IGNITE October 2024
Precious saints, through a few regular disciplines of prayer in your daily life, you can experience the GENERATIONAL JOY of Igniting Prayer Action! Perhaps you don’t have children in your home anymore. Who can you pray with daily? Maybe there is a young person in your church that you can invite into a daily practice of prayer? Or perhaps there is a neighbor you could begin to pray with? Start today and, years from now, you’ll see a “harvest of righteousness!”
Testimony Written By Our Son and Pastor, Chris Millar
Many of you may know Colin as a Prayer Igniter, pastor, crazy South African, or any number of different hats. I have the joy of calling him dad. From Abiding in Christ to Waiting on God to With Christ in the School of Prayer, these were not just “lessons” or “books to read,” but part of the invisible ecosystem I grew up in as a child. I wanted to share with each of you the harvest of righteousness that my dad gets to experience now because of his investment as a faithful and faith-filled Prayer Igniter in the daily life of his home.
They certainly didn’t always get it right, and my parents would confess to you that there were seasons when they really got it wrong. Yet, several habits that marked our family life in those early years are now bearing fruit in the lives of my family as a young dad and pastor. I want to share with you two habits that are pretty consistent in our home and are modeled after the habits with which I was raised.
Praying As a Family Every Evening
It isn’t always glamorous and, at times, can be met with resistance or various distractions, but almost every night, we gather as a family for prayer time before bed. Each night before bed, we do “thankfuls” (a few things we each are thankful for from the day), “prayers” (thanking God for who He is and bringing our requests to Him), “songs” (we teach our children a verse and chorus from a different hymn each month), and a “memory verse” (we do a different memory verse with our children each month).
This family prayer time is the fruit and generational joy of Igniting Prayer Action! Where did we learn this? On the living room floor as an eight-year-old boy.
Praying With Our Children Before and On the Way to School
When I was a kid, we would say a quick prayer for God’s blessing over our days and protection over our hearts and minds before we left for school. Whether it was around the breakfast table, with company over, or on the way out the door, we took a moment each morning to ask God to walk with us throughout our day.
My dad rode in the car with us the other day as I was taking our older two to school, and he heard our kiddos pray, what we call the “body prayer.” A simple prayer that walks through how we can be used for God’s glory that day. My dad was so overjoyed to hear his grandchildren praying together out loud on their way to school.
Our “Mobile School of Prayer” Members: Harper, Knox, Grandson- Caleb, and Granddaughter- Ella!
Where did we learn this? When we were in high school on our way to school in the “mobile school of prayer,” which I didn’t know I was a part of, until I began teaching my children to pray. In those times of communion with God’s heart, He bound my, Fruci, Joe, and Eric’s hearts together in a friendship with Him, and between us, that still thrives today!
Experiencing the Generational Joy of Igniting Prayer Action in Your Life
Below are the words to our grandson’s “body prayer” you can use if you have little ones and want to teach them.
“God, I pray for my feet. I pray that they would be quick to run to that which is good and that You would keep them far from evil and temptation.
God, I pray for my hands, that they would be used to help, build, and create, and never hurt or destroy.
God, I pray for my eyeballs that they will see good and beautiful things; and when I see things that aren’t good, I will learn wisdom instead of foolishness.
I pray for my ears, God, that they would listen to Your voice first, then the voice of my teachers, and when appropriate, the voice of my friends.
God, I pray for my mouth that I would speak kind, loving, and helpful words, and never mean or hurtful words.
God, I pray for my mind and my heart that, together, they would bear the fruit of Your Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control; in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Testimony Written By Marsha Tribe, SMA Director of Residency
The effectual fervent prayers are accomplishing much at San Marcos Academy dormitory! I thought you might like to know that the ‘School of Prayer’ and ‘Pray Now‘ disciplines have been student-led and have spilled down to the dorm! We’ve already begun to experience the first wave of noticeable transformation.
One of our senior girls gave us powerful testimonies of life change and deeper relationships, not only with herself but also with others.
- Senior girls prayed for a 6th-grade girl who was worried about her family in Florida. Later, she thanked me for some things we prayed about together and asked if we could pray again tonight.
- I prayed with a student who had a bloody nose.
- Also, I prayed for a young man who was in trouble.
- Last Sunday, Hope, a senior, asked if we could do “Waiting on God” together. So, five of us sat in the sun reading, waiting in silence, then each praying out what God pointed out. It was a beautiful experience in God’s presence.
Ministry that is real and not forced is happening, and it’s all being student-led! They even initiated a new group-style hug for me as their way of thanking me for looking out for them. GOD IS MOVING IN THE DORM…amidst the chaos. The long days no longer seem so exhausting, as fruit is just falling off the tree!
A Beautiful Sunrise at San Marcos Academy
Praise God for you and Dr. Guenther for modeling, teaching, and mobilizing a culture of prayer at SMA. I just thought you might like to hear a report from “the frontline.”
Testimony Written By Our PIT Crew Member, Cindy Carr
Colin, recently, I’ve been thinking about the benefits of being on your Personal Intercessory Team (PIT Crew). I’ve been on the team for more than ten years. Team members who were there when I joined are mostly still on the team. Some new team members have been added over the years, as well. Yet, the longevity of team membership is one way to confirm that having a PIT Crew is a good thing! My relationships with various team members who live all over the country are such that when we see each other in person, the depth of love we share is absolutely amazing. They are my brothers and sisters in a very deep sense of those titles.
Further, because I’ve been on your PIT Crew for many years, I’ve deepened my relationship with both you and Nancy. You have graciously opened your hearts to your team. You have shared joy and suffering, as well as counseled and received counsel. We have also laughed as a team and cried as a team. I think praying for someone is one of the most effective ways to become part of their life. Praying habitually for someone also deepens a love for that person. And then it is quite easy to pray even more!
Our PIT Crew has seen God do amazing things through you!
God has made many connections between you and others of influence in the world (the whole world!) as we have partnered in prayer. Moreover, God has supplied needs, provided counsel and wisdom, worked in relationships, and influenced young and old. Through you He’s also started new ministries, deepened many peoples’ prayer lives, and drawn us closer to Him. What a joy it has been for me to partner with God, both you and Nancy, and with the other team members of your Personal Intercessory Team!
With love (and prayers!),
Cindy
The Joy of Igniting Prayer Action for The Millar’s
LET’S PRAY NOW: “Oh, Lord, I commit to model, teach, and mobilize the joy-filled, PRAY NOW practice and giving-thanks lifestyle every day, in Jesus’ name I pray… Amen.”
GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER— 2 Corinthians 9:7
With a Joyful Heart…
Thank you, and may God multiply what you give 30, 60, or 100-fold! Chkk-Chirrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
– Colin
