Keeping Christ central
A weekly series from HOPE’s director of spiritual integration
This week, I’ve our spiritual integration associate, to address a key element of our efforts to keep Christ central: prayer.
“We can’t do this alone.” As I sat around the table discussing discipleship strategies with field leaders whom I deeply respect, I could not escape this thought. Despite all the practical experience and cultural understanding in the room, despite all the studying of best practices, it was evident that we are not capable of bringing about transformation out of our own strength or knowledge. We are completely dependent on the Lord’s love, wisdom, and transforming power.
We are on a journey here at HOPE. A journey closer into the heart of God as we encounter Him more deeply. A journey to become an increasingly prayerful organization, often learning from our clients themselves what it means to truly live dependent on the Lord day by day.
As we go to our Father in prayer, we always want to reflect the following heart of prayer:
- Desiring to see His Kingdom come. We pray within the larger request that God’s Kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10).
- Dependent. We pray out of a desire to depend more deeply on the Lord, recognizing that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). He alone has the power to move in ways far beyond what we could ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20-21).
- In faith. We acknowledge that we do not know how or when the Lord will bring His Kingdom, but we pray with faith and expectation that God responds to our prayers. We never mean to presume or demand that God would do things our way but rejoice and trust His will when He works in ways we did not expect (Matt. 17:14-21, Luke 17:6, John 14:12-14, John 15:7; Prov. 3:5-6, Zech. 4:6-7).
- Aligned with Scripture. We seek to pray for requests that are aligned with what God has already revealed about His will in Scripture.
This prayer effort is one way we step forward in faith, believing that we are totally dependent upon the Lord to bring about transformation in our lives, in the lives of our clients and members, and in the communities in which we live. We welcome you to join us in lifting requests before the Lord by signing up to receive our monthly prayer update: www.hopeinternational.org/pray.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
