I tired of feeling sympathy for the people around me who were going through difficult moments.
Incapable of offering a solution, I usually told them how sorry I was and left them with comforting words. Days passed, and I forgot about the issue until I saw them again. However, I knew something was wrong with the way I reacted to their situations.
If only there was a way I could offer more help, I would be glad. The Holy Spirit reminded me of times when I asked for assistance from other capable persons when I needed help. I could do the same thing for people around me. Even though I didn’t personally know of any person who could help them, I knew someone powerful enough to deal with any problem. I decided to go before God persistently to ask for help on their behalf.
I finally understood what intercession meant: coming regularly before the only One who is capable, powerful, and willing to help me help those who need my assistance. I know the Lord delights in intercession because His word urges us to intercede.
Interceding for people is a way of sharing in the challenges they face beyond offering comforting words. Jesus taught this principle of prayer by telling about a man who asked for bread from a neighbour who wanted to feed his guest (Luke 11: 5-8).
We should relate to God the burdens others carry and ask Him in faith to intervene in their situation. We shouldn't forget to also go before Him to thank and praise Him when He comes to the aid of our family and friends.
Intercede regularly for others.
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Emmanuella Ellis has the desire to reach out to others using the understanding gained through the Scriptures as a tool. She has a passion for writing and pours her creativity in poems, short stories, and drama scripts. She enjoys spending time with and writing stories for children. Emmanuella is currently enrolled in a graduate program at McGill University and learning a great deal about how to spend time with God amid all the stress of academic work. She loves to spend time indoors, reading books or journals and listening to music. Emmanuella is a lover of Christ. She yearns to live each day for Him and urges others along that same path.