Culture of prayer
If I could challenge you to think outside the box today, I would like to challenge you to become committed to the alternative culture that Jesus came to bring us. You are in the world, but you are not of the world. If this is true, why do we tend to live like the world lives?
We as Christian people profess our faith, but then do not live our lives very differently from anyone else. We are still after what Francis called the three P’s: Power, Prestige and Possessions. It is hard for the world to distinguish us from the culture around us.
How do we live into our heavenly destiny? How do we bring the Kingdom of God to this world? We don’t do it just on Sunday mornings. I have driven by one church in my neighborhood and noticed that the cars are parked as far away from the church building as possible, up toward the street. I can only guess that the churchgoers want to be the first out after the service! “I’m hungry, and I want to go home and eat my lunch!”
There is another large church in Jacksonville where the worship and teaching are phenomenal. Recently, they offered prayer after the service for anyone who wanted it, and after two hours almost 2,000 people were still waiting. That is a sign of spiritual hunger; the current culture is not bringing them life and they recognize it.
Many of us were raised in the faith, and of course we are very thankful for that heritage. Was that faith lived out in your home during the week? Did many of us have a parent who prayed for us or with us?
At a certain church where I spoke, I gave the congregation a challenge: Pray personal prayers with your children or family members and report back after one week. They accepted the challenge, and the next week the pastor said there were so many testimonies that they couldn’t hear them all in the time allotted.
Romans 5:5 says, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
When God calls us into Romans 5:5 prayer, to love with His love, He gives us His eyes to see people as He sees them. I want God’s thoughts for the person I am praying for; I want God’s will for this person. I want to agree in prayer with what the Holy Spirit is doing in their life.
This is our legacy! Whether it is in your family, or in your church or your workplace, love creates a safe place for healing. Our ministry at CHM is so popular because it is a safe place.
Our prayers must be strategic. We pray against the enemy’s assignments to bring ruin and confusion to us and for our families. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways to reclaim your family. Stay in a place of surrender that says “Yes” to Him. Allow Him to shake up your ideas and your cultural mindset. Allow Him to make changes in your family. There may be conflicts that need to be forgiven, healed and restored.
Conflicts that are ongoing leave open doors for the enemy. I heard a bishop from Africa say, “When a mango tree loses a branch, the whole tree stops growing until the branch catches up.” Most of us like to ignore the truth and forge ahead, not seeking resolution to our traumas and wounds.
To defeat the enemy we need Christian community, and we need a plan. We need each other, like Aaron holding up the arms of Moses in the battle. If you are living a life of faith, there is a big target on your back, and our strategic battle plan against the enemy includes focused prayer. We pray binding prayers every morning; we pray cutting-free prayers at bedtime. We pray for our dreams. We call on the holy angels through God the Father to protect us. Angels are not fat little cherubs on Christmas trees; they are mighty warriors! We become aware of the supernatural realm, so we can recognize things in our homes that may pollute the spiritual environment, things like books, tokens, items or artwork representing witchcraft or occult practices. Have the courage to throw these items out.
Root your life in the faithfulness of God, by which you create a fortress for your family. Psalm 125 says, “As mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people.”
The Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and protect you. Bless your home. Pray with your children and with each other. Forgive each other through the mercy and grace of God. Encourage each other to grow, to surrender and to be one with God. Make your home a place of safety and love, a place where there is Holy Spirit anointing to deal with the issues of life.
For more than 40 years, Judith MacNutt has been one of the most recognized and respected leaders in the healing ministry. She and her late husband, Francis, co-founded Christian Healing Ministries, Inc. (Jacksonville, Fl.), a Christ-centered, ecumenical and non-profit ministry that is dedicated to the practice and teaching of healing prayer. Judith has traveled the world teaching about the love of Jesus Christ and the power and effectiveness of healing prayer. She is also the author of many books. For more information about Christian Healing Ministries, please visit their website at christianhealingmin.org or ring them at (907) 765-3332.
