Are you a Prayer Warrior?

My mother was a prayer warrior.  My memories of her from childhood is hearing her pray in the bathroom or throughout the house.  When she got older (in her 70's and 80's), she organized a Wednesday morning prayer meeting at Second Baptist Church, Boaz, AL for a group of ladies who literally saved the church through their prayers from bankruptcy.  That's right, ladies living on Social Security saved a church; not because they were giving of their wealth, but of their prayers.

How much do we really value prayer? More importantly, how much do we value intercessory praying?  Why do I say "more importantly?" Because this is the current ministry of Jesus.

The Greek word for intercession is partly defined as "a falling in with" or "a coming together." Someone falls in with someone else to feel what they are feeling, to experience what they are experiencing, to make their case their own.

Jesus invited Peter, James, and John "to go a little further with Him" in the Garden of Gethsemane so they might experience with Him the deep sorrow of drinking the cup of wrath.  (Matthew 26:36-46). The Amplified Bible reads in verse 37 "He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed."

The Message reads "he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, 'This sorrow is crushing my life out."

In our modern culture of protecting one's self, most would be advised to not get involved in someone's else agony, sorrow, grief, distress.  But that is exactly what Jesus does.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV).

So are you a prayer warrior?  Answer some questions:

1. Do you pray regularly?

2. Do you obey the smallest pull on your heart to pray?

3. Do you ever wake up with the urgency to pray and you pray?

4. Do you pray more for others than yourself?

5. Does anyone ever ask you to pray for them?  Especially in times of distress or emergency?

One reason we don't intercede for others is we feel overwhelmed ourselves.  So, "cast the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

Make room in your life for others by unloading your personal cares on Him.  The Message says, "Live carefree before God, he is most careful with you."  When you read the word "carefree," what mental picture do you get?  A young girl in a sun dress dancing feely in the yard with her hands raised high and her head flung back? Then go ahead, dance a minute in the freedom of being carefree.  Our Father has it.

Then ask God to make you more faithful to pray for others.  Keep a prayer journal, send people texts and cards that you are praying specifically for them and tell them for what you are praying, ask people about things for which you have prayed for them.  

You will experience the closeness of Jesus as you perform His ministry here on earth.  More next Monday.