How Can We Help Those We Know are Struggling?

What can we do? Job loss, financial stress, marital problems, addictions, children on the wrong path and other life changing crossroads are right in the middle of our communities today. Is today different than a year ago? Statistically I really don’t know, but it certainly is hitting our community in a very intense way. As I was having some quiet time this morning I began to journal and pray for these issues and for specific people and families I know who are struggling. I began to feel better as I prayed. It seems like we can’t do enough to help the people we care about. We may not have solutions for their problems or resources to meet their needs. But as I felt God accept my prayer I knew that He is the one that can meet their needs.

We all know that intellectually, but are we believing it and acting on it. What can we do for our community or those we care about? We can pray! We can intercede to the God of the Universe on their behalf. I thought I would put a challenge out to each and every one of us. Let us intercede for those in our community.

• Pick a person or family who has been on your heart to intercede for, or
• Choose an issue such as jobs, marriages, addiction and intercede for those impacted.

Even if you are struggling with one of these situations, pick someone else to be in prayer for too.

Intercessory Prayer – What is it?

Intercessory prayer is prayer for others. An intercessor is one who takes the place of another or pleads another’s case. One study Bible defines intercession as “holy, believing, persevering prayer whereby someone pleads with God on behalf of another or others who desperately need God’s intervention.”

Jesus was an intercessor while He was here on earth. He prayed for those who were sick and possessed by demons. He prayed for His disciples. He even prayed for you and me when He interceded for all those who would believe on Him. Jesus continued His ministry of intercession after His death and resurrection when He returned to Heaven. He now serves as our intercessor in Heaven. (1)

I particularly noticed the word “persevering” when describing this type of prayer. Let us lift up those we are interceding on behalf of each day with purpose and then persevere throughout the day as we think of them. We may not have the specific solution for our prayer but we all have the power of prayer and a faithful God to pray to. Imagine our community as each and every one of us is lifting up another daily and with “pleading” and “perseverance”. I can only think of the hope and healing that would emerge!!

(1) http://www.allaboutprayer.org/intercessory-prayer.htm