Any desire for revival or seeking for reform must be undergirded by prayer -- and fasting.  Matthew Henry once said, "When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a praying."  Fasting is like an exclamation point to our prayers, and it is wise to include this practice with our prayers.

Not everyone may be able to fast, or desire to engage in this particular discipline.  For those who want to consider this option, we are recommending a fast that John Wesley observed most of his life.  John Wesley wrote, "When you seek God with fasting added to prayer, you cannot seek His face in vain."  The Wesleyan model for fasting calls for the fasting period to begin after the evening meal on Thursday, taking no solid food until mid-afternoon on Friday.  You may modify this fast as your diet or health requires.

Prayer is most effective when it begins with praise or adoration expressed toward God.  To aid you in entering into a spirit of praise, we have included a list entitled "Attributes of Our God" in this packet.  While this list is not exhaustive, it will assist you in focusing upon the greatness of God and His worthiness to be praised.

A helpful guide to prayer, "For Such A Time As This," is a part of this prayer packet.  This resource aids in discerning where to begin, how to pray, and offers some practical tips for beginning a prayer ministry. 

When we pray, we want to pray in agreement with what God desires in any given situation about which we are praying.  One way to assure that we are praying according to the will of God is to use scripture to shape our prayers.  God's Word discloses God's will on matters pertaining to our salvation and our discipleship, so praying in agreement with scripture is a good practice. 

The final section of our prayer packet identifies several scriptures for you to look up and read.  Then, some specific prayer requests are suggested which issue from that particular scripture passage. By using these scripture passages to guide our prayers, we as United Methodist women will be praying and agreeing together for the same results across our organization.  There is strength in corporate, unified prayer around a specific cause.

May God open our eyes and the eyes of those for whom we pray--to see Jesus--to know truth.

"Come into my presence," says God.  "Talk to me.  Share all your concerns.  I'm keenly interested in you, because I'm your Father.  I'm able to help, because all power in heaven and earth is mine.  And I'm listening very closely, hoping I will hear your voice."

 It is "such a time as this" -- to share all our concerns with God about the need for reform and accountability within The Women's Division of The General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church.

It is "such a time as this" -- to join together in prayer and fasting for this campaign for reform.

Where do I begin?

It takes only one person to begin, but as the writer of Ecclesiastes has said, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!  Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

1. Start praying for God to bring you a prayer partner, or a small group of individuals who share the same concerns as you.

2. Designate a specific time to pray together, perhaps on the day of the week you may choose to fast.  Consider meeting during a lunch period if you are fasting, choosing to feed on prayer, rather than food. 

3. Begin with 15-30 minutes of prayer time.  Expand that time of prayer as you are able and as you begin to sense a need to pray longer.

4. Pray for God to add prayer partners to your group.

How do we pray?

Here are two simple patterns you may want to use (until you no longer need a pattern).

1. Using the acronym for METHODIST as a pattern:

M -- Welcome the Holy Spirit to MOVE in our midst.  Pray for a spirit of prayer to fall on our group.

E --  Thank God for ERASING our sins through Jesus' work on the cross.  Repent of personal sins and repent of       anything in our denomination that you believe grieves the heart of God.

T --  Take TIME to be still, listening for His voice.

H --  Receive His HEALING and restoration for those who have been hurt by the system.

O --  Pray for God to OPEN hearts and eyes to those policies and programs that are not based on the truths found in His Word. (Use the White Paper in this packet to help identify specific areas of need as they relate to the
Women's Division.)

D --  Ask God to DIRECT us in reaching the lost and the backsliders.

I --   INTERCEDE for bishops, district superintendents, pastors, UMW leaders, 
and the staff and directors of the Women's Division.

S --  SEEK God's will by praying His Word back to Him. (Use the Scripture prayers provided in this prayer packet.)

T --  THANK God for His faithfulness.

(Idea for acronym taken from Pray the Price by Dr. Terry Teykl.)
 

2. Using the ACTSs pattern:

A -- Adoration -- Take time to Praise God for who He is.(Savior/Creator/Mighty God/Truth/King of Kings, etc.  Use"Attributes of God" resource to direct time of adoration.)

C --  Confession -- Cleanse yourself.

T --  Thanksgiving -- Thank God for what He does.(forgives/comforts/protects/heals/loves, etc.)

S -- Supplication --  Use the White Paper to identify specific concerns relating to the Women's Division.  Pray the Scripture Prayers provided in this prayer packet.

s --   Surrender all to God, knowing that He hears your prayers and will answer!

How to strengthen your personal prayer time:

Your group prayer will be strengthened by your personal prayer time.  The following are some practical tips for an effective personal prayer time taken from Pray the Price by Terry Teykl:

1.   Be simple
2.   Be specific
3.   Be spontaneous (pray anywhere and anytime)
4.   Be outspoken (pray out loud at times and be positive)
5.   Be conversational (talk to God and then listen)
6.   Be in place (find a comfortable place that you go to routinely)
7.   Be ready to write (keep a prayer journal)
8.   Be forgiving (to others)
9.   Be willing to change
10. Begin!

(You may want to add an 11th tip: Keep your Bible close by so you can begin your personal time reading from God's Word and perhaps be led to pray scripture back to God.)

A recommended resource for your time of prayer and fasting is Partners in Prayer by John Maxwell.  This book has a special section on fasting by Bill Bright. 

Our primary scripture text upon which we are basing our prayers in behalf of reform and accountability of the Women's Division is Ephesians 1:15-23:

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.

We will use this text as an example of how to pray back the concepts of scripture to God.

Praying scripture effectively always includes praying concepts from the text for ourselves as well as for others for whom we are praying.  From this text we would want to pray that we would have a Spirit of wisdom and revelation that we may know Him better.  We would ask the same for our local, district, and conference UMW officers and for the staff and directors of the Women's Division. 

