Tag Archives: nations

Our Prayer for a Heart for the Nations

Prayers from the Book of RevelationLord, help us to see the big picture of what You are doing in the nations. Your Word says: “these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7). Give us vision for this worldwide House of Prayer for all nations. Help us to build Your House in our city. You are orchestrating strategic shifts and realignments. Help us not to resist what you are doing but eagerly gain new Kingdom alliances. Help us to relinquish our personal rights and celebrate the victories of others. Teach us to pray Your Word over the nations.

As we seek to start day and night intercession, we ask you to give us your heart for the world. Help us to feel as you feel for the lost and the dying. In the midst of our prayer meetings, transform us into your likeness. Give us Your perspective on the world and all that is happening internationally. Empower us, and give us faith so that as we leave the prayer room, we will be a blessing to all those we encounter in our lives. We want to see Your mighty power to save, to set free, and to heal everywhere we go.

Arrest our attention. Revive us, and free us from ourselves so that we may represent You to a lost world. Give us Your heartbeat. Help us to cry out for souls as Praying Hyde did. Help us to catch the vision for prayer in our city. Increase the vision for prayer in our churches. Clothe us with Your presence, and use us for Your glory in the prayer movement. We sing to You Lord. We praise Your name. We proclaim Your salvation day after day. We declare Your glory among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among all peoples (Psalm 96:2-3). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verses to Memorize

“And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenantthese I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:6-7).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOP-KC

How to Pray for the Nations

11017668_964162400313534_4613183786382334611_nPray 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

Prayer for Israel

11214163_990325321030575_6399602475697441857_nGod desires that the whole Church would partner with His heart and pray for Israel. His sovereign election is this nation, and His heart is jealous for Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:14-16). He will fulfill His promises towards this city (Isaiah 62:1). Jesus is coming to earth to rule from a throne in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4; Joel 3:17; Psalm 110:2; 132:13-14; Acts 1:11-12).

Israel will one day accept their Messiah Jesus (Matthew 23:29). God is committed to Israel’s salvation for the sake of His own glory in the world. His strategy to redeem the earth is the redeemed and restored nation of Israel under the leadership of Jesus (Ezekiel 36:22-23). Jesus will rule over David’s Kingdom (Israel), and he will sit on David’s throne (in Jerusalem). This will be His global headquarters on the earth during the Millennium (Isaiah 9:6-7). Israel will be God’s vehicle of salvation (Genesis 22:18; John 4:22).

God wants us to stand with Israel in prayer.

Praying for Jerusalem is God’s strategy to release fullness to the Gentile and mercy to the Jew. Our response to Israel is a test, and we will be judged according to our stance towards Israel. We must cultivate a passion in our heart for the Jews. We must contend in prayer for Israel and give God no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth (Isaiah 62:7).

The prayer movement will culminate in the return of Jesus, the salvation of Israel, and the consummation of God’s Kingdom on earth (Psalm 122:6-9). The Holy Spirit is establishing global intercession for Israel (Ezekiel 13:3-5; 22:30; Lamentations 2:18; Zechariah 2:5). Jerusalem is one of the last battlefronts spiritually, politically, and militarily (Zechariah 14:1-3). There is a war between two Houses of Prayer—Jesus’ and the antichrist’s (Psalm 122:6; Revelation 13: 8, 12).13

Some Biblical intercessors who left great examples of prayers for Israel are: Moses (Exodus 32:11-13; Numbers 14:13-19; Deuteronomy 9:18-19, 25-29; 30:1-10), Solomon (1 Kings 8:46-53), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4-11), Asaph and the sons of Korah (Psalm 44; 74; 79; 80; 83; 85), Isaiah (Isaiah 6; 58:1; 62:1; 63:15-19; 64), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 9:1; 14:7-9, 17-22; 15:5; Lamentations 3:43-51; 5:19-22), Daniel (Daniel 9:1-19), and Joel (Joel 1:8, 13-14; 2:12-17).14 You may want to use these prayers as you intercede for Israel. You may be asking:

“What are some specific prayers that I can pray for Israel and the believers living there? What are some strategic ways that I can pray?”

