Prayer Room

This past weekend our church engaged in its first prayer vigil in some time. It was the work of many individuals and the hand of the Lord that created and completed this event. I spoke to many of you before the vigil, that through this endeavor, remarkable growth, collective and individual development, fellowship, and peace can be found. We won't realize the full benefits and blessings for weeks, months, or years. However, I can tell you what some of the immediate results were:

1) One individual eagerly signed up to come pray. After escorting this person up to a prayer station, and they got comfortable, this person remarked,"I've never done this before. What do I do?" I am confident this person has prayed oftentimes previously, but obviously not this way. To set aside a period of time in complete solitude to not only come to God with petitions and adoration, but also with open ears, heart, and mind, can be immensely changing. The opportunity to completely sense the presence of God not only brings peace, comfort, hope, and security, but also a renewed thirst to sense it again and again. That thirst changes lives, families, communities, and churches.

2) Just this morning, Pastor Jeff described how his time in the Prayer Room, changed his entire approach to the message he delivered today. Jeff prays for weeks leading up to each sermon asking for the right message, the right tenor of the sermon and those that will hear it. But it was during that time he spent Friday night that God revealed the final piece for Jeff to hear. Because of his patience to wait on God and attentiveness in listening for Him, the message evolved into one that our church obviously needed to hear to continue His work in our families and communities. That short time in prayer now affected all those in attendance this morning, and then to all those who took the sermon home or to work, and to those who listen on the internet. Pretty far-reaching, huh?

3) For me, what I took away was two-fold. During the days leading up to the prayer vigil, I spent time praying not only for those coming, but also for people to come. About mid-week, I realized that we only had enough pray-ers to fill 12 hours rather than 24. I kept praying for God to send more. For about a day, I harbored some selfish disappointment. I was unloading on God the evening before the vigil and He told me that I was all screwed up and to be incredibly thankful and grateful for all those who signed up, to the church for opening their doors, for those who prayed at home, for an onset to a burgeoning ministry at Chapel Hill. I felt horrible and immediately knew that He was, as usual, on target. That evening came, and I spent some incredible time with some individuals that I have not gotten to know on a more intimate level and witnessed some amazing people come together for the sole purpose of furthering God's kingdom. I was fortunuate to be able to spend as much time as I wanted in the Prayer Room following the vigil with no one else at the church. The sun was just peeking over the horizon and I stood looking out a window in the Upper Room thankful to God for this church and its people.

During my time in the Prayer Room, God began to reveal that blessing we have in that room. The church set that space aside and left the door unlocked so that all may enter and feel His presence all encompassing at any time. It is a holy place to unload your burdens, bring your petitions, and thank God for all His mercy and grace.

We can keep company with God anywhere anytime, but I encourage you to take the opportunity and spend time alone with Him in the Prayer Room during the week. Take an hour during lunch on Tuesday, or before work on Wednesday, or on your way to the gym on Thursday, or before picking the kids up from school on Monday and further enhance your own personal prayer life.