10/21/2021
When we are asked to pray for something, or someone, do we do so right away? Do we stop whatever we are doing at that moment to offer those prayers? Is our answer to this question “Sometimes, it depends on what I am doing at that moment.”? Well we would be more responsive in prayer if we would simply realize one fact… prayer is an offering, and more than that it is a sacrifice. All manner of prayer requires that we sacrifice… even in praise!
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
Hebrews 13:15 ESV
Paul prayed for the churches from wherever he happened to be. It is our struggle and sacrifice to do likewise for those around us, for our church, and for the many other desires, needs for forgiveness, times of thanksgiving, and other occasions and challenges that make up our prayer offering. We struggle and sacrifice our time, our peace, and wellbeing, by rending our heart in empathy, by circumcising our soul and taking on painful introspection like lashes as we pray. Our lips offer up prayer, and we give something of ourselves with each one we pray, and with every intercession.
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,”
Colossians 2:1 ESV
Have you been asked to pray for someone who was sick, mourning, dying, or going through some painful time in their lives? Did you pray for them as if you were going through that trial with them, or were your prayers spoken as a bystander who was simply watching their struggle? We are not meant to pray for others as if we were reading a fictional book. If we separate ourselves, and talk to God as an outsider in the situation then what have we given up except a few hollow words, and a minute or two of our time? We are meant to feel and become an extension of those we pray for.
“Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!””
John 11:35-36 ESV
When we begin to pray are we just speaking the words in the direction of God, or do we enter into His presence? Prayer requires us to prepare ourselves for an audience with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer he taught us how to address God by saying “Our Father who art in Heaven”, and then to acknowledge Him by saying “hallowed be thy name”. He also taught us to ask for our own forgiveness in preparation for coming before God, and then for us to pray equally for our own ability to give forgiveness, and if we are praying in intercession we should pray for that person’s forgiveness just as we learned to do from Jesus, Stephen, and Joseph as he forgave his brothers…
“and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12 ESV
“And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Acts 7:59-60 ESV
Making ourselves pure in Christ before we pray is crucial, and doing the same for the person we are making intercession for is too. Do you go to church, work, or to a formal occasion dressed in rags? Well we aren’t meant to come before God dressed in unrepentant sin either.
“I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.”
Psalm 66:17-19 ESV
So we recognize who we are in the presence of, we cleanse ourselves, and then we begin our sacrifice in prayer. We shed tears, we give up our precious time, we acknowledge our shortcomings , we humble ourselves, we moan from our souls in contrition for sins we don’t even know we have committed, and we take on the sin, and suffering for others as we pray for them in full empathy, and as if we were them.
All of this requires that we suffer personally, and in so doing our prayer becomes our offering… our sacrifice, and our sweat drops to the ground as if blood. Do we offer ourselves in prayer?
“And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
Luke 22:43-44 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus who has taught us to pray, and we ask now for your forgiveness so that we can come before you pure, and free of sin; made ready to stand before you, having been washed in the blood of Christ. Help us Lord to pray for the sins of others, and to stand in the fullness of their suffering before you as we offer up our sacrifice of prayer. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who lifts from us our sins, separates them from us, and receives our offering of prayer. Praised be your name for every opportunity we have to come before you in another’s stead, and ask of you those things that they need you to provide, or for the relief from the suffering they are enduring. Help us Father as we suffer under the burden of empathy, and carry the sins and troubles of others as if they were our own. Merciful are you Lord for hearing our moans, and sorrowful words of contrition. Great is your grace that takes the blood of Jesus and cleanses us with it; then through the sacrifice He has made, and the offering of our prayers, you lift us up and call us your own… seating us at your side forevermore.
Rich Forbes