"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
And, if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
And, if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
All of us probably knelt by our beds when we were small and prayed this little prayer. But, if we really look at that prayer, it's a selfish prayer, isn't it? We are thinking only of ourselves and asking God to take care of us. We didn't ask that He take care of Mommy or Daddy or our siblings, only that He take care of us. Why didn't we pray for others ? Because we are born into this world as selfish individuals , thinking only of ourselves. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't pray to God for our needs and thank Him for our blessings, but it means we should also be thinking of the needs of others when we pray.
Now as adults, we have learned about intercessory prayer or the act of praying on behalf of others. Because of Christ, we can access God's throne though the Holy Spirit, who is our intercessor. So, in a sense, all prayer becomes intercession because it is offered to God through Someone else; the Holy Spirit.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5)
As our pastor pointed out, it is our duty as a church; the body of Christ , to intercede for others.
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” Acts 12:5. Notice it was the whole church that prayed for him. It was the body of believers uniting in one accord to plead in Peters behalf.
All Christians are to be intercessors. God wants all believers be active in intercessory prayer. Isn't it wonderful that we have the privilege to be able to come before our God on behalf of other people. And, other people can come before Him on behalf of us?
How is your prayer life? Are you praying those selfish prayers of childhood or are you interceding on behalf of others? Are you emptying yourself of selfishness and desiring God's best for others; even those you may not know?
All of us probably knelt by our beds when we were small and prayed this little prayer. But, if we really look at that prayer, it's a selfish prayer, isn't it? We are thinking only of ourselves and asking God to take care of us. We didn't ask that He take care of Mommy or Daddy or our siblings, only that He take care of us. Why didn't we pray for others ? Because we are born into this world as selfish individuals , thinking only of ourselves. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't pray to God for our needs and thank Him for our blessings, but it means we should also be thinking of the needs of others when we pray.
Now as adults, we have learned about intercessory prayer or the act of praying on behalf of others. Because of Christ, we can access God's throne though the Holy Spirit, who is our intercessor. So, in a sense, all prayer becomes intercession because it is offered to God through Someone else; the Holy Spirit.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5)
As our pastor pointed out, it is our duty as a church; the body of Christ , to intercede for others.
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” Acts 12:5. Notice it was the whole church that prayed for him. It was the body of believers uniting in one accord to plead in Peters behalf.
All Christians are to be intercessors. God wants all believers be active in intercessory prayer. Isn't it wonderful that we have the privilege to be able to come before our God on behalf of other people. And, other people can come before Him on behalf of us?
How is your prayer life? Are you praying those selfish prayers of childhood or are you interceding on behalf of others? Are you emptying yourself of selfishness and desiring God's best for others; even those you may not know?
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