Prayer at Merritt Assembly
Pray168, and Prayer Meetings
Pray168: Reaching those in need of Salvation
Pray168 is a goal that our church is working to attain, where members pray for the unsaved. The title, Pray168, represents the number of hours in a week. It is the goal of Pray168 to see all 168 hours of the week covered in prayer through the combined efforts of all those involved. We pray for those without Christ to personally experience His love and saving grace.
Why do we pray?
Merritt Assembly of God is a praying church, and prayer is one of the main activities that we as a church body involve ourselves in. In 2006, the "Year of the Fix," we found ourselves resolved to do many things, which were:
|
Resolving to set our faces toward becoming more godly people in spite of opposition or distraction. As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
(Luke 9:51, NIV) Resolving to pray as if our lives depended on it. Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
(2 Chron. 3-4, NIV) Resolving that our mouths will not sin by bad-mouthing authority, cursing, lying, gossip, or complaining. Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
(Psalms 17:3, NIV) Resolving to speak the truth in love, to edify, to bless, and to proclaim the Word of God with thanksgiving. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
(Ephesians 4:25-29, NIV) Resolving ourselves to know Christ, including his crucifixion, the power of the ressurection, and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Phillipians 3:10-11, NIV) Resolving to be holy in body, soul, spirit, and emotions. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
(Daniel 1:8, NIV) |
With these resolutions in mind, we pray both as a church body and as individual believers that we may reach these resolutions in our own lives, and that we may see our community impacted for Christ. It is with these things in mind that we hold times of prayer during the week. Prayer is a central element of our Wednesday night adult service, an integral part of all Sunday services, and there are prayer meetings Saturday night as well.
