Prayer Focus for the week of July 20th

[T.W.U.D. Online Prayer Ministry]

Bishop-Elect T. Anthony Bronner, Senior Pastor

Prayer Focus for the week of July 20, 2008.

PRAYER FOCUS


Batman once told the law enforcement of Gotham City; if you ever need
me just shine the Bat Signal. Interestingly, God told King Solomon
during the dedication of the temple, if things become dry and
challenging, pray. “If my people who are called by my name will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways.
Then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal
their land” (II Chronicles 7:14). In essence the Bat Signal was to
Batman what prayer is to God. Prayer is humanities intentional way of
evoking God in our lives. Prayer is a way of saying to God, we can’t
handle life without you. We need God’s intervention, intimacy and
empowerment.

These words to Solomon from God are directions for requesting God’s
assistance when times are dry or in our dry seasons. Dry seasons, by
the way, is metaphorical language to describe hard, challenging,
unfulfilled, difficult, unpredictable and uncertain times. Dry also
can express when there is not enough and a time of lack. No one is
exempt from the hardship of a dry period. Abraham had a dry season
while waiting on the promise. Jacob had a dry season while wrestling
with God for a change of name and character. The children of Israel
experienced their dry time in the wilderness. Most likely, we all can
attest to a time or two when things were extremely transitional.

Nonetheless, God said when things get dry call on God. Please notice
the criteria; we must be God’s people, we must have a relationship
with God and be following the ways of Christ. Then we must have the
proper position. We must humble ourselves and submit to God’s
authority. Also, we must be willing to abandon pleasures and
privileges that are against the will, word and way of God. Finally, we
must be willing to pursue or seek God ‘until’. Yes, seek God until, or
always, not just during the dryness.

God seems to be suggesting if we do ‘this’, then God will do ‘this’.
God will hear our prayers and heal our lands or dryness. God will
change the trajectory of our current circumstances.
So, let’s be wise like the people of Gotham. When they needed
protection and direction they signaled for Batman. Call on the Lord
while God is near and while God can be found (Isaiah 55:6) Lean not to
your own understanding, but acknowledge God in all your ways (Proverbs
3:5).

Could it be the sooner we get in touch with God, the sooner we can
alleviate our dryness?

PRAYER

O Lord our God how excellent is your name in all the earth. (Psalm
8:1)
You sit upon the throne and you delight in our praise. (Psalm 37:3-4)
We will bless you O Lord at all times and will praise you always with
our lips. (Psalm 34:1)
We, your people, come before you humbling ourselves and praying. (II
Chronicles 7:14)
Lord we cry out to you to see and hear of great and mighty things.
(Jeremiah 33:3)
Lord we are a generation that is seeking you face. (Psalm 24:6)
You are our one desire and only desire. (Psalm 27: 4)
We call your name and desire your wonderful presence and glorious
atmosphere.
In your presence we are the recipients of your joy and your joy is our
strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)
We have unspeakable joy in your presence. (I Peter 1:8)
When you appear all things change and they are made better. (Psalm
16:11)
We clearly say we only want you.
Lord we turn our backs on our wicked ways.
Lead us in the path of righteousness. (Psalm 23:3)
We desire your word to be a lamp to our feat and the light for our
path. (Psalm 119:105)
Lord thank you that you forgive our sins. (Matthew 26:28)
We pursue you like a deer pants for water. (Psalm 42:1)
Our souls thirst for you and we long for you. (Psalm 63:1)
Pour out your water on our thirsty land, and form streams on our dry
ground. (Isaiah 44:3)
Heal our land and alleviate our dryness.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Copyright 2008. TWUDCF, Inc. The Preaching & Teaching Ministry of
Bishop T. Anthony Bronner. All Rights Reserved.