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| Tree, in my backyard |
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God... 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort...
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 6
This afternoon I will go to my solitary prayer place, apart from my home and my office, and engage in intercessory prayer. I will pray for people who have sent me prayer requests. I will stand in the gap for them, and bring their burdens before the throne of God's mercy, grace, love, and power.
To intercede for people is to shoulder a bag of hopes, fears, possibilities, and cares to the mountain of God. Intercessory prayer is not dispassionate, neutral, care-free prayer. Intercessory prayer is burdened care-prayer. Heart, mind, and soul are all engaged in this kind of troubled-waters praying.
Intercessory prayer feels. Intercessory prayer takes on weightiness.
Intercession ignites when the burden is felt.
This afternoon I'll be asking God for both his thoughts and his feelings about the requests of my brothers and sisters.
And how grateful I am for brothers and sisters who have shouldered my troubled soul into the presence of God.
