Crowds
of
people
came
to
hear
[Jesus]
and
to
be
healed
of
their
sickness.
But
he
often
withdrew
to
lonely
places
and
prayed
(Luke
5:15b-‐16).1
I
believe
that
the
eternal
fruit
that
has
happened
in
our
midst
this
past
year
has
been
due
to
God's
grace
unfolded
first
through
prayer
and
then
the
efforts
of
many
people!
LORD,
a
big
thanks
for
Pastor
John
Mark
challenging
us
to
grow
in
this
area.
It’s
been
a
privilege
to
serve
our
church
in
the
area
of
prayer;
God
has
done
so
much
in
the
way
of
building
this
ministry
these
past
twelve
months
–
over
a
dozen
weekly
prayer
groups,
hundreds
of
people
getting
the
Monday
Prayer
Feed,
a
weekly
blog
on
prayer,
etc.
But
I
believe
God
wants
to
continue
to
lengthen,
widen
and
deepen
this
ministry
of
prayer
at
Apex
Baptist.
Private
prayer
brings
public
power!
Please
join
with
me
in
praying
towards
that
end.
A
relationship
with
the
Father
and
the
ability
to
bring
the
needs
of
others
to
God’s
throne
of
grace
and
mercy
are
among
the
greatest
gifts
God
has
given
to
mankind
(Heb
4:16).
However,
in
order
to
function
in
these
capacities,
times
of
solitude
with
the
LORD
are
absolutely
essential.
We
must
publicly
worship
and
pray,
consistently
proclaim
the
wonders
of
God,
and
do
the
daily
tasks
of
life
and
work;
however,
vital
to
all
these
things
are
times
of
solitude
with
God.
And
yet
how
few
of
us
strongly
desire
these
quiet
times
with
the
LORD
of
life
or
quickly
turn
them
into
an
obligation,
a
reading
assignment,
or
study
session.
Isaiah
26:9
declares
that
one
day
God
will
have
a
people
who
say,
“My
soul
yearns
for
you
in
the
night;
in
the
morning
my
spirit
longs
for
you.”
Wow!
LORD,
help
me
to
have
that
type
of
a
heart!
May
I
follow
in
Jesus’
footsteps,
especially
as
mentioned
above.
Jesus
withstood
the
many
demands
that
pressed
upon
his
life
in
order
to
have
times
of
solitude
with
God.
As
followers
of
Jesus,
if
we
are
too
busy
for
regular
times
of
solitude,
our
lives
and
values
are
out
of
priority.
In
fact
these
quite
times,
away
from
the
press
of
life,
are
essential
for
sustaining
our
effectiveness
and
quality
of
life
in
God.
Unfortunately,
our
alone
times
with
God
are
easily
stolen
from
us
by
things
of
lesser
value.
But
what
could
be
better
than
to
sit
quietly
in
God's
presence,
fellowshipping
with
him?
I
wonder
how
different
things
would
be,
if
our
question
was
not
"How
much
time
must
I
spend
alone
with
God?"
but
rather,
"How
much
time
am
I
allowed
to
spend?"
Maintaining
regular
times
of
solitude
in
our
lives
is
the
gray
door
that
few
walk
through,
because
it
is
unappealing.
Yet
behind
that
door
are
the
glory
of
God
and
the
life
of
God
and
the
key
to
all
that
is
good
and
holy.
In
our
natural
body,
it
is
the
unseen
organs
that
are
the
most
vital
to
the
life
of
the
body;
so
also
is
it
with
the
body
of
Christ
(1
Cor
12:12ff).
Praying
1 See also Mark 1:35, Matt. 14:23, and Luke 9:18.
often
in
secret
(Matt
6:5-‐15)
is
definitely
a
vital
but
hidden
‘organ
that
pumps
blood’
into
every
area
of
our
individual
and
community
lives.
FRIDAY
PRAYER
PROMPTS
1. Lord,
continue
to
build
ABC
into
a
house
of
prayer;
help
our
leaders
to:
a. Seek
your
heart
above
all
else
(Jer
10:21).
b. Not
cave
into
the
pressures
of
life
(Matt
26:40)
or
the
demands
of
ministry
(Acts
6:1-‐7)
that
call
them
away
from
prayer
and
the
preaching
of
your
Word.
2. Thank
you
LORD
for
the
dozens
of
people
that
serve
our
Treasured
Friends,
our
ministry
to
our
shut-‐ins.
May
we
care
for
them
with
your
heart
of
love
and
continue
to
see
them
as
precious
in
your
sight
and
vital
to
our
church.
3. 2014
National
Day
of
Prayer:
LORD,
use
our
church
to
gather
and
serve
the
great
Apex
area
on
May
1st.
a. LORD,
we
want
to
at
least
double
the
churches
and
people
involved
in
this
event
from
last
year.
b. Give
Pastor
John
Mark,
Peter
Dubbelman
and
those
serving
with
them
favor
with
the
pastors
of
other
churches,
as
they
approach
them
to
join
this
effort.
4. Prayer
Guide:
God
we
want
to
utter
your
prayers
that
usher
in
your
kingdom
to
our
lives,
our
families,
our
church,
...
a. Use
this
booklet
for
that
purpose;
don’t
let
the
words
on
the
page
be
dry
and
lifeless.
Help
us
to
pray
your
prayers,
straight
from
the
Bible
and
your
heart
and
purposes.
b. Give
Peter
and
those
who
assist
him
in
this
effort
your
heart
in
these
matters.
5. LORD
may
your
administrative
blessing
be
on
our
church:
a. Help
us
to
do
things
‘decently
and
in
order’.
b. Keep
our
people
safe
as
they
travel
in
our
vehicles
on
mission
for
you.
c. Pour
open
the
windows
of
heaven
upon
us
with
such
a
blessing
that
we
are
not
able
to
contain
it.
d. May
our
people
work
as
unto
you
in
the
kitchen,
maintenance,
housekeeping,
security,
transportation,
…
areas
of
our
church.
e. Strengthen
and
protect
us
through
the
Sunday
morning
safety
and
security
ministry
of
our
church.
f. Help
us
to
be
wise
stewards
of
the
resources
your
give
us.
