Effective ministry is always preceded, nurtured and advanced through prayer. Thankfully we can see this in our Free Methodist history. Ralph Woodworth writes in his book on Olive Branch Mission, “How is it possible to continue a ministry to people with whom you cannot communicate? Mary [Everhart] found the answer — prayer. Many of ‘the nine,’ when they returned, gave credit to the prayers of Mary and the other mission workers for their steadfastness in the faith. The mission family held prayer services at 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. every day. They also prayed together after every meal. Often the evening service ended with a lengthy season of prayer. Prayer was one of the most effective tools Mary and her helpers had, and they used it wisely and well.” (Light in a Dark Place: The Story of Olive Branch Mission, page 54)
Let us as a church continue in prayer, wisely and well, so that the Lord’s fruit may be brought forth through the Free Methodist church.
May 30 – June 5
As we pray fervently for a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit at GC11 let us:
- Ask Him to direct our thoughts and shape our desires as individuals and as a church — that we would be unified through Him.
- Ask Him to help us as we read Scripture — that we may incline our ears and hearts to hear and obey.
- Prayerfully consider this week’s prayer tasks, allowing the Spirit to convict, instruct and encourage us with new thoughts.
Monday – May 30th Prayer Task: “Ministries of Freedom”
Our classic Wesleyan viewpoint sees salvation as so much more than getting sins forgiven. Salvation sets us free from the power and ravaging effects of sin. God’s work is not just judicial, it is therapeutic.
Read: 2 Peter 1:3-4
Pray: Ask the Lord to help you consider what it will take for our churches to offer freedom and healing from sin, and pray for those things to come true in our church.
Tuesday – May 31st Prayer Task: “Integrity”
Integrity is when our words and actions hang together in harmony with our principles. We follow through. We keep promises. We speak plainly. We act consistently.
Read: 1 Samuel 3:19
Pray: Ask the Lord to help you consider how people learn to prize and pursue integrity, and pray for those things to come true, both personally and in our churches.
Wednesday – June 1st Prayer Task: “Wholesome Talk”
The most violated command of Scripture just may be “let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.” Our Book of Discipline urges pastors to read John Wesley’s sermon on evil speaking to the congregation annually.
Read: Ephesians 4:29
Pray: Lord, guide our thoughts and our reactions that our words will flow from hearts given to You. Convict us, Lord, before we speak rashly and help us to heed your counsel. May our conversations flow with encouragement, kindness and truth. May our voices be your instruments to bring healing and strength to those within and without the church. Amen.
Thursday – June 2nd Prayer Task: “Prayer-centered Churches”
The ultimate expression of our faith is found in unceasing prayer. If we watch Jesus, believe His words, and follow His example we must acknowledge that prayer is the “one necessary thing” (Luke 10:42).
Read: John 15: 7-8
Pray: Ask the Lord to help you consider what needs to happen for us as individuals and for our churches to be prayer“full.” Pray for those things to come true.
Friday – June 3rd Prayer Task: “A Worshiping Community”
This expected outcome implies that we must make worship more than a routine. It must become a way of life that draws us into community. The presence of God must be at the center just like the tabernacle was for the children of Israel.
Read: Exodus 4:34-38
Pray: Ask the Lord to help you consider what is necessary for true worship to be at the center of our church, and pray for that vision to become reality.
* Action Prayer: Take a hymn, chorus or verse that is special to you. Write the words down and make a point to have worship “breaks” throughout the day. This is a way to invite the Lord’s presence into our daily routines.
Saturday – June 4th Prayer Task: “A Prayer-saturated Church”
This expected outcome implies that everything the church considers, decides and undertakes must be bathed in prayer from beginning to end. Compare that principle with our all-too-common practice of praying perfunctory prayers — if that — at the beginning or end of meetings.
Read: Acts 1:12-14; 2:42–47
Pray: Lord, forgive us for how we rush into meetings with quick prayers, not really believing that prayer makes a difference. Forgive us for how we rely on our own thoughts that are too often cultivated by the world’s input rather than your word. Lord, draw us by Your Spirit to our knees. Help us to understand that the only way kingdom work gets done is by truly giving all our considerations and decisions to You in prayer. May we be a people devoted to You and your ways. Amen.
* Action Prayer: Call a person from your church today and ask them to join you in praying for the church – both your local church and our denomination — as we head toward GC11.
Sunday – June 5th Prayer Task: “Empowerment ”
The Great Commission is way too great to be pursued without the power of the Holy Spirit. But do we obey Jesus’ command to “wait” before we try to obey His command to “go”?
Read: Luke 24:46-49
Pray: Ask the Lord to help you consider what it means to wait for Holy Spirit empowerment and pray for those things to come true in our church.
Giving the Lord More of Your Sabbath: Take time today and go to gc11.org and prayerfully skim through the pages. Ask the Holy Spirit to stop you where He wants you to focus and linger in prayer. When you are drawn to that spot, ask the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers. Pray.
* PLEASE NOTE: “Action Prayer”
On occasion there will be an action cue intended to help us incorporate prayer in different ways throughout our day.
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