I Need Prayer!

One of my favorite verses on prayer is Ephesians 6:19:

Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.  Ephesians 6:19 NASB95

If the great Apostle Paul can write a letter asking for prayer, certainly I can send a blog post asking for prayer. You can also request prayers in a letter, e-mail, or Facebook. We should all be causing internet servers to crash because of our shared requests.

During a time of extreme difficulty in my life, a Christian leader told me to stop asking for prayer so much. He explained that others were worried about me and my ability to lead.

I kept asking for prayer.

Paul writes in another letter that when he is weak, Jesus is strong:

 I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NASB95

I find it best in a crisis to proclaim my inadequacy by asking for prayer. First, it is true that I’m weak; and second, I need supernatural help. I think great leaders sense their lack and are not afraid to ask for help.

Jesus wants us to ask for help. Consider the significance that He names the Holy Spirit “the Helper.”

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.  John 14:16 NASB95

My prayer requests:

• A year ago, I believe the Lord told me to be a good steward of the teaching content that He had given me through 49 years of study.  www.GrantEdwardsAuthor.com now exists with books, seminars, and discipleship – evolving daily.

I need prayer!

• For 49 years, I have asked God that He would release healing miracles when I pray for the sick. I have many answers, but many haven’t been answered. I continue to pray. I believe God wants to send revival and that my prayers will help it come. I know He wants you to pray healing prayers too.

Would you pray with me?

• I have a desire to develop 100 what I call Third Generation disciplers in Springfield, Ohio. They have been discipled (first generation), they are a disciple (second generation), and they disciple one other person per year (third generation). One hundred disciples disciple 100 in 2021, again in 2022, again in 2023 – and the exponential impact of 100 then 200 then 400 then 800 then 1,600 then 3,200 then 6,400 then 12,800 then 25,600 then 51,200 then 102,400 — and our entire community is discipled in 11 years.

It is too easy to think that this is a ridiculous prayer request.

There is this odd scene in heaven where the prayers of the saints accumulate in the presence of God:

The Lamb broke the seventh seal and there was silence for a half-hour. Why the silence? What next? An angel came and stood before the altar holding a golden censer and much (a lot) incense was given to him. The smoke of the incense was the prayers of the saints (a lot of prayers of the saints).  Revelation 8:1-3 OGV

Our prayers and silence in heaven! They aren’t ignored, they are incense to God – and in His timing – all will be answered. I need prayer. You do too.