Applying the Power of Targeted Prayer

By Eddie Smith and Michael L. Hennen

One mid-1980s Sunday in Houston, our worship service began at 8:30 am. From the first moment we sensed an awe-inspiring divine presence. God often graced us with a momentary discernible visitation, but this was much greater than anything we’d ever experienced. As I (Eddie) led in worship it was clear that the preaching pastor wasn’t going to be coming to the pulpit. His face was buried in the carpet as he profoundly and personally engaged with God.

Soon it was time for the Sunday school hour. But no one could move. We were all captivated by the Son of God.

As that hour should have ended, people began coming into the sanctuary for the eleven o’clock worship hour. But the building was packed; dozens were on their faces at the altar. Again, nobody had said one single word since we began at 8:30!

When we concluded at 2:30 PM, eighteen adults had been born again. Lives were radically changed. For years to come that single service, where the Lord’s presence was so real it could be felt, was the topic of conversation. And once you’ve experienced God’s presence like this, you’ll crave it for a lifetime. It is a foretaste of heaven.

This is one prayer target hat, if reached, will not only radically change your future, it will also radically change your influence and relationship with others. In our personal search for prayer targets that will make our ministries more effective, one target remains elusive. We know what the target is, but honestly we’ve not yet consistently reached it. We’re certain that when we do, we and those to whom we minister will be changed forever. So we continue to aim for that target , striving daily to reach it in prayer. What prayer target could possibly have such dramatic results?

To Dwell in the Presence of God
In Exodus 33:13, in the midst of interceding for his people’s destiny, Moses makes some bold requests:

Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in your sight, show me your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in your sight. And consider that this nation is your people (NKLV).

From the context (v. 12), we see why Moses asked this. God had commanded him to “bring up this people,” but He hadn’t let Moses know how to accomplish the task. Moses understood the goal but didn’t know the way. He also knew he couldn’t reach the goal in his own strength—he knew he needed help. And though God had said to him, “I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight,” He had not yet revealed who would help or how. So Moses said, “You have not let me know whom You will send with me.”

What an audacious prayer! Who was this Moses who would make such a bold request of the Lord? According to verse 11, “The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Moses was God’s friend. He was known by God, by name, and had foun d grace in His sight.

Moses’ request reflected his knowledge of God’s character. The Lord didn’t rebuke him for being so bold; to the contrary, he responded, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (v. 14). Hen Moses knew that God Himself would go with this people and replied,

“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up form here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth. (vv. 15-16)

God’s Presence Is His Way
E glean several principles form tese passages. First, when Moses asked, “Show me Your way” (v. 13), God responded, “My Presence will go with you” (v. 14). God’s presence is His way, and His way is His presence! Too often we seek to accomplish the work of the Spirit in the strength of the flesh. We attempt to fulfill His purposes without His presence. What we need most is to wait and seek God’s presence, not anxiously moving ahead in our own strength and presumption. We don’t wait for God’s presence, but we still expect His grace. We don’t understand what Moses did understand: that God’s grace is experienced in His presence.

Presence Reveals Grace
God’s grace is made known by His presence. If His presence is not with us, His grace is not apparent to others; it is only in God’s presence that His unmistakable grace becomes visible. The presence of God distinguishes and sets us apart fomr others—it “separates” the holy from the profane. God’s people ought to be identified by His presence, and when we are, the peoples of the earth will know that He has sent us.

With this in mind, let us pray with renewed vigor for the presence of God. Pray that He will show you His way; that He will go with you. And do not try to accomplish His purposes without His power. Pray for His presence!

Taken from Strategic Prayer: Applying the Power of Targeted Prayer (Bethany House 2007) by Eddie Smith and Michael L. Hennen. Used by permission of Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, copyright (c) 2007. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Publishing Group. www.BakerPublishingGroup.com. This book, which retails for $13.99 is available at the CPLN members store for a 20% discount. Click here for more information.