In chapter 6 of Center Church, Tim Keller discusses "The Work of Gospel Renewal." The first means of Gospel renewal Keller mentions is Extraordinary Prayer. There he lists the three basic traits of frontline prayer (as contrasted with "maintenance prayer")...
- A request for grace to confess sins and to humble ourselves
- A compassion and zeal for the flourishing of the church and the reaching of the lost
- A yearning to know God, to see his face, to glimpse his glory
Keller then states, "If you pay attention at a prayer meeting, you can tell quite clearly whether these traits are present."
Use these 3 traits as a guide when you lead times of focused prayer in your church, small group, and prayer meetings. As Keller writes, "To kindle every revival, the Holy Spirit initially uses what Jonathan Edwards called 'extraordinary prayer' -- united, persistent, and kingdom centered."
(Center Church, page 73)
