| Written by Jonathan Suber, on Wednesday, 17 January 2007 |
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It seems most of us choose the beginning of a new calendar year to re-evaluate our lives and ministries. I realize that January first is simply a chronological date set for seasonal and socioeconomic purposes so we can all be on the same page, but it also seems to signal a new beginning. There is more exercise, dieting, journaling, fasting, and prayer than any other time of the year! Now I know why they're called "New Years Resolutions" because that's about as long as they last-New Years Day!
Just like most of you, I go out and begin to stock up on calendar refills, journals, diet-books, and a different translation of a one-year Bible for personal devotion time. I love reading and learning from the self-help and leadership gurus such as Maxwell, Covey, Tim Robinson, Jack Canfield, and Jack Welch. Personally, I learned a lot from Rudolph Gullianni's book Leadership.
Books such as Good to Great, The Fifth Discipline, Success Principles for Life, and the Seven Habits have literally become a part of American leadership culture and vocabulary.
My wife remarked to me the other night right before I dozed off that Stephen Covey's book First Things First was the world's best-selling time management book in history! So much for sleeping! As soon as I heard her say, "First things first," it was as if I could hear Paul exhorting to his protégée Timothy, "First of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men."
Something began to stir in my spirit the latter part of last year. Maybe it was the transition we were going through as a family and with our ministry, but I started feeling very strongly around the first of November-"First of all Prayer"! This is not the time to simply go about business as usual. It's so easy to go ahead and plan everything out because that's what we have been taught from a secular mind-set. But have we not been begotten by the Spirit? Isn't it still true that, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God"? Paul taught us that it is possible to begin in the Spirit yet become distracted and begin to do sacred things in the flesh.
When I was in the role of Sr. Pastor, my favorite axiom to our staff was, "We plan, God laughs." God isn't limited by time, appointment books, calendars, health, energy levels, attitudes, or even continents! The wind of the Spirit blows where it wants to!
Is it just me or is this New Year different? God is planning something! This is not about our agendas or personal goals. I refuse to be cursed with the "barrenness of busy-ness." The state of finding myself so entangled with the work of the ministry that I don't have the energy or time to wait on a word from the Lord. This must be the time that we go back to our original purpose, Prayer.
Is it possible we have become so task oriented and independent as "self-starters" that we have learned how to march without orders? Planning without praying is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute!
An anonymous intercessor wrote:
Many organizers, few agonizers
Many players and payers, few prayers
Many singers, few clingers
Many pastors, few wrestlers
Many fears, few tears
Much fashion, little passion
Many interferers, few intercessors
Many writers, but few fighters
G. Campbell Morgan said that one of Satan's most effective methods today is to start so many organizations in a church that members have no time for unhurried communion with God.
Elijah prophesied, called fire down from heaven, eradicated false idols and altars and yet still prayed! Even as the words spoken to his enemy Ahab came from his lips, "Go up to eat and drink, for there is an abundance of rain," he was headed to another prayer meeting. It seems significant that he actually set himself in the Hebrew birthing position of placing his face between his knees. Only by prayer can some promises be birthed into fruition and reality! We must never forget that the fulfillment of prophecy is conditional, depending on the soil it's planted in.
It took six reports of failure before the servant could return with even a small sign. If six is the number of man then it is significant that it wasn't until he reached the end of himself that Jehovah could reveal His plan!
I have never felt more prophetically "pregnant" in my life! I have heard prophetic decrees come out of my own mouth and have experienced the fire of the Holy Ghost fall as have many of you, yet I feel compelled to go back to Carmel and wait on the Lord! It may be that the Lord is up to something that will end the spiritual drought that has seiged our nation. When we acknowledge that we have come to the end of ourselves and position ourselves in expectant humility, God intervenes.
Whatever it is you have dreamed and prophesied from the Lord, Go again!!! We are at the seventh year of this new century. This is a season of supernatural outpouring. Get ready for a cloud-burst!!!
Last update: Thursday, 18 January 2007
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