There is dynamism in prayer when the spotlight is on God.
So says Dennis Fuqua, author of United and Ignited: Encountering God Through Dynamic Corporate Prayer.
"I have learned that when we focus on God and his priorities, He will lead us to the specific ways He wants us to be praying for one another and for the needs around us," writes Fuqua.
Fuqua quotes Phil Miglioratti who describes what the focus should be of a "prayer summit", a gathering of people specifically to immerse themselves in an intensive time of prayer to God:
"Our focus is Jesus Christ. We come to the Prayer Summit to seek Him, see Him, meet Him, hear Him, and obey Him."
In effect, Miglioratti says, we must listen to God through what he is saying to us in scripture and in our hearts, but also through others who are praying with us.
In this style of praying, people may pray about themselves, or missions, or the church, but "that is not its starting point," says Fuqua.
"The priority is the exaltation of God and the glory of His Son."
Daniel Henderson makes the same point in his book Transforming Prayer: Everything Changes When You Seek God's Face.
Henderson says that we must first "seek God's face" - in effect, worship Him and deepen our relationship with Him. This leads to intimacy with God and then we can "seek God's hand", his provision for our needs.
Fuqua and Henderson talk of a free-flowing prayer gathering where worshiping God leads naturally to confession, repentance, and requests.
Both say the Holy Spirit works with power in meetings like that. Pastors who come to "prayer summits" burdened with worries and ready to quit the pastorate leave with their ministries renewed. Anything can happen, including healings.
King Solomon's great prayer of praise to God at the dedication of the new temple in 2 Chronicles 6 ends with a demonstration of God's power through fire on the sacrifices presented to him and his glory filling the temple.
In Acts 4:23-31, the believers in the young church react to persecution of their leaders by exalting God and his sovereign plans. They appeal to him to carry out his will by giving them boldness to preach the Good News. Again, God reveals his power by shaking the place where they were praying.
In his book The Deeper Life: The 8 Vital Longings of Your Soul, Henderson says he begins his day by worshiping God, reminding himself of who God is and what he has done.
So, turning the spotlight on God is sure to shed light in the dark places in our lives - our problems and concerns. We gain faith and insight into what he wants us to do.
So says Dennis Fuqua, author of United and Ignited: Encountering God Through Dynamic Corporate Prayer.
"I have learned that when we focus on God and his priorities, He will lead us to the specific ways He wants us to be praying for one another and for the needs around us," writes Fuqua.
Fuqua quotes Phil Miglioratti who describes what the focus should be of a "prayer summit", a gathering of people specifically to immerse themselves in an intensive time of prayer to God:
"Our focus is Jesus Christ. We come to the Prayer Summit to seek Him, see Him, meet Him, hear Him, and obey Him."
In effect, Miglioratti says, we must listen to God through what he is saying to us in scripture and in our hearts, but also through others who are praying with us.
In this style of praying, people may pray about themselves, or missions, or the church, but "that is not its starting point," says Fuqua.
"The priority is the exaltation of God and the glory of His Son."
Daniel Henderson makes the same point in his book Transforming Prayer: Everything Changes When You Seek God's Face.
Henderson says that we must first "seek God's face" - in effect, worship Him and deepen our relationship with Him. This leads to intimacy with God and then we can "seek God's hand", his provision for our needs.
Fuqua and Henderson talk of a free-flowing prayer gathering where worshiping God leads naturally to confession, repentance, and requests.
Both say the Holy Spirit works with power in meetings like that. Pastors who come to "prayer summits" burdened with worries and ready to quit the pastorate leave with their ministries renewed. Anything can happen, including healings.
King Solomon's great prayer of praise to God at the dedication of the new temple in 2 Chronicles 6 ends with a demonstration of God's power through fire on the sacrifices presented to him and his glory filling the temple.
In Acts 4:23-31, the believers in the young church react to persecution of their leaders by exalting God and his sovereign plans. They appeal to him to carry out his will by giving them boldness to preach the Good News. Again, God reveals his power by shaking the place where they were praying.
In his book The Deeper Life: The 8 Vital Longings of Your Soul, Henderson says he begins his day by worshiping God, reminding himself of who God is and what he has done.
So, turning the spotlight on God is sure to shed light in the dark places in our lives - our problems and concerns. We gain faith and insight into what he wants us to do.
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