Holy Spirit Collisions in IrelandAdrian Eagleson - 26 Apr 2011

The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too

From what began as a dream about connecting the nation of Ireland together in a year of coordinated, sustained and focused prayer, we now find ourselves 4 months into 2011 and the 24-7 Ireland initiative of 'What If?'.

The What If Initiative asks the question: What if we prayed? What if we really believe God when He says:

‘if my people, who 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’

So 24-7 Prayer Ireland in partnership with Alpha are facilitating a year of prayer for 2011.  The dream is to get people right across the nation of Ireland (north and south) praying for a whole year night and day!!

And the dream is becoming reality.

Translating a dream into reality requires huge effort, commitment and a healthy dose of faith. Yet we have seen how others have very quickly come onboard with offers of help and support in unexpected places. It seems that once you choose to commit to a course of action that the Holy Spirit is there ahead of the game moving things into place.

I have been struck recently by the story of the anointing of King Saul. He travels out from Ephraim with his agenda to search for his fathers donkeys which have gone missing (1 Sam 9). Instead his path collides with that of the prophet Samuel who is on divine instructions to anoint him as King. Saul certainly got more than the donkeys he was looking for!

But the principle is this, Saul  and Samuel both started with a commitment to search, albeit for different things and God used this to bring together a tremendous Kingdom Synergy. There is something significant in moving to and then from a place of commitment. W.H Murray, a Scottish Himalayan Explorer puts it like this:

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

In this year of What If I would not be surprised if we end up with more Holy Spirit collisions and unexpected opportunities that we have not even considered. We have at this point a plan for Prayer Rooms up and down the nation, however this might just be the beginning, the 'donkey' part of the story of what God wishes to do in Ireland at this time. More and more we are finding others who we have not been connected with who have a similar commitment to build the kingdom. 24-7 Prayer it seems,  is simply another way of joining the dots up.

And in all of this we have been amazed by the 80 Prayer Rooms that have already taken part in our first four months.  At our monthly gatherings in Carnmoney, Lurgan, Dublin and Belfast we have heard stories of people encountering God in a new and personal way in the place of prayer.  One of my favourites is of a Prayer Room in a rural part of County Armagh where a woman who has been a Christian for over 30 years felt comfortable enough to pray out loud for the first time in a prayer gathering. This speaks to me of the freedom that can come to our nation through the place of prayer, we can apply it at an individual, community and national level.

We are excited about the opportunity that exists as we travel the length and breath of the island, provoking, stirring and encouraging the fullness of God’s Kingdom.  

Yet in and through it all, we will remain vigilant continuing to be committed to what God has called us to, and asking the questions what if and also what else?

For more details of 24-7 Ireland and the What If initiative visit www.24-7prayerireland.com