He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor . . . —Isaiah 59:16
The reason many of us stop praying and become hard toward God is that we only have an emotional interest in prayer. It sounds good to say that we pray, and we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial— that our minds are quieted and our souls are uplifted when we pray.
But Isaiah implied in this verse that God is amazed at such thoughts about prayer.
Worship and intercession must go together; one is impossible without the other. Intercession means raising ourselves up to the point of getting the mind of Christ regarding the person for whom we are praying (see Philippians 2:5). Instead of worshiping God, we recite speeches to God about how prayer is supposed to work. Are we worshiping God or disputing Him when we say, “But God, I just don’t see how you are going to do this”? 
This is a sure sign that we are not worshiping. When we lose sight of God, we become hard and dogmatic. We throw our petitions at His throne and dictate to Him what we want Him to do. We don’t worship God, nor do we seek to conform our minds to the mind of Christ. And if we are hard toward God, we will become hard toward other people.
Are we worshiping God in a way that will raise us up to where we can take hold of Him, having such intimate contact with Him that we know His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship with God, or have we become hard and dogmatic?
Do you find yourself thinking that there is no one interceding properly? Then be that person yourself. Be a person who worships God and lives in a holy relationship with Him. 
Get involved in the real work of intercession, remembering that it truly is work-work that demands all your energy, but work which has no hidden pitfalls. Preaching the gospel has its share of pitfalls, but intercessory prayer has none whatsoever.
Journal 3 30 11 DJR
Good Morning, Lord.
It occurs to me that my business challenges may mirror my spiritual challenges and vice versa … and maybe I can learn something about one realm from observing the other? This would be great, because I have points at which I seem to be stuck with no progress in each realm of life.
It’s good that you are thinking about it … but what if you are supposed to be “stuck” as you say? What if a time of waiting and growth in the desert is part of my plan. You’ve heard of the dark night of the soul. And you see that I went for 40 days in the desert. And Moses did 40 years.
Yes I see that. But it would be good if I knew it was a desert time approved by you, rather than just my failure to persevere….
Why?
Well, then I could rest and accept the desert.
Would you rest and accept and keep on pressing in to me … or would you rest and just forget it and go do something else?
OK I see what you mean. In the past, I’ve been known to just run away and get engaged in something else.
Sometimes it will be clear to you and sometimes you need to just keep pressing in. But the more time we spend, the better you will become at hearing and the more I will trust you with. So press in to me. Intercede, even when you dont feel like it or see the point. Press thru the darkness till the dawn arrives and you will be glad.
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