If you are driving down Central, in Albuquerque, you will notice these signs. They are a great reminder that we should be in prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV): Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
These were put on the front of our church to remind everyone that this is true and out of celebration of what Our Lord has done for our fellowship and this area.
When I started ministry on Central in 2004-2005, there were a couple of guys that came out with me and walked up and down Central and to the Hotels to reach out and invite people to join us for a Bible Study. We would always start in prayer and also contact others to pray for us. In a short amount of time, we started to see close to 30 people attending Bible Study, lives changed, and even put on a couple of parties for the families we were reaching out to for Christmas and birthdays.
Also, as we were walking on Central, there was a day that I noticed there was an abortion intake clinic in the area we were ministering in. I thought, “That doesn’t belong there”. I prayed that God would close that clinic every time I passed by it. When we moved into the area, we surrounded the clinic at least 3 times and prayed that it would close. There was even a person who mocked us one of the times we were there, “You know they don’t do abortions there”. The thing is, these clinics can provide prescription drugs to perform abortions and they truly are not in the area for what they say they are for. Let’s be honest, this one is in an area where prostitution is rampant and is also close to UNM. Well, we received news recently that this is one of 3 that will close by the end of September.
When we felt it was time to move the church, we were behind in rent, bills and even in the red with our bank account. Mind you, we are good stewards with what we receive, our bills outrun our finances, which, is common with small fellowships. When we received word that our proposal would be accepted to move in, we prayed and He answered by providing finances to get caught up and 3/4s of the amount we needed to move in. The rest came a week later.
There are so m any more instances of how we can show how Prayer changes things but most importantly, it changes us. It changes us to be conformed to His Will for us. We need to make sure we are attentive to spending that time in prayer with Him and listen, most importantly, listen.
I want to also encourage you to check out www.newmexicoprays.org if you are in New Mexico. It is a great website to be involved with if you’re part of a church or ministry. We are praying for New Mexico 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can sign up for a day for either 12 hours Midnight to Noon, or Noon to Midnight, or for the whole 24 hours of the day you commit your ministry. For example, our Fellowship prays from Noon to Midnight on the 6th of every month. We take turns praying throughout this time.
Until Next Time:
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (NLKJV): The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”
