What’s Your Primary Strategy? - Illinois Family Institute

Written by Pastor Joe Denner

What is your primary strategy for bringing about the kinds of changes you’re looking for in your church, community, family, or life?

I recently participated in an executive retreat with an organization that was discussing change and the topic of conversation centered around, “What is most important right now?”

I think that is a question we should all be asking, as pastors, as business people, as parents, as citizens. I am sure there are many answers we could come up with, but one of the answers this leadership team came up with resonated deeply with me.

“Prayer should be our strategy,” stated one of the senior members of the team.

Unfortunately, prayer often isn’t at the top of our list when we think about strategy. Don’t get me wrong, many of us pray. But how many of us have prayer as one of our most important strategies, bringing a focus of prayer into multiple arenas in our lives?

This leader’s answer makes me think of Paul’s words, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

As a husband, father, pastor, and business owner, I am becoming more and more convinced that prayer is one of the absolute most important aspects of all of my roles. There isn’t a single responsibility in my purview that shouldn’t be bathed in and have as its source of direction a regular and consistent conversation with God.

There are many ways and many areas that this strategy could be implemented, but I would like to challenge you to make it a consistent practice in one specific area – your marriage.

My wife and I have been praying together daily for over a decade and we would both tell you that it is one of the most intimate practices you and your spouse can enjoy together. Not only do we believe that, but we would also say it is one of the most powerful practices we enjoy together.

A couple that regularly and consistently stands together in prayer is a powerful weapon in the hands of Almighty God. Because of this, the enemy of our souls, the devil, will pull out all the stops to prevent this from happening. But we must persist. We must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10) so we can prevail in this fight.

The stakes are too high not to fight. And God is too faithful not to prevail on your behalf if you will surrender to Him in this area.

Paul urges the people of God to make the most of our time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). Praying together as a couple is a key way to make the most of our time.

I truly believe that if we will yield to the Spirit and allow Him to form us into praying couples, that we will see a movement of God in our day that is unprecedented.

Remember the words of Nehemiah, “And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:14)

Specific Prayer Items:

Pray for President Donald Trump and both of our U.S. Senators, Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.

Pray for the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court: Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justices Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito, Sonai Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Neil Gorsuch. Please pray that they would uphold and preserve religious liberty as they consider the Masterpiece Cakeshop case later this year.

Pray that lawmakers in Washington, D.C. would continue to work toward defunding Planned Parenthood and repealing Obamacare.

Please continue to pray that Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner will veto HB 1785 and HB 40, proposals that would legalize transgender birth certificates and taxpayer funding of abortion in Illinois.

Pray that devout Christians throughout the state would respond to the call to public service and run for office on the local, state and federal levels. Pray that moral and fiscally responsible candidates would have the support they need to prevail in the March 2018 elections. Pray that God would remove from office those corrupt political officials who enable reckless and immoral legislative practices to continue.

Pray for boldness in our pulpits and for strong, unwavering church leadership plus a willingness to engage the culture.

Pray that God would bless and prosper the work of IFI and IFA. Pray for the success of our upcoming fall events and the wherewithal to do the work necessary on behalf of life, families, marriages, and religious liberty.

Thank you for being a prayer warrior alongside us!

Joe Denner is the President of Alliant Leadership and the Pastor of Dover Bible Church. He and his wife and their nine children live in Dover. Illinois.

You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to his YouTube channel. Check out his blog too!