Daily Reading in Primal, Mark Batterson has opened my mind & challenged me in reading the Bible. But more than just reading it, submitting to it; participating in the gospels as if I was there. Mediating on the Word is the only way I can get the word through ME as opposed to just reading through the Word.
But the most powerful statement or part of my reading today was his experience of the verse Matthew 18:18, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” This vs has def perplexed me to its real meaning & depth. What in the world would I bind on earth that I would won't bound in heaven? The only things I could think of were bad things that don't even exist in heaven. But when he explained how they got their coffee house, Ebenezers my eyes were opened to the meaning of that passage.
When they walked around & prayed over that property in the earthly realm, God put a binding contract on that property in the heavenly realm. Reading that sentence broke my heart & brought me to tears. I immediately had a picture of the whole town of Apalachicola. I envisioned myself walking around the town & praying over every part of it. We as a church has to pray over this town if we are going to make a difference in it. I believe we need to start some prayer walks around this town. Praying over blocks, praying over the mayor's office, praying over the businesses, police departments, oyster houses! Mark said, “I'm absolutely convinced that we underestimate our authority in Christ when we pray in alignment with the will of God. What we bind on earth is a done deal in heaven!”
My spirit is whirling inside & I feel that God has realigned my priority & reaffirmed my call. We will reach this town, we will be the regional church that was prophesied over us, IF we pray a binding prayer over this town & county. Mark explains “the Bible isn't meant to be read Reactively. It is meant to be prayed PROactively. There are thousands of promises waiting to be claimed.”
God may I lead this church in PROactive prayer over this area. I pray that you continue to give me a BIG vision for these people & dreams that only YOU will be able to accomplish. It's all for your glory! There are many souls that need you to awaken them from their sleep. There are many families that need you to bind them together. Let Living Waters be a PROactive part of the transformation that YOU will bring into their lives!!!!!!