| How you can become a Lighthouse...... 1. Lighthouses are very adaptable. They can be made to fit almost any situation. You can tailor your Lighthouse to fit your style � praying with those you invite, praying for as many as you choose, targeting whom you wish, and proceeding at your own pace. There is no step-by-step formula that you must follow. The key to a successful Lighthouse is earnest prayer and availability to God. 2. Lighthouses of Prayer is not a program. It is a process by which believers are able to impact their neighbors and their communities through ministries of praying, and sharing. It results not in a �been there, done that� attitude but with a �prayer & share� lifestyle that emphasizes relationships. 3. We'll give you some workable strategies, state some basic principles, establish some guidelines, and try to clarify the issues for you. We'll even suggest a developmental path intended to help you grow a strong and radiant Lighthouse. 4. Many Lighthouses are needed in order to saturate our communities and transform our society. You can help reach this goal by spreading the word and encouraging friends, neighbors, work associates, and church leaders to start Lighthouses of Prayer. First Five Weeks As You Begin the First Five Weeks. �Tell God that you are committed to being a praying neighbor. We suggest the following commitment prayer: �God, I know that my neighbors, (friends, coworkers, relatives), matter very much to you and that you have commanded me to make �requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving� for them. So, out of obedience to you and out of love for my neighbors, I commit myself to ask for your blessings for them for five minutes a day, five days a week, for the next five weeks. I�ll do this, with your help, to the best of my ability. In Jesus� name, Amen.� � Decide whom you will pray for and whom you will pray with. Persons I will pray for: Persons I will pray with: _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ � Note when your first five-week period will end: ___________________________________ During the First Five Weeks � Start by simply praying five blessings for five people, five minutes a day, five days a week, for five weeks. We recommend using the word �bless� to suggest five important ways to pray for your neighbors: B Body�health, protection, strength L Labor�work, income, security E Emotional�joy, peace, hope S Social�love, marriage, family, friends S Spiritual�salvation, faith, grace � Pray for your people as a whole group or pray for them individually if you know some of their specific needs. Begin to assume responsibility for the spiritual well being of those around you. � Do some research. Learn the names of adults and children. Find out what is going on in the neighborhood. Is there marital strife? Abuse? Emotional difficulty? Financial trouble? Animosity? Family breakdown? Converse with neighbors regularly to keep in touch with their lives and with the needs on your street. � Record specific prayer requests and answers. List them on our site and we will join in prayer with you for them. At the End of the First Five Weeks � Be aware of how your own heart is being affected. Many Lighthouse �prayers� have experienced a growing sense of compassion, hopefulness, guilt, love, burden, gratitude, desire to contact, anticipation, learning, excitement, frustration, joy, sadness, or awareness of others� needs during the first five weeks. What did you experience as you prayed? �Take note of any changes in your neighborhood or in the lives of the people you prayed for. Prayers report seeing results such as increased friendliness, openness, divine encounters, increased interest in spiritual things, and a change in climate among their neighbors. They also find more opportunities to care. �Trust that God has heard your prayers and is committed to acting in response to them. The Bible tells us that �the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective� (James 5:16). Our prayers direct Gods power to situations; they have an impact even if we don't see it. Something happens when we pray that wouldn't have happened if we had not prayed. Believe that�even if you see no change! Second Five Weeks coming soon! Click Angel to go back to The Lighthouse Page |
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