Without
exception, God calls each believer to become a prayer warrior.
While
some believers are uniquely gifted as intercessors and their prayers seem to
flow right out of their spirit, all are
nonetheless expected to intercede for others.
But
how do we respond to that call to mediate for another person—especially if
intercession is not one of our gifts and we stumble along in our attempts at
intercession, feeling inadequate and even inept?
How
can we answer God’s call upon us and become the best prayer warriors this side
of heaven?
Abraham
is the first example of intercession as he speaks to God about Sodom and
Gomorrah and gives us a couple of excellent clues on how to be a prayer
warrior.
First
and foremost, Abraham models a personal relationship with his God.
Think
about it: which of our personal relationships allow us to be most like our real
selves? Which of our relationships encourage us to be open and honest? It is
always those relationships that are the most open and honest themselves that
give us the platform to speak freely and not worry about condemnation or
recrimination.
So
the first step in becoming the best prayer warrior we can be for others is to
develop a rich, authentic relationship with God.
The
next thing that Abraham models is a boldness that often startles us when we
read his words in Genesis 18: What if there are …. ?
Abraham
is questioning God with a boldness that arises from the personal relationship
he is in with God. Almost as if wondering out loud (but knowing God is always
right there), Abraham queries God with a successive set of bold questions.
In
this way, Abraham’s example encourages us, too, to be bold in our stand before
God.
But
let us immediately notice that right along with boldness is humility.
After
all, who is Abraham to implore God—and by association, who are we to do that
same thing? And yet that is exactly what Abraham does! Abraham’s example is
that while we boldly stand before God, we simultaneously recognize the
absurdity of it all. Who are we to have this personal relationship with God and
to stand boldly before him?
Abraham’s
intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah is the perfect illustration of the paradox
of our faith: to be able to boldly approach the Creator of the universe in a
personal, genuine way.
The
last piece of becoming the best prayer warrior we can be is to know some of the
details of the situation for which we are storming heaven. Abraham shows us the
need for a personal relationship and to boldly ask while remaining humble.
Beyond what we learn from Abraham is the need to, whenever possible, have real
specific particulars when we pray. This isn’t because God needs to know the
details but because it will help keep us focused and alert. It will aid us as
we approach God for the needs of another.
If
we are praying for someone who is having surgery, knowing the date, time, and
location of the surgery helps us pray more vigilantly, more successfully.
Oswald
Chambers said it best when he said: As a saved soul, the real business of your
life is intercessory prayer. Whatever circumstances God may place you in,
always pray immediately that His atonement may be recognized and as fully
understood in the lives of others as it has been in yours. Pray for your
friends now, and pray for those with whom you come in contact now.
In
other words, become the best prayer warrior you can be!
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