Sometimes You Just Need to Ask

Susan came forward for prayer after the morning worship service. She was a bit hesitant with her request because she was afraid we might think it was trivial or that she lacked the faith to be obedient to the Lord.

But she had a need that was weighing her down and causing anxiety in her spirit. She was leaving the next day on a missions trip to a reservation in South Dakota. She looked ahead at the weather forecast and realized it was predicted to be above 100 degrees for the week – and they were planning to work outside. “I don’t do well in the heat,” she confessed. “I’m so worried.”

We gathered around her and began praying exactly the right things. “Lord, give Susan the strength to endure. Ease her anxiety. Flood her soul with peace. Protect her from any physical stress that might cause her harm. Let her trust You in this circumstance.”

But my spirit was stirring as I listened to the prayers being offered on Susan’s behalf. It’s not that the prayers were wrong; I was just sensing the Lord wanted to do something different in Susan’s life.

When there was a break in the praying, I looked at Susan and asked her a simple question: “What temperature would you like it to be?”

She looked surprised, but replied, “Well, 80s would be perfect.”

“All right, then,” I said. “I would like to ask the Lord for 80 degrees for you.” I then prayed a very short but specific prayer for Susan. I asked the Lord to surprise her with that perfect temperature.

Susan came back the following week, her missions trip completed. She couldn’t wait to report the profound shift in the weather pattern – it was in the 80s the entire week!

Don’t Complicate Things

Prayer is such a mystery. At times we get caught up in trying to pray the right things, not wanting to suggest anything to God that might be “out of His will.” We want to honor the Lord in our prayers, and we certainly don’t want to give false hope or pray in ways that might cause people to be disappointed.

But sometimes we just need to ask. God could have chosen to grow Susan’s character by creating an opportunity for her to rely more on Him in the midst of sweltering heat. He could have decided that now was the time to release Susan of her anxiety by demonstrating that He would care for her regardless of the circumstances. He may have wanted to use 100 degrees as a way to build Susan’s character.

Instead, God chose to delight Susan’s heart by answering a simple request. As far as Susan was concerned, she believed God interrupted the weather patterns over an entire state and region just for her!

I was reminded of this story today, even though it happened a few years ago. Sometimes you need to remember God’s faithfulness from the past and let your hope for the future be renewed. I need some refreshed prayer hope!

Don’t hesitate to pray your heart’s desires. It’s OK. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:11: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Rather than worrying that our requests might be too self-serving or maybe out of His will, sometimes we just need to ask our gracious and loving God. Let Him surprise you with abundant and good gifts.

Creating Disturbances

I recently had the police called on me. Well, it wasn’t just me—it included several prayer leaders who were praying through Hollywood as a part of the recent National Prayer Committee meetings. We made a stop at the Scientology headquarters along Sunset Boulevard—an expansive, renovated hospital. The Scientology organization is apparently the largest landowner in Hollywood.

About 50 of us piled off the bus, representing prayer ministries from around the country. No instructions were needed as these prayer leaders immediately began prayer walking on the public sidewalks around the building, inviting God to break down the deceptive strongholds, release the captives to this false religion, and bring a spiritual awakening of Jesus Christ to those associated with Scientology.  One prayer leader who has prayer walked in dozens of nations believed this block was the most spiritually dark place he had ever prayed.

Apparently we were created some “disturbances” in the spiritual realm. Suddenly we noticed security pouring out of the building, which was a good signal for us that it was time to get back on the bus. As we were pulling away, the police showed up. I’m not sure what they would have said to us—stop praying on public sidewalks because you’re disturbing the spiritual aura of this cult? As we drove away, we praised God for the opportunity to pray in the name of Jesus for those who are so lost.

But do these prayer encounters really make a difference? I’ve prayer walked around the international headquarters of a cult in my own community for the past seven years. I can see no discernible difference, yet I know God has called me to do this. Perhaps you are prayer walking around your own neighborhood, wondering the same thing. Often when we pray “great prayers” for spiritual awakening in seemingly impossible places, we do so without ever seeing any kind of impact from our prayers. It's hard to stay faithful.

