Prayer really works! We firmly believe that God not only hears our prayers, but reponds. Think about that for a second... the creator of the universe, the person who made this whole place work is interested in your prayer, not only interested, He provides the answer. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us that "we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask for anything in line with His will. And if we know He is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that He will give us what we ask for."

We have a firm conviction that if a person has a relationship with Jesus then they are called to pray and intercede.

We're called to stand in the gap, to be a difference maker and see the power of prayer working to change the seen and unseen. Prayer and intercession is the function of every beleiver. "So, how's your prayer life?" How many times have you been asked that question, only to have the feelings of guilt and condemnation follow. Prayer really is one of the most hindered activities on earth. The enemy knows that if he can keep some people from praying he robs them of their power to change things. The Bible tells us that he comes to accuse us with all kinds of accusations, "you're not praying enough." "Listen to that person pray." The reality is we have a loving heavenly Father who wants a relationship with each one of. No condemnation, no guilt, just relationship. He wants to spend time with us.

• Time in the morning before the day get started
• Time while driving to work or picking up the kids from school
• Time in the evening after the sun has set the days activities are done.

He wants time. Simply put, more prayer is better than less. Time dedicated to prayer alone and prayers that are uttered throughout the day all have an impact. The Bible tells us that in all things, by prayer, make your requests known to God... Simply put we have a conviction that prayer really works, and we see the proof of that on a daily basis.

If ALND is your spiritual home we'd love to join with you in believing God for an answer to your prayer request. There is multiplied effectiveness when we join our faith and prayers together.  It really is an honor to bring your request before God, and remember to expect to see God move on your behalf because prayer really works!  Submit a prayer request by posting in on our PRAYER BOARD.

Prayer Suggestions

Begin your payer time by praying aloud Psalm 61 from the Living Bible Paraphrased:

Suggested Steps for Personal Prayer: 

            Paul, the apostle said in Ephesians 6:18:  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

            Jesus asked His disciples, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” [Matthew 26:40]

            For a balanced time of prayer, up to one hour, you might like to use Dick Eastman’s guide from his book, The Hour That Changes the World.  Pray for approximately five minutes through the following steps:

1. PRAISE – Exalt God’s nature and character.

2. WAIT – Take time to quietly rest in God.

3. CONFESS – Acknowledge your personal failures.

4. SCRIPTURE PRAYER – Read and pray God’s Word.

5. WATCH – Be alert to issues needing prayer.

6. INTERCESSION – Pray for others and the nations.

7. PETITION – Bring personal needs before God.

8. THANKS – Offer thanksgiving for specific blessings.

9. SING – Sing scripture, a hymn, or your own song.

10. MEDITATE – Probe God’s Word or His ways.

11. LISTEN – Seek guidance for your day.

12. PRAISE – End as you began, praising God.

            A similar plan can be used when uniting with two or more in prayer.  [Read Matthew 18:19-10.] Aletha Hinthron in her book Boldly Asking [page 87] says, “God multiplies the results when we unite.  When two or more people prevail together, their prayer power is not only added together but also multiplied. . . . Many lightbulbs shining together make a bright light.  But if they are concentrated into one light beam, they give a laser-beam effect capable of penetrating the hardest substance.  Think of your agreeing in prayer as focusing your light into a laser beam that God can use to penetrate those ‘inaccessible’ situations.” [page 87]   She adds:  “Satan fears the powerful results of united prayer, so he tries to make us feel foolish praying aloud with others.” [page 88]  She follows with a few suggestions:

• Try praying aloud when you are by yourself.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray.

• Be willing to feel foolish if necessary.

• Think of prayer as a private conversation rather than as a performance.

            Use the Kentucky Vision as a tool for praying for youth, missions, Sunday school, and other District ministries.

            Pray for children and educators in your church and community as they prepare to return to school this month.  Choose the name of someone to bring before the Lord daily.

            End your prayer time with a spirit of praise.

Pray for:

Your Local Church Needs:

• Revival in your local church that compels your people to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at home, at work, at local schools, and communities.

Alabama North District Leaders & Laity:

• District Superintendent, Greg Rickey & wife Jerelyn, as they lead the district of 70 multicultural churches. That God will grant wisdom and discernment in leading, guiding and directing church boards, pastors and laity in experiencing God and knowing and doing the will of God personally and corporately in church.
• Hispanic Church Planting Director, Leonel Alvarado, wisdom and discernment in training Hispanic pastors and as he plants new churches across our district.
• Michael Johnson & wife Anna as he leads the district Sunday School Ministries.
• Fred Faith  & wife Cheri, as he leads the district WMI missions program and ministries.
• Daniel Medders & wife Stefanie, as they lead the district NYI ministry and teens.

