I just returned from IHOP (International House of Prayer) located in Kansas City. Pastor Philip Anderson along with Ryan Hansen and I set out on our 500 mile journey at 6:00am last Tuesday. Our heart in going was to simply pray and seek God. I personally went to pray about strategy but I discovered in KC that prayer is the strategy.
Live worship and prayer has been going non stop 24/7 since 1999. It was life changing to experience. I experienced a culture that had been developed over all these years. Things were done with great excellence which would lead to powerful times of being led by the Spirit in prayer and worship. I appreciated how well The Global Prayer Room was governed. So much passion goes into the detail of seeking God. One of the scriptures they had on the wall has been burning in me since I left. Leviticus chapter 6 says the fire on the altar must be kept burning, it must not go out. It must burn continuously. This culture of prayer and worship really impacted my life. The focus is on HIM 24/7 and it is hard to find words to describe.
During our many hours in prayer God was speaking to me concerning The Grove and the Midwest Region. I believe that God wants to establish His kingdom in a mighty way among us. This work of God will be visible to the region, even the nations. He is mighty to save and his love will be experienced as this work is established. God wants a people here that are desperately depending on Him. Seeking him like Christ did with his life. Prayer and seeking after the Lord's heart is a foundation. King David was know to be a man after God's own heart. It was his intimacy with God that gave him the boldness to fight and kill Goliath. God has been speaking to us prophetically about many of these things in the recent years. The key for us to move forward is to seek him and be men and women after His own heart.
God invites you to participate in raising up a movement that depends on Him and makes disciples. He is asking you to be part of creating a culture of excellence in prayer and a heart after Him. I believe that God is going to unite local churches in this region to pursue him as one church! We will be part of making history together to see his church unite.
Be encouraged and press into God like you never have before. If there is warfare against you right now I believe it is connected to what He desires to do in this Midwest Region. What he wants to do in your life is bigger than our Sunday gatherings. But our gatherings are crucial for unity and depending on Him. God is mighty to save and we will see many souls come into the kingdom in this region.
As the Lord gives us strategy we will develop it together. Kinda puts a whole new meaning to our Conquer the Land Strategy Meetings starting March 7th.
Please devote yourself to keeping the fire of God burning in your heart, the grove and this region.
