The Heartbeat

The slightest implication of prayer has the power to release the greatest implementation of prayer. The pulse is a small vital sign of a beating heart pumping life throughout the body. Where there is a pulse, it reveals life in the body. The smallest prayer releases the greatest power in the world.

The will of God is found in the Word of God. John, The Elder does not disappoint those seeking to pray according to the will of The Father. He tells his readers that He has had his hand on the pulse of Life, and he knew prayer was His source of power.

“What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life – and the life was manifested and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was the Father and was manifested to us.” V.1-2

The brief pages of I John reveal no grand design for prayer, such as the one outlined by His Master in The Lord’s Prayer.  Still, his gentle gestures towards prayer are his homage to Jesus. John learned the lessons of prayer while listening, watching, walking and talking with Jesus through a three-year School of Prayer.

“While no repeated prayers are to be found in this book, prayer is every where implied.” Herbert Lockyer

The handprints of The Manifest Presence of Jesus were all over John’s heart, and His heartbeat pulses through this little book.  At 90 years of age, John’s consistent intimacy with His Savior in prayer had transformed this “Son of Thunder” into “The Apostle of Love.” It had taken a lifetime. Prayer always does.

John’s powerful personality no longer promised more than it delivered. Advancing age had taken its toll on his power to bring the heat on every subject under the sun. He now spent his last days, seeking God’s will, not speaking his mind. He wisely shed more light on prayer, instead of rashly torching those around him with his opinion.

Prayer is more than a devotional discipline or an extended military exercise against an entrenched enemy. It is both, but when you add the two together, prayer is more than the sum of the parts.  

Prayer offers fellowship with The Father and The Son. Is it any wonder why the joy of life is lost when the fellowship of prayer becomes a casualty of spiritual warfare?

John never got over being in The Presence of Jesus, and hearing The Son pray to His Father. Hearing Jesus pray introduced John to an intimacy with The Father only a child can have with a loving parent.

“Prayer is the intimate communication between the Heavenly Father and His child.” Don Miller

The pulse of prayer reveals the vital heartbeat of fellowship. John had heard Jesus pray until His will was conformed to the will of His Father. John would settle for nothing less than the abandonment of his own will into the hands of The Father. He had heard Jesus pray many times, and he had wisely followed His lead.

When John prayed, he discovered…

• Prayer is fellowship.
  “Our fellowship is with the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.” V. 3
   
• Prayer releases joy.
  “These things we write, so that our joy may be complete.” V. 4
   
• Prayer reveals The Light.
  “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light.” V. 5a
   
• Prayer removes the darkness.
  “…And in Him there is no darkness at all.” V. 5b
   
• Prayer receives cleansing.
  “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” V. 7
   
• Prayer requires confession.  
  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” V. 9

NOTE TO SELF: Walking with Jesus includes talking with and listening to The Father. His will is found in His Word. Without consistent prayer and immediate obedience you may occasionally stumble from the dark into The Light, but you will have no intimate fellowship with God.  Stumbling out of the darkness into postponed confession, after prolonged rebellion, only makes you look wide-eyed and disheveled, not forgiven and cleansed. Persistent, consistent prayer improves your fellowship with God and cleanses your heart. One leads to the other, and you need both. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Way

 “Be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:17-18

A friend of mine had the honor and privilege of sharing a meal with a Romanian family shortly after the fall of the Communist regime. At the close of the evening, they offered him some tea, contained in a very special cup. It had been the property of a pastor who had been martyred for his faith, during the harsh days of Communist oppression. They called it “The Martyr’s Cup.” They only used the cup on special occasions, and they kept it on shelf separated from all the rest of the dishes. When the significance of the small cup was explained to my friend, he received it as a great honor. Wouldn’t we all?

Peter’s last words were shared with the members of the early church, under the shadow of his imminent martyrdom. He did so in the face of great lawlessness from inside and outside of the fellowship. The true church has always had to learn how to thrive, not just survive, under the forces of apostasy from within, and the forces of evil from without. Prayer warriors remain on guard against both.

The contemporary church has much to learn from Peter’s prophetic voice. When Peter embraced Grace, he was not taking hold of a concept. He was throwing his arms around Jesus. Amazing Grace, indeed.

“Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again.” Vance Havner

Tiny, mustard seed-sized, child-like faith receives The Father’s unmerited favor. He provides Grace through His Son, Jesus. The most seasoned saint never arrives at a full knowledge of The Father’s love for them. The learning curve lasts a lifetime, and continues into eternity.  The School of Prayer is always in session on campuses in Heaven and on earth, and the Ph.D* is the only degree offered. The education is on earth,  but the graduation is held in Heaven. (*Pray Hard Daily)

“To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

Peter’s final words called for the church to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus.  A martyr’s last words hold great significance, and substance.  To ignore them devalues the martyr’s sacrifice, and leads to the spiritual bankruptcy of the church. Peter’s cup was full and overflowing with the wisdom needed for this hour.

“We cannot grow into grace. Grace is the unmerited favor we received when Christ is received as Savior. Once He is accepted, we grow in Him. It is only in the school of prayer that we can grow both in grace and knowledge.” Herbert Lockyer

Prayer provides access to The Way to grow in grace and knowledge. To grow in appreciation of The Father’s unmerited favor and to gain an awareness of His great love for His children, time in prayer must be spent with His Son.

 “I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” ~ Jesus - John 14:6

Jesus prayed early and often. He prayed during the day, and through the night. His prayers were scheduled, and spontaneous. Whether He was alone or walking with the disciples on a crowded road, He sought personal intimacy, and maintained unbroken communication with The Father, through prayer. Prayer was the air He breathed, the compass for His life, and His language of love reserved for His Father.

Those who race to embrace Grace, but express no desire to spend time with Jesus, are taking a walk in the dark, not in The Light. Prayer continues to be The Son’s love language for His Father. He is seated at His right hand in Heaven, and intercedes for those who come to The Father, in His name. The first step to growing in grace and knowledge takes place on bended knees.

Those who desire to grow in grace, and the knowledge of Jesus will enter into The School of Prayer, and learn to pray from The Master. Grace is The Gift from God. Prayer is an expression of gratitude for His Gift. Spontaneous prayer is an appropriate sign of appreciation for an introduction to Grace. Continuous prayer leads to a growing appropriation of the full knowledge of Grace. Prayer moves intimacy with The Father’s Grace from an initial introduction to a growing appropriation.

Growing in grace and knowledge requires spending time with Jesus in The School of Prayer. He is at the head of the class.  He invites those interested in learning to pray to move their desks closer to His. When they do, they learn from Him.

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me.” ~ Jesus

NOTE TO SELF: When you are prayerless, you exhibit the self-centered character of a thankless child. Remaining prayerless while being a recipient of God’ unmerited favor is a poor reflection on The Father’s love, and shows very little appreciation for The Son’s sacrifice. Failing to pray is like cheating off your own paper. It only leads to more failure. Move your desk closer to Jesus. Learn from Him. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Mending

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11

The way you come on is the way you go on. No one enters into The Kingdom of God with a prideful, self-sufficient and self-centered spirit of independence. When Jesus expressed the preamble of The Constitution of The Kingdom, He led with the credentials of citizenship.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” ~ Jesus – Matthew 5

Humility leads you to the threshold of The Kingdom. Every time you bow your head in prayer, you continue to yield your rights, and place your life under the mighty hand of God.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,…”

There is a huge connection between the bending of your knees to enter The Kingdom and the mending of your nets to serve in The Kingdom. Let’s go fishing.  

“Cast your net on the other side of the boat.” ~ Jesus

Peter heard these very words spoken to him on the Sea of Galilee, from the lips of Jesus. When he obeyed them, his life was changed, forever. He, along with other anxious fishermen, had labored through the night, only to face the dawn with empty nets and no catch. In an instant, by a simple act of humility they obeyed the voice of Jesus, and discovered overwhelming abundance and unexpected grace. Some things never change.  Citizens of The Kingdom yield to the direction of the voice of The Risen Christ. The way you come on is the way you go on in The Kingdom.

Humbling His children is not a sign of The Father’s punishment. Contrary to contemporary church pop psychology, suffering is essential preparation for His blessing. Far from being an expression of God’s lack of concern, suffering is often a vehicle through which He delivers His most tender care.

