Friday, May 25, 2012

PRAYER: EXPERIMENT TO JOURNEY


On February 22, 2012, I started participating in an experiment with National Community Church in Washington, D.C. called the 7:14 Experiment. I was joining with a group of NCCer’s in a different time zone to humble myself before God and seek His face, out of obedience to 2 Chronicles 7:14.  “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” AMP
 
Mark Batterson, (one of the speakers from District Connection 2011), is one of my favorite authors, as of late.  His life challenges mine.  As a leader I am looking for mentors that will speak into my life and stretch me in my Christian walk. 

There I was, caught in the act by my very own daughter.  At first glance, my daughter miss-judged my posture and asked, “Mom, are you ok?”  My husband, who was sitting in the living room then asked, “What happened”?  So much for focused prayer and this was just the first day! 

As I knelt on one knee in front of my kitchen sink that day it became abundantly clear that I obviously hadn’t modeled this posture of prayer before my daughter.  To tell you the truth, I felt out of practice, awkward, even a bit self-conscious!  Truly, I had made a commitment that at first seemed to be an easy one as a Christian and especially as a pastor’s wife!  I was raised in church.  What was so different this time?

Something as simple as bowing my knees in prayer was becoming a fight; a difficulty!  The decision was made online and a reminder text sent to me each morning at 4:13 am and yet a fight ensued almost every morning right around 7:14am each morning!  I’ve never encountered this unique of a fight.  My husband and I over the past 2 years have set the alarms on our phones to go off at 7:14 am and pm to pray for revival in America.  And yet we hadn’t changed our posture; our position in prayer!  We had missed a key ingredient in prayer; HUMILITY!  In bowing my knees, I made a conscious decision to submit; to honor Him by humbling myself and acknowledging his Lordship in my life. 

This 7:14 experiment was to last 40 days. They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit.  This was a humility habit.  Have I made it a habit yet?  Yes, but not without a few days of missing the mark.  The key is to keep pressing through!  As I bow my knees in true humility and obedience each day I know that my life will continue to be changed dramatically.  I have seen a hunger develop for more of God’s Word and this increased appetite has motivated, even compelled me to exercise it out through prayer! I am determined to model this act of humility, to keep my heart postured and my body positioned to pray and seek His face!  

I want to challenge you to join the 7:14 journey with me in praying for revival, not just here in America but around the world. Find out more about the 7:14 Journey at www.rossahill.com.  You will receive an email from him each day to encourage you in your journey to pray and seek His Face for revival!  Our goal is to have One Million prayer warriors.  Join the7:14 Journey today!

Tabi Rogers serves as our Area Leader in the Redwood Section and is on Staff at Cornerstone Church in Crescent City, CA.

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