Memorials:

Churches & Pastors In Transition: (as they pray and search for a new parsonage family)

• Berry
• Florence First
• Mary's Chapel

Our General Superintendents traveling around the world this month:

• Dr. Paul Cunningham (wife Connie) & family
• Dr. James Diehl & (wife Dorothy) & family
• Dr. Nina Gunter & (husband Moody) & family
• Dr. Jesse Middendorf & (wife Susan) & family
• Dr. Jerry Porter & (wife Toni) & family
• Dr. J.K. Warrick & (wife Patty) & family

Our Nazarene Institutions of Higher Learning:

• Nazarene Bible College
  • President Harold Graves Jr. & wife
• Trevecca Nazarene University
  • President Dan Boone & wife Denise and children
  • Board of Trustees Meeting March 15-17
• Nazarene Theological Seminary
• Pray that faculty members will be Spirit-filled, teaching and leading students into a greater knowledge of the goodness of God and pray for students as they adjust to college life and experience new found independence.

Universal Needs:

• The JESUS Film & Equipment as they share the gospel around the globe
• The 57 colleges, universities, and seminaries of the Church of the Nazarene located in forty countries

• How to Pray for Elections
• Prayer Suggestions for October

Lydia Prayer Groups

Announcement

The Lydia Prayer books now ready!

To receive your packet, email Vicki at TWMinistry@aol.com

Women Alive Ministries is joining with Titus Ministries to begin Lydia Prayer Groups—groups of women gathered to pray for God to once again show us His glory.

On the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, he and his team planned to go to Asia or Bithynia, “but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” Instead through a dream, Paul knew he was go to into Macedonia. There he found a small group of women meeting by the riverside for prayer! Out of this group came a woman named Lydia who opened her heart and her home to the gospel. From this small beginning, revival spread through Europe.

Our vision for Lydia Prayer Groups came from this model. Small groups of praying women have been meeting in Europe and various places in the United States during the past few years. Out of these prayer times, a desire has grown to share with women around the world the excitement of living daily in the fullness of His Holy Spirit.

Special materials are prepared for women to use in forming a prayer group that will encourage them in praying for revival in their families, neighborhoods, cities, churches, our country and around the world. A copy of the Lydia Prayer Guide is included. Requests for these guides are coming in from around the country. Included in the Lydia Prayer Packet is a CD with a recent sermon on prayer by Dr. Dennis Kinlaw. (Dr. Kinlaw was president of Asbury College during the Asbury revival. His CD on prayer will guide you in praying for another move of God’s Spirit.)

As word has gone out inviting women to form Lydia prayer groups, emails such as the following have come in:

I would be interested in receiving the material on forming a prayer group.
—Grace
Would you please send me a copy of The Lydia Prayer Guides? I would like to see it and then perhaps give it to our pastor to use at our church.
—Naomi

Perhaps God is calling you to join with a few other women to pray for revival in your home, church, nation, the world. Don’t miss the incredible blessing of a women’s prayer meeting. The cost is $12 for the 16-page booklet, plus shipping. Additional prayer guides are $2 each, plus shipping.

To receive your Lydia packet, contact Vicki at TWMinistry@aol.com or write to:
Titus Women's Ministries
The Francis Asbury Society
P.O. Box 7
Wilmore, KY 40390
Phone: 859-858-4222
Visit www.francisasburysociety.com
then go to the link Titus Women


The following is an excerpt from The Lydia Prayer Guide:

Is God calling you to lead a Lydia Prayer Group?

• Pray and wait on the Lord to speak to you.
• Ask Him to help you choose your prayer partners: 3 to 6 is desirable.
• While you pray, become familiar with the “Lydia Prayer Guide.”
• As the Lord leads you to other women, explain what it means to be a part of a Lydia Prayer Group.
• Give them some time to pray about it so they are sure that they are called to this ministry.
• Agree on a meeting place, preferably your home.
• At the first meeting with your group, read a passage of scripture, explain the heart of this ministry, and go over the prayer guide. Have enough guides for each lady to have one. Make it a special evening of commitment to prayer for revival.
• Give them time to think and pray in order to commit.
• After your group is established, agree on a prayer focus for each woman. Let them choose to pray about a country or continent, etc.
• Always emphasize your main prayer concern, namely REVIVAL. Ask the Lord to come, visit and change our homes, churches, nation, the whole world! We need to pray until He comes!

District Campmeetings, Holiness Crusades, Revival Services, Prayer Awakening Events, District Pastor & Spouses Events, District Layman's Retreats, District Women's Retreats, District Prime Time Retreats, Prayer & Holiness Seminars, Fasting Seminars www.revelainepettitministries.org 269-385-5753, Fax: 269-383-0091, Email: RevElaine7@aol.com