Two years ago this same group of prayer leaders took a day to pray throughout Hollywood—at movie studios, along the Walk of Fame, and at other key sites related to the entertainment industry. As we returned this year, we heard reports of hopeful changes that pastors and prayer leaders in Hollywood can see. Is Hollywood radically transformed, as we have prayed? Not yet. But God does hear our prayers and will answer according His timing. I fully believe that.

Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” This is God’s heart—and so when we pray these seemingly impossible prayers over such dark places, we can be assured we are praying according to His character and love for the lost.

Keep on creating those “spiritual disturbances” when you encounter darkness. And if you get the police called on you, well—consider that an indicator that your prayers are making a difference! “Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land” (Ps. 85:9).

Better than Debates and Popcorn

I don’t particularly care to watch presidential debates. I squirm. I fret. I feel uncomfortable and often annoyed. For me, there’s no sitting down with a bowl of popcorn and enjoying the show. In fact, my tendency is to feel despair about the condition of our nation and some of the people who represent it with their political ideologies.

That’s why I felt called to do what I know best and represents the most hope for the future. I journeyed to Washington, D.C. in early October with one mission in mind—to pray and ask God for His grace and mercy on our nation. I joined 300 people from all 50 states to spend four days walking and praying around our nation’s Capitol. We didn’t come to pray for a particular candidate’s success. We simply prayed for God to grace us with an interruption of heaven, an outpouring of His Spirit, and a fresh spiritual awakening for our nation.

 

My time there was both physically exhausting and spiritually rejuvenating. We walked miles to pray at various sites. At times we prayed in groups; other times I walked and prayed alone. As the Lord led us, we prayed with faith.

On one day all 300 of us were dispersed throughout the Senate and House of Representative offices to pray with our government leaders’ staffs. We made appointments ahead of time to let the staffs know we were coming—and in every instance we were graciously received. Although the Congress members themselves were on recess, we were blessed to pray with the people who work behind the scenes. One particularly liberal Senator’s staff was somewhat suspicious when we arrived, but by the time we finished praying for them and blessing them—it was clear that their hearts had been warmed. In fact, the chief counsel of this staff contacted us a week later with another prayer request!

In addition, we spent time worshiping at "David's Tent," which is a large tent that has been pitched on the Ellipse - technically the White House property. This tent will be there for the 40 days prior to the elections with 24/7 worship. There is a stage set up at one end with speakers that broadcast live worship music as far as the Washington Monument. This means that for 40 days, night and day, there is continuous worship being offered to God - and I suspect you might even be able to hear it on the White House lawn. I am amazed that they could get a permit for this - another indicator that God is pouring out His favor to those who are willing to sacrificially pray!

Some people might believe that God has given up on this nation, but I don't believe that's true. I believe He is calling more and more of His people to pray with hope and humility because He wants to pour out another great revival and spiritual awakening in our nation. The week in D.C. strengthened that belief in my heart.

Dave Butts, chairman of the National Prayer Committee, shared a passage of Scripture that has stayed with me and continues to give hope—even when I’m watching presidential debates! In Jeremiah 14-15, God told Jeremiah to not bother to pray for the nation of Judah, as He was determined to carry out His judgment because of their rebellion and sin. In fact, God said that even if Moses and Samuel prayed for mercy, God would not listen. It was time for judgment to be carried out—with the hope of repentance and restoration to come later.

But God has not told His people today to stop praying for this nation. He called exactly 300 of us to come to D.C. to pray like Gideon’s army. He’s calling more and more people every day to fast and pray – especially in these last days leading up to the elections. Whatever the outcome, God’s heart is to answer the cries of His people with perhaps the greatest move of revival we’ve ever known as a nation. I believe that.

I agree with Dave’s assessment of our nation at this moment in history: "We are in the midst of the most massive movement of prayer ever in the U.S. It's happening now - and it's accelerating."

This is going to be way better than watching a debate with a bowl of popcorn.