Offered
Foreword
I AM ABSOLUTELY AMAZED at the movement of prayer God has initiated in America and throughout the world. There has been nothing like it in all the history of the Church. For many years now I have had the privilege to travel the globe (sometimes six times in a single year) and have repeatedly seen the tremendous things God is doing in and through His praying people. As the years have passed, I have seen with my own eyes the emergence of a mighty army of intercessors who are Touching Heaven with their prayers and transforming cultures as the result.
Scripture assures us that before Christ returns the prayers of God’s holy people
will fill golden bowls with what some today refer to as intercessory worship, symbolized by the harps held by His angelic hosts who sing a new song of global harvest and those golden bowls filled with all the prayers of God’s saints down through the ages (see Revelation 5:8-10). The new song that follows pictures a vast multitude, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, that emerges from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. Worship-saturated prayer seems to release this historic harvest.
Later, in Revelation 8:1-6, the prayers of God’s people laced with much incense
(see The Message Bible) are taken up by an angel and cast to the earth and as a result the earth is filled with thunder, lightning and an earthquake. It is the sign of God’s final purposes being fulfilled upon earth. In these portions of Scripture we are given a look at the power of prayer from heaven’s perspective. What we see is a vivid picture of how the amassed prayers of God’s saints impact heaven, and in fact, ultimately transform the earth! I believe that as the Holy Spirit continues to reveal this truth to His Church we will see a global chorus of prayer ascending from every people, tribe and tongue to God’s throne! The resulting harvest of souls coming into the Kingdom will be far beyond what we could ever imagine.
As we approach the return of Christ, and as this global movement of heaven-touching prayer continues to impact every part of our planet, I believe God will give the church prayer strategists like Debbie Przybylski who will receive profound insights into the depth and impact of these prayers. Ascending the Heights in Prayer is an excellent guide accomplishing precisely this. I cannot recommend this book more highly. It is a guide prepared through a lifetime of the author’s prayer experiences that will provide any intercessor, young or old, rich treasures that will transform his or her prayer life.
Equally important, Ascending the Heights in Prayer reminds all followers of Jesus that prayer is the natural result of a living relationship with God and that from this relationship we each can become world-changers. This profound truth, and a multitude of other equally vital truths found within the pages of this marvelous book, may well change the way you approach God in prayer! As you soak in these pages (and I pray you will) I am certain you will be refreshed in your resolve to approach God’s throne, ascending ever higher and higher into the riches of His infinite presence. And when you arrive at that place you won’t want to selfishly stay there. You will want to rush out to a dying world and invite all you meet to experience the very joys you have found in ascending those same heights, that they may encounter the Lord as you have.
Read this book today. Don’t miss another moment. And then invite others to join you on this joyful journey to new heights in the presence of our wonderful Lord.
DICK EASTMAN
International President
Every Home for Christ
Acknowledgments
With special thanks:
To the Holy Spirit, who enabled me to write another book about prayer and intercession. I really enjoyed ascending the heights in prayer with You.
To my husband Norman, who encouraged and gave me freedom to pursue the ministry of Intercessors Arise International.
To my father Harold Busse, for always being there when I was growing up and for encouraging me throughout the years. I appreciate your quiet presence.
To my mother Mary Jane Busse, who was faithful in prayer for me throughout my life. You are my greatest cheerleader and intercessor, and I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you so much.
To Jeanne Allen, Eileen Lass, and Debbie Leseberg, for your many hours of hard work in editing this book. I am so grateful for your perseverance and expertise.
To Dave Lewis, for preparing this book for publication by your excellent help with the cover, layout, style, and design of each chapter. I appreciate your patience, hard work, and skillful wisdom.
To the Elijah Company, Inc. Board of Directors, who encouraged and gave us wise counsel in the ministry of Elijah Company, Inc. and Intercessors Arise International.
To all the intercessors who have faithfully prayed for us through the years.
Introduction
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Psalm 24:3-6
GOD IS PRESENTLY CALLING HIS PEOPLE to ascend the heights in prayer. He wants us to reach higher and wider than ever before in this dynamic ministry of prayer and intercession. He wants us to touch heaven with our prayers. This is why I have chosen Ascending the Heights in Prayer: Touching Heaven, Changing Earth as the title. After writing several books on prayer, I am becoming increasingly convinced of the desperate need for training in prayer and intercession worldwide.
