Facilitator Guidelines

Goals

A positive and fruitful interaction with the Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit that will motivate them to want to stay connected.

To increase their ability to receive from God and their confidence and motivation to hear from Him.

To see the heart of God and who they are in Christ more accurately. [The two simple foundations for intimacy]

To model processing obstacles to intimacy which arise to encourage them to do this themselves.

What to avoid in listening prayer ministry?  

Violating the person – imposing our opinion – controlling/manipulating/teaching – counseling.

Leading the person in prayer without their heart engaging.

Using terms (ex. ‘familiar spirit’) without explanation, or provocative language (ex. ‘Father, do I deal with self-hatred?’) that cause confusion or reaction and hinders their ability to hear from God.

Allowing the person to feel unsafe or embarrassed.

What is necessary to be effective?

Tend your own heart!

Start with positive questions to help the person receive encouragement and experience some level of intimacy before jumping into negative issues.  We don’t want to convey the message that we can’t enjoy any intimacy until we overcome our issues!

Asking the person beforehand or in the interview ‘What do you want to receive from God?’ and ‘What do you want to leave?’ may reveal issues that give you a check about taking this on.
Don’t hesitate to refer.  Then sit in if you can so you can learn!                                                                                                                      Before that however, you may still be able to facilitate them connecting and receiving
       encouragement from God.

Be clear on the essentials to be communicated in the Introduction and in Tending Your 
       Heart.

Stay engaged with the Holy Spirit and the person.  Don’t become preoccupied with your
       note-taking.
If note-taking is slowing you down and hindering the flow, write less. Use text abbreviations.
But get the exchanges!

Know your tools and what they do. Keep up-to-date Facilitator Binders through
       encounterhisheart.com.
Then make it your own.

Helping them in forgiveness

When we ask, “What do I need to forgive ___ for?”, we should follow up with “What else do I 
       need to forgive ___ for?” until they sense they are done.
Put yourself in the shoes of the person so you can expand their forgiveness to make it
       more meaningful.
(Remember to instruct the person not to follow your lead if it does not resonate in their
       heart.)
For example, if the person is told they need to forgive their Dad for being distant and
       emotionally detached, you may offer some of the following:
Father I forgive Dad for not wanting to connect with me in a way my heart needed.
I forgive him for not pursuing me, not wanting to understand me, not taking the time to get to
      know me.
I forgive him for not coming alongside and encouraging me, not intervening in my life to help
       me, not speaking the identity over me that I longed to hear, for being content to see me
       struggle on my own.
I forgive him for not giving me the confidence of his unconditional love.
I forgive him for making me feel – worthless, insecure – abandoned and alone – I couldn’t 
      depend on him.
I forgive him for making me feel – pressure to perform for his approval, OR, – I had to take
      care of myself.

As we expand the forgiveness we are also exposing the ways in which the enemy may have been lying to us about the Father or ourselves that we can renounce, and also indicate possible strongholds.

Helping them receive!  (This is critical!)

Make sure that in the exchanges they receive they are receiving something that addresses the area (perhaps the lies, etc.) that they need to gain God’s perspective on. 

Help them unpack the exchange until it is helpful and they are encouraged by it!
For example, if they receive “truth” which, in itself is not helpful, you can pose questions such as:
“What truth do I need to know here?” “How can I walk in that practically?” 

Or, perhaps if they receive “I love you” you may ask:
“Father, why do You love me?” “How can You love me when I blow it?” "What do You like about me?”

Lead them in declaring and rejoicing in what they receive. You may need to expand on it so that it builds momentum and you sense they are “getting it”.
Perhaps if they receive: “I love you”, you may expand on it with “Father, thank You that You will always love me no matter what. Thank You that You know me like no other and you love me without reservation. Thank You that I can always depend on Your love for me….”

Acknowledge and affirm them when they are receiving from God!  Encourage them!
Be enthusiastic!

Get Support

Get ongoing feedback and input!  Stay connected with the PM Core Team.  Be observed occasionally to refine your approach and avoid blind-spots.  Ask for help.

Avoid one-on-one sessions.  Pull in a prayer partner, preferably the person’s discipler.   Why?                                                                                                                                                                                  – so they can help the person walk out what they receive.
– so you are protected by a third party in case the person receiving reacts to you.
– so they can give you feedback to help you.
– so that more leaders can observe the benefits of PM