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Greetings Canada’s Kneeling Army, I pray that you are prospering even as your soul prospers! This First Friday, May 2008, remember as you head to your prayer closets that this is a strategic year of new beginnings – the year of “the gate” – where the Body of Christ is crossing over into a new era; where El Shaddai is calling us to a place of greater obedience and faith. Friends, I’m aware that you are facing real opposition in your area of the vineyard and I also realize that things may appear a bit lean. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you, as I remind myself daily, that our God specializes in impossible situations. Let’s take a quick look at Luke’s gospel. In chapter 5 we discover Jesus giving a lesson on deep water faith. The scenario goes something like this: A multitude has gathered, and is glued to every word that Jesus is saying, but something appears a little frustrating. It doesn’t take long for us to learn that the “fishermen” had abandoned their boats and were washing their nets. This, of course, indicates that they caught no fish to take home, had no money for food, and were in hot water! Then we have an “ah hah!” moment! Jesus gets into the boat on his timetable and speaks from his heavenly script. Intercessors, notice what Jesus orders our friend Simon Peter to do. He tells him to “put out a little” (verse 3). I can only imagine how Simon Peter felt listening to the word of God proclaimed – the pure, unadulterated truth. In most of today’s churches, Christ would have been labeled a “fanatic”, and an “over the top” sort of guy. We do not know for sure what Simon Peter’s thoughts were, but we do know that after he was commanded to launch out into the deep and “let down your net”, he complied. As scripture indicates, that one little word, “nevertheless”, tells us that Peter started going deeper and the boat began to sink from the monster catch for which he required the assistance of others to help him retrieve. Kneeling Army, we at Canada In Prayer have provided a Prayer Guide for the month of May, and I am asking you this month to “put out a little”. Let us believe Almighty God for His promises to be fulfilled in our nation. In scripture, God gives us the following four promises: 1. “I will build my house” (Isaiah 2:1-4; Matt: 16:18) 2. “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:17) 3. “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6) 4. “He will send a river from His throne” (Ezekiel 47; Rev. 22:1). May is shaping up to be a spiritually strategic time, as Canada’s prayer community is in the middle of the 40-Day Prayer Ramp, the US has it’s National Day of Prayer, and the Global Day of Prayer takes place. Friends, we are being summoned locally, nationally and internationally to “put out a little”. Please do not miss this opportunity to be a part of bringing in “the catch”, remembering always, as you intercede in faith, to keep your eyes on the promise and not on the problem. My dear friends, the promise is always greater than the problem! Putting out a little, Brian Warren Executive Director, CIP P.S: Please join in agreement for our government, as they are now reviewing the traditional practice of reciting prayers at the opening of each business day of the Canadian Legislature. Please pray that God will sustain and re-establish prayer within our Legislative Assembly. P.P.S: We do value your continual partnership, as well as your feedback. If you are being strengthened and encouraged by this First Friday labour of love, please share with us your thoughts, testimonies, and what you have been experiencing Almighty God doing in your prayer closets and prayer groups. We celebrate your faithfulness and look forward to hearing from each of you in your regions from coast to coast to coast! |