I am beginning an intercessory prayer time beginning on January 24, 2011. I would say a lot of prayer has gone into this decision. This is a culmination of many years seeking the Lord and praying what he tells me to. I have never stepped out to actually lead a prayer group, so in that sense it is new and quite malleable. I am not going into this with a set agenda or formula. I will say that my only agenda is to be led of Holy Spirit into prayer. He searches the deep things of God and reveals them to us his children.

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

We are in a great position in regards to prayer. We only need to train ourselves to wait quietly before the Lord. He gives the objective for that particular time. It could be our city, our Nation, or a people group. I have an anticipation of impacting and changing history. We will do this as we humble ourselves and pray according to the Father’s will! In 2011 there seems to be a prayer initiative going forth in the United States. I know in our city of Albuquerque there is a new thrust of seeking the Lord for our city and our churches. Our cry is the same, “Bring unity and love to the Body of Christ, and then it will spread into our city streets.” How will they know of the love of Jesus unless we love one another?

I John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!

Heavenly Father has a vast love for his humanity! He created us, we are his dear children; created in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’s image. He wants to pour out salvation. He has a plan of complete restoration of our spirit, soul, and body. The soul includes the mind, will and emotions. He created each one of us with a uniqueness; we have distinct personalities that become evident at birth and even in the womb. I know Father’s desire is to see us mature into sons and daughters of the King. He knows each of our destinies and it is his great pleasure to see us begin to walk in them.

So, can you imagine how he feels about people that have never known him? They are created in his image just like you and I, but have never stepped into their God given destinies. This must grieve his heart. There is much intercession coming forth from Heaven.

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I, send me!”

This has been a favorite verse of mine for twenty years. Each time I read it or heard it read it has gone into the depths of my heart. It is a plea from our Father, “Who can I send?” “Who will go for us? The Father’s heart was crying out for someone to stand in the gap. In this context it was for Israel. We are his voice here on the earth. He needs us to show and speak his love and his plan for humanity. I also like the Father saying, “Who will go for us?” God has a father’s heart for his children. Jesus the Son is always interceding for us to know him. Holy Spirit is actively bringing the Kingdom of God into our midst. He abides in the born again believer prompting him to go into all the world and preach the good news of the Kingdom. Holy Spirit also empowers, and emboldens us to do the work of the Kingdom.

Ephesians 1:17
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Let’s ask God to give us greater vision, greater perspective for our city and state, our Nation and all other Nations as well. I want a global perspective of the Body of Christ and a global burden to pray. This I believe is the Kingdom of God inside of us praying, “Come in! Come in!” Our Father through the Holy Spirit wants to bring more and more wisdom and revelation if we would just take the time to quiet ourselves, listen and pray what we hear.

I want to close this article out with a word from the Lord on December 30, 2010

You will shake the mountains, (strongholds, principalities) and the atmosphere of your city will change. Step out and pray my will over your city, over your nation and over the nations. I re-route armies as my people pray. You were called for such a time; to bring my Kingdom to the earth. I will do great exploits through this group. My blessing is on this. Go in the confidence the Lord, and in the power of the Holy Ghost!

Cedars of God Intercessory Prayer
Monday evenings at 7 P.M.

• Humbling ourselves through repentance
• Worship
• Holy Communion
• Quieting ourselves and waiting
• Listening to Holy Spirit
• Praying His thoughts
• Obeying His directives

All my fountains are in you

That was my prayer today, as I am in the process of learning how to depend completely and wholly on the LORD. He holds my world in his hands is a lyric from a song that has ministered to me the past few weeks. It is amazing to me how Holy Spirit uses one line from one song to prompt heart change in me. I gladly surrender to His Lordship. Jesus is everything I need!

So, I began pondering the cry of my heart, “all my fountains are in you.” I asked Holy Spirit to give me understanding of this statement. This is His response to me.

Everything that pertains to life is flowing from the spring of life, who is Jesus. All of your comings and goings, all of your desires, all of your writings, prayers, intercessions come from this well of living water. Jesus is your source of everything. As you have humbled yourself, submitting completely to his Lordship you are walking in the fountain more and more. There is an unceasing supply of living, clear water flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. It is always available to you. It is when you make decisions on your own, stepping into things I have yet to ordain, then you have made for yourself your own cistern. You fill these vessels with your own waters of good deeds, decisions and plans. The word of God says they are broken cisterns, unable to hold what you have put into them.

Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

Can you imagine the purity of this water flowing from Jesus himself? Purity of heart comes to those who look to God; and infusion of the water of life. I know there are medicinal properties in these waters. There are trees that line this river with leaves for the healing of the nations. It is a nourishing flow straight from the Father’s heart available to all who will call on him; imagine being completely satisfied! I think of the Strength we gain by wading into this river. It begins in our feet and then into our calves and up to our thighs. I believe we can scale a mountain and take on an army!

Colossians 1:19
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.

Colossians 2:9-10
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

This is where we go to receive fountains of living water. We have access to Jesus who is filled to overflowing with everything we have need of. He has all the love, the forgiveness, the strength, the humility, the power. What is it you are lacking today? Jesus has the provision. I am beginning to see myself through the character of Jesus. I have only the strength he gives to me. I wake up in the morning breathing only because he has blown his breath into my lungs. I have desire to be the best companion to my husband only because of Jesus perfecting his love in me. He makes me a better person. I am solely dependent on him.

John 7:37-38
If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scriptures has said, steams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit

I remember how thirsty I was prior to coming into Christ in fullness. I was hungry for so many things, only to not be satisfied. We as humans have insatiable appetites if left unchecked by Holy Spirit. I longed to be loved and yet, I found myself yearning for more. This desire was never met in me until I came into the fullness of knowing Jesus! I wanted so badly to have a life that was good and productive, but was so dissatisfied with college, and being a waitress. I was living in Pensacola at the time; this was very close to the beaches. I walked off my college campus knowing I would not return. I drove to the beach and set out on the sand writing. I didn’t have a clue what I was supposed to do. I felt alone in my confusion. I knew what my parents wanted for me, but what was this desire stirring inside of me? I had a God hole that was gaping. I met my husband shortly after leaving college. He was filled with the Spirit and full of life! I felt as if I was breathing in fresh air when I was around him. He offered me living water that I had never experienced before. It was only when I was introduced to Jesus, that I was filled and no longer thirsty for the waters of the world. I certainly am not saying that college is evil; my husband has a degree and is in school right now. It was not the will of the Lord for me, even though I had access to a free education. So, the cistern that I had tried to fill was replaced with a beautiful river flowing through me. I am a channel of God’s blessings flowing out to the world. No longer do I house stagnant waters.

John 4:13-14
Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

The water Jesus was speaking about to the Samaritan woman would give her eternal life. She knew of God by her statement to Jesus that she and her people were waiting for the Messiah; she did not have him living in her, infusing life into her. She was so thirsty for love, as she had been married many times and was presently living with a man. Jesus didn’t condemn her, he accepted and loved her. He revealed himself to her as the Messiah, he led her in the truth that quickly set her free and filled her to overflowing. We have eternity set in our hearts. His name is Jesus. He is offering to us an unfathomable gift of eternal life with Him. This includes great gifts right now. Complete wholeness in your spirit, soul and body. Peace that flows in and through us. He has given us a sweet relationship with himself, and he placed us in a beautiful body of believers that we call the family of God.

Jeremiah 2:13
My people have committed two sins; they have forsaken me the spring of living water and have dug their own cisterns that cannot hold water.

I was like the Samaritan woman many years ago. I did not know that I had access to the spring of living water. I believed in Jesus, but did not know he was my source of living water. I did not know he held the key to my future. I was seeking what to do in my life without allowing him to direct me. Oh, how things could have been different. Yet, I have no regrets. I embrace the hard times of my past, because it is partly who I am. I have better understanding of people in their search for life. Jesus makes all things beautiful in time; and he has made me beautiful in him. That day so many years ago when I was confused and searching, he was there silently directing me. I can imagine him saying to me, “Don’t give up Jan, I have an amazing plan for your life. It involves a handsome young man who will love you as I have loved my church.” Wow! I have no use for broken cisterns. I want Jesus in his fullness!