The great resource of the Christian life is prayer. However, for many, prayer is a frustrating exercise. And many think it yields no results. Perhaps a different perspective of prayer would be helpful. Prayer is not about what we can get for God. Prayer is a ministry God calls the Christian to. Prayer is the act of entering the throne room of God so Christ can imbue us with His Spirit, so we can intercede on behalf of others, whom the LORD has impressed upon our hearts. All around us are people who have no strength to make it to God on their own. They are people of despair, not prayer, and they need an intercessor to stand in their place before Christ when circumstances do not let them stand before Christ themselves.
What circumstances or conditions could cause a person to be in such despair that he or she cannot come to Christ?
A few examples might be:
• Unbelief. If a person is convinced of his or her own sin but does not know the truth of God’s redeeming work in Christ, fear will hinder them from going to the Savior.
• Grief. This is sorrow so great that a person is broken and suffocating in sadness. Such a person is so weak and blind they have neither the energy nor sight to find their way to Christ.
• Evil. This is when Satan grips a soul so tightly that the person is being strangled by wickedness and he or she knows only that Christ is an enemy.
God equips mature believers with the Spirit so they can be effective ministers of intercessory prayer. In this way those called to this ministry will bring those in need of reconciliation to Christ. And Christ will hear and answer.
Paul wrote, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Denise Larson Cooper has a passion for Christ and sharing His Word. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise currently works as a gymnastic coach.
Subscribe to Ordinary Days on iTunes!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-days/id1339262108
Check Out Denise’s Books!
Godnesia: Keeping God in Mind Each Day http://amzn.to/2GSquOD
Ordinary Days With an Extraordinary Savior – http://amzn.to/2mFGASB
Life Is a Metaphor: Recognizing God in the Everyday – http://amzn.to/2De1rU2