Tag Archives: Houses of Prayer

Hope for the Future

October 29, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

God wants us to faithfully finish this life-long race and receive the crown of the victor. He wants to openly display His glory
(Rev. 21:3). We must be faithful while on earth. We are running in a race as we look unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). The Apostle Paul wanted to receive this prize.

The House of Prayer helps us to walk in full obedience so that we might be found worthy of ruling in the age to come and receive the prize.

Is the Lord alarming us with the crises of these days?
Has He not spoken about those events that will bring the King-
dom authority to His Bride, the Church, on earth?
Does not Satan tremble when Christians take God at His Word
when He says, “Ask and you shall receive?”

“At such a time as this as we witness this global mobilization of prayer, we can perhaps look to the future with cautious excitement. What will God do in answer to so much prayer, we wonder? God’s kingdom, when it comes, probably won’t arrive in the way we expect or even want it to. But viewing history with the eyes of faith, through the grid of past prayer movements, we can easily see the correlation between seasons of intercession and the extension of God’s kingdom in the world.” Peter Greig and David Blackwell

Count it all joy as you involve yourself in this worldwide prayer movement (James 1:2-12). God is raising up a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle, and you are part of it (Ephesians 5:26-27). His government will increase over the whole earth as the prayer and worship movement increases.

Though the powers of darkness seek to hinder Houses of Prayer through disappointments, deception, distractions and difficulty, God’s people will begin to see the big picture. They will start to live from the perspective of eternity rather than live a compromised life (Mark 4:7; Luke 27:31-33). They will begin to understand His strategy to bring righteousness and justice to earth, and this will keep them steady in the House of Prayer.

The Apostle Paul was consumed with a hope for the future. It sustained him in the midst of pressure and opposition. He was able to endure suffering with joy (Romans 8:18, 24). Studying the end times should fill our hearts with hope, because God will triumph over evil and Jesus will triumph as King of kings.

Let’s live with eternity in view. Jesus is coming back to a praying Church that will advance His glory throughout the entire world. Jesus is right now bringing transformation onto the earth in all nations and in all of our lives. The bowls of intercession in heaven are becoming full. Like the butterfly released from it’s cocoon, the Church will arise as a beautiful praying Bride as she waits expectantly for her Bridegroom King to appear in all His glory.

“Jesus is not coming back to a prayerless Church, rather to one enjoying mature bridal partnership with Him in intercession for the great harvest. The church will complete the Great Commission reaching to all 255 nations in the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 24:14). This strategic plan of the Holy Spirit will reach a crescendo before the Lord returns, as the bowls of intercession will become full in heaven.” Mike Bickle

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Operating in God’s Government

October 29, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

Through intercession, God is training us to operate in His government. He governs in partnership with His people through intercession. The governmental center of the universe is the prayer room. We have a dynamic role because He shuts doors of oppression in response to our prayers. When we speak the Word of God that is in agreement with the Holy Spirit, God moves in power. We have the opportunity to advance God’s glory through prayer and intercession.

Lets take this opportunity and make this all-important choice to center our lives in prayer.

In December of 1995, American Airlines Flight 965 left Miami on a routine trip to Cali, Columbia. On the landing approach, the pilot needed to select the next radio navigation fix named Rozo. He entered an “R” into his navigation computer, and it returned a list of nearby navigation fixes starting with “R”. He selected the first and the latitude and longitude appeared correct. But instead of Rozo, the pilot selected Romeo, 132 miles northeast. A deviation would be dangerous. The pilot then began an easterly turn as he followed the indications on the flight computer.

But because he was off course he slammed into a granite peak at ten thousand feet—152 passengers and eight crewmembers were immediately killed! Only four survived this terrible accident. The National Transportation Safety Board declared the problem human error. The pilot had selected the wrong fix. When the plane is on course, the needle is centered but gives no indication about the correctness of the selected radio beacon. The gauge looks the same just before landing as before crashing. The computer had told the pilot he was tracking precisely to the beacon he had selected, but it had neglected to tell him that the selected beacon was fatal.

The prayer room will keep us on course and in the center of God’s will. Houses of Prayer in our cities will keep us safe from danger and will help us know how to navigate through rough weather.

