I Have Prayer on the Brain!

This weekend I get to do one of my favorite things in ministry! We are heading to our 2nd prayer escape of the year! The Lord is doing great and awesome things at IMPACT CHURCH. I see such maturity occurring in the lives of our leaders! We are poised to see and be a part of the hand of God sweeping across both Dade and Broward counties.

Our prayer escape begins tomorrow night (Friday night) and will last through Saturday afternoon. And afterwards, we will engage in our 2nd “Need a Miracle?” Sunday services! We can sense God about to do great things in our midst! I’m super excited!!

I have prayer on the brain this morning…. so here are some thoughts on prayer. Let your faith arise and let’s seek Him with all our hearts!

  • There is no divine intervention that occurs in the affairs of men except to the response of prayer.
  • We lean too much on the “sovereignty of God” concept. Any definition of the sovereignty of God that makes us irresponsible needs to be replaced with the correct view of scripture. In other words, though God is sovereign, we have a responsibility to connect with His sovereignty – and that only occurs through prayer.
  • We have a responsibility to know our assignment. And that assignment will not be known outside of prayer – Therefore we have a responsibility to PRAY.
  • God made the heavens for himself and the earth for men to have dominion over with delegated authority. Our delegated authority is prayer.
  • Our prayer is simply engaging in the contract GOD has with us, in stewarding the earth we live in.
  • God can still do what he pleases; he is sovereign… but limits Himself in the affairs of men, unless someone prays.
  • Not even the Messiah was sent unless someone prayed… Anna and Simeon prayed for him to come. (Luke 2)
  • Even for the return of the Lord – Revelation says The Spirit and the Bride say come… (A prayer) We must pray it all in!
  • We have the responsibility to interact with heaven, with God himself, to affect this world to become like His.
  • This is the job we have been given and it is done only through prayer.
I want to hear from you. What are some of your thoughts on prayer?

38 Comments

  1. Javier Navas on July 21, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    I amazing how God is putting us on the same page, because Prayer is the most important thing, without it we can be lost in the middle of the world.

    SInce God sent me to prayer every morning i have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, now i can have authority over thing that i have struggle with, those afflicttion made me grow out more and more, made me realize that we are nothing without Him,

    So this weekend I’m really want to experience God in another level, i’m expecting God to show us His face and pour His blessing so we can be a blessing to our families, friends and this region which is in a urge of Jesus in their live.

    Father may your glory come down from heaven this weekend and may “Need a miracle Service” will be a complete success in whic the weak will be fill of strenght, may the sick will be heal, and where every single individual find a purpose in Jesus Christ.

    Guys, let’s be in expectation for sign and wonders and pray constantly as God send us to pray during this weekend.



    • Manny Rivera on July 21, 2011 at 4:26 PM

      I’m believing with you Javi!!



  2. Carla on July 21, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    In this last 2 months prayer has become essential in my life. I understand that it is my main communication with God, not only for me to ask but to also received from him. It is the place where he tells me exactly the things that I need to do. I remember in the last Miracle Sunday, I was sad, tired, disappointed and frustrated. The only thing I was praying for was for God to give me a purpose and guidance in how to prosper not only financially but in him, this was my prayer during the prayer escape. Then, on Sunday morning the Holy Spirit show me , images of me praying with my parents just after we open the doors of our business, images of me praying with the people I work with (some of them non-believers), images of the staff praying for each patient, images of me praying prior meeting our clients. I was truly amazed but what was really extraordinary was that as soon as I stand up to write everything that I had saw AD and Sylvia came up to me and Javy to tell us that the Holy Spirit told them that we must pray as soon as we open the doors of our business, to pray for our patients, to pray with our staff, for our clients and that God has a purpose for our business!!!! I was blown AWAY!!!. Could it be that God answer my prayer? Could this be a desire from my heart to PRAY, Really me???. Yes it was, not only he responded to my prayer but also gave me confirmation, so I wouldn’t doubt. Think about it our GOD, the King of Kings, the Lord not only he had responded but also gave me confirmation, to me a rebellious sinner!!! He does love us. That day I understood that I must pray and that he hears our prayers, however, I must confess that some time is not easy but I know what I need to do because he gave me a purpose. Again, just BELIVE!!



    • Manny Rivera on July 21, 2011 at 4:25 PM

      AWESOME CARLA!!! Yes… he does love us regardless of our imperfections and disobedience! He is so good!!



