interceding for us

Days of prayer to save

days of prayer to save

A Psalm describes well how both comfort and anguish can reside in our hearts at the same time when we remember the works of God.

I cry aloud to God;
    I cry aloud, and he hears me.
In times of trouble I pray to the Lord;
    all night long I lift my hands in prayer,
    but I cannot find comfort. – Psalm 77:1-2 GNT

Crying out to God is affirmed again and displayed is a confidence that God has heard.

“Days of trouble must be days of prayer; in days of inward trouble, especially when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him, and seek till we find him. In the day of his trouble he did not seek for the diversions of business or recreation, to shake off his trouble that way, but he sought God, and his favour and grace. Those that are under trouble of mind, must not think to drink it away, or laugh it away, but pray it away.” – Henry, cited in Spurgeon

I notice that in times of trouble my prayer looks like this – it is urgent (cry), it is active (hands) and it is persistent (all night long).

This is what John has to say about it.

 I am writing this to you, my children, so that you will not sin; but if anyone does sin, we have someone who pleads with the Father on our behalf—Jesus Christ, the righteous one.  – I John 2:1 GNT

I have someone interceding for me – someone the Psalmist did not have. I will be saved.

“The tree is no mere channel, piping water unchanged from one place to another, but a living organism which absorbs it, to produce in due course something new and delightful, proper to its kind and to its time.” – Derek Kidner

 

I have prayed for you

prayedforyou

What an amazing encouragement for me today to read again that Jesus prays for me. I am stronger already for it. 

And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them. – Hebrews 7:25 GNT

“Our blessed Lord is interceding for us, but He is in no sense appeasing God. All that God’s holy Being and righteous government could demand was once for all, completely and forever, satisfied at the Cross.” – Newell

It is not the intercession that needs to be a mediating type of thing nor is it something like a ritual religious thing. It is more like He wants me to draw near to His Father and I believe it is also about helping me or defending me against the evil one’s accusations and attacks. Remember how Jesus prayed for Peter – that his faith would not fail.

Life-changing.

“God is here, within these walls;
before me, behind me, on my right
hand, on my left hand. He who fills
immensity has come down to me
here. I am now about to bow at His
feet, and speak to him…I may pour
forth my desires before Him and
not one syllable shall escape His
ear. I may speak to him as I would to
the dearest friend on earth.”
 Austin Phelps, The Still Hour