Spiritual Asthma – 18 July 2006

Whilst in the United States Jackie and I will spend a week at the International House of Prayer (IHoP) in Kansas City. The only thing I knew about Kansas City was that “everything’s up to date”*. But for the last 7 years there has been a prayer meeting going on continuously for 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

 

It was started by the then Pastor of Metro Vineyard Church of Kansas City, Mike Bickle – he is now focussed entirely on the House of Prayer. Our own Rugby House of Prayer (R-HoP) is modelled on IHoP.

 

Prayer is fundamental to our relationship with God and yet it is something that all of us struggle with, and when it comes to prayer meetings it appears to be the least valued part of the life of the church. I know the disappointment and frustration Jackie experiences as Leader for Prayer at St. Matthew’s. 

 

So what is happening in Kansas City? What can we learn from IHoP? I don’t know. But clearly the people of God are responding to prayer there in a way we are not.

 

Prayer is often spoken of as the breath of the Christian. It seems that many of us have spiritual asthma, we are struggling to breath. In visiting IHoP I am hoping to learn something, but more than that, I am hoping for a fresh spiritual encounter with God in prayer, but it will only happen if I put myself at his disposal.

 

How much of yourself will you put at God’s disposal today? How’s your breathing?

 

Father, you know my spiritual asthma, please increase the desire in my heart for you and help me to breathe more easily. Amen.