Houses of Prayer will show us how to advance God’s glory in the end times.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Advancing God’s Glory

October 29, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

“Have you ever wondered if it is possible to get God’s attention or attract His presence? And if it is possible, then why don’t we spend more time doing those things that welcome His presence? God’s Word establishes clear principles regarding His presence. There are things that prepare for and welcome the presence of the Lord—things like prayer, unity, worship, and a broken and contrite spirit.” Rhonda Hughey

Wouldn’t you like to attract God’s attention to your city? Don’t you want to advance God’s glory where you live? There is an eternal inheritance in every person and city. The possibility for transforma-tion is possible. Isn’t it time to see God invade your city with His glorious presence? This is possible as we build the House of Prayer. God wants to come in, but we have to invite Him.

Jesus is our model as we move forward in Houses of Prayer. The greatest example of the fullness of Christ’s love can be seen in His meekness and servanthood (John 13). He was so strong, and yet He stooped so low. There is a dignity, beauty, and uniqueness about His lowliness (Matthew 11:29; Mark 10:15). Jesus was the servant of all. The weight of God’s glory is His humility.

This humility will confront the pride of the earth (Psalm 113:4-6; Isaiah 2:10-11; 49:5-7). Jesus leads with the strength of meekness and the might of humility. We must do the same. This will be a big key to the success of Houses of Prayer in our cities and churches.

Only Jesus gets the glory. It’s about advancing His glory. It’s not about a person, church, or ministry—it’s all about Jesus!

We must give God time in the prayer room. Houses of Prayer advance God’s glory. Houses of Prayer glorify Jesus.

Houses of Prayer are very do-able. God doesn’t need a large population of Christians in order to bring in His presence. He will work through a few churches that decide to unite in prayer in order to seek His presence for their city. We must have a vision (Proverbs 29:18). We need a world vision, a heavenly revelation, and prophetic insight into what God wants to do in our day. We must be like Moses and cry out to see God’s glory in our city (Exodus 33:18-19). As we do, we know that we are on the right course and are pointing in the direction of bringing glory to God through prayer.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Positioning Your Life for Greatness

October 29, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

In starting and maintaining Houses of Prayer we are seeking for God’s “well done” in our lives. We become involved with what God cherishes and esteems so highly. Establishing Houses of Prayer helps to bring God’s people into a love relationship with Him and helps them establish a close partnership with Jesus on earth. This brings glory to God in the deepest sense. Prayer is rooted in humility and takes time and energy. But when we do this, we are investing our time and energy in order to help others grow in righteousness, peace, and joy.

Let’s press on with diligence and faithfulness (Philippians 3:12-14). He will help each one of us to be faithful in the face of pressure, obstacles, and difficulty. He will help us endure the mundane and the smallness of working diligently day by day and week by week as we get started. This matters to Him. We are living for a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. It’s a daily adventure in pleasing God. It’s all part of His invitation to greatness in His Kingdom. This invitation brings transformation in every area of our lives. Our hearts and our thoughts are transformed.

We are living in a transitional time in all of history. The Holy Spirit is preparing us for a release of His glory upon the Church. There will be a mighty release of signs, wonders, and glory at the end of the age
(Joel 2:28-29). This will bring transformation. God is right now shaking everything that can be shaken in the nations (Haggai 2:6-7). He is inviting everyone to become great in His Kingdom. He designed us for this. True greatness will be fully manifested in the age to come, not here. It will be based on our heart’s response, and it is available to all (Matthew 5:19; 20:26-27; 23:12).

Let’s seek God in all that we do with a childlike faith and a humble heart. He is transforming our hearts and our minds. It’s time to see life from His perspective because it is so far higher than ours. Let’s position our life for greatness in His Kingdom and accept this wonderful invitation.

I was sitting in the back of the International House of Prayer. I was looking at hundreds of young people who were accepting God’s invitation to greatness with glad hearts. They were intently seeking God in the secret place. They were giving Him their time and energy with heartfelt abandonment. It was powerful.

“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me” (Matthew 18:4-5).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

God’s Invitation to Greatness

October 29, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

“Anyone who breaks one of the least of these command-ments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).

Establishing a House of Prayer in your church or city is pursuing greatness in God’s sight. You are involved in one of the greatest things you can ever do for God. He wants to transform our thinking so we understand His invitation to greatness.

