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A Prayer for a Greater Vision of God

June 25, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise” (Psalm 96:1-4a).

We are in a time of incredible change all over the earth. God is up to something big, and in the midst of it all we need a greater vision of Who He is. He wants to bring us into a new perspective—out of confusion, fear, loneliness, hopelessness and all the negatives that may threaten us during seasons of change.

A few years ago my husband and I were staying for a few days in a beautiful home hidden out in the country on a water inlet in eastern Virginia. One breathtaking evening we took a telescope and walked out on the dock overlooking the water. He then carefully positioned the telescope so that it squarely faced the moon. I looked through it and was absolutely fascinated when I saw the moon with my own eyes. I could see the craters on the face of the moon so clearly. We were both quite impressed, and I thought to myself:

“God is so big! He is so much greater than any of us give Him credit for. Here I am looking with amazement at the craters on the moon, but just think about the entire universe and how He is so much greater yet. He is mighty and beyond all comprehension.”  

God wants to give us a greater vision of Himself in the midst of the changes we are facing personally. He wants to breath His life into us. We need the breath of God to blow on our lives because people all around us are looking for life. There is so much sickness and death in this world. God wants to transform us as He brings revelation to our heart and as we pray, think, and talk about His greatness.

The Bible is our manual to help us to get through difficulty times. In fact, the book of Revelation is our prayer manual for the end-times. God wants to change us through praying, reading, and speaking His Word. He wants to bring us to a new place in order that we might bring others higher. God wants to breathe in our life so that we can breathe His life into others until it overflows. John 10:10 in the Amplified Bible says:

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” 

We must adjust to something higher and bigger than we ever dreamed possible. God is preparing us right now for a worldwide harvest. He is training us through struggle. He is in the process of positioning us for an end-times revival. It is time for the Church to come to life and get a greater vision of God. He has a dream for each one of personally and for His church corporately. He wants to breathe life into impossible dreams. He is the God of the supernatural and the impossible.

Heaven is struck with the majesty of God. There is glory available for the Church. So few have grabbed hold of the fullness available to us. The problem is that we get so caught up in our problems down here on earth that we miss out on what heaven is all about. The thief has destroyed and stolen what is ours. Many of us have lost the power to be astonished. We can be so astonished by the moon, but what about heaven?

It is time for intercessors to arise. We must understand the supremacy, sovereignty, and glory of God. We must have a greater vision of God in this hour. We must live the dream that is Gods and let it come to life. Warfare is not about taking on the enemy but releasing the majesty of God wherever we go. It is time to release the good news on earth through the avenues God has given each one of us personally. We’re made for heaven and for living heaven here on earth. We need to sing, dance, and proclaim the glory of God.

A Prayer for a Greater Vision of God

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” (Psalm 95:1-6).

The following is a prayer for a greater vision of God in your own life. Pray it often and ask God to make you one who helps others to see His greatness.

Lord, I praise you for inviting me into your eternal purpose. I thank you that you are working out everything in conformity with the purpose of your will (Ephesians 1:11). You are the master strategist. Give me a greater vision of your purpose for my life. Awaken my heart and establish your reign in my life. Out of Your glorious riches strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being and give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation that I may know you better (Ephesians 3:16-17). Make me fully alive to your destiny in my life.

I pray that you will give me a greater vision of who you are. I acknowledge my dependence on you and thank You that impossibilities in my life give you freedom to work. Your mighty power is shown through my weakness. Your are positioning me for your end-time harvest. You breathe your life into my impossibilities. [Name a difficulty in your life.] Help me to walk in a new level of trust in You. You have plans to prosper me and to give me hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). You promise me an abundant life (John 10:10). Help me to understand Your supremacy, Your sovereignty, and Your glory. Help me to align with You and make Your presence the central theme of my life. “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty—Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is mighty” (Psalm 93:1-4). In Jesus name, amen.

Watch the following videos and meditate on the greatness of God. Let’s learn to declare the glory of the risen Lord everywhere we go.

God Declares His Glory
The Awe Factor of God

“Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns.’ The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy” (Psalm 96:9-12).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC)
deb@intercessorsarise.org
www.intercessorsarise.org

Prayers from the Book of Revelation

May 5, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

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The following are prayers from the book of Revelation. We recommend that you pray these hymns in your personal and corporate prayer life.

“When you pray the hymns of the Revelation, you pray with all of heaven, going before God as He sits on His throne and joining with Him in worship.” Wesley and Stacey Campbell

To anticipate His coming – Revelation 1:4-7.
A prayer for overcomers – Revelation 2:7-8, 11-12, 17-18, 26-29; 3:5-7, 12, 21-22.
In praise of His holiness – Revelation 4:8-11.
To the Lamb – Revelation 5:8-14.
A prayer for the persecuted – Revelation 6:9-11.
In praise of the end-time harvest – Revelation 7:9-17.
In expectation of His future reign – Revelation 11:15-18.
A prayer of victory over the accuser – Revelation 12:10-12.
The praise song of Moses – Revelation 15:2-4.
In praise of the One who is just and true – Revelation 16:1, 5-7.
The wedding song – Revelation 19:1-8.
Come, Lord Jesus – Revelation 22:12-17, 20.

The Urgency of the Hour

March 7, 2016 Debbie 1 Comment

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purposes for me” (Psalm 57:1-2).

