Are You an Intercessor

One of the best examples of an intercessor I can find is found in the book of Nehemiah 1:1-9. 

 ¹ The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

   In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, ² Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

 ³ They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

 ⁴ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. ⁵ Then I said:

   “LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, ⁶ let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. ⁷ We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

 ⁸ “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

Have you ever requested prayer from someone or shared a problem and heard I'll be praying for you and wondered if the person actually would pray or if the statement was made for comfort. Nehemiah was so overwhelmed with the news from Jerusalem that it broke his heart and he began to plead before God night and day for the need. That is the desire I pray for in my own life. I have had to learn to stop saying I'll be praying for you and just start doing it. I know it is hard to do with all are own issues going on but if we are to obey Christ then we are to share one another burdens. Besides if we help one another care the load it will not be as heavy.

You may not agree with me but there is a part of this passage that I believe we all need to understand when it comes to prayer. Nehemiah asked the Lord to forgive Him and all of Israel for there sins against Him. Before we go and ask the Lord to work in a situation we need to realize that we are sinners and unworthy of His grace. As we make petitions for ourselves and others even as Christians we need to ask for forgiveness for were we have failed. He understands that we will make mistakes and through Jesus he forgives us and hears our prayers.

Let me leave you with this God's word is full of promises. When you pray for someone or something look for one of those and pray it just as Nehemiah did in verse 9. There is power for prayer in God's word. How's the song go, He Said it and I believe It. May the Lord Bless you today He has called His children to be intercessor for those who are weary and heavy burdened.