Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength! Let everything you do be done in love (true love to God and man as inspired by God's love for us).
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (AMP)
Six years ago, my friend, Haines, shared this verse with me as a theme for The Heart of a Warrior Weekend (formerly TOP GUN) and every year, it rings true. This coming weekend, nearly 300 men will descend on the Rockbridge Young Life Camp in Goshen, VA. They come in all ages, shapes, and sizes, and in a variety of conditions. About half will be alumni coming back for more. The other half are coming in hopeful, many hurting, some dazed and confused, wondering, “What have I gotten myself into?” Indeed. : )
We invite you (need you) to pray with us for this coming weekend.
Let’s Pray…
Dear God, Holy Trinity… Mighty One… You are glorious in all your ways. Your plans for redemption and restoration are all about us. Though the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, YOU have come, and come again, and come again to bring LIFE. Abundant and Full LIFE. We proclaim you are LIFE, and our life is in you, with you, from you. Thank you for coming for us, Jesus. Thank you for coming for us, Holy Spirit. Thank you for coming for us, Father.
Jesus, we lift up this coming weekend. We pray your provision and protection over this Heart of a Warrior Weekend, over the Zoweh speaker team, conference team, and all the men setting out to retreat to you. Jesus, arrange the packages you want for each and every man. Deliver to every man unique holy crafted packages of healing, restoration, training, and freedom. We pray for intimate moments between you and every man.
Holy Spirit, please give eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts that are engaged to all you want for this weekend. We pray your anointing presence over all the team, the men, the Young Life Camp, the travel up and back, and over every household, marriage, and family represented this weekend.
Father, send your angels to protect every heart associated with this conference and we pray, hope, and trust for a releasing of your grace to wash over every man. Fill to overflowing each man's heart with your love and affection for him. Change each man… transform him. Alter every man this coming weekend into a newer version of how he uniquely bears your image. Advance each man in their comeback journey home to your heart and to the Christ-likeness in which we were created, held together, and are becoming.
Jesus, we pray against the enemy of our hearts… against the kingdom of darkness and all their plans and plots to overthrow the weekend. We pray against the spirits of diminishment and accusation… against guilt, shame and fear… against all forms of falsehoods and lies that have for far to long gone unchecked and been unruly in a man’s life. WE bring the power and authority of the Cross of Christ, the Resurrection of Christ and the Ascension of Christ; the full work of Christ over and against all foul spirits setting up against this weekend of deliverance and battle. We claim Freedom for all men, the team, those attending, and for all their households, marriages, and families. Greater are you, God, in us, with us, and for us than our enemy.
Holy Spirit come and dismantle the false self that each man is bringing with him to the weekend. Heal the wounds and wounding moments of every man’s stories. Set them free from their false self and give each man space to see the battle over and for his heart. Give men this weekend the orientation, understanding, and even better… the crucial experiences he needs with you and your love for him. Love, Love, Love Holy Spirit… usher each man into transformation love through the encounter and experiences with you Jesus, the King, Shepherd and Savior of our souls. Mighty are you to save, gentle are you to share and glorious are all your ways.
We pray this in the matchless and powerful name of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ to whom all power, honor and praise!!! Amen and AMEN!