth. It's easy to get caught up in a frenzy of activity as we push hard to advance the Kingdom on earth.
If we use Jesus Christ as our example, as well we should. we see that His approach to advancing His ministry was first - to retreat. Retreating, not in the sense of acceptance of defeat; but rather, withdrawing from normal activity for a period in order to prepare for intense activity. Jesus began His ministry by withdrawing into the wilderness for 40 days of prayer and fasting. He continued that practice throughout His years of ministry. One verse that continually challenges us is found in Mark 1:35, Very early in the morning. while it was still dark. Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place to pray.ÂÂ
Let me ask you a very serious question. If Jesus, the Lord of the Universe. needed to get away to a solitary place, away from distractions, to be able to pray, who are we to think that we don't need it, or that our busy schedules don't allow that "luxury"? It is precisely because we have busy schedules that we need that time of withdrawal.(br)
Why retreat? Why not just a little extra prayer time at home? Is it necessary to go away to pray? Certainly we all pray in our homes, and that will remain the site of most of our praying. But Jesus saw the need to get out of the house (see Mk. 1:35) and away from potential distractions. When I want to move into a time of extended prayer. I almost always need to get away - away from the telephone, from the daily demands of family responsibilities, and especially from the clutter that pulls me away from prayer.
For some, retreat may simply mean an extended walk where prayer becomes the main focus. For most, however, retreat means finding a place, usually near nature, where current cares and worries can be laid aside and serious prayer taken up. Whether for a day or a week, a carefully planned out retreat can revitalize your spiritual, emotional, and even physical well-being.
Some may think of a retreat as only for crisis situations: a potential change in work or ministry... overload or burnout.. marital and family problems. . and the list could go on. A retreat can be heaven-sent during those times of crisis and decision-making; but that's not its basic intent.
A prayer retreat ought to be a regular part of the Christian's spiritual walk. The reason is the amazing opportunities it provides for drawing near to God. Drawing near to God is not just a command for the believer. It needs to be the overwhelming desire of our hearts. Yet, though we may desire to be close to our heavenly Father and to walk in greater intimacy with Him, often the pressure of daily activities prevents us from spending the time necessary to quiet ourselves before the Lord. Going away from distractions and to a place of peace is often the needed element to restore and refresh us in our Christian lives.
There are many possibilities when you look for a place to get away with the Lord for an extended time of fellowship with Him and for prayer. You could choose a place prepared just for that purpose. such as Harvest Prayer Center (developed by Harvest Prayer Ministries July 1997 for ministers, missionaries and church leaders, and located in west central Indiana), or Blessing Ranch in Northern Colorado. God seems to be leading many people to prepare places just like ours to minister to those who are ready to retreat and experience God's refreshing Presence. Look around the area where you live, and you may just discover one of those special places for retreat.
However, not everyone can just drop everything and head to a beautiful piece of paradise somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. There are other possibilities. Several times I have gone to state parks and looked for secluded areas to spend time alone with God. I have a friend who regularly goes to an abandoned farmhouse that he has received permission to stay at for his time alone. One day my wife and I went to the basement of a church to spend some extended time in prayer. It wasn't a place of natural beauty, but it was quiet and private.
HOW DO I EVALUATE MY NEED FOR A PRAYER RETREAT?
If you are feeling close to spiritual bum-out, you definitely need to spend some significant time seeking the Lord's plan and purpose.
If you are in the throes of a major decision, you will need time to seek God instead of trying to decide within the context of the busyness of your work or ministry.
If you are beginning to feel stress in your work, and feel your schedule getting away from you, it is probably time to withdraw for some time alone in prayer before the situation gets worse. Many people, especially those in ministry, wait until they are badly damaged before taking a retreat. It is our hope that you will consider putting time for prayer retreat into your schedule and honoring it. This appointment should be more important than any other. (br)
FASTING IS IMPORTANT
Perhaps no spiritual discipline today is as much misunderstood as fasting. Why to fast how to fast, when to fast, how long to fast, what type of fast, SHOULD I fast . . . etc. In simplest terms, fasting means to abstain from food for a period of time for a spiritual purpose or goal.
As a Christian, obviously the first question we need to ask is. What does Jesus say about this?" It is obvious in Scripture that Jesus fasted, but because He did, does that mean that we ought to as well?
In Matthew 6, Jesus discusses three specific spiritual activities and gives instructions as to how the disciples should perform these activities in a way that is pleasing to God. His language indicates that He assumes the disciples would already be doing these three things: 'When you give... when you pray ... when you fast...ÂÂÂ
This is an interesting combination. There's not a believer who would argue that God does not expect us to pray or to give. but when we talk about fasting, all sorts of arguments begin to be put forth as to why fasting isn't for today.