The hour is urgent. I remember when a devastating earthquake and huge tsunami that recently struck Japan. Massive walls of water caused terrified residents to flee the coast as houses and cars were washed away in a moment. Floodwaters shoved floating debris inland hitting highways, bridges, and homes. Heavy trucks were pushed aside by the power of those waves. Air travel and trains were shut down. It was the biggest earthquake in a century, so strong that even buildings in central Tokyo, 230 miles southwest of the quake swayed.

Survivors huddled on the airport roof and a flaming refinery like an inferno sent up huge columns of thick black smoke. Others waved white sheets from the upper floors of buildings. Residents ran into the streets as they attempted to leave the city. Two huge cargo vessels were tipped on their sides in one port. Thousands lost their lives suddenly in this enormous disaster.

The hour in Japan was urgent.

Most of us sense in our hearts that we are moving towards an unusual time in all of world history. No longer are days as they were in the past. As I read about this Japan disaster, I thought to myself, “This is what I would read in fiction books.” What you read only in fiction books is now happening right before our eyes. We cannot escape it. It’s here and only going to increase as time goes on. But we as God’s children do not have to live in fear or defeat. Instead we need to move to a higher place in God.

We need to ascend the heights in prayer and find that place of peace in the center of God. He will fulfill His purpose for us. He is our protection and refuge in the storm.

We have had a multitude of tornados in America, and I live right on the border of Kansas. This state is situated along “tornado alley” where there are a lot of tornadoes. Of course tornados hit almost anywhere and any time, because the weather patterns are changing everywhere. There seems to be no certainty in anything anywhere, but God is stable and sure. We need not fear. He is our rock, our refuge, and stronghold.

So just as I will run downstairs into our tornado shelter if bad weather approaches, we can run to God when storm clouds threaten our world. Jesus is our safe place. He is stronger than any cement fortress. He wants us to prepare and rise up to live where He lives during the end times. There is no more time to sit on the fence. He wants to shake us out of complacency right where we are. There is always higher ground to ascend to in our prayer life, devotion, and intimacy with God.

As in the Days of Noah

“For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark” (Matthew 24:38).

As in the days of Noah, people are living life as if no tsunami is coming. But look, it is happening before our eyes. Life goes on and so many want to live in denial and pretend that Jesus is not coming soon. They continue to live as if there is no seriousness about the hour in which we live. Eat, drink, and be merry. I remember a drama our evangelistic teams would do overseas many years ago called “Eat – Drink – Sleep”. Individuals would take turns visualizing eating, drinking, and sleeping and in the end show the futility of life if that is all there is!

There had to be a purpose to it all.

It’s time to build our ark for the storm is already upon us. Intercessors, it’s time to rise up and ascend the heights in prayer. God will help you to build your ark (prepare for the future). Others will continue to question and even mock those who are preparing and positioning themselves for the future. Our every step is vitally important to God. A few years ago, one step led me to a might fall down the stairs in my own home which I considered a safe place. We must consider our every step. We must learn to live in the center of God’s peace and presence as the storm clouds come.

This is the most fruitful time in all of human history if we would only learn to get onto God’s wavelength and agenda. The day of the Lord is at hand. It’s a new exciting day if we will only shake off the way of life of the past and live in the now. Regardless of age or nation, we are all called to live in this present season fully and freely for God. This will be the best of this life. As we live for eternity and for God, we will be most joyous and free. As we try to hang onto the past way of life, we will be most afraid. It is a new day.

What Can We Do, and How Can We Live?

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Rather than trying to escape and hide, perhaps there is a better way to live in the end times as the return of the Lord draws near. A few years ago during an ordinary morning, I was upstairs running to answer the door to receive a new computer for writing these articles. I missed the top step of a very steep stairway, hit my heel, and begin to fall. As I tried to regain my composer on the second or third step, I begin to fall forward. I fell the rest of the way down the stairs and landed on my wrist. As I lay at the bottom of the stairs, I looked at my twisted wrist and knew that I couldn’t walk or even attempt to stand on my foot. My husband and I went to the emergency room of the hospital and I knew that my life would change. I was in an emergency situation and there was no turning back.

You and I are in a world emergency. The financial crisis in the world alone should make us realize that God wants to get our attention. He is shaking everything that can be shaken. Most of us have been in a personal shaking of God’s own design. Falling down the stairs and experiencing a broken right wrist and right heel has given me a more urgent look at life. Hour after hour and day after day I was able to look more seriously at the situation in life. I was helpless, and was able to see my desperate need of God in my most urgent hours.

God wants us to get into His way of thinking for the very final years of human history before His return. He wants us to prepare spiritually for the days that are upon us. In my own crisis of breaking bones, when I had to sit still I noticed how most people were rushing around. They were running here, there, and everywhere. But to be still and in tune with the living God was not fully practiced. It’s time that each one of us stops and listens to the Lord. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we do. The Lord wants our attention.

Here are some crucial ways to prepare:

1) Prepare in prayer – Prepare your own heart. Give yourself to prayer. Here at the mission’s base in Kansas City, I am sitting in the IHOP Global Prayer Room on an ordinary Thursday morning, and hundreds of young people are here praying and seeking God. Give yourself to prayer in a greater way. Worship God. The end times require it.

