Ezekiel 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none”
Our Heavenly Father has called all us to be intercessors. An intercessor is one standing in behalf of someone else and praying on his or her needs. They are also called “Prayer Warriors”. A prayer warrior is someone who has a great love for Our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and His children. He or she has the spirit of tenacity, for they are in for long haul to see that the prayer comes to fruition. In Matthew 15:22-28, shows a true example of a mother, who is a prayer warrior and has the spirit of tenacity. She was from land of Canaan, a gentile who was seeking Jesus for a miracle for her daughter. The daughter was processed by a demon and the mother knew that Jesus was the only one who had the authority to cast out this demon. She approached Jesus and He sent her away, telling her that He was there for lost sheep of Israel. The mother started worshipping the Lord by saying, “help me!” Jesus told her that wasn’t right to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs. In next few words demonstrated her faith when she said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her,’ O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.’ And her daughter was made whole from that very hour” Matthew 15:27-28.
I know in this story, Our Lord appears to be insensitive to the widow’s plight, but He was teaching His disciples and us about prayer, faith and never giving up until we receive our answer. He knew the widow had great faith and He knew she would never give up praying until she got her miracle. He tells us to keep on asking, seeking and knocking in order to receive our own personal miracle.
One of my favorite stories is about Father Abraham interceding on behalf of his nephew, his family, Sodom and Gomorrah. This narrative is found in Genesis 18, when Abraham entertains three holy men and they promised that Sarah shall have son and they told Abraham about coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham asked the Lord if He would destroy the righteous with the wicked. He started to intercede with the Lord. He asked the Lord if He found fifty righteous would he spare the people and Lord said He would. Abraham kept praying and bringing down the number of righteous to see Lord would spare the people. Abraham negotiate with the Lord down to ten righteous, and it says the following in Genesis 18:32-33, “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.” Father Abraham is great example of true prayer warrior. I personally believe if Abraham asked the Lord to spare the cities for only four persons, the Lord would of done it, because Abraham asked for it, plus Our Heavenly Father is a merciful God.
In Matthew 18:20, it says “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Another story that demonstrates the power of intercession is found in Exodus 17. The Israelites were battling against the people of Amalek. While they were fighting, Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the hill and were probably praying as watched the battle. When Moses held up his hands, Israelites prevail, but when his hands grew heavy, his arms went down and Amalekites prevail. “But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” Exodus 17:12. The previous lines are a prime example of the power of prayer and intercession.
I would like to share what is dear to my heart and that is praying for the missionaries and for the gospel to be preached through out the world. “Therefore said he unto them, the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” Luke 10:2. In the previous verse, the Lord is commanding us pray for labors in order to harvest the crops of men and women. In the Doctrine of Covenants 4:4 it says “For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.” So I would encourage to pray for the missionaries. First pray that the missionaries will always be sensitive to promptings of the Holy Spirit. Pray for their protection and for doors to be open for them. Also pray that their needs are met too.
As you are praying you too can be missionary. President David O. McKay said all members are missionaries. Start praying for your family members, your neighbors, your classmates and your fellow workers. Pray that they will be open to the gospel message. Remember Our Heavenly Father won’t go against their free agency, but I do believe that He will work on their circumstances to allow them to be open to the gospel message. Remember with the Lord there are no quinces. So I want to encourage you to be co-labors with Christ. Also ask the Lord to bring into your life another prayer warrior into your life. When that happens, watch through intercessory prayer, God will move mountains on your behalf. Remember nothing is impossible with our God. For He works all things together for His purpose and His glory.
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