In this book, I desire that you ascend higher than ever before in powerful and personal prayer. I long for you to rise up further in Biblical, refined, and believing prayer. It is my prayer that you grow in worship and praise in your everyday life. I pray that you would increase in watchfulness and ascend higher in strategic prayer than you ever dreamed possible.
My desire is that you touch the very throne room of heaven with your prayers.
I have been involved in prayer meetings all over the world for many years. After having ministered together with my husband in over 65 countries with Operation Mobilization, I am convinced that prayer is the desperate cry of the hour in every nation. This is why Intercessors Arise International was birthed. I saw the need for training in prayer and encouragement in intercession on a worldwide scale.
It is my earnest desire to see intercession increase and develop throughout every nation of the world.
This book, Ascending the Heights in Prayer, is designed to motivate you to a higher and more strategic level of prayer in your own life. The thirty inspirational teachings were birthed in my own devotional life with the Lord. Each teaching is fashioned in a way that will help you apply it easily to your prayer life. They are written for all Christians in every walk of life in every nation. Whether you are a beginner in prayer or have many years of experience, this book is for you. The things you learn about prayer can be personally life changing.
Ascending the Heights in Prayer: Touching Heaven, Changing Earth is ideal for people who want to grow in prayer but need an easy-to-comprehend, yet challenging book. This book is ideal for busy lifestyles. Each teaching is short, motivational, and designed to help you touch heaven with your prayers. It can be used in training others in prayer individually or in groups. Each chapter is practical and centered on the Word of God, with a challenging life application and prayer that can be prayed again and again.
I have written many stories throughout this book gained from my years of experience on the mission field as well as from everyday life situations. It is my earnest desire that intercessors, and the Church as a whole, ascend in prayer for such a time as this. May you ascend the heights in prayer and touch heaven. As you ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place, you will be a radiant light for God’s glory and His Kingdom.
CHAPTER ONE
Touching Heaven
with Powerful Prayer
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Ephesians 6:10
THE ODDS WERE AGAINST HIM. A 22-year-old man with muscular dystrophy was trying to cross the highway in his electric wheelchair right in front of a semi truck. He never made it to the other side because suddenly there was a collision when the truck hit him, lodging the handlebars of his wheelchair in the truck’s grille. The truck driver didn’t even see him. He couldn’t hear his cries for help above the hum of the diesel engine. He didn’t even know the young man was there!
The truck took off, pushing the man for five miles down the road at fifty miles an hour. People who saw it were calling 9-1-1. Time was running out as the dark streaks on the road left his wheelchair tires smoking.
Finally the truck driver stopped at the trucking company. When he got out of the truck, he could hardly believe what had happened. The tires on the wheelchair were almost gone and the man was unharmed. The young man was amazed at the power of the semi truck and that he had miraculously survived the ordeal. His comment was, It was quite a ride!
Imagine how you would feel flying down the street at fifty miles an hour lodged on the front of a semi truck.
As you and I travel through everyday life, at times we may feel like this young man in the wheelchair. We may be traveling slowly through the busy traffic of ordinary life circumstances and find it hard to get to the other side or to get anywhere. We are the invalids. We may feel weak and helpless. Yet we are linked to an almighty God who can empower us and move us into His highest plan for our life—swiftly, victoriously, and without injury. We have our little electric
ways of going from point A to point B, but when the power of God’s Spirit comes upon us, we find ourselves being propelled into His purposes with a force totally beyond our control. It can be quite a ride. At times we may feel like we could die.
Just like this man in his wheelchair who unknowingly attached himself to the semi truck and begin moving fast without effort, we need to attach our handlebars to almighty God and let Him take us through life with His mighty power. How can we do this?
We do this through prayer and intercession.
You may ask, How can I be powerful in my intercession? Is there possibly a way that I can enter into corporate intercession with others that changes real life situations?
Let’s discover the keys to power in intercession, and learn how to cultivate the spirit of intercession in our own personal lives. Let’s find out how to enter into powerful corporate intercession with others.
The Power of Intercession
Of what infinite importance is the place the intercessor holds in the Kingdom of God! Is it not indeed a matter of wonder that God should give men such power? Yet there are so few who know what it is to take hold of His strength and pray down His blessing on the world.¹ Andrew Murray, Andrew Murray on Prayer
God wants to motivate us to take hold of the powerful ministry of prayer and intercession in our personal lives. Prayer is so mighty and so far-reaching that no words can describe its true worth. I love prayer. I saturate myself with whatever I can learn and read about this tremendous ministry. Prayer moves the hand of God. I have dedicated my life to help facilitate the worldwide prayer movement. I want to give my energy to encourage prayer in every believer because it is too important to be taken lightly.
