The Bold
Confession from
"Living the Word"
Final Word -
Forward Edge 3/87
Final Word -
Forward Edge 10/87
God is revealing Himself today to His people. Of course, He always wants to reveal Himself, His will and His plan. He has revealed Himself and spoken to men and women throughout history. Scripture offers many testimonies of those who met God, talked with Him, knew Him and received revelation of His promises and plans.
Today, throughout the church, there is a mighty move toward prayer. God is stirring His people to meet with Him, to fellowship with Him, to know Him. We are seeing this in our own church and hearing of it from many others. This priority on prayer, I believe, will usher us into bold new approaches to carrying out our mission of preaching the gospel in all the world.
Prayer has become the number one priority in our church now. We meet often for prayer. Twice a week a number of our church leaders are meeting to study and learn more about prayer. And every weekday morning a group of 30 or 40 meet for an hour of prayer at our church building.
One morning at this prayer meeting I looked over at some of the younger people who attend-high school and junior high students. How delighted I was to see them with us in the morning seeking God. I walked over to where some of them were sitting. I put my hands on them to pray over them.
"If you continue seeking God like this," I said. "What a life of adventure lies ahead of you." They have so many years ahead of them to see the devil's work destroyed and the kingdom of God established.
This adventure of seeking God, hearing His voice and carrying out His plans and His great work is for all who name the name of Christ. We are meant to live a life full of adventure-the adventure of bringing to a conclusion the work the Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to do nearly 2,000 years ago. Preach the gospel in all the world for a witness, He said, then shall the end come.
Whenever I consider the men and women in the Bible that God used, I reflect upon certain traits in their lives. The more I study the lives of the people God has used throughout history, the more I recognize a few common characteristics, traits that I want in my own life.
First, they prayed. They sought God's face. In times of need and trouble, whenever they faced important decisions, when they had to make hard choices, they turned to God.
Second, they listened for God. They listened, expecting Him to speak, and when He spoke they knew His voice.
Third, out of knowing God they found direction for their lives. Because they had deep abiding relationships with Him and because they heard His voice, they could trust Him completely with their futures. Whatever He wanted for them, they wanted for themselves.
Fourth, they let God change them so that the dream or vision He had given them could come to pass. They were willing to be changed.
Recognizing the importance of these traits, I have let God reorder my priorities so that prayer is my first and most important work.
I would urge you, if you are not already doing so, to make prayer your first and most important work. Certainly, you may be busy with your job or business. As a wife and mother you may have your hands full taking care of your home and family. As a student you may be busy studying or anxious to get out and enjoy yourself when studies are over. But if you want your life to be a success, if you want the blessings of God to be upon you, if you want your life to count for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ-give yourself to prayer.
Seek God. Enjoy His fellowship. Know His voice. And do what He tells you to do. Everyone in history who has ever been used by God did these very things. They were successful in their generations as you and I can be today-if we seek the Lord and learn to hear His voice.