Verse of the Day
“First of all, I ask that you pray for all people. Ask God to bless them and give them what they need. And give thanks.”
1 Timothy 2:1 ERV
Lesson of the Day
Today, we finish our series on the different types of prayer. There are many other types that we may address in the future, but for now, we will finish with intercessory prayer.
Intercessory prayer is praying to God on behalf of other people. When we pray for others, it can give us a sense of peace. It helps us focus on the needs of others, and it can do two things:
1. Take our minds off our own needs.
2. Help us gain perspective concerning our own needs.
First, when we are weighed down by our own issues, it can be difficult to focus on the solution. God tells us to pray about everything, and through His Word, He gives us direction for getting through the storms of life. The problem is that when the storm is heavy, we tend to focus on the storm instead of the One who calms the storm. Jesus tells us that we can go to Him with our burdens, and He will give us rest.
There is a well-known story in the Bible about Jesus walking on water during a storm. Peter called out to Jesus and asked if he could walk to Him. Jesus told Peter to come, and Peter began walking toward Him on the water. Then Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began focusing on the wind and the waves. He became afraid and started to sink. This shows us that when we trust the Lord and keep our focus on Him, He can carry us through the storms of our lives. However, when we allow the storm to consume our attention, we can begin to sink beneath the weight of fear.
Second, when we pray in the Spirit for others, the Holy Spirit may give us a word of encouragement or wisdom for that person. While praying, we may also receive guidance concerning our own situations. That is part of the beauty of the Holy Spirit. His wisdom is infinite, just as the wisdom found in God’s Word is inexhaustible. Two people can read the same Scripture, and the Holy Spirit can show each of them how it applies to their individual lives without changing the meaning of the Scripture.
Therefore, we can also benefit from praying for others. Intercessory prayers may take place in groups at church, in prayer groups outside of church, or when one person feels led to pray to God for someone else. Intercessory prayer does not have to follow a particular format. We simply bring the needs of others before God with faith, love, and sincerity.
Encouragement
I find myself praying for my daughter often and sharing with her what the Holy Spirit gives me. As I’m sharing with her, I sometimes find myself saying, “Thank You, Holy Spirit. I receive that for myself as well.” It really depends on the subject. Often, my issues have nothing to do with her issues, but when the Holy Spirit begins to teach us, He often causes us to look within ourselves. That is usually where either the problem or the solution begins.
I remember complaining to God about my husband one day, and the first thing the Holy Spirit told me to do was look at myself. I was like, “What about him?” But God showed me that it started with changing my own heart. When my actions became more loving and respectful, his reactions changed as well. That is one of the blessings we may receive from praying for someone else: while God is working in their situation, He may also work within us. Now, let’s pray for someone today.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your never-ending love and support. You are a one-of-a-kind God. There is no one like You. You are wise, loving, caring, patient, gentle, and noble. We are honored to be in Your presence and ever so grateful to be part of Your family.
Father, we would like to focus on praying for others today. Lord, we pray for all the victims of racism that is happening so often in these last days. Women, men, and children are being killed, and some of their deaths have been horrific. Hate is on the rise in this country. We have made some progress toward liberty and justice for all, but there are still many people who do not have love in their hearts for their fellow human beings.
We lift up everyone who has been affected by these incidents. We pray that You comfort the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends who have lost someone to violence caused by racism. Lord, we are praying for people of every race. We are all created by You. Those who are innocent and loving and who put their lives on the line to stand against injustice are suffering too. Bless them and their families, Lord. Bless their neighborhoods and their businesses. Reward them with favor, and let their lights shine so brightly that they help change the hearts of those who need a spiritual heart transplant.
Lord, we also want to pray for those who are causing so much pain. Please stop them in their tracks and change their hearts for the better.