The blessing of intercessory prayer is that we can pray wherever we are and no matter what we are doing. God's Spirit prays through us, even for people we do not know. Family, friends, workmates, neighbors, church revival, the worldwide family of God and the unbelievers in every nation are all topics of our times of intercessory prayer.
Our persistent prayer, sometimes accompanied
by fasting, actually makes a difference in our world. Tears are often the result
of our fervent prayer, and they touch the heart of God (Psalm 56:8).
Spirit-led prayers are the most affective, because if we pray in our own
strength, legions of demons may attack us with doubt and discouragement. God's
will is the key ingredient for answered prayers (1 John 5:14-15).
Through prayer, Born Again Believers, who
are filled with God's Spirit, minister with holy boldness in areas where we
have no natural abilities. We are delivered from relying on our flesh once we
reach the place of totally resting in faith on our Father God. God's Spirit
takes us beyond our gifts and callings to places where only Christ in us can
accomplish the will of God (Colossians 1:27).
We learn to pray in the Spirit, affecting
those areas where God is most interested in ministering. We do not pray with a
flowery profundity of words, but only with fervent, effectual prayers (James 5:16).
If we say we love God, yet do not love the least of those whom He died for, the
Bible calls us a liar (1 John 4:20). God’s love allows us to pray for people, and
to identify with them in their plight.
Prayer:
Father God, we know that You often refrain
from affirmatively answering our prayers, because You have a higher purpose for
the issues in our lives. You use them to allow patience to have her perfect
work in us; and You use them for Your ultimate glory. Remind us to pray for our
missionaries and fellow Believers in foreign countries and around the USA. We
want our prayers to be strategic and effective through Your Spirit's direction.
Thought for the Day:
God often humbles us by not immediately
answering our prayers, so that we take no glory in the future when He does
answer them.