My Week After Easter Prayer (Expanded)

I enjoyed looking at my news feed on social media and reading the stories of all that God did in churches of pastor friends around the world. But it reminds me of an important and practical principle for the week after Easter.

I don’t remember where I heard this but, Billy Graham was once asked what was going through his mind as he saw hundreds of people respond by coming to the front after he had presented the Gospel message. He said that he thought about the parable of the farmer who sows the seed. Some of those who have heard the Gospel would have the seed stolen quickly. Others would grow, but quickly die out. He thought about the fact that maybe only 1 in 4 would last.

It was put another way by the famous missionary to India Praying Hyde that might be helpful. He talked about how when a major event is coming up we spend a lot of time praying for the events success. We ask God to bring in a harvest and similar prayers. Praying Hyde encouraged people not to forget to pray after the event for the fruit that came in as a result. Pray that people stay with their commitments to God whether for the first time or growing in that relationship. A great reminder and very practical.

So before you go on with your day would you pray these things with me?

  1. For protection of the seed of the Gospel presented on Easter around the world.

The enemy would desire to steal, kill and destroy. Let’s pray that the seed would go down deep into the soil of people’s hearts.

  1. For the people who made decisions at your church as they start out in this first week of new life.

Many people who started a journey toward Jesus will face the challenges of a real life struggles. Let’s pray that they have a week that would bring them back to church the next week.

  1. For friendships with Christians who will disciple them in following Jesus.

Friendships with other Christians are vital to our faith. They are also vital to a new believer. Let’s pray that they form quickly.

  1. For excited opportunities for these new believers to share their faith.

New believers often have some great opportunities to share their faith that can have a snowball effect. Let’s pray that they have the boldness to take advantage of these opportunities.

If we pray these things who knows if the Sunday after Easter may be even better than the harvest of Easter itself!

A Real Super Power That Could Change Your Life

For my mutual nerd friends, we sometimes may not feel powerful, but we like our superheroes. What if you really had a superpower?  I want you to know that thanksgiving in prayer has superpowers.

1. Thanksgiving protects you from the dreaded “Woe is me” blues Super Villain.

Our life can turn into a death spiral of despair if we are not careful. Thankfulness helps us take the turn out of the death loop and launches us to a place of victory (even if the circumstances don’t change.)

2. Thanksgiving keeps you from turning God into the mighty Mr. Prayer Request Slot Machine.

Mr. Prayer Request Slot Machine is a real threat to a fun prayer life. We become like a whiny blob when under his power. Thankfulness to God frees us to experience a broader friendship with God than just asking.

3. Thanksgiving gives you super vision to see the activity of God in your life.

In Enjoying Prayer I write about my habit of writing down 5 things I am thankful to God for everyday. These are not always big things and are normally only a few words each. But knowing that my eyes lookout for that activity. How much do we miss without the super vision of thankfulness activated?

You may never fly through the air, but being thankful really is a superpower. Don’t be afraid to use your superpower friends!

“but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

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When God’s answer to prayer blows your mind

What if your prayer resulted in more than what you asked? When I read the story of Hannah’s prayer I am struck by how God really gives her more than she asks. She is frustrated because she wants a child. Her pain is real and raw. This is not some minor issue for Hannah. The fact that she is pouring herself out in pain is revealed by Eli’s response to how she looked. For Hannah getting a child would be huge.

But God does what He loves to do. God gives her exceedingly, abundantly above what she could ask or imagine (See Eph 3:20). Not only does she get Samuel as a son she gets 3 more sons and 2 more daughters. Top it off Samuel becomes a key figure in the history of Israel.

Now God does not always answer us the way we want Him to answer. I was reminded at church this morning about when Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus about Lazarus was sick. Jesus waited till after Lazarus was dead. Sometimes it feels that way. But sometimes Jesus takes those “non-answers” and turns them into the stories of a lifetime. He gave them more than what they asked; it just didn’t look like it at first.

Solomon asks for wisdom and God gives him that and long life and wealth. Elijah asks for a fire to consume the sacrifice and God consumes the altar as well.

Again God doesn’t always answer the way we want Him to, but the story of Hannah reminds me of the powerful trajectory of a single prayer and the nature of the God we pray to. He is a plus some kind of God. He loves to give us bonus answers. He answers and then some. He is God who gives press down shaken together and running over.