[Tuesday's Devotional] - Adventurous Prayer

Encouraged by some recent devotionals about prayer (a discipline I have to work on!) I recently read the story of how the '24-7' prayer ministry began and grew; the book "Red Moon Rising" by Peter Greig and Dave Roberts was being given out free at New Wine. It was awesome; I couldn't read it fast enough and for any folk who feel that prayer is boring I would invite you to read it too. I know this was an invitation given at M2O several years ago, along with a prayer room, and although I attended some prayer meetings I never actually read the book.

God spoke powerfully through the book about many things, including a season of change in my life and, outside, the winds of change began to blow physically as well as spiritually. I have been in my job for the last 2½ years and it has brought endless challenges, to say I have not enjoyed it would be an understatement, however God has told me to remain there. He spoke particularly clearly last summer when, knowing God had said 'wait', I was browsing the 'situations vacant' in the local paper.

Reading 'Red Moon Rising' the Lord confirmed a wind of change in my life, I believe 2013 will bring many huge changes. One quote from the book really stood out for me, written by Charles Studd, the youngest and most famous of three brothers all of whom played cricket for Eton, Cambridge University and Middlesex. Studd was born in Northants in1860 and died in the Belgian Congo aged 70; he gave up his passion for cricket for his greater passion:

"Some want to live within the sound
Of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop,
Within a yard of hell."

We all have our unique spiritual giftings, quite often our past misery becomes our ministry. In developing our prayer life we can intercede for those who are a yard from hell as we embark on the most amazing adventure, without even having to leave home, unless of course he calls us to.

If you feel you are not a natural prayer warrior, take heart, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26.

Dawn Milward