The number 406 has a special meaning to those who love Montana. It’s not just our area code; it’s part of our collective identity. It’s a symbol that is embraced by proud Montanans and tourists alike. It is displayed on t-shirts, stickers, and embedded into logos as an image of the uniqueness of Big Sky Country.
Over the last few years, the MTSBC has used this imagery to place an emphasis on praying for Montana at 4:06pm each day. Even if you set a phone alarm once a week, you can make a great impact through prayer. Imagine the outcome if we unite more frequently in prayer and more fervently.
I have been asking the Lord to revive and renew our minds and draw us close to Himself. I pray for revitalized churches who function as lifegiving communities. I seek the Lord for spiritual awakening in Montana and for God to raise up laborers to the spiritual harvest fields of our communities. On any given day, this plea may include a desire for God to call church planting missionaries to Montana for Kingdom advance. Notice the progression in these prayers; delighting in God (pursue Christ), devoted to one another (pursue community), and dependent on the Holy Spirit in making disciples (pursue our commission).
On Sunday, April 6th, we are calling MTSBC churches to use this unique day (4/06) to place an emphasis on praying for spiritual renewal. In the coming weeks, the Renew Montana Network will offer a template, but there are many options. You can begin to plan a meaningful prayer experience now that is contextualized for your congregation. There are many prayer resources and www.strategicrenewal.com is a great place to start. Here are a few ideas:
- Carve out 10-15 minutes for focused prayer in your order of worship. Enlist Spirit-filled people and prepare them with prayer prompts from one focused passage or several passages. For example, from Isaiah 40:28-31, drill down to what it means to wait on the Lord, have hope in the Lord, and rest in the unfathomable power of God. Take time to reverence God, respond to God, and be ready to take steps of faith. What is God revealing? What must change in me? What are the promises to claim? What steps of obedience lead me to have intimacy with God?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
You can pray a Psalm. The book Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney is instructive. Some of my favorites to pray are Psalm 23 (dependency), Psalm 51 (forgiveness), Psalm 63 (thirst/hunger), Psalm 103 (gratitude). The Bible has supernatural power. Let’s model how to pray God’s Word and unleash its power to transform us.
- Weave prayerful responses and the reading of Scripture among your worship songs. Imagine reading a few verses, allowing a moment of meditation as the keyboard plays, and responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit with a heartfelt prayer. There are many Scriptures that capture a heart devoted to God. Romans 12:1-4 (worship), Ephesians 3:14-21 (spiritual strength), and Philippians 2:1-11 (humility). Integrate the Scripture, music, meditation, and prayer times into the whole worship experience.
- Create a prayer guide in the bulletin and allow for moments of quiet reflection and personal prayer throughout the worship time. Allow the emphasis to be submission to Christ as an act of worship. It is from this heart posture that renewal will overflow.
- You could also utilize Sunday School and/or Small Group gatherings to unite your church in spirit and purpose. Create weekly prayer guides from your sermon series or book study.
- Allow 406 Sunday to be the catalyst for the integration of focused prayer leading up to Easter Sunday and build momentum. On 4/06, pursue Christ. Exalt Christ as King and magnify His name. On 4/13, pursue biblical Community in the Body of Christ. Include communion and submit to one another in reverence to Christ. On 4/20, pursue Commission. Proclaim the hope of the Gospel and preach the resurrection of Christ.
Spiritual renewal is the fruit of an abiding relationship with God. It is a holy and passionate pursuit. Can you envision what God will do in you, your church, and your community through Scripture-fed, Holy Spirit-led, worship-based prayer? Let’s pursue a culture of spiritual renewal together.
About the Author
