Monthly Archives: June 2024

Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life for Young Professionals

The Brisbane sunshine streamed through the windows of the conference hall, warming Angela’s face as she scribbled furiously in her notebook.
The energy in the room was electric, a tangible anticipation for what the speaker was about to share.
Angela, a young web developer with a yearning for deeper prayer, had come all the way from her new job in Brisbane for this very moment.
The speaker, a seasoned pastor with a booming voice, launched into his message titled “Stewarding the Suddenly.”
He spoke of historic revivals, like the Toronto Blessing, and how they were preceded by a fervent hunger for God amongst ordinary people.
This resonated with Angela. In her new career, the demands were constant, leaving her feeling depleted and with little time for prayer.
Yet, she craved a deeper connection with God.
Taking a deep breath, Angela decided to dedicate the next year to a dedicated prayer journey.
She would document her experiences on her website, hoping to inspire others like her, young professionals struggling to find their footing in both their careers and their faith.
Here is a glimpse into Angela’s website posts over the next six months, each focusing on a specific theme to help her readers go deeper in prayer:

Month 1: The Rumble

Angela kicked off her series with the concept of “The Rumble.”
Drawing from the speaker’s message, she shared the idea that revivals don’t happen in a vacuum.
Just like a rumble precedes an earthquake, a stirring in the hearts of believers paves the way for a move of God.
She challenged her readers to be the “rumble,” to cultivate a genuine hunger for God in their daily lives, even amidst the busyness of their careers.

Month 2: Moving Towards God

Building on the concept of the rumble, Angela explored the theme of “Moving Towards God.”
She unpacked the scripture “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”
(James 4:8).
She encouraged her readers to be intentional about carving out space for prayer, even if it was just a few stolen moments each day.

Month 3: Encountering the Anointing

Angela delved into the idea of encountering the anointing.
She shared stories of revival leaders who sought out those operating in a higher level of God’s presence.
She challenged her readers to find mentors or communities where they could be inspired and grow in their prayer lives.

Month 4: Listening for the Whisper

In this month’s post, Angela focused on “Listening for the Whisper.”
Prayer wasn’t just about bombarding God with requests, she explained.
It was also about learning to hear His voice, the gentle nudges, and promptings of the Holy Spirit.
She suggested practices like journaling and spending time in silence to cultivate a listening heart.

Month 5: Gratitude as a Key

Angela shifted gears to talk about “Gratitude as a Key.”
She shared how a thankful heart opens the door to a deeper prayer life.
She encouraged her readers to cultivate a daily habit of expressing gratitude to God for the big and small blessings in their lives.

Month 6: Stepping into the Overflow

The final month focused on “Stepping into the Overflow.”
Having established a strong foundation in prayer, Angela challenged her readers to move beyond personal needs and begin praying for others, their workplaces, and the world around them.
Angela’s website became a beacon for young professionals like herself, yearning for a deeper prayer life.
Her honest reflections and practical tips resonated with her audience, creating a virtual community where they could share their own experiences and encourage each other on their prayer journeys.
The “suddenly” they craved might not have arrived dramatically, but they were quietly preparing the ground, their hearts a growing rumble yearning for a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit in their generation.

www.tonyegar.com

A fictional story.

12 Steps For a Strong Prayer Life

Sharon was thrilled to be in Sydney, Australia, for the prayer conference. It was a bustling hub of activity, and she felt a surge of excitement as she attended sessions and met people from around the world. But amidst the whirlwind, she yearned for a deeper connection with God, a prayer life that would transcend the surface and reach new depths. She knew her readers—young professionals struggling to find time and space for prayer—needed this just as much as she did. So, Sharon decided to embark on a year-long journey of prayer, sharing her experiences and insights on her website. Each month, she would focus on a different theme to help her readers dive deeper into their prayer lives.

Month 1: Surrender and Trust Sharon kicked off the year by emphasizing the importance of surrender and trust in prayer. She wrote about the need to let go of control and trust that God’s plans are greater than our own. “For many of you entering this new land have POURED OUT and POURED OUT and POURED OUT for the Lord,” she shared, “and the Lord is now leading you into this new land to bring REFRESHMENT TO YOU.” She reminded her readers that, like Elisha’s prophetic word, surrendering to God’s will is the first step in deepening their prayer journey.

Month 2: Consistency in Prayer The second month focused on building a consistent prayer habit. Sharon related her own struggles with maintaining regular prayer times amidst her busy schedule. She encouraged her readers to start small, perhaps with a few minutes each day, and to build from there. “Singing hymns, listening to God’s Word being preached, praying to God, all bring into my heart an indescribable joy,” she wrote, emphasizing the power of consistent practice.

Month 3: Listening to God In March, Sharon delved into the importance of listening in prayer. She shared how often prayer can become a one-sided conversation and how vital it is to take time to listen to God’s voice. “What matters is…God is in you!” she reminded her readers, encouraging them to find quiet moments to simply be still and listen.

Month 4: Praying with Scripture April’s theme was praying with Scripture. Sharon introduced her readers to the practice of Lectio Divina, a traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer. “My Bible means more to me now than ever before,” she confessed, explaining how integrating the Word into her prayers had transformed her prayer life.

Month 5: Intercessory Prayer In May, Sharon focused on intercessory prayer—praying for others. She shared stories of how powerful intercession had been in her life and the lives of others. “A spring of life opened up on that day and it is still flowing into your life,” she wrote, encouraging her readers to lift up their friends, family, and even strangers in prayer.

