A Call to Prayer
By Ryan Dawson
Any great work of God has prayer as its seed. When men and women pray, and really pray, God mysteriously moves heaven and earth. We see this in the story of Nehemiah. He was a man committed to prayer and when he heard the news of the broken walls in Jerusalem he fell on his knees and prayed for God to act. He continued to carry this burden for his people and the City of David to God throughout the winter months. After four long months where God must have seemed slow and silent to Nehemiah, a door was opened. Nehemiah was given great favour with the Persian king and he was given the sanction and the resources to begin the rebuild. But the City renewal project started with prayer.
As a church we have a great work of God before us and we must remember that success will come not because we deserve it, but because God is a God of grace and He longs to pour out His Spirit. I believe that as we go to our Heavenly Father in personal and corporate prayer He will hear us and respond to our prayers. Zechariah 4:6 reminds us that success is… “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,” says the Lord. This is true for us and the Church at large in our city.
This Sunday marks the beginning of City on Our Knees, a city-wide prayer initiative across the National Capital Region. Churches and Christians will be gathering for a week of dedicated prayer for our City using the theme of “Lift Up the Light”. You can find out more information and specific prayer requests at https://cityonourknees.ca.
We also have our Sequoia Prayer Gathering on Sunday night (Jan. 15) from 6:30-8:30pm at Ottawa Christian School, and we are encouraging everyone to join as we meet with God in prayer.
Here are some things we can be praying about in the days ahead:
• Praise God for His ongoing grace and love.
• Thank God for the cross and the forgiveness we have in Jesus Christ.
• Ask God for a hunger for His Word and the faith to stand on His promises.
• Ask God to break your heart with the things that break His.
• Confess your indifference and independence and ask God to “renew a right Spirit in you.” Psalm 51
• Pray for a spirit of joy, freedom, renewal and revival at Sequoia and all the churches in our City.
• Pray for God to open doors and reveal His plans for the Impact Centre vision.
• Ask for opportunities to share the love of Christ this week with people in your life.
• Ask God to bless our city and draw people to Himself in great numbers.
• Pray for students, teachers, seniors and those who support them.
• Pray for first responders and our health care workers.
• Pray for our City leaders that God would grant them great wisdom.
Please also spend some time in your Impact Community or Ministry Groups lifting these requests, and anything else the Lord puts on your heart. God responds to His people when we pray so let’s believe that God will move in powerful ways as we seek Him.
Praying for you and with you,
Blessings, Ryan
Any great work of God has prayer as its seed. When men and women pray, and really pray, God mysteriously moves heaven and earth. We see this in the story of Nehemiah. He was a man committed to prayer and when he heard the news of the broken walls in Jerusalem he fell on his knees and prayed for God to act. He continued to carry this burden for his people and the City of David to God throughout the winter months. After four long months where God must have seemed slow and silent to Nehemiah, a door was opened. Nehemiah was given great favour with the Persian king and he was given the sanction and the resources to begin the rebuild. But the City renewal project started with prayer.
As a church we have a great work of God before us and we must remember that success will come not because we deserve it, but because God is a God of grace and He longs to pour out His Spirit. I believe that as we go to our Heavenly Father in personal and corporate prayer He will hear us and respond to our prayers. Zechariah 4:6 reminds us that success is… “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,” says the Lord. This is true for us and the Church at large in our city.
This Sunday marks the beginning of City on Our Knees, a city-wide prayer initiative across the National Capital Region. Churches and Christians will be gathering for a week of dedicated prayer for our City using the theme of “Lift Up the Light”. You can find out more information and specific prayer requests at https://cityonourknees.ca.
We also have our Sequoia Prayer Gathering on Sunday night (Jan. 15) from 6:30-8:30pm at Ottawa Christian School, and we are encouraging everyone to join as we meet with God in prayer.
Here are some things we can be praying about in the days ahead:
• Praise God for His ongoing grace and love.
• Thank God for the cross and the forgiveness we have in Jesus Christ.
• Ask God for a hunger for His Word and the faith to stand on His promises.
• Ask God to break your heart with the things that break His.
• Confess your indifference and independence and ask God to “renew a right Spirit in you.” Psalm 51
• Pray for a spirit of joy, freedom, renewal and revival at Sequoia and all the churches in our City.
• Pray for God to open doors and reveal His plans for the Impact Centre vision.
• Ask for opportunities to share the love of Christ this week with people in your life.
• Ask God to bless our city and draw people to Himself in great numbers.
• Pray for students, teachers, seniors and those who support them.
• Pray for first responders and our health care workers.
• Pray for our City leaders that God would grant them great wisdom.
Please also spend some time in your Impact Community or Ministry Groups lifting these requests, and anything else the Lord puts on your heart. God responds to His people when we pray so let’s believe that God will move in powerful ways as we seek Him.
Praying for you and with you,
Blessings, Ryan