“…that He might exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” V. 7b

You will not like suffering when you face it, but don’t fail to embrace it when it arrives. It is coming. Any crisis, chaos, or confrontation with the enemy is meant to bring you to your knees. If you let fear lead you to prayer, it will empower you to mend your ways, and to resist your real adversary.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren in the world.” V. 8-9

“Perfect” is a term used to describe the mending of nets. As a fisherman, Peter was intimately familiar with the necessary task of mending nets to prepare for the next catch. It was not punishment for being a bad fisherman. It was just essential to being an effective one.  

Prayer yields your rights, wounded pride, and stretch-marked faith to The Father’s personal touch. He reserves the right of a caring Father to expose areas of weakness in your life, and challenge you to mend those areas in order to be a more effective fisherman. 

“The God of grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm strengthen and establish you.” V. 10

Peter moved seamlessly, like His Savior, between words ofexhortation and prayers of intercession. While calling on believers to be prepared to mend their ways, He reminded them to come to The Father on bended knees.

“To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” V. 11

NOTE TO SELF: There is little hope of agreeing with The Father’s direction to mend your life, without being humble enough to bend your knees and recognize His dominion over your life.  Bending your knees leads to mending your nets. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Purpose II

“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7 NASB

When I was a boy, the comic strips of New York City would characterize a religious fanatic with the caricature of a sandaled, bearded man in sackcloth and ashes. He would be depicted standing on the street corner, holding up a sign with a message written with bold letters, “THE END IS NEAR!” All around him people would be scurrying down the street, while ignoring his warning. It all looked so hopeless, even to a child.

Peter’s final word on “all things” was a challenge to the early church to stay focused on the “purpose of prayer.” In the King James Version this same passage is translated “watch unto prayer.”  There is no greater purpose in life than to watch and pray.

The purpose of prayer is to watch what The Father will do to prove Himself faithful to His children in the middle of their crisis.  Prayer turns a child’s eyes away from the crisis, focuses them on the face of The Father, and points them towards others.

No matter how dark the storm clouds may be, it is always too early for a child of God to panic. It is never too late for them to pray. Looking into The Father’s face, prayer restores a child’s “sound judgment and sober spirit” when the headline hysteria and uncontrollable circumstances of life tempt them to run into the streets screaming, “All is lost.”

Weathering the storms of life has always included a great deal of waiting, worrying, wishing, whining and watching. When Peter saw the storm clouds gathering he called his people to watch and pray. Two thousand years later his words are as appropriate for the contemporary church, as they were prophetic for the ancient church.

Prayer transforms self-absorbed, stressed out children, obsessed with their own survival and self-worth into self-less servants seeking the best for those around them.  Through prayer, The Father releases His Spirit into His children to love for one another, to be hospitable to one another, and to serve one another. (See 1 Peter 4:8-10)

“So that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4: 11

The focus of prayer is on the face of The Father. The purpose of prayer is to glorify Him. Praying in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ brings a child of God into his right mind, and under the authority and jurisdiction of Jesus.

Prayerless children are prideful and rebellious children who try to bring “all things” under their sphere of influence rather than yielding them in prayer to The Lord, Jesus Christ. No wonder prayerless children become restless people. The restless fail to find R.E.S.T.* because they fail to pray. *Release Every Single Thing.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus – Matthew 11:28

“Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again.” Vance Havner

NOTE TO SELF: You will find R.E.S.T. when you Release Every Single Thing to The Father in prayer, in the name of Jesus. Every “thing” is not a trial, a test, or a trauma. Some “things” bring triumph, while other “things” bring tears. Make each “thing” a matter of prayer, no matter what you are going through. Prayer is the fastest way to get a grip on your right mind. When you sober up, you come to the end of your self. When you pray, you lean into the Y.O.K.E. of Jesus. It involves Yielding to Him, Obeying Him, Keeping Close to Him, and Enjoying Him. Don’t panic or look surprised at a crisis.  As a result of it, your prayers will turn your eyes upon Jesus and your steps towards others, for the honor and glory of The Father. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Hindrance

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. “ I Peter 3:7

There is no greater poser in the world than a prayerless husband. His pride is the greatest hindrance to prayer. Prayer has the capacity to create an understanding, and caring relationship between a husband and a wife like no other force in the world. Prayer is the one thing most necessary, but it is the first thing jettisoned, right after the wedding.

