The Coronavirus epidemic has upended our norms and brought us to our knees. While I share in the disquieting concerns that we all feel I am also grateful for the urgent call to prayer that is echoing on countless fronts. I hope this renewed interest will not serve as just another uptick of desperation but rather a deeply-valued lifestyle of spiritual devotion.

Catapulting Past Average

One of my mentors, Peter Lord, has often said, “The average Christian prays out of crisis or from a grocery list—period.” He points out the inconsistency of approach and man-centered motivation that tends to make prayer sporadic at best. After the attacks on 9/11/01, church buildings were filled with desperate prayer. Months later, the prayer meeting was once again the least-attended meeting of the week. It is human nature – self-reliant human nature.

One of my mentors, Peter Lord, has often said, “The average Christian prays out of crisis or from a grocery list—period.” He points out the inconsistency of approach and man-centered motivation that tends to make prayer sporadic at best.

Robbie Symons, Sr. Pastor of Hope Church in Oakville, Ontario and a national leader for The 6:4 Fellowship, noted in a recent interview that “when persecution comes, 95% of all that we tend to focus on in the church today will become immediately irrelevant—but, we will undoubtedly be pressing into the power of prayer and the ministry of the word.” Even now, in the midst of this pandemic, we have seen that many of the tools that have become so “necessary” to our modern gatherings might not be so essential after all.

“When persecution comes, 95% of all that we tend to focus on in the church today will become immediately irrelevant—but, we will undoubtedly be pressing into the power of prayer and the ministry of the word.” Pastor Robbie Symons

Desperation or Devastation

Some years ago, a pastor from Uganda announced, “My message to America is desperation or devastation – take your pick.” That got my attention! In the following days I pondered his declaration. Desperation usually comes through crisis, but could it also come via cultivation? In our coaching groups for pastors (The Praying Leader) we emphasize the importance of cultivating desperation as a lifestyle. God uses crisis to bring us to a new desperation but He expects us to learn from the crisis to cultivate a deep and enduring character of dependence.

“My message to America is desperation or devastation – take your pick.” A Ugandan Pastor

An Essential Reset

Some politicians have declared, “Never waste a good crisis.” I earnestly hope that this present catastrophe will not be wasted on only a temporary interest in prayer but will bear the fruit of a necessary and biblical reset of how we pattern our lives and function as the people of God.

Some politicians have declared, “Never waste a good crisis.” I earnestly hope that this present catastrophe will not be wasted on only a temporary interest in prayer but will bear the fruit of a necessary and biblical reset of how we pattern our lives and function as the people of God.

A Core Conviction of Leadership

In my book, Old Paths, New Power, I explain the importance of pastors coming to a place of conviction about the essential priority of leading the church in prayer. To turn this crisis into new conviction a pastor must conclude that his church must become a true “house of prayer for all nations” and that he must personally lead it there.

Pastor John Franklin does an excellent job of explaining how the Apostles led the church in prayer. He notes that when Acts 6:4 emphasized their devotion of “prayer and the ministry of the word” it was not about their personal habits but their public leadership in prayer. He notes that prayer is mentioned five times prior to Acts 6:4 (Acts 1:14. 1:24, 2:42, 3:1, 4:23-31). Then he writes, “Amazingly, every single verse pictured the Apostles leading others in prayer; not once is their personal prayer life recorded. In every instance we see the Apostles involved in leading the people of God to pray together; therefore, these stories confirm that Acts 6:4 speaks of a corporate ministry of prayer.” [i] Let us pray that this pandemic will become a reset of an enduring priority in the heart of every pastor, resulting in a conviction that prayer must be a primary, passionate, and public requirement of biblical, Spirit-empowered leadership in the church.

A Contagious Culture of Prayer

In our 90-Day coaching for pastors we dig deep into the difference between prayer activity in the church and a real prayer culture that shapes every dimension of the ministry. This is an important time to prayerfully seek the Lord on how each of us will become more earnestly engaged in the prayer efforts of the church. I also pray that these days of isolation will stir a new hunger for community and the biblical importance of consistently praying together with others.

A Compelling Compulsion to Pray

Ultimately, let us ask the Lord to reset our motivation for prayer during this pandemic by setting our sights on the importance of praying out of conviction, not just from crisis. Let’s ask the Lord to teach us to pray, as a passion, not just in pandemic. Over the years, I have learned that the only enduring motivation for prayer is that God is worthy to be sought. Let’s hope that this motivation will compel us to consistent intimacy with God that leads to the ongoing fulfillment of His purposes in our lives.

Over the years, I have learned that the only enduring motivation for prayer is that God is worthy to be sought.

A Biblical Hope for Revival

Throughout history, God has used difficult times to prompt extraordinary prayer. Many of the seasons we identify as “revival” occurred in years of societal crisis. Dr A. T. Pierson once said, “There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.” [ii] While this is a moment of real heartache, it can also become an occasion of biblical hope, if we will earnestly reset our hearts to seek His face in full repentance, surrender, and obedience. Norman Grubb, in his extraordinary book, Continuous Revival, notes that “Revival is in essence obedience to the Holy Spirit.” As we walk through the new realities sparked by this pandemic, let us obey the Spirit toward a new resolve to seek God with enduring passion. I believe He will birth a fresh hope for a supernatural advancement of the gospel through a praying church.

While this is a moment of real heartache, it can also become an occasion of biblical hope, if we will earnestly reset our hearts to seek His face in full repentance, surrender, and obedience.

©Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

 

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As a senior pastor for over two decades, Daniel Henderson brought prayer-based revitalization to numerous churches. Now, as the President of Strategic Renewal, Daniel is dedicating his full-time efforts to help congregations across the country and world experience renewal. Daniel is sought after for his expertise in leading corporate prayer and has equipped hundreds of pastors through the Praying Leader Coaching Experience.  Daniel has authored numerous books on biblical leadership and prayer including, Old Paths, New Power and Transforming Prayer: How Everything Changes When You Seek God’s Face.

 

[i] https://www.strategicrenewal.com/2014/11/20/5-reasons-christians-must-pray-together/

[ii] http://www.revival-library.org/index.php/catalogues-menu/revival-miscellanies/revival-prayer/prayer-and-revival