A Co-Laborer With God
In the beginning days of my hunger to know my Father-God, I spent time every day reading the Bible, and personalizing its message. I would read the Psalms aloud as praise to my God, but I didn’t call it prayer. I was fellowshipping with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit…the Godhead who I discovered loved me unconditionally. It bothered me when names and/or faces of various individuals began to distract me.
One day out of desperation, I decided to pray for everyone who was appearing before me interrupting my private moments with the One who knows me best, but loves me most. As I began to pray for others, I realized that if God could love me unconditionally after the things I had done, He could love anyone.
At that time I knew little about prayer even though I grew up with praying parents; it was all-mystical to me. I turned to the Holy Spirit asking Him to teach me to pray. I learned that there are different kinds of prayer – including intercession. How do I intercede for others?
One day as I was praying I saw myself seated at one end of a conference table. At the other end of the table was God, the Father, and seated at His right hand was Jesus. I was in awe! I felt so alone; I wondered where the Holy Spirit was. Then a warm, gentle presence appeared at my side…it was the Holy Spirit. He had come to help me.
True Intercession does not issue out of self-will where we give God orders. Intercession issues from the heart of God…the heart of Love. Prayer is not an end unto itself, but an instrument of spiritual growth, and a weapon of spiritual warfare. Prayer is communication with our Father. When we pray, believing, we stand before the Father, or maybe even sit at the conference table with Him. He calls us to a life of prayer.
The Holy Spirit is looking for intercessors that will be God’s voice on earth…He searches our heart and the heart of those for whom we pray. The Holy Spirit hovers over the face of the waters of our innermost being, and when we release the Word of Life in behalf of others, He moves to bring that prayer to pass. It is all to the glory of the Father! Prayer begins with the Father and returns to the Father. When we pray Scriptural prayers they will not return to Him without producing results.
Now is the time to pray…for the government, for your church, for everyone who is in authority, and for your family. God will give you other prayer assignments as well. Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us, and when we come into agreement with Him we prepare the way for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. The Holy Spirit, Himself, helps us pray! For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God…1 Corinthians 3:9a (AMP).
© Copyright Germaine Copeland 2004
Germaine Copeland is the author of the best selling book series, Prayers That Avail Much. She has written scriptural prayers for the family. Read your Bible, pray and attend church where you can soak up the love and faith of God. You will receive emotional healing, experience spiritual growth and become more intimately acquainted with your Heavenly Father, and your relationships will grow stronger.