Posts in the category: ‘Prayer Room’
Praying the Psalms: Psalm 23 – Feasting on God
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
(Ps. 23)
This beloved psalm beautifully relates David’s experience before God and his confession before his enemies. As a statement of faith and acknowledgment of dependency, this psalm can be our own confession of God’s faithfulness, our desire to agree with His ways, and our commitment to resist Satan’s lies about our lives.
We agree with God’s ways when we see Him as our shepherd. He is the one who leads, guides, and protects us, both when we feel as though we are resting in abundance and when we feel fear in times of danger and distress. He prepares a table, a feast for us in the midst of opposition. To feast on God’s table is to connect with God through praying the Word, and by communing with His indwelling Spirit. When we do this, we see our situation, circumstances, and enemies differently. They seem small and temporary instead of powerful and permanent. When we constantly dwell on our circumstances, we are tempted to feast on anxiety and worry. However, if we focus on God and His promises, we can feast on His goodness and mercy because we see their evidence in our lives.
We are prone to be spiritually bored and emotionally bound if we do not feast in God’s presence. A heart vibrant in God is satisfied, and filled with peace instead of with annoyance and fear. David knew God would provide an overflowing portion. Green pastures speak of abundant provision, while still waters represent peace and refreshment. The blessings extolled in this psalm are for any who make the Lord leader of their lives. This is why David referred to God as “my” shepherd (Ps. 23:1); it was a personal revelation to David. God made Himself known to him as an intimate guardian, ready to provide for all of David’s needs. God responds to our hunger by filling our souls with goodness (Psalm 107:9).
In relating to the Lord as our shepherd, we are placing our trust in His name – in other words, in His nature and character. Because He is jealous for His name (Isa. 48:11, 52:6), we know He will surely cause us to thrive. He will lead us in paths of righteousness for His own glory and honor. This is our confidence during periods of blessing and in times of testing. The shepherd’s rod is a symbol of protection from danger. The shepherd’s staff represents His ability to direct us through each season we experience. Feasting on God gives us strength for every season, every trial, and every circumstance. His Presence makes all the difference.
Apostolic Prayers – Ephesians 1 & 3
Paul’s letters contain some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible. The Apostle to the Gentiles left us a record in the New Testament of what he prayed over the churches he interacted with. Together with the New Testament prayers of Peter, John, and other believers, they are known as apostolic prayers. Here at IHOP–KC, we pray them daily.
These prayers are powerful because they draw the heart and mind to the throne room and give courage to walk with Jesus each day. They are positive, focusing our minds on the spiritual qualities we desire to cultivate, rather than on the negative thoughts and attitudes we can so often dwell on. They reflect the skillful and tender care with which Paul labored as a spiritual father over the early believers in Jesus.
Using the apostolic prayers as I talk with God develops my life in the Spirit, matures my walk of obedience, and grounds me in biblical doctrine. It impacts my life to such a degree that I can’t imagine praying without them. They are an incredible gift!
Two of my favorite apostolic prayers are in Ephesians. One focuses on receiving the spirit of wisdom and revelation (Eph. 1:17−18), and the other on being powerfully strengthened by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:16). We may pray for a spirit of revelation and actually receive it. However, knowledge is not all we need. We need spiritual strength and determination to take what we know to be true and walk it out. This is why we pray for strength in our inner man as well as for revelation of God’s will.
These two prayers, taken together, are a treasury of grace. As we explore their extensive truths and turn them into our own prayers, we nourish our spirits.
What Paul knew about the believers in the New Testament period is true of us too: we need the transforming truths of both these prayers as we endeavor to be true disciples of Jesus.
I challenge you to pray these prayers daily.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling. (Eph. 1:17−18)
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His spirit in the inner man. (Eph. 3:16)
Praying from the Psalms
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. (Ps. 119:18)
God is revealed in His written Word. One of my favorite passages in which God reveals Himself is Psalm 119, a “Psalm of David.” It is a devotion of love for the first five books of the Bible, the Torah, and it overflows with meditations on God’s nature and character. David references the Torah over 170 times, calling it the words, statutes, precepts, judgments, laws, decrees, and ways of God. He continually asks for help to walk according to these precepts and in a manner pleasing to the Lord. From phrases like “I yearn for Your righteous judgments,” “I will delight in Your statutes,” “Your word has given me life,” “I will meditate upon Your precepts,” “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes,” and “I shall observe it with my whole heart,” it is clear that David had a deep love for God’s Word. He understood that God’s very nature was enclosed in it. Therefore, David meditated upon it day and night (Ps. 119:147, 148).
Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. (Ps. 119:27)
The Word presents a clear picture of who the Father is, second only to Jesus Himself in human form. The Bible and the incarnated Son of God are the supreme witnesses of God’s person. Sadly, we often neglect time in the Word. Having the Bible at our fingertips without reading it is like having Jesus in the same room without asking Him a single question. Reading and meditating on the Word should be our chief concern.