2) Get rid of the secondary things in your life – In emergencies, secondary things don’t matter. In my own personal crisis, I realized this very quickly. I could do nothing but seek God. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t cook, and I couldn’t walk, or write these letters. I was helpless. Secondary things did not matter. I was present in the emergency, and I was living to survive the hour. God brought me through with a wealth of understanding in my own heart regarding the end times. I am so thankful for my own personal shaking.

3) Begin praying for the emergencies around the world – As the end times unravels before us, emergencies will increase. God wants us to pray. The world is in crisis, and we must learn to pray for the crises around us locally, nationally, and internationally.

4) Live in God’s peace – He promises peace in every circumstance. He is our peace. When you feel frantic or uptight about the future, stop and center in on God. He is above and beyond all the tragedies. Your peace is an incredible testimony in hard times and will help those around you to find Him as their Prince of Peace. Jesus is alive! He wants to make Himself known in the midst of the present shaking.

As in the days of Noah, people will say what a fool we are to fast and pray, but when the rain starts falling, it’s too late. We must prepare in every way today. We must position ourselves before God daily in prayer and wait upon Him for direction. He will show us how to prepare in every other way – emotionally, physically, mentally, etc. When I fell and was in a helpless state I realized how very dependent I was on God for my very breath. I cannot take anything for granted.

We must check our spirit daily. I had to rest in God’s presence in order to not get discouraged when the trial seemed so long and endless. I had to also work physically by doing daily therapy on my wrist and foot as I was in the healing process. It seemed so lengthy and time-consuming but I had to do it. We must prepare physically for the last days. We must get out of debt. I had to position myself relationally. Friends helped me in my time of need. Numerous calls and emails, a word of encouragement at a difficult moment, and an electric blanket gift when I was so cold from lack of movement. This helped me in my moment of need.

Mentally I had to position my mind. This was not going to be a quick fix. It was a long-term trial. I had to say to myself, “Debbie, this will take time. Be patient. God is going to help me through this one day at a time.” And He did. We must be alert to God’s overall preparation in our lives, not only for ourselves but so that we can help others in the days ahead.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Preparing the Way for God’s Presence in Your City

February 23, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

“In every revival in history we read a similar testimony. When God responded to His people by sending His presence, He didn’t just work Himself into their routine religion – He overtook them by His power and glory! He left a trail of glorious chaos in His wake – weeping, repenting, rejoicing, reconciling, changing of habits, healing of families! Nobody wondered if Jesus was involved in these meetings. There was no doubt in their minds and no lack in their hearts.” Rhonda Hughey

God wants to invade our cities with His glorious and powerful presence. He wants to overtake our lives and change our plans and routines so that they are fully in line with His purposes. As we think about the Kingdom of God and preparing the way for God’s presence, the Sermon on the Mount is the greatest test to measure our personal success. How well do we live out the 8 beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12, and how well do we obey all of Matthew 5-7? Do we seek to obey God in every area of our life? Do we declare war on all compromise? This is the test. This is the great personal challenge we are all facing as we prepare for 24/7 prayer worldwide.

We are made for personal holiness and to intimately know God.

This is what is so fantastic about a House of Prayer. God begins to change you, and you begin to prioritize prayer in a way you have never done before or even imagined possible. Prayer begins to take center stage in your life. We experienced this at our 24/7 House of Prayer in Spain. Prayer suddenly became a priority. God began to deal with our lives – our speech, our time, our money, our relationships, and everything. There was an internal calling in God to love and follow Him with all our heart. God wanted our hearts and a life of complete obedience so that we would be perfect and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4). I was personally challenged to make quality decisions for holiness and to let God challenge my motives. I still have a long way to go, but at least I am on the road. It definitely is a life-long journey.

We were challenged in our prayer lives as the Holy Spirit begin to reinforce the importance of personal prayer and the absolute necessity of corporate prayer for the region. There was a lying down of secondary priorities for many. We were becoming very hungry for Jesus and His presence (Matthew 5:6). Through prayer and praise, we were welcoming God into the region. But many of us began to treasure the presence of God above all else, as we realized deep in our hearts the truth of John 15:5, “Without Me you can do nothing.”

You may be thinking, “Well, how do I even begin to think about a House of Prayer in my city?

The first step is to PRAY! You start by praying about a House of Prayer in your city. Even if you are not the one to start it, you can pray for others who will. Pray that God raises-up the right ones to begin, and you be the one who supports them in prayer. You may want start with a one-day, weekend, one-week, or one-month House of Prayer. In starting to plan towards a House of Prayer and beyond, there are several initial steps to pray and work towards. Every city needs a House of Prayer but there always needs to be a few who start it.

Think about some of the things you want to see accomplished. You want to create an unbroken string of focused intense prayer of entreaty to God for a week-end, week, or month. Now this may seem overwhelming at first, but you will be surprised at how God helps you. After all, it’s His idea and desire in the first place. You want to provide times and places for many to come together for prayer, asking the Lord to visit your city with His presence. Ultimately, you want to role out a red carpet for the King of Kings, inviting Him to come and do His work.

In Biblical and church history, united prayer has been proven to be the single lifesaver of a nation during times of danger and uncertainty. The Lord commands His people to seek His face
(2 Chronicles 7:14). God warned Noah concerning the flood even when there was no visible sign of it, not even a raindrop! He took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of His family (Hebrews 11:7).

