. . . every upside has a downside. The prayer movement's upside is that it is a genuine movement, resulting in a new awareness of the primary role of prayer in our personal lives and our corporate expressions.

New resources galore; new books on significant aspects of prayer every month, a quality national magazine devoted entirely to praying, 10, 30, 40 day prayer guides, T-shirts with pithy thoughts on why we need to pray, even software programs to remind us to pray. Initiatives from National to Global Days of Prayer that challenge us to pray for the leaders of our nation and the nations of the world. Networks, such as CPLN, that collate ideas for those who lead prayer (If you haven't surfed our site recently you'll be very surprised at how much practical material is available to you). Conferences, seminars, workshops, retreats, summits . .

.

With such a fantastic upside, can there any downside?

Sadly, yes, if there is more movement (see above paragraph) than praying. If our pastors are preaching to us about prayer more than they are praying with us. If prayer coordinators are more focused on the task of designing brochures or decorating prayer rooms than they are convening times and places of praying. If our leaders (youth, children, committee, church councils and boards, staff and lay) continue to see prayer as a sermon topic or a team that meets monthly to plan events.

It is never inappropriate to ask, "Is the main thing still the main thing?" Is prayer in our church still about everyone actually praying? Is prayer expected  throughout the week at the family table? The office cubicle? The school desk?  Is praying less about the format we follow than the one we follow?

It seems to me, as leaders in the prayer movement, when we call the church to prayer we must make sure it results in, well, prayer.

Phil Miglioratti
http://www.prayerleader.blogspot.com
http;//www.lc2c.blogspot.com