Starting a Prayer Movement - 5 Minutes a Day

Lately, I have found myself as a pastor preaching with the bottom line 'so what?' question on my mind at the end.  I imagine the congregation saying - "Ok Bruce - you've said all this - so what?"  This ending section of the message is designed to leave the hearers with a few very practical applications.  Sometimes these are thoughts to chew on, but often include simple actions to transform life.

At Northside we are calling 2015 'A Year of Impact'.  Our theme for the first five weeks is 'Break Camp'.  We've discussed the value of three simple actions that will be a game changer for 2015 and that is to  look down less, look up more, and look around often!  Let's be less self-absorbed, call on the Lord more often, and watch for divine appointments all around us.

I also began the series with the reminder that we must raise the prayer temperature at Northside.  This past weekend (week 2), I offered some simple encouragements in the area of prayer.  Begin each day with a simple prayer - giving that day to the Lord, and surrendering our lives to Him for His glory.  Secondly, pray for our families and with them as we have opportunity.  Third, I asked the congregation to give five minutes a day this year to pray for Northside.  If you take this past weekends attendance, and everyone would pray five minutes a day this week for the church, that would amount to an accumulation of 634 hours of prayer for Northside this week.

What would happen in any church if all the people would simply commit to five minutes a day praying for the church where they worship and serve?  There are 1440 minutes in a day.  5 minutes is .003% of our day - but we simply need to start somewhere!  We have the time and we have the opportunity.  Eternal matters are at stake, and lives are in the balance.  I challenge everyone reading to start a prayer movement in your church.  It begins with you praying five minutes a day.  Spread the word!

At Northside, worship is one of our top three priorities.  We call it 'I Can't Wait for the Weekend'.  Today I'm finding this especially true as we continue to raise the prayer temperature.  I'm trusting God to do great things for His glory.  It might all start with just five minutes.  Let me encourage you to start now!