Crazy Love in Pensacola

This seems so simple but yet soooo complicated, so chaotic but so doable.  Francis Chan challenged me in his book Crazy Love.  Mr. Chan said, "Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go, or how much time, money and energy they are willing to give."  This is my challenge to Pensacola FL:  If you call yourself a follower of Christ, if you believe all things are possible through Christ, then it's time you pray for Pensacola like Christ would.

Think about it, when Jesus prayed before he was crucified, he didn't get up and have his bacon, eggs and cup of coffee first, he didn't flip on the news to see what was going on in the gulf, he didn't pick up an iphone in distress and call his BFF about the accusations he had against him....no....he went to the garden, alone, to pour out his heart to his Father. In a crazy way that we can't comprehend, he loved those who hated and rejected him, he loved those who accused him, tried him, found him guilty and crucified him, yet he still prayed for them!

Most people, religious or not, don't mind someone praying for them when they've experienced sudden tragedy, because at that moment, they realize they're not in control....and just in case there is a higher being who can change situations, mend broken hearts, provide financially etc., then they want YOU to tap into your connection so their void can be filled, they figure it can't hurt right?  This is where your role comes into the scheme of things in Pensacola, FL.

This was God's idea, I'm just being obedient by putting it out there.  There will be those who say it can never happen, and unfortunately some of those will be believers.  All I can say is that if you genuinely want to see great things happen in Pensacola, if you want to see the lost come to Christ, the hungary to be fed, the sick to be healed, etc., then YOU must begin to pray as Jesus prayed.  He went to the Father on our behalf, are you getting the point?  You have to go to the Father on Pensacola's behalf and pray that Christ so richly fills you that the only thing people see when they look at you is JESUS.

There is nothing that you or I can do alone to win our city to Christ...it is the Holy Spirit who draws people to himself, but the Holy Spirit is only in believers!  So my plan is to first begin by asking the Holy Spirit to fill me and all Christians in our city to the point that our cups run over.  Daily we need to begin praying specifically for the families who live on our street. If you don't know their name that's okay, you now have a new assignment, find out their name:)  I personally am going to write a letter and send to everyone on my street telling them that their family is being covered daily in prayer, and if they have anything in particular they need prayer for, then they can email me or come down to my house.  There is no right or wrong way to approach the throne of God on behalf of the families on your street and you don't have to send a letter like I'm doing, but I challenge you to set aside a time every day to pray over the families on your street.  Pray for the comfortable to become uncomfortable. Pray for His will above our will.

I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray without ceasing", now go my friend and approach the throne of grace!

Blessings,
Stacey D