A Perspective – Not My Will, but Thine

During times of reflection, I have wondered if I am truly effective in praying for others. My heart is tugged in the prayers I read. I feel the pain, the loss, the frustration, confusion that our loved ones are going through and yet, I want to act out …and if I could, I would say: “Poof” Gone, “Poof” Healed, and “Poof” Answered. We, as sincere dedicated prayer warriors, are constantly faced with these emotional tug of wars. We are the vessels for intercessory prayers; and we are guided by the hope and intent that God would step in and positively act on these prayer requests. It is our trusting in God to act, even if it's not in the manner or timing we seek. God wants us to ask, even urgently. It is casting our weakness before God's strength.

I have also read prayers that I feel convicted about in my own beliefs. I began to struggle with what I’m praying for and I have often asked myself:

1) “Is it right for me to pray this way?”

2) “What would I do in that situation?” 

3) “Am I in tuned with what is being asked?”

4) “Do I become judgmental based on my own beliefs and experience?” 

5) Is it right for me to pray what they’re asking for? 

6) Do I truly take to heart what the requester is going through?”

We should follow the example of Jesus, who prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that He not have to go through what He was to go through that Friday. He prayed, "Not my will, but Thine".  Praying 'thy will be done' is not the same thing as praying with doubt. It is the act of putting your trust in God. When you step forward in faith, you can stand in that confidence, whatever happens with your specific prayer. Faith itself is praying and expecting that someway, somehow, something will happen because we ask that the Almighty does have room for us in the divine scheme of things. Jesus told us so. When those gathered for worship pray and believe that it matters, it's amazing to be part of it.

I would have to think that our sincere love for other people causes us to ask God to act to strengthen, heal, defend, change, or bless them. There is someone else praying with us; it is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will lead you to pray. Even when your love is not whole or your mind is not clear, the Spirit steps in for you, to express the prayer and draw you into it. God works in prayer. The intercessory prayer that first comes to you about someone may not be what God wants you to pray for. For instance, you might be praying to lift a burden, but the Lord might be using the burden to prepare them to do something for God. Then again, your prayer might be what God wants to happen. Thus, we are to pray listening for the Spirit, and pray that God's will be done. "Therefore faith prays in such a manner that it commits everything to the gracious will of God; it lets [God] determine whether it is conducive to his honor and to our benefit." (Matthew 8:1-13.)

Remember, we are God’s servants, and we serve Him by serving others! If God's love is at work in us, we will care about them. Our love for them will lead us to take it to the ultimate source of strength, healing, and love. Don't be fearful; be persistent and stubborn. God doesn't mind; God likes to see divine love at work in you. God honors your part in the relationship. Don't be surprised if the Spirit starts tugging on your heart to take some sort of action about a matter you're praying about. You may be the answer God sends into their lives. Be ready for it. When you intercede, bring your knowledge, gifts, abilities, attention and energies before God and say, 'use these, if that's what it takes to set this right'.

Intercessory prayer is directed by God. In other words, we need to pray from God’s list and not our lists. Jesus showed us that prayer is about God’s kingdom and God’s will. Thus, we must spend much time in prayer listening to what God is saying to us. Then we must pray His Word. One of the primary purposes of intercessory prayer is to enter into God’s presence with great humility and reverence. We are to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and come into his court with praise.” Spend time thanking and worshiping God for not only what He has done but for who He is. We must be sure to do all that we can to clear away obstacles to prayer in our own lives. One of the biggest is unforgiveness. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26

I am confident, happy and blessed to know there were loved ones who prayed for my sister and I when we were very young and did not know who, what or when to pray. Early in life, from the results of actions from adults in our lives (caregivers, family member, etc.) our very young childhood was not the ideal one; we were too young to realize the seriousness of the situation. God only knows where we would have been if it was not been for the prayers and action of my grandparents (my Madea and Grand Aaron) and others. I know that intercessory prayer has worked in my life! You may not always hear or see the results of your role in prayer, but you will find comfort in knowing that God takes care of His own: Gone, Healed, and Answered.

References includes excerpts from Intercessory Ministry Network/ www.spirithome.com/intercessory-prayer.html