By Caro September 22, 2023
Do you do this? We sometimes have difficulty finding time to talk with God, let alone intercede for others. Yet, it is not only our duty, it is also very beneficial for our spiritual growth!
Prayer is not just a time when we raise our needs to God. Much less a time when we tell God what to do for us today! It is a sweet time of fellowship between us and our Father, or sometimes a time of spiritual warfare where we hold the hand of the Holy Spirit and command the darkness to draw back. However we describe it, prayer is an essential part of the life of a follower of Christ.
When we don’t have much time to give to prayer, we sometimes stick to the essentials: that is, our needs! It is important to mention our needs to God and to listen to His solutions, but we cannot stop there. Whatever we sow in the lives of others, we will reap in our own lives.
At times, we have to cry for others like Jeremiah did. “Oh, that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for those slain of the daughter of my people” (Jeremiah 9:1 NASB). Behind this superb poetry reveals a heart filled with compassion. When we allow our hearts to be filled like this, we have no room to criticize others, we see them with the eyes of the Father. Compassion for others calms our anger.
At times, we have to negotiate like Abraham and persist in prayer to obtain the salvation of those around us. That makes us like Abraham: strong in our faith. Persevere, but with respect, of course, as Abraham demonstrated so well. “Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once: suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten” (Genesis 18:30-32 NASB).
At times, we need to beg for a miracle as Moses did in the face of impossible circumstances. Even though the waters are raging before us and our loved ones, we are at an impasse. Let us turn to God. By praying for their salvation, we will also be saved from the same circumstances! We will also become much better ambassadors for Christ if we intercede for their salvation.
At times, we will need to be proactive as Nehemiah was. He not only prayed for the salvation of his people, but he also acted in this direction. “In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (James 2:17 NASB). If we pray for those around us, we must also be ready to be part of the solution. We are the vessels that God wants to use to bring about his deliverance.
Finally, at times, we will also have to pray for the forgiveness of our aggressors, as Stephen did. Despite the stones that struck him, he prayed for the salvation of his people, for the forgiveness of their sins. Praying for others, no matter who those “others” are, really develops the character of Christ in us. It is therefore not only a favorable exercise for others, but for us as well. So let us not forget to pray for all those around us.
During your dating time, take times of prayer together. Not only to pray for each other, but also to pray for those around you or the nation. You will learn a lot about your partner by listening to them pray!