It is difficult to predict exact results in a House of Prayer. The key is to be faithful in doing what God shows you to do in prayer. In our one-month House of Prayer in Spain, I believe that many were radically changed in their prayer lives, but there were also those who went back to their previous life styles, and life as usual. We have to be willing to pay the price for God’s continual presence in our city. It’s up to the Church to decide long-term how much of God they really want. It is important that churches and intercessors continue to pray and anticipate the ongoing development of God’s plan for the city while the discipline and blessing of united prayer is still fresh.

In Spain the glory of God was visible in the church of one of the most spiritually needy areas in the world, but the churches needed to continue asking God to help them develop the prayer movement in their area. Outsiders who came to help could not do it. It has to be those who live in that city.

The following results will follow when Christians do accept the challenge of continual united prayer in their city:

A united praying church develops that is pleasing to the Lord.
There is a breaking of the spiritual darkness that is invading the nation.
The church demonstrates an example of corporate prayer that challenges others in cities around the country to do the same.
A movement of the Spirit occurs, bringing salvation to thousands of people.
A continued growing movement of prayer arises, sweeping thousands of tired Christian into a fresh new vitality in Christ.

Imagine the future of your city when a 24/7 House of Prayer is operating day and night. God will pour out His spirit. There will be the manifest presence of the Lord scattering His enemies and ours. Signs, wonders, healing, and deliverance from demonic oppression will become the norm. There will be the revival of the church, and the church will grow. Sinners will come under conviction and will open their hearts to the message of the Gospel.

A House of Prayer welcomes God into your city! As I traveled from nation to nation as a young missionary on a ship, upon arrival in a new country we would often have a great welcome from the people of that city. In New Zealand we experienced a special dance form the Mori Indians. It was quite impressive, and one I will never forget! At the end of that unique tribal dance, the staff and crew of our ship received a beautiful lay of flowers around their neck and the Mori greeting of rubbing noses. It was quite a cultural experience for many of us, I can assure you. In other countries we had special greetings unique to each culture – everything from other cultural dances, to gifts, to songs and banners – that was a beautiful welcome to the ship into their unique city. It made all of us on board feel very welcome in that country and city. It made us deeply desire to stay there and interact with the people.

Perhaps God feels the same way.

When He sees His people eagerly praying for His presence – welcoming Him into their city day and night in prayer – He is delighted and wants to invade that city with His presence. When He sees your desperate cry for His presence, He feels like a welcomed and longed-for guest and wants to make your city His home.

Begin now to prepare the way for God’s presence. Start with increasing your prayer life and find a few others who have a vision for transformation in your city. Get together regularly, and God will lead you and add others to your prayer meetings. Transformation will occur in your lives, and you will become consumed with a hunger for God’s presence. The Lord will hear your cry for your city, and God will begin to move in your midst.

Early in our last month of 24/7 prayer in Spain, God made his presence known to us in a very special way. There was no rain outside and as I was having my prayer time early in the morning, I suddenly looked out the window and there in the sky surrounding the House of Prayer was a big, bright colorful rainbow. It was as if God was speaking to us and saying, “See, my desire is for citywide, united prayer, and I love your House of Prayer – Keep it up for I shall surely come with my presence – I have heard your cry.” It is time that we change our life styles and become desperate for God and His ways. It is time that we welcome God into our cities!

“To be desperate means to be without hope in your current condition and to know that in your own power you don’t have the necessary resources required to change it. People who are desperate become determined to find help, often taking great risks to meet their desperate need. In the communities where transforming revival has occurred the people of God were desperate enough to change their lifestyle and their priorities and to commit their time and resources, making everything secondary to the desperate pursuit of God in their midst. They cried out in desperation, and the Lord heard their cry.” Rhonda Hughey

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Purifying Power of Fasting and Prayer

February 21, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

“If My people who are called by My name will humble them-selves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land
(2 Chronicles 7:14).
We all need to be encouraged to practice fasting and prayer. It is one of the key ways in which we will bring in the harvest. God wants to bring His people into a deep and holy life style. When I was in India a few years ago, I was challenged deeply by the pure, humble and simple lives of the Christians I met there. The harvest is ripe in India, and the Christians are positioned in a holy and pure lifestyle that is necessary in gathering it in. They are seeing signs, wonders and miracles and many salvations of those from a Hindu background. Fasting and prayer purifies us and makes us ready for harvest.

“After 45 years of emphasizing evangelism, discipleship and fulfillment of the Great Commission, some may think I have gone off on a tangent with my strong emphasis on fasting and prayer. The fact is that the best way to help individuals become evangelists for Christ is to bring them into a relationship with God in which the Holy Spirit renew them. Only fasting meets the criteria of each aspect of 2 Chronicles 7:14. When you humble yourself and pray and seek God’s face and turn from your wicked ways, something happens to you and you get excited about the Lord in a way that you do not through any other means.” Bill Bright

Fasting and Prayer Purifies Us

It humbles the soul – “I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting” (Psalm 35:13).
It chastens the soul – The closer we draw near God’s heart, the more we will share his sorrows. But it is followed by joy and the garment of praise. See Psalm 69:10, 11, 13, 30-32.
It brings the body into subjection – “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27, Galatians 5:17).
It breaks down the barriers in man’s carnal nature that stand in the way of the Holy Spirit’s power – Later the Holy Spirit can work unhindered through your prayers. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
It is a sacrifice of the personal will – a discipline of the heart and mind. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
It is a time of examination – We need to be still before God in order to hear His voice. He examines our inner attitudes and motivation. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
It brings brokenness which is commanded in Scripture – “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30b).
It unclutters the spirit and God focuses on our heart – “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17).
It causes us to face ourselves without the normal escape routes and brings us into a deeper relationship with God – “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2a).

