A Time for Vigilance
July 2026
Peter had warned the Church in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour.” In the midst of ministry, in the midst of serving, in the midst of planning, sometimes we can forget that the devil is scheming. I feel compelled in this season to remind my fellow ministers to be vigilant. Pray for your family (Psalm 91), pray for your church (Psalm 1:2,3), pray for yourself (Psalm 5:12), and let us pray for one another (Ephesians 6:19).
We have weapons for warfare that the Apostle Paul specifically instructs us to use “so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil”. In this season remind yourself of the armour of God that you have and need, read through Ephesians 6:10-18. We never grow out of a place of having to be battle ready. If anything, hopefully, we are spiritually maturing as Pastors and increasing our discernment. We should be more vigilant since we are Shepherds.
Let us use the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to cut down the devil's plans and his lies. If you are feeling hopeless, pray for hope in your life, in your church’s life, and in our District. If you are feeling tired, pray for renewed strength for yourself, for your church, and for this District. What you are experiencing, you are likely not alone. The devil is scheming and working hard against the Church. Do not grow weary in doing good as stated in Galatians 6:9. Press on and do neglect your time of prayer with the Lord. I believe it’s where you can do the most damage against the enemy’s plans.
I leave you with this: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18). Be blessed and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
“Always Pray and Not Give Up”
June 2026
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). I’m so grateful that the Holy Spirit saw to it that these words are in Scripture. It’s almost like Jesus knew there would be times when we prayed and saw tremendous breakthrough, and other times when we didn’t see the desired results at all. I personally know many people who have been suffering from chronic illness who prayed for someone else and saw a miraculous healing, while still waiting for God to heal them. And I’ve seen people miraculously healed with one prayer, while there are individuals that I have prayed for hundreds of times and have yet to see the healing… but Jesus gave us a parable for the very purpose of showing us that we should "always pray and not give up."
As much as we want there to be a formula that we can work so that we will see 100% effectiveness in prayer, so far I’ve never met anyone who has one or who has that success-rate in prayer. Upon reflection, it would seem that such a formula cannot exist in the first place, because it would eliminate the need for faith and for dependence upon God. It would reduce prayer and the use of Jesus’ name to a technique to master, or to something close to Christian spell-casting. (You may have come across any number of teachings on prayer that fit this description.) The fact is we can have a perfect theology of prayer, be walking in consecration, and pray with faith — and still not see our specific prayers answered. (In Mark 2 the paralytic’s faith isn’t even mentioned when Jesus heals him - only his friends’ faith. So even if we don’t realize how uncaring and unhelpful it is to chalk up a non-answer to the recipient's lack of faith, the Bible doesn’t allow us to make that a blanket rule.)
So what keeps me praying for impossible things, when the result isn’t guaranteed? First, I believe that God is incomparably good. That keeps me asking for good gifts for His children (Luke 11:13). Second, a person has nothing to lose if I pray for them and nothing happens. But if we don’t pray, we'll never know what God might have done in response to that prayer. Third, it is impossible for me to know which of my prayers will be the one that brings the break through. I was in a room full of pastors earlier this year, praying for a healing, and the one leading us in the time of corporate prayer said, "We’ll keep believing the answer is ‘yes’ until You say ’no’, Lord.” That’s certainly how I want people to pray for me when I need a miracle. And it keeps me praying again today for those for whom I have prayed many hundreds of times already — whether for direction, healing, or salvation. Fifth, we never know the fullness of what our prayers are accomplishing. Gabriel tells Daniel that his prayer was heard on Day 1 (Daniel 10:12), but Daniel didn’t hear until Day 21. I don’t presume that this type of delay is limited to cases of ’territorial spirits’ or requests for revelation. I take it as a reminder that I don’t see everything that's happening in heavenly places when I pray. Sixth, I’ve seen God answer prayers enough times that it would seem foolish of me not to step out in expectation that He will answer this time too. Above all, I keep praying because Jesus said I should always pray and not give up. Going back to the fact that God is good: would a good God give us this type of instruction if, in the end, it wasn’t going to result in good for us (Rom. 8:28) and glory for Him?
