I pray that these words today will stir up within you a strong desire to experience God’s plan, purpose, and provision in your life and ministry! It is my earnest prayer for you to prosper in all your hands find to do. I truly wish for you to succeed as you lead families into a closer walk with our Lord Jesus Christ. God has placed within my heart an urgency to see you continue to move forward in Him.

Realize that though I can challenge you and cast a vision, it is your action and determination that will make the difference. As Paul challenge Timothy to ’stir up the gift within you’, allow me to echo those words to your spirit this day.

Here is your ultimate call from God’s heart. He is calling you to be closer to Him than ever before. He already knows the pathway before you. He knows what is about to take place in your life and ministry. He wants to prepare and equip you for every moment. He has given you a singular tool for you to use. That tool is the gift of prayer.

Be challenged to devote yourself to a life of prayer as never before. Please, do not overlook this challenge! Please, do not set it aside! Consider these words penned by E. M. Bounds.

How difficult it appears to be for the Church to understand that the whole scheme of redemption depends upon men of prayers. The work of our Lord, while here on the earth, as well of the Apostle Paul was, by teaching and example, to develop men of prayer, to whom the future of the Church should be committed. How strange that instead of learning this simple and all important lesson, the modern Church has largely overlooked it. We have need to turn afresh to that wondrous Leader of spiritual Israel, our Lord Jesus Christ, who by example and precept enjoins us to prayer and to the great Apostle to the Gentiles, who by virtue of his praying habits and prayer lessons is a model and an example to God’s people in every age and clime.

Your prayers will change the hearts of world leaders. Your prayers will break down hindrances to the gospel. Your prayers will bring wholeness and healing to every area of your life and ministry. So, what are you waiting for? Pray today, all day, throughout the day.

To paraphrase Ephesians 6:18 – “Pray with all kinds of prayers and keep on praying!”

Rev. Gary R. Linn