Here are some ways recommended by our friends at Revive Israel Ministries in Jerusalem:

  • Pray for believing Israeli, especially the youth – Pray that they would be strengthened in their faith and connected to other believers in Yeshua. Pray that believing youth will connect through national camps that provide a place to be strengthened in faith and connected in deeper ways. Strong young followers of the faith are the future of the body of believers in Israel
    (Romans 11:5).
  • Pray for unity in the body of believers in Israel – Pray for humility and cooperation among believers throughout the entire spectrum of faith. There are many forms of expression and variations in theological orientation. Pray John 17:20-23.
  • Pray for effective personal evangelism – Pray for an increase in effectiveness as Yeshua is shared with the lost sheep of
    Israel, especially through personal relationships. Pray for
    Israeli believers to become key leaders in Israeli society so that
    many may hear and see the love of Yeshua (Matthew 10:5-7;
    Romans 10:14-15).
  • Pray for effective discipleship of native believers – Pray for the development of discipleship programs to fit the needs of new Israeli believers from all walks of life. Pray that many
    more Israelis would come to know Yeshua, and that they would
    be effectively discipled into His likeness (Matthew 4:18-22,
    Luke 9:1-6).
  • Pray for hope found only in Yeshua (Jesus) – Israeli society suffers severe economic and natural resource limits together with international political pressure and the increased cost of daily housing, fuel, and food beyond the resources of the average Israeli. Because of these pressures, Israelis are often in a hopeless day-to-day disposition. Pray for Israelis to have hope found in Yeshua the Messiah (Luke 24:21; Romans 10:1).
  • Pray for national security – Israel is under constant threat for her continued existence as a nation. Pray for wisdom for the Israeli governmental leaders. Pray that those protecting her borders would have eyes like eagles to uncover evil plans against her (Isaiah 54:17; Zechariah 2:4-6; Luke 19:41-44).
  • Pray for the believers in Israel to possess the land – Because of high housing costs and persecution as believers of Yeshua, it is a great challenge for believers in Israel to own homes and businesses. As the believers become more recognized as a legitimate part of Israeli society, it is important as part of their witness to the wider society. Pray for Messianic Jewish businesses and families to possess the land (Isaiah 61:1-7; Luke 4:17-20).

For weekly updates, current events, and additional information on how you can pray for Israel, visit Revive IsraelRevive Israel Ministries believe that it is impossible for Israel to fulfill her national destiny to invite Messiah Yeshua back to earth (Matthew 23:39) without the informed and effective prayers of Christian friends from around the world. I encourage you to print out these prayer requests and pray for Israel regularly.

You will experience God’s blessing when you do.

God is arresting our attention because He wants to give us His heartbeat for Israel and the nations. He wants us to see the world through His eyes and realize that the eternity of nations are at stake.

“His agenda is far more serious than anything man can comprehend, for He always deals with eternal issues and the eternity of entire nations is at stake… The longer that I walk with the Lord, the more I know that He is a God who has definite strategies and works according to a fixed set of plans. Nothing, absolutely nothing is a happenstance with the Lord for He is a God of order. Consequently, He has a plan concerning the nations and it is for this reason, too, that there is a judgment of the nations.” Michael Howard

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC 

Prayer Requests for the Nations

11230031_994913747238399_3289985085759092424_n“The Spirit of God is arresting our attention and focusing us upon His agenda which is the very heartbeat of God.  He is a God who has definite strategies and works according to a fixed set of plans.  Nothing, absolutely nothing is a happenstance with the Lord for He is a God of order.  He has a plan concerning the nations.  His agenda is far more serious than anything man can comprehend, for He always deals with eternal issues and the eternity of entire nations is at stake.”  Adapted from Michael Howard

The following are general prayer requests for all nations. It is good to incorporate them into your prayer meetings on a regular basis. In some of the Houses of Prayer I have been involved in, I’ve printed them out and kept them in the prayer room. I have taped prayer requests for the lost, for the city, for the nation, and for the world on the walls for everyone to see. I also have brought several copies of each one, leaving them on the table for others to take and use in prayer.

Have prayer fuel for the city and nation always available in the prayer room. Pray for the nations that God lays on your heart individually and as a group. Mix intercession, worship, and singing together—and always expect God to answer.

