Praying Pam

I love working on, and teaching on Prayer Shields . Why? Well...I think they are a type of symbol of the Body. A group of people, working together on behalf of anothers benefit! We don't always feel like we are personally getting something out of praying for someone else, but then, the Word tells us that if one part of the Body hurts, the whole Body hurts - so it goes to reason, that when one part of the Body gets healed, or breaks through or is able to rejoice again, that the whole Body must, somehow, someway, also be reaping the benefits! I love knowing I've been a part of team, who has helped 'dig someone else out' from under their circumstances or warfare! It's a great feeling. In order to be a really good prayer shield tho, there are a number of things that have to working right - or ' fitly joined together'. The first one is TRUST. A leader has got to trust us (his prayer people) with his requests - whether those requests are needs, wants or just iss...

The second (most common) barrier to establishing a Prayer Shield is 'offense' or wounding in a leader by prayer people. Are you surprised? Don't be! The enemy has used offense since the Garden to manipulate situations and people, to do what is most beneficial to him, and hurtful to them. We will always be offered the opportunity for offense or hurt, but it's how we chose to deal with it that will determine it's finale effect on our lives and ministries. Over the years, as I've spoken to many pastors and church leaders, their biggest issue is often trusting prayer ( or prophetic) people! If there are any past issues with prayer people who have used their gift of prayer to manipulate/intimidate , judge or gossip about a leader, those unhealed wounds will cause a leader to feel insecure and uneasy when approached about setting up a prayer shield. The first thought is that they can't trust their real needs to those that are offering to pray, because they mi...

One of the most common barriers to actually establishing a Prayer Shield for a leader, is often the 'leader'. Most leaders struggle with feeling inadequate about even asking for something like this, because they don't believe they deserve it..or are doing anything important enough that merits it. The other most common barrier is 'past experiences' either with intercessors or with prayer, that the leader needs healing from. Now...let me explain. (I'll do this in two parts..and today just blog on the first barrier....) 1. False humility - " I'm not important enough to actually ask people to be committing time to pray for me." Perhaps the hardest thing for those that are doing the jobs they do, because love to 'serve' others, is to actually believe that they deserve a prayer shield. I don't know how many times I've heard people say that they can understand why ' this person' or ' that person' needs prayer shield ( ...

Hi Pam, I was wondering how to begin to co-ordinate a shield for my pastor. How would I approach potential prayers on behalf of the leader? Thanks Kristen Great question Kristen...and thanks for asking! Right now, I co-ordinate 8 prayer shields. In the newest ones that I've taken on, the Leader knows that I am overseeing it with the idea that within 3 - 6 months, we will identify someone on the prayer shield who could take over as Co- ordinator . Then I approach that person, ask them to pray about it...and if they say 'yes', then I will mentor them into the role. How do I do that? Well, remember, for at least 6 months they've been receiving email prayer requests and have been a part of a 'team' or a prayer shield. Now, I also begin to involve them in how to edit emails, gather all the input..and also stir the team up when needed. After a couple of months of the 'two' of us working side by side....I then send an email out to the 'team' ( after c...

When a leader decides to step out and ask for Prayer it's like 'drawing a line in the sand' and saying ' That's enough!' When a leader asks for prayer, it can also be a humbling experience because it's often hard for many of us to ask for the very thing we need. There is always the lie of the enemy too, that says , ' Who am I, to be asking for a prayer shield? I'm not important. ' Well, if you are influencing for the Kingdom of God, if you are doing what God's asked of you, and taking ground for the Kingdom - who are you not to ask for prayer coverage ?!! Ask yourself who has benefited for hundreds of years, by convincing leaders ( whether in the church field or the business community), that they are 'not important enough' to be calling for prayer coverage? We all know the answer - the enemy! The time has come to realise that asking for prayer, is actually two fold: 1. it's an act of humilty ( because it is humbling isn...

The most common question I get asked is, "How does it work?" or " How would I use a Prayer Shield?" Many leaders would like to have intercessors praying for them, but they don’t know how to mobilize them, or after they have mobilized them, how to communicate with them. Hopefully training up someone to take on the role of Co-ordinator will help you in that, but you still need to know how to work with your co-ordinator so that he/she can get your prayer requests out to your team. Please make sure you feel comfortable with your co-ordinator editing your requests – sometime less is more! REMEMBER : These should be intercessors that you can TRUST with details. If you'd be worried about 'them' knowing details – then they are not the ones to ask. Your personal Prayer Shield needs to be ones you feel confident in. KEEP IT SIMPLE - requests that can be kept to one page, so that your Intercessors can keep it in their bible, or on their fridge - this helps th...

It's important for you to realise that there are many different types of prayer partners/intercessors. Just as there are many different styles of prayer! It's important as you are looking at possibly working with a prayer shield, that you know the difference between the different 'callings' on Intercessors. While there are often references to 'pastors' in much of this, all my information is applicable to leaders in any sphere of influence: business, goverment, education, media etc. Once again, if you are taking ground for the Kingdom, in whatever sphere of influence that the Lord has given you - it's more than likely that you need to consider working with a prayer Shield. Different Types of Prayer Partners While we are specifically looking at Prayer Shields, I want to explain the difference between what a Prayer Shield is, and other types of Prayer Partner's you, as a leader, may have. 1.. Priority One – Personal Prayer Shield: This is what we are ai...