Perhaps no spiritual discipline today is as much misunderstood as fasting. Why to fast how to fast, when to fast, how long to fast, what type of fast, SHOULD I fast . . . etc. In simplest terms, fasting means to abstain from food for a period of time for a spiritual purpose or goal.
As a Christian, obviously the first question we need to ask is. What does Jesus say about this?" It is obvious in Scripture that Jesus fasted, but because He did, does that mean that we ought to as well?
In Matthew 6, Jesus discusses three specific spiritual activities and gives instructions as to how the disciples should perform these activities in a way that is pleasing to God. His language indicates that He assumes the disciples would already be doing these three things: 'When you give... when you pray when you fast...‚
This is an interesting combination. There's not a believer who would argue that God does not expect us to pray or to give. but when we talk about fasting, all sorts of arguments begin to be put forth as to why fasting isn't for today.
For many in this busy, self-centered world, fasting is just not an option, or even a consideration, even though we see numerous references to fasting throughout the Scriptures: (Joel 1:14-15, Neh. 1:4, Dan. 9:3, Lk. 2:37, Acts 13:3 to name only a few).
Because Jesus modeled the practice of fasting, and took the time to instruct His disciples in the discipline, it should be a pretty strong indication that He still desires us to fast today.
Although not everyone is called to the same levels of fasting, we believe Scripture indicates that ail Christians who seek to grow and mature should remain sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in this area.
(Fasting is never intended to be done out of guilt, or in cases where it is medically unsafe. if you arc unable to fast from food because of medical reasons, please consider fasting from something which would be a sacrifice for you - TV watching, for example. Set aside that time to seek the Lord instead).
Ronnie Floyd, in his excellent book, has, perhaps, one of the most succinct and understandable exhortations to fast: "God's gateway to supernatural power can become ours when we come to our heavenly Father with contrite hearts and obedient spirits in fasting and prayer." He goes on to say, "One purpose of prayer and fasting is to bring our hearts to a place of being filled with a sacrificial love that results in godly attitudes in our lives. True fasting will draw us closer to God and His purposes
We see three main purposes in Scripture for fasting:
It allows us to come before God in humility and repentance
It helps us to focus on God, and to become sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It empowers us through God for service.
God's Word tells us that God "opposes the proud. but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). How can we walk in humility before our God? By recognizing that humility puts us in a position to be able to receive from Him. As individuals, families, churches, communities and nations, we are in desperate need of a fresh touch from God... of hearing His voice instead of the clamor around us! We live in a society of I'll do it myself,mentality. However, there always comes a time when  just can't do it anymore. Eventually, we realize that we are not God, but we do NEED Him.
That was the situation in Judah during Jehoshaphat's day. An army from several nations was on the march against them. Outnumbered and in despair, they turned to God and fasted and prayed. Their fasting put them in a place of humility where they could pray the right prayer. Jehoshaphat prayer, after they had fasted, was not a prayer asking God to bless their efforts or to do what they wanted Him to do. Instead, it was an astonishing prayer of humility in which he said. "O Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you (2 Chronicles 20:2-12). Fasting brings us to a proper place of humility before God where we are able to pray such a prayer of faith and dependence.
Fasting also helps us to focus ourselves upon God and the leading of his Holy Spirit. Doing without food for a period of prayer helps us to put away distractions and to turn to Jesus. We are living in a day in which Jesus is calling His Church back into an intimate relationship with Himself - a time when we come directly to Him and get to know Him deeply.
Christian author, Steve Hawthorne, recently described a 7 day fast he experienced as he was seeking direction for ministry. At the end of the fast, a friend asked him if he received the guidance he was seeking. Steve replied, Probably not... but I do know the Guide better now." Where is your focus?
Fasting is also a way for us to be empowered by God for service. There seems to be a release of spiritual power when fasting and prayer are combined. The great men and women of God down through the ages have come to God in prayer and fasting to receive power for greater ministry. Jesus Himself launched His ministry after a forty day fast. Esther went to the king for mercy and salvation for Israel. It was her day of greatness and ministry to God's people, but it happened after a three day fast undertaken by herself and many others.
Our ability to be empowered by God for service, relates back to the first two points. When we humble ourselves and draw near to the Lord through fasting and prayer. then we are ready to receive power to be used in God's service in an even greater way than ever before. Having learned humility and intimacy. We are able to be entrusted with greater power because we realize that it is not our doing, but God working in and through us.
God desires to raise up a people who will surrender their lives to be used by Him in these critical days. Without God's people being set ablaze in prayer and fasting, the revival He longs to send cannot happen. Evil will continue to pervade the earth, and Christians will continue to watch weakly. wishing there was something they could do.
We believe that fasting is part of God's plan for His children. Ronnie Floyd says,
;Unless we surrender completely to God's plan. we are destined to drift in a sea of disappointment, disillusionment, and depression. We are in constant need of supernatural power.