  • Thank God for how He is working in the nations – Philippians 4:6.
  • Pray for unity in the body of Christ – Matthew 12:25; John 17:23.
  • Pray for a spiritual awakening among the lost – John 14:13-14; 16:24; 2 Peter 3:9.
  • Pray for leaders – Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 2:1-3.
  • Pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit of revival on His people – Psalm 85:6; Isaiah 64:1-3.
  • Pray that God’s people will walk in holiness and obedience – Psalm 81:11-12.
  • Pray for the fear of the Lord to touch all Christians so they hate evil – Proverbs 8:13; 2 Corinthians 7:1.
  • Pray for God to send His workers into the harvest field – Matthew 28:19-20.
  • Pray that the body of Christ will reach out to the poor and needy – Proverbs 21:13; Hebrews 13:3.
  • Pray for revival among children and youth and that God will use them mightily for His glory – Mark 9: 37; 10:13-14.
  • Pray for just laws and righteous moral standards – 1 Tim. 2:1-4.
  • Pray that the Word of God will be given its rightful place – Psalm 119:126.
  • Pray that there will be united intercession in cities and regions with the ability to pray against the major principalities over those areas – Ephesians 6:12-13.
  • Pray that God’s people will wage spiritual warfare as directed by the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 6:10-18.

“The key to the authority of the intercessor is when his heartbeat aligns with the heartbeat of Almighty God.  Nothing is more pressing than that the nations and multitudes who are marching to a Christless eternity should be saved.  How I saw the agendas of men: so many and varied and all of such vital importance to them, but there was only one paramount agenda to God:  THE NATIONS.  I instantly realized that the entire task of the glorious triune God was completely and utterly devoted to this one supreme purpose for which Jesus had so freely given His life.  All else was rather trivial in comparison and we all had majored on the trivial.” Michael Howard

Praying for the Nations

The Apostolic Prayers of Paul“When a child of God begins to get a real vision into the need of the church and the world, a vision of the divine redemption that God has promised in the outpouring of His love into our hearts, a vision of the power of true intercession to bring down the heavenly blessing, a vision of the honor of being allowed as intercessors to take part in that work, it comes as a matter of course that he regards the work as the most heavenly thing on earth—as intercessor to cry day and night to God for the revelation of His mighty power.” E. M. Bounds

After returning from 33 days in the Middle East, I saw the great need for 24/7 prayer and worship in all major cities around the world. The task is so great, the lost are in such desperate need, and we have the answer to every problem. It’s Jesus! As I was walking through a city of fifteen million on that ministry trip, I looked into the faces of the multitude. I thought to myself:

How can they grasp such a glorious Gospel when they believe such a great lieunless we pray for them continually?

Our hearts must be on fire, and our eyes must see the power of intercession for the multitudes in the valley of decision. For this we must have a vision of the divine redemption of God’s love for the lost. The harvest is ripe. And our tiny spark added to others will produce a huge flame of intercession. The glory of intercession and worship is so great. In his book, E. M. Bounds on Prayer, Bounds emphasizes the need for prayer for the spreading of the Gospel:

“The only condition that is to give worldwide power to this Gospel is prayer, and the spread of the Gospel will depend on prayer. The energy that is to give it marvelous momentum and conquering power over all its malignant and powerful foes is the energy of prayer… But mighty prayer is the one great spiritual force that will enable the Lord Jesus Christ to enter into full possession of His kingdom, and secure for Him the heathen as His inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for His possession.”

It is so easy to get caught up in our own little world and miss the big picture of what God is doing worldwide. We used to live in Virginia Beach, and once in a while we would hear about shark attacks. But I doubt if anyone in our area knew this about these deadly creatures. There’s an interesting lesson we can learn from sharks.

A young man who dives for exotic fish for aquariums said that one of the most popular aquarium fish was the shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it to a small space, it stays a size that is proportionate to the aquarium. A shark can actually be only six inches long and yet be fully mature. But if you turn a shark loose in the ocean, it will grow to its normal length of eight feet.

It’s similar for us as Christians. If we pray for only our own needs or only the small world around us, we won’t grow that large in our prayers. But if we begin to see God’s perspective on the world that Jesus Christ is Lord of all—and we begin to pray for the nations—we will grow into mighty intercessors with a global vision. God’s heart is for the whole world. He wants us to have a holistic vision of his purposes on the earth. He doesn’t want us to be like a six-inch shark! He wants us to be fully grown.

Let’s become great in prayer by praying for the nations. Let’s learn how to pray Biblical prayers for the nations God puts on our hearts. 

