Turning My Heart Toward Home
By Don MacLafferty
In 1999, on a cold winter night in Michigan, I heard Elijah’s call to turn my heart back to my children. I did not hear this call through the preaching of a sermon from the pulpit or from a chapter in a book. I heard Elijah’s call through the cries of my children.
I was gathering my papers and briefcase so I could run out the door to an important meeting to plan the building of a larger church. I was in a rush. My children, Jason and Julie, were 6 and 3 years old. They heard me getting ready to leave. They ran up to me, asking, “Where are you going, Daddy?”
“I am going to a meeting,” I replied factually.
“Daddy, stay home tonight!” they pleaded. “You are always gone! Daddy, you never play with us anymore!”
I leaned over to give my son and daughter quick hugs and kisses. Their little arms wrapped around me tightly. When I tried to stand up, they would not let me go! They clung to me with desperation. They were trying to keep their over-committed daddy home.
I had to gently pry their arms off my neck so I could go. They started crying. “Daddy, just tonight! Please stay home!”
I backed out of the house and closed the door. As I walked out into the snow, the picture of my children crying and reaching out to me lingered heavily on my heart. As I trudged through the snow to my church meeting, God spoke to my heart. He called me by name. I stopped in my tracks. On that night, as the snow silently fell around me, God called me back to my children. He had first spoken through the cries and the love of my children: “Daddy, stay home!”
That was a very difficult call for me. I was often out seven nights a week, helping others while neglecting my own children. It was a painful call but a call of mercy that led to healing between me, Jason, and Julie.
From that day forward, I began to say no to many requests so I could say yes to my family. It was not easy! God helped me to begin safeguarding time with each child, just as my wife, April, and I had prioritized our time together.
At first, my children’s hearts were not open to me. I had said no to their requests to play too many times. Often, I felt like a failure. But the call of Elijah comes with the healing power of the Lord. The Lord helped my children to forgive me. He literally turned my heart to them and their little hearts back to me. Praise God!
John, with the same Holy Spirit power of Elijah, prepared the people for the coming of the Messiah. Like Elijah, John called for revival. He preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2).
John, like Elijah, called the hearts of the fathers back to their children. Today, we are commissioned to do likewise.
John prepared the people of the first century to receive Jesus as the Messiah. Today, we are called to prepare people to receive Jesus as the King of kings who will come in the clouds!
The healing of the family is a pivotal part of revival, and it is a pivotal part of coming back to the altar as we worship together. Revival must be the daily goal in our hearts. Worship at the altar as a family must be the heartbeat of our homes. As our families experience a daily revival with Jesus through worship, time in His written Word, and prayer, the Spirit of God is preparing us to meet Jesus soon! Now is the time to live the message of Elijah for these last days!
Pastor Don MacLafferty is president of In Discipleship, an intergenerational revival ministry. He has authored more than 10 books, including the original “The Way Back to the Altar” discipleship curriculum which is being used during this 100 Days of Prayer. He assists the General Conference as a volunteer and leads out with Back to the Altar training programs all around the world.
Worshiping Together | Study
Welcome to another session of Back to the Altar | 100 Days of Prayer
We are living in a world full of digital distractions, consuming cares, busyness, and broken down altars of worship. Our family altars are falling apart as well. But no personal situation, no family situation or broken family altar is too difficult for God to restore.
If you (or your family) are feeling in need of a fresh re-boot in your spiritual journey, desiring to rebuild or strengthen your altar of worship, or longing for more Holy Spirit revival fire to be poured out on your life, this week’s Back to the Altar prayer revival is for you.
“Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near to me.’ So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD [that was] broken down.” 1 Kings 18:30
What happened after Elijah repaired the alter? Fire fell from heaven!
God is waiting to pour out that same Holy Spirit fire today, to set ablaze our hearts, our homes, our communities, our world. The Latter Rain is still to come, but the Holy Spirit is even now being poured out in richer and richer measure. Do you see it? Are you experiencing it?
Soberly we are told, “Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it” (Last Day Events, p. 195).
Let’s not delay any longer. Jesus is knocking on our heart’s door. Let’s ask, let’s receive, let’s live with Holy Spirit power—today. “With the persevering faith of Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, claim for yourself all that God has promised” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 149). His promises are yours!
1. Heart Connect
Question to ask yourself: Do you ever long for people to appreciate you and see you for who you are on the inside? What is one thing that you wish your friends, family, or church family would recognize in you? Write your answer down.
