Day 25 — Unite 714
Unite 714
In the midst of this pandemic, perhaps the most encouraging thing for Rach and I has been the church’s response in prayer. At the start of the year at Gas Street we made prayer a key goal for us as a church. And now here we are in lockdown unable to be together face to face, but wonderfully united in prayer.
We are just finishing off our fourth week of 24/7 prayer as a church. That is remarkable! What an incredible response. That’s 672 hours of prayer. I’ve no doubt it is making a difference in our city, but also I’m finding it’s making a difference in my own life. I’ve never prayed more – and am convinced that prayer is the most effective thing we can do to see God’s kingdom come. Alongside the 24/7 prayer I’ve loved the Insta prayer meetings. Nick Herbert and Reuben Williams have done a stunning job in leading us in prayer.
Something is happening that is marking us as a church: God is re-wiring us and re-setting the foundations on which we are building our lives. We’re learning that, ‘Many are the plans of a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purposes that prevail.’ (Proverbs 19:21)
One of the other wonderful things we’re seeing is greater church unity. Rach and I have loved connecting with other church leaders from all over the city and nation, learning together, praying for one another and cheering each other on. We know that God commands a blessing when we unite as the church globally.
So we want to invite you to join with us in a global prayer initiative called UNITE714. It’s very simple: at 7:14am and 7:14pm set an alarm on your phone and pray this beautiful Scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14:
‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’
Twice a day take a moment to call on God’s name, humble yourself, turn from your sin and ‘wicked ways’ and seek God for the healing of our land. The beautiful thing is that as we do this we are uniting with millions of fellow believers all across the globe. Twice a day. One voice. Calling on God for mercy.
We have been so inspired by all you are doing. We love you and miss you. Keep going for it. And please keep praying. If you haven’t yet done it then sign up for an hour on our 24/7 prayer initiative. Join us for the Insta prayer meetings on Tuesday 9am and Thursday 9pm and set your alarm at 7:14 am & pm!
God is working in all the pain and suffering; through all the fear, hardship and loss. And if we can really learn as a church how to pray (which I believe we’re beginning to do), we will see God move in the most remarkable ways. The promise is that he will heal our land!
Tim Hughes
Lead Pastor