When a husband prays for and with his wife he is less likely to take her for granted. When his wife hears her husband pray for her, she is less likely to resent what he said or did wrong. If a surprised wife hears her husband admit he is wrong, can the Second Coming be very far away? But I digress. 

“Live with your wives in an understanding way” does not encourage a husband to assume that he will ever completely understand his wife. When he prays for her, and with her, he can only take hope in the fact that he is on the right road. 

Saying a prayer does not indicate he has arrived at the destination. Prayer enables him to take on fuel for the journey. Words mean things. They don’t always mean what you think they mean. When Dana and I married, almost 38 years ago, we spoke the same language, but we didn’t always use the same dictionary. I would say what I thought, and she would hear what I meant. She would agree with what I said, and I would think I had made my point. It was pretty confusing. Let me explain.

Like most newlyweds, we began our life together with a great deal of love, but really short on cash. I made the observation that we will be fine if we just spent our money on necessities until we saw how our expenses added up during our first month of marriage. Dana agreed. I remember thinking, “That was easy.” When I looked at our joint checkbook a month later, I discovered we didn’t share the same definition of the word “necessities.” I wish I could say, I responded with a caring and understanding manner. Understand what I mean?

Over the past four decades we have learned to pray about EVERYTHING! We have not always been right. We have often been wrong, but WE have been wrong, TWOgether. It is amazing how understanding a relationship can become when both people admit they are not perfect, and they learn to fix the problem TWOgether, and not try to fix the blame one another.

Can I get a witness?

After three years of marriage, Dana made a statement to me in our kitchen in Houston, Texas. I remember exactly where I was when I heard the words, “You criticize everything I do.” To her surprise, and to no less my own, I agreed with her. I know it was not the first time she had said it, but it was the first time I had heard it. For three years I had ignored her voice, but this time God enabled me to hear her heart. Prayer does that. I had ignored the wisest counsel I had ever heard in seminary.

A guest pastor, Jack Taylor, had shared with us, “You must receive your wife as God’s perfect gift to you.” His emphasis had been on the word “receive.” I stumbled over the word “perfect.” I had missed his point. For three years I had tried to improve on God’s perfect gift rather than receive the gift He had given me. I had devalued her, not improved her worth. 

Prayer is the key that opens the door to understanding between a husband and a wife. It can improve the quality of communication needed in any other relationship. For 2,000 years the reciprocal “one another” relationships found in the New Testament have been the vital signs of Christianity and the anchor points of civilized society.  Without understanding people end up screaming at one another, not honoring one another. The headline hysteria of this morning’s newscast and newspaper provide ample evidence of the sad state of affairs in our nation. “Peace on earth” indeed. Husbands and wives must pray for one another, and with one another to find understanding. Prayer nurtures a God-given passion for caring for one another and honoring one another.

NOTE TO SELF: Nothing honors your wife more than saying a blessing over her. Nothing ends an argument faster than being the first one to say, “I was wrong. Can we pray?” Nothing hinders your prayer life more than taking your wife for granted. When you treat her like a disposable red cup, not a fine piece of crystal, God is not pleased. He expects you to receive His gift, not reassess her worth. When you pray with her, you treat her with the honor and respect she deserves. Expecting The Father’s blessing on you, when you refuse to bless your wife is a fool’s flight into fantasy. Don’t be a fool. When it comes to your wife…TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Mercy

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…”
1 Peter 1:3-4

Peter begins with a prayer of blessing upon God, The Father. He continues with a word of reminder for His children regarding their inheritance, through The Son. Peter’s intercession for the saints was not an escape route to a prayer retreat. He prayed in pursuit of intimacy with Jesus, and a practical message for believers who were in need of a message of hope. When he received it, He delivered it.

“His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Peter’s life was filled with suffering. His prayer life was a powerful source of comfort to Him. As he prayed, The Risen Christ walked him through many crises on earth. Prayer never lulled him into a false hope that earth was his home.  He longed to keep a divine appointment with Jesus, and receive the inheritance reserved for him in Heaven.