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Increase of Houses of Prayer Worldwide

cropped-11169247_994914043905036_2077199318887040447_n.jpg“The worldwide prayer movement implements a specific process when establishing prayer watches. Churches, towns, cities, countries and continents are mobilized to stand before God’s throne 24 hours a day to praise and worship Him, and to plead for the nations. Intercessors pray for revival in the church and for world evangelization, as well as for transformation and healing of cities and countries. In this way the Great Commandment and the Great Commission are carried out.” Awaken the Watchmen

The prayer movement is advancing at an incredible rate worldwide. Day and night prayer watches have been increasing since the beginning of 1990. By 1995 there were a few dozen, but within ten years it grew to a few thousand. By the time you read this, you can imagine how many there will be worldwide.

There are many exciting ways this is happening. Although there are some common approaches, the Holy Spirit is creative and often uses unique methods that are tailored to each city in each country. Jericho Walls, a leading prayer ministry based in South Africa, encourages and gives us some incredible examples of how the worldwide prayer movement is expanding throughout the world. Realize that these statistics regarding Houses of Prayer are constantly changing because God is expanding the prayer movement so quickly. This is adapted from Awaken the Watchmen24/7 Prayer Guidelines and Models. Let’s give God praise and thanksgiving for what He is doing worldwide in prayer.

  • The Jerusalem House of Prayer for all Nations in Jerusalem – This House of Prayer started in 1987 by Tom Hess. The Gates of Jerusalem Watch is part of this prayer initiative, where twelve prayer teams pray daily for two hours at the twelve gates of Jerusalem. In 1999 Hess started the first convocation for the 24-hour prayer watch. This is spreading around the world. Other prayer watches have been established in Israel in the last several years.
  • The International House of Prayer in Kansas City, USA (IHOPKC) – Since 1999 a 24/7, 365-day House of Prayer has been going in Kansas City. The mission of these intercessors and worshippers is to establish Houses of Prayer all over the world. Mike Bickle designed a model for prayer called “harp and bowl” which combines worship and intercession.
  • The “Waechterruf Initiative” (Watchman’s Call Initiative) in Germany – This model was started in 2000 where every city must pray for the German nation, the salvation of the people, and the needs of the people and government for one full 24-hour day per month. Many cities are involved in this, each taking a day of the month.
  • Cathe, Nagaland Christian Revival Prayer Houses in northern India – This House of Prayer was established in 1962 through a revival movement. Sixty houses have been built for people who want to devote their lives to prayer. A 24-hour prayer watch is kept there. By the end of 2000, there were approximately one thousand active prayer watches in Nagaland, and 95% of the people are now Christians.
  • Washington DC Prayer Watch in the United States – In 1997 the US/DC Prayer Watch was established as a national prayer watch to pray for the U.S. 24 hours a day. A central prayer calendar was compiled with the names of individuals and prayer groups who commit themselves to pray for an hour a week or once a month. Several million intercessors are involved in this prayer watch.
  • A Million Hours of Praise in England – Cathryn Hall in England initiated a million hours of praise and worship that developed into day and night praise and worship. Worship teams all over the world are encouraged to participate in this movement of praise.
  • Prayer Watches for Drug Addicts in South Africa – A pastor’s wife got parents together every Friday night to pray all through the night for their children caught in drugs. After three years it grew to 36 different 365-day prayer chains that pray for children addicted to drugs. It has now grown to a few hundred watches that pray for young people involved in drugs and the occult. Some run 24 hours a day. Thousands are now involved in these watches.
  • Prayer Towers in Indonesia – Through the work of the national prayer network in Indonesia, prayer towers have been
    established in more than five hundred cities. About five million intercessors from all over the country are bound together in a network of prayer. The intercessors cover a week of 24/7 prayer with sixteen or more full-time intercessors taking shifts of four hours a day. Others who want to pray join them. Even children are involved in these prayer towers.
  • Prayer Mountains in South Korea – There are numerous prayer mountains throughout South Korea where people can go up into the mountains to pray day and night. Many go to these places to fast. Some up to forty days. They believe that the political stability and church growth is because of these prayer mountains.
  • Since 1995 World Trumpet Mission and Watchman Intercessors Network have helped to establish 24-hour prayer watches in 43 districts in Uganda.
  • The Youth and 24-7 Prayer in England – In 1999 Peter Greig started a dynamic prayer movement among young people. They creatively decorate prayer rooms and start praying for 168 hours. They are known as 24-7. When they become 24-7, 365-day watches, they are called boiler rooms. By 2006, there were 65 countries where the 24-7 prayer movement among youth had taken root and was growing. They are spreading rapidly all over the world.

