Sometimes, when people see our program, Ron Phillips from Abba’s House, they forget that I am the pastor of a “local” church. While I do enjoy speaking and ministering around the world, in the words of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz: “There’s no place like home”. There is just nothing like standing before my own church family and seeing the joy and unity in the Spirit that we have when we worship together.
Among the duties that come with being a pastor, I have the privilege of getting to pray with some of the businessmen and women in our church – praying over their businesses and employees. While I know that many people are taking a beating in the current economy, many entrepreneurs have the increased burden of physical structures, massive overhead, and all of the responsibilities that come with owning a business. Being responsible for, not just yourself, but the lives of dozens of other families who depend on you for income is daunting. These brave people need all the prayer they can get!
The other day, I went with a few church staff members to pray for one such businessman. Don Lepard has been a faithful member of our church for many years, and recently started a new company. Global Green Lighting is a company that makes energy-efficient “green” lighting for cities and municipalities. The lights are designed to operate in such a way as to save the cities that use them up to 70% in public lighting costs. As you can imagine from the description and the pictures, a business like this costs a lot of money to start and operate.
As we began to pray for Don and GGL, our prayers focused on two areas: cashflow (investment income) and business (tangible customers). As we prayed for cashflow, I prayed that an investor would come to GGL by Friday. As we prayed for new business and new clients, I felt impressed to pray for business to come in from Germany. We continued praying, anointing employees, as well as walking around the property and asking for God’s favor on this company. We were finishing our prayer time when Don’s cell phone rang. On the line was an investment banker who said he wanted to bring by a client who was interested in investing in GGL. He stated that they would be coming by ON FRIDAY!!!!
We left to have lunch with Don and some of his staff. While we were at lunch, Don received an email from a very large German-based company wanting to discuss a contract that would allow them to sell the GGL lights to their already established customers. Praise the Lord!!!
Within one hour of praying, we had a response to the two specific things we prayed for.
Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:4
We serve a mighty God! He knows our weaknesses. He sees ours hearts. He is well acquainted with our need. None of it gets by his watchful gaze. For those who delight themselves in Him, there is favor and blessing waiting. At times, the wait is longer than at others, but His timing is perfect, His plans for us are flawless, and He is good. He meets us at the point of our need in very real, very tangible, and sometimes, very specific ways.
Don stated that his favorite saying is, “I cannot wait to go to sleep at night so I can wake up early to see what God has in store for me each day!”
So, what is YOUR need? What does God have in store for YOU?
Don’t be afraid to be specific with your Father… He’s not afraid to be specific about your answer. Your answer may be just a prayer’s breath away.
The Heart of Abba - Ron Phillips 