Read/Reflect on Ephesians 4:29
• What difference would it make in your life if you actively lived this passage?
• What difference would it make in our church if everyone followed this counsel?
• How can you share the power of this passage with a family member or a friend?
Let’s take a moment to watch a fun video, illustrating this passage in a creative way.
How important that we be intentional with our words and actions towards one another.
2. Worshiping Our King Together
If we appreciate being noticed and appreciated for who we are and what we do, how much more must our King and Lord appreciate gratitude and praise? Psalm 22:3 tells us, He “inhabits” the praises of His people. In other words, He lives in an environment of praise.
Prayer Moment: Take a few minutes (in your small groups) to praise God for Who He is, and to thank Him for some of the things you appreciate about Him.
After you have spent a few minutes in praise, is it as tempting to criticize one another or tear each other down? No, love for God and for each other grows in our hearts. Let’s learn to practice a spirit of praise daily.
3. Making Worship a Priority
What priority should worship have in our life?
Read/Reflect on Genesis 12:1-9
• What were Abraham’s personal priorities?
• Do you find any message here about the order of his priorities for family and worship?
• What evidence do we have that Isaac was influenced by his father’s call to worship? (Can you find a passage or two as examples of Isaac’s worship habits?)
Read/Reflect on Malachi 4:5-6
• How does this prophecy impact our hearts, our family worship, and what is the connection between the two?
Let’s pray for God to make this passage a reality in our own homes. The following short video will take this message deeper.
Do you desire for God to turn your heart and the heart of your loved ones back together? Do you desire for God to rebuild the altar of worship in your home? God can do it. God will do it! But it starts with you!
4. Personal Practical Application
As we pray to truly build stronger the altar of worship as individuals, families, and churches, accept the following Back to the Alter personal challenges this week.
• 1st Challenge: Pray that God would enrich your personal time with Him, and that He would daily put fresh praises in your heart and on your lips.
• 2nd Challenge: Next time you are tempted to say something negative or tear someone down or watch someone else tear another believer down (whether in their presence, behind their back, or even online) ask God to help you build that person up instead! Refuse to join the ranks of “accuser” of the brethren (See Rev. 12:10).
• 3rd Challenge: In addition to taking unrushed personal time daily with Jesus, ask God to help you have a special interactive worship with your family (or a friend) at least 1-2 times this next week. Pray for God to give you creative ways to connect His truth with the hearts of those around you.
Creative connect activities can go a long way for bringing a spiritual point home in a way that will never be forgotten. Try this with your family! See what God does.
BONUS Segment: Need Help Creating Engaging Family Worships? Watch this bonus video to go deeper!
Now it’s time to pray for this week’s prayer focus.
Worshiping Together | Prayer Focus
for April 11-17
Bible Promises to Claim as you Pray
“Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near to me.’ So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.” 1 Kings 18:30
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” Psalm 95:6
“Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.” Psalm 43:4
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Prayer Focus for Week 2
1. PRAISE: Pray that God would enrich your personal time with Him, and that He would put fresh praises in your heart and on your lips daily. (Claim Psalm 34:1)
2. BUILD: Pray that God would help you build others up rather than tear them down by your words or actions. (Claim Ephesians 4:29-30, Ezekiel 36:26)
3. YIELD: Pray that your life and tongue would yield the sweet Fruit of the Spirit, not the bitter fruit of darkness. (Claim James 3:8-9, Galatians 5:22-23)
4. PRIORITIZE: Pray that daily unrushed worship would become a top life priority, that you and your family cannot live without. (Claim Deuteronomy 30:6, Psalm 29:2)
5. WORSHIP: Pray that God would restore and strengthen your personal and/or family altar of worship. Pray that God would help you worship with friends and family this week in a special way. (Claim Hebrews 10:25, Psalm 9:1)
6. REFRESH: Pray that it won’t be just business as usual at this coming GC session July 3-12, but a time of deep spiritual revival that will refresh the hearts of all in attendance. (Claim Isaiah 43:19, Psalm 85:6)
7. GO: Pray that church members around the world will embrace the theme, “Jesus is Coming, I WILL GO!” And that all will be inspired with a heart for God’s mission – to share the Three Angels’ messages with a dying world. (Claim Isaiah 6:8, Revelation 14:6-7)
Download this Week 2 – Worshiping Together – Back to the Altar Bible Study