Thoughts for Life: #79 The Rule: Slow and Cautious

C. Peter Wagner tells us That "Even when God initiates the process, Doris and I have been very slow and cautious about inviting additional I-2 intercessors.

A turning point in our ministry came at the great
Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization held in Manila in the summer of 1989.

At the Lausanne Congress we sensed that God was putting strategic-level spiritual warfare high on our ministry agenda for the 1990s.

We did not at that time know of the far-reaching scope of this change, but God did, and He began to provide for us some world-class intercessors to add to our team of I-2s.

Truly, the intensity of the personal spiritual warfare we are now engaged in has escalated considerably, and we frankly need more help than previously.

The first additional I-2 intercessor was Cindy Jacobs, whom I have mentioned several ties.

We became acquainted earlier in 1989 at a Prayer Summit in Washington, D.C., and Doris and I formed a close personal friendship with Cindy and Mike.

We did several things together, but it still took Doris and me several months before we approached Cindy to join our ministry as a prayer partner.

She had known by the Holy Spirit for
some time that we would invite her, but
she patiently waited.

Cindy then introduced us to the next I-2 intercessor, Bobbye Byerly.

We had never heard of Bobbye Byerly until we met her in Manila where she was part of the 24-hour intercession team praying for the Lausanne Congress.

Cindy privately told us that Bobby had one of the highest international reputations as an intercessor that she was aware of.

We liked Bobbye and her husband, Jim, very much, but never dreamed God would give us this woman Cindy had spoken so highly of as a prayer partner.

{After a sleepless night, Bobbye informed Doris and Peter that God had kept her awake the whole night to give her the assignment to pray for them!}

Bobbye was very sweet about it, never at all pushy, even though she already knew what the final outcome would be. Yet, it took us four months to be convinced that the door was truly open.

Even then, we hedged a bit by asking Cindy if she would call Bobbye and tell her how we felt, giving her plenty of space to say no to our request.

She, of course said yes, and we have a wonderful relationship."

#79 The Rule: Slow and Cautious,
in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s
book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede
for pastors, Christian leaders and others
on the spiritual frontlines. (pgs. 150 -151)
by Regal Books

PRAYER SHIELD ChristianBooks - Scroll down to Wagner's book - offered for $9.69

Do you have a testimony to share? jowildflowers@gmail.com (for comments)

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May-5 through May-11

Let’s pray:

Father, let this be the day that we commit to faithfully pray for our pastor(s) and leaders!

I see that their ministering to Your people really does depend on the prayer support they receive.

May I join the ones who are concerned, to pray regularly.

I believe that my prayers will be effective, as You'll guide and inspire me in my efforts to hold up my own leaders before You.

I ask this in the Name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Joel 2:21 "Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things."

Today’s quotes: Mother Teresa - “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

Mike Smith – “Fellowship revolves around the redemptive work of God in our lives. As we meet together and share the things that God has done, we get a bigger picture of God’s work. As we see that bigger picture, we come to know Christ better. And as those around us see how we interact with one another, they recognize us as belonging to Him. They have the opportunity to see redemptive behavior in action. They, too, see a bigger, clearer picture of Jesus—lived out in the lives of those who follow Him.”

Our thoughts today: We are to be steadfast in our faith, and unmovable, always abounding in serving, learning, and sharing. Our labor is not in vain, in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58

- If a word of prophecy is not followed through, it dies.

5/1st- Thursday’s post: #80 Recruiting I-1 Intercessors C. Peter Wagner

3rd- Saturday's post: Reach Out Gloria Penwell

4th- Sunday's post: Thrive Where You Are Planted Kathy Bellows

4th- evening's post: Let Me Explain... Jean Oathout

A popular post: Making My Heart Sit Down Mary Southerland shares with us, “Every minute of every day is either wasted or invested."