Mark Batterson - Praying Circles Around Your Future

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The Fedd Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 341973, Austin, Texas, 78734 Interior design: Rob Monacelli / RAM CreativePrinted in China

An entire generation was on the brink of death because of a drought. And worse, God was nowhere to be heard. But there was one man who dared to pray anyway: Honi. That day was the day the legend of the circle maker was born. With a six-foot staff in his hand, Honi began to turn like a math compass as the crowd looked on. In the center of the circle he had shaped with his staff, Honi dropped to his knees and raised his hands to heaven.

With authority like the prophet Elijahs, Honi called down rain: Lord of the universe, I swear before Your great name that I will not leave this circle until You have mercy upon your children. As his prayer ascended to the heavens, raindrops descended to the earth. All eyes looked to the sky, but Honis head remained bowed. Still kneeling within the circle, Honi lifted his voice over the sounds of celebration: Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain that will fill cisterns, pits, and caverns. The sprinkle turned into such a torrential downpour that the heavens roared. It rained so heavily and so steadily that the people fled to the Temple Mount to escape flash floods.

Honi stayed and prayed in his fading circle. Once more he refined his bold request: Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain of Your favor, blessing, and graciousness. Then the perfect rain shower began to calmly cover the dead and thirsty ground, filling the air with a gentle, peaceful mist. Every raindrop was a sign of Gods grace, soaking the spirit and refreshing the faith of all who were there that day. It was difficult to believe before that day. After that day, it was impossible not to believe.

The prayer that saved a generation was deemed one of the most significant prayers in Israels history, and the legend of the circle maker stands forever as a testament to the power of a single prayer to change the course of history. God isnt offended by your BIGGEST DREAMS or your BOLDEST PRAYERS. Hes offended by anything less. BOLD PRAYERSHONOR GODandGOD HONORS BOLD PRAYERS. There is nothing GOD loves more than keeping promises, answering prayers, performing miracles, and fulfilling dreams. That is who He is. That is what He does. Prayer is the difference between the best you can do and the best God can do. GOD HAS YOURIGHT WHERE HE WANTS YOU.WHO YOU BECOMEis determined byHOW YOU PRAY. You arent called to live in the shadow of doubt. GOD HAS YOURIGHT WHERE HE WANTS YOU.WHO YOU BECOMEis determined byHOW YOU PRAY. You arent called to live in the shadow of doubt.

Instead, you can live with a holy anticipation because you never know how or when or where GOD IS GOING TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS. God has the ability to answer the prayers we should have prayed but lacked the knowledge or ability to even ask. The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered because they go UNASKED. What promise are you praying around? What miracle are you marching around? What dream does your life revolve around? Just like Honi,YOUR PRAYERSHAVE THE POTENTIALto change theCOURSE OF HISTORY. In the grand scheme of Gods story, there is a footnote behind every headline. The footnote isPRAYER. And if you focus on the footnotes, God will write the headlines. Its your prayers that change the eternal plotline. You are always only one prayer away from a miracle. YOUVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. It will involve more sacrifice, but youll get to a place where youre so close to God that you will realize that you sacrificed very little in comparison to what you receive. There will always be higher heights and deeper depths in prayer, and God wants to take you there. There will always be higher heights and deeper depths in prayer, and God wants to take you there.

He wants to take you to places you have never been before.