Think about it—what do we really want—fame before man or before God?

Lasting greatness is not in the praise of man but in the affirmation of God. He has placed within our heart a longing for greatness. He looks at the heart; He looks at our obedience and motives. He sees our hidden heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He sees what we do in secret, in the hidden place of prayer. Jesus wants to unlock our hearts and minds so that we are fully alive in Him. This is how he will reward us
(Matthew 6:6). Most of what we do now will not be fully known until the age to come.

When we build a House of Prayer, we are building upon a foundation that cannot be shaken (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). We are pursuing greatness in God’s sight. When we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, we will be judged by the motives of our hearts and the established thought patterns behind our actions. God is evaluating our hearts. Moses prayed: “Now, show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18). He understood the true meaning and purpose of life. When we meet God face-to-face, He will ask:

How much did you seek me?
How much did you love others?
How much did you let me transform your heart?

Let God measure the success of what we do. He is looking for faithfulness (Luke 16:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:2) and relationship (Matt. 7:23; Luke 10:20). We must be faithful stewards as we pray and prepare our Houses of Prayer. Our goal is to help prepare the Bride for her destiny (Ephesians 5:22-27). Our identity is found in being a friend of the Bridegroom.

He must increase, and we must decrease.

We do not possess the fragrance of Jesus through education or money. God is raising up the uneducated and unknown to turn the world upside down (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). The power of the Kingdom will not come through the best training programs in the world. It will come through those who train in the desert, in that secret place of prayer. Moses had the best training in the world (Hebrews 11:24). He was the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, but he needed forty years in the desert. Daniel had the best education, but it was in the secret place where he became wiser than all the wise men of Babylon. He was steadfast and prayed three times a day, even when it endangered his life. Nothing—absolutely nothing—could hinder his commitment to prayer, not even a den of lions!

In Acts 4:13-16 we see that the boldness of Peter and John arises from their time spent with Jesus. Others realized this and marveled. They were uneducated and untrained, yet their lives were ones of power. These men had the vision and commitment to pray and spend time with God. They accepted God’s invitation to greatness.

As we wait for the coming of God’s Kingdom, we can walk in that same power, but we must see with the eyes of vision God’s great invitation to us. We must have hearts of commitment to pray and advance the prayer movement. We need to believe that God wants to spread Houses of Prayer throughout the entire world. We must have vision for our city and our church.

God is inviting us to greatness in His Kingdom.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Transformed Hearts

October 29, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

“Cultivating a responsive heart of extravagant devotion to Jesus takes time and deliberate effort. Love does not grow automatically but rather it automatically diminishes unless intentionally cultivated. A responsive heart to God, renewed in freshness and tenderness, is precious and rare, to be guarded with great care and renewed day by day. Satan’s first priority against the Church is to lead us astray from cultivating the ability to be responsive to God with wholehearted love and extravagant devotion. If Satan leads us astray from the purity of devotion to Jesus, then our service and love for others will eventually fail.” Dana Candler

As you move forward in prayer for your city, realize that it’s all about loving God and preparing the earth for the reign of Jesus, our Bridegroom King. It’s all about obeying the first commandment:

“Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind” (Matthew 22:37-38).

The fire of loving God will ignite our faith to live a life of prayer and devotion. He wants us to turn to Him with all our heart (Joel 2:12). Then He will pour out His Spirit on the nations.

God wants to transform our hearts in the prayer room. There is no better way to experience a changed heart as in the prayer room. He wants to impact our hearts so that we impact our cities and the nations. If we love God, we will love others better and with a much greater consistency. Let’s remember that the Church of Ephesus had left their first love (Revelation 2:1-5). Their once fiery love and passion for Jesus had grown cold. Their minds had been led astray from the simplicity of pure devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3). Loving God and living a holy life must be our primary focus.

As we think about loving God and Jesus, let’s realize that Houses of Prayer will enable us to grow in intimacy in a way that is beyond our greatest dream.

Houses of Prayer help us to encounter God on a deep level. Growing in an intimate relationship with God should be our ambition, our highest calling. This means that we know and are deeply known by God. We have a relational knowledge of Him and not just a factual understanding. God is a person to be known, and our knowledge of Him produces affection.