Next, we might pray that the eyes of our hearts, as well as the eyes of the hearts of others for whom we are praying, would "be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe."

Then, we could close this scripture reflection by thanking God for all that He has done in Christ as described in the remainder of our scripture reading.  We can thank God that Christ has been exalted "far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."  We can be reminded that Christ is the true head of the Church, "which is His body."

This reminder of the person and role of Christ in the Church should encourage us because we know He is concerned about the women of the church, how they are maturing in their Christian faith and how they are bearing witness in the world.

Additional scriptures to guide our prayers:

Read the following scriptures and then pray God's Word back to Him.  Suggested prayers are in italics.  Add other prayers as you discern thoughts from the scripture being read.

Acts 26: 17b-18:  Pray that the Holy Spirit will "open the eyes" of all United Methodist women, and especially the eyes of the directors and staff of the Women's Division, that we will be able to discern "dark decisions" that are being made and that we will "stand up" for the light of God's truth.  Pray that there will be "forgiveness of sins" and that we will be "sanctified by faith."

II Kings 6:8-23:  Pray for blind eyes to be opened to the truth and that the "pure in heart" will be protected from being taken in by, or supporting, any policies, programs or spending that fails to lift up Jesus and to honor the teaching of Scripture.

Colossians 3:12-17: Pray that whatever action for reform and accountability taken by the women of the United Methodist Church, or the RENEW Network, be clothed in love, firm and rich in the Word of Christ and "done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Isaiah 42:6-9:  Pray that we will all remember that God calls us in righteousness.  Ask God to remind our leaders that He is the one who gives us the right to lead, along with the responsibility for doing so.  Pray that the Women's Division will be willing to exercise the kind of spiritual oversight defined in Scripture and in our Book of Discipline. Pray that we all will know that God's desire is to "open the eyes of the blind" and to set free those who are in darkness. Ask God to help us remember that He will not give His glory to another.  Pray that He will cause the staff and directors of the Division to acknowledge that the Re-Imagining Community advocates a false worship.

John 17:20-23:  Pray that the time will come when the Women's Division and United Methodist Women "will be as one" in purpose and ministry.  Pray that we will all come together in unity as true followers of Jesus Christ, the one and only Savior of the world.

II Corinthians 3:18: Pray that you, personally, are being transformed into the likeness of the Lord so that your life will reflect the glory of the Lord.  As you witness to God's truth, may "eyes be opened" because of God's glory reflected in you.

II Timothy 3:12-16; 4:1-5: Pray that God will put a desire within the hearts of United Methodist Women to reclaim their religious heritage that is based upon the Scriptures, and to reject any false teaching.  Pray that God will give us the boldness, courage, and wisdom to stand for what is right and what is true.  Pray that God will enable us to "preach the Word; [to] be prepared in season and out of season; [to] correct, [to] rebuke, and [to] encourage with great patience and careful instruction."

II Timothy 1:7: Ask God to take away any fear we may have of "speaking the truth in love."  Let us go before the Lord boldly asking Him to give us courage and wisdom as we stand up for what is right.

Nehemiah 4:19-20:  Pray that all who believe in God's truths, although they may be "widely separated from each other" geographically, will "hear the sound of the trumpet" and join together in a campaign to call the Women's Division to reform and accountability, knowing that "Our God will fight for us."

Proverbs 16:3, 7, 9: Pray these verses for all who decide to be a part of the "Campaign for Reform."  Pray this especially for those who will lead in a local, district, or conference plan of action.  Ask that all will commit their plans to the Lord and allow Him to direct their steps.  Pray also that God will give all involved in the effort for reform a winsome and honest spirit that will invite even those who oppose them to be at peace with them.

II Corinthians 13:8:  Pray that we will not "do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."  Ask God to remind us that "truth plus error always equals error."  Also ask Him to press upon our hearts the fact that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life"--the one we must offer to the world. 

Nehemiah 1:5  …O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands….

Psalm 111:9  He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever --holy and awesome is His name.

Malachi 3:6  I the Lord do not change.  So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

James 1:17  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Psalm 71:21  You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

Psalm 86:17  Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 119:76  May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Jeremiah 31:13  Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well.  I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

Psalm 86:15  But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Psalm 145:8  The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Psalm 16:7  I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

Psalm 119:24  Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

II Samuel 22:31  As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. 

Psalm 103:3  …who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

Isaiah 43:25  I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

II Samuel 22:2  He said, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer…."

Psalm 18:2  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 62:2  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 119:68  You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.

Psalm 145:9  The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.

Psalm 145:7  They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 104:1  Praise the Lord, O my soul.  O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

Psalm 77:13  Your ways, O God are holy.  What god is so great as our God?

Psalm 62:5  Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.

Psalm 71:5  For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.

Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Nehemiah 8:10  Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Psalm 4:7  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

Psalm 19:8  The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Deuteronomy 32:4  He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.

Psalm 104:1  Praise the Lord, O my soul.  O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

Psalm 111:3  Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever.

Psalm 119:132  Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.

Psalm 89:8  O Lord God Almighty, who is like you?  You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

Psalm 147:5  Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

I Samuel 2:2  There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

Isaiah 44:6  This is what the Lord says--Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

Isaiah 45:21&22  Declare what is to be, present it--let them take counsel together.  Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past?  Was it not I, the Lord?  And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Deuteronomy 33:27  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Psalm 59:16  But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 145:7  They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 18:16  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 93:1  The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.

Psalm 135:6  The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.

John 14:6  I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jeremiah 10:6 & 7 No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.  Who should not revere you, O King of the nations?  This is your due.  Among all the wise men of the nations and all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.

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