9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”mm11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. (Exodus 32:9-14 NIV)
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” I first remember hearing this while watching a 90s film - New Jack City. It came back to my memory as I read Exodus 32:9-14. Some are cringing that I could relate a movie about drugs to the Word of God. So let me say this. I relate all that I do and am to the Word. I read romance novels and see traits that I both like and dislike in the characters. For the men, I ask God if there are men out there (outside of those in my family) that are still that chivalrous? For the women, I ask if sometimes I’m too emotional in my thinking. Now, these questions aren’t related to today’s blog. But I wanted readers to see that whatever happens, whatever you read, whatever you see, feel, taste, smell should be something that upholds the kingdom. And if it doesn’t, do without it.
Now to the blog. While praying last Thursday morning, I heard the Word freedom. I wanted to know what the Word said about it. Finding scriptures, this one jumped out at me. I understand that the events happen after the Israelites were free from the Egyptians. However, they hadn’t freed themselves mentally from bondage. God wanted to kill them all. Bring in the Intercessor. Moses jumped to their defense, begging God to let them live. Wow! While this is not the first act of Intercession in the Bible, it is a powerful one. Because he knew God’s covenant with Himself, Moses could remind God of His Word, His promise concerning His people.
I say all of this to say that sometimes instead of asking people what to pray for, we need to ask God what to pray for for them. Some of us are Intercessors, some visionaries, some theologians, some teachers. Side note: Understand this, not every time God calls you to do something, is he giving you a title or mantle. He may command you to give shoes to the homeless or buy groceries for the person behind you. Those are moments of physical intercession where we are being His light on this earth and a reminder to someone that God cares. We talk big but what do our actions say? Whatever we may be, we should be studying the Word for that is where the answer lies. Many are searching for answers to a question(s). Why this? When that? How will it happen? Whatever you are seeking is in the Word. One of my go to scriptures when I get to seeking answers is Ecclesiastes 3:1. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:” (NIV). Like Moses, I can stand on the promises of God because I understand that His Word will never come back to Him unfilled.
Interceding on someone’s behalf doesn’t have to just be during a holiday or when people know what you are doing, true intercession comes when it’s just you and God. When God puts people on your mind or in your dreams, pray for them. Pray Gods will in their lives. Pray in the spirit not for what you know inflicts them, pray that God heals, helps, restores, uproots, delivers, sanctifies according to His will. We often pray for the thing we know about a person, but is that what they need? I remember being at the alter once and I was praying to God to break something. As I was kneeling, God showed me that someone that knew of an issue was about to pray with me, but He stopped them thru my pastor and told them that what they were about to do wasn’t what I needed. I’m literally on the floor praying asking God to remove a bitterness out of my heart, when He took the time to show me how He protected me. As Christians, it’s good to pray for people. As servants of the Most High God, it’s better to pray for Gods will for His people. If we could cast down our imaginations, we would be better keeps of each other as we intercede on each other’s behalf.
Be A Blessing and Not Just Blessed