During week two of our Dynamite Prayer Initiative we focus on increasing awareness of what you can expect of the power of God's Spirit. How often do you try to accomplish following Jeus using your own human strenght, coming up with your own solutions, and applying your own wisdom and best efforts before finally turning to God? 

Resources

Use these resources on your social media channels each day, in worship each week, or in some other unique way to engage your congregation in this initiative.

Prayer Graphics: These square images contain the breakthrough prayers listed in the second seven chapters of the book. Another folder contains images with thought-provoking lines from the first seven chapters.

Prayer Videos: Each vertical video features someone reciting a breakthrough prayer listed in the second seven chapters of the book.

Dakotas-Minnesota Dynamite Prayer Resources: Access the graphics and vidoes for all four weeks. 

Additional Resources: The Dynamite Prayer website also has some excellent downloadable graphics and videos that you are welcome to use as you wish.

Great Ideas 

Eden Prairie UMC in Minnesota is one congregation participating in the Dynamite Prayer Initiative. Here is how that church is incorporating breakthrough prayer throughout the 28 days (feel free to borrow these ideas!):

• Members of the congregation are encouraged to set an alarm and pray a specific congregational breakthrough prayer at noon each day: Come, Holy Spirit, with your dynamite power, and break open new hopes, dreams and possibilities in Eden Prairie United Methodist Church and in our individual lives so that together we can be the vibrant and transformative faith community you call us to be. Amen. 
• The church created and provided bookmarks with the congregational breakthrough prayer so that each person has it handy every day at noon.
• People were invited to sign up for a breakthrough prayer group; throughout the 28 days, these groups will engage in intentional prayer for the church, for one another, and for the world. 
• The front of the church sanctuary is decorated with beautiful banners that match the colors of the “Dynamite Prayer” book. 
• The congregation is invited to attend worship and the church’s annual meeting on Jan. 28, when Pastor Becky Jo Messenbrink will present the vision to which members have been hearing God call the church.

Reflection: Charge It Up!

Around the turn of the 21st century, hand-cranked radios were being sold. You unfolded a little handle, and began turning, and turning, and turning, and...well, you get the point. It was a slow, awkward, noisy way to recharge the small battery in the device. I still have one that has a miniature solar panel in addition to the hand crank (which I rarely used). Expose the device to sunlight, and voilá—the battery is charged simply, quickly, silently!

How often do we find ourselves cranking away trying to get things done? We worry and fret. We stress and exert. Despite all our effort, little seems accomplished, and the problems still loom large. Our energy is spent and we are discouraged. Then there are times when we take a break, go for a walk, talk to a friend, read a book, listen to music, and voilá—the solution pops into view and we are re-energized. What seemed odious and difficult suddenly is manageable and even fun. Charged up, we are capable of doing more than we thought possible.

God’s Spirit has that grace-filled and amazing power to re-charge our spiritual batteries so that we can do what God is directing us to do. It’s a free gift—like the sunlight. All we have to do is put ourselves in a place and attitude to receive it. I am blessed with a nearby park where I can walk a mile around the path and under the trees. With my body in motion and my mind relaxed, the wording or a story for a Sunday message comes to me; the course of action I should follow to address a problem is revealed; or I can put my worries into God’s hands.

It’s a form of prayer— my concerns lifted to God, and God’s thoughts sent to me. All I have to do is get outdoors in God’s good creation and open my mind to receive. The Japanese call it shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing.” I just call it “a walk in the woods”—God’s gift of nature recharging my spiritual batteries for life and ministry.

Pastor Marty Toepke-Floyd
First UMC
Jamestown, North Dakota