Breaking Ground
Do you ever feel discouraged or frustrated when you choose to take a different direction in life and you experience road block after road block? I was recently talking with a friend who was experiencing that with regards to getting her daughter into a certain medical field she has been interested in for some time. Hubby and I have also dealt with that in areas of our lives when we’ve ventured out into new businesses. We endeavored to build log caskets to sell that would appeal to the farming/ranching community. Try getting into the funeral business! I wouldn’t recommend it... it’s a dying business. (Pun intended!) We’ve tried several different kinds of home-based businesses in our 23 years of marriage; it seems to be a tough row to hoe when one is breaking into new territory. As I spent a little time encouraging my friend, I reminded her that pioneers first have to break the sod before they can plant. The ground doesn’t become seed-worthy until the chunks of grass are rotted and broken down. As believers, we are called to pioneer and break ground in the Spirit in order to be able to plant Kingdom seeds that will take root and bring a harvest. Did you know that we can make a difference in the natural world by sowing into the ground of the Spirit? The way we do that is through prayer. Prayer is KEY to bringing transformation to a home, a community, a city and a nation.
Until I learned to pray effectively, prayer was a boring, religious ritual I had little desire to be a part of. Weekly prayer meetings seemed to be monotonous and lifeless ritualistic gatherings that I endured when I was a child. I knew Jesus told us to pray but it sure didn’t seem to bring results or appeal to the majority. Weekly prayer meetings were weakly attended. The last part of James 5:16 says “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Another translation puts it this way: “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” We can pray Spirit-led prayers that will shake the powers of darkness and unleash the power of God that will literally shift things in the spirit realm! Folks, this is prayer that makes a difference and brings results! Prayer is simply communicating with God. It is praying what He prays. It is saying what He says. It is hearing and listening to what is on His heart for the region/your family/the nation. This builds relationship with Holy Spirit and helps us to recognize His voice when He is talking. A good way to start is as suggested in Matthew 6; the “Lord’s Prayer” is a template of how to pray. First, we see that our worship goes to Him. Secondly, we declare what is done in heaven is done on earth. If you want to know His Will, just look at the template of heaven! We can have heaven on earth (if we’ll believe it and receive it!). Thirdly, we recognize God is our Source! Next, we release forgiveness (70 times7) and then pray for victory over the evil one. Finally, we give Him honor where honor is due. This is a good place to start as we learn to take our place in the Spirit and bring effective, lasting change to our surroundings. Until next week...