Elmer Towns has said, 'If every Christian fasted, the results could shake our society like a windstorm bending a sapling. Christians would demonstrate that they live differently, that their faith is imperative, that the Almighty works in their daily lives."
Is fasting relevant for today?
What is God saying to you personally about it?
How will you respond?
Perhaps no spiritual discipline today is as much misunderstood as fasting. Why to fast how to fast, when to fast, how long to fast, what type of fast, SHOULD I fast . . . etc. In simplest terms, fasting means to abstain from food for a period of time for a spiritual purpose or goal.
As a Christian, obviously the first question we need to ask is. What does Jesus say about this?" It is obvious in Scripture that Jesus fasted, but because He did, does that mean that we ought to as well?
In Matthew 6, Jesus discusses three specific spiritual activities and gives instructions as to how the disciples should perform these activities in a way that is pleasing to God. His language indicates that He assumes the disciples would already be doing these three things: 'When you give... when you pray ... when you fast...ÂÂÂ
This is an interesting combination. There's not a believer who would argue that God does not expect us to pray or to give. but when we talk about fasting, all sorts of arguments begin to be put forth as to why fasting isn't for today.
Perhaps no spiritual discipline today is as much misunderstood as fasting. Why to fast how to fast, when to fast, how long to fast, what type of fast, SHOULD I fast . . . etc. In simplest terms, fasting means to abstain from food for a period of time for a spiritual purpose or goal.
As a Christian, obviously the first question we need to ask is. What does Jesus say about this?" It is obvious in Scripture that Jesus fasted, but because He did, does that mean that we ought to as well?
In Matthew 6, Jesus discusses three specific spiritual activities and gives instructions as to how the disciples should perform these activities in a way that is pleasing to God. His language indicates that He assumes the disciples would already be doing these three things: 'When you give... when you pray when you fast...‚
This is an interesting combination. There's not a believer who would argue that God does not expect us to pray or to give. but when we talk about fasting, all sorts of arguments begin to be put forth as to why fasting isn't for today.
For many in this busy, self-centered world, fasting is just not an option, or even a consideration, even though we see numerous references to fasting throughout the Scriptures: (Joel 1:14-15, Neh. 1:4, Dan. 9:3, Lk. 2:37, Acts 13:3 to name only a few).
Because Jesus modeled the practice of fasting, and took the time to instruct His disciples in the discipline, it should be a pretty strong indication that He still desires us to fast today.
Although not everyone is called to the same levels of fasting, we believe Scripture indicates that ail Christians who seek to grow and mature should remain sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in this area.
(Fasting is never intended to be done out of guilt, or in cases where it is medically unsafe. if you arc unable to fast from food because of medical reasons, please consider fasting from something which would be a sacrifice for you - TV watching, for example. Set aside that time to seek the Lord instead).
Ronnie Floyd, in his excellent book, has, perhaps, one of the most succinct and understandable exhortations to fast: "God's gateway to supernatural power can become ours when we come to our heavenly Father with contrite hearts and obedient spirits in fasting and prayer." He goes on to say, "One purpose of prayer and fasting is to bring our hearts to a place of being filled with a sacrificial love that results in godly attitudes in our lives. True fasting will draw us closer to God and His purposes
We see three main purposes in Scripture for fasting:
It allows us to come before God in humility and repentance
It helps us to focus on God, and to become sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It empowers us through God for service.
God's Word tells us that God "opposes the proud. but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). How can we walk in humility before our God? By recognizing that humility puts us in a position to be able to receive from Him. As individuals, families, churches, communities and nations, we are in desperate need of a fresh touch from God... of hearing His voice instead of the clamor around us! We live in a society of I'll do it myself,mentality. However, there always comes a time when  just can't do it anymore. Eventually, we realize that we are not God, but we do NEED Him.
That was the situation in Judah during Jehoshaphat's day. An army from several nations was on the march against them. Outnumbered and in despair, they turned to God and fasted and prayed. Their fasting put them in a place of humility where they could pray the right prayer. Jehoshaphat prayer, after they had fasted, was not a prayer asking God to bless their efforts or to do what they wanted Him to do. Instead, it was an astonishing prayer of humility in which he said. "O Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you (2 Chronicles 20:2-12). Fasting brings us to a proper place of humility before God where we are able to pray such a prayer of faith and dependence.
Fasting also helps us to focus ourselves upon God and the leading of his Holy Spirit. Doing without food for a period of prayer helps us to put away distractions and to turn to Jesus. We are living in a day in which Jesus is calling His Church back into an intimate relationship with Himself - a time when we come directly to Him and get to know Him deeply.
Christian author, Steve Hawthorne, recently described a 7 day fast he experienced as he was seeking direction for ministry. At the end of the fast, a friend asked him if he received the guidance he was seeking. Steve replied, Probably not... but I do know the Guide better now." Where is your focus?
