Tag: jesus

The Unseen Engine: How Prayer Fuels Every Great Spiritual Movement

The Unseen Engine: How Prayer Fuels Every Great Spiritual Movement

If you look closely at the history of Christianity—from ancient revivals to modern, viral movements—you’ll find one constant, often unseen force driving them all: prayer.

Prayer isn’t just a side activity; it’s the indispensable engine that precedes, sustains, and propels every genuine spiritual awakening, disciple-making effort, and outpouring of faith. It’s the point where human desperation meets divine power.

Here is a breakdown of the crucial role prayer plays in the most powerful movements of faith:

1. The Precursor and Catalyst for Revival

Historically, you cannot find a great revival that wasn’t birthed out of dedicated, corporate prayer.

  • Preparing the Ground: Prayer is often described as “preparing the altar.” It’s the act of confessing sin, humbling the heart, and creating a space—personally and corporately—where God’s presence is actively sought. It’s what transforms a stagnant religious tradition into a dynamic, life-changing experience.
  • The Fulton Street Example: The legendary 1857-1858 Revival in the United States didn’t start with a dynamic preacher or a brilliant program; it began with a handful of laymen meeting for a noon-day prayer meeting. It proves that the greatest awakenings are often revivals of prayer first.
  • A Kingdom Focus: Revival prayer is characterized by an unselfish desire to see God’s glory and kingdom advanced, rather than a focus on personal needs. This shift in focus is often what unlocks a new level of spiritual impact.

2. The Foundation for Disciple-Making Movements (DMMs)

For global missions and movements focused on the multiplication of disciples, prayer is the strategic key to breakthrough in hard-to-reach places.

  • Source of Laborers: When Jesus looked at the crowds, He didn’t tell His disciples to form a new committee or launch a new seminar. He told them, “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Prayer is the primary recruitment strategy.
  • Spiritual Warfare: DMM leaders view prayer as the essential weapon for spiritual warfare—the power that dismantles strongholds, opens “doors for the message,” and grants boldness to those sharing the Gospel. They pray for specific, seemingly impossible miracles to validate the message.
  • The Lifestyle of Multiplication: In DMMs, prayer is not just a meeting; it’s a way of life. The personal, intense prayer rhythms of leaders are consistently cited as the reason for sustained, high-speed reproduction of new believers and churches.

3. The Sustaining Heart of Viral Outpourings

In recent times, spontaneous movements like the Asbury Outpouring in 2023 have captured global attention. At their core, these events were fueled by prayer.

  • The Starting Point: The Asbury event began not with a formal call, but with a few students simply lingering in the auditorium for spontaneous worship and prayer after a routine chapel service.
  • A Posture of Humility: Throughout its duration, the Outpouring was marked by an “unrushed willingness to linger” and fervent, student-led prayer. Those stewarding the movement emphasized that their main task was listening prayer—tuning in to what God was already doing and cooperating with it.
  • Encounter and Repentance: The atmosphere was consistently described as one of profound love and grace that led directly to a powerful sense of conviction and repentance. This is the ultimate goal of much prayer: a genuine encounter with God that leads to life change.

The Takeaway

Whether you are praying for a personal breakthrough, a change in your community, or for the global spread of the Gospel, the lesson is clear: nothing truly meaningful happens without it.

Prayer is the active choice to rely on divine power instead of human effort. It is the invisible force that makes the impossible possible.

What is one specific, bold thing you could commit to praying for today to invite God to move in a new way?

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Just Take the First Step

“When the mountain looks too big, start with faith”

Have you ever looked at a project—one that means so much to you—that it almost takes your breath away? The kind that carries your memories, your hopes, and the love you’ve poured into every dream you’ve ever had. It’s not just an idea—it’s a piece of your heart.

And yet, as you stand at the edge of it, staring into the magnitude of what it could become, a wave of doubt hits you. You think, This is too big. How can I possibly do this? The weight of it all—time, effort, emotion—feels like more than you can carry.

