Good morning Lord Jesus fill me with the power of your presence so I can impact today with the power of my presence.
Yesterday morning I reflected on the changes of life in my family and in the church. I spoke into the need for both to “leave the harbor.” I am still in Chicago helping my oldest daughter find a new home, and I will be driving back tomorrow. It was a blessing to have an extended period of time to listen to my daughter, and hear and learn deeper of what and where she is now in life. In these extended conversations where we were able to talk and share about our lives. And it gave me as I listened to my daughter a greater understanding of her accomplishments and challenges, and the opportunities to pour into her out of my experience and faith and speak into her life. It gave us clarity on the current inner realities of each other and how to specifically pray over our family.
I have invested in, pastored and help lead many churches and ministries, however the most important church I will ever need to invest in is a church of four members: myself, my wife, and my two daughters. Because if I fail in leading that church of 4 people, it will haunt me more than failings of leading churches and ministries of hundreds.
I believe for any church to press deeper into their calling, grow stronger together and grow their ministries together as a church family in Christ. I also believe for us to do this as a church, we must first strengthen and grow our personal families in Christ. I strongly believe in the importance that we are all called to be part of and lead houses churches, Band groups, and other small groups. However, as important as these groups are, the most important small group we are part of and are called to lead is our family. As I pray and reflect on my last day in Chicago before I drive back in the morning, “Back to the real world”, I want to focus my prayers and your prayers and reflections today on your family.
Pray for clarity and how to specifically pray over the real physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual needs of the members of your family. If you are honestly not sure of what these are, pray for the opportunity and space to learn them.
Pray and reflect for a moment how your living out your faith has affected, and more important, is affecting your family: spouse, sons and daughters, parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins.
Reflect on: How do you share your faith with your family? Pray that you may witness to those in your family more bolder. Pray for the faith of your family. Spend your time at lunch praying over your family. Plan to spend a day soon in fasting in prayer over your family.
In areas of conflict and division in your family, Pray that peace and reconciliation in your family may occur, and the presence and Spirit of Christ may break through these divisions, bond you, instill forgiveness, acceptance and respect and heal all that divides you.
Pray a prayer of thanks over family members, who like go of their way on your behalf, and currently pray and minister to you and allow you to be where you are in Christ today.
Pray for the forming of a sturdy covering of prayer over your family, your home and your relationship with them. Pray your home can be encouraging to each of you individually, where real conversations and learning take place, and that your home and can be an outpost of the kingdom of God.
Pray over ways you can engage your family and together as a family to serve and share the love of Christ with those in your community. You are called to encourage your family to love God and also love their neighbor.
Pray that your church, The Church, will become an even stronger family bound by prayer that stands up for and supports each other, serves Christ together, and proclaims the gospel together.
My family, I pray the Holy Spirit will lead you in prayer over what immediate action you need to take today. Perhaps make plans to share this message with your family to open a conversation with them and pray with them. Call at least one family member today and let them know you love them and are praying over them, Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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