Intercessory Prayer

There is nothing as sweet as time alone (all-one) with God, a time of separation from the world and spiritual renewal, a time of grace, mercy and unity with both Christ within us and our Father on His throne. Jesus is our intercessor, constantly serving as our advocate with our Father. He suffered the torture and agony of the Cross to provide for our earthly liberation and our eternal glory (1 John 2:1).

The Holy Spirit also intercedes for us, often with utterances, which we do not understand (Romans 8:6). We are the temple of God's Spirit, and He dwells within us and sanctifies us over the course of our lifetime (2 Corinthians 3:18). He slowly crucifies the old nature in us as we cooperate with Him, by starving the little fellow to death at the same time that we feed our spirit with spiritual food (Ephesians 4:24; Romans 6:6).

God's Word is an infinite source of wisdom and practical advice, especially the Psalms and Proverbs. Reading them daily can improve the way we handle and react to life. God's Word is a lamp and light for our life (Psalm 119:105). Praying God's Word allows us to identify with the prophets and psalmists as they interceded for themselves and their world. 

During our times of oneness with God, He gives us His heart for the world (John 3:16). When we feel the torment of others, we can join Christ in interceding for that person or people group. Intercessory prayer facilitates our unity with God. We identify with God's heart and learn to despise what He disdains and embrace what He holds dear, as we spend time mediating for others through prayer.

Prayer:

Father God, You make us aware of the spiritual warfare, in which we engage with each prayer we breathe. By Your Spirit, we put to flight tens of thousands of demonic predators, which roam the earth, seeking people to oppress or possess (1 Peter 5:8; Mark 3:15). The more intimate our unity with You, the more authority You give us over the demonic forces we battle through intercessory prayer.

Thought for the Day:

The pain of those we pray for becomes so real to us that it is almost as if we are pleading for our self as we pray for others.

Generational Ties

Read: Deuteronomy 5:9-10

“Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." - Exodus 34:7

The soul starts to develop in the womb right along with the body. It is influenced by the genes and generational sins passed down to us by our ancestors. The experiences and influences in our lives from conception to the present time also affect our spirit, soul and body. This puts a great responsibility on us as parents. Sin is very serious in the sight of the Lord. The consequences of the behavior of one generation are passed down three and four generations (Exodus 34:7).

For instance, are your relatives alcoholics, drug addicts, liars, murderers, thieves, idolaters, sexually deviant, brawlers, foul-mouthed, covetous or extortionists?  Some of us inherited the penchant for these same sins from our ancestors. People who habitually live in sin will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but God gives us the opportunity to be washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Do you despise the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering and turn away from Him; or do you realize that the goodness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4)? The lovely concept about the Lord is that, even though He may pass down the consequences of the behavior for a few generations, He shows love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 5:9-10). It goes both ways, but is farther reaching on the positive side.

So, are you passing down God’s blessings or sin’s consequences to your descendants? We break these sinful strongholds by submitting our life completely to God and resisting the devil. Satan has no option but to flee (James 4:7). After submitting to the Lord, confess and ask forgiveness for any sins, which God reveals to you. Also, forgive your parents and ancestors for putting you in this position. It is time now to go to God for forgiveness for yourself, to surrender your life to Him and to follow the leading of His Holy Spirit moment by moment throughout the day.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I break any unhealthy soul ties that developed in my life due to the actions of my parents and ancestors. I break the curse of these sins and I take authority in Jesus’ name over Satan and his demonic forces, by the authority of Your shed blood and Your death on the cross of Calvary. Satan, you have no authority in my life. I place you in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, because He has all authority over you. I command that you leave my spirit, soul and body alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thought for the Day:

Who controls your behavior...Satan, Sin, Self or the Savior, Jesus Christ?