Praying as Intercessors for the Will of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Intercessory Prayer

As we look at the many and varied tasks set before us while doing God’s will we become keenly aware of the enormity of what He wants accomplished, and it can appear overwhelming to us at times. We are sent abroad, into our communities, asked to tend to the sheep of Christ in so many ways, and we are told to build churches, show mercy to the poor, and so much more. So we pray for wisdom, guidance, and strength, but there comes a point when the enormity of His plan is still too great, and we must ask for not only help, but helpers. This is not a failure on our part, but rather an admission of our successes, and an understanding of all that needs to be done. Jesus knew this, and instructed us to pray for workers; to ask the Lord to call others, and to send more laborers.

Intercessors need Intercession Too!

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Intercession

When we ask an intercessor to pray for us, and our prayers are answered, we can be tempted to place that person who prayed for us on a pedestal, and claim they have a power that they don’t possess. Prayers are answered by God alone, and there is no better evidence of this truth than when an intercessor asks others to pray for them. Even someone who intercedes will find themselves in need of intercession.

A New Song of Communion, and Remembrance

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Sing a New Song

As men and women of faith we take communion, and in consuming the body of Christ we honor His instruction by remembering Him as we do so, but what are our remembrances, and how do we enter into them? Sometimes we stand in a line before the communion table, and one by one we take the body and the blood of Jesus, then individually we pray as the vision of His life races through our minds. At other times we are led together to consume the elements, and then recite known prayers in a singular form of remembering. Yet, what do we remember as we do this? So, when we pray alone we remember those things that our own spirit sees, as a group we all pray together what the spirit has laid on the heart of whoever directs us, but what is the effect of praying separately yet together? What does the result of Saints singing individual prayers together sound like, and present to the Lord?

Constant in our Watch and Prayer over Others in Christ

Richard Forbes
Christian , Personal Watchmen

We have learned previously how to stand on the walls of Jerusalem and watch, so that if the enemy approaches we can sound the alarm, but there is more to our duty than simply defense. In our walking to and fro atop the wall we are to watch over the citizens who live within these walls, and to pray over them until the walls of the New Jerusalem are erected, and the Lord Jesus takes His throne. We are to lift up the needs of God’s children, not because it is our job, but because we love them as God does. We will not rest, and neither will our Father, until our Savior returns, the New Jerusalem is reestablished, and His kingdom assumes its full glory.

Remembering Jesus in Communion, and the look in His eyes

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , The Eyes of Jesus

Jesus took on our sins to redeem us, and it was no easy task. While praying in the Garden of Gethsemane His sweat became like blood, and God felt it necessary to send an Angel to strengthen Him. The weight of our sin was so great that Jesus pleaded with His Father to take this cup from Him, but in the end He did His Father’s will, and as He died for us, we were made to live on in Him, and His anguish in assuming our sin, became our joy, as it was revealed through His grace.

Do we see the hand of God moving in our lives?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God in our Lives

Our lives are held in the hands of the Lord, and as much as we would like to think that we are in control of our destiny we can’t add a single minute to our years. God can rescue us from disaster, He will save us from those who would do us harm, and His eyes never lose sight of us. No matter the perils we face, His arms are always stronger, and his grip on us never fails. We are most certainly secure in His hands.

God, Father, Abba, Papa; How do we Refer to Our Creator?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Abba , Father

As Christians we talk a great deal about Jesus abiding in us, and we in Him, but do we contemplate this as much as we should? God gave us more than just the man Jesus, but the Spirit of Jesus as well. He does this because we are His Sons, His children, and He desires for us to be just like Jesus. We are meant to do more than respectfully call Him our God, no, He wants us to call Him Father, and He wants us to recognize Him as being more than just our physical sire, so we are told to call Him by the pet name that a loving child would use… Abba, or in other words Papa, or Daddy. God views our adoption as much more than a formality… He is our very personal, good, and loving Father… just as He is to Jesus.

