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When people come to mind,
do you pray for them?
Message
#10 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
We should, because it may be the Lord bringing them to mind for just that purpose. Jack Hayford, in his book, Prayer Is Invading the Impossible, shares insight on prayer with the meaning of the Hebrew verb translated "intercession" in the Old Testament. The verb is pagha and though it occurs 46 times it is translated only five times as "intercession." Yet the other translations of the word help us better understand intercession and what happens when we respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to pray. In Genesis 28 Jacob was running from his twin brother Esau, and here the word pagha is used to explain that he "lighted upon a certain place" and stayed there all night because the sun was set. The place was chosen because of circumstance; it was too dark to go on. And yet, it was there, in that chance meeting place, that Jacob had a dream in which God promised to give him and his descendants the land he was lying on. [Genesis 28:13-15] Intercession is like a place "lighted upon" by accident, by circumstance--God’s Spirit bringing a person or concern to mind, intending that we should pray. Such "chance intercession" may well guarantee someone a tomorrow because we obeyed the Spirit’s prompting to pray today. Do we really believe that our prayers can make that much difference? Do we pray as though they do?
Pray with me now -- Lord, help us to discern and obey Your call to pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.
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