From Jerusalem Prayer Center to Lakes Church Prayer Room

Lakes Church Prayer Room

 

FROM JERUSALEM PRAYER CENTER TO LAKES CHURCH PRAYER ROOM

          During our pilgrimage to the Holy Land on February 11, 2020, Lakes Church Lead Pastor Dr. Aaron Burgner asked me to spend some time in the Jerusalem Prayer Center to capture photos and information that would help him to replicate it in order to build a Prayer Room at Lakes Church in Lakeland, Florida. It was a blessing to spend time at the Jerusalem Prayer Center, take the photos shown above, and communicate with the directors of the Jerusalem Prayer Center to capture the essence of this beautiful space. After several months of planning and development, Pastor Aaron Burgner opened the Lakes Church Prayer Room on August 11, 2021.
          It was such a joy to introduce our two precious grandsons, Colton and Carson, to our new Lakes Church Prayer Room. Lakes Church Senior Pastor Dr. Aaron D. Burgner was inspired to create this prayer room after visiting the Jerusalem Prayer Center in Israel. Imagine walking into the Garden of Gethsemane and experiencing an intense, focused time of prayer.
          There are interactive prayer stations for Praise, Confession, and Intercession. There is such an intimate atmosphere as individuals begin their prayer time praising the Lord by watching the Lakes Church video, “He Is” which proclaims Names of God from Genesis to Revelation. Tears flow as individuals sit quietly with the Lord, focusing on Who He Is and how grateful they are for all the Lord has done in their lives. People really enjoy writing the names of their unsaved loved ones or unreached people groups on the rocks in the Intercession station of the prayer room.
          The interactive Praise, Confession, and Intercession Prayer Stations:
Cleansing From Sin--1 John 1:9 says that if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Take a strip of dissolvable paper from the basket. Write out the sin that the Holy Spirit has brought to your mind. Place the paper in the bowl of water and stir with the sticks provided. Watch it disappear and reflect on how He washes our sins completely away and thank Him for being a God of forgiveness.
             Intercession for the Nations—Commit to Pray for a People Group—By the world map is a basket of Prayer Cards showing unreached people groups throughout the world. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move through these unreached people groups, drawing more and more to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. As you look through these Prayer Cards, ask the Holy Spirit to lay one of these groups on your heart. Take the Prayer Card with you as a reminder to pray for those who have not heard that Jesus is their Savior.
          Artistic Expression—Our God is a God of incredible beauty and astounding creativity. Express your prayers, thoughts, and petitions to the Lord through drawings, poetry, or other works of art. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. (Psalm 19:1-2) Take a few minutes and allow God to inspire you as you express your prayer through art, using simple colored pencils and paper that are provided.
          Pray for Hearts to Soften—A new heart born of love can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Intercede for your unredeemed loved ones, and those of the world. As you cry out to the Father on their behalf, write that person’s name or people group on one of the stones that are provided, and place the stone in the basket that is provided. I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
          Look Up—meditate on Ezekiel 36:26-27, pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
          Look In—as you meditate on Ezekiel 36:26-27, pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
          Look Out—as you meditate on Ezekiel 36:26-27, pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.