Fasting and Prayer Brings us into a Purer Relationship with Christ

Let the following testimony from Alice Smith speak to your heart. She is a long-term intercessor, author and leader of the U.S. Prayer Center.

“In time, the discerning Bride safe in the arms of her Bridegroom will see ‘that look in His eye’ that communicates lovingly, Okay beloved, what do you want from Me? For years I took this opportunity to share my request with Him. Then one day, captivated by His grace and mercy, there seemed only one correct answer, ‘My beloved Lord, I want only you.’ Instantly, in the unseen realm, the shouts of joy were heard in heaven as a new breakthrough occurred in the relationship between Jesus and His intercessor. I had been given the opportunity to ask for anything, instead I chose to have more of God. I rejoice in that decision daily.

Amazingly, this new victory also ushers in new authority! Unaware of the promotion in heaven’s court, the believer who makes this choice waits for a response from the Lord. Imagine His delight with this choice as He answers, ‘Beloved, I give you more of Me.’ A metamorphosis occurs as the old nature falls off and the spirit is given new life beyond the veil with Him. True love has taken root.” Alice Smith

Fasting and Prayer Leads to Brokenness and Humility in the Church

“I used to spend a great deal of time in prayer; sometimes, I thought, literally praying ‘without ceasing’. I also found it very profitable, and felt very much inclined to hold frequent days of private fasting. On those days I would seek to be entirely alone with God, and would generally wander off into the woods, or get into the meeting house, or somewhere away entirely by myself. But whenever I fasted, and let the Spirit take his own course with me, and gave myself up to let him lead and instruct me, I universally found it in the highest degree useful. I found I could not live without enjoying the presence of God” Charles Finney

God will always use the broken and the humble – “Broken soil produces the crop, broken clouds produce the rain, broken grain makes the bread, and broken bread feeds the hungry. A God-designed path through brokenness brings each of us to death to self, which perfects our humility and releases our spirit-man (Gal. 2:20).” Alice Smith
Jesus is our example – He humbled Himself unto death (Phil. 2). Paul, the apostle, said that he died daily (1 Corinthians 15:31). Through brokenness the Holy Spirit empowers us to live the resurrected life.
God wants to break the carnal nature of selfishness in us – “When we are quick to humble ourselves and repent, then brokenness occurs and all resistance, independence and pride are replaced with submission, tenderness, obedience and love.” Alice Smith
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble – James 4:6, See also 1 Peter 5:5.
God doesn’t want us to touch His glory – Every time God uses you, give Him all the praise and glory.

“A broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart – these O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Beauty of God’s Diversity

February 10, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

“Each prayer group is tempted to think its approach is the most effective way to pray. Yet we find – if we’re willing to take the first step and actually get out there and pray with those who are different from us – that it’s Jesus we have in common. When we’re standing in His presence together, focusing on Him, theological walls come tumbling down. Prayer is not about us. It’s about Jesus, His fame, His purposes, His desires.” Fawn Parish

May we not deprive ourselves of the richness, the wisdom and the many dimensions of God. Recently I was able to live with people from over 40 nations. We lived with this diversity for many years in the past, and it was a tremendous experience to live with so many cultures once again.

Presently we are in Germany training people from many different countries who are working in many nations. It is wonderful and reminds me of what heaven will be like. In the same way, I have had the experience of praying with and meeting intercessors of not only different countries, but of different denominational backgrounds, ages, personalities and approaches to prayer. It is a real delight for me to meet and get to know such a diverse group of people. Some have been praying for years and some are beginning and wanting to learn more. I sense the delight of God in every single person who wants to learn to pray.

He enjoys all these different types of prayer warriors, and we should too!

Open your heart to others who may have a different denomina-tional background or prayer style than yours. Know that God is not limited to just one style of praying. He enjoys them all and is thrilled with every young Christian who is learning to pray. It is really time that we begin to focus on Him and forget our differences. This does not mean that we shouldn’t pray with those who are like us, but we must be willing to pray with those who are different and not judge their approach to God.

Remember that Jesus is the treasure, the Word of God is the treasure map, and each one of us is a clue to that treasure. We miss out if we never mix with those who are different, because they have clues to the treasure that we need. We see a wider spectrum of God’s nature as we see the diversity of one another.

The main thing that keeps us apart from one another is our pride. Someone has said that pride is like bad breath. You’re the last person to know you have it. God wants us to walk in humility, and to esteem and honor one another. The richness of God is wild, untamable and unfathomable. We must passionately seek to embrace humbly anyone who has a clue to the treasure of Jesus. Intercession is diverse in so many ways – cultural backgrounds, gender, denomina-tional background, spiritual maturity, etc.

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ” (1 Corin-thians 12:12).

The Diversity of Intercessors

“God didn’t make a mistake when He made us different. He did it for a purpose. Just as we need all the parts of our physical body, we need all the different prayer styles in the body of Christ. We need all the different prayer styles to pray everything that is on God’s heart.” Alice Smith

The following are many prayer styles that show forth the treasure of diversity in the body of Christ.