Are our Prayers our Own as Children of God?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , In the Name of Jesus

When we pray to God do we do so as if we were actually one of His children, like Jesus? When we were instructed by Christ to pray in His name did He simply mean for this to be like an identifying seal that was to be stamped onto our conversation Identifying it to be from Him, or did He mean for us to pray just as He prayed? Praying as Jesus prayed, with all of the authority with which He approached the Father, is powerful indeed, and it can only be accomplished if we truly believe that we are one of His children. Do we actually believe that we are a child of God, or is that just something we say; an honorary title we claim? Do we feel our prayers are worthy to be heard by God, or that they must be from Jesus… stamped with His seal before they are received?

To Gain in Christ we must First Lose Something of Ourselves

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Change

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior It is only natural for us to want to add who He is to who we are, and not lose a single part of ourselves, but when we change, it always demands that something be left behind. Each time we experience change in our lives we become new creatures in certain ways. Our faith is one of the biggest agents of change we will ever experience. For those who know Christ I ask you to look back at who you were before you started your journey with Jesus, and witness to others about His amazing transformative power in your life. Then focus on today, and tell them how you have been changed since yesterday… speak of the man you fed lunch to a few hours ago, the person you clothed, the moment of enlightenment in last night’s prayer. The joy you woke up with this morning. Tell them that they will lose a part of themselves, but that they will be made new each day.

Christian Watchmen, and Intercessors, the Faithful Who Stand Guard

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Watchmen and Intercessors

God has called us to be Christian intercessors; we are meant to stand day and night on the Holy wall that divides His kingdom from the fallen world, and to call out to Him when evil, or temptation approaches His children within. This is a tireless job in which we are to be ever vigilant, and from which we are not to take our rest or leave our post. As His servants, and soldiers we are called to stand our watch upon the wall, but, when we are called, and once posted, are we faithfully performing our duty?

Are the Tearful Prayers of Intercession Mixed with Blood?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Tears of Intercession

If we were asked who the greatest intercessor was in our lives, what name would we answer with? Perhaps we would give that title to our mother or father, our pastor, or a Saint we know who has a powerful way of communicating with God in prayer, but although these would be good answers they would fall short of one man; a man who had spent his life interceding for us… Jesus Christ. He was born to intercede, and He continues on in that role through eternity.

Are We the One Strong Person that Others Come to for Intercession?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Being an Intercessor

As Christians, who do we speak for in times of trouble and temptation, and who speaks for us? Is there someone in our lives we can turn to for intercession? Is there not one righteous soul who will place his hand upon us, and intercede in prayer when we are in a bad way? Think on this today; who do you turn to in such times, and are you steady enough in your prayers and faith that others would consider turning to you?

Intercession the Loving, and Transforming, Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Intercession of Jesus

Intercessory prayer has always been important, and I would be surprised if you haven’t already prayed personally for the sick, or someone in need around you. Maybe it was one of your children, a spouse, a close friend, or then again, you might have seen a prayer list at church, or felt the need to say a quick prayer for someone you work with. In each of these situations you are filling the role of an intercessor. When we are sick, hurting, or in need it is equally important to ask others to pray for us. Perhaps your church has a team of Saints who have been identified as having a special spiritual gift when it comes to praying for others, but whatever the case may be, when we are personally in need of prayer then it is important for us to seek out another to join with us in lifting our concerns before God… find an intercessor.

The Unbending Truth of God’s Word, and Precepts

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Unchanging Word

Are you bothered and upset when men take the Word of God and twist it to suit their own purposes? Do you feel a sense of betrayal in their actions, and a loss of fidelity? God’s Word is more than a simple account written by man for his amusement, it is God Himself being revealed to us. So why is it that we think that we can treat it like the grass that we trod under our feet, as we disregard its Holy, and proper, use? A lawyer searches and guards the meaning of every one of man’s words when making his defense, yet the theologian often approaches God’s Holy Word by looking for loopholes, or any means he can to cloud its meaning, to gain advantage, a living, or notoriety among men, by justifying sin. Woe be to them.

Christian Soldiers… Are We Walking Blind into Battle?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Spiritual Vision

As modern day Christians we tend to look at the world around us and fret over the sinful condition it is in, how it is set against us as a people of faith, and has such disdain for God’s Church. We become worried about what will happen to us in the face of such terrible adversity. Yet things are not as bad as they seem, and if we will pray in absolute faith for God to send us help, and that our eyes be opened so that we can see what is spiritually arrayed about us, we would stop fretting, and praise God with all joy, and in absolute confidence, and security.

Load More