Archive for the 'Prayer' Category
3 Prayer Priorities for America, September 2018
Dear Men, Women, and Students of Prayer,
We need to mobilize thousands of churches and ministries, comprised of millions of people who will pray for America this month. Our nation needs prayer beyond what it has ever needed before.
Join us in this grand effort to rally as many people as possible to pray for America this month according to these suggested prayer priorities. Just imagine how powerful it would be if each of us did this. Please join us now.
Share these prayer priorities everywhere you can and join us as we rally people in prayer for America this September.
PRAYER PRIORITY #1: ASK GOD TO BE A SHIELD IN AND AROUND OUR NATION AS WE PRAY ON SEPTEMBER 11 AND THEN EACH DAY THIS MONTH, FOR THE SECURITY AND PROTECTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
“But You, Lord, are a shield around me.” Psalm 3:3
- Oh Lord, we pray in humility for our nation to be secure and protected from anyone, any group, or any country who desires to harm us.
- Sovereign God, You are our Defender and Shield, so we pray for You to guard us from evil and harm within our nation and from outside our nation.
- Our Great God, we ask You even more specifically:
- Shield and protect all people in our schools and universities in America from all harm
- Shield and protect all people in our churches in America from all harm
- Shield and protect all people in any public gathering in America from all harm
- Shield and protect all the members of our military in America and beyond from all harm
- Shield and protect all of our first responders who serve across this nation from all harm
- Shield and protect all the leaders of our nation from all harm
- Father in Heaven, we ask You to lead, bless, and anoint all special gatherings of prayer for our nation on September 11, and hear the prayers of Your people as they cry out to You for the security and protection of the United States of America.
PRAYER PRIORITY #2: APPEAL TO GOD FOR HIM TO RAISE UP RIGHTEOUS LEADERS ACROSS OUR NATION IN EVERY SPHERE OF INFLUENCE IN AMERICA.
“When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan.” Proverbs 29:2
- Gracious God, raise up righteous leaders who will lead every town, city, state, and in every area of government in the United States of America.
- Lord Almighty, raise up righteous leaders to go into our military and be placed in positions of influence.
- Lord of Hosts, raise up righteous leaders to lead and influence every area of education in the schools and universities of the United States of America.
- Sovereign God, raise up righteous leaders to lead and influence all private and public businesses and corporations in the United States of America.
- God, raise up righteous leaders to lead and influence all spheres and channels of media and communication in the United States of America.
- Holy Spirit of God, raise up righteous leaders to lead and influence Your local churches in the United States of America toward spiritual revival and awakening.
- Heavenly Father, raise up righteous leaders to lead and influence each member of every family in the United States of America.
IMMEDIATE PRAYER REQUEST
“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
• Sovereign Lord of Hosts, since You channel the hearts of leaders, we pray for God’s will relating to Brett Kavanaugh as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Lord, if You have chosen him for this role, may he be confirmed. Protect Judge Kavanaugh and the members of his family as he undergoes the confirmation hearings.
PRAYER PRIORITY #3: APPROACH GOD BOLDLY TO EMPOWER AND LEAD THE LEADERS OF ALL PRAYER MINISTRIES TO ADVANCE A STRATEGY OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA.
“When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31
- Holy Spirit, empower leaders of all prayer ministries to be filled with the Holy Spirit and anointed to lead their ministries toward advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ across the world.
- Lord God of Heaven, empower and lead these prayer leaders of prayer ministries to come together, walk in unity, and work toward advancing a strategy of prayer for America.
- Almighty God, empower and lead Dr. Ronnie Floyd and everyone leading the upcoming 2018 National Leadership Summit of the National Day of Prayer, which will advance a strategy of prayer for America. (Anyone interested in assisting in leading in prayer for America is welcome to come to this Leadership Summit. Sign up at nationaldayofprayer.com/summit)
- Spirit of the Lord, reveal Your theme to Dr. Floyd and his team for the upcoming National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2, 2019.
- Lord Jesus Christ, raise up every pastor in America to become a minister who believes in prayer deeply, practices it personally, and leads in prayer publicly and boldly.
Now is the Time to Lead and to Pray for America,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
How to Use Your iPad to Improve Your Prayer Life
Do you want to improve your prayer life? Most Christians do, but they do not know how.
While I have used various prayer plans since my collegiate days, the one I use in today’s technological world has helped improve my prayer life. Let me share with you how I do it.
Why I Use My iPad to Improve My Prayer Life
The iPad comes with an app called Notes, and I use it in my prayer life. If you have an iPhone, it will sync your lists, providing accessibility on either device no matter where you are. Android devices have a similar note-taking app.
Simplicity: The Notes app is very simple to use. Simplicity usually increases usability.
Change: It is simple to change a prayer list or the process you go through in prayer when you do it electronically. Flexibility will help you stay current.
Relevance: Being current in what is happening in your life or those you are praying for helps you to be relevant. With the Notes app, I can easily keep my prayer list current and relevant.
How I Use My iPad to Improve My Prayer Life
I will share with you a few practices I follow to improve my prayer life, but due to my own flexibility, what I share with you today may not be the same a week from now.
Please know that for me, nothing keeps me more focused, on task, and effective in prayer than a current, relevant prayer list. Not just a list relating to a process I may use, but a specific, current list of prayer needs. While this is not comprehensive, at least it lets you into some of my prayer life.
1. Preparing to Pray: In my early morning time with God, I begin with moments of praise for who God is and in moments of thanksgiving for what He has done in my life.
2. Evaluating My Life Spiritually: This time of personal evaluation always begins with confession of sin and acknowledging Jesus’ finished work on the cross for forgiveness of my sins. Knowing my complete insufficiency and dire weakness, I call upon the Holy Spirit to fill me and anoint me with His power needed for the day before me. I ask God to anoint me for living, preaching, teaching, leadership, decision making, vision, writing, relationships, and with His gladness.
3. Trusting God for His Protecting Armor to Cover Me and Each Member of My Family: I approach God daily, asking for His spiritual covering and armor upon my family, calling out the names of my family members, asking God to put His armor of protection upon each of us. I pray for protection as they travel in their own regions and beyond, as well as over the schools where each of them works or attends.
4. Asking God to Meet Specific Needs Relating to Each Member of Our Immediate Family: Yes, I talk to God daily about my wife, my two sons, our two daughters-in-law, and each of our seven grandchildren.
5. Believing God in Prayer Relating to My Staff Team and My Cross Church Family: Every day is a day of decision for me. Praying about my staff team and all things before our Cross Church Family is one my greatest blessings. This is one of my highest callings as a pastor.
6. Talking to God About America and My Present Responsibilities with the National Day of Prayer: Anyone who has followed me at all knows my love for and commitment to pray for America, especially for spiritual awakening. Our nation needs Jesus.
7. Interceding for Specific Persons and Their Needs: I have a running, ongoing, and ever-changing list of people who are walking through unique challenges in their life. I pray for these people specifically and daily.
8. Calling Out to God for the Gospel to be Advanced Across the World: I believe in the Great Commission and have committed the rest of my life to do everything I can so that each person in the world is told about Jesus Christ.
9. Specifically Praying About My Own Life Needs, Personal Ministry, and Future Opportunities: I want my life and my ministry to count. I want God to use me in any way He desires. As He extends me opportunities to lead, support, assist, or speak in the future, I pray through these.
Find Your Way to Pray Effectively
The most effective prayer plan is the one you will use..
Here is what I know: If you do not have a plan to pray, usually you will not pray consistently and effectively.
So, what is your prayer plan? If you do not have a plan that helps you stay current, on task, and specific, I suggest you consider creating one like this.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.