Fasting is also a way for us to be empowered by God for service. There seems to be a release of spiritual power when fasting and prayer are combined. The great men and women of God down through the ages have come to God in prayer and fasting to receive power for greater ministry. Jesus Himself launched His ministry after a forty day fast. Esther went to the king for mercy and salvation for Israel. It was her day of greatness and ministry to God's people, but it happened after a three day fast undertaken by herself and many others.
Our ability to be empowered by God for service, relates back to the first two points. When we humble ourselves and draw near to the Lord through fasting and prayer. then we are ready to receive power to be used in God's service in an even greater way than ever before. Having learned humility and intimacy. We are able to be entrusted with greater power because we realize that it is not our doing, but God working in and through us.
God desires to raise up a people who will surrender their lives to be used by Him in these critical days. Without God's people being set ablaze in prayer and fasting, the revival He longs to send cannot happen. Evil will continue to pervade the earth, and Christians will continue to watch weakly. wishing there was something they could do.
We believe that fasting is part of God's plan for His children. Ronnie Floyd says,
;Unless we surrender completely to God's plan. we are destined to drift in a sea of disappointment, disillusionment, and depression. We are in constant need of supernatural power.
Elmer Towns has said, 'If every Christian fasted, the results could shake our society like a windstorm bending a sapling. Christians would demonstrate that they live differently, that their faith is imperative, that the Almighty works in their daily lives."
Is fasting relevant for today?
What is God saying to you personally about it?
How will you respond?
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INTERCEEDING PRAYERS
Pray for World Leaders
Want to know something that pleases God? Read what Paul wrote in a letter to his young helper Timothy: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyoneÂfor kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’†(1 Timothy 2:1-4, emphasis added).
Paul had spent lots of time in jail because the king and other leaders were being cruel and unfair to Christians at that time. Even though he had suffered because of those leaders, Paul asked Christians to pray for them.
In our time, we may feel that a leader is bad and we dont want to pray for him or her. But God is pleased when we pray for all leaders.Âboth good and bad. God can surprise us and use a leader we think is bad to do good things for the kingdom of heaven. Remember, we can always see the big picture that God sees.
Are you wondering what leaders to add to your prayer list? Try praying for all the leaders you hear mentioned in the news. Find out what country someone at school or in your neighborhood is from, and pray for that country leaders. Or pray for the leader of a country you learned about at school. You may know missionaries to another country.country leaders, check out this web-site, which lists every country and its leaders www.cia.gov/cia/publications/chiefs.
Take your list of world leaders and pray:
1. For their leadership of their country, that God will bless them and give them wisdom to govern well and that God will shield them from evil and demonic influences.
2. For their spiritual life, that they, their families, and their staff will come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and that they will grow in their faith if they already know Jesus.
3. That they will support religious freedom, that leaders who have allowed persecution would see a vision of Jesus that would change their hearts towards missionaries, pastors, and Christians. That they would attend or at least permit Bible studies and prayer meetings and the preaching of the gospel and that they would thank God for good changes that help Christians in the country do their work.
4. That God will use each leader to spread the kingdom of God in their country and that the will of God will be done.
copyright 2003 loveandfaith ministry
Want to know something that pleases God? Read what Paul wrote in a letter to his young helper Timothy: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyoneÂfor kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’†(1 Timothy 2:1-4, emphasis added).
Paul had spent lots of time in jail because the king and other leaders were being cruel and unfair to Christians at that time. Even though he had suffered because of those leaders, Paul asked Christians to pray for them.
In our time, we may feel that a leader is bad and we dont want to pray for him or her. But God is pleased when we pray for all leaders.Âboth good and bad. God can surprise us and use a leader we think is bad to do good things for the kingdom of heaven. Remember, we can always see the big picture that God sees.
Are you wondering what leaders to add to your prayer list? Try praying for all the leaders you hear mentioned in the news. Find out what country someone at school or in your neighborhood is from, and pray for that country leaders. Or pray for the leader of a country you learned about at school. You may know missionaries to another country.country leaders, check out this web-site, which lists every country and its leaders www.cia.gov/cia/publications/chiefs.
Take your list of world leaders and pray:
1. For their leadership of their country, that God will bless them and give them wisdom to govern well and that God will shield them from evil and demonic influences.
2. For their spiritual life, that they, their families, and their staff will come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and that they will grow in their faith if they already know Jesus.
3. That they will support religious freedom, that leaders who have allowed persecution would see a vision of Jesus that would change their hearts towards missionaries, pastors, and Christians. That they would attend or at least permit Bible studies and prayer meetings and the preaching of the gospel and that they would thank God for good changes that help Christians in the country do their work.
4. That God will use each leader to spread the kingdom of God in their country and that the will of God will be done.
copyright 2003 loveandfaith ministry
Captions for pictures
Adding captions makes my pictures more interesting.