In his book, 24-7 Prayer Manual, Peter Greig shares about how day and night prayer is spreading throughout North America. This should create a hunger within us to see it happen now where we personally live.

“In Canada we now have regional representatives resourcing 24-7 prayer rooms from coast to coast. Meanwhile, from Alaska to Florida, almost every state has hosted seasons of 24-7 prayer. By the time you read this, the 24-7 movement will almost certainly have impacted all 50 states. These American prayer rooms have been established in a diverse array of contexts: at many different churches (Evangelical, Charismatic, and liturgical), on university campuses. At festivals, at a slum motel in East Vancouver, and even at the US Naval Academy, where apparently the prayer times were particularly disciplined! Some of the soldiers who prayed in the 24-7 room have since, almost certainly, given their lives in Iraq. God is doing an amazing thing in our time, but, if you’re anything like us, you eventually grow weary of hearing stories of revival and social transformation in other churches, on other campuses or at other times in history. You pray with a mixture of faith and frustration: “Do it here, Lord. Do it now!”

“A person who can pray is the mightiest instrument Christ has in this world. A praying church is stronger than all the gates of hell. God’s decree for the glory of His Son’s kingdom is dependent on prayer for its fulfillment: ‘Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession’ (Psalm 2:8). God the Father gives nothing to his Son except through prayer.” E.M Bounds

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

God is Connecting Us

Possible Hindrances to Unity in a House of PrayerGod 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

Heartfelt Action

11260948_967242630005511_931634998081476917_n“It is Jesus who teaches us how to pray. He learned it amid the trials and tears of His earthly life. In heaven it is still His beloved work. His life there is prayer. Nothing delights Him more than to find those He can take with Him into the Father’s presence, clothing them with power to pray down God’s blessing to those around them, training them to be His fellow-workers in the intercession by which the kingdom is to be revealed on earth.” Andrew Murray 

Jesus teaches us how to pray and love. He wants us to feel compassion and begin to take action for those in need. He teaches us how to pray heaven’s blessings to earth. Prayer must lead to action. Prayer is vitally important, but it is not the end. As we pray, we receive the heart of God for the world around us. He clothes us with power. He leads us to people in need with His love and compassion. He brings us to the lost and lonely, the hurting and sick who need healing. Prayer leads to a lifestyle of loving and caring. Jesus is our example.

Through prayer God gives us power to be His witnesses everywhere we go.

Let’s realize that prayer and action go together, but we can’t do it alone. It is nothing less than the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit where God Himself is our guide. It is geared towards His glory alone. All selfish ambition and man-made schemes must fall by the wayside as God leads this most amazing prayer movement through His Spirit. The work of man is to glorify the King. And as John the Baptist said in John 3:30: “He must become greater; I must become less.”

An amazing thing happens when we have times of prayer together in the prayer room. A transformation takes place in our lives where God’s heart becomes ours. This fact alone is reason to begin 24/7 prayer. The hour is urgent. We need to pray and feel God’s heart for the world. Michael Howard, in his book, Tales of an African Intercessor, stresses that the key to intercession is when our heart lines up with the heartbeat of God and His agenda. He says:

“Nothing was more pressing than that the nations and multitudes who were marching to a Christless eternity should be saved. How I saw the agendas of men: so many and varied and all of such vital importance to them, but there was only one paramount agenda to God: THE NATIONS. I instantly realized that the entire task of the glorious TRIUNE God was completely and utterly devoted to this one supreme purpose for which Jesus had so freely given His life. All else was rather trivial in comparison and we all had majored on the trivial.” Michael Howard

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Our Prayer for a Heart for the Nations

11230031_994913747238399_3289985085759092424_nLord, help us to see the big picture of what You are doing in the nations. Your Word says: “these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7). Give us vision for this worldwide House of Prayer for all nations. Help us to build Your House in our city. You are orchestrating strategic shifts and realignments. Help us not to resist what you are doing but eagerly gain new Kingdom alliances. Help us to relinquish our personal rights and celebrate the victories of others. Teach us to pray Your Word over the nations.