  3. Maritza Cruz on July 21, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    I believe we are living in a time when God is looking for that old testament Abraham faith. Where God spoke and they did. Abraham and God had communication. Abraham or Abram at the time would not have known Gods voice if he did not have a relationship with God. Only through prayer are we able to know Gods voice and have direction. God is a great communicator, he knows exactly what He wants, and how He wants it executed. We are the ones that need to learn how to fine tune our ears to his voice. Only through prayer is that accomplished. I know God is doing great things in impact church,the people are hungry for God!!



    • Manny Rivera on July 21, 2011 at 1:10 PM

      Maritza… My prayer is that we all have the ability to hear the voice of God!



  4. januel on July 21, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    This weekend will be a powerful weekend due to prayer and intersection.



  5. April on July 21, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    I believe that prayer is such an important part of our lives, both individually and coporately. I remember when we started doing coporate prayer in the office at the smaller building on Saturday’s in the evening. There was at that time in me no recognition or connection to what prayer was or what it could do. Before you restarted coporate prayer on Tuesday’s and now Wednesday’s, it felt like something extra needed to take place in not only me but our House as well. I think God is showing us alot through prayer. Prayer is a definite growth tool and eye opener.



    • Manny Rivera on July 25, 2011 at 5:20 PM

      Yes April – It has to become the foundation of everything we do!



  6. Jazz Martin on July 21, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    “The greatest sin is the sin of prayerlessness” I am not sure who came up with that quote, but I feel prayer is vital in our lives. For months I would wake up in the middle of the night and I couldn’t sleep. It was around the same time every night. What the crazy part is I would pray that I would go back to sleep. I know my flesh must die daily. I received a prophetic word that God would wake me up at 2 or 3 in the night and he was waking me up to pray. The next night I looked at the clock and it was 2:55. I told God okay I’ll pray. Through prayer God’s will is done on earth. God has given us dominion and the way that we connect with his dominion, authority and purpose is through prayer. Revivals are birth out of prayer, people are healed through prayer, needs are met through prayer, and the lost are saved through prayer,



    • Manny Rivera on July 25, 2011 at 1:30 PM

      AWESOME!!! LOVE IT JAZZ!!!



  7. dmcfarlane on July 22, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    There was a man who found a 3 acre field. It was desolate and drab. Strewn with rocks, weeds, thorns, junk, and waste. As time passed he developed the plot by making gardens, lakes, buildings, and improvements. One day he was with his uncle who was very impressed with the magnificence and beauty of the property. In awe, his uncle said “Look at how beautiful this all is…isn’t God amazing?”…the man sighed, then responded “Yes, but you should have seen it when God had it!”

    God needs the hands of man. Not for man’s Glory, but according to his plan. Therefore we are free to humbly aspire to His greatness through faith in Christ Jesus. This was assured in John 14:12. I truly believe we are at a point where true balance depends on how faithfully we work and pray…nothing else.



    • Manny Rivera on July 25, 2011 at 1:19 PM

      Love it David… Very interesting!



  8. cindy shappy on July 22, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    Pastor Manny, this is a perfect title for your blog today! Whenever
    you want something in life it has been said there is alway a price to
    pay. We don’t have to pay any price to pray. For our Lord and Savior
    paid with his life to give us this privilege. I have never been very good
    at prayer and I know that what it take is to get closer to my Heavenly
    Father by finding the words that are in my heart and speaking to Him
    whenever He comes to my mind. Relax and let the words flow. For
    God cannot answer our prayers if we do not pray.” See you Sunday!



    • Manny Rivera on July 25, 2011 at 1:16 PM

      PRAY PRAY PRAY!! Thanks Cindy!



  9. januel on July 22, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    oops! should be intersession.



  10. Manny on July 22, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    I agree Pastor we have to pray so we can see the hand of God move in Dade and Broward county.



  11. Jalina on July 22, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    I am very excited about what God is doing because His people are praying. Since we began having our morning prayers I have come to acknowledge more than ever the importance of prayer. My responsibility is to intercede for this region along with my brothers and sisters. I am not at the Prayer retreat but I am praying that God continues to work in Impact Church to be the light he has called us to be. Sunday, will be a Miracle service where we will see signs and wonders.



    • Manny Rivera on July 25, 2011 at 1:14 PM

      I love it!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY – Jalina!!



  12. mario on July 25, 2011 at 1:35 PM

    I believe that when people pray, God gets excited, because His people are desiring to reach Him, when we pray we write history. God loves when his people want to communicate with Him. We have the responsibility to pray, because we have the option to accept or reject what happen in the earth. A lot of believers think that prayer is the last resource that we have, but in reality when we pray and call upon the most powerful been in the universe, the all powerful creator of everything. I don’t think thats weakness, I think thats the most powerful weapon we have. Because God is the all powerful and He is waiting for us to call upon His name. God is sovereign and He will accomplish whatever he wants, but we have the opportunity, when we pray to be part of his will when we pray and seek after Him.



