The Heart of True Prayer
In a world where rituals and sacrifices often take center stage, it’s essential to remember that God desires love and compassion above all else. As Jesus so poignantly put it, His Father’s house is meant to be a “house of prayer for all the nations” (Mark 11:17).
Prayer Born of Love
True prayer is not about condemning others, but about covering them in love. It’s not about pointing fingers, but about lifting each other up. In times of distress, intercessors can cry out to God for mercy, bringing redemption out of disaster.
The Church’s True Purpose
The church is not created to fulfill God’s wrath, but to complete His mercy. We are called to be a “house of prayer for all nations,” passionately praying for those who need it most. Jesus taught us to “pray for” those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), and Paul urged us to pray for all men, including kings and those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Seeking the Welfare of Others
Even in the midst of moral decline and spiritual malaise, we can bring about change through prayer. When God exiled Israel to Babylon, He commanded them to “seek the welfare of the city” and pray for its well-being (Jeremiah 29:7). This is a call to pray for, not against; to pray mercifully, not vindictively.
The Nature of Intercession
At its core, intercession is about appealing to God for forgiveness and redemption to come to sinful people. We may be experts on the nature of sin, but we often deny the nature and cause of Christ, which is redemption. It’s time to shift our focus from being informed by the news media to being transformed into the nature of the Savior.
Christ’s Example
Study Isaiah 53, and you’ll see the Savior’s nature revealed in wondrous detail. Christ numbered Himself with sinners, interceded for transgressors, and is always “with us” and “for us” (Matthew 1:23; Romans 8:31). God doesn’t want us to be judgmental; He wants us to be prayer-mental, instinctively praying for others instead of judging them.
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