Joining God in Watchful Praying

[Dave Butts]

Joining God in Watchful Praying

By Dave Butts

One of the most fascinating aspects of watchful praying is how closely it ties us to the very nature and activity of God Himself. God is a watcher! Again and again in the Bible we read
of how He watches over the affairs of both nations and individuals. He calls us
to join Him on His watch…to devote ourselves to watch and pray that we might
participate with our Lord in His purposes. What an amazing privilege! Carefully
consider these Scriptures that point to God on His watch:

• "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised
you" (Genesis 28:15).

• "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Psalm 32:8).

• "He rules forever by His power, His eyes watch the nations – let not the rebellious rise up against Him" (Psalm 66:7).

• "The LORD will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore"
(Psalm 121:7-8).

• "The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).

Would you today join with a watching God? He is calling His people to such an intimate place with Him that we begin to see some aspects of what He is seeing as He
allows us that privilege. Our watching is for the purpose of praying into our
world the purposes and plans of God. How amazing is the grace and calling of
God that He would grant us the joy and favor of laboring alongside Him through
watchful praying!

(excerpted from Prayer and The End of Days by David Butts; available at http://www.prayershop.org/Prayer-and-End-of-Days-p/int-bud-bk-001.htm )

For more information on this ministry:

www.harvestprayer.com

www.prayerleader.org

[Virginia Rommel]

Dave helped us find our way to Pray the News without lapsing into outrage or throwing up our hands and trying to ignore the evils of our time. Prayer Quake 2010 in Mesa, Arizona was extraordinary in giving us a big picture and supplying the missing pieces of personal assignments in these fast moving days. Can't wait to rally a squad for "Prayer and the End of Days."

[Lewis Turner]

Great encouragement. I am reminded of Mal 3:16 "a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name." The Lord writes down the times we seek Him in prayer. He wants us to do that and be diligent in prayer.

[Martin J. Ferenc (Marty)]

Naomi, the words the song are great & may they be the words of all our hearts. I am so encouraged to here the words of other men of prayer (Rick, Tim & Emmanuel!) which is so needed in the church. No offense ladies, but you have been carrying the church for years, it's time for the men to take their place in the gap, where we belong. And thanks so much for Dave Butts & how our Lord has been using him to spead the prayer movement! May we truely become one, the beautiful bride of Christ!

[Bernelle Goodwin]

The song of Naomi Fata is very meaningful. This blog started me thinking of watching with God and brought to mind a prayer I had put in my Something For God To Do box. Then I didn't worry about it or think of it until He answered it. My granddaughter was driving from Dallas to Tulsa, OK as the tornados were racing across OK on Monday, May 10th. My daughter did something she rarely does, turned on Weather Channel and saw her daughter was driving straight into the tornado that was soon to hit Atoka, OK. The family finally got her on the phone and told her to turn around and return to Dallas, which she did. At the time she would have been driving to these towns, the tornados were touching ground. My daughter said I don't know what made me turn on the Weather Channel. I told her I did because I had prayed for my ganddaughter's safety as she traveled to Tulsa and put it in my SFGTD box. God caused her to turn on the weather channel and prevent her daughter from being in the middle of a tornado. I had forgotten it and was so thankful God remembered and answered the prayer in His way. The next morning she drove to Tulsa withiout incident. I consider this the joy of watchful praying with God.

[Naomi Fata]

After reading all the comments I was especially challenged by what Janice Garey had said about praying the mind of Christ for people and how powerful that is. It reminded me of a song we often sang in college that I have not sang since. I looked up the lyrics online and just reading them reminded me of what a powerful prayer it is to pray for people to have the mind of Christ.
Below are the lyrics to this hymn.

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.

[EMMANUEL YAKUBU]

I agree with you of the need to be in watchful praying; an art that tha chuch has forotten about. We must be constantly be reminded of this.

[Tim Barta]

Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me"...Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Mt. 26:38,40-41

God is on His watch and invites us to join Him so that we will not fall into temptation. He repeats this theme in John 17:11, 21, 23. May we not fall into temptation, may we be protected from the evil one - so that we may be one. And may we be one so that the world may believe!

[Dennis Owen Shepherd]

In the couple weeks leading to the National Day of Prayer event at church, my co-leader of our church's Prayer Team received at least three messages from various sources that peoples' hearts are as "Dry Bones" today. Although well announced throughout the county, no one showed for the event; I know God sees our Land and is Calling us to pray fervently for the Nation. I know God is watching over us who pray for Revival - a Return to following God's Ways.

[Rick Alvey]

I so appreciate the core challenge in this blog post to become focused on others, watching as God does. Our world is so self-absorbed, and the church as well, that we need the constant reminder that to love God is to love others which can only happen if we are watching and praying for them. Thanks Dave!

[Janice Garey]

I have always thought that one of the best prayers I can pray for another person is that they might have the mind of Christ. I am alert to the fact that it would include being watchful with the Lord in all that is of concern to Him. Oh, to have the mind of Christ! Is it too much to hope for? Not to be Him but to think as He thinks, to see as He sees, to watch as He watches and to fully and completely surrender in all respects my whole being for His perfect use. It only comes about in increments, slowly, steadyily adding bit by bit. God is so good to take what we can offer and use it to His glory. Thank you for encouraging me to think along these lines. I will watch with my Lord!