Today''s post focuses on the prayer commitment of praying for revival in your church.

This week we''ll be walking back through the same prayer prompts and questions that we went through several weeks ago when we focused on praying for revival in our relationship with the Lord.

Matters of the church can be sticky. We often become too caught up in bureaucracy, politics, rules, procedure, and style and miss the whole point. We are the church; we are the body; we are Christ''s church and his body. Are you thriving as a member (part) of a HEALTHY body?

1) Read through Psalm 139. Ask God to search you and to know you… ask him to identify and make known any offensive way in you. As you read, be sure to take time to linger and ponder on any verse(s) that stand out or speak to you. Don''''t be afraid to re-read anything that seems significant to you -- God may be trying to speak.

2) After the Lord has identified an area in your life that is offensive to his Spirit, spend time in prayer, asking him to help you sacrifice (to cut off) that area so that new life can be grown in its place. Do not fear intimacy with your Father. He created you and loves you. Ask him to be your strength in times of weakness; he will not fail.

3) When you wake up on Sunday morning, what most excites you about going to church?
a. Worshiping with other believers & being on the receiving end of some sound teaching
b. Mingling and catching up with friends (+making plans for lunch following the service)
c. Ha! Nothing excites me about going to church

If you answered a), ask God to continue to give you passion for your him that your excitement would be contagious and infectious. If you answered b), that''s okay, but it''s not enough. Ask God to give you renewed passion for him, that he would be your delight. If you answered c), seek the Lord. Open yourself up to your King and ask him to speak truth to your heart. Ask questions and wait on him.

4) Does your church have a mission and/or vision statement? Are you familiar with it? What key areas does your mission/vision statement address that are directly aligned with the scriptures? Does the mission/vision statement focus more on its members or others (those outside the church)? How does this sit with you?

5) Is your church a place of peace, freedom, truth, acceptance, service, & love? If any area is lacking, pray for that area.

6) Read Ezekiel 37:15-28 and identify the promises the Lord makes to his people. Write these promises out. Pray over these promises and allow them to sink in.

7) You were formed by an Almighty God who breathed life into your body and into your spirit. Read through Ezekiel 37:1-14, the prophecy Ezekiel shares with the land of Israel. If you want to, write out any portions of the prophecy that speak deeply to you. If you are more visual, sketch out what you "see" as you read. Spend time in prayer for the "dry bones," of your church, that they would receive fresh wind, new breath, from your Father.