Prayer: Where we bring others to God
As an encouragement to cheerfully offer up intercessory prayer, remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears—because the prayer of Christ is of this kind. In all the incense that our great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all prayers—and the more our prayer is like Christ’s, the sweeter it will be. Petitions for ourselves will be accepted, of course. But our pleading for others, having in it more of the fruits of the Spirit—more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness—will be, through the precious merit of Jesus, the sweetest sacrifice we can offer to God. Remember that intercessory prayer is extremely powerful. What wonders have been worked through it! The Word of God teems with its marvelous deeds. Believer, you have a mighty engine in your hand—use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and you will surely be a help to your fellow Christians. When you have the king’s ear, speak to Him for the suffering members of His body. When you are favored to draw near to His throne, and the king says to you, “Ask, and I will give you what you want,” let your petitions be not for yourself alone but for the many who need His aid. If you have any grace at all and are not an intercessor, that grace must be small as a mustard seed. You have just enough grace to lift your soul clear of the quicksand, but you have no deep flood of grace—otherwise, you would carry in your happy ship a heavy cargo of the wants of others. And you would bring back for them rich blessings from the Lord which, without you, they might not have obtained: Oh, let my hands forget their skill, My tongue be silent, cold, and still, This bounding heart forget to beat, If I forget the mercy seat! “From Every Stormy Wind,” Hugh Stowell (1832) - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
One of the greatest things that a Christian can do is what Christ Himself did for all of us. Bring people before Him in prayer. It dumbfounds me to no end when people ask for prayer for someone but doesn't want it to be told to others so that they may pray. You should not have caveats when it comes to prayer.
You are actually doing the will of Satan in restraining the effectiveness of people who can pray. You are hindering the Spirit of God in the lives of others.
Your prayer request isn't going to alter the life situation of someone else, it alters the lives of those who pray. By denying them that opportunity you rob them of growth in Christ.
The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much is what the Scriptures say. I am still seeking answers as to just what kind of prayer that is. But my guess has many layers. It, to me, is a focused prayer. It, to me, is one that is in accordance with God's Will and Word. His Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Our will is set aside. Our desires must be His desires.
The life of the pray-er and the pray-ee are both going to be changed. Jacob prayed concerning his brother Esau. He and his brother Esau were changed.
Prayer changes the course of lives and countries. But it cannot be put in a bottle nor restrained if it's to be effective.
Are you hindering others by your caveats to your prayer requests? "But they would be so embarrassed!" You think any of the people who cried out to Jesus to heal them cared one iota about public embarrassment?
Praying for others is an unquestionable unrestrained command from God.
"But they don't need to know all those kinds of details!" How about you consult the Spirit before deciding what is or is not enough detail.
We are seeing the fruits of restrictive prayer practices. We are seeing the lack of prayers being answered because we aren't praying with right motives.
Take the shackles off your prayers.
Take the shackles off your heart.
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