This year started on a beautiful note at Advent Hope as a group of us gathered together to spend all night in prayer! (Yes, you heard right!) Instead of hosting a "New Year's Eve" party, we felt convicted that we should spend the night welcoming in the New Year with prayer. Amazingly, over 25 people came and went (and many stayed) during this incredible night of prayer as we lifted our hearts to God in praise, testimony, confession, and prayers of Intercession. In fact, we didn't even complete the schedule we put together to pray through over the night... Isn't that incredible?? When it's God's idea, it's always better than you thought possible!!!

What was especially exciting (besides the actual prayer time) was the fact that a couple members of the group (people that didn't know AH members) had been praying for just such a event and just heard about it at the last minute. So the evening was an answer to prayer all in itself to these individuals! God is soo incredible!! All He longs for is us to turn to Him....and surrender....and He will lead and bless in ways never thought possible!

The evening was such an inspiration and blessing to so many of us, that we hope to continue this beautiful time, on a more regular basis....and I am excited, because we need it sooo desperately!! I think God knows we need it too...and maybe He's calling you too...to be a part of a prayer movement like never before!!

~ HEART CHALLENGE for the NEW YEAR ~

• In John 15:7 - It says, "If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." Abiding in God and having His Words in our heart seems to be a prerequisite for His answering our prayers. Have you really learned to "abide." Ask Him to help you learn to abide...really abide even more. Not just with the big decisions or on certain days, but every day, every moment, and with every thought.
• 
  We are told that "Prayer should be like opening our heart to a friend." So stop and think about how you talk with God. Do you really see God as your Savior and friend...or just a big "gene" in the sky that you always run to when you need something? He longs to hear our hearts, our thoughts, everything we are...He also longs to hear our praise!
• 
  There are many examples through scripture on Jesus walk with God and prayer. If He had such a need to communicate with His Father, what about us? If He stayed up all night praying, shouldn’t we be willing to do the same?? How about going outside your comfort zone and asking God to help you be willing to make a sacrifice for prayer....not just a normal sacrifice....but an extra-ordinary sacrifice. Even if it cost you some extra sleep, giving up some social time with friends, or something else...(and it will cost) but only in eternity will we realize the smallness of our sacrifice!
• 
  All great men of faith are known for spending hours on their knees in prayer. Why are we sooo reluctant when we are told that "Prayer is the key in the hand of faith that unlocks Heaven’s storehouse"? Pray that God will help you to be willing to be a great man or women of faith....and prayer!
• 
  God advanced His work of salvation in amazing ways on the day of Pentecost after His disciples had spent 10 days "with one accord in prayer and supplication." Acts 2:14 We are told that the events of the day of Pentecost shall be repeated with even greater power in the future. Do you want to be part of this event?? Are you willing to consistently find other Christians to pray with for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Latter Rain in God's Church?*

*This Heart Challenge was taken from the devotional shared on "Inspirational Prayer Weekend" in the talk "Praying with Holy Spirit Power."