Pray First

Pray First!

A core value each leader should adopt is "Prayer must initiate and cover everything I do!" To lead without prayer is to lead down a bumpy road at best and tragedy at worst. Let's learn from today's teaching how to be a person of prayer!


"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (1:11)
• Stop looking back - Look forward! (As a leader I should never try to reinvent the past but pursue the heart of God for the future!)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (1:12-14)
• Pray in preparation for the filling of the Holy Spirit.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
• Be devoted to prayer.

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Acts 3:1
• Spirit filled leaders have personal disciplines of prayer.

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.... And now, O lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power, may miraculous signs and wonders be done though the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:24, 29-30

• Courage is the fruit of a praying leader.

“and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." Acts 6:4
• Leaders lead by prioritizing prayer over other things.

“and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.” Acts 10:31
• Spirit filled prayers grab God's attention!

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23

• Leaders are commissioned through prayer and fasting.

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. Acts 16:16

• Spirit filled leaders will encounter spiritual opposition.

His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. Acts 28:8

• Spirit filled people are open to spirit led opportunity

Application: Choose today to "Pray First" as you lead!

Since The First Day

Since the First Day

“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come." Daniel 10:12-14

These are truly exciting words, “ Since the first day…..” God is watching, God is listening, God is responding, since the first day. Daniel had taken initiative to be right before God. Daniel had set his mind to gain understanding and to humble himself before God. These must be clear objectives in my life. The understanding that I seek must be from God’s vantage point, when I humble myself I admit I can’t – He can. Then God responds…. From the first day!!

Prayer: Lord I desire to be like Daniel, with a mind that seeks to understand – through much prayer and a humble attitude that admits I can’t – You can!

Application Questions: Is my mind set on gaining God's understanding or on my own? What do I need to change?

Prophecy

A person with a Godly legacy must be open to the filling of the Spirit. I wonder, what would happen if a group of people became humbly open to the out pouring of the Spirit and prophecy. A nation could be changed! Maybe the US. Maybe Uganda! Below is my daily devotional on this most important topic. Where is the gift of prophecy, have you been holding back the gift God gave you?

Prophecy

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17,18

It is time to prophecy. The Lord promised he would pour out his Spirit in the last days. There is no doubt that we live in the last days. So it is certainly time to be open to the prophetic and to see many operate in the prophetic ministry. This is not for a select few but for all. How am I doing? Do I prophecy on a regular basis, am I open to that? I must be, and I must be open to all that the Lord puts in me. I choose to be open today to the prophetic in my life.
Immediately I sense a call of God to heal our land, we are in trouble, give us mercy oh God.

Prayer! Let me hear your voice today to speak on your behalf and to call people to righteousness. God heal our land.

Application Questions: Keep it simple, are you open to the gift of prophecy? Am i willing to make the commitment to keep myself pure and humble before God?

One Life - One Legacy

We only have one life - one legacy that we can leave behind. We will live one life and by our actions provide the written material for our legacy. However, it will truly be written and interpreted by others after we have left this world. So I ask myself, and I ask you, what is the legacy which you desire to leave behind. What did you write today in the chapter entitled today? Did you advance toward your desired legacy, or did you retreat? What you will be you are becoming today. As I write this blog I will be simultaneously challenging myself, and i trust challenging my readers to leave a legacy that matters. One that challenges and changes those you encounter daily and on your journey in life. You have one life one legacy - make it count!