A skeptic was telling a pastor I know that he thinks answers to prayer are just coincidences, happy expressions of the mathematics of chance. My friend artfully answered, “Well, all I know is that the coincidences happen a lot more often when I pray.” May we continue in our faith and expectation that we serve a good and faithful God who still does miracles—even as we humbly acknowledge that, until we see Him face to face, we won’t know exactly why every situation where God’s people prayed didn’t turn out the way they’d hoped. What is promised to us, is that on that day we will testify, “Just and true are your ways” (Rev. 15:3), about everything He has ever done.
The Invitation
April 2026
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6). I love this scripture. Often the emphasis of this scripture is on how God our Father will reward us openly even though we pray in private. This is a beautiful truth but what I love is that it assures me that my Father in heaven is IN the secret place and when I go there He WILL meet me.
The secret place can be explained simply. It’s when you are intentionally alone for the purpose of meeting with God. I, like most Christians, have had amazing times in the secret place where I can feel the presence of God or have had powerful times of intercession where I feel the power of God praying through me. But I, like most Christians, have also had times where my prayers seem to be falling flat and I just don’t feel anything. It’s in those times that it is so important for us to remember that God says He IS in the secret place with you whether you feel Him or not.
Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie…” which means if the Lord God Almighty says when you go into a room and close the door to meet with Him, He will be there, then He is there! What an invitation for us! Most of us wake up with schedules, to-do lists, and chores waiting to be done but I want to encourage you to remember your loving, good, faithful Father is waiting for you in the secret place. His heart yearns for you.
Song of Solomon 2:14 says, “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” I don’t think it is an accident that the same language, “secret place”, is used by the beloved in this passage. I believe this is a reflection of our Beloved. He longs to meet with you face to face, to hear your voice in prayer and worship, to have you take time to gaze upon Him because His gaze is ever on you.
I implore you today, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, don’t miss out on what should be the best part of the day: time with your heavenly Father in the secret place. Pray to Him, sing to Him, or just sit with Him. He’s deeply in love with you. Accept the invitation and meet Him in the secret place.
The Relationship of Prayer
March 2026
Sometimes when there are important and consistent practices in life, they can tend to become routine or ritualistic in nature. Routine elements, such as showering or brushing your teeth, don’t require much thought in the process. Once you start, it’s just daily routine.
There are many scenarios that contribute to something becoming a mindless routine. As kids, many of us, were taught specific prayers that we pray before bed or before we eat. Some of us, as adults, still pray the same prayer over our food three times a day.
But prayer is not a ritual and it’s not a routine. It’s a relationship. In John 15, Jesus compares the relationship between God and believers is that of a vine and its branches. He says “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
God desires to hear from us and He desires to speak to us. It’s a conversation, a dialogue between a father and a child. Both sides speaking and both sides listening. It doesn’t always happen at the same time each day, and it’s not always the same duration. Sometimes it’s relaxed and casual, and sometimes it’s intense and with a specific purpose.
I know this isn’t a new revelation to most of us, but it’s a good reminder. As life provides many responsibilities and distractions that have us putting prayer into the role of routine, let’s fight to keep it in its proper place as a relationship.
Tending the Fire on the Altar
February 2026
In a world where our phones and tablets organize our schedules and remind us of every task, time can slip by quickly; days, weeks, months, and even the year can leave us longing for a deeper and more consistent prayer life.
Personally, I have needed regular check-in’s with the Holy Spirit. From a youth heading out to high school to an adult leading prayer ministries - the challenge has been to keep the fire burning on the altar through an active prayer life.
Moses was given clear instructions from the Lord for Aaron and his sons to follow. Leviticus 6:13 “Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.”
Thankfully we are not required to keep a physical fire burning in the temple yet we are instructed in I Thessalonians 5:17 “Never stop praying.”
No matter what may come our way, nor the pressure of ministry, or the demands placed on us by ourselves or others, may our prayer life burn greater than ever before.
During National Week of Prayer, many of you held extended prayer times and a number of our churches hosted a TEND24 prayer gathering (24 hours of continual prayer). We are believing with you for much fruit to come from these times of prayer.