The UKI Boiler Room: Passionate about prayer

Lyn Woods talks to UKI Boiler Room members about the power of prayer.

How have you witnessed prayer answered?

I have been blessed by growing up surrounded by family and friends who model the importance of prayer. The influence of this has not left me. As I reflect and look back, I can see how God has answered prayer in so many ways. God has healed and demonstrated providential care that sometimes can only be seen by looking back.

Do you have a personal prayer rhythm?

As I have grown and developed in my spiritual life, my rhythm of prayer has become very important. My understanding and experience have grown and I have learnt so much from the teaching I’ve had the privilege of receiving over the years. Because of these foundations I have developed a deep conviction that prayer is a vital part in the outpouring of the heart of God through our mission.

How do you believe a territory-wide prayer rhythm can help impact mission?

We read in Acts and the development of the early Church how amazing things happened when they prayed. A group of followers were together, and the Holy Spirit came in such a powerful way. We read in Acts 2 how the believers came together to worship, eat and pray together. I have witnessed how groups praying together with a united purpose have been mightily blessed by God.

What are you most excited about for the UKI Boiler Room?

I am excited that God has led us to ignite the flame of the energy of prayer that is at the very heart of mission. The UKI Boiler Room will unite and co-ordinate this flame and I believe that miracles will happen. I count it a privilege to be a part of it and I am looking forward to hearing the testimonies of miraculous acts of God. They will happen!

How have you witnessed prayer answered?

It can be hard to motivate others to pray, but there is always great reward whenever people do and we remind ourselves how important the hard work of prayer is. Jesus says in John 15:5: ‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’

In facilitating prayer as corps officers, we have used WhatsApp groups, emails, printed newsletters, prayer timetables, diaries, journals, prayer boards, walls, spaces and rooms, prayer days and weeks, and even a special teapot to put prayers in!

We are encouraged by seeing more of a response to the offer of prayer when we gather on Sundays – we invite people to move forward for prayer as a response or to stay on while others go for coffee and we often simply ask individuals if we can pray with them, whether that’s at the end of a meeting or over coffee.

Do you have a personal prayer rhythm?

Having daily prayer patterns, to punctuate the day with conversation with Jesus, includes personal prayer and prayer as a couple, with the children and as a family. I also use a simple weekly prayer rhythm – something I really need.

Thinking of all I should be praying about can mean I’m sometimes too overwhelmed to pray, but separating prayer points for family, friends, our corps, our community and beyond – and especially for those I’m praying to be saved – keeps me focused in prayer. Putting the people I want, and promise, to pray for into my rhythm is definitely better for me and them!

How do you believe a territory-wide prayer rhythm can help impact mission?

For similar reasons, a territory-wide prayer rhythm is a great step forward in prayer for us all. It’s a simple and helpful tool to get us praying more regularly and more specifically. There is power when we unite and agree in prayer. Jesus says in Matthew 18:19: ‘If two of you on Earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven.’

What are you most excited about for the UKI Boiler Room?

How this will impact the furnace of prayer in our corps and in many others. It is so vital for us all.

How have you witnessed prayer answered?

There have been a few significant answers to prayer in the past few months. I prayed for a man, for healing and God, in his mercy, answered that prayer instantly and gave freedom to him like he had not felt before.

A couple of weeks later, one evening after a deep time of personal confession of my sins, I prayed that God would give me a table with six chairs for a family of six. The following morning someone called us up to ask if we could use a table with six chairs. This instance was particularly faith-building for our children, who were the first to hear the story on the school run.

A couple of weeks later, I was asking God to remove any fear of man from me and a day later I was participating in a women’s prayer meeting where the speaker said she felt that God wanted to release me of the fear of man and give me a freedom to speak and preach.

Do you have a personal prayer rhythm?

A prayer rhythm is vital to any individual Christian and any church. My own prayer rhythm consists of starting the day in prayer in the shower – a declaration of God’s truths over my life. I then pray with my kids on their school run.

Prayer then follows every day, during the day in my ministry hours, in various settings and with various people. In the evening, I pray with each of my children as part of their bedtime routine. Once the kids are in bed, I read the Bible and have my own personal time of prayer, listening to teaching and writing notes into my Bible or journal. The more I am in the word, the easier my prayers flow.

How do you believe a territory-wide prayer rhythm can help impact mission?

Jeremiah 15:16 declares: ‘Your words were found [devotion] and I ate them [meditation]. And your word became to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart [transformation], for I am called by your name [identification], O Lord God of Hosts’ (Modern English Version). Only if those who pray experience this can lives be impacted by the transforming power of our holy God.

What are you most excited about for the UKI Boiler Room?

That it will help each one of us to be useful in God’s Kingdom and revive The Salvation Army as a holiness Movement worthy of seeing souls saved.