When Do You Pray

My Utmost For His Highest

 

“God gives us discernment in the lives of others to call us to intercession for them, never so that we may find fault with them. … Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God’s interests in others for our natural sympathy with [attitudes towards] them.’ CHAMBERS

 

James 5:16  “[…]  and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

 

This is an easy one.  We don’t mind praying for people that are sick .. that we care about … or that someone we care about cares about.  Let me suggest this to you.  The next time someone asks you to pray .. pray right then .. not later.  If someone told you they were hungry and you had food in your hand, would you say .. come see me tomorrow and I will give you something to eat.  In the same way, when someone asks you to pray, you should not delay.  The request is a spiritual opportunity … Do you view prayer as a spiritual act?  Does that seem like an odd question?  Well, how you view prayer and how you respond to requests for prayer speaks about how you view your Christian life.  IS it compartmentalized .. where you are only spiritual at certain times which you have parsed out in your schedule?  Or are you always spiritually alert?  Knowing that there is another opportunity to glorify God and bless someone just around the corner.

 

Luke 6:27-28  "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  (28)  bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”

 

How do you respond to people you don’t like or who do bad things to you or others?  Do you know that they need the power of God’s forgiveness and grace in their lives?  Just like you did?  Do you see ‘those kind of people’ from a spiritual perspective or through the lens of your flesh?  Jesus said . “Pray for them.” Why? Because He came to seek that which was lost … to heal the sick .. to give sight to the blind …

 

Luke 4:17-21  And He [Jesus] was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:  (18)  "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED;  (19)  TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."  (20)  Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.  (21)  And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

 

If you are His disciple, you are to embrace that same calling … When you hear of someone or experience the actions of someone who is living contrary to the Word of God, who has done terrible things …. pray for them .. our God is able to change even that life.  We should not sit in the judge’s seat and condemn, but pray for their salvation.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)