  13. Elisa Magnan on July 26, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    I believe in the power of prayer. Without it we don’t have a purpose or direction. Prayer is the longing and the hope of our souls for God to move in seemingly impossible states. I am so thrilled with the growth I am seeing in us brothers and sisters and its all due to prayer. We are connecting with our Creator on a daily basis. I believe that as long as prayer is the focus of our hearts and we continue to pursue God that nothing will hinDer us from his blessings. LET’S CONTINUE IN PRAYER. GOD IS LISTENING!!!!



    • Manny Rivera on July 27, 2011 at 11:34 AM

      I’m so proud of you Elisa!!



  14. AM on July 27, 2011 at 3:14 PM

    Prayer is simply our conduit of communication with God. Without proper communication there is lack of understanding. Without proper understanding, there is the inability to implement God’s instruction to us. Thus rendering us aimless in our true purpose here on Earth. We can not have an attitude of ” que sera, sera”, what ever will be will be. We must be attentive, ears wide open to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying.
    If we do not connect with what He is saying and respond to it, we will be left on the outside looking in. God is looking to and fro for people who will respond, in order to support them. If we respond, then He obligates Himself to recipricate.



  15. dmcfarlane on July 27, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    Don’t know if she’ll get it, but just wanted to send a “blug” (a ‘hug’ via ‘Blog’ which I have taken the liberty to invent at this moment) for Cindy Shappy…her comment “For God cannot answer our prayers if we do not pray” brought an unexpected feeling…hard to describe. Simply profound.

    Thanks Cindy!!



    • Manny Rivera on July 28, 2011 at 2:38 PM

      I’m hugging her now as i type!!! Love you CINDY!!



  16. La Quail on July 28, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    I’ve always question do God hear me or who am I! But though the teaching and hands on training from my leader’s always remind me of I know who HE (GOD )is in my life and reminding me of the things HE (GOD )have done! So I’ve been bless with a job that you have to pray on constant knees for my clients and the Group Home owners and staff ,and know I understand when Pastor Laz tells us the testimony of when he’s at work it’s peace that no one understand .



    • Manny Rivera on July 28, 2011 at 2:43 PM

      Excellent…. May his peace continue to guide you and give you strength!



  17. Jenny on July 30, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    Like I stated in my previous post… I believe prayer is what connects us to God’s purpose for our lives. It’s what makes us know Him better and makes us fall in love with Him more and more each time. It’s how we are intimate with Him.



    • Manny Rivera on July 31, 2011 at 1:52 PM

      Prayer is and will remain to be the key…



  18. Johnny on July 30, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    I am excited about Impact Church’s renewed desire to seek the Lord in prayer. I could not agree with you more pastor. We all have a responsibility to pray! I Samuel 12:23, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. Prayer is not an option! Let’s continue praying Impact Church, that we may align ourselves with what heaven has already established!



    • Manny Rivera on July 31, 2011 at 1:55 PM

      May we never stop!



  19. Ashley E on July 30, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    Prayer is so much more than just the act of praying… It’s having an on going relationship with God. And when we are always hitting “ignore” on the “phone calls” or snooze on the alarm our relationship suffers. God won’t push His way into our lives but He wants us to push our way into His. If we are not willing to pick up the phone call eventually we won’t even notice the phone ringing. At least this is what I’ve noticed in my life. I suffer when I don’t involve Him in my everyday.



    • Manny Rivera on August 1, 2011 at 12:42 PM

      Yes, he is a Gentleman. Thank God for his grace and mercy on our lives.



  20. Luis on July 31, 2011 at 1:08 AM

    I am a product of prayer. My mother has prayed for us (my bros and sis) even since she was catholic. We have to pray thing through. Prov 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. By the same token we need to be careful what we pray for, I’ve learned the hard way 🙂 We pray for jobs, increase etc.. but when the answer comes we lack wisdom in which a blessing can become a burden. I pray for wisdom and more wisdom to be a good steward of all He gracefully gave, gives and will give.
    Thank you Pastor for the oil of wisdom you are pouring on your sheep.



    • Manny Rivera on August 1, 2011 at 12:35 PM

      I too was a product of prayer!!! Luis we are rolled to do great things for the Kingdom!



  21. Ruday Ichiban on August 3, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    Prayer is the key to seeing things happen. Now that I think about it, I can’t think of a time that God has blessed me or my family apart from prayer. When I track down the root of the blessings, it was all a result of prayer. As we continue to pray as a church and continue to declare the promises of God, we will see God do great things in our midst as He already is.