 |
|
Ladies Ministries of the United Pentecostal Church Intl July 2008 |
Daughters of Zion Three Priorities of Prayer...
The salvation of our children (Isaiah 49:25; Psalm 144:12; Isaiah 43:5-6)
That they take ownership of the faith at an accountable age (I John 2:25-28; James 1:25)
That they enter into the ministry of the Lord's harvest (Matthew 9:38).
| |
Praying for Prodigals - Strategies for Prayer Luke 15:11-32
Approach the Father in that positional place of covenant that the prodigal has with Him. Remind the Lord that the prodigal is one of His children, and that He is the Father of the Lost. Ask the Lord to go rescue him/her as a shepherd rescues a lamb that strays from the flock.
Pray for supernatural love. Pray for a love that would be open and warm to the prodigal even when they are still in sin. Love does not mean condoning their actions however. Pray from the position of love, not the position of judgment and anger.
Pray for the Grace to let go of the prodigal. The prodigal's father let the son go. He didn't lay a religious guilt trip or bash him with the bible, but let the prodigal go. Pray for people not to lay judgment on the prodigals. Pray for grace to keep our mouths closed and our hearts open with love and compassion.
Pray for grace and endurance to pray for the prodigals. It can take years to see the fruit of intercession for prodigals.
Pray for famine. Pray that whatever or whoever the prodigal is placing their trust in; outside of Jesus would dry up. Pray for disillusionment towards the very things that draws them and holds them captive. Pray that what once brought them pleasure would be dry and barren to them. Pray that the novelty will wear off.
Pray for holy hunger or holy homesickness. "Oh I remember what it was like to be in fellowship with God, the sweetness of our relationship." Pray that they would long for the cleansing relationship they once had with the Father.
Pray he would come to himself. Pray he/she would realize something is wrong. Pray for his/her eyes to be open to the truth of his/her situation, and pray against the delusion the enemy would try to bring him/her.
Pray for gifts of repentance. "I will arise and go to my Father". Repentance is a gift. It brings life and freedom. Repentance is breakthrough and deliverance.
Pray that the prodigal will have the ability to receive the grace of God. Pray that the prodigal would be able to receive the Father's love and forgiveness. Some of the prodigals may have lived very immoral lives and they can't imagine the Father ever wanting them back. They feel they have crossed some sort of line that the Lord would not be able to bless them again.
Pray that the Lord will pour out his riches when the prodigal returns. Ask the Lord to dump on him/her blessings of every kind. Pray that the Lord would lavish His love on the prodigal. Pray that when he/she returns that the prodigal will receive blessing upon blessing.... spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially.
Pray for the elder son. The church (the elder brother) will need the Lord to prepare their hearts to receive the prodigals back. Pray that when the prodigals come home, judgmental attitudes toward them would be gone. Pray against jealousy and envy as God's blessing pours on the prodigal. Pray for the grace that when the prodigals are blessed that those in the church would not hold envy, but feel excited. Pray for financial blessing upon them, spiritual blessing, that they would lead many to the Lord. God does not show partiality. If the blessing comes to the prodigal it will come to the other children too!
Pray for those raised in church. Pray that they will have the grace to accept those who are not quite so polished. Pray that the prodigals who have literally lived on the streets would be loved, bad manners, rough edges and all, into total wholeness.
-WNOP |
|
| Focused Prayer: Hearing the Voice of God |
|
Week 1 - Preparations For Hearing The Voice Of God
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- Prepare our hearts and minds to hear Your voice.
- We submit our will into Your hands, have Your way in our lives.
- As we go to prayer, teach us to be still in Your presence.
- Speak Lord, we eagerly await Your instruction.
- Allow Your Word to penetrate deep within our hearts.
- We submit every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ.
- Discipline our ears and hearts to hear Your voice.
Week 2 - Hindrances To Hearing From God
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- Search our hearts and reveal every form of iniquity that separates us from You.
- May we truly be remorseful for the sins that we have committed.
- Give us a desire to diligently seek You and spend ample time alone with You.
- We choose to obey Your Word; keep our hearts from becoming hardened.
- Don't allow us to become so distracted that we become too busy for You.
- Put a burden in our hearts to pray - for You are a prayer answering God.
- Teach us to become prayer warriors and intercessors.
Week 3 - Is That You Lord?
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- Help us to hold fast to what is true.
- Your timing is perfect, give us patience to wait on You.
- Keep us from becoming impatient and taking matters into our own hands.
- Conform our lives to Your Word instead of us conforming Your Word to our lifestyles.
- Draw us to You in our time of need; teach us not to rely on men but to rely on You.
- Let your peace which surpasses all understanding rule our hearts.
- Allow us to be directed, comforted and guided in all things by Your voice.
Week 4 - Foundation For Hearing The Voice Of God
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- As we draw near to You, draw near to us that we may hear and recognize Your voice.
- Put a desire and a yearning in our Spirit to fellowship with You.