Mercy is The Father’s response of compassion to the cry of His children.  For His mercy to be known, it must be shown. The Father’s mercy cannot be explained. It must be experienced. The greatest expressions of His compassion, and strength of character come in the chaos of crashing waves, not calm seas.

The Father relieves the distress of His children when they call out to Him to do what only He can do, and give Him the glory for it.  Those who take credit for His mercy or think they deserve it, soon find themselves in rough water again.

Seasoned prayer warriors seamlessly converse with The Father in Heaven, and His children on earth. This may very well be the greatest sign of an effective, and authentic intercessory prayer life.

My father, Don Miller, is 92 years of age, and has been a man of prayer as long as I can remember. At this stage of his life, he often begins in prayer, and merges from his conversation with The Father into a conversation with me. It is the most amazing experience. At first this felt a bit disconcerting, but now I am able to see the absolute appropriateness of it.

Peter experienced intercessory prayer as the ultimate bridge between The Father’s love and His mercy for His children. No wonder Dad has defined prayer as endless intimacy with The Father.

“Prayer is the intimate communication between The Heavenly Father and His child.” Don Miller

Mercy is your only hope. It is The Father’s response to humble prayer, not prideful self-pity or seething resentment.  Suffering often leads His children to resentment over what is happening to them. There is real danger in yielding to the false hope of self-pity. There is no lasting contentment that comes in feeling sorry for yourself. It is like trying to quench your thirst with salt water.

NOTE TO SELF: Don’t become filled with self-pity in the midst of a crisis. Pity, filled with self, will never call out for the compassion of The Father to end the crisis. Seething resentment and prideful self-pity over suffering will only lead you to blame The Father for what is happening to you. Neither one of them will ever make sense out of it. When you admit to yourself that you are in need of The Father’s mercy for what you have done, you will call out to Him for the mercy that only He can provide. You are only a breath away from mercy. You need it. So does your nation. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Revival

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore is says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVE GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you.” James 4:6-10

Revival is God. Anything not created by God is a man made creation. Revival is God’s work. It only comes when prideful people come to the end of their rope, and stop making rope. Revival is a call to God to step into a personal or corporate crisis. When His people draw near to God, He draws near to them. This only happens…EVERY TIME.

“Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again.” Vance Havner

Say Grace! “But He gives a greater grace.”  - Revival begins with the cry for mercy from the heart of a rebellious child, seeking the response of The Father. His undeserved favor brings to end the conflict and restores peace between The Father and His child.

Where revival is needed, judgment is deserved. When mercy is given it is undeserved. Revival is AMAZING GRACE pouring out of the heart of God upon His rebellious, but repentant children. Revival begins in the heart of one person admitting their need for God’s grace, and being humble enough to ask for it.

“You have not because you ask not.” James

Stay Humble! “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”  - Revival is birthed when the spirit of humility is released in the hearts of God’s children. The Father’s unmerited favor is lavished upon humble children, not prideful brats.

“My people who are called by name, humble themselves.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

“Revival is a fresh new act of obedience.” Charles Finney

Call Assembly! “Submit to God.” - Revival is not an invitation to a pep rally. It assembles an army, and takes the battle to the enemy. Submit is a Greek military term used to assemble troops into a battle formation, and prepare them to march to war against a common enemy.

Revival includes submitting to God’s way, staying in His Presence, being saturated with His character, and seeking to do His Will for His honor and glory.

“Not My will, but Thy Will be done.” Jesus

Resist Evil! “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” - Revival is birthed by acts of genuine repentance and active resistance to the enemy. Revival turns to prayer as the world-class weapon in the battle against evil. Prayer identifies the schemes of the enemy. Like night vision goggles, prayer reveals and marginalizes the forces of darkness. Prayer removes the enemy’s influence upon human hand puppets under his influence. Prayer replaces the enemy’s intimidation with the infusion of The Spirit’s strength for courageous living.

“Revival is war between God and the devil.” J. Edwin Orr

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Dieitrich Bonhoeffer

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph in the world is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burk

“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless work, prayerless study or prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick

Draw Near! “Draw near to God…He will draw near to you.”

