Pray Big

by Rob O’Neal

Years ago friends of mine bought Mrs. Keen’s house. We called it Mrs. Keen’s house, because she lived there for decades before she died. The small house had beautiful details and fit my friends’ needs perfectly. There was just one problem — Mrs. Keen had been a chain smoker. The smell overpowered you the moment you walked into the house.

My friends started cleaning as soon as they got the keys. They washed walls, and the water ran brown with nicotine. It took weeks of cleaning and painting to get the smell out of the house. Smoking so much leaves an imprint on a house.

Prayer can leave a similar impact. When we pray in a spot over many years, it leaves an imprint. People walking into buildings that have been used as churches will sometimes note that the building has a special, reverent feel. It may have been abandoned for years or even find itself turned into a restaurant or museum, but the aroma of prayer and God’s presence still permeates the space.

Chain smoking helps me to understand believing prayer and intercession. We want to pray for one another and over what God is doing in this world with similar focus and urgency. Jesus says that praying over what his Father is doing in the world should be a regular part of our prayers. In his model prayer (Matthew 6:10), he tells us to pray, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus’ words help me to understand that God wants me to pray about the expansion of his kingdom in the same ways that I pray for forgiveness and daily bread.

When I think about God’s Kingdom expanding, I think of Immanuel Church in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. They were recently given the gift of a building in nearby Westford. The Westford Bible Church was closing its doors, and the remaining congregation wanted to see their building used for the kingdom, so they gave it to Immanuel Church.

Pastor Dana Smith and the congregation have decided to send out a team to plant a new church in the building they have been given. This team is being led by Immanuel’s associate pastor, Jonathan Romig. They have assembled a core team from Immanuel that is dedicated to starting the new church. A ministry team is guiding the group.

Please pray for this new church plant. Please pray that God will guide the ministry team in the many decisions they have to make. Please pray that the core team will grow and reach new believers in Westford. Please pray that this new church will become a vibrant congregation that makes disciples of Jesus for generations to come. Please pray that God will expand his kingdom in Westford, Massachusetts.

As we pray for God’s kingdom to expand, let’s pray regularly and fervently. Let’s pray with intensity, expecting that God is going to do something big. May our prayers leave a mark.