We position our hearts in the prayer room to receive the love He desires to manifest to us. He wants to partner with us, and He releases blessing to those who are in unity with His heart. Loving God was Jesus’ last public invitation and declaration before He went to the cross (Matthew 22:37-38). It is the great commandment and God’s first priority. We impact His heart when we love Him. This should be our life focus (Song of Solomon 8:6-7).

Loving God in the prayer room brings transformation into our heart.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

How to Pray for the Nations

October 28, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

Pray for the Nations Life Application

We looked at the need for a House of Prayer for all nations. You’ve learned about how to pray for the nations and how to spread the vision of prayer world-wide. Carefully review before answering the following:

A House of Prayer for all nations – In your own words, write down what a House of Prayer for all nations means to you and to your city. See Isaiah 56:7 and Mark 11:17.
In what way do you see God realigning and bringing a divine connection in the prayer movement – Explain your answer. How does God want you involved in uniting with the worldwide prayer movement and prayer in your city?
Pray some of the following Biblical prayers over your country every day this week – They are found in Ezekiel 37:1-14; Daniel 9:1-8, 11-19; Acts 4:24-31; Ephesians 1:15-20; 3:14-21; 6:18-20; Philippians 1:3-4, 9-11; Colossians 1:2-4, 9-12; Revelation 5:8-14; and 11:5-18. Journal regarding any insight God may have given you as you prayed for your country.
Pray several of the general prayer requests for nations – Pray them a few times this week. This will help you become familiar with Biblical ways to pray for nations. They are prayers for unity, spiritual awakening, revival, leaders, holiness, obedience, the fear of the Lord, reaching the harvest, the poor and the needy, just laws, united intercession, the Bible, and revival among children and youth. They can be found in Psalm 81:11-12; 85:6; 119:126; Proverbs 8:13; 21:13; Isaiah 64:1-3; Matthew 12:25; 28:19-20; John 14:13-14; 16:24; 17:23; 2 Corinthians 7:1b; Ephesians 4:11; 6:10-18; Philippians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Hebrews 13:3; and 2 Peter 3:9. Review “Prayer Requests for the Nations” to get the best layout for prayer.
Write a paragraph commenting on the spread of Houses of Prayer worldwide – Look carefully at the examples. How do you plan to catch the vision and spread it in your own sphere of influence? Write down action steps that you plan to make in your own life.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Catch and Spread the Vision for 24/7 Prayer

October 28, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

“Prayer is the key to reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus. The greatest forces of power in the universe are mobilized, and history is made when we pray. God is looking for men who will stand in the gap on behalf of the land. Ezekiel 22:30; Isaiah 59:16; 63:5″

Houses of Prayer are spreading all over the world. Prayer rooms are also being established in churches throughout the world. Not only are churches starting them, denominations and Christian organi-zations have started prayer watches.

The Salvation Army in Australia and in England started praying 24/7 for a week in 52 of their branches with immediate results. YWAM, with sixteen bases in Western Europe, set aside an entire year where each base took responsibility for a week, filling the whole year with day and night prayer. In 2005, thirteen denominations and Christian organizations in England alone started filling the whole year with 24/7 prayer.

Several prisons in Argentina have established 24/7, 365-day prayer watches where the inmates pray for their families, communities, their country, fellow inmates, and the world. Inmates are converted and change their lifestyle. Breakthroughs are happening in the prisons. Here’s how you can catch and spread the vision:

Daily pray that a House of Prayer starts in every city in every nation – Keep on praying for your own city to catch the vision for Houses of Prayer.
Rejoice that God is awakening the watchmen – Watch the Awaken the Watchmen DVD and others to find out how the 24/7 prayer movement is spreading worldwide. Visit the Jericho Walls website.
Register your prayer watch – The purpose of this website, Global 24-7, is to register and encourage prayer watches all over the world. This will support what God is doing worldwide and help to link 24/7 prayer in different regions of the world.
Start a one-month House of Prayer in your city – Use the practical guidelines found in the next chapter as your training manual. Write to us at: intercessorsarise.org, and let us know how God is working in your House of Prayer.
Start a one-week House of Prayer in your church – You may want to use one my books on prayer to help encourage your church in intercession. See the recommended book list for an extensive list of recommended books on prayer, intercession, revival, fasting, evangelism, intimacy, spiritual warfare, and how to reach cities and nations.
Learn from other Houses of Prayer. Notice how they are function-ing, and what they teach and emphasize. Observe the creativity in each one. Here are a few House of Prayer websites to encourage your heart in how the 24/7 prayer movement is spreading worldwide, but there are dozens of other websites.
– IHOPKC – 24/7 prayer internationally.
– Succathallel – 24/7 prayer in Israel.
– Justice House of Prayer – 24/7 prayer in Washington D.C. for justice.
– 24-7 Prayer – 24/7 prayer internationally among the youth.
– Hollywood Prayer Network – 24/7 prayer in Hollywood for the media.
– National House of Prayer – 24/7 Prayer in Canada.

