Letter from Rev. Kathy Sprague of Lady Lake, Florida

I am Rev. Kathryn Sprague. I joined WIMN after 17 years of international missions trips and graduating from Bible College in 2000. For the past year I have been on staff at St. George Episcopal Church in The Villages, Florida, functioning as the Director of Pastoral Care for a congregation of 800 elderly (age 75+) retirees. : )

Today I come to WIMN, asking members to consider making a pledge to pray for America every day for the rest of 2009. Together, let’s see what God will do on behalf of this nation. I know that all of us TRULY LOVE America, but we must come together in the spirit realm and PRAY for God's hand to move, not only on our behalf, but also on the behalf of our children and their futures.

II Chronicles tells of the reign of Solomon, the building of the Temple, kings, wars, and civil strife. But as we look at chapter seven, we find a moment when God answers Solomon’s prayer and fire comes down and consumes the burnt sacrifice. The glory of the Lord fills the Temple and the priests of the Lord can not enter the house of God because the glory had filled it to full measure (vs. 1-2).

We observe that all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the Glory fill the Temple. The Scripture says that they bowed themselves low with their faces upon the pavement and worshiped. From this experience of God's Glory, Solomon and all the people began giving finances, sacrificing burnt offerings, and praising the Lord for a festival of dedication for 23 days. In the unfolding of II Chronicles 7:14, God’s response to a leader who built and dedicated his work to God was that fresh revelation begins to unfold.

God appears to Solomon alone at night and teaches him the “IF” lesson. Verse 14 becomes a revelatory Scripture, releasing enlightenment concerning the answers and provision for which we are all searching. "IF My people, which are called by My Name, will HUMBLE themselves and PRAY, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Each phrase of this Scripture is significant. I would like to share one phrase that changed my spiritual life forever.

Over two years ago, my husband Randall and I ministered on a regular basis in Council Bluffs, IA at Victory Fellowship Church. Senior Pastor Lonnie Parton felt led by the Spirit to conduct a program called "The Divine Experiment.” We were instructed to “FAST” all normal entertainment such as TV, movies, video games, etc. Our time outside of prayer/work hours was to be actions that would bring family members together. Families were to spend time together doing loving actions such as picnics, board games, talking together, singing…anything that was a face to face interaction between all family members.

Yet, the KEY FOCUS for each person in our church was the II Chronicles 7:14 prayers. As a Church body, we watched God start to do extraordinary things! Family relationships were healed, prodigal children returned home, and a man who walked with two canes was healed. I was fortunate to be the scribe that penned all the miracles the Lord performed in that three week period of “separation before God.”

As I began to meditate the first sentence of that Scripture day after day…"If MY PEOPLE who are called by MY NAME will humble themselves and pray”…the Lord began ministering to me in a deep way. He revealed to my spirit that the current level of humility at which I was praying could only bring a low level of prayer effectiveness. God is such a loving Father! When He chastens or gives you correction, He does not leave you sad, but is willing to immediately give you the answer to your dilemma. He was showing me that it was not the “form” of prayer that was affecting the Heavenlies, but it was a core attitude level within me that would affect my prayer’s yield.

IF I WOULD JUST BOW MYSELF LOWER (body, soul, and spirit) and then pray out of that lowliness, God would hear and answer. What an illumination!

Did you know that each one of us have within us dregs of religious pride, unforgiveness, ego, hormonal aggression, etc.? For 21 days I forcefully meditated that first phrase of II Chronicles 7:14, repenting day and night of anything and everything the Lord brought to mind that would keep me from the lower position. I would hear Him say, “NO, KATHY…go lower.” It became a passion to see how low I could go. I knew there would be gold at the end of the trail!

Experiencing this Scriptural illumination, I did two things that were seemingly effective:

1. I gave God my "time" for three weeks. I seriously sought the Holy Spirit’s help every day for at least an hour, asking Him to help me humble myself to the level that HE could effectively move upon my prayers.

2. At the end of the third week of fasting and praying this first phrase of II Chronicles 7:14, I was roused out of my sleep early one morning. I felt a shaft of Light move through my being, unlike anything I've experienced before. I sensed a crystal sword enter my spirit, soul, and body, moving and undulating to its holy presence . The presence of the Light was so clean and so pure that my being vibrated with its glorious attributes. I could only imagine that praying out of this atmosphere would change my life and those around me. I oozed life, overwhelmed in the loving presence of God. I loved everyone and prayer was like a river of gold.

In that wonderful experience, I truthfully learned the lesson of HUMILITY. The Holy Spirit revealed the "Light of Christ" when I humbled myself and prayed.

Today I am asking you to set your heart upon praying II Chronicles 7:14 as you have never done before. True revelation will ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS, bring demonstration. Go get yours! And please, e-mail this WIMN Blog when He moves on your behalf to share with all our WIMN members the goodness of our God!

What do you need God to do in your family, your church, and your nation today? I submit.....humble yourself and pray.