TargetPoint Vol 14 of 31Today's Verse/Thought: WATCHING-Spiritual Prayer
Romans 8: 26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps . . . for we know not what we should pray . . . but the Spirit . . . makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Life Implication:
As we move from a few minutes of Watching in prayer, and of having the Holy Spirit make us aware of needs, the logical next step is to then INTERCEDE for various people and situations. Our goal is that we may all lead a quiet and peaceable life. Sounds great doesn't it?
INTERCESSION might be labeled the heart of prayer It is God's method for involving His followers more completely in the totality of His plan. Basically, intercession is prayer OFFERED ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER. In the process, we forget our personal needs and we focus all of our faith and prayer-attention on others.
To INTERCEDE IS TO MEDIATE. It is to stand between a lost person and an almighty God, praying that someone you know will come to know about God and His salvation; or that a particular person's needs will be met.
Being made aware of a particular need in an individual you might know, or of a particular situation in the news, we may than EARNESTLY APPEAL ON BEHALF of that person or situation, praying that His "kingdom come, His will be done".
Truly, there is NO HIGHER PLANE in prayer than INTERCESSION. It is OTHERS-DRIVEN, not self-driven!
Life Application:
First, ask God to give you an unselfish HEART OF INTERCESSION.
As you think of people you know who have not given their hearts to Christ, ask God to REMOVE THAT WHICH BLINDS their minds to the one true God. Ask Him to OPEN THEIR HEARTS to Him. Ask the Lord to SURROUND THOSE PEOPLE with friends who truly know and walk with the Lord, so that their hearts would be softened to God's Spirit.
As you focus on a particular need of an individual or something in the news, ASK THAT GOD'S PLAN BE REVEALED to that person, or in that situation. NEVER stand in the way of God's plan by praying what might seem the obvious only - ask Him to BRING FORTH HIS PLANS for good for that situation.
Tomorrow In TargetPoint:
Intercession, Prayer Centered on Others