I highly recommend the book, Red Moon Rising, by Pete Greig and Dave Roberts. This book gives the amazing story of how the prayer movement is spreading worldwide among the youth. They have 24/7 prayer rooms that have grown into 24/7 prayer houses called “Boiler Rooms” that are modeled after the ancient Celtic monasteries.

These Boiler Rooms are mission-focused and are places of disciplined prayer and outreach to the poor. They pursue missions, justice, hospitality, and prayer. As the world gets darker, they are spreading all over the world at an incredible rate. The vision is catching fire! Here is their incredible testimony:

“A movement to encourage churches to make room for nonstop prayer has spread to 63 nations in the last seven years and is especially multiplying in the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa. ‘We don’t have a fixed number of prayer rooms because they can take off so quickly,’ said Pete Greig, 37, who founded the 24/7 prayer movement in 1999 in Chichester, England. Named for its nonstop concert of prayer, 24/7 has meeting places as diverse as a bus in the slums of Delhi, India, and a brewery in Missouri. Volunteers pray, usually alone, in one-hour shifts, round the clock, seven days a week for global issues and requests they receive from their international website or from their local communities. Visitors are free to drop in, pray and talk. 24/7 also has planted itself in places where there is a crisis, such as Lebanon during the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, and in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Teams also live long-term in needy communities in Mexico, where intercessors can be found ministering among pimps and prostitutes.

‘In a squatter’s camp in Soweto, South Africa, we’ve seen 64 prayer tents spring up in just two years,’ Greig said. ‘The local man who spearheads them said 80 percent of new converts in the camp are maintaining their salvation, and the local police chief says crime has dropped by 20 percent.’ Greig said the movement is being fueled by young people who are passionate about prayer, justice and missions.” Josie Newman

This is only a small taste of what is happening worldwide in the area of prayer. Our God is creative, and we see the unique ways he initiates 24/7 prayer in different nations. Day and night prayer will lead to the final gathering of the worldwide harvest. Let’s jump on board and prepare for this harvest and the salvation of millions of souls. As we pray, let’s expect to see many souls saved. It is time for the Gospel to advance.

“If men would pray as they ought to pray, the marvels of the past would be more than reproduced. The Gospel would advance with a facility and power it has never known. Doors would be thrown open to the Gospel, and the Word of God would have a conquering force rarely if ever known before.” E. M. Bounds

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

God is Connecting Us

October 27, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

God is uniting a powerful prayer movement worldwide. In a supernatural way, He is connecting all of us. He is realigning ministries and people—He is teaching us to celebrate one another’s victories—He is orchestrating strategic shifts and realignments.

It’s important not to resist what God is doing, but eagerly gain new Kingdom alliances. The Kingdom is any sphere of life that actively obeys the will of God (Matthew 6:10). He wants us to have a Kingdom view of people and all of life.

It’s His Kingdom and not ours.

As I move from place to place and from one country to another, I sense a connection that is powerful. What God is doing in your area is connected and important to other cities and nations. We desperately need each other. The present task now for each one of us is to connect in unity and prayer in our city. Let us ask for God’s powerful anointing in the Houses of Prayer in various churches in the city and in the corporate citywide House of Prayer. Pray that each prayer meeting is led by the Holy Spirit, and functions in grace-empowered prayer and worship.

