2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
In our recent times of prayer at Living Word, we have been feeling the power of God go forth in a mighty way. The Lord has been leading us to pray for our nation, our region and our church. Recently, we were praying for some things in the political realm and the Lord impressed me concerning the importance of the times. He encouraged us to press in and come against the agenda of the devil in our nation.
I believe that God raised up the United States of America for his purposes. I also believe he is not done with us yet. As we continued in prayer, many things began to happen that seemed to be in line with what the Lord spoke to us. Just this past week I asked the Lord, “Is it really possible that a small group like ours can change the course of nations by coming together once a week in prayer?” The Lord said, “Of course not. What can change the course of nations is when many hundreds of thousands of people come together to pray.”
I realized that we had become so focused on our small world that we forgot we were part of something greater. When the people of God allow the Lord to lead them, they join with all the other people of God who also allow the Lord to lead them. I realized that God had not spoken to me alone. He had spoken to pastors and leaders all over the nation and in other parts of the world. He said the same things to them that he said to me. They called on their people to pray just as I did.
We may not have been meeting at the same time or in the same place but a great symphony of prayer had gone forth concerning the same thing. This great symphony released the power of God into the physical world and brought pressure against the kingdom of darkness. As this pressure came against the forces of darkness things began to change.
Today’s scripture tells us the truth of this principle. When the people of God do what they need to do it releases God to do what he needs to do. Jesus said much the same thing. When he taught his disciples to pray he told them to pray that the will of God be done in earth as it was in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 (NKJV) 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
We might ask the question, “If God is almighty why does he need us to pray.” God gave Adam authority over the earth in the book of Genesis. In his sovereignty, God could certainly do anything he wants to do. However, man is his family and in order to preserve his family he works with and through them in the earth. Prayer is an important part of that process. As we yield our minds, hearts and mouths to the leading of the Holy Spirit, God uses us to release his power in much the same way he spoke words that caused the worlds to be created.
Genesis 1:3 (NKJV) 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
When we fill our mouths with the words inspired by God, we release power just as he did. That power is a product of the faith of God’s people as they obey his direction in prayer. Just as the spoken word of God created initially, it can change the created world today. As this creative power is released, it puts pressure on the enemies of God and of his church. They feel the pressure and are bent to God’s will by it.
We can make a difference in the world. Today’s scripture puts the responsibility for the healing of our nations, our regions and our churches in or hands. However, we do not think we are big enough to make a difference. Our little group cannot change the world. That is true if we were alone but, once again, we are not alone.
All over the nation and the world, people are praying as God directs them to pray. What God hears is not the voice of 20 or 200 or even 2000. He hears them all. He hears them all day long. He hears them from every corner of the earth. They may not know one another, but they all know God and they all hear his voice. As they respond to him, that voice becomes one voice rising in power that will bring change and healing to our world. The will of God will be done!
The real point of what the Lord was impressing on my heart is this. We look at our prayer meeting and we think, “Does it really matter that I came tonight. There are so few of us. Would it make any difference in the plan of God if I stayed home?” The answer is, “Yes. Without a doubt yes.”
God has created the body of Christ to work in a particular way. When we pray we are part of a great symphony of prayer. We all know what a symphony orchestra is. It is a group of musicians all playing their own part but at the same time all playing the same song. There are strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion instruments all playing different things. As they follow the music and the direction of the conductor they come together to produce one of the most powerful music forms that has ever existed.
If you hear one violin playing its part of the symphony, it does not seem to be very powerful. What if that violin did not show up for the performance? Would it really matter? Probably not. However if 10 violins stayed home it would matter. If 10 violins, 5 trumpets and 3 oboes stayed home the symphony would be severely diminished. If enough of the instruments did not come to the performance there would be no symphony.
I believe God is doing something wonderful in the earth today. There is a new awakening in the earth. This awakening is coming because God is leading his people in a symphony of prayer that is having a great affect on the world and on the kingdom of darkness. Your voice counts in that symphony. Each one of us must say yes to God and do our part. It may not seem like your part is very large but it is important. If you do not show up for the symphony, it will diminish the effect.
God desires that every individual understand that they are important to his plan. We must remember that we are part of something greater than we can see. However, we must also understand that if we do not say yes to God it matters. A prayer symphony of a million voices is made up of one voice that says yes a million times. If your church has a prayer time, participate in it. We need your voice.
If your church does not have a prayer time, talk to the leaders. Volunteer with a submitted heart to lead a prayer time. Tell your pastor that if he or she sets a time, you will be there. The prayer meeting is not always the most exciting meeting of the week but if we understand the impact it can have, it will become more and more exciting all the time.
As you pray, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Listen to what you are praying together. Watch for the results in the physical world. You will see them. Do not let the corporate prayer time be the end of your prayer for the week. Keep your heart open to the leadership of the spirit and he will inspire you to pray. Each time he does, realize you are adding your instrument to the symphony or prayer. Together, we will see the will of God done “in earth as it is in heaven.”
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