The Prerequisite of Prayer

 Wherever you see a great move of God, know for sure that prayer preceded that move. We must have the prerequisite of prayer before we see God do powerful things. We must prayerfully plow to turn over the soil of petrified hearts, wayward hearts, sinful hearts, apathetic hearts, and hypocritical hearts. We have plenty of programs. Programs have not produced the power of God. We have personalities. Churches are filled with personalities who use their charisma to minister, but that does not mean they are empowered by God. 

I long for the power and presence of God right here in Fritch, TX. I know there is more. So much more than routine services. So much more than religious routines. So much more than going through the motions week after week. So much more than swapping church members with other churches. There is evangelism, spiritual awakening, revival, times of refreshing, and the people of God turning in repentance. There is more. 

I had an experience in 1995 that changed my life. A revival was going on in Pensacola, FL and a couple invited me to drive them from east Texas to the revival paying all my expenses. I could not pass up that opportunity. I had heard about that revival. I was not prepared for what I experienced. We arrived on the church property around 4:00 p.m. Hundreds of people were standing in line waiting for the doors to open for the service at 6:00 p.m. When I say hundreds, I mean close to one thousand people. The next day we showed up much earlier. 

Months later I took several members from our church. We drove through the night and got to the church property at 6:00 a.m. Dozens of people were already waiting in line prepared to stay there for 12 hours until the doors opened. It was in August in Florida. That meant hot summer temperatures and high humidity. We endured and it was well worth it. They opened the doors at 6:00 p.m. and the 2,500 seat sanctuary filled up in minutes. The worship was intense. The preaching was hard and biblical. The invitation was like a wave rolling onto the beach. Hundreds upon hundreds ran to the altar. Some to be saved, some to repent, and others to receive prayer. There were sights that I will never forget. It created a hunger that I have not shaken in 30 years. 

I yearn and hunger for God to do it again right here. Right here in the Panhandle of Texas. Up here in the big country. In this small community. In this small church. In all the churches. In this remote part of Texas. We must have God. I am hungry. More hungry for this than I have been to see God move in a very long time. 

There is a lot of plowing in prayer that must take place first. Prayer has to precede the coming move of God. Private prayer. Groups praying together. Praying in worship services. Pastors praying together. May prayer permeate the culture to turn back the darkness and precede the glorious moving of God.