The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (Ps. 119:130)
We would do well to marvel at God’s Word. When we pray and meditate on it, we are receiving living understanding of the One that we so desperately long to know and love. The Bible is our delight, because it is God’s method of communication with us. Even the more difficult sections of the Bible contain a wealth of truth that we can find if we take time to wade through it. Timothy says, “all scripture . . . is profitable” (2 Tim. 3:16).
Having a love for the truth of God’s Word will keep us in times of trouble. Now is the time to be sober and vigilant, going deep in the things of God, because we know that seasons of shaking are coming. Meditating on Scripture will prepare our hearts for the hour of trial, and it will instill in us a steely resolve to be faithful while surrounded by faithlessness. It is an invitation to be a friend of the Bridegroom, to hear His voice, and to glory in it.
Oh how I love Your law, it is my meditation all the day. (Ps. 119:97)
Praying from the Psalms
Perspective. We all need it. Having God’s vision for our lives is vital if we are to walk in faithfulness and diligence. Without proper perspective, we tend to wander and fall short of our godly commitments and objectives. The life we’ve been given by the Lord is a gift. Our breath is precious. Learning to make the most of it requires spiritual wisdom.
If we desire divine perspective, we must pray. Better yet, pray God’s Word. King David had a remarkable understanding of the laws, precepts, and judgments of God, and a passionate love for His ways. Throughout church history, David’s psalms have been sung, prayed, and quoted, and have consistently inspired and encouraged generations of believers.
The early Christians continued the Jewish practice of reciting prayers at certain hours of the day or night, based upon expressions from the Psalms like “evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud”; “at midnight I will rise to give thanks to you”; “seven times a day I praise you” (Ps. 55:17; 119:62, 164). By the Middle Ages, monastic orders had developed devotional prayer hymnals based on the Psalter. To this day, the Liturgy of the Hours of the Catholic Church consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and other Bible readings, and is used daily throughout the seven watches of the day and night.
We gain much divine perspective and wisdom from reading and praying the Psalms. They contain a great wealth of personal prayers and devotional meditations, covering every human emotion and the many challenges of life. The Psalms give inspiration and direction in every season of our lives, from the highs to the lows.
Take verse 4 of Psalm 39: “Lord, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; let me know how transient I am” (NASB)
How’s that for godly perspective? It may seem depressing to focus on death and how short life on earth is. But however sobering this may be, it is an understanding that David wanted to keep with him. He knew that life was fleeting, a mere shadow and vapor. We are frail beings. David’s prayer was to truly know the extent of his frailty. With a love for truth like David’s, the human spirit can learn wisdom.
Knowing that our bodies will die, it is wise for us to consider the life that we have been given. What are we doing with it? Perspective comes when we see clearly, and we see clearly when we read and absorb God’s Word and pray accordingly. If we do this, we will learn how to approach each day as the gift that it is, and to concentrate on what is important, so that we focus our attention on preparing for eternity with God.
Prayer for the Day
God, teach me to fear You. Teach me to consider my ways, that I might gain a heart of wisdom. Show me how fleeting this life is, and that I was made for more than temporal things. Cause me to consider how short is the measure of my days. With this understanding, grant me grace to live before You rightly with my time, money, energy, and strength. Let me not waste a minute of this life on the passing pleasures of sin that lead to a dull heart. Quicken my spirit to love Your ways, and set me aflame with passion for Your Son. Amen.
A Look at Justin Rizzo’s Worship Team
The International House of Prayer has many wonderful worship teams who serve faithfully and joyfully in the prayer room, year in and year out, with diligence and a prophetic spirit. At this morning’s 6:00am prayer meeting, Justin Rizzo’s worship team led us in intercession for revival on college campuses and for the salvation of souls in the young adult generation of America. It was a powerful set. I enjoy every one of Justin’s sets. They are provoking, enjoyable, and draw me into the presence of God.
Justin’s team has several unique qualities, one being their distinct, powerful sound. Justin has been one of our primary worship leaders for over five years, leading for twelve hours per week in the Global Prayer Room and at our student awakening services. Our worship leaders are one of the great strengths of IHOP–KC, leading with excellence and passion for Jesus, and Justin is no exception.
Justin’s team is currently made up of six singers and up to seventeen musicians. The various instruments include a hammered dulcimer, a violin, a cello, a flute, a penny whistle, a low whistle, a saxophone, a trumpet, drums, a bass, two acoustic guitars, a keyboard, an electric guitar, and percussion and orchestral bells. Many of their sets sound like a symphony! This beautiful, prophetic music ushers the congregation into worship and prayer before the throne of God in heaven, where worship, music, and singing continue night and day.
This is one of the secrets of our worship leaders here at IHOP–KC: they carry the revelation that God surrounds Himself with music, worship, singing, and the full, manifest presence of the Holy Spirit, the very beauty of God (Rev. 4–5). Our worship leaders are committed to diligent study of this reality, just like King David in Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.”
I encourage you to join us as we set our hearts to worship God and sing about His beauty. You can join us free through our live webstream at IHOP.org.
