By Rebecca Livermore
As an intercessory prayer team, your group is naturally focused on the needs of others. Although there is great fulfillment in that, burnout is a high probability unless time for personal nurture takes place. Consider setting aside time quarterly or every six months to emphasize personal ministry to your prayer partners. This is important if your group has been meeting for awhile, but its a good idea for new members who join as well.
Let the group know of the temporary shift in focus. Those who are
diehard intercessors may initially balk, so assure them that this
change is temporary, and that it won’t encroach on time you spend in
intercession for those outside of your group. Remind them that unless
they refill their own wells, they will be unable to effectively
minister to the needs of others.
Devote an evening to this ministry time, or if possible, plan a day or
weekend retreat. Let the Holy Spirit set the agenda, but here are some
possibilities that this type of refuel/refocus gathering might include:
- Read a book or work through a Bible study together with an emphasis on personal ministry and healing.
- Once you’ve gone through some aspect of teaching on personal
ministry and healing, allow time for members to share struggles they
may be facing. Remember to make this a safe place to share and
heal—unconditional acceptance and absolute confidentiality are
essential. After each one shares, stop right then and there to gather
around the person as a group and minister to them through prayer. Make
sure that each person who has received ministry leaves with at least
one other person committed to pray for their situation.
- Give each person time alone to pray through, reflect on, and
record at least 10 significant answers to personal prayer. The answers
can be from recent events, or things that happened several years ago
individually or as a group. When you gather back together, provide an
opportunity for anyone who wants to share at least one personal story
of God’s faithfulness. Spend time together thanking and praising God
for these specific answers to prayer. Then, in a tangible way, record
these victories—compile the stories in a group journal and make a copy
for each member of the group. Or have each person briefly write their
answers to prayer on small smooth stones, and as a group fill up a jar
with the stones as a visual Ebenezer of God’s faithfulness.
Making sure your prayer team experiences the benefits of personal
prayer ministry themselves will equip and encourage them to stay in the
business of ministry to others.
--Rebecca Livermore is a freelance writer who frequently contributes to Pray!
|
March 2006 
