Tender, Precious, and Sacrificial Prayer

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.

Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV)

Oh, Lord. Thank you for interceding on our behalf. May we be grateful enough that it would overflow into our prayer lives and give us the desire to intercede for those around us. Lord, how can we stand in the gap for you? Speak, Jesus. We are listening. Amen.

Just as Jesus prays for us, we have the privilege and honor to pray for others. You have the power to connect heaven to the person sitting next to you. Doesn’t that blow your mind? We are surrounded by hurting people who need Jesus, who need healing, who need peace, who need wisdom, who need hope, who need someone to hear their groans. Maybe they know Jesus, but their pain is too weighty, their hearts too broken. I know when I’m too overwhelmed to utter the words on my own and someone offers to step in and pray for me… oh, what a tender, precious, sacrificial gift that fills my heart!
Why are we not making it a priority to step in and pray for others? Here’s an assignment. (Sorry, I’m a teacher. It comes naturally.) Identify someone you know and pray for them daily. A believer or unbeliever, you pick! Press in and ask how you can pray. For ONE week. Intercede and plead to the Father for them. I just wonder how Heaven might look a little different based on the prayers we pray for others.