Standing Before The Throne Of Grace
What will you bring with you when you stand before the Throne of Grace?
About 15 years ago, I was challenged by a tape I heard from a conference speaker from Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF) during one of their Catch the Fire conferences back in the early days of the outpouring. She was an evangelist from England with definite fire in her belly – her name was Sue Mitchell.
As I was driving around listening to the teaching, she seemed to put words to something that the Lord had put into my spirit – it was a big piece of the puzzle of the calling on my life. As I listened to the teaching, I found myself challenged as to just what the Lord was asking of me – always, first and foremost, is intimacy and relationship with Him – that is a given. But, I found myself challenged with her charge of, “What are you going to bring with you before the throne of grace – what is it? Will it be just the selfish things that you prayed and asked for during your life – or will it be your neighbors, your family, your school, your city, your nation, a people group – some other nation! What will you ask God for, intercede for and bring before Him as a gift as you stand before Him!” I knew immediately what had been in my spirit for years and did not have the clarity of articulation. The Lord was asking me to bring Buffalo and the Western New York Region before Him in prayer, in worship, in intercession until breakthrough comes!
Standing in prayer for this City and region has been a privilege. At times it’s been a burden, a discouragement, also a joy and I’ve seen headway – you know – three steps forward, two steps back. I have known many who have the same heart and call for our region. Somehow the Holy Spirit knows how to connect us together – at times we have been out in the public eye like a parade, standing, cheering, decreeing, declaring, weeping and laughing over the purposes of God for Buffalo and Western New York. Other times, we’ve been like those hidden in a cave with David at Ziklag – tired, wounded, discouraged and maybe even a little bit crazy, asking the question: Can any good thing come out of Buffalo! But through it all – there is still the fire – small as it may be – there is the fire! You know – just like Isaiah 42:3 says, “A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will bring forth justice in the truth”. (Amplified)
Having had the experience of standing for this region in many forms of meetings, I recently find myself with the mandate of building a 24/7 House of Prayer here in Grand Island, New York. Why Grand Island? That’s a whole other article that I will share in the future. But for 2009, I am excited about what is about to occur on January 31st, 2009 – The Burn. I am encouraged once again to take the risk, come out of a place of comfort and hiding and put myself on the line for the Kingdom of God! As I understand it, worship, praise and intercession born out of a place of fire and passion.
Recently, one of our young leaders in our Thursday night prayer meeting at the Grand Island House of Prayer was just weeping after she finished her prayer set. When asked what’s wrong she responded, “This isn’t it – this isn’t it – what we’re doing just isn’t it”. I asked if she was feeling violence in her spirit, a violent sound to which she responded, yes, those are the words. I laughed because we are all sensing a groaning in our spirit for what the Lord is about to birth in our region and has already started throughout the world. I consider it a privilege to be a bridge for this next generation to walk over to produce the sound that the Lord’s requiring. Forerunners always hear it first, get frustrated, and may be misunderstood, but I love standing with them and helping them birth what is on the Father’s heart.
So, may I challenge you today – what will you bring before the Throne of Grace? Perhaps you’ve been an intercessor in this region for a long time, maybe you’re tired, discouraged and hiding in a cave? Will you join us once again, take that risk, and put your life on the line for the Kingdom of Heaven just one more time? Perhaps you’re a young person wondering what’s this all about! Well, come out on the 31st and jump in with us. There is no time, distance or age in the spirit – let’s burn together with zeal for Him until He is preeminent in our lives and region.
Blessings to you!
Jan Popielski, Coordinator
Grand Island House of Prayer