I’ve been there. That moment when excitement and fear collide. When the heart wants to leap forward, but the mind whispers, slow down… this is too much.

But then—there’s that quiet, steady voice deep inside. A whisper that cuts through the noise and says, Just take the first step… and watch Me work on your behalf.

That’s the beauty of faith—it doesn’t demand that we see the whole path. It only asks that we trust enough to move one step at a time. Because often, the first step is the key that unlocks what’s waiting beyond our sight.

I’ve learned that the projects that scare us most are usually the ones most worth doing. The ones that stretch us, humble us, and remind us that we were never meant to do it alone.

So, whatever your “big thing” is—start small. Start now. Take that first step in faith, and trust that the One who placed the dream in your heart will guide your hands the rest of the way.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14

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Beautiful Chaos, Guided by the Spirit

Notes from Alex – A Light in the Chaos

As I sit and reflect on my spiritual journey, I see a thread running through my life that started long before I chose to follow Christ. Even as a kid, I felt this pull inside me—a desire to be a positive light in a world that often seemed swallowed up in darkness.

I remember looking around at my community, at my people, and noticing the chaos that swirled like a storm. It was heavy and unsettling, even then. And yet, deep in my heart, I knew I wanted to do something different. To be an encouragement. To bring a spark of light, however small, into the lives of those around me.

Sometimes that looked like the simplest of things—saying hello, asking how are you doing?, or just stopping long enough to really listen. I didn’t always know what I was doing, but I knew it mattered.

When I chose to follow Christ, that quiet nudge inside me didn’t disappear—it became stronger, clearer, and more purposeful. I began to understand that God had given me tools for this journey: prayer, His Word, the ability to speak encouragement, and the call to walk alongside others as they faced their own struggles.

These tools aren’t just for me; they’re meant to be shared. They’re meant to point people toward hope, toward light, toward the One who is greater than all of us.

Looking back, I see how God was already preparing my heart before I even realized it. That desire I felt as a kid—to be a light in the midst of chaos—wasn’t just me. It was Him. It always was.

And this is where I’ve landed: life isn’t about having it all figured out, but about using what God has placed in your hands to encourage, uplift, and shine a light for others on their journey.

And as I continue walking with my Creator, I hold onto this thought: my life is simply beautiful chaos, dancing in the wind of the Spirit.

As Jesus said in John 3:8, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

That’s how my journey feels—mysterious, sometimes unpredictable, but always alive in the movement of God.

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Homecoming Freewrite — Notes from Alex

Noticing the shadows — a year home in Metlakatla.

I’ve been home in Metlakatla for just over a year now, and the place I thought I knew is showing me new faces. There’s a kind of quiet I remember from growing up here, but underneath it I’m seeing something else — a current of worry and a tangle of things I didn’t expect: prescription pills trading hands like gum, illegal substances moving through corners of town, people who used to be on opposite sides now strangely close. It’s confusing. It’s sad. It’s real.

What puzzles me most is the connections. Folks I remember as neighbors or coworkers now move in ways that suggest there’s a map of relationships I don’t have. Enemies become pals, dealers and users exist beside pastors and parents, and the lines between “that kind of person” and “someone from church” blur. Maybe that’s how communities survive — we adapt, we hide our shame, we make peace with what we can’t face. Or maybe it’s how a problem grows: out of silence and the things done in the shadows.

I’ve been praying about it. Not the quick, “fix-this” kind of prayer, but the heavy, persistent kind that asks for truth and healing. I believe shadows don’t have the last word — light does. If there are people bringing drugs into our streets and wrecking lives, this shouldn’t be something we normalize or tuck away like a family secret. We owe each other honesty, care, and accountability. We owe our kids a town that doesn’t make brokenness into a quiet economy.

That doesn’t mean I want to point fingers from a place of judgment. I want to see people helped, not shamed. I want the folks stuck in cycles of addiction to find paths out, and for the people enabling the flow — whether knowingly or not — to be confronted with help and consequences. And yes, I want the hidden things brought to light, because only in the light can healing begin.

