There was a man with an ailment the finest of doctors could not remedy. His condition was not life threatening but could consume several days in a week of his normally productive life. Prayer felt forced and insincere, because even his bad days seemed better than most people’s good, at least on the surface.
There was another with stress lines chiseled into his furrowed brow. I recognized the face for I’ve seen it in the mirror. Prayer was difficult or nonexistent and my lack of empathy for something so familiar was troubling.
A young mother’s heart was broken for her child who has faced many challenges in his short life. I share her pain as our hearts beat to similar rhythms, our journeys somewhat paralleled. Prayer flowed like a river, smoothly yet powerful.
And there are other precious souls whose uphill climbs appeared to be greater than their strength, yet they continued to face the days with grace and courage. Prayer for those are as easy as my next breath.
Why do some prayers flow freely, and others fight the current? Are not all of these children of God and in need of His Grace? Is their need of prayer measured by their station in life or the height of the mountain before them? Certainly not in the eyes of the Lord.
Is my willingness to share a blessing (or lack thereof) only hampered by floodgates of my own design? A sobering thought. Do the gates of prayer fail to open due to resentment or unforgiven perceived wrongs? Are the obstacles so deep seated in my subconscious that I fail to see them? Or is it simply a product of exhaustion? or apathy? Even a clean and rested heart still has trouble with some prayer.
It’s good that God knows this about me and that I need help.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 7:26-27
Lord, when you lay a concern on my heart but all I can do is speak their name, I am grateful for Your intercession to finish the prayer, that they may be blessed despite my weakness.
Amen …
If these words have been a blessing, pass them along to another who needs to hear. If you would like to read more, follow the links above. If you do not do socials, email me at John@LiftedKeys.com and we can find a way.
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