Revival is a reciprocal relationship, but it is wholly dependent upon God. It begins when a rebel draws near to God in prayer. The first breath of prayer is the first step towards peace with God. Revival is found in His Presence. There is no revival without a visitation of God’s Presence.

Prayer expresses the desire of a child of God for the hand of The Father to be on them. They come into His Presence through prayer expecting a graciouls response, not a rejection.

“Prayer is how we set our sails to catch the wind of Heaven.” G. Campbell Morgan

Clean Up! “Cleanse your hands…purify your hearts.” - Revival is not a trip to the cleaners to remove dirt from the surface of a cheap suit. It is a complete cleansing that requires total purification.

Forgiveness comes to those who take personal responsibility for birthing in their hearts what they did with their hands. Revival calls for the washing of the residue of sin from dirty hands, and removing the stain of sin from rebellious hearts. Anything less is not confession, just rationalization.  Revival is not a matter of getting cleaned up for a homecoming parade, and riding on a float to the cheers of the church. It is a matter of being cleansed from the inside out, mobilized for war, equipped for battle, and resisting the enemy, come what may. Revival is not a matter of inviting unbelieving people to get back to church. It is a matter of the backsliding church getting back to God.

Personal revival comes when believers take personal responsibility for their own actions.  Corporate revival is a result of a repentant church settling for nothing less than setting their course back to God. Revival is not a matter of taking back a nation. It is a matter of a nation turning back to God, one desperate citizen at a time.

“Turn from their wicked ways.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Sober Up! “Be miserable and mourn and weep, let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom.” - Revival is a result of a reality check with God’s Word. Scripture is taken seriously again. His Word becomes written on the hearts of His children, and changes them from the inside out. God’s Word is no longer a course of study or a topic for discussion. God’s Word brings tears, not because it is informational but because it is transformational.

Preachers no longer comfort sin. They confront sin, not to bring tears, but to change behavior. The Word of God transforms because it conforms His children to the image of

His Son. Revival creates a fresh new hunger for The Word, and brokenness over sin.

“It is amazing what God can do with a broken heart, if you give Him all the pieces.” Samuel Chadwick

Kneel Down! “Humble yourselves in the Presence of The Lord…” - Prayer is about learning to lean into the Yoke, and yielding to the Father’s will. Jesus is The Captain of the yoke. When you pray in the name of The Son, The Father releases the synergy of The Spirit’s strength. His power merges with your weakness through prayer.

Stand Up!  “And He will exalt you.” - Revival is not about making a name for yourself, your church, your denomination, or your political party. It is about calling on God to make a difference in the world, for His honor and glory, not yours.

Prayer is an act of war, not a devotional exercise. When you pray, you stand firm next to The Champion, in the face of the enemy. You are not called to charge, or retreat, but to stand firm, and to pray in The Spirit. Prayer holds ground. Prayer takes back the ground overrun by the enemy. Prayer is not for pushovers. Prayer pushes back. P.U.S.H.*

The Spirit’s breath of revival is not a last gasp for the survival of the church. It is an infusion of God’s power to influence every aspect of the soul of the nation.  On a personal level, revival is a fresh act of obedience to God. On a corporate level, revival is the church saturated with the uncontainable Presence of The Spirit of God. When revival fills the church, it spills out into the streets of the city, and transforms a culture.

Revival is a recognizable movement of God. When revival comes, it is both undeniable and unexplainable. Before The First Great Awakening, America was in need of a movement of God. When it came, one observant Philadelphian reported…

“From being thoughtless and indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious, so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street.” Benjamin Franklin

The First Great Awakening was described, by Pastor Jonathan Edwards, as a “surprising work of God.” Today America is a nation in crisis and needs nothing more than a surprising work of God. Pray for nothing less than what God can do, and give Him the credit for it when revival comes.

“When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a-praying.” Matthew Henry

Father in Heaven, please surprise us with the mercy we do not deserve. We humbly ask you for a visitation and a saturation of the grace of Your Spirit’s Presence!  We need you to draw near to us, and to stay with us. Place Your merciful hand upon us. We submit to Your direction, protection and correction. In the name of Jesus, we pray.

Amen.