It’s a strange mix: pride in this place that raised me, and grief for the things that are wrong. It’s also a call — to pay attention, to speak up when I can, to pray louder when I can’t. Maybe the first step is simply noticing, and then doing the next small thing: check on a neighbor, show up to a local meeting, call someone who can help. Small lights can join to make a blaze.

“For there is nothing hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” — Luke 8:17

A short prayer: Lord, bring what is hidden into the light. Bring healing where there is harm. Give us courage to act and wisdom to love well. Amen.

“If we want a healthier community tomorrow, it begins with the choices we make inside our own homes today — for our kids, for our families, for the ones watching us most closely.”

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Freewrite – Reflections

Wrestling with Darkness, Seeking the Light

I am sitting here tonight, after a full day of work, saddened and unsettled by the news of what happened today. A man, in what is already being called a political assassination, was shot and killed while speaking to university students.

This was not just any man—he loved his country, and he loved young people. That’s why he chose to engage with them, to debate, to challenge, to listen. And now his life has been taken.

I sit here puzzled, almost speechless, wondering why this even happened. Part of me can’t help but see it through the lens of spiritual warfare. Anytime someone stands up for young people, or speaks truth—whether biblical truth or simply the truth of what is right and just—it seems they are targeted. Not by the light, but by the darkness.

And when darkness strikes, it leaves in its wake confusion, pain, and unanswered questions. That confusion is the very atmosphere the enemy of our soul thrives on.

Tonight, I feel both sadness and anger. Anger, because my heart tells me there is more we can be doing. More to stand for truth. More to protect life. More to speak hope into the next generation.

But what is that “more”? That is the question stirring in me tonight.

So tonight I leave this question not just on my own heart, but with you as well: what more can we do? How do we push back against the darkness that tries to silence truth and steal hope from the next generation? Maybe it’s in prayer, maybe it’s in showing up for young people, maybe it’s in speaking truth when it would be easier to stay quiet.

I don’t have the full answer. But I do know this—we cannot remain numb or passive. Each of us has a role, however small or large, to shine light where darkness wants to dwell.

Jesus reminded us in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” That is where our confidence rests. The “more” begins with turning to Him, walking in His light, and carrying that light into every space we can.

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A New Chapter in Aviation and Life

Back in My Wheelhouse

Over the past few weeks, I’ve stepped into a new role that has placed me right back into the world of Private Jet Aviation. It feels good to be back in my wheelhouse—sales and operations—working with an incredible ops team that truly loves what they do. What makes it even more rewarding is that we are a fully remote team, spread across the country, yet united by our passion for aviation. Different walks of life, different backgrounds, but one shared drive. It shows in the way we work together.

When I came home to Alaska, my heart was set on helping in any way I could. I wanted to contribute, to lend my experience, and to move projects forward. But the reality was harder than expected. Leadership support was missing at key moments, and decisions that needed to be made simply weren’t. It left me confused and, if I’m honest, a little discouraged.

In the end, it became clear that my help wasn’t truly needed in the way I had hoped. That was a difficult realization, and making the decision to move on wasn’t easy. But today, I find myself deeply thankful for this new opportunity and for the people I now get to work alongside.

I still hope the best for the projects happening here in Metlakatla. This is home, and I care about the work being done. But for now, I’m grateful to have found a team and a space where my skills are being put to good use again.

At the end of the day, I see this as another reminder that the journey—whether in aviation, family, or faith—isn’t always a straight line, but every turn has a purpose in shaping where we’re meant to be.

Faith-focused:
“Through it all, I’m reminded that God’s plan often unfolds in ways I don’t expect, but always in ways that prepare me for where I’m meant to be.”

Family-focused:
“It’s another reminder that the work I do isn’t just for me—it’s about creating stability and setting an example for my family, showing them that resilience matters.”