Worship intercessors – They like to worship during prayer times or sing their prayers to God.
Warfare intercessors – They like to uncover the enemy’s evil plans and stop him through their prayers.
Crisis intercessors – They like to pray for emergencies.
List intercessors – They like to pray from a list. They often have missionaries, unsaved friends or the sick on lists.
Issues intercessors – They like to pray for issues in the news such as government decisions, disasters or scandals.
Nations intercessors – They like to pray for countries or over a map.
Prophetic intercessors – They like to listen to God as much as they speak. They like to pray on-target prayers.
Mercy intercessors – They feel the heart of God and pray in a way that brings God’s mercy into situations.
Special assignment intercessors – They like to pray for situations or people that God puts on their heart.
Administrative intercessors – They like to organize others to pray. They inform others of prayer needs, organize prayer chains and help others to pray more effectively.
Evangelism intercessors – They like to pray for the lost until they are saved.
Flexible intercessors – They like to use a variety of prayer styles in prayer and can move from one style to another according to the need of the moment.

“Prayer should enlarge, not limit, our view of God. God is so enormous,
so multi-faceted, that no one prayer group could ever fully express or represent Him.” Fawn Parish

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Encouragement of Prayer Partners

January 24, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matt. 18:19-20).

Praying with others can have a dramatic effect in your own life. We need each other. God never meant us to walk through life alone. Prayer partners are God’s secret agents of blessing. In fact, it is not good to be always praying alone. We need to pray by ourselves, but at times we need the encouragement that comes from praying with a prayer partner.

Praying with others is necessary for our growth in intercession. You can develop two-by-two prayer in a variety of ways; getting together with a prayer partner weekly, praying over the telephone with a friend, or praying at a set time daily with a spouse or other family member.

In looking back at my life as an intercessor, I cannot tell you the number of times I have been personally blessed, encouraged, and strengthened through praying with others. Many times it has given me new insight, new determination to go on, or new hope in a dark situ-ation. Praying with others strengthens our personal prayer lives in more ways than we can ever imagine.

Prayer partners are God’s agents of blessing.

When I had breast cancer another member of our church, Joanie, was going through the very same thing. As we wrestled through this unknown territory of facing cancer, we often would call each other at about 5:00 P.M. and talk and pray together. A short prayer and conversation on the telephone was such an encouragement for both of us. We didn’t talk or pray long—but we were in this trial together—and it made a huge difference.

Now both of us wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

This has turned into a powerful ministry for Joanie. Now she sends out a daily email to many sick people—encouraging them, calling them on the telephone, and praying for them specifically regarding their health needs. Through her writings, she teaches the Word of God, names those who are ill and how to pray, and gives continual updates and words of encouragement. She has several hundred subscribers! She instills hope for healing in everyone she calls. Her words are powerful, faith-filled, and significant.

See what can happen when you pray for one another—a simple prayer can become a powerful ministry for God’s glory. We need to stand together in prayer in order to defeat the enemy. Elmer Towns in his book, Prayer Partners, stresses how prayer partners helped to defeat the enemy. He says:

When Moses lifted his hands in intercession to God, Joshua and Israel prevailed. But because Moses was flesh, he could only keep his arms lifted for a short period of time. When his arms became heavy, he dropped them and Amalek prevailed in battle. But when two intercessors, Aaron and Hur, stood on either side of Moses and held up his hands, God’s people defeated the enemy.1

There are so many benefits to praying together. The example of Moses in the heaviness of battle is a reminder to all of us of the need for prayer partners. We need others to hold up our hands, especially when we are going through a difficult time. Praying together with a prayer partner gives us strength. It benefits our lives in the following ways:

It helps us to be steadfast in prayer – It is easy at times to grow weary in prayer, but when we pray with another person, we have added strength to endure until the victory is won.
It connects us with others in a meaningful way – Most of us are longing for intimate friendships. Praying with others helps us to connect in a partnership of sharing and praying through our struggles, hopes, blessings, and disappointments.
It brings spiritual healing and growth – When we share our heart and burdens with a prayer partner, there is healing. Our faith grows as we pray and minister to one another.
It helps us to be accountable to others and God – Life is full of distractions and demands, but calling out to God on a regular basis with a prayer partner helps us to center our life focus on prayer and on God. When we meet together to pray, it helps us to keep on target with our lives.
It brings the presence of God into our midst – God promises to be there when two or three gather together in prayer. We desperately need the presence of God in our lives.
It strengthens us spiritually – Listening to and agreeing with the prayer of another will help us spiritually. It will strengthen and build us up. We go away challenged with a renewed deter-mination to follow God.
It brings fervency and revelation in our lives – Very often when we pray with someone else, we begin to see God’s will more clearly. We then begin to pray more passionately when we agree together on the revelation of God.
It helps us to experience the power of God – Sometimes, on our own, we may be struggling with a certain problem. When we pray with a prayer partner regarding the difficulties and problem areas in our lives, we experience God’s powe Sometimes we need the help of others to pray through certain issues, especially when we are in spiritual warfare. We read in Leviticus 26:8:“Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.”

Perhaps you are thinking, “The benefits are tremendous! But how do I find the right prayer partner?” Jesus emphasized the need for unity when He was on earth. He said in John 17:20-22:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Finding the right prayer partner may not be easy, but God will help you. Approach it very carefully by following these important guidelines.