As we seek to pray, we ask you to give us your heart for the world. Help us to feel as you feel for the lost and the dying. In the midst of our prayer meetings, transform us into your likeness. Give us Your perspective on the world and all that is happening internationally. Empower us, and give us faith so that as we leave the prayer room, we will be a blessing to all those we encounter in our lives. We want to see Your mighty power to save, to set free, and to heal everywhere we go.

Arrest our attention. Revive us, and free us from ourselves so that we may represent You to a lost world. Give us Your heartbeat. Help us to cry out for souls. Help us to catch the vision for prayer in our city. Increase the vision for prayer in our churches. Clothe us with Your presence, and use us for Your glory in the prayer movement. We sing to You Lord. We praise Your name. We proclaim Your salvation day after day. We declare Your glory among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among all peoples (Psalm 96:2-3). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verses to Memorize

these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:6-7).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

A House of Prayer for all Nations

10408578_990317387698035_3758716211840138922_n“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)

It says in Isaiah 56:7, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” In traveling to many nations, it is evident that there is a rising interest in prayer and worship around the world. God is certainly raising up a worldwide prayer movement which will change the atmosphere of every nation. May we have faith together in the establishment of day and night prayer around the world.

“Isaiah the prophet had a lot to say about this global prayer movement. He described a time when God’s people worldwide will experience unusual grace and authority in prayer. He summarized this by declaring, God will name His Church a ‘house of prayer’. This prophetic naming is in itself a promise of functioning in grace empowered prayer. Imagine naming the Church a ‘praying church’. All over the earth, it will become common to hear of intercessory worship ministries that continue non-stop, 24 hours a day. God has established in the genetic code a passion to reach ‘all nations’. It will result in bringing the outcasts of the earth to Jesus (Isaiah 56:8). These 24-hour-a-day prayer ministries are vital to reaching the cities in the 10/40 window.” Mike Bickle

We need to see the big picture for our city, for our nation and for the world. It appears to me that God is uniting a powerful prayer movement worldwide, and in a supernatural way, He is uniting all of us. As we 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 areas. 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 foundation laying of each one of these 24/7’s and that they would be built by the spirit of God and function in grace and joy empowered prayer and worship.

A Worldwide Prayer Movement is Emerging

Prayer warriors, you are involved in the greatest ministry on earth. The prayer movement around the world is exploding. Let us pray regarding the following shifts in the prayer movement. Pray that the prayer movement in your city becomes contagious!

  • From private kingdoms to God’s kingdom – The time of private agendas and programs is over. More and more intercessors and prayer leaders are realizing that united prayer is the key to spiritual breakthrough.
  • From prayer lists to spirit-inspired warfare prayers – The Holy Spirit is fresh and creative and He helps us to pray to-the-point under his direction.
  • From individual intercessors to praying churches – God is mobilizing whole churches to pray for their city, town or region. Praying churches have great authority at a city level. When churches pray with other churches there is even greater authority!
  • From old faithfuls to young radicals – God needs both, but he is now raising up young prayer soldiers with the mentality of Joshua, Gideon and David, who will change the spiritual landscape of the world.
  • From programs to living altars – The Holy Spirit is leading Christians into a lifestyle of prayer, a divine partnership of Jesus with his Church, so that the things that have been prepared in heaven will become reality down here.
  • From miscellaneous hits to a prayer saturation strategy – An increasing number of cities and nations are discovering the power of long-term strategy.

“Isaiah also prophesied of a totally new paradigm of prayer characterized by ‘joy’. The Lord promised, ‘I will make you joyful in My house of prayer (Isa. 56:7). The Church will be surprised by joy. In other words, God will fill the Church with enjoyable prayer that is ‘refreshing and invigorating’. Imagine the implications of a paradigm of ‘enjoyable prayer’. The climate within the body of Christ would be different because of deep parternership in prayer with the Eternal Intercessor who is our Bridegroom God. If God is not enjoyable, it will not happen 24 hours a day. Historically, prayer has been hard and thus greatly neglected but new days of refreshing prayer are breaking forth even now.” Mike Bickle

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer (IHOPKC)