Aviation-focused:
“Much like flying, this journey has had its turbulence and course corrections, but every adjustment keeps me moving toward the horizon where I’m meant to be.”

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The Dark Night of the Soul Is Over

Emerging from the Valley into a New Season

There are seasons in life that feel like endless night—where pain, confusion, and suffering seem to swallow every ounce of hope. For me, that season began in the first week of December 2023.

I don’t remember much from that day, only fragments of what happened. One moment I was at home, and the next, I was being medevaced by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. My body was shutting down from a parasite that had been inside me for years, slowly weakening me until it finally brought me to my knees.

In the ICU, I suffered multiple mini-strokes, and at one point, I even passed on the table—only to be brought back. My body was being kept alive by multiple IVs, machines, and the relentless work of doctors and nurses I had never met. For seven days, I was unconscious. When I finally opened my eyes, I was disoriented, everything looked black and white, and though I could see people’s lips moving, I couldn’t hear a sound. Hours later, when I opened my eyes again, color had returned, sound had returned, and a nurse gently greeted me back into the world.

The pain was overwhelming. The shock was real. I remember silently weeping, asking myself, What in the world just happened to me?

And then, in that fragile moment, a scripture rose up inside me:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13

I whispered, “Father, You will have to be my strength, because right now, I have none.”

That was the beginning of my healing journey. I had to learn how to walk again. I had to endure months of recovery, with moments that felt unbearable. I was uprooted and unsettled, facing the reality of moving back to Alaska while still fighting through weakness and pain. For over a year, it felt as if I was walking through a valley I didn’t know how to escape—a very real dark night of the soul.

It was hard. It was hurtful. It was sad. And yet… it was not without purpose.

Because in that dark place, I learned surrender. I learned that when all strength is gone, God Himself becomes our strength. I learned to pray not from a place of control, but from utter dependence. I learned that even when my world turned black and white, God was still painting in color.

Now, as I stand here today, I sense a shift. That long night is ending. A new season is dawning.

The valley doesn’t last forever. The storm eventually passes. And while the scars remain, they serve as reminders of God’s mercy, His power to restore, and His promise to carry us through the shadows.

Today, I feel the sun rising again. The dark night of the soul is over, and I am stepping into the light of a new season with renewed faith, deeper trust, and a heart that knows—truly knows—that God is faithful.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being our strength when we have none. For those walking through their own dark night, remind them that You are near—that even in the valley, You are the light that never fades. Teach us to surrender, to trust, and to lean fully on You. Lord, bring healing where there is pain, peace where there is fear, and joy where there has been sorrow. We declare in faith that the night will not last forever, and that Your morning light will rise over our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The Miracle of Healing

“The Night I Experienced God’s Promise of Healing”

There are moments on this faith journey where words seem too small, too simple, to capture what really happened. Healing is one of those moments.

When I think about healing, I don’t just think of it as something I’ve read about in the Bible, or something that happened long ago. I think of it as something I’ve lived, something I’ve seen with my own eyes, and something I’ve felt in my own body. Yes, I have experienced physical healings—real, unexplainable, miraculous healings.

One of the first times this happened was at the very beginning of my journey. There was a two-week seminar at William Duncan Memorial Church. Every night, people gathered for worship, teaching, and prayer. That week’s focus was healing.

At the time, I was so sick—a nasty chest cold, fever, sore throat, stuffed nose, the works. I could barely breathe and I honestly thought, I shouldn’t go. I’ll just stay home and rest. But something tugged at me. Maybe it was curiosity, maybe faith starting to take root, maybe just desperation. Whatever it was, I went.

I sat alone on purpose, not wanting to spread my sickness to anyone else. As the service went on, there came a time of prayer. Something in me rose up and thought, I want prayer. Maybe, just maybe, I can be healed.

And that’s when it happened.