Month 6: Praying Through Doubt June tackled the tough topic of praying through doubt and struggle. Sharon was candid about her own moments of doubt and how she had learned to pray through them. “Does this look like rescue to you?” she asked, challenging her readers to trust in God’s timing and plan, even when it seemed unclear.

Month 7: Praying with Gratitude July was all about gratitude. Sharon shared the transformative power of thanking God for blessings big and small. “God is so good, and He does what His Word says!” she exclaimed, highlighting how gratitude in prayer can shift perspectives and deepen one’s faith.

Month 8: Praying for Guidance In August, Sharon focused on seeking God’s guidance through prayer. She wrote about moments in her life where she had been unsure of her next steps and how prayer had brought clarity. “Who should I serve?” she pondered, urging her readers to seek God’s direction in all their decisions.

Month 9: Praying in Community September emphasized the power of praying with others. Sharon recounted experiences from the conference where communal prayer had been particularly powerful. “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken,” she quoted from the Book of Acts, illustrating the strength found in collective prayer.

Month 10: Praying with Faith October’s theme was faith in prayer. Sharon encouraged her readers to pray with the belief that God hears and answers. “What is impossible with man is possible with God,” she reminded them, sharing testimonies of miraculous answers to prayer.

Month 11: Praying for Healing In November, Sharon focused on prayers for healing, both physical and emotional. She shared stories of healing from the conference and her own life. “There was a deep healing of VISION and HEARING that the Lord was bringing,” she wrote, emphasizing that God’s healing power is available to all.

Month 12: Praying for Revival December’s theme was praying for revival—both personal and communal. Sharon reflected on the past year and how her prayer life had changed. She urged her readers to continue seeking a deeper connection with God. “This is going to be a life-changing, transforming time together,” she wrote, confident that their commitment to prayer would bring lasting change.

As the year concluded, Sharon looked back on her journey with gratitude. She had grown in ways she never imagined and was thankful for the opportunity to share this experience with her readers. “You will go from triumph to triumph!” she encouraged them, believing that their prayer lives would continue to flourish. Sharon’s journey was a testament to the power of prayer and the incredible ways it can transform lives.

 

Free Yourself: Stop Giving and Start Reaping

Leon, a 40 year-old man from Paris, had spent the last 20 years as a dedicated follower of the prosperity gospel.
He had given away a substantial amount of money to his church and various prosperity preachers, firmly believing that his generosity would lead to financial blessings.
Yet, despite his consistent giving, Leon continued to struggle financially.
Frustrated and disillusioned by the constant demands for more money, Leon decided to adopt a contrarian approach, inspired by a French perspective.
He resolved to stop giving money to the church and prosperity preachers.
His decision was reinforced by Psalm 126, which says,
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
This verse led Leon to a profound realization: to start reaping, one must stop sowing.
Emboldened by this insight, Leon ceased his financial contributions and, astonishingly, his business began to flourish.
However, his wife Marie was a bit worried because her father, Henry, was a pastor at their local church. Henry firmly believed it was a sin not to give, but Leon felt that 20 years of giving was sufficient.
To explain his decision, Leon wrote a letter to Henry, outlining his thoughts in five main points:

  1. Everything has a season: Leon explained that his season of giving was over.
  2. It was time to reap: He felt it was now time to benefit from his hard work.
  3. If it’s not working, try something different: Leon believed that after 20 years, it was clear the prosperity gospel wasn’t working for him.
  4. All giving by Christians is voluntary in the teaching of the New Testament: He emphasized that the New Testament encourages voluntary giving, not compulsion.
  5. The church should not promise blessings for money: Leon argued that it was wrong for churches to promise financial blessings in exchange for money.

Henry responded with a short letter, citing traditional teachings about tithing, but Leon remained unconvinced.
His newfound wealth seemed to him to be proof that he had made the right decision.
Inspired by his own experience, Leon decided to share his story with a wider audience.
Leon wrote a book that became a bestseller and set thousands of people free from the burdens of the prosperity gospel.
In his book, he addressed common frustrations:
“Are you tired of being told that you need to give more money to your church in order to be blessed by God?
Are you tired of hearing that if you give more money, you’ll be more successful and prosperous?”
His story exposed the lies and false teachings about tithing and the prosperity gospel that had been promoted in many churches.
Leon’s book offered a biblical perspective on giving and wealth, helping readers understand their true purpose and calling in relation to money.
It provided practical guidance for managing finances and living a truly prosperous life, free from the guilt and shame often associated with these false teachings.
“For anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the Bible’s teachings on money and wealth, reading this will help you gain a renewed sense of purpose and direction in your financial life and equip you with the tools you need to live a life of true prosperity,” Leon wrote.
He urged readers: “Don’t let false teachings hold you back any longer.
Learn the truth about tithing and the prosperity gospel, and start living the truly prosperous life God intended for you.”
By uncovering the truth about tithing and the prosperity gospel, Leon’s readers could finally see through the lies and false teachings promoted in many churches.
They could develop a deeper, better biblical perspective on giving and wealth, helping them understand their true purpose and calling in relation to money. The book provided practical guidance for managing finances and living a truly prosperous life, free from the guilt and shame often associated with these false teachings.
Through his book, Leon hoped to help others gain a renewed sense of purpose and direction in their financial lives by understanding the Bible’s teachings on money and wealth.
His journey encouraged everyone to stop giving blindly and start receiving the true prosperity that comes from wise financial stewardship and sincere faith.

www.tonyegar.com

A fictional story.