Finding a Good Prayer Partner

Pray for the right prayer partner – First, ask God to find the right person to pray with you. He knows who would be a good prayer partner for you.
Carefully choose a prayer partner – Realize that a prayer partner can enrich your life. At the same time, the wrong type of prayer partner can take away from your time in prayer if they have too many personal problems or want to talk instead of pray. Carefully choose.
Find someone who has a solid Biblical foundation – You want to pray with someone who knows the Bible and prays the Bible.
Find someone who hungers after God and desires to pray – You want to choose a prayer partner who is like-minded and has the same desire for God that you have. You want to choose someone who desires to grow in his or her prayer life.
Find someone who can be transparent but also confidential – You want to pray with someone who is willing to share the difficulties of life, but who also knows how to keep things confidential and private.
Find someone who easily repents and forgives – You want to pray with someone who is broken and moldable before God, repents easily, and is willing to confess sins.

Norm and I are trying to increase our praying together. He is my best prayer partner. It adds so much encouragement, unity, and faith to everything we are doing. I want to encourage you that praying with a prayer partner will make a very big difference in your life by adding power and strength to your prayers. When you pray in unity with another, you touch heaven and change earth with your prayers. God opens up the heavens with new revelation as your intercession adds to the prayers of your partner.

You actually harmonize with another at the throne room of God. And that is an important thing to do.

“But why does God like us to harmonize in prayer? Because we become responsible to one another. We search our heart in the presence of our partner to make sure there are no hindrances. We each strive to get as close to God as possible, and each picks up the passion and sincerity of the other… We become one in spirit as we agree in prayer.” Elmer Towns

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Prayer for the Mediterranean Basis

January 21, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

The Atmosphere of Heaven

Pray that the Church in the Mediterranean will live in agreement with and in obedience to the Holy Spirit – When the Church is obediently following God, praying fervently, and living holy and righteous lives, then God’s reviving power will be manifested in that region. The power of God and the atmosphere of Heaven will be experienced in His people both individually and corporately.
Pray that God will raise up intercessors, singers, and musicians all throughout the Mediterranean – Ask God to give them a strong desire for a House of Prayer and for the atmosphere of Heaven to permeate their city. Pray for God to raise up godly leadership for each House of Prayer.
Pray that worship together with prayer will begin to touch the Mediterranean with the atmosphere of heaven – Pray that God will bring His Church into the atmosphere of what prayer combined with worship is like. Pray that it will prepare that region for a mighty revival.

“Intercession is agreement with what God promises to do. Intercession is expressed by declaring what He will do. In heaven the worship and intercession flow as one river. When we tell God who He is then our faith expands with the revelation of the transcendent God of power and beauty. Then when we agree with what He will do in intercession, we do it in great faith.” Mike Bickle

Mentoring Others in Prayer

January 20, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

12341048_1071089846287455_3551926128578100816_n “Intercession! Would one not say that this is the very holiest exercise of our boldness as God’s children? It is the highest privilege and enjoyment connected to our communion with God. It is the power of being used by God as instruments for His great work of making men His habitation and showing forth His glory.” Andrew Murray

The Call to Mentor Others in Prayer

What are some ways to develop the art, skill or mastery of prayer and intercession. What keys do you need for its release?

The art of intercession! It’s so amazing, so vast, so all consuming. Art refers to any skill or mastery. If intercession changes history and nations, how can I master this great occupation? How can I help other master it? What do I need to develop in order to succeed in intercession throughout my entire life? What are the keys to a passionate and fervent life of intercession? We long to be wholehearted and passionate. We long to do great things for God. We long to make a deep and lasting impact.

We are called to disciple, motivate, exhort, train and mentor others in prayer. We are influencers for prayer wherever we go. We are forerunners for prayer. We are called to help others to ignite the fire of prayer. God’s Church will become a praying Church. Take hold of this noble task and take it seriously. People want to grow in prayer.

I run into people all the time who are called to intercessors who only hesitantly say they are intercessors. We have to speak into the lives of others. We have to tell them if we feel they are called to pray.

The Intercessors Arise books are designed to help you lead people into a deeper and more fulfilling prayer life:

We can’t teach prayer in 3 easy steps. It is much too vast – so many aspects. It’s a beautiful diamond.
You must hunger after God passionately yourself and you will model prayer.
The Intercessors Arise books are designed to help you personally in your prayer life but to also help you teach and train others.
Each book has about 30 motivational teachings on prayer to implement in small group settings. They are highly practical, Biblical, and with lots of stories.
Your sessions will be dynamically unique as you guide discussions on the topic of prayer and intercession.
There are assignments to bring out the teachings of that chapter so it is all set out before you. You can adapt it to your particular situation.
You will be able to practice what you are learning in your prayer meetings.
You can go as fast or slow as the Lord leads your particular group.
You can teach and preach this material to larger groups and churches.
You are part of a wider network of intercessors. Never forget this. God is uniting all of us as intercessors. There is a strength to unity.
On the Intercessors Arise and Nations House of Prayer Equipping Center web sites, you can find many additional tools you can use for mentoring others in prayer.

