You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption. Instead, you will simply be turning intercession into useless sympathy for others, which will serve only to increase the contentment they have for remaining out of touch with God. True intercession involves bringing the person, or the circumstance that seems to be crashing in on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance. Intercession means to “fill up . . . [with] what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (Colossians 1:24), and this is precisely why there are so few intercessors. People describe intercession by saying, “It is putting yourself in someone else’s place.” That is not true! Intercession is putting yourself in God’s place; it is having His mind and His perspective.As an intercessor, be careful not to seek too much information from God regarding the situation you are praying about, because you may be overwhelmed. If you know too much, more than God has ordained for you to know, you can’t pray; the circumstances of the people become so overpowering that you are no longer able to get to the underlying truth.Our work is to be in such close contact with God that we may have His mind about everything, but we shirk that responsibility by substituting doing for interceding. And yet intercession is the only thing that has no drawbacks, because it keeps our relationship completely open with God.What we must avoid in intercession is praying for someone to be simply “patched up.” We must pray that person completely through into contact with the very life of God. Think of the number of people God has brought across our path, only to see us drop them! When we pray on the basis of redemption, God creates something He can create in no other way than through intercessory prayer.

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December 12, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

 

Lord, this devotional reminds me that my prayers should not  necessarily be that we be removed from our trials, but that You use the  circumstances and trials to bring us into your will. And while I know that  sounds a bit defeatist, it occurs to me that because of your abundant love, and  your omnipotence, being in your will guarantees Your best for us.

And God says…”If your  fathers, not being God, want the very best for their children, how much more do  you think your Father in heaven wants for you? You cannot grasp the love I have  for you. My love for you is beyond your comprehension. Consider the magnitude of My sacrifice, and not your circumstances or situation, and know that when  you are in My will, you are exactly where you must be for your ultimate well-being. Trust in Me with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding …and  I will make your paths straight.”