General Robert E. Lee was a career United States Army officer for 32 years and among the most celebrated generals in American history. He is best known for fighting in the American Civil War on behalf of the Confederate Army. General Lee saw that prayer was a mighty weapon in taking back land from the enemy and winning battles. He was one who not only fought for the nation of America, but he also pleaded earnestly that people would pray everywhere. We must likewise fight for our nations on our knees and realize that God’s House of Prayer is for all nations. This is what Robert E. Lee said:

“Knowing that intercessory prayer is our mightiest weapon and the supreme call for all Christians today, I pleadingly urge our people everywhere to pray. Believing that prayer is the greatest contribution that our people can make in this critical hour, I humbly urge that we take time to pray—to really pray. Let there be prayer at sunup, at noonday, at sundown, at midnight—all through the day. Let us all pray for our children, our youth, our aged, our pastors, our homes. Let us pray for our churches. Let us pray for ourselves, that we may not lose the word “concern” out of our Christian vocabulary. Let us pray for our nation. Let us pray for those who have never known Jesus Christ and redeeming love, for moral forces everywhere, for our national leaders. Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be our practice.”

As you work on building your House of Prayer, it is a good idea to get involved in the larger 24/7 prayer movement. There is strength in unity; knowing that you are part of something worldwide brings tremendous inner strength. When we work together we can share resources, discoveries, testimonies, and so much more than when we work alone and are isolated. We need one another.

If you would like to connect with the wider 24/7 prayer movement around the world, you can connect here at the Nations House of Prayer Equipping Center. There are several other ways you can do this as well. Here are a few:

Intercessors Arise International – Receive bimonthly motivational prayer training and books on prayer. Join the Intercessors Arise International Network and network with other prayer leaders and ministries.
International House of Prayer – Listen to 24/7 prayer on the free webstream, and attend prayer conferences, IHOPU, or join an internship where you can grow in prayer and network with others.
Mike Bickle’s online teaching library – Get free online teaching on various topics relating to prayer and the end times.
Register your prayer room at: www.24-7prayer.com – Receive useful prayer resources, personalized coaching, and get profiled globally on the 24-7 website.
Global Day of Prayer – Get the Houses of Prayer in your nation involved in prayer on this day as well as throughout the year.

It’s time for all of us to connect worldwide. Houses of Prayer are springing up in so many nations. With growing excitement and anticipation, let’s rejoice in what God is doing.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Night Watch

October 24, 2015 DebbieLynn Leave a comment

Many in the prayer movement will rise up and embrace the lifestyle
of the night watch. Larger Houses of Prayer often requires several people to spend the night hours in the prayer room. Here at the International House of Prayer, there are many who love to pray in the middle of the night. It especially appeals to the youth. The Holy Spirit is raising up a community of people who will pray and contend for the mercy and power of God in the night seasons (Joel 1:13). They will be vigilant and watchful.

Psalm 134 speaks of those in the night watch. This is critical to the divine strategy of God in order to see transformation in our cities. So many evil things happen in the night—murder, theft, immorality, and witchcraft. Light can invade the darkness through prayer and worship.

Recently I heard about how thirteen young people were being trained to pray from about 8:00 P.M. until 3:00 A.M. here at the International House of Prayer. They were training their bodies to adjust to a new time schedule in eating and sleeping so that they could give themselves to prayer in the night season. The commitment of this group of young people to be God’s watchmen should stimulate each one of us to give ourselves to prayer, whether it is in the day or the night.

The urgency of the hour and the present emphasis on prayer makes 24/7 prayer a possibility in this generation. Let’s seek to be people who learn to pray not only in the day but also in the night (Psalm 63:6; 119:55, 148).

As God’s people behold and bless the Lord at night, the spiritual atmosphere changes in the city.

A few years ago we were praying 24/7 during the month of October in southern Spain. We were praying for the Gibraltar area, including southern Spain and North Africa. I remember a particularly weary time of prayer early in the morning when it was still dark, and when I was feeling very alone in the prayer room. God reminded me of when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and His disciples fell asleep. He had asked them to watch with Him. In the same way, I felt like the Lord was quietly and tenderly speaking to me. I felt he was saying:

“Will you not watch with me one hour? Will you not watch and pray for the land and the salvation of souls here in the dark?”

I realized at that moment that I needed to say, “Yes” to the Lord. He is looking for those who will stand watch even when it is not easy. Will you not also be God’s watchman at such an important hour, even when others are sleeping?

Will you not also pray until God brings deliverance to your city?

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Touching the Nations with the Presence & Power of God