This last fall Dave Schmelzer (from the Boston Vineyard) came and taught for our Fall conference. Fantastic stuff. If you can get your hands on Friday night/Saturday morning sessions, you will have some serious paradigms shifted in how you relate with your friends who are searching for something more in life, namely Jesus. Well, he mentions, somewhat off handedly, “Who’s your 6?” What? Your “six” are six people you are interceding for on a regular basis. They don’t have to necessarily be non Christians. Actually, two on my “six” aren’t. Six people you want to see moving more in the direction of Jesus.
Well, I have been having lots of fun praying for my “six”. Getting words and pictures for them and actually sharing some of them, even with the non Christians. Interesting stuff. Kind of fun. You may be one of my “six”. You never know. Who’s your “six”?
And just to slim it down a bit so you don’t think I am some super duper, powerful intercessor (for which I am not). I simply pray bullet prayers for these six, one sentence prayers. God free my friend from bulimia. God lift off despair from him. God bring peace to her heart. Simple, eh? I might get more complex if feeling led. But slim is okay.
I just attended the amazing Vineyard UK National Leaders Conference on Hayling Island, near Portsmouth, on the South Coast of England last week. Our main speaker was Rich Nathan of the Columbus Vineyard. He gave 10 talks and they were all fantastic. In one of them he spoke about burnout and challenged each of us to create a “constellation of friends” who speak into our lives in different ways. (He borrowed that phrase from Gordon MacDonald). As I drew up my quick constellation in the margins of my notes, I put you down immediately as one of those friends who adds so much to my life! And I do regularly intercede for you, Mrs. M, and your family.
Shanel, I wish you could have been at the conference. It was simply amazing and inspiring. Even though I spent my mornings and most afternoons caring for toddlers (fun!) I still got so much out of each evening session and the ministry times. You would have loved it all so much.