Borrow Courage

Five years ago this weekend, our leadership team prayed a risky prayer: We begged Jesus to see 50 people come home that Easter weekend. After the first service, I remember begging God to DO something. We were in an “only God” moment. Only God could turn the spiritual tide. Only God could reach the people we were begging for. Only God could do the impossible.

So we prayed. We gave Him our very best. And we sat on the edge of our seats. Well…I stood. My heart was on the line for the 1,386 people God had entrusted to us that day.

And God DID SOMETHING! He answered our prayers. After each service people streamed to the front of the room to let the world know they’d just received Christ. And at the end of the day…55 people had come home! Remarkable.

So why do I tell you that today? Because as we’re praying the next risky prayers in our lives, sometimes we need to remember what God has done in the past. And sometimes we need to borrow courage from each other.

It’s Easter week and The Uprising is right around the corner. I don’t know who you’re praying for. I don’t know the risky prayers God is giving you to pray. But I just wanted to breathe courage into you…God is in the business of doing the IMPOSSIBLE.

See…my Easter weekend 2005 didn’t end until later the next day, March 28th. My dad was in town that weekend, and we were getting ready to go out and celebrate his birthday that night, still reeling from all God had done the day before. And after years of prayers, and talks here and there along the way…it finally happened. A moment I’d prayed for – for 23 years.

I risked one more time. I told my dad that while I loved helping so many people find hope in Jesus, it would be my greatest honor to one day be able to lead him in making that decision for himself…to pray with him…to be there as he came to Christ humbly asking for His forgiveness and inviting Him into his heart to be his Forgiver and Leader. I sat holding my breath, and then came the words I’d been waiting 23 years to hear…  “Ok, I am ready.”

I will never forget it…never.

So who do you need to take the risky step of reaching out to…again? Your dad? Your spouse? Someone you love? Go for it, friends. Risk one more conversation. Pray one more prayer. Take the step He’s calling you to take. Remember Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians. So don’t grow weary of doing good, your work for God is never in vain. (1 Cor. 15:58).

Praying with you this week. Who will God reach through you?

p.s. Happy Birthday Dad…I love you.