An elder behind me began to pray. As she prayed, I suddenly felt heat flow through my chest—so real and so powerful I can still remember it vividly today. In an instant, my lungs cleared. My nose opened. My ears popped. My throat stopped hurting. The fever broke. Just like that—bam—I was healed!

I can’t explain it by science or logic. All I know is I walked into that church sick, and I walked out completely well.

Since then, I’ve experienced other healings in my own life and have witnessed others being touched in the same miraculous way. Each time, I’m reminded of what Scripture promises—that healing is not just a story from the past, but a reality that can still happen today.

Do I fully understand it? No. But I believe it. I’ve lived it. Healing is real, and it’s a gift that points us back to the One who still works miracles.

That night of healing marked a turning point for me. It wasn’t just about being physically well again—it was about learning firsthand that God is faithful to His promises. Ever since then, I’ve carried that memory with me, especially when I face struggles or pray for others. It strengthened my trust that God really does hear us, and that He still moves in ways we can’t explain. Today, when I pray for people who are sick or hurting, I do it with a quiet confidence, remembering what He did for me. That moment taught me that healing is more than just a miracle—it’s a reminder of His love, His presence, and His power at work in our everyday lives.

Scripture says, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:15). I’ve seen that truth alive in my own life. Today, when I pray for people who are sick or hurting, I do it with a quiet confidence, remembering what He did for me. That moment taught me that healing is more than just a miracle—it’s a reminder of His love, His presence, and His power at work in our everyday lives.

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A Stirring is happening right now!

Blog Post for “Notes by Alex”
By Alex Atkinson

A Stirring I Cannot Shake: The Weight of a Dangerous Anointing

Lately, I have sensed a stirring in my heart — one I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s persistent. Gentle, yet weighty. I can’t shake it, and truthfully, I don’t want to. This stirring is not born from emotion or circumstance; it’s deeper. It’s a holy unrest. A spiritual nudge from the One who sees all, knows all, and calls us forward.

Our Creator is on the move.

I found myself recently listening to the voice of a general of the faith — Kathryn Kuhlman. Her words didn’t just inspire me; they broke me. Her voice, her heart, her deep reverence for the Holy Spirit struck a place in me that I didn’t realize had grown quiet.

And then it hit me: everything she was declaring — about the cost, the calling, and the surrender — felt like it was aimed right at my heart. That’s when I heard this phrase, echoing in my spirit:

“You are dangerously anointed by God.”

At first, it sounded bold, maybe even dramatic. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized how weighty and true that phrase is for anyone chosen, called, and set apart by God.

What Does It Mean to Be Dangerously Anointed?

It’s not about platform, power, or prestige. Being dangerously anointed means your life has become a threat to the enemy’s plans. It means you carry something holy — not for your glory, but for God’s. And that comes with a cost.

Here’s what I’ve come to understand:

1. Chosen and Set Apart

The anointing begins with a divine choosing. You didn’t ask for it — it finds you. You’re pulled into something greater than yourself, something eternal.

2. Empowered by the Spirit

The Holy Spirit empowers the anointed to fulfill their assignment. Not through talent or charisma, but through surrender and obedience.

3. Spiritual Warfare

That anointing draws fire. It attracts spiritual resistance. The enemy sees the threat and tries to neutralize it — through discouragement, distraction, and destruction.

4. Cost and Sacrifice

This journey is not glamorous. It’s lonely at times. You may be misunderstood, rejected, even attacked. But every step costs something — pride, comfort, reputation — and it’s all laid down for the sake of the call.

5. Atmosphere Shifter

Dangerously anointed people carry the presence of God in such a way that it shifts rooms, breaks chains, and awakens hearts. They carry light into darkness.

Signs You Might Be Dangerously Anointed

  • Unexplainable Attacks – Trouble seems to find you, even when you aren’t looking for it.
  • Spiritual Battles – You wrestle with fear, doubt, and pressure.
  • Opposition from Others – Even those close to you may not understand the weight you carry.
  • Deep Compassion – You feel burdened for others, interceding for them with intensity.
  • Holy Dissatisfaction – You crave more of God and less of this world.
  • Breaking and Refining – God brings you to the end of yourself so He can fill you fully.

