Devotionals

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The Heart of Intercession

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)
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“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another,
that you may be healed.” James 5:16 (NKJV)
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The story goes like this ... it is true!

He was awakened in the very early hours of the morning by a family pet scratching on the door. As he made his way to set her free, he realized how wide awake he was and wondered how long it would be before he was sleeping again. Normally, he sleeps very well, but there are those times when he wakes up in the middle of the night. Whenever he is faced with this interruption to his rest, he begins to pray for any situation the Lord places on his heart.

On this particular night, or early morning, he was reminded of someone he had met a few weeks earlier. This Christian lady is the only believer in her family and she has epilepsy. She has desired for many years that this illness would be taken away. With her name in his mind and her need on his heart, he began to intercede. After a short time he sensed the Lord was asking him a very specific question. “Would you be willing to take her sickness so she may be healed?” Any sleepiness that he may have felt suddenly vanished as the words caught his attention! What?! Take her sickness so she may be healed? Yes, that is what He said. The man felt fear and doubt come over him. What if he became like her and faced the same physical trials that she was currently going through? How would he deal with it? What would his family think? The Lord reassured him that he would not be stricken with the illness, but if he wanted to have the Heart of an Intercessor he must be willing to take her sickness. He finally agreed that he would.

At the moment of surrender he suddenly realized that this attitude of submission to God was identical to the one Jesus had when He came to bear our sins on the cross. Yes, He suffered through the thorns being thrust upon His head. Yes, He felt the pain as the nails were driven through His hands and feet. But we must remember that He is the victor over death. He conquered the agony to bring relief to our spirits. It suddenly became more real that to be a true intercessor one must be willing to feel the pain of what others are suffering so that effectual, fervent prayers can be offered for those in need.

In our prayer lives we tend to shy away from such confrontation and hope that whatever others are facing will pass quickly until we do not have to suffer with them. But that is not what our Lord did. He experienced every trial and temptation known to man. And He feels our pain today!

So, you want to be an intercessor? Here are a few of the things it may take: a) A willingness to be interrupted during a good night’s sleep to spend time in prayer. b) An open acceptance to everything the Lord is asking of you so that others may be freed from the power of sin or the plagues of suffering. c) An understanding that you may never receive the credit for changed lives while you are living here on earth. d) A feeling of being out of step with the world because your heart and mind are on the things of heaven. This does not mean that you will be useless on earth, but your thoughts will be directed to God and your effectiveness here will be due to the fact that He is leading you instead of relying on your own plans.

The heart of intercession means becoming like the Master, and sharing the pain of others so they can find the victory that Christ experienced when He conquered sin, death, and hell! Stand in the gap and you will find that He is the bridge!

Glen Spaugh

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