 What Are You Hungry For?
by Dee Sheveland
Prayer First Steering Team
The recent earthquake in Haiti makes us aware of our basic needs for sustenance. As human beings, our bodies survive on food, water, and shelter. But we also have deeper spiritual needs, which can be exposed through the practice of fasting and prayer.
Jesus said to the woman seeking water at the well, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water that I give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14). Jesus had a revealing divine appointment with this woman. Her infidelity was exposed as well as her need for a Savior. Jesus also revealed himself as the Messiah to her, which compelled her to go back to Samaria and spread the good news.
Here we see a woman seeking physical water for survival, and Jesus offers her a spring of water welling up inside of her spirit. He offers her a place to lay down all of her facades, a place to be seen and completely known, a place to face her deep spiritual need that far exceeds her desire for water, that is, for Jesus himself.
Afterward, the disciples beg Jesus to eat something. He must not have eaten for some time for the disciples to urge him so. After his redemptive encounter with this woman, Jesus responded to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work" (John 4:34).
Jesus is acknowledging his deepest need as well, which is accomplishing the Father's will. His appetite for his Father's will was stimulated by this meaningful interaction. His sense of purpose was clarified, to satisfy the thirst of God's creation with living water that cleanses, purifies, and renews.
Benefits of True Fasting
Times of fasting and prayer have the potential to expose who we really are and what we really need. As we see in Isaiah 58, true fasting has many positive benefits.
- It exposes inconsistencies between our values and our lifestyles.
- It humbles us.
- It unifies us under our shared emptiness apart from our God.
- It releases power to set captives free, and to break strongholds of oppression.
- It crystallizes our sense of call and vision for God's Kingdom to come on earth.
- It heals us, guides us, satisfies us, and strengthens us.
- And it calls us to practice a Sabbath rest, a place of peaceful submission and surrender.
First Tuesday Fasting Together
Since our Fire & Reign study through the early chapters of the book of Acts almost five years ago, many of our leaders have made the first Tuesday of the month a day of fasting and prayer. For some, it has become a regular time to abstain from food for a day and intercede for the work of God's Kingdom together.
Our Converge Worldwide Board of Overseers, and many of our Districts leaders, as well as national and international staff members share this monthly practice.
We invite you to join us in this corporate discipline. It is a chance to stand with our missionaries all over the world, for Christ to make himself known as Lord and Savior over all people groups. It is an opportunity to claim God's will on earth as it is in heaven, to unite our hearts with a passion for revival and renewal.
Together, we are joining Christ as he fulfills his mission, to build his Church among the nations.
Upcoming Prayer First Events
 Pastors Prayer Gathering:
March 8-10, 2010
Converge Heartland will host a Pastors Prayer Gathering
at Faith Baptist Fellowship, Sioux Falls, SD. Begins with dinner on
Monday at 5:15 p.m. and ends at noon with "lunch to go" on Wednesday.
Cost is $40 for meals and snacks. For further details call the church
office at 605-331-3800 or email Deb Bartels: debbartels@faithbaptistfellowship.com.
This is for pastors, their wives, church staff people, District leadership, missionaries, and chaplains.
Time with God,
and time together, in a relaxed and caring atmosphere, are the features
of the Prayer Gatherings.
Prayer Resources
 The 2010 Daily Prayer Guide is a 32-page booklet listing Converge Worldwide international missionaries and ministry staff. Photos of the missionaries are included. It's a great help as you pray daily for those listed. Order from Harvest at 800-323-3885.
Cost: $1.55 for one; $1.45 each for two or more. Postage additional. If ordering online at www.harvestbooks.org, check COD to avoid credit card charge.
 Seek God for the City 2010 Prayer Guide.
There is still time to participate in prayer and fasting leading up to Palm Sunday, March 28. This 40-day prayer guide, written by Steve Hawthorne of Waymakers, will help you with "fresh prayers to express God's heart with biblical hope." Each year this prayer guide has united churches and cities in hopeful prayer for revival and the glory of Christ to be known.
To order copies of the prayer guide, to go www.waymakers.org.
|
Prayer Champions Please help us identify the Prayer Champions and intercessors in your church. We want to encourage them, provide teaching, and share prayer resources.
Forward this e-mail to them with your personal encouragement to subscribe to this monthly newsletter. | |
For Your Prayer Time is a unified effort to provide prayer support for the various ministries, missionaries, and leaders of Converge Worldwide. For a list of daily prayer requests, click here.
Join us in fasting and praying on the first Tuesday of each month. Put it in your calendar now for the rest of the year!
Prayer Requests for Prayer First
Pray for the Pastors Prayer Gathering March 8-10 in Sioux Falls, SD. Ask the Lord to use this as a restoring and refreshing time in the lives of pastors, leaders, and spouses. Prayer First leadership will help facilitate this time.
Pray for the Prayer First Steering Team as they make plans for prayer opportunities at the Biennial Conference in Denver this summer, and a Praying Church Conference in Minnesota this fall.
Join us in fasting and praying for a nationwide movement of revival in our churches and a great evangelistic harvest of the lost!
Prayer First Steering Team
Bryan Moak, Chair
Dennis Erickson
Barb Erickson
Tannie Eshenaur
Dana Olson
Dee Sheveland
Carol Madison, Director of Communications
Ongoing financial support will help Prayer First and the Steering Team move forward with vision for prayer throughout Converge Worldwide. Part of your donation will provide funding for part-time staff to support the ministry.
Click here to donate.
|
