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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.

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.

eating disorder

Overcoming Eating Disorders: A Healing Journey Through Faith

Amy sat in the pews of her small London church, fidgeting nervously as the visiting speaker took the stage.
Her church had announced that the speaker, also a young woman, had recovered from severe eating problems.
This piqued Amy’s interest.
For months, Amy had been struggling silently with her own eating disorder, feeling isolated and hopeless.
The speaker introduced herself as Sarah and began to share her journey.
She spoke about how she had found a key to her recovery in the Bible, using a five-step plan that transformed her life.
Amy listened intently, hanging on to every word, desperate for a way out of her own darkness.

June: Pulling Out the Weeds

Sarah’s first step was about pulling out the weeds. “Weeds,” she explained, “are the lies and negative thoughts that choke out the truth and life God wants to plant in us.”
Sarah encouraged everyone to identify these lies and replace them with God’s truth.
Amy went home and started to journal.
She wrote down every negative thought she had about herself and her body, then found corresponding scriptures to counter those lies.
Every time a negative thought crept in; she would read those scriptures out loud. It was difficult at first, but slowly, she began to feel a shift.
The weeds were being uprooted.

July: Fertilizing the Soil

The second step was fertilizing the soil.
Sarah described this as nourishing oneself with the Word of God.
She emphasized the importance of reading the Bible daily, praying, and surrounding oneself with supportive people.
Amy committed to reading her Bible every morning.
She joined a small Bible study group at her church and started attending regularly.
The fellowship and shared insights helped her feel less alone.
As she soaked in the Word, she began to feel spiritually nourished and stronger.

August: Rain

In August, Sarah talked about the importance of rain—representing the refreshing and cleansing power of the Holy Spirit.
She spoke about how the Holy Spirit helps to wash away the past and renew the mind.
Amy prayed daily for the Holy Spirit to fill her.
She also found comfort in worship music, which helped her to feel God’s presence and peace.
The rain of the Spirit brought tears and healing, washing away old wounds, and bringing a sense of renewal.

September: Sunshine

September’s step was about sunshine—letting God’s love shine on her.
Sarah explained that just as plants need sunlight to grow, we need to bask in God’s love to thrive.
Amy made a conscious effort to spend time in prayer, not just asking for things but simply being in God’s presence and feeling His love.
She took walks in nature, appreciating the beauty around her and feeling connected to the Creator.
The warmth of God’s love began to fill her heart, driving out the darkness.

October: The Harvest

October was about the harvest.
Sarah explained that this is when we start to see the fruits of our labour, the tangible evidence of God’s work in our lives.
Amy noticed changes in herself.
She was more at peace, her mind was clearer, and her relationship with food was improving.
She no longer feared meals but began to see them as a source of nourishment. Her hunger for food, which she had suppressed for so long, started to return. She thanked God for the progress, acknowledging that the seeds of truth and love were bearing fruit.

November: A New Hunger

By November, Amy had developed a new hunger—not just for food but for life. She found joy in cooking and sharing meals with friends and family.
Her physical health improved, and she felt stronger and more energetic.
She also felt a deeper spiritual hunger, a desire to know God more and to live fully in His purpose.

Christmas: A Wonderful Dinner

Christmas arrived, and with it, the culmination of Amy’s journey.
She sat down to a beautiful Christmas dinner with her family, feeling a profound sense of gratitude.
The meal was a feast, but more than that, it was a celebration of her recovery and God’s faithfulness.
It was the best meal she had ever had—not just because of the food, but because of the healing and joy that filled her heart.
As Amy looked around the table, she whispered a prayer of thanks.
She had come a long way, from the darkness of her eating disorder to the light of recovery.
She knew that the journey was not over, but she was no longer afraid.
She had the tools she needed, and she had faith that God’s Word would continue to heal and sustain her.
Amy’s story spread through her church, bringing hope to others who were struggling.
She began to share her own testimony, just as Sarah had, helping others to find the same healing she had found.
And every time she shared, she reminded herself and others:
“Healing power is at work in me. The Word of God is life to me. It is medicine, healing, and health to all my flesh.”
Amy never forgot the words that had brought her healing.
They were a constant reminder of God’s love and power, a testament to the truth that His Word heals.
And with every step she took, she carried that truth with her, living out her new life with joy and gratitude.

http://www.tonyegar.com

A fictional story.