This Anointing Is Not a Badge of Honor

Let’s be clear: this is not about elevating oneself. The anointing is a responsibility, not a reward. It demands humility, dependence, and discernment.

Sometimes the most anointed people are the quietest ones — praying behind the scenes, obeying God in obscurity, carrying burdens only He sees.

My Takeaway in This Stirring Season

I don’t fully understand everything God is doing. But I sense the shift. I feel the breaking and the reordering. The Spirit is moving again in my life in a way I can’t deny. And I believe He’s doing it in others too — maybe in you.

If you feel the pressure, the hunger, the burden — don’t run from it. Let it drive you to the One who is calling. Let it humble you. Let it refine you.

This stirring is holy.

And our Creator is not finished with you yet.

Pull Quotes for Sharing

  • “The stirring in your spirit may be the signal that God is calling you deeper.”
  • “Being dangerously anointed means your life is a threat to darkness — not a trophy for men.”
  • “God doesn’t anoint the comfortable. He anoints the surrendered.”
  • “There’s a cost to the anointing — but the presence of God is worth it all.”
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What Makes a Leader? Good, Bad, and Growing in Grace

From Faults to Faith: My Journey to Understanding Grace in Leadership

Hey everyone, and welcome back to Notes by Alex!

For as long as I can remember, leadership has been a topic that utterly fascinates me. I’ve spent years observing, reflecting, and trying to understand what truly makes a good leader, and just as importantly, what contributes to a bad one. It’s a journey of discernment that has, over time, led me to a deeper understanding, particularly when viewed through a Christian lens.

The Reality of Leadership, Christian or Not

One of the most profound realizations I’ve had is this: Christians are not exempt from faults and failures. This might sound obvious, but sometimes we, myself included, can fall into the trap of expecting perfection from those in Christian leadership roles. The truth is, we’re all human. We all make mistakes, we all stumble, and yes, even leaders in the Christian world have their shortcomings.

It’s precisely in these moments of human frailty that the incredible power of grace truly comes into focus. We hear about grace, we talk about grace, but experiencing it – both as the one who extends it and the one who desperately needs it – is an entirely different matter.

My Own Journey with Failure and Grace

I can personally attest to this. There have been times in my own life, in various capacities of leadership, where I have failed. And let me tell you, those moments are humbling. They’re raw. But they’re also incredibly formative. It was through one such period of personal failure that the lyrics of the hymn “Amazing Grace” stopped being just words and became a profound, personal reality. “I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.” It was in that brokenness that I truly began to grasp the boundless love and forgiveness that grace offers.

Learning and Growing from Our Flaws

This brings me to a crucial point about leadership: when a leader fails and has faults, it’s not necessarily the end. In fact, it’s often a profound opportunity to learn and to grow.

Think about it:

  • Humility: Failure often breeds humility, which is an essential characteristic of a good leader. It reminds us that we are not infallible and that we need God’s guidance and the support of others.
  • Empathy: Having experienced failure or shortcomings can cultivate a deeper empathy for those we lead who are struggling. It helps us to approach situations with compassion rather than judgment.
  • Resilience: Overcoming setbacks builds resilience. A leader who has navigated difficult personal waters is often better equipped to lead others through challenges.
  • Authenticity: When a leader is transparent about their struggles and how they’ve learned from them, it builds trust and allows others to see them as a real, relatable person, not just a figurehead.

Of course, there’s a distinction to be made between a leader who makes a mistake and genuinely learns from it, and one who repeatedly acts out of character or demonstrates a consistent pattern of harmful behavior without accountability. But for those who are truly committed to growth, failure can be a powerful teacher.

What are your thoughts on leadership, both good and bad, particularly from a perspective that embraces human imperfection and the transformative power of grace? I’d love to hear your insights in the comments below!

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