“Of what infinite importance is the place the intercessor holds in the Kingdom of God! Is it not indeed a matter of wonder that God should give men such power? Yet there are so few who know what it is to take hold of His strength and pray down His blessing on the world.” Andrew Murray

For help in mentoring others in prayer, see the Intercessors Arise bookstore.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

God’s Perfect Timing in Prayer

January 20, 2016 Debbie Leave a comment

“A cosmic clock is ticking. It was established by God, not just for the vast movements of the universe, but for every situation in your life. If you are frustrated by it, wondering why God is not rushing an answer to your earnest prayer then feel at home. You’re part of a long list of people – biblical heroes included – who have struggled with God’s timing.” Ron Susek

Perhaps there is not one of us who has not called out to God and prayed, “Lord, why are You not answering my prayers now?” “Why is it taking so long?” Many of us have prayed for many years about certain things – a lost son or daughter, a job change, a personal dream or desire, revival in the land – and have not yet seen the fulfillment of those prayers. Yet we believe that it is God’s will and that He has led us in those prayers. Why does it seem to take so long for some prayers to be answered?

Think about it – Is God not doing something within us as He gets us ready for the answer? Does He not have a deeper purpose in this process of praying towards the fulfillment of our prayers? Do we try to take matters in our own hands because the stretch of our faith seems too large?

“What has driven you on occasion to wrestle with the hands of time? Fear? Pride? Impatience? Inevitably, it’s a lack of faith in God’s wisdom. It is telling God that we know what is needed, when it is needed, and that we are going to make it happen if He does not.” Ron Susek

God is preparing us in the process. He has His way of getting us ready for the answer. He is stretching our faith. He is often revealing what is in our heart. We are often impatient and God has to crucify our flesh, purify us, and make us ready so that we handle the answer in the right way when it comes. Many of us are like a wild horse and God has to tame us so that we learn to wait on His Word and then move forward in His timing. We must learn to pray by faith consistently and long-term, to wait and then move forward. God is not building His kingdom in the flesh or through the influence of man but with faith and this involves praying, trusting and then moving in His timing and in His way.

The big word for me is “Be patient!” God will act if I don’t give up. I have had to wait long and pray hard regarding Intercessors Arise International. I have finished writing several books and yet have several that need publishing. The Lord has said to me during this waiting time, “Be patient!” “It will happen in My timing.” “Obey Me.” “Be faithful in prayer (Colossians 4:2). So I have continued on in faith. Perhaps He is saying the same to you regarding some of your long-term prayers. We must resolve to trust in God’s wisdom and timing.

At times we may feel we are in a crisis and need God’s answer now. We may try to take matters into our own hands and really mess things up. Look at King David. He was in a dilemma many times where he needed God’s answer in a difficult situation. He cried out in Psalm 83:1 “O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.” But he learned to wait and pray. He let God test his faith and he hung on, not letting Satan get the upper hand through a quick-fix method. And God answered His prayers.

What happens as we are waiting for God to answer our prayers? There is a process we may go through as we wrestle in prayer with God. We often face negative emotions as we go through the difficulty of waiting for God in the midst of a crisis. But this leads us to a greater faith and a greater revelation of God and our situation. This process of waiting for God’s timing in prayer, especially when we are facing a crisis, is usually this:

Fervency – We begin by praying with fervency when the crisis arises. We use all of our energy to focus on praying through the crisis. It takes our strength in every way – physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.

Negative emotions – As time goes on and the answer does not come, we may get distracted towards other things. We just can’t keep up with that level of intensity. We wait with no answer and we may run into negative emotions – anger, frustration, confusion or disappointment. Anger may be directed toward God, the situation or even ourselves for not being able to do more.

Lies of the enemy – We feel the accusations of Satan. He speaks lies into our mind – “You are too sinful to have God answer your prayers.” “Your faith is too small.” “God doesn’t love you or care about your situation.” “He will not answer your prayers.” Remember, Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). He will try to attack you through this vulnerable time when God is stretching your faith.

Revelation – We come to a deeper knowledge of what God is doing. Our understanding is deepened as we hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess (Hebrews 10:23). As we stay in the Word of God, we begin to see the situation from God’s standpoint. We grow spiritually.

Greater faith – We rise up in faithful, determined prayer. We are not living by feelings any longer but by faith. We are willing to wait regardless of how long it takes. We can actually get excited in the wait. God is with us and He has heard our prayer!

God has a perfect timing. We are all waiting in prayer for something. Right now I know of people who are praying for God’s healing from cancer. I know others who just want to get back to the mission field and others who are praying for the fulfillment of their dreams. A pastor in our area is praying for his son to come out of coma. He was struck by lightning a few weeks ago. I know two others who are praying for a wayward daughter to come home and back to the Lord. Is God not concerned about all these things? Yes, He is deeply concerned. He stretches our faith in the midst of the wait just as He did with His disciples when encountering a storm at sea. He has all wisdom. He answers our prayers at just the right moment. He is not a minute too late.

Don’t miss the upcoming Intercessors Arise prayer webinar called: Grow in Dynamic Prayer by Learning How to Powerfully Pray God’s Word for Breakthrough. It’s filled with free prayer materials – SECURE YOUR SEAT HERE!

“It is the sovereign stillness – quiet, confident, and nonactive – that unnerves us in the face of crisis. ‘Wake up!’ screamed the disciples (and us) to Jesus. ‘Get up here in the deck of this fragile boat. Look at this storm. Don’t you care about us?’ But look at who it is we are trying to shake into action. It’s the God who said, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). This God can remain quiet and still in the face of crisis. He calls us to wait on Him. Indeed, He will act, but in His timing.” Ron Susek

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Igniting the Fire of Prayer Worldwide