- Obedience leads to life, rebellion leads to eternal death - may we seek life!
- Let the Spirit of Truth guard our hearts and minds.
- Put a fear of God in us that we might not sin against thee.
- Help us to be attentive to Your voice as we diligently seek You in prayer.
- Tune our ears to wisdom and give us insight and understanding.
-Brenda Hudson, Riverside Apostolic Church (Used by permission) |
Praise Report
My son, for several years, had not been in church. Yes, he went to church because he lived under our roof and we said he had to go. But, was not "in" church. He was mixed up with the wrong crowd. His friends had a very big influence in his life. He was always for the "underdog" type of people. Felt for them. But they drew him the wrong direction. Drugs, alcohol, lying, stealing, heavy metal, evil music, etc.
As soon he was 18 he moved out of our house to be on his own. His unsaved friends moved in with him. He continued into more lying, alcohol, drugs, evil music, stealing, etc. and got himself into a big financial bind.
But to show how Daughters of Zion makes a difference, we had been praying for him in our meetings. And one night, after about six months, my husband and I received a phone call from him asking us to forgive him and if he could come home. We told him he knew the rules and he said he was willing to abide by them. Well, it wasn't a week later, our pastor preached a sermon that touched him and there he was, kneeling, by himself at his pew (which he had never done before) seeking God. As others gathered around him God moved in a "MIGHTY" way.
Our son has not been the same. He is totally changed. He came home that night and got rid of every evil CD that he owned. You would never know it was the same young man. Refilled and desiring to be led by God and helping out in church. Thank you Daughters of Zion and the women of our church. It really works!
And one more testimony, we have been praying for our Sunday school children and their families. We deal with a lot of children who come from broken homes and whose moms and dads are not in church. Well, a week ago we saw two Sunday school children and one of the mom's baptized in that lovely name of Jesus. And this week we saw one of the Sunday school children's dad filled with the precious Holy Ghost. Praise God, He is doing a mighty work. -Teresa Payzant, The Lighthouse Church, Apache Junction, AZ, Pastor Nathan Akers |
|
| Creative Prayer Idea
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT Pick a topic for prayer each day, then whenever you come to a red light, let that be your reminder to pray for that need. -WNOP |
|
|
From the Mail Box
Thank you for a wonderfully inspiring newsletter. I especially like the length of the articles! Throughout the day we are busy about so many things that it is refreshing to read an article that gets right to the heart. These are good to copy and pass out at Daughters of Zion prayer meetings. Keep up the good work! -Gwyn Oakes, UPCI Ladies Ministries President
Dear Sis.Akers, What a beautiful testimony letter. It certainly picked me up, knowing that we are not alone in our situations. GOD is so kind and so good to us. Thank you so much for adding me to the DOZ e-mail. GOD Bless, -Ruth Colbey
Debbie, Another great newsletter! You are surely doing a great job. I'm glad to call myself your friend. Love, -Dwylene Allen, Tucson, AZ
What a beautiful testimony (The Power of a Praying Mother by Mary McLaughlin, June issue.) and proof that God never gives up and His children have a great part in it. -Linda Elms, NC LM President
Thank you for sharing with me. I have used the material in these newsletters. They are a blessing our entire church. May God bless in you all you do for Him! -Bonnie Peacock
Praise the Lord, I was wondering if you could send me a copy of last months newsletter about the angels I read about in this months letter, thanks and God Bless! -Juanita Britto
Dear DOZ Coordinator, We will be starting the DOZ Prayer Ministry in our church in the month of August and would like to receive your newsletter. Thank you for the info on your website, I was able to get some ideas for our prayer meetings. -Madeline Philbrook, Pastor's wife, Gospel Gateway Ficthburg, MA
Dear Sister Debbie, I finally finished the newsletter for the month of June. I gave out the translation of the focused prayer of the first two weeks when we came together at the beginning of this month. Our pastor's wife will print out the whole newsletter so all the sisters can read the wonderful things that are in there. God bless you and the work, -Bea Pakaila, The Netherlands (Editors note: Sis. Bea Pakaila translates this eNewsletter into Dutch and it is distributed by the pastor's wives to the churches of The Netherlands!) |
|
| |
|
Dear Pastors, Pastor's Wives and DOZ Prayer Group Leaders,
Share with us how you do your DOZ meetings. How did you get started? How do you keep it active and inspire others to get involved? Also please continue to send praise reports. Send to: dozupc@aol.com God is doing mighty things!
Blessings,
Debbie Akers, DOZ Coordinator and Editor
UPCI Ladies Ministries |
|
|
|
| Resources
|
Under QUICK SEARCH select 'all categories', Type in DOZ
My Mom Prays for Me
My Grandma Prays for Me
T-shirts for those special kids in your life. Play shirts, sleep shirts, church outings, picnics. These DOZ shirts will compliment any casual occasion. Let the world know we believe in the power of prayer. Available in Blue or Tan.
Sizes: Small, Medium or Large..........................................Price: $8.95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
