A prayer challenge for the new year
A curious quickening and the freedom in dying
December 12, 2022
Pastor Todd Smith and the North Georgia Revival Challenge
January 30, 2023
The ushering in of a New Year is a perfect time to reflect on the last year with gratitude, and to commit to going deeper with the Lord in the coming one.
A few months back I shared how the Lord prompted me to “up my game” in my prayer life by praying fifteen minutes a day in the Spirit, by the clock I must confess that at times it has felt tedious, even rote. Other times, I lingered long after my timer went off because I didn’t want to leave.
But regardless of how it “feels,” The discipline of praying in tongues fifteen minutes a day has had a remarkable impact on my faith and also in my ability to strategically pray for individuals and situations. Not only that, but I believe there is a connection between this and the evangelism opportunities I have had.
I am challenging myself afresh and would like to invite you to join me as we kick off this New Year by committing to an intensified prayer experience.
Perhaps you want to commit to one hour a day in prayer. Perhaps a half hour is more realistic of where you are now. Perhaps you would like to join a weekly prayer group or even a daily one that meets before work. Maybe you would like to set goals in the discipline of fasting.
Whatever your personal goals are, a few things to keep in mind:
- A commitment to one week or 21 days is a good starting point. Indefinite or longer goals up front can lead to abandoning mission if you miss a day or two
- Intentionally keeping a prayer journal and writing out the names of people, cities, and nations to pray for is helpful
- Trouble getting started? The Lord’s Prayer is a blueprint for how we ought to pray, and a wonderful springboard into our time of praise and supplication
- The tendency of the mind to wander during personal prayer time is normal. Thankfully, the mind can be trained to refocus
I am looking forward to joining more corporate times of prayer as a group from my church and several from the community regularly meet at 6 AM every day. But I am also looking forward to those personal quiet times with the Lord in which I can just listen to what is on His heart.
What goals are you setting this year in terms of your walk with the Lord and spiritual disciplines?
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Photo credit: Michelangelo – The Creation of Adam. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71427942
Emily Tomko
Emily writes with fierce compassion and a deep desire to see people freed from the miry clay of this world and walking in the truth. Emily is available to minister at women’s retreats and youth functions, college fellowships, and business women meetings.
4 Comments
Hello, Emily! I shared your post on Facebook. 🙂
Hi Lee Ann, good to hear from you and thanks so much for sharing it! Blessings!
This is lovely. We started to read the bible everyday for the year. We are on week 6! We keep each other accountable.It has been such a blessing.
Thank you for the reminder.
Emilia, thanks so much for “stopping by!” It is so exciting to hear all the groups encouraging each other in bible reading and prayer right now – and along with that, the revival fires sweeping the nation in pockets (Asbury College, North Georgia, Lee University, et al). God is faithful to show up!