Every Christian must learn to pray because all are called to pray and to intercede. Many of you are called to a high level of prayer and intercession. God wants you to touch heaven with your prayers, but it won’t be easy.
Prayer and intercession will cost you. There is a price tag if we want to touch heaven with our prayers, but it is so worth it.
In order to grow in prayer, we must realize that everything good is costly. We read in Colossians 4:2, Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. This level of prayer is not some half-hearted endeavor but it will cost sleep, time, and energy. We have to exercise our faith because we don’t always see the results immediately. It’s a choice to pray and not give up. With the eyes of faith we must see the potential and power of prayer. The commitment to pray and intercede needs to be a high priority in our lives. My decision in that area, made many years ago, is one of the best commitments I have ever made. In his book Andrew Murray on Prayer, Murray says:
What an unspeakable grace to be allowed to deal with God in intercession for the supply of others’ needs! To be able to take part in Christ’s great work as Intercessor is such a blessing. It is wonderful to be in close union with Him and to mingle my prayers with His! What an honor to have power with God in heaven over souls and to obtain for them what they do not even know or think!²
God is looking for people who will prepare the way for the Lord. There is a mysterious glory in prayer. In intercession we boldly ask from God the blessings of heaven. Through the power of prayer, we in our weakness link ourselves to the limitless power of God who can do the impossible.
Wherever you are in prayer today, God wants to bring you further and impart greater faith in your prayer life. He is not condemning you or comparing you with others. However, we are all growing in our walk with Him and can go further. To grow, we must get desperate for more results in prayer. We must learn to cry out to God in prayer. And He will test us in perseverance and faith to see if we are really serious.
God longs to develop a strong life of prayer and intercession in each one of us. He wants us to ascend the heights in prayer.
A new missionary named Herbert Jackson was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After careful consideration he thought of a plan, went to a school, and asked the children to push his car. They did, but from that time on whenever he wanted to start his car, he would have to park on a hill or leave the engine running. He did this for two long years. What an inconvenience. And because of illness he soon had to leave that country, and a new missionary came to take his place.
Herbert proudly explained how he would start his car. As he was explaining his fine solution, the new missionary looked under the hood and interrupted, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is the loose cable.
He twisted the cable, got in the car, turned it on, and the engine immediately started. Dr. Jackson was astonished because he had been doing this troublesome routine for two years. The power had been there all that time. A loose connection had kept him from connecting with the power.³
How often we try to do things in life without God’s power.
If we would only access the power of God through intercession, we would have the powerful life of God flowing through us every day. We must stay connected to God through prayer and intercession in order to see this power in our life. We long to be wholehearted and passionate. We long to do great things for God. We long to make a deep and lasting impact, but in order to do this we must lay hold of prayer and intercession with all our heart.
Here are a few big keys that I have used in unlocking the door to fruitfulness and power in my own prayer life. I encourage you to implement these keys into your lifestyle right now. I will mention them throughout this book, but here is where I encourage you to begin practicing them. They will help you to get the most out of Ascending the Heights in Prayer.
They will empower your heart to more fully grasp the truths about prayer in each chapter. These keys—if taken seriously and applied—will open a wide door into your destiny. They will help you to touch heaven with powerful prayer.
Keys to Power in Intercession
Intercession! Would one not say that this is the very holiest exercise of our boldness as God’s children? It is the highest privilege and enjoyment connected to our communion with God. It is the power of being used by God as instruments for His great work of making men His habitation and showing forth His glory.⁴ Andrew Murray, Andrew Murray on Prayer
• Cultivate praise, worship, and thanksgiving. Worship and praise God throughout the day. Worship changes our lives and how we see our situations. It is a joyful secret to living successfully in the end times. After we ascend to God’s throne room in worship, we can descend into the harvest field here on earth and pray strategically. God will give us strategies during our seasons of worship that unlock the path before us and bring glory into our situations here on earth. Everything in us should give praise to the Lord. David said in Psalm 34:1: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
• Raise your view of God. He wants to give you a bigger picture of Himself as you
