Start Drawing Circles
THE CIRCLE MAKER – Part 1
Suggested Reading: The Circle Maker, Chapters 1-4
Prayer: A Working
Definition
Prayer is constant
communion with God.
An a2 Core Value
Pray Hard: We
will pray like everything depends on God and work like everything depends on
us. (Eph
6:19-20; Col 4:2-6)
"Human history
belongs to the intercessors. It belongs
to those who believe and pray the future into being.
History doesn't belong to the people we naturally think it
belongs to. It doesn't belong to the
rich, wealthy or powerful. It doesn't
belong to armies, corporations or global media empires. History belongs to the intercessors. It belongs to those who pray the future into being…"
— Walter Wink
“A praying life feels like our
family mealtimes because prayer is all
about relationship. It’s intimate
and hints at eternity. We don’t
think about communication or words but about whom we are talking with. Prayer
is simply the medium through which we experience
and connect to God…” — Paul Miller
Through
prayer we…
…come
to know God and understand His heart;
…align
ourselves with God’s purposes and plans;
…access
God’s incredible power!
James 5:16b (NKJ), The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
avails much.
(MSG), “The
prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned
with.”
“Bold prayers honor God, and God
honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest
prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible to
you, they are insulting to God. Why? Because they don’t require divine
intervention. But ask God to part the Red Sea or make the sun stand still or
float an iron axhead, and God is moved to omnipotent action.” — Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker
“There is nothing God loves more
than keeping promises, answering prayers, performing miracles, and fulfilling
dreams. That is who He is. That is what He does. And the bigger the circle we
draw, the better, because God gets more glory. The greatest moments in life are
the miraculous moments when human impotence and divine omnipotence intersect —
and they intersect when we draw a circle around the impossible situations in
our lives and invite God to intervene.” — Mark Batterson, The
Circle Maker
What Is Your Jericho?
Joshua 5:13 (NIV84), Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man
standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him
and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
Joshua 5:14-15 (ESV), And he said, “No; but I am the
commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have
come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him,
“What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of
the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for
the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Joshua 6:1-5 (NIV84), Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of
the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along
with its king and its fighting men. 3 March
around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns
in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times,
with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them
sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then
the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man
straight in.”
Hebrews
11:30 (NIV84), By
faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for
seven days.
Three Simple Thoughts About Prayer:
1. Prayer begins with the realization that God is large and
in charge! It begins with an awareness of God’s sovereignty and a
heart surrendered in worship.
See Joshua 5:13-15; Jeremiah 32:17; Acts 4:23-31
2. Prayer is strengthened by a compelling awareness that God is
actually for you!
“It is absolutely imperative at the
outset that you come to terms with this simple yet life-changing truth: God is
for you. If you don’t believe that, then you’ll pray small timid prayers; if
you do believe it, then you’ll pray big audacious prayers.” — Mark Batterson, The Circle
Maker
Joshua 6:1-2 (NIV84), Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of
the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along
with its king and its fighting men. (See Joshua 1:9 and Jeremiah 29:11)
Joshua 1:9 (NLT), This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be
afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you
go.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV84), “For I know the plans I have for
you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Romans 8:31-32 (NIV84), What, then, shall we
say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He
who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also,
along with him, graciously give us all things?
3. Sometimes we need to “pray circles” around our biggest dreams,
greatest fears and the promises of God. This means praying specifically,
intentionally, consistently and passionately that God’s
purpose and plan will be accomplished! (Joshua 6:1-5; Matthew 20:29-34)
What is your Jericho?
What are you desperate for God to do in your life?
________________________________________
21-Day Prayer
Challenge
Use the space below to identify a time
and place you will pray daily. Identify a
specific person, promise or problem you will “circle” in prayer daily
for the next 21 days. Keep this appointment every day and see what God does in,
through and for you. Please share stories of answers to prayer by emailing us
at info@a2church.org.
My Prayer Time: ________________
My Prayer Place: ________________
The Person,
Promise or Problem I will circle:
___________________________________
___________________________________
The
Challenge Results: ___________________________
_______________________________________________
_________________________________________
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