The Will

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – Hebrews 13:20-21
 
At the center of this prayer is the focus of every prayer. Can you see it? The purpose of prayer is to perfect you. Prayer equips you and fits you “To do His will.”  Nothing else will do it. Search for nothing more. Settle for nothing less.
 
The prayer life of Jesus focused on nothing less than the will of His Father. A life intent on being equipped to do the will of God should not be focused on anything else than a life of prayer.
 
The Will is an ancient word, and refers to “What one wishes or has determined shall be done.” Blue Letter Bible
 
Being at peace with God joins you to His purpose, His plan, and His priorities for your life. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, and His shed blood for you, did not empower you to become a free agent. God chose you to play for His team. Stop negotiating for a better deal.
 
God’s grace makes you perfect, in the sense that His peace joins you to Him, and His Spirit equips you, and fits you for what He has called you to do. When you pray in The Spirit, The Father harmonizes your voice with His Word. Prayerless preachers may deliver a sermon, but they will never have an anointed message from God. But I digress.  
 
Recently I was having dinner with friends who were discussing their new “Fitbit” devices. This amazing little instrument tracks the number of steps taken during the day, and has the capacity to measure heart rates, altitude, and a host of other helpful bits of fitness data.
 
Prayer is The Father’s “Fitbit” measurement device. He has chosen, by His grace, to be at peace with His children and to join with them to do His will. Through prayer they receive His direction, protection and correction, not to fulfill their destiny, but to follow His will.
 
Prayerless children are not pleasing to The Father.  They are not joined with Him, fitted to Him, or in harmony with His Word and His will.  Prayerful children are made perfect in the sense that they are equipped for something beyond their own personal preferences. When they yield their will to The Father’s will, His wish becomes their command.
 
NOTE TO SELF: When you pray, you bring your wishes, desires, plans and priorities to The Father. His Spirit begins to soften your heart, until it is fitted and molded to The Father’s will.  Prayer brings you to The Father in the name of Jesus.  Expect your will to go through the same fitting process The Son experienced when He prayed, “Not My will but Thy will be done.” Prayer begins with you bringing your “Wish List” to God. It ends with you walking away with God’s “To Do List” for you. Don’t leave home without it. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE! 

The Zone

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

When athletes play at the peak of their proficiency, or a speaker communicates with unusual power and clarity, they are often said to be in “The Zone.” Prayer warriors have a zone too. They must not visit it, but choose to live in it 24/7.

Prayer warriors live in “The War Zone” not “ The Comfort Zone.” Scripture challenges them to “Pray without ceasing.” This refers to an alert status that is never lulled into lowering their guard.

The relentless schemes of their ancient enemy and the tireless efforts of their fellow-soldiers call prayer warriors to ceaseless intercession. Prayer warriors can never allow themselves to be lulled into believing that prayer is over when the prayer meeting ends. Spiritual warfare is a running battle with a mobile enemy, and it requires a prayer warrior to move quickly to the voice of The Commander.

Ceaseless prayer is fed by a personal “Quiet Time,” or by entering a hidden prayer closet. It is sustained by gathering with prayer warriors at church prayer meetings, and great rallies. Still, ceaseless prayer is the breath of life of the prayer warrior. It keeps them alive to breathe new life into those who are gasping for air.

Recently I was being driven across the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was Finals Week. As I looked at the students heading to class, I saw serious faces filled with a mixture of determination and intimidation. They were heading towards a confrontation between what they knew, and what would be on the test. Sometimes the two do not merge together. They turn out to be a train wreck. Can I get a witness?

My young Moroccan driver, Tayaa, dropped me off at the Pete Maravich Center, a 13,000-seat basketball arena. In one month, thousands of people will gather with Governor Jindal to pray for a nation in crisis. I had arrived with dear friends to Prayer Walk the arena, and to intercede for a prayer meeting that may have huge implications for the future of our nation.

As I stepped from the van, I crossed paths with an African American student. His head was down, and his pace was quick. He had a chiseled, focused expression on his face, but I could also see a heart filled with the intimidation of his impending encounter. I asked, “Heading to a final?” He said, “I have five this week.” I responded, “Can I pray for you?” His face softened, and he said, “Please.” I put my arm around his shoulder, and outside the arena, in the presence of “Mike The Tiger” I prayed for him.