From the Prayer Room
Sunday, April 25, Stephen Venable spoke about the glory of God and the worth of Christ. The end goal of all things is the recognition and celebration of the glory of God. Repeatedly in the Bible we see God’s jealousy for His name. All things were made to put His name on display, and this is the end towards which God is moving all of creation.
This message has dramatically affected the way our IHOP–KC worship teams lead in the prayer room. There has been a noticeable difference as songs of praise have gone forth from the prayer room with marked fervency and gratitude. The missions base feels the reverberation of the truths that Stephen expounded upon. Because Jesus is supremely glorious, the worship movement can exist as an end in itself. We worship night and day simply because He is worthy. There may be many other reasons for night and day prayer, but in order to stay faithful in the place of prayer and worship, our focus must be on the person of Christ, the One who upholds all things.
I feel the sting of conviction in that I have made the act of worship an event in which the focus is on my need for restoration instead of God’s exaltation and praise. Undoubtedly, I receive from the Lord when I worship Him. My goal should not be receiving; it should be giving extravagant devotion and praise to Him. The truth is that worship is an end in itself because God’s glory is an end in itself. I have been ruminating over this, and it has changed the way I approach God every time I enter the prayer room. It makes me unbelievably grateful to realize that I am invited by the Creator to fulfill the very purpose for which He created me: the recognition of His glory.
Dwell
Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. (Ps. 111:2)
One need not go far to study the works of the Lord. His majestic works are displayed all around us; in the heavens, the earth, and the oceans. But the greatest miracles to behold are those that He has wrought in us! What God will do in a human heart testifies of His goodness and mercy. I need to constantly remind myself of all that He has done within me. I may study the works of His fingers in creation, I may look into the heavens and wonder at His power, I may watch the moon and the stars and be amazed by His beauty, but the greatest miracle is when God touches the human heart and draws it in love to Jesus.
I study the faithfulness of God in my life because it reminds me that I am in His thoughts day and night. If I ever forget what He has done in my life, then my perspective and vision are off. If I don’t remember what God has done in me, I can easily forget the hope of my calling. The temptation is to focus on my present circumstances instead of God’s promises. The testimonies we have need to be held in awestruck remembrance and unending gratitude. My focus needs to be on what has been promised, and my faith rooted in what God has done.
The Humility of God
Today as I sit in the prayer room and listen to the singers sing the Word of God, I am mindful of the humility of God. Jesus, the most humble man to ever live, beckons us to put on humility like He does. Humility is the true fragrance of God, and it gives an effective witness for the kingdom. Our words, our attitudes, and our facial expressions must always be soaked in humility as we go out and when we’re at home. He is exalted and glorified when we choose to put on humility.
Jesus walked among the ones He created, so high above them in power, in wisdom, in influence, and in insight, and yet He lived as a humble man from Nazareth. We see the true humility of God in the face of Christ. As we respond to the cry of heaven to put on Christ, the Holy Spirit will give us power and strength to be like Him.
He gives grace to the humble; He makes happy the poor in spirit. We go low, and He lifts us up.
God, give me power and grace as I choose to put on humility in all that I do and say.
Thank You, Jesus!
A Greenhouse for Growing Messengers
Week to week, month to month, and year to year, the prayer room is full of mainly young people sitting, standing, and spending hours a day worshiping, studying the Word, praying, and coming before God. Singers and musicians worship Jesus and go deep in the Word with fasting and prayer. They reach for the creative music of His heart. As singers sing the Word back to God, the Spirit meets them with revelation, and they sing of the mysteries of God’s heart.
The prayer room is an excellent place to cultivate the Word within our hearts. We in the room have the privilege of reaping from the labor of the singers and musicians. We benefit from the environment of adoration that they create. When God anoints the music, we hear sounds that minister deeply to the human spirit.
The prayer room is fertile ground for the cultivation of messengers to be filled with the Word of God so they can preach the gospel and declare the coming of Jesus with conviction. It is a training ground for the development of communion with the heart of the Father and of faithfulness in our hearts to His Word. As we invest our time in the Word and in worship, faith is built in our hearts that allows us to speak the truth of His Word boldly.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving us the gift of years to gaze on You in Your house. Raise up greenhouses of prayer and worship to You all over the earth.
From the Prayer Room
Yesterday during the 10:00am set, we were crying out for the church of Peoria, IL, because there are eighteen congregations in that city coming together to fast and pray for twenty-one days. The Lord whispered two things to me while we were praying. One was that the Church uniting together in the humility of prayer and fasting is the wisest thing she could do in this hour. When we humble ourselves before God, He lifts us up and causes His light to shine forth in power. Oh, that our cities would be full of churches united together in fasting and prayer for God to rend the heavens and come down! The other thing He said was that it is wisdom for the Church to be praying. During the set, we were aiming our prayers towards the believers in Peoria, IL. Nearly all of the prayers in the New Testament do the same; they focus on the Church. When believers are touched and filled with the Holy Spirit, the sick in that city are healed, the lost are saved, and the oppressed are set free. This is why we focus our prayers on believers being filled, encouraged, strengthened, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Be blessed.
