An Uprising of Prayer!

This Thursday, May 3, will be the 61st observance of the National Day of Prayer. In 1952, a joint resolution of Congress signed by President Truman declared an annual National Day of Prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Every President since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation. Last year, all 50 state governors signed similar proclamations.

There has been an upsurge of prayer in this last generation. Think of how many prayer groups meet every day all over America in churches, businesses, schools, homes and restaurants. The concept of intercessory prayer, that a few can “stand in the gap” and pray for many, has become a well-accepted practice in the body of Christ.

II Chronicles 7:14 has served as the rallying cry. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” I celebrate the gift, freedom and opportunity to pray, however, I sense that God is calling us to something even more during these days of such great challenges and opportunities!

What if we agreed together that prayer is about more than an hour or a day? What if we agreed to practice prayer as a lifestyle? Does not the Bible say that we are to “pray without ceasing?” What if we called upon God on this National Day of Prayer for an uprising of prayer that will touch every individual, family, community, state and nation?

This is the focus of Bless Minnesota – Adopt Your Street in Prayer. I am privileged to serve as Chair of this exciting grass-roots, state-wide initiative that has one simple goal: to adopt every street in the State of Minnesota in prayer! The people of Christ Church and this region are helping lead the charge! I call it “prayer with legs!” This movement is challenging the Church to get beyond its walls and engage with friends and neighbors, co-workers and class-mates.

To adopt a street in prayer involves four simple ongoing steps that flow out of a “heart of prayer” for this world that God loves. We begin by speaking peace and blessing to others in Jesus’ name. We reach-out and build relationships that are personal and authentic. We respond to the “felt needs” of others expecting miracles and asking God to reveal their “deeper needs” in the process. And, we seize every opportunity to share the love, presence and power of Jesus Christ. In other words, we share the Gospel as it has touched our lives in a way that it can touch the lives of others right where they are at. It is the Luke 10 model that is called Prayer Evangelism!

I will be sounding this Call on this National Day of Prayer at special gatherings from morning until night, including the steps of our State Capitol at noon. I do hope that you will attend any of the events that we have been promoting, especially our Elk River Area NDOP Gathering on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. at ERHS. Many churches and pastors from the area will be participating. If you have not yet adopted a street in prayer, please visit http://www.blessmn.org/ and do so right now!

“Oh God, touch this region, state and nation with an ‘uprising of prayer’ so that this wonderful day of prayer will become a lifestyle of prayer. We ask you to use us as instruments of transformation to reach every part of this world for which Jesus gave his life! Amen!”

Blessings, Pastor Greg Pagh

Heart-burn Christianity!

It was a beautiful Easter Sunday – 2012 at Christ Church! As part of my Easter message I proposed that people “go for a walk with Jesus.” The two disciples walking the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus on that first Easter afternoon discovered the benefits of such a walk in a very profound way. Their questions were answered. The truth of God’s Word was revealed. Their eyes were opened. Their strength was renewed.

When they realized that their walking companion had been Jesus himself, they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 And even though it was evening, and they must have been tired, they got up from the table and ran seven miles all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the rest of the disciples, “It is true. The Lord has risen…” Luke 24:34

Have you gone for a walk with Jesus lately and had a talk meaningful enough to touch your heart? Have you asked him your questions? Have you shared your fears and failures, hopes and dreams? Have your eyes been opened to see Jesus for who he really is?

You say, “I think so. I pray. I go to church. I believe in Jesus. I try to be a good person.” OK, so let me ask you this way. Does Jesus give you heart-burn? I’m not talking about the kind of heart-burn you get in the middle of the night that requires Extra Strength Tums!

I’m talking about the kind of passion, the kind of “fire in the belly” that fills you when “you know that you know” that Jesus is who he claimed to be and you are willing to stake your life upon it!

I think that we need a big dose of “heart-burn Christianity” in the Church today! If we really believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and thereby defeated sin, death and the power of the devil… we’d better be willing to get up from the table and run the race of life with perseverance to tell others this Good News!

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 If we really believe this amazing promise, our lives should reflect it with passion and enthusiasm in everything we say and do.

It’s easy to celebrate Easter Sunday as the “Super Bowl of Christianity” and then go back to life as usual. I would suggest instead that we go for a walk with Jesus every day and ask him to make our hearts burn for the things that really matter!

Blessings, Pastor Greg Pagh