My prayer was a brief word of intercession for him to have total recall of all he had studied and God’s grace to remember some of the things he had not had time to go over. It took all of one minute. He thanked me. We shook hands, and we went our separate ways. My friend said, “You were in The Zone.” I had to admit, I had never done anything quite like that with a total stranger, but it seemed as simple and as seamless as taking a breath. Maybe I was in The Zone. If so, I want to live there.

I do not claim to fully grasp the meaning of this simple Scripture. I am only beginning to see the magnitude of it. Whenever I am full of myself, from breathing the ether of my own self-importance, I miss its meaning nine ways from Dallas. In Texas Speak, that is a long way. But I digress.
 
Being full of myself is a dangerous place to be, and it leads me to either end of a very wide pendulum swing. God sometimes allows me to play a part in some grand design, and when He invites me to the party, I become a man on a mission, rather than a man of submission.

At other times, I become consumed with the lint in my own navel. I pine over my “Whine List” with such intensity that the needs of others no longer hit my radar screen. It is not that I ignore them. To ignore them is to at least admit they exist. The greater sin is that I don’t even think of them at all.

“Pray without ceasing” is The Zone found between the mood swings of being obsessed with God’s grand design, and being depressed over my own “Whine List.” In the middle of these two points are many “Divine Appointments” that become lost opportunities.

God places people in my path every day in need of hope, and a word of encouragement. Passing them by, on a mission for God does not add to my importance.  Whining my way through life will never improve my significance.

 Praying without ceasing improves the vision, and heightens all the senses of a focused prayer warrior, intent on living in The Zone. Prayer provides night vision goggles. Prayer warriors use them to see in the dark, and to guide others to the light of Jesus. Don’t leave your vision or your goggles in the prayer room. Take them with you into battle.  Don’t run over a wounded soldier to prove your valor to God. Take them to Jesus. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Day

“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6

December 6, 1979 was a true turning point in our family. On that day, Ashley Dyan arrived. Life in the Miller family has never been the same since. Today Dana and I celebrate the birthday of our first-born child. We were so thrilled the day she came into our world on a cold, winter day in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

According to the doctor, Ashley arrived later than he expected. As then, and every day since, she has always exceeded our greatest expectations, and been an answer to our deepest prayers.

God brought Ashley to us right on time, we soon discovered twe were the ones who were not ready. God guided her safely through our first attempts at parenting. The first child always has to survive a great deal of well-intentioned parenting before  proud parents can take credit for the job the have done. Sorry Ashley. We didn’t know what we were doing.  Thank God, He did. You have His handprints all over you, not ours.

Ashley has grown from a beautiful baby into a great Christian lady, but God’s call on her life appeared at a very early age. Ashley fell in love with music and singing. Though she has a beautiful voice, music has always been an expression of her soul. As she sings, she and God commune and exchange hearts with one another. She has been doing this since she was a child.

Dana and I will never forget the many Saturday nights when we held family worship in our home. Ashley would stand on the fireplace hearth and sing to us. When she finished singing, we were ready for worship on Sunday. We also sensed she had taken a baby step forward to God’s call on her life.

When Ashley entered her Middle School talent show, she boldly took her testimony public by singing a praise song before a pretty tough public school audience. You could have heard a pin drop, as God used her to lift His name before her peers, and her teachers. Dana and I knew then that God was doing something very special in her heart. He still is.

From the time Ashley was six years old until she graduated from high school, she and I shared a Daddy / Daughter breakfast date one morning a week. It remains one of the highlights of my parenting journey. We still meet for lunch or to share a Starbucks together. I am always a better Dad for having spent time with my brown-eyed girl.

Throughout college Ashley traveled with a praise team leading worship all over America. After graduation she sang for years on the praise team of a local church, calling people week after week to the throne of God. She still does.

Ashley continues to grow in her expression of God’s call on her life, serving alongside her husband, Brent Warren, as they plant Restoration Church in Fort Worth, Texas.  It is a parent’s greatest joy to see their children growing in their personal faith and public walk with God. Dana and I couldn’t be happier.

Happy Birthday, Ashley! We love you. We are proud of you. We are praying for you. The best is yet to come! EX